This may be a somewhat old story, but Hong Si-Hwa had developed a slight interest in Baek Yu-Seol.
It was due to a completely absurd misunderstanding: during a first-year assignment where students were asked to introduce themselves, Baek Yu-Seol had written down the lyrics of the song 'To Mother' as his response.
For any young adult from South Korea, 'To Mother' is an iconic song no one could possibly be unaware of. Its appeal lies in its deeply moving and sorrowful lyrics.
Since there was no risk of plagiarism accusations in this world and no one would recognize the song, Baek Yu-Seol copied its lyrics word for word into his self-introduction assignment.
And Hong Si-Hwa had read it.
As ridiculous as it might sound, the lyrics of 'To Mother' - a song Baek Yu-Seol had lifted straight from GOD - left a profound impact on her.
She had never spared a single thought for the lives of the unfortunate.
For someone like her, Baek Yu-Seol standing boldly among the most powerful nobles of Adolevit was an utterly unfamiliar sight.
In her mind, unfortunate commoners were supposed to live miserable lives and die in obscurity. Nobles, born with wings, were meant to soar from the very beginning.
But Baek Yu-Seol had broken this immutable law and now stood at the center of attention.
This fact alone fascinated Hong Si-Hwa.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
'...The one who softened me up must be that boy in front of me.'
Ever since she learned about Baek Yu-Seol's past, Hong Si-Hwa had undergone a slight change.
It was such a minor, trivial change that no one around her noticed, but she herself was keenly aware of it.
There are very few people who can view themselves from a third-party perspective and evaluate themselves objectively.
But Hong Si-Hwa often thought of herself as if she were someone else.
From the moment she opened her eyes, she believed she was playing the role of 'Hong Si-Hwa'... a persona she had to act out every single day.
That, she thought, was the essence of her life.
So, she was able to view herself more objectively than anyone else.
'I've changed.'
She was fully aware of her sins.
She knew she would likely die soon and fall into hell.
Even so, on her final path, dreaming of the goal she had yearned for all her life...
'How ridiculous.'
Hong Si-Hwa let out a hollow laugh.
The fact that she couldn't remain objective about herself and allowed herself to entertain such shameless thoughts… it wasn't like her at all.
"You're a good dancer," Hong Si-Hwa said to Baek Yu-Seol, who matched the gentle rhythm of the music with his steps.
"I've always been good."
He wasn't wrong.
He'd never formally learned how to dance, but simply by observing an instructor and copying the moves, he had mastered it within thirty minutes. It seemed he had an innate talent for physical activities.
"It's been a while since we've seen each other, hasn't it?"
"I suppose it has."
They had crossed paths briefly before, though there wasn't anything particularly memorable about it.
Still, Baek Yu-Seol remembered everything about what Hong Si-Hwa had done and the kind of person she was.
At the time, it hadn't left much of an impression on him, but now that he was closer to Eisel and Hong Bi-Yeon, his resentment toward Hong Si-Hwa had taken root deep in his heart.
Thanks to the blessing of Pink Spring Moon, however, his anger didn't flare up easily. Instead, it lay dormant, quietly smoldering, waiting to ignite. Outwardly, he maintained a calm and pleasant smile.
Now, Baek Yu-Seol was just as confident as anyone else in wearing a masked face.
"So, the reason you invited me to dance… is it because you wanted to mess with Hong Bi-Yeon?"
"Oh my, you knew, and yet you still agreed?"
"I felt awkward just sitting around. Besides, it's not like I'm actually going to stick to you or anything. No reason for anyone to get angry over it."
Even as he said this, he felt a subtle but intense killing intent, sending a chill down his spine.
"Really? That's a shame~ I was hoping you'd actually stay with me."
"What could possibly be good about that for me?"
"Well~ I could make you the King of Adolevit."
"… What?"
That was a shockingly absurd statement.
Adolevit's monarchy was strictly based on bloodline. Only those who carried the pure blood of Adolevit and could wield explosive flame magic inherited the throne.
Although there were times when a man became king, due to the peculiar fact that Adolevit herself was a woman, it became natural for women, who excelled at controlling flames, to rule Adolevit as queens.
Yet here she was, suggesting that Baek Yu-Seol, who wasn't even of Adolevit blood - and a man at that - could become king?
