“…Where have you been?”
Weak gaze.
Low voice.
The first thing Kim Jin-soo saw when he returned to the waiting room was Da-yeon’s endlessly dark expression.
However, he couldn’t let Da-yeon find out that he and Ha Eun were secretly preparing a surprise birthday party for her.
“Uh, I just went to the bathroom for a bit.”
“…Next time, let me know before you go.”
“Ah… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
He managed to hide the fact that he had met Ha Eun by pretending he had just gone to the bathroom.
What followed was a quiet stillness.
The only sound that marked the moment was the rustling of the script in Da-yeon’s hands.
‘It would be nice if she could at least tell me what’s wrong.’
Almost every moment, except for sleep time, was spent with Da-yeon as her manager, so Kim Jin-soo knew better than anyone what her current state was.
However, he couldn’t understand what was casting a deep shadow over Da-yeon’s face.
She wouldn’t respond no matter how much he asked.
Thus, Kim Jin-soo tried to deduce the reason for Da-yeon’s poor condition in his own way, but after racking his memory, there was no clear reason for her to be in such a state.
She had passed the audition for the role of Queen Yoon, overcoming fierce competition.
Her midterm exam scores had also improved a little.
In fact, after filming for <The Moon Split by the Clouds> had officially begun, she even received compliments that her acting had improved significantly.
Everything was going well.
It didn’t seem reasonable to think that all these good things were making Da-yeon feel bad.
-Tok.
“Um…? Da-Da-yeon, are you okay?! Why are you crying all of a sudden!”
“I don’t know… I don’t know anything…”
In the past, Da-yeon had burst into tears after wrapping up the filming of <The Moon Split by the Clouds>.
Hesitantly, he once asked if playing Queen Yoon was difficult for her, but the only response he received was her shaking her head vigorously.
The bigger issue was that, since that day, Da-yeon had become rapidly less talkative.
The atmosphere felt incredibly bleak.
The only time she seemed somewhat better was when she was watching an internet broadcast on her phone.
At all other times, she only displayed a gloomy disposition.
There were even times when she murmured incomprehensible words while staring into the mirror in the empty waiting room.
“I’m sorry for getting upset over trivial things. I’m sorry for getting mad about grades, for calling you out repeatedly and telling you what to do. I’m sorry for forcing you to act and for asking you to find my ads…”
In the aftermath of Da-yeon’s eerie behavior, the next day, Kim Jin-soo reluctantly took her to the hospital.
“The symptoms are definitely not schizophrenia. It’s just her trying to muster her courage.”
The doctor who consulted Da-yeon said there was no major issue.
Da-yeon came out of the consultation room with a flushed face and eyes brimming with intensity.
In the end, he could only watch.
He was also worried that his actions for Da-yeon might backfire.
“Da-yeon, it’s almost time for shooting~.”
So, when a staff member came to fetch Da-yeon, he gently patted her shoulder, telling her to do her best today.
He even added that she would do well in the scene S#101 she was about to sh**t.
To Da-yeon, such words from Kim Jin-soo were certainly appreciated.
However, they didn’t provide her with the immense support she needed.
Perhaps that was to be expected.
After all, it wasn’t Kim Jin-soo who had made her feel so bad.
‘Should I ask Yu Sung-jae for help?’
These days, the person who had been spending the most time with Ha Eun was Yu Sung-jae.
It was the complete opposite for Da-yeon, who had been struggling to even encounter Ha Eun.
Ultimately, the only solution was to mend her relationship with Ha Eun.
She believed that nothing else could improve her mood.
So, she had to meet Ha Eun.
She needed to meet her and sincerely apologize, even if it meant asking Yu Sung-jae to facilitate it.
However, Da-yeon had also noticed that Ha Eun was intentionally avoiding her lately.
Before long, the negative assumptions and worries that filled Da-yeon’s mind began to make her hesitate again.
Even if she mustered the courage to apologize, what if she was harshly rejected?
What if Ha Eun thought it was unnecessary to mend their relationship?
‘…What am I supposed to do…?’
Not long after, even when she finally arrived at the set of <The Moon Split by the Clouds>, her thoughts were still consumed by Ha Eun.
Perhaps that was why.
-Tok tok.
“…?”
She hadn’t even realized that someone was approaching until one of the supporting actors gently touched Da-yeon’s shoulder.
“Um, Da-yeon. Can we rehearse my lines just once? I think my mouth is a little stiff.”
A cautious request for the upcoming scene S#101, which would start shooting soon.
Despite Da-yeon’s poor condition, she knew how to separate public and private matters, so she ultimately agreed to the supporting actor’s request.
“How has it turned out?”
A cold voice.
A gaze directed not at the servant in front of her, but at Prince Lee Hyun beyond.
Her gaze was equally fiery.
Within that fierce gaze lay the indomitable will of Queen Yoon.
“The prince’s dancer should be facing not another dancer but an assassin.”
“Is their skill sufficient?”
“Yes.”
The scene before Queen Yoon was a banquet held to welcome an envoy from Qing.
It was the first court event held since Prince Lee Hyun took on his regent role.
This banquet was the first test and task for Prince Lee Hyun to ascend the throne.
He had to properly host the envoy in place of the king who lay bedridden and prove worthy of being king before countless officials.
From Queen Yoon’s perspective, who had to do whatever it took to bring Lee Hyun down, this banquet had to be ruined.
