Rosena put down all the bags she was carrying.
It was fortunate that she found a place to stay before sunset.
Rosena looked around the cabin.
As if it had been left unattended for a long time, the ceiling was covered with spider silk, and fine dust covered the window and floor.
Every time she moved, she heard the creak of a worn-out board. The walls and floors also smelled soggy, like wet trees.
Rosena put dry firewood in the old fireplace.
She tried to make a fire, but it didn’t go as well as she thought.
As Rosena crouched down and rubbed the firewood for a long time, Yerhan approached and skillfully started a fire.
The pile of firewood caught fire at once. The flames drove away the chilly energy and even swallowed the dim darkness.
A fluttering red light shone on the two. Rosena looked at the side profile of Yerhan in the light.
She could see a nose as sharp as a blade and a smooth jawline.
Along with the sound of the fire swallowing up the firewoods, light glistened on his golden eyelashes.
Rosena swallowed a sigh unconsciously while looking at the face that didn’t seem like it’s supposed to be in this shabby place.
There was no doubt that she must have accepted his request to stay after falling for that face.
Rosena opened her bag and took out her usual blanket. It would get colder at dawn, so she needed something to cover up.
The hustle and bustle stopped, the two sat in front of the fireplace.
Yerhan, who was still staring at the flame, opened his mouth first.
“How did you find a cabin like this?”
“I asked the animals.”
Rosena answered casually, putting dry firewood in the fireplace.
“What?”
As if he had misheard, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Rosena. Rosena shrugged lightly.
“I was kidding.”
She thought he wouldn’t believe it anyway.
Even when she spoke honestly to a maid who looked after her when she was a child. But the maid took Rosena’s words as lies.
At that time, she showed the maid her ability by talking to animals to prove her innocence, but she freaked out and looked at Rosena with frightened eyes.
Since then, she hasn’t told anyone about that.
Yerhan, who was lost in thought for a moment, muttered to himself.
“So it was thanks to the animals’ help that you found me earlier.”
When he took her words quite seriously, Rosena’s eyes shook.
She thought he’d laugh at her for being ridiculous.
Embracing a strange feeling, Rosena rose from her seat.
She took the bed sheet that was tucked in the corner of the cabinet and laid it on the bed.
It was shabby compared to an inn, but much better than sleeping outside.
“You can sleep here. I’m gonna sleep on the floor.”
Rosena tapped on the bed, saying she’d let him because he was hurt.
The man, who was sitting in front of the fireplace, slowly lifted himself up.
Perhaps it’s because he is tall and big, his shadow filled the room.
Sitting on the bed, he stared at Rosena who was getting ready to sleep on the floor.
“Since the floor is cold, shall we sleep together?”
“No, I’m good.”
Rosena did not forget that she was dressed up as a man.
Rosena looked up at the ceiling while lying on the floor under a blanket.
Whenever the wind blew, a squeaking sound was heard from the ceiling.
Somehow she didn’t think she’d be able to sleep.
After a long time, Rosena came up with a question that removed the silence that had been stagnant in the dark.
“Where are you from?”
“…Haylor.”
Haylor was also the northernmost part of the empire, so it was known to snow often, and she heard that scary creatures often appeared.
It took a month to get here from the county, which was in the south-central part of the empire….. he had come a long way.
“Are you traveling?”
“No.”
“Then?”
He remained silent when she asked the following question. Rosena realized he didn’t want to share much.
“If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine.”
They were going to part soon anyway, so she didn’t need to ask.
Rosena laid on her back on the other side of the bed.
After a while, she heard a squeaking sound.
A shadow cast over Rosena because of Yerhan, who rose from bed.
Looking down at Rosena, he let out his voice, as quiet as a sigh.
“I’m running away to save my life.”
Surprised, Rosena lifted herself up.
Then she met his eyes shining brightly in the dark.
His eyes, shaking like a flame, contained many emotions.
Rosena couldn’t understand it at all.
Yerhan slowly lowered his eyes. Rosena parted her lips upon seeing his somber-looking face.
“Everything will be fine now.”
It was a sentence directed to Yerhan, and also to Rosena herself.
Yerhan smiled slowly at Rosena’s words.
The smile that rose in the gentle light was like a picture, holding Rosena’s gaze and not letting go.
Her vision got blurry, and her heart was pounding as if it had circled in the same place for a long time.
Just like the first time she ran into him, a strange sense captivated Rosena.
