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“Once the ad shooting schedule is confirmed, I will contact you again.”

At that moment, Park Hwan-soo’s figure, who had been saying he’d look out for me from here on, came to mind.

Haeun, who had just signed the contract, responded with a polite “I look forward to working with you as well.”

It was right after that when questions about the smoothly running <Moonlight Piercing the Clouds> began to come in, more successful than Haeun had anticipated.

“Isn’t your character named Yeong-wol? The girl who dresses like a man?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, when do you think Yeong-wol’s image will change? She can’t pretend to be a man until the very end, right?”

What followed was Park Hwan-soo’s predictions or guesses: that the specifics of this ad would hinge on how, when, and where Yeong-wol’s image changes.

Haeun, after a moment of contemplation, recalled that the latest episode preview, which had aired recently, included the S#88 reunion.

“It will change, at the latest, from this week onward.”

She spoke about Yeong-wol’s image change without giving away any spoilers.

If further explanation was needed, she added a recommendation to read the original novel of <Moonlight Piercing the Clouds>.

However, in cases like this bed ad of Haeun, where a female entertainer is acting as a model, there was always some degree of emphasis on the female entertainer’s femininity.

As for Haeun, her femininity was still an unexplored territory.

So, right after formally signing the contract with Sears, she asked,

“How do I look?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“As a woman.”

“…? Are you really asking me what you look like as a woman right now?”

“Yep.”

She dragged her friend Dayeon, who was almost the only one in her circle with CF experience, to the school canteen to ask about Haeun’s femininity.

The scene Haeun had to act as Yeong-wol that afternoon was also one where Yeong-wol’s femininity was supposed to be prominently displayed.

The problem was that Dayeon’s eyes had narrowed suspiciously.

“Do you have a crush on someone again?”

“No, it’s because of the ad. Not a guy or anything.”

“Ad? You got an ad?”

“Just happened, I guess.”

So, after she explained everything about the Sears bed ad from start to finish, she finally heard Dayeon’s review.

Despite still being awkward about directly complimenting Haeun, Dayeon’s feedback was thankfully closer to praise than criticism.

“You look like a movie star.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It means… you’re pretty.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

Be it what it may, Dayeon had been inseparable from Haeun for over ten years.

She had also witnessed Haeun getting confessions from male students and seniors a few times.

In the end, she had turned them all down, but still.

With Haeun’s charm as a woman, it would make sense she received such confessions.

Even Dayeon, as a fellow girl, could see that Haeun had quite the pretty appearance.

However, Haeun didn’t really know what specifically constituted her femininity.

And she didn’t know how to accentuate her femininity either.

“Dayeon, how do you pose for ads?”

Haeun asked Dayeon, who had some experience doing ads that highlighted femininity, for some tips.

Haeun had done commercials herself, but that was back when she was still regarded as a child actress.

“Look softly at the camera. And…”

“And?”

“Smile gently. Tilt your head a bit.”

Right after pulling out her handheld mirror from her bag, Dayeon demonstrated.

But…

“I don’t really get what it feels like.”

Looking at Dayon smiling in the handheld mirror, Haeun couldn’t tell which part highlighted her femininity.

After pondering for a moment, Dayon then offered a rather surprising suggestion.

“Hmm… like you’re seducing the camera?”

“S-seducing?”

“Why are you so shocked? You did it once long ago, didn’t you?”

“Me? Seducing?”

“You know, from <You Who Came from the Stars>… Actually, showing you is faster.”

Before she knew it, Dayon pulled out her phone.

And within seconds, the highlight reel of <You Who Came from the Stars> began to play.

“Do you know, uncle? I’m going to become a star. A huge star that nobody can ignore, a star that everyone will look up to.”

– Saruk.

“Would such an incredible star let herself be held back by just some random uncle she just met?”

With her softly arched eyes.

With a gentle smile.

With her head slightly tilted and hair cascading down just a bit.

‘Is this what they call seduction acting?’

The child actress Haeun played back then, Han Yu-hwa, was exactly as Dayon had described.

Perhaps that was why.

“I’ll record it with my phone, so try doing it again right now.”

At Dayon’s request to replicate the scene she had just shown, Haeun began to strike a pose without any real objections.

She thought it was necessary to understand what kind of acting felt like seduction.

And so, Haeun’s seductive acting began in the small open area behind the school canteen.

As the sole director and audience for this recreation of a highlight that had turned heads a few years back, Dayon’s impression was,

“…It’s too much.”

“What’s too much?”

“Lee Haeun, you look way too alluring! Like a nine-tailed fox that’s seducing men!”

“F-nine-tailed fox?”

Dayon’s criticism was a strange and far-off interpretation from what Haeun had imagined.

Yet, knowing now what kind of acting might give off a seductive vibe, she asked Dayon to send her the recorded video from earlier.

From then on, she kept rewinding the video Dayon sent over and engaged in image training.

Since the scene Haeun would be shooting today was the last highlight of <Moonlight Piercing the Clouds>, she wanted to deliver the most ideal performance.

In any case, Yeong-wol meant a lot to Haeun for various reasons.

Since she had hidden her true identity through acting for such a long time, Haeun had many similarities to Yeong-wol from her past life.

So, even more so.

One thing had to end differently.