Therefore, she aimed to ensure that during the crucial “sword dance,” the prince’s dancer would meet with a fatal accident.
“The envoy must clearly see the prince’s dancer d*e from coughing up bl**d.”
“Do not worry. I have instructed them to use only swords well-suited for daylight.”
If the banquet Lee Hyun prepared as prince ended with screams, it would ultimately spell doom for him as well.
Even without Queen Yoon intervening, many attendees would criticize Lee Hyun for his missteps.
“…The moonlight will soon fade.”
With a brief glance at the vast night sky, Queen Yoon’s muttering wrapped up the brief rehearsal.
What followed was the supporting actor’s expression of gratitude for the help in rehearsal.
Once the supporting actor returned to their original position, it was now only a minute until the shooting began.
Other actors, aside from Da-yeon, were also arriving one by one on set and prepping for their parts.
However, there was one person who was entirely missing.
Ha Eun, playing Yeom Wol, was nowhere to be found.
‘…What’s going on?’
Without meaning to, Da-yeon turned her head in the direction of Yu Sung-jae, who was playing Prince Lee Hyun.
Throughout the filming, Yeom Wol and Lee Hyun had been inseparable.
Yet, Ha Eun’s presence was still absent.
Eventually, Da-yeon began the sh**t for S#101 without ever figuring out Ha Eun’s location.
“Okay, 3, 2, 1… Action!”
-Boom─!
The sound of drummers announced the start of the banquet.
The sound of the palace maidens’ gayageum and the dance of many dancers heightened the festive atmosphere of the banquet.
At the top of the stepped seating were Lee Hyun and Queen Yoon.
And sitting just below them were the envoy from Qing and the officials, who momentarily enjoyed the banquet.
“It’s a peaceful scene.”
There was not a grain of sincerity in Queen Yoon’s commentary.
Hearing this, Lee Hyun replied coldly, “It will be peaceful. For a long time to come.”
This was a response indicating that there would be no “change” in who would govern Joseon, from Prince Lee Hyun to Queen Yoon.
After that, only silence remained.
However, from the moment the most crucial “sword dance” at this banquet began to be prepared, or more precisely, the moment Lee Hyun realized that the dancer performing the sword dance had been replaced with someone else…
“…Why?”
His composure broke, and a look of panic emerged.
What blossomed on Queen Yoon’s face was a smile laden with malice.
Soon, everything would come to an end due to the assassin that Queen Yoon had stealthily planted.
Lee Hyun’s face would become contorted in the worst possible way.
At that moment, in the center of the stage, two dancers drew their swords.
They began to perform a dazzling sword dance with the swords gliding dangerously close to each other.
‘…Huh?’
For some reason, the dancer’s face, which did not seem so unfamiliar, began to shake Da-yeon’s vision.
A neatly tied, long hair.
On top of it, there was a white flower hairpin that bloomed beautifully.
“…No way.”
Even Queen Yoon, who had confidence in her assassin, was caught off guard.
After all, the dancer who was to face off against the assassin had also changed.
The assassin’s sword that had been flying toward the vital points almost uncontested.
And the dancer, skillfully twisting and evading all strikes aimed at her.
All eyes of the banquet attendees were captivated by her exquisite appearance.
An enchanting feast that no one could take their eyes off of.
“That… why is it there?”
A pure question escaped from Queen Yoon’s lips.
Dread from a derailed plan surfaced on her face.
The dazzling scene across from her was undoubtedly wrong.
However, she couldn’t say it was wrong.
Out of all the warnings of the past, she couldn’t say a word against Yeom Wol, who had undeniably transformed into a woman.
Thus, after the sword dance was perfectly executed.
The moment Queen Yoon realized that she hadn’t heard the screams she had anticipated, her heart sank.
“I hope you enjoyed my will to wish for the peace of Joseon.”
Lee Hyun’s voice began to resonate all around, confirming that the banquet had successfully concluded.
No one attending the banquet raised any complaint against Lee Hyun.
-Finally.
With Queen Yoon’s face distorted in deep anger as the last image, cut.
The shooting of scene S#101 of the banquet concluded smoothly.
Da-yeon’s gaze moved towards Ha Eun beyond the stage.
However, Ha Eun, who had stood at the center of the stage just moments before, was now utterly gone.
“……………”
Da-yeon’s expression darkened at the realization that Ha Eun had vanished once again.
Then, Yu Sung-jae approached her.
“Hey, Da-yeon. Can you come with me for a moment?”
In his signature soft voice, he called out to her.
“…Where exactly are we going?”
“That’s a secret. But I promise you won’t regret it. Just come with me once.”
In the end, Da-yeon followed Yu Sung-jae as he led the way.
They walked silently for a while until—
-Creek.
“Go ahead and enter.”
Yu Sung-jae gestured for her to go inside a waiting room.
And just a few seconds later, she came face to face with—
“Happy birthday.”
A familiar face.
And a small piece of cake with a long candle stuck in it.
The only thing flickering in the sudden silence was the soft candlelight.
However, that gentle light had also faded into a hazy glow at some point.
“…Don’t cry, Da-yeon. It’s your birthday, why are you crying?”
Ultimately, she found it hard to stand on her own two legs.
Countless emotions rose abruptly from deep within her chest, choking her voice.