At this rate, Rosena really couldn’t sleep, so she laid down in a hurry.
“Good night.”
Silence covered the two after her quiet voice.
*****
Rosena woke up and blinked her eyes. She couldn’t remember when she fell asleep.
It seemed around dawn, given that it was still dark.
After tossing and turning to sleep again, Rosena rose to the sound of rain.
She turned her head to the window, and she could see a steady stream of water running down the window.
The sound of rain was getting louder and she heard firewood burning from time to time.
Rosena stared blankly at the window and her gaze moved slowly toward the bed.
The bed was empty, as if there had been no one occupying it before.
It was raining outside, so he couldn’t have left.
Rosena sat down and stared at the door. But no matter how long she waited, the door wouldn’t open.
“Did he really go?”
Rosena lifted herself up completely, and opened the door. The squeaking sound was immediately buried in the rain.
She took a step forward, and stepped out to the front door. There was a lot of water on the porch, perhaps because of the rain and wind.
Rosena stood at the front door and looked around to avoid getting rained on.
Rain was falling all over the forest where the dawn had seeped.
White trees shook whenever raindrops fell, as if welcoming the rain.
The moon hidden between the gray clouds, as if stuck between white mist and dust, shone on the forest occasionally.
Rosena turned her head slowly. There was a painful groan coming from inside the forest.
She could clearly hear the rough breathing in the dark.
Rosena, staring at the source of the sound, unconsciously walked forward one step at a time.
The drizzling rain fell on Rosena’s shoulder. Her hair, face, and clothes started to get wet.
But Rosena didn’t stop approaching him.
As she approached, she heard Yerhan’s rough breathing, which was buried in the rain.
The chill coming out from his mouth spread like fog.
Carrying a knife, he looked agitated as if he was about to rush forward.
He looked like a lost animal.
Rosena, aware that she could be in danger, reached out to Yerhan without realizing it.
Filled with ferocious energy, he raised his head and faced Rosena.
Yerhan’s eyes, that were revealed in the dark, were a deep navy.
It was the same color as the first time she faced him.
He didn’t seem to be a human being with the heat coming out from dark navy eyes, as dark as the night sky.
Rosena was reflected in his burning eyes as if to tell her that if she touched him, she would turn into ashes.
But he didn’t seem to notice anything.
Rosena reached out, carefully touching Yerhan’s cheek.
Then his cold cheeks flinched, and Yerhan breathed out loud.
The fierce face, that felt like he’d cut off whatever was in front of him at any moment, subsided, and the knife in his hand slipped onto the floor.
He raised his trembling arm and put his fingers on Rosena’s hand that touched his cheek.
Yerhan, who seemed to be not satisfied just with the touch of her hand, stretched out his arms and hugged Rosena strongly.
Rosena, who was hugged in an instant, opened her eyes wide to the beats of his heart that seemed about to burst.
And it was getting stronger, like it was swallowing the sound of rain.
Yerhan, who tightly clasped Rosena’s back, dug into the flesh covered by wet clothes.
Every time his finger touched her skin, it was so hot that she groaned weakly. Rosena did not push him, instead she raised her arm and touched his cheek.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
Her head got very chaotic.
Her rationality warned her it wasn’t too late to back off.
But Rosena could not escape from him. Rather, she had an urge to kiss his cheek with her hands wrapped around it.
All of her nerves were on him. Rosena didn’t know what to call this emotion.
Just looking at him made her feel overwhelmed by desire.
Rationality to draw the line and instincts played tug-of-war.
Her head was screaming for her to stop, but her body was already drawn to him.
Yerhan buried his face in Rosena’s neck.
Rosena took a deep breath as if it had become one with his breathing.
The chilly, cold breath went down the back of Rosena’s neck.
“…Liden.”
When he called Rosena’s alias, she briefly returned to her senses.
She was drawn to him without hesitation, but when she took a step back, she realized that this situation was very unusual.
She managed to come to her senses and lightly pushed Yerhan away.
But unlike her wish, he didn’t budge.
He hugged her as if he would never fall apart.
Every part that he touched was hot, and it seemed to melt away at any moment.
Rosena held back the urge to hug him and raised her head.
His eyes, falling like it’s eaten by the moon, was filled with Rosena.
Yerhan rolled up Rosena’s wet hair. And his face gradually got closer.
When his wet, cold lips touched hers, Rosena grabbed his shirt with her fingers and pulled it down.
The two began to covet each other’s lips in the rain.
