Chapter 25

"…"

"…I'm not crying anymore."

"But…"

"It doesn't hurt. I just took a nap."

Go Woon bit his lips gently at my words. I put the pin over my bangs so I can see. I felt embarrassed as I looked at my sullen eyes.

After crying for a long time earlier, I went unconscious and took a nap. I felt unbearably sleepy since I'm a child. Seo Yeon woke me up telling me I had to eat, but I went back to bed again at the sound of someone tapping the window. I knew it was Go Woon right away because it was midnight and he was throwing a stone.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, I just took a nap."

"But what time did you wake up? Should I go get someone?"

"I just cried so much I became sleepy. See? It doesn't hurt."

Go Woon was shocked by my words. Having been stiff for a while, he murmured.

"You… get sleepy after you cry?"

Yes.

"It's like that when you're young… no, it's also because I'm weak."

Go Woon, who didn't believe me at first, looked convinced at my added words. It seems like he has never experienced it himself.

"Your eyes are swollen. Are you…"

"When you cry, your eyes get swollen. I'm really not sick."

I cut him off. I was just crying, but I didn't want to be treated as if I would break if someone touches me. As my tone became firm, Go Woon looked at me.

'There's two gold pins.'

I parted my hair in the middle, and put a pin on each side of my bangs. At that appearance, I closed my lips, but Go Woon was looking at me and then asked carefully.

"Then why did you cry?"

"Ahem."

I cleared my throat quietly. Why did I cry. It was a really hard question to answer. The emperor tried to get rid of you, so I cried to save you. But my emotions got too overwhelmed so I cried even more. I can't say that.

"I'm good at crying."

That's a lie.

"There were many tears because I'm sensitive…"

That's a lie.

However, Go Woon, who is highly understanding, nodded with a troubled look even at my words.

"But the paper, why did you rip it?"

I asked. He mumbled as if he were embarrassed and blinked several times, then avoided my gaze. After agonizing for a while, Go Woon opened his mouth.

"… That is."

He hesitated again before saying more. Shadows are, of course, assassins. So there's no way he'll ever tell me what it says in broad daylight, and there's no way he would tear a paper with his boss's name in it with a frowned look on his face.

"The content."

Go Woon's nose was red as he said so. When he is shy, his nose and ears turn red as if he has freckles. He is 12 years old, and that makes his appearance very cute. At his embarrassment, I took a step back like an adult, but my playful side began to come out.

"What is it?"

My cheerful voice made the redness on Go Woon's nose spread as if it were paint. Eventually, he stammered and began to tell me the contents.

"… Take good care of the Miss,"

That's the beginning. Most of those letters began with asking if the master were well served. I listened to Go Woon's voice with a relaxed mind. It was like hearing a song, but the problem was the words that followed.

"If not, I'll hang you upside down-"

"… What?"

I sprained up from my rocking chair. My body leaned forward and my eyes widened. My face was still puzzled even after he caught me in his arms. Did I hear it right?

"Are you all right?"

Go Woon's voice was shaking with embarrassment. I nodded and went to sit on the bed. The rocking chair was comfortable, but because my body is still small. It's easy to fall forward or backward if I move suddenly.

"I'm fine. Continue."

Go Woon confirmed that I was sitting safely on bed and opened his mouth again.

"I'll beat you up, so make sure you serve well. I don't know where you eat pork and rice, but your cheap taste makes the palace-"

"… Stop. That's enough."

I answered with the color drained from my face. Fortunately, the moonlight was shining directly on me, so I didn't look pale. I bit my lips gently as if I were a little puppy. The shadows were a group of elites. It was easier to catch stars in the sky than to be picked for that group, and the fact that Go Woon had passed the test meant he had a talent that was born once in a hundred years.

That person must've been jealous to the point where they would send their colleague who was assigned elsewhere such a terrible letter. It would be too much bullying for a child. I reached out and stroked his hair while looking at his clear, fine eyes.

"…Good job."

His reaction reminded me of a child's face as he looked up.

"Tear it again next time."

"…?"

"… But don't do it before Her Majesty like today."

Go Woon stared at me. His face looked as if he wanted to ask why.

"It's a letter given by Her Majesty, and you can't tear it in front of her."

The look he had in his eyes caught my breath, and he spoke.

"But the letter was sent by my colleague…"

"Her Majesty gave it to you, right?"

"…"

Go Woon looked as if saying 'I don't understand'. He seemed too young to get that. In any case, you should never tear a letter before the person who delivered it to you, especially the emperor. I tried to explain more, but sighed quietly.

"… Tear it behind their back next time."

"Yes."

He answered quickly and glanced at me.

"What?"

"… I'm sorry. I was ignorant and made Miss angry."

I was puzzled by his words.

What.

Angry.

I was?

After pondering for a moment, I realized what he meant. Kids get scared when someone frowns, plus I usually have a dull tone. It takes too much out of me to try making sweet sounds and do cute acts.

"I'm not angry."

"…"

Go Woon didn't deny my words, instead, he looked at me quietly. I smiled and patted his head again.

"Really, I'm not angry."

There's no point in getting upset since he didn't do anything wrong. However, if I had to choose someone to get mad at, it would be his colleague who sent the letter. Go Woon's ears turned red.

"Here."

I held out my pinkie.

"…?"

"Like this, as a promise."

When I demonstrated with my other hand, he copied me.

"Promise."

When I said so, Go Woon, whose eyes were wide open, smiled.

'Mirina gave me a hairpin.'

I thought about that after seeing his smile in the dark. It was very surprising, knowing he did it in front of the emperor. On the contrary, he couldn't treat me carelessly either since we were in front of her. Plus, he was quite associated with the shadows.

I thought so and smiled again.

***

(3rd person pov)

Go Woon glanced at his pinkie. His new owner was a very unusual person, but he didn't hate it. It was the first vow he heard where he didn't need to cut his pinkie and share blood with his opponent like making an oath.

The shadow belongs to their master. Good and evil lose its meaning in front of their owner, and they carry out their orders until the end of their life. That was what Go Woon had learned so far. He didn't have any dissatisfaction or joy so far, but after meeting Sanya, something began to shudder.

He wasn't good with emotions, so he didn't know what it was, but just thought very quietly.

'I hope I have an excuse to also come back tomorrow night like this.'

***

At that time.

One of the members of the shadow, Yeo-ryu, shivered and sneezed from a sudden chill.