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The cat that went out for a hunt.

Or perhaps, an eagle.

When Yoo Seong-jae first caught sight of Ha-eun’s sharp gaze, these were the thoughts that primarily crossed his mind.

Of course, it was just a surface impression; I never thought of Ha-eun as an especially fierce person.

There was a calm atmosphere conveyed through her composed tone.

And beneath that lay a foundation of caution.

She managed to choose her words carefully, not pushing away Yoo Seong-jae, who approached her amiably at every moment.

Thanks to that, I was able to bridge the distance between us without much trouble.

However, there was that moment in the past when Ha-eun’s sword narrowly grazed Yoo Seong-jae’s robe instead of the imagined wild boar.

All the emotions I sensed from that fierce gaze were far from ‘affection.’

‘Romance… is it even possible?’

I couldn’t help but worry about whether the core genre of “Historical Romance” in <Moonlight Pierced by Clouds> could be properly expressed.

I struggled to envision what it would look like if someone with such a fierce impression as Ha-eun fell in love.

To put it bluntly, it was an unnecessary concern.

Having a fierce impression and performing as someone in love were ultimately two separate matters.

“I suppose it’ll just be the two of us moving forward.”

“Are you… saying it will just be the two of us?”

“Yes, just the two of us. Others just nag me on a daily basis.”

A light conversation that occurred during an outing.

However, the emotions that blossomed on Young-wol’s face were anything but light.

The joy of being able to head out alone with Lee Hyun once again.

At the same time, a tinge of regret.

The outing with Lee Hyun was promised to the bodyguard Young-wol.

But for the woman Young-wol, who harbored feelings for Lee Hyun, it had not been promised.

Something that could never be promised at any time.

“What are you thinking so deeply about? Is it really that unpleasant to be taking care of the Crown Prince who enjoys going out every day?”

“…So you were aware that he enjoys going out.”

But there’s no awareness about the fact that you’re constantly putting me through torment.

The words I had to swallow in silence made Young-wol feel a pang of bitterness once more.

Yet, my heart still fluttered.

He felt like a man, not just a Crown Prince who needed to be served.

– Tap tap.

“What happens if the Crown Prince’s bodyguard goes around with grass on his shoulder?”

Even the brief moment it took me to lightly brush off the pine needles caught me off guard.

I still held onto a heart I had given up on before conveying it, making it impossible for me to breathe out a single breath.

Even with that fierce impression and sharp gaze.

The emotions buried beneath that made Young-wol appear as a woman rather than a strong bodyguard.

While I only received friendly affection from Lee Hyun back in those days.

What Young-wol truly desired now was the love between a man and a woman.

However, simply remaining a bodyguard was the only reason to protect Lee Hyun.

“…The sun is setting, so we should return to the palace.”

Suppressing the desire to stay a little longer with Lee Hyun, I walked a few steps behind him instead of beside him.

Only when Lee Hyun began to walk ahead could I finally direct my gaze toward him.

From Young-wol, who could show none of her true feelings, only a deep yearning radiated.

And just like that, cut.

Since it was just as I imagined while reviewing the script back in the day, no NG sign was added.

“Compared to the first episode, it certainly has become softer.”

Filming the scenes in order of the script had its own advantage.

As the time in the drama flowed, it became easier to check whether the relationships and emotions between the characters were well expressed.

The first impressions that Lee Hyun and Young-wol had of each other were clearly of a type far from romance.

However, as time passed.

Lee Hyun and Young-wol came to cherish one another for entirely different reasons.

“This is going to cause Seong-jae to get some hate when it airs.”

“If it’s just man to man, it doesn’t matter much. But man to woman, it becomes flirting.”

“Flirting without self-awareness tends to look even worse. There’s nothing we can do about that.”

Expressing the emotional distance between Lee Hyun and Young-wol was of utmost importance.

There should be scenes like S#51 where Young-wol’s feelings for Lee Hyun don’t reach him, enhancing the beauty of their connection in the future.

The very next scene, S#52, was also a moment that would make the future connection stand out.

However, unlike S#51, which had a relatively calm atmosphere…

“Young-wol, please prepare for the part where you slap my cheek; it’s essential.”

A moment later, S#52 was a scene with a much darker atmosphere.

Additionally, it was a moment of crisis for both Lee Hyun and Young-wol.

“Um… Shall we try hitting from a bit lower at this angle?”

– Whoosh!

“That was a bit too sharp of a turn just now. Make it a little smoother.”

The part that Ha-eun and Dayeon were working on prominently indicated that the two main characters were in trouble.

However, was this perhaps Dayeon’s first time acting as a villain like Queen Yoon?

Even after rehearsing for quite a while, Dayeon’s attempt to slap Ha-eun’s cheek was slightly off and awkward.

It would have been better just to hit me for real.

This was something Dayeon hadn’t just guessed; Ha-eun had a certain expectation.

“Hey, Dayeon. Just hit me.”

“What if I get hurt?”