Rosena put down all the bags she was carrying.
It was fortunate that she found a place to stay before sunset.
Rosena looked around the cabin.
As if it had been left unattended for a long time, the ceiling was covered with spider silk, and fine dust covered the window and floor.
Every time she moved, she heard the creak of a worn-out board. The walls and floors also smelled soggy, like wet trees.
Rosena put dry firewood in the old fireplace.
She tried to make a fire, but it didn’t go as well as she thought.
As Rosena crouched down and rubbed the firewood for a long time, Yerhan approached and skillfully started a fire.
The pile of firewood caught fire at once. The flames drove away the chilly energy and even swallowed the dim darkness.
A fluttering red light shone on the two. Rosena looked at the side profile of Yerhan in the light.
She could see a nose as sharp as a blade and a smooth jawline.
Along with the sound of the fire swallowing up the firewoods, light glistened on his golden eyelashes.
Rosena swallowed a sigh unconsciously while looking at the face that didn’t seem like it’s supposed to be in this shabby place.
There was no doubt that she must have accepted his request to stay after falling for that face.
Rosena opened her bag and took out her usual blanket. It would get colder at dawn, so she needed something to cover up.
The hustle and bustle stopped, the two sat in front of the fireplace.
Yerhan, who was still staring at the flame, opened his mouth first.
“How did you find a cabin like this?”
“I asked the animals.”
Rosena answered casually, putting dry firewood in the fireplace.
“What?”
As if he had misheard, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Rosena. Rosena shrugged lightly.
“I was kidding.”
She thought he wouldn’t believe it anyway.
Even when she spoke honestly to a maid who looked after her when she was a child. But the maid took Rosena’s words as lies.
At that time, she showed the maid her ability by talking to animals to prove her innocence, but she freaked out and looked at Rosena with frightened eyes.
Since then, she hasn’t told anyone about that.
Yerhan, who was lost in thought for a moment, muttered to himself.
“So it was thanks to the animals’ help that you found me earlier.”
When he took her words quite seriously, Rosena’s eyes shook.
She thought he’d laugh at her for being ridiculous.
Embracing a strange feeling, Rosena rose from her seat.
She took the bed sheet that was tucked in the corner of the cabinet and laid it on the bed.
It was shabby compared to an inn, but much better than sleeping outside.
“You can sleep here. I’m gonna sleep on the floor.”
Rosena tapped on the bed, saying she’d let him because he was hurt.
The man, who was sitting in front of the fireplace, slowly lifted himself up.
Perhaps it’s because he is tall and big, his shadow filled the room.
Sitting on the bed, he stared at Rosena who was getting ready to sleep on the floor.
“Since the floor is cold, shall we sleep together?”
“No, I’m good.”
Rosena did not forget that she was dressed up as a man.
Rosena looked up at the ceiling while lying on the floor under a blanket.
Whenever the wind blew, a squeaking sound was heard from the ceiling.
Somehow she didn’t think she’d be able to sleep.
After a long time, Rosena came up with a question that removed the silence that had been stagnant in the dark.
“Where are you from?”
“…Haylor.”
Haylor was also the northernmost part of the empire, so it was known to snow often, and she heard that scary creatures often appeared.
It took a month to get here from the county, which was in the south-central part of the empire….. he had come a long way.
“Are you traveling?”
“No.”
“Then?”
He remained silent when she asked the following question. Rosena realized he didn’t want to share much.
“If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine.”
They were going to part soon anyway, so she didn’t need to ask.
Rosena laid on her back on the other side of the bed.
After a while, she heard a squeaking sound.
A shadow cast over Rosena because of Yerhan, who rose from bed.
Looking down at Rosena, he let out his voice, as quiet as a sigh.
“I’m running away to save my life.”
Surprised, Rosena lifted herself up.
Then she met his eyes shining brightly in the dark.
His eyes, shaking like a flame, contained many emotions.
Rosena couldn’t understand it at all.
Yerhan slowly lowered his eyes. Rosena parted her lips upon seeing his somber-looking face.
“Everything will be fine now.”
It was a sentence directed to Yerhan, and also to Rosena herself.
Yerhan smiled slowly at Rosena’s words.
The smile that rose in the gentle light was like a picture, holding Rosena’s gaze and not letting go.
Her vision got blurry, and her heart was pounding as if it had circled in the same place for a long time.
Just like the first time she ran into him, a strange sense captivated Rosena.
