Chapter 7
“Fire! Oh no! What do we do…? Fire, fire!”
Zauru was burning in flames, and Lee Yeon was cradling Haesang’s bleeding head with her skirt.
In Haesang’s hand was the bloodstained handkerchief—the one Lee Yeon had made.
Lee Yeon briefly lifted her head and saw arrows flying in all directions.
“AAAH!”
She screamed as she buried her face in Haesang’s, holding him close.
How much time passed?
She tried to move, but her body was stiff, as if frozen.
“Huh? Why can’t I move?”
At first, she had thought she was cradling Haesang’s injured face in her skirt, but now… it felt like she was the one being held.
She had never been held like this before, so she couldn’t be sure.
It felt unfamiliar.
Her feet weren’t touching the ground, that much was certain. It felt like when she was a child, being held in her big brother’s arms, carefully and protectively.
She opened her eyes for a brief moment, but all she could see was darkness. Then, the distant sounds of people’s cries grew fainter, and she saw something, something distant and blurry fading away.
Among those distant things, she saw Haesang’s smiling face.
‘I thought I was the one being held… how is he so far away?’
She reached out, trying to touch his face, but it was impossible. The scene before her felt strange.
His eyes were crying, but his mouth was smiling.
It was as if he was wearing a mask, and Haesang’s face twisted grotesquely as he moved further away from her.
But Lee Yeon’s body remained securely in someone’s arms—strong, protective arms.
“Then, whose arms am I in…?”
“Aaaaah!”
“Did you have a nightmare, Lady Yeon?”
Lee Yeon jolted awake with a start, her breath heavy. She looked around, her eyes taking in So-hwa and the worried face of the bodyguard, Mu-i.
“In my dream, Zauru was burning—”
“It wasn’t a dream, Lady! Not just Zauru… The separate building is completely burned down…”
So-hwa sobbed, her tears falling freely.
“Not a dream? Then what about my husband? Is he… alright?”
“He’s not well! He threw himself into the fire to save you!”
“What? My husband?”
“Yes! When Haesang pulled you out of the fire, I thought my heart would explode. It was terrifying.”
When the fire wrapped around the annex, Haesang had rushed to Lee Yeon’s side, first ensuring her safety. After escaping from Zauru, Haesang immediately focused on her wellbeing.
When the fire reached the eaves of the separate building, Haesang, barely able to move, charged forward like a beast, heading straight for the annex.
No one could enter the annex while it was engulfed in flames. But somehow, Haesang, who had no strength left, managed to find a wet blanket and entered the annex.
“Without any time to stop him, he didn’t come out for a while. We were all scared… Ughhh…”
As So-hwa recounted the events of the night, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
“I thought he was going to die!”
The dream of being cradled by a strong man, leaving the fire behind, wasn’t just a dream after all.
It seemed that the line between dream and reality had blurred, and perhaps she had briefly lost consciousness somewhere in between.
“I was so relieved when my husband returned. And when he saved me from the fire! It must be the ancestors’ blessings. I’ve been praying every day for the well-being of our ancestors.”
“Haha, do you even know the faces of your ancestors?” So-hwa laughed through her tears.
Lee Yeon was touched by So-hwa’s devotion. She’d even prayed for her ancestors, and Lee Yeon couldn’t help but feel grateful.
“So… where are we?”
Lee Yeon got up from the unfamiliar bedding and looked around.
“We’re in the main house.”
So-hwa wiped her nose and continued.
“Since Lady passed, this room hasn’t been used. The stove’s in poor condition, and the other room is cold. At least this room is warm enough.”
So-hwa, between her sobs and laughter, looked at Lee Yeon with concern, while Mu-i sat by her, unmoving like a statue.
“Mu-i, you have something to say, don’t you?”
His expression gave it away.
“Lady… I thought I’d lost my mind.”
So-hwa immediately scolded him.
“Huh?”
“After your husband pulled you out of the fire, Mu-i ran straight into the fire himself. He almost died.”
“Why?”
“Goodness, just speak up already! You’re scaring me.”
Mu-i didn’t speak for a long while.
“Mu-i, speak up!” Lee Yeon ordered gently but firmly.
Finally, Mu-i reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
“No way, that’s the handkerchief… the one from the bottom of the drawer… Were you willing to risk your life just to get this?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you risk your life for this?”
“I asked you to examine the arrowhead tied to the handkerchief. I found a blacksmith who could create identical arrowheads, and I’m sending someone to inquire about it.”
“If the handkerchief’s truth is in question, then we must clear it up completely.”
Mu-i’s answer was unwavering.
“You’re not worried about your own safety?”
“I’m fine.”
So-hwa, still crying, wiped Lee Yeon’s face with a wet cloth.
“The fire was dangerous. There’s no second chance.”
“You’re right,” Lee Yeon murmured. “I must go…”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
So-hwa asked, surprised.
“I have to see the annex for myself. I need to greet my husband…”
“Don’t go. The whole village came to help, and the fire is already out. There’s no need to rush.”
“What about my husband?”
“The fire chief is already there, directing people.”
So-hwa had spoken while checking Lee Yeon’s body temperature, ensuring everything was in order.
Lee Yeon stood up, ready to go.
“I need to see the damage with my own eyes.”
As she walked toward the annex, her heart sank further. The closer she got, the more despair she felt.
The site was unrecognizable—a pile of ash and rubble.
“Ha, how did this happen?”
“Oh, Lady, are you alright?” So-hwa asked, still concerned.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
Like So-hwa said, the villagers were busy cleaning up and trying to restore order.
But there, amidst the chaos, stood Haesang.