It was complete nonsense.
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Nonsense? That's harsh. I was being serious, you know."
Baek Yu-Seol narrowed his eyes slightly, activating his pinkish glow to try and read Hong Si-Hwa's emotions.
[Amusement, ???, Sincerity, ???]
He couldn't fully decipher her emotions.
'Must be because my level isn't high enough…'
The Pink Spring Moon blessing leaned heavily toward the spiritual realm, and he had admittedly been neglecting its training.
Still, among the emotions he could discern, the most puzzling one was sincerity.
"So… she really meant it?"
"Oh my."
Just as Baek Yu-Seol was about to get lost in thought, Hong Si-Hwa smiled slyly, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"You… You did something to me, didn't you? Am I right?"
Baek Yu-Seol felt a slight twinge of anxiety at her words. He had never been caught using the Pink Spring Moon blessing before, but he always kept in mind that someone with strong spiritual abilities could potentially notice it.
However, he kept his composure and replied, "Yes. I was just checking whether you were spouting nonsense or not."
"And? What's the result?"
"It seems you were somewhat sincere. Though it's an offer I find completely unappealing."
"Oh my… Why wouldn't you want to be the King of Adolevit? Becoming a king should be a wonderful and exciting thing, no?"
"The person who will inherit Adolevit's throne has already been decided."
"Oh, really?"
"You must be completely smitten with my darling little sister, huh?"
It was a trivial remark. Something he could have brushed off with ease.
But Baek Yu-Seol couldn't.
Without thinking, he abruptly yanked his arm away from her grip and stepped back three paces.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
The music continued to play, but every dancer in the ballroom had stopped and was now staring at the two of them.
The only time a couple would halt their dance in the center of the ballroom was when the King approached the floor.
Yet Baek Yu-Seol had just pulled away from Princess Hong Si-Hwa.
"What… what just happened?"
"What's going on?"
"I have no idea…"
The nobles whispered quietly among themselves.
Their voices were low enough to be drowned out by the music, but Baek Yu-Seol, with his heightened hearing, caught every word.
'…This is a disaster. I made a mistake.'
He should have maintained his poker face, but the mention of Hong Bi-Yeon caused even the blessing of Pink Spring Moon to falter.
"Was that a sensitive topic for you?"
"Phew! I suppose you could say it's sensitive."
"Did I perhaps hit a nerve~?"
Though his reaction had been foolish, Baek Yu-Seol knew better than to get swept up in her pace.
"Princess, I'm deeply disappointed. Did you invite me to dance just to mock me with such petty jokes?"
"Oh my, then should I reveal this to everyone here~?"
Baek Yu-Seol shrugged his shoulders.
"Feel free. But wouldn't it only be fair if I reveal one of your secrets in return?"
At his words, even the music stopped, and everyone on the dance floor began retreating slightly, sensing the tension.
"…My secret?"
Hong Si-Hwa asked, her smile never leaving her face. She couldn't understand.
'What secret could that boy possibly know…?'
She considered herself a woman with countless secrets.
Perhaps it was because of the many sins she had committed, or perhaps it was due to the plethora of hidden truths surrounding her.
But she had always believed she had guarded all of her secrets thoroughly.
Killing someone to protect them had never been an issue for her. She had ensured that none of her secrets ever leaked.
'There's absolutely no way he knows…'
Unfortunately for Hong Si-Hwa, Baek Yu-Seol possessed a unique advantage. He had the ability to view her past from a third-person perspective, thanks to his knowledge from Aether World Online.
Although he hadn't experienced it firsthand, in the game, flashback events often depicted past incidents committed by NPCs.
Even if, at the time, she had killed every single witness, down to the last ant.
She couldn't hide from the eyes of the stars.
The countless stars in the night sky, with their millions of watchful eyes, observe all the events that unfold in this world.
And Baek Yu-Seol… Had the ability to view Hong Si-Hwa's past from their perspective.
Of course, revealing truths about future events or knowledge only visible from a third-person perspective had always been challenging. He had often refrained from speaking up due to a lack of plausibility.
But now, things were different.
Baek Yu-Seol was certain of it.
"…How amusing. What do you think you know about me?"
"I know enough."
"Hmph. Spending so much time with my little sister seems to have made you lose respect for royalty, hasn't it?"