“…You really going to hit me hard enough to hurt?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

In the end, we decided to actually slap each other.

Despite the staff trying to dissuade Ha-eun from making this decision.

“Still, I want to try it once before deciding.”

Due to Ha-eun’s persistent insistence, we eventually attempted the actual slap.

And just like that, slap.

“Uh… it definitely feels better doing it for real… but… are you really okay?”

“Yes.”

Whether it was this way or that, the staff didn’t want any further delays in filming, so Ha-eun’s opinion was accepted.

The issue was that despite actually slapping Ha-eun’s face, Dayeon’s expression did not improve.

From Ha-eun’s perspective, Dayeon’s demeanor was hard to understand.

Dayeon, who had been eager to devour Ha-eun for quite some time, would surely feel some relief from this slap.

‘…Why is she like this?’

It felt as if after slapping Ha-eun, Dayeon’s mood had only worsened.

Was it that there wasn’t much of a satisfying aftereffect?

Of course, Ha-eun had no intention of allowing Dayeon to slap her until she felt better.

Ha-eun’s choice to take the slap came entirely from the thought that it might make filming easier.

Had we proceeded to actual filming with Dayeon’s awkward movements, we would’ve only ended up with a pile of NG signs.

Thus, regardless of Dayeon’s expression, Ha-eun had no intention of retracting her decision.

However, since the scene where Queen Yoon threatens appeared at the end of S#51…

“Hey, that person with a mole on the left cheek! You took the wrong sword!”

“Ah… I-I’m sorry!”

Shooting was taking place a short distance from where Ha-eun and Dayeon had been rehearsing.

Shooting for S#52 began ten minutes after that.

“Alright, then… 3, 2, 1. Cue!”

Finally, with Jin Gyu-seong’s cue sign, footsteps echoed from all around shortly after.

Before long, Lee Hyun and Young-wol were completely surrounded by soldiers sent by someone.

It was only natural that Young-wol’s gaze sharpened even more.

However, for some unknown reason…

“I have orders to bring this person.”

“Who dares give such orders—!”

“Your Highness has commanded me, so please hand him over.”

Since the people strolling over had their sights set on Young-wol, an ordinary noble, instead of Crown Prince Lee Hyun.

Additionally, they did so bearing a royal command.

Thus, ultimately, Young-wol had no choice but to leave Lee Hyun’s side, encircled by the soldiers.

In this land of Joseon, no one could defy a royal order.

The issue was that Young-wol’s footsteps stopped at the queen’s quarters known as Gyeotaejeon.

In other words, the one commanding me to accompany them wasn’t the king but Queen Yoon.

“Show proper respect. It’s Her Royal Highness the Queen.”

I realized that things were seriously going awry.

And yet, due to the soldiers surrounding me on both sides, I could do nothing but kneel.

“Did you enjoy your outing with the Crown Prince?”

Cold eyes.

A chilling voice.

It was impossible not to realize that it was not with good intentions that they called Young-wol here.

However, the difference in status between me and Queen Yoon was akin to heaven and earth.

At this moment, there was nothing I could do but keep quiet.

Anything Young-wol said or did could be considered an act of disrespect.

Yet, eventually, Young-wol found herself compelled to speak.

“The first daughter of Minister Kim Ho-jin, Kim Yeon. Have you heard the name?”

It was a name Young-wol had long discarded.

And simultaneously, a name that must not be revealed to anyone.

“I… don’t know.”

“Ha… You say you don’t know?”

“Yes.”

Young-wol’s voice was as dry as ever.

In stark contrast, Queen Yoon’s voice began to tremble slowly, emotions surging.

“How dare you lie under such protection…! Know your place!”

Slap!

At that, Queen Yoon’s fierce hand struck Young-wol’s cheek.

Almost simultaneously, she violently grabbed Young-wol’s chin.

“Ah, I will enlighten you, then.”

Her delicate, uncalloused hand pulled Young-wol closer.

“If the king were to discover that someone who turned their back on their own parents stands beside the Crown Prince with a sword in hand, what order might he give?”

“I truly do not know that name.”

“Say that same thing in front of your father. Surely he would become the traitor trying to assassinate the Crown Prince, and you two would be packed off to jail like common criminals.”

An overwhelmingly terrifying voice.

Decisively, the power embodied in the title of “Queen” was enough to justify everything Queen Yoon had said so far.

At this moment, there was literally nothing I could do but remain silent.

Whatever Young-wol said or did could be viewed as disrespect.

Yet, at last, Young-wol had to speak.

“The first daughter of Minister Kim Ho-jin, Kim Yeon. Do you know that name?”

It was a name she had long since buried.

At the same time, it was a name she must not let anyone discover.

“I… do not know.”

“Do you really not know?”

“Yes.”

Young-wol’s voice remained steady, as usual, while Queen Yoon’s voice trembled, emotions rising.

“This is an act of treachery to speak such falsehood in safety! Know your position!”

And then, just like that, the queen’s wrathful hand struck down upon Young-wol’s cheek.