He was speaking to Jang, giving orders and distributing tasks.
As soon as Haesang saw Lee Yeon, he walked over to her, but hesitated for a moment before approaching.
“Are you alright? I heard you were in danger because of me. How can I thank you?”
Lee Yeon greeted Haesang first.
His face held no particular expression. After a long pause, he said coldly.
“I did what needed to be done.”
Though his words were accurate, Lee Yeon felt a slight disappointment.
He had risked his life to save her, yet his words were so curt.
“Are you really alright? The apothecary should—”
“I’m better than any apothecary.”
“Ah, yes…”
“Isn’t that strange?”
Haesang’s voice, cold as ice, interrupted her.
“Why did it burn in exactly two spots?”
“That’s right. The annex and the separate building aren’t even close to each other.”
“Do you think it’s just a coincidence?”
Lee Yeon’s suspicion flared. “Could it have been Jin-sang…?”
Haesang seemed to read her thoughts. He leaned in closer, his tone suddenly serious.
“There’s only one person who would do something this drastic.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions.”
Lee Yeon grew even more anxious. This wasn’t something to take lightly.
Jin-sang had been detained after the trial but was released afterward. The villagers had hoped he might come and atone, but most dismissed the idea.
Given his temperament, it was clear he would not back down and would cause chaos in the house.
But doing something so obvious? She hadn’t expected that.
The suspicion lingered, and Lee Yeon struggled to understand.
Lee Yeon stood there, lost in thought, as Haesang slowly stepped back, his expression still unreadable. She had hoped for some warmth from him, something to reflect the danger he had faced for her. But all she got was cold distance.
As Haesang turned to walk away, Lee Yeon’s heart tightened with confusion. She had thought that their reunion, with all the pain and difficulty they had both faced, would bring them closer. But instead, it felt like a wall had been built between them once more.
“Lady Yeon.”
The voice came from behind her. Lee Yeon turned to see Jang, the steward, standing with a serious expression.
“Is something wrong?” Lee Yeon asked, her voice strained with concern.
Jang hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“It’s about the handkerchief, Lady Yeon,” he said quietly.
Lee Yeon’s heart skipped a beat. The handkerchief. The one she had seen with Haesang’s blood on it. The one that had been tied to the arrow. It seemed like everything was coming back to that small piece of cloth.
“What about it?” Lee Yeon asked, her mind racing.
Jang glanced around, ensuring no one was listening before he continued.
“It’s the same one,” Jang said, his voice barely above a whisper. “The handkerchief you gave to him… the one you made with your own hands.”
Lee Yeon’s breath caught in her throat. She had never seen the handkerchief again after Haesang had disappeared, but now it was back in her hands, stained with his blood, and somehow, it was tied to everything that was happening.
“Why did it come back now?” Lee Yeon asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know, Lady,” Jang said. “But it’s not just a handkerchief. There’s something else tied to it. Something that hasn’t been told yet.”
Lee Yeon felt a shiver run down her spine. What was hidden? What truth was still buried beneath all the lies?
“Where is it now?” Lee Yeon asked, her eyes locking onto Jang’s.
“It’s in the fire-ravaged building,” Jang replied. “Haesang had it with him when he went in to save you. And it’s still there.”
Lee Yeon took a step forward, her heart pounding. She needed answers. She needed to know everything, no matter how painful the truth might be.
As they made their way toward the fire-damaged building, the sight of the charred remnants of what had once been her home felt like a blow to the chest. The walls were blackened, the roof partially collapsed, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke.
“Haesang… What happened to you?” Lee Yeon whispered, her voice breaking.
The fire had ravaged everything, but there was still something left, something important. The handkerchief. It had to hold the answers. Lee Yeon was determined to find it.
As she stepped inside the wreckage of the building, she felt her legs tremble. Every part of her wanted to turn back, to run away from the pain and the confusion, but she couldn’t. She had to know the truth.
“Lady Yeon, be careful,” Jang said softly, his eyes scanning the debris around them.
“I’m fine,” Lee Yeon replied, though her voice betrayed her uncertainty.
The search felt like it took an eternity. Every step she took was weighed down by the fear that she wouldn’t find what she was looking for, or worse, that she would find something she wasn’t ready to face.
And then, through the smoke and the rubble, her eyes caught a glimpse of something familiar. The handkerchief. It was tied to a beam, just as it had been when Haesang had first held it.
Lee Yeon reached for it, her fingers trembling as she touched the fabric. She unwrapped it slowly, revealing a small note folded inside.
Her heart raced as she unfolded the note, her breath catching in her throat as she read the words.
The note was brief, but its meaning was clear:
-
Imo year, evening (7–9 pm), Mun Haesang deceased.
Lee Yeon’s mind went blank. The words on the paper seemed to mock her. Was this really the truth? Had Haesang died, or was this just part of some elaborate lie?
The questions continued to swirl in her mind, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she had finally uncovered a piece of the puzzle. She didn’t know what it meant yet, but she was one step closer to understanding.
She stood there for a long time, holding the handkerchief, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. The fire, the note, Haesang’s return—all of it felt like one big mystery she was barely beginning to unravel.
“Lady Yeon,” Jang said softly, pulling her from her thoughts. “We need to go. It’s not safe here anymore.”
Lee Yeon nodded, her fingers tightening around the handkerchief. She didn’t know what the future held, but she was determined to face it, no matter the cost.
As they made their way back to the safety of the house, Lee Yeon couldn’t shake the feeling that something much bigger was at play, something that had been hidden for a long time.
But for now, she had the handkerchief, and with it, the first clue that might lead her to the truth.