"Not at all. I even gifted Her Majesty the Queen an accessory worth millions of gold coins in honor of her birthday. While respect for royalty can't be reduced to monetary value, I made every effort to demonstrate proper etiquette."
At his words, Hong Si-Hwa glanced at Queen Hong Seryu's wrist and noticed a dazzling bracelet glinting brilliantly.
It was something she hadn't seen before.
"Well, I suppose there are occasional cases like this. A commoner spending too much time with nobles and beginning to believe they're equals… Your one-sided infatuation with Hong Bi-Yeon, and the delusion that something might actually happen between you two, are probably part of the same pattern."
At Hong Si-Hwa's provocative remark, the ballroom fell silent.
In Adolevit, it was a strict tradition for royal family members to marry into ducal households or those of similarly noble bloodlines descended from Adolevit.
Hong Bi-Yeon would likely be no exception.
Even if she didn't become queen, as a direct descendant of Adolevit's royal bloodline, Hong Bi-Yeon was bound by duty to preserve the purity and nobility of their lineage, unmarred by outside influences.
"W-what nonsense are you spouting…?"
As Hong Bi-Yeon's face turned pale, Hong Si-Hwa continued speaking.
"It's such a cliché, yet that's what makes it entertaining, don't you think? People always crave familiar stories! A commoner's unrequited love for the princess! A love that can never come true~!"
She spoke provocatively, trying to draw out a reaction from Baek Yu-Seol, but the response she was hoping for didn't come.
Instead, Baek Yu-Seol calmly assessed the situation, considering his options on how to respond most wisely.
- Acknowledge it
- Deny it
This wasn't a matter of whether or not Baek Yu-Seol actually loved Hong Bi-Yeon; the issue was entirely separate.
From this moment forward, he needed to respond to Hong Si-Hwa without falling into her manipulative pace.
'Deny it? That's not a good move.'
Since Hong Si-Hwa had already made the first move, denying it would only make Baek Yu-Seol seem like an immature, embarrassed teenager incapable of owning his feelings.
Acknowledging it wouldn't necessarily lead to a favorable reaction, but there was an advantage: by admitting it, he could regain control of the conversation and set the stage for his next move.
So, Baek Yu-Seol chose to acknowledge it.
"Yes, it's true. I love Princess Hong Bi-Yeon. But… I knew it was a love that could never come to fruition, so I kept it a secret."
"What?! Really?!"
Hong Si-Hwa feigned exaggerated surprise, but the reactions of the nobles were no less dramatic.
How dare a mere commoner, and at none other than a royal ballroom, confess to loving a princess!
In Adolevit's strict hierarchical society, this was an unthinkable affront.
Such audacity from a lowly commoner - proclaiming love for a royal princess in the presence of the nobility - was nothing short of scandalous!
However, since Hong Si-Hwa was present, the nobles didn't dare step in.
They supported her, but they also understood how dangerous she could be.
But their judgment was wrong.
If they had shouted and stopped Baek Yu-Seol from speaking, even at the risk of incurring Hong Si-Hwa's scorn, they might have succeeded in silencing him. Even if their actions seemed disgraceful, Baek Yu-Seol would have been forced to retreat as nothing more than an embarrassed teenage boy.
But they did nothing.
"So, since you've revealed the secret I wanted to keep hidden… it's only fair that I share one of your secrets as well, isn't it?"
"Of course, as long as you have sufficient evidence~"
Hong Si-Hwa was confident in her perfection.
'Let's see, what secret could he possibly reveal?'
The possibilities flickered through her mind.
The embezzlement of the knight order's treasury?
The trap in the land policy?
The Iron Tower disappearance case?
The Creden Village annihilation incident?
Countless secrets she had buried flashed in her mind and disappeared just as quickly.
"Ten years ago."
"…?"
Ten years? Isn't that too far back?
Hong Si-Hwa's expression shifted to one of incredulity.
Then, Baek Yu-Seol's words struck her like a lightning bolt.
"You killed the fallen Isaac Morph."
"…What?"
Her heart sank as the memory of that incident resurfaced at Baek Yu-Seol's revelation.
"The truth of that event… surely it won't be a problem if I reveal a bit of it now?"
Hong Si-Hwa fell silent.