Almost coincidentally, Queen Yoon’s hand yanked Young-wol’s face roughly toward her.

“Ah, yes. Since you don’t wish to speak, I shall inform you myself.”

A fair, soft hand drew Young-wol nearer.

“Should the king learn that you have forsaken the bond between parent and child, wielding your sword at the side of the Crown Prince, what decree do you think he will pass?”

“I genuinely don’t know.”

“Make that claim before your father, and he will undoubtedly land in treason for attempting to harm the Crown Prince and be imprisoned like you.”

It was an extremely dreadful voice.

Importantly, the authority arising from the title of queen was adequately capable of legitimatizing everything Queen Yoon communicated up to now.

Thus, at this moment, Young-wol could do nothing but remain silent.

Any word or action on her part would be perceived as an act of blasphemy.

Yet, still, Young-wol had to open her mouth.

“Please tell me why you are doing this.”

Unable to deny Queen Yoon’s statements any further, Young-wol sought to understand her intent.

If the queen intended to find a way to make Young-wol and her father face betrayal, there shouldn’t have been a need to intimidate Young-wol initially.

“Leave the Crown Prince’s side. And never return to the palace.”

The subsequent conversation revolved around the power struggle between the Crown Prince and Queen Yoon.

More precisely, it was about the safety of the child inside Queen Yoon.

“When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will surely seek to eliminate my child. Would he allow a threat to his position to live?”

“…Your Highness is not that kind of person.”

“Even if he’s not such a person, the throne is a place that must be treated as such.”

But as Young-wol departed from Lee Hyun’s side.

Lee Hyun’s heart and spirit began to unravel.

Ultimately, should he fall from the king’s good graces…

“He would surely entrust Joseon to me and not the Crown Prince. They couldn’t place this nation and its people in the hands of someone weak enough to falter simply because they lost a subordinate.”

Ultimately, Queen Yoon and her child would become safe.

Therefore.

“For the sake of your old father, leave. This is the last mercy granted in lieu of the king.”

Queen Yoon was forcing Young-wol to capitulate, all to isolate Lee Hyun.

At the same time, she made it abundantly clear that her method was the sole way to save everyone.

“If you disappear, no one else will face calamity. Truly, no one will suffer.”

In her gaze, devoid of any levity, was an intensity born from her elevated status.

Importantly, the harsh reality Young-wol faced, with no choice in the matter whatsoever, reached its peak.

– Young-wol could say nothing.

The realization that the one she had fiercely sought to protect had transformed into Lee Hyun’s vulnerability trampled heavily upon Young-wol’s heart.

At that moment, when Dayeon and Ha-eun exchanged glances, sadness radiated from Ha-eun’s eyes more than ever before.

– It stung.

Finally, she understood why Dayeon had felt something was off about Ha-eun being surrounded by the classmates of the past.

“Cut! That was great!”

Even as the camera and lights began to gradually pack up, and after I changed back into my usual clothes in the dressing room, climbing aboard Kim Jin-soo’s white van…

Ha-eun’s melancholic gaze still lingered in my mind.

The memories of the sharp sides Dayeon had shown Ha-eun over the past eleven years were still vivid.

She was indeed a villain.

Like Queen Yoon.

‘…How did it end up like this?’

In the beginning, it was certainly ambition to win over Ha-eun through performance.

I stayed close to Ha-eun to gain the satisfaction of outshining her in acting.

However, as time went on…

I began to feel the cracks in areas other than acting more and more.

Unconsciously, I was fearful.

That Ha-eun, fed up with the unkind nature of Dayeon, would eventually turn away from her.

Despite wishing it weren’t true, I had been avoiding acknowledging it.

The moment I saw Ha-eun conversing comfortably with others, not just Dayeon, was a turning point.

– It stung.

I faced the solitude that had become Dayeon’s reality.

Embarking on the stage, the six-year-old Min Dayeon had driven away all the kids around her simply because she felt special.

Making a villainous appearance in the same drama as Ha-eun had been Dayeon’s last cry for help.

I thought I would forget that lonely sight as I once again faced off against Ha-eun in acting.

To put it clearly, it was a miscalculation.

Every time I treated Ha-eun harshly as Queen Yoon, feelings of guilt only surged deeper.

Even though it remained merely acting, it wasn’t something I could disregard.

Nonetheless, the growing unease within my heart…

– Tap.

“Uh…? Dayeon. Are you hurt?! Why are you suddenly crying?!”

“I don’t, I don’t know… nothing…”

She was unable to recognize the reason why Dayeon could stand by Ha-eun’s side.

It dawned upon me that until now, Dayeon could only be with Ha-eun because Ha-eun was too kind.

If Ha-eun decided to turn her back on Dayeon, there would be no avoiding solitude once more.

The past had held no unusual feelings about being alone.

Was it better to apologize before it was too late?

Or was it too late to rectify things with mere apologies?

At last realizing that I had to change.

But I couldn’t even begin to imagine how to change.