So that the true identity she had struggled to conceal could still be loved until the very end, even after it was revealed.

Loved to the extent that it was unavoidable.

“S#145, in the Woods. Let’s start. 3, 2, 1… Action!”

Truth.

Sincerity.

Without hiding a single thing.

“…My lord.”

She took a step toward the one she has longed for.

“May I ask why you took the trouble to walk this treacherous path again?”

“This is where you first saved me, isn’t it? I have some urgent matters to discuss, hence I came here.”

The red sunset had completely faded, turning the sky pitch black.

Trees that had grown densely filled every inch of the surroundings.

And, at the very center of it all.

Just like always, a gentle smile.

In the fleeting moment, the only sound breaking the silence was the gradually intensifying heartbeat, revealing its presence.

Even after she started walking, following the familiar footsteps of the familiar one, the trembling did not cease.

Even though everything around was familiar, perhaps it was a sign of her longing that made it hard for her to calm down.

She couldn’t open her mouth, both excited yet fearful, as she felt that this story would be different from what she hoped.

Thus, she continued to simply walk alongside Lee Hyun.

“Wow, the moon has already risen.”

In the vast field she had finally reached.

Among the sprawling night sky, a magnificent gray light shining alone.

Standing still, it was the shadow waiting for Yeong-wol to come.

– Thud.

Finally realizing the moment had come, she stretched out her hand to bridge the gap.

Not long after, the sound of leaves crunching beneath her feet reached her ears.

A gust of wind blowing in from afar followed after it.

And thus, in the end, saruk.

Her hand, extended toward the side rather than forward, entwined completely with Lee Hyun’s.

“…When did you get so bold?”

“Is holding my lord’s hand so bold?”

“Are you really only grabbing the hand of your lord?”

“For this moment, please let me remain as your lord.”

A calm voice, just like any other time.

An unfamiliar atmosphere never encountered before.

A silence descended as Yeong-wol’s familiar and alien disposition mixed together.

Still, it seemed she could not linger any longer.

“The selection for the Crown Princess will be happening soon.”

She began to say the words she must tell Yeong-wol.

After which her lips, sealed until Lee Hyun’s story was completely told, remained silent.

However.

“Don’t worry too much. No matter what woman it is, I will definitely reject her.”

At that moment, she had tried to reassure Yeong-wol with the words that she would not choose any of the Crown Princess candidates.

“…The selection of the Crown Princess is a grave matter. It should not be taken lightly.”

In fact, Yeong-wol suggested they welcome a Crown Princess.

At this, Lee Hyun’s gaze wavered momentarily.

“Are you suggesting that I take another woman instead of you?”

“I have never suggested you take another woman.”

“Then why do you say not to take the selection of the Crown Princess lightly?”

“Because your position would be in danger.”

The selection of the Crown Princess was also preparation for ascending the throne.

Choosing not to select a Crown Princess would be akin to declaring that you do not intend to have a successor.

If Lee Hyun avoided the selection of Crown Princess because of Yeong-wol, there would surely be further disputes all around.

The greatest enemy of Lee Hyun, Queen Yoon, would also use the absence of a Crown Princess as an opportunity to attack him.

“So please choose wisely.”

“…Who on earth should I choose?”

Thus, at that moment when a deep shadow fell over Lee Hyun’s face.

– Stumble─!

Suddenly, Yeong-wol pulled him, causing him to lose balance and fall onto the expanse of the field.

When she finally looked up, there was Yeong-wol, gazing at him from beneath with her characteristic sharp eyes.

Lee Hyun’s words stumbled as he was utterly astounded by this unexpected turn of events.

A silence fell again.

However, unlike Lee Hyun, who looked flustered,

“Choose the woman who is standing before you now, the one who has long admired you.”

The silence was completely broken by Yeong-wol’s calm gaze.

“Let Lady Kim Yeon, the eldest daughter of Kim Ho-jin, the Minister of Justice, assist you and bear a successor.”

She revealed yet another hidden identity.

And with it, Yeong-wol’s final wish.

“I shall become yours. So please… choose me.”

Through the entire time until she concluded her words, the earnest gaze directed at Lee Hyun never wavered even once.

The hand, still firmly grasped.

“If your identity is revealed, everyone will point fingers at you.”

“To me, nothing is more important than my lord.”

“I don’t want you getting hurt because of those ignorant people.”

“Then please protect me. Hold me dearly in your embrace so that nobody can reach me.”

No words could shatter that resolute will.

Her face, which had only shown determination thus far, now began to soften gradually.

With her eyes beginning to curve and her lips forming a gentle smile, it emitted a completely different atmosphere from before.

The emotions that surfaced were clearer than ever.

The sincerity that conveyed more vividly than before.

In that moment, her hand, now tinged with affection, slowly wrapped around Lee Hyun’s neck and pulled him down.

At almost the same instant, the smile of the woman who had presented herself in a delicate arch.

“I cherish you, my lord.”

Captivated entirely by that wicked form radiating in the bright moonlight, Lee Hyun could not break free from all that bound him.

And just seconds later, his vision finally darkened.

He ultimately accepted that he could not escape the warm tenderness that approached him from a distance closer than ever.

Finally realizing he had harbored a truly frightening woman in his heart.