At this rate, Rosena really couldn’t sleep, so she laid down in a hurry.
“Good night.”
Silence covered the two after her quiet voice.
*****
Rosena woke up and blinked her eyes. She couldn’t remember when she fell asleep.
It seemed around dawn, given that it was still dark.
After tossing and turning to sleep again, Rosena rose to the sound of rain.
She turned her head to the window, and she could see a steady stream of water running down the window.
The sound of rain was getting louder and she heard firewood burning from time to time.
Rosena stared blankly at the window and her gaze moved slowly toward the bed.
The bed was empty, as if there had been no one occupying it before.
It was raining outside, so he couldn’t have left.
Rosena sat down and stared at the door. But no matter how long she waited, the door wouldn’t open.
“Did he really go?”
Rosena lifted herself up completely, and opened the door. The squeaking sound was immediately buried in the rain.
She took a step forward, and stepped out to the front door. There was a lot of water on the porch, perhaps because of the rain and wind.
Rosena stood at the front door and looked around to avoid getting rained on.
Rain was falling all over the forest where the dawn had seeped.
White trees shook whenever raindrops fell, as if welcoming the rain.
The moon hidden between the gray clouds, as if stuck between white mist and dust, shone on the forest occasionally.
Rosena turned her head slowly. There was a painful groan coming from inside the forest.
She could clearly hear the rough breathing in the dark.
Rosena, staring at the source of the sound, unconsciously walked forward one step at a time.
The drizzling rain fell on Rosena’s shoulder. Her hair, face, and clothes started to get wet.
But Rosena didn’t stop approaching him.
As she approached, she heard Yerhan’s rough breathing, which was buried in the rain.
The chill coming out from his mouth spread like fog.
Carrying a knife, he looked agitated as if he was about to rush forward.
He looked like a lost animal.
Rosena, aware that she could be in danger, reached out to Yerhan without realizing it.
Filled with ferocious energy, he raised his head and faced Rosena.
Yerhan’s eyes, that were revealed in the dark, were a deep navy.
It was the same color as the first time she faced him.
He didn’t seem to be a human being with the heat coming out from dark navy eyes, as dark as the night sky.
Rosena was reflected in his burning eyes as if to tell her that if she touched him, she would turn into ashes.
But he didn’t seem to notice anything.
Rosena reached out, carefully touching Yerhan’s cheek.
Then his cold cheeks flinched, and Yerhan breathed out loud.
The fierce face, that felt like he’d cut off whatever was in front of him at any moment, subsided, and the knife in his hand slipped onto the floor.
He raised his trembling arm and put his fingers on Rosena’s hand that touched his cheek.
Yerhan, who seemed to be not satisfied just with the touch of her hand, stretched out his arms and hugged Rosena strongly.
Rosena, who was hugged in an instant, opened her eyes wide to the beats of his heart that seemed about to burst.
And it was getting stronger, like it was swallowing the sound of rain.
Yerhan, who tightly clasped Rosena’s back, dug into the flesh covered by wet clothes.
Every time his finger touched her skin, it was so hot that she groaned weakly. Rosena did not push him, instead she raised her arm and touched his cheek.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
Her head got very chaotic.
Her rationality warned her it wasn’t too late to back off.
But Rosena could not escape from him. Rather, she had an urge to kiss his cheek with her hands wrapped around it.
All of her nerves were on him. Rosena didn’t know what to call this emotion.
Just looking at him made her feel overwhelmed by desire.
Rationality to draw the line and instincts played tug-of-war.
Her head was screaming for her to stop, but her body was already drawn to him.
Yerhan buried his face in Rosena’s neck.
Rosena took a deep breath as if it had become one with his breathing.
The chilly, cold breath went down the back of Rosena’s neck.
“…Liden.”
When he called Rosena’s alias, she briefly returned to her senses.
She was drawn to him without hesitation, but when she took a step back, she realized that this situation was very unusual.
She managed to come to her senses and lightly pushed Yerhan away.
But unlike her wish, he didn’t budge.
He hugged her as if he would never fall apart.
Every part that he touched was hot, and it seemed to melt away at any moment.
Rosena held back the urge to hug him and raised her head.
His eyes, falling like it’s eaten by the moon, was filled with Rosena.
Yerhan rolled up Rosena’s wet hair. And his face gradually got closer.
When his wet, cold lips touched hers, Rosena grabbed his shirt with her fingers and pulled it down.
The two began to covet each other’s lips in the rain.
