Cafe Yeon was cozy and inviting, filled with the comforting aroma of coffee and the soft murmur of conversation. So-min led Chae-woo to a small table near the window.
"So, Mr. Lee," So-min said, attempting to break the lingering awkwardness. "What do you do?"
"I'm an architect," Chae-woo replied. "And you?"
"I work here part-time," So-min explained. "But I'm also trying to become a webtoon artist."
"A webtoon artist?" Chae-woo asked, intrigued. "What kind of stories do you like to draw?"
"Fantasy, mostly," So-min said. "Historical dramas too. Lately, I've been thinking about a story set in the Joseon era." She hesitated, then added, "It's silly, but I've been having these vivid dreams…of a prince."
Chae-woo's breath caught in his throat. "A prince?" he echoed, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes," So-min said, surprised by his reaction. "It's probably just my imagination running wild."
"What…what does he look like?" Chae-woo asked, his heart pounding in his chest.
So-min described the man from her dreams, the man under the plum tree, his strong jawline, his piercing eyes, the expression of sadness that haunted his face. As she spoke, Chae-woo felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, a flood of images surging through his mind: a sprawling palace bathed in moonlight, the weight of a royal robe on his shoulders, the delicate scent of plum blossoms carried on the wind.