Chapter 34

She touched Bipaan's wedding dress on the wall. She made it a habit of touching it as she couldn't hug him warmly every day. The silk of the wedding dress was soft. Touching the soft silk, she recalled another man's soft touch she experienced in the past.

No, I shouldn't think about him. Never.

Although she did her best to forget him, Ruhae's face lingered in her mind on and off. She stared at Bipaan's wedding dress, as if it was the only thing she could see.

And then she reminded herself harshly by saying, "Open your eyes wide and look at this. This is your husband. What you can hug now is only this."

***

Finally, the summer came to the Mok Kingdom.

While the seasons changed, Kyosul kept sending letters to Bipaan containing dried flowers. Her letters were piled under the small table right next to his desk. When there was no more space for the letters, the eunuch put a small basket beside it.

He saw the basket as he lay on his back on the bed earlier than usual.