The twins settled into their mother's embrace, yet the inner tension remained.
They looked alike except for one difference: their brown eyes were not the same. One had bright yellow flecks, like polished gold, and the other had deep blue flecks, like a profound sea.
He stared into his brother's golden-flecked eyes.
"Alright, I get it."
"Am I in ancient China now?"
"Damn it."
"I was never any good at Chinese history."
"Is this kid my brother or sister?"
"So cute! I hope I'm as good-looking as this guy. My neck won't bend down enough for me to see if I'm a boy or not!"
"So reincarnation is real. But why is he staring like that?"
His brother raised his head slightly, closed his golden eyes, and with a smile and great effort, raised his middle finger toward him.
"Damn it!"
"Is this guy also a reincarnator?"
"He probably hasn't figured me out yet, so it's fine."
The mother opened her sleepy eyes and saw the moon's rays through the carved window lattice. The moon, in a cloudless sky, illuminated the villa.
She had struggled to stay awake for an hour after the difficult labor, but after a few hours, she had lost the strength to remain conscious any longer. She had been waiting for hours.
The midwife was still present in the room and had been accompanying the Lady all this time. She sensed a presence, as if someone was waiting behind the door.
The midwife, assuming it was a maidservant, opened the door. But before her stood a tall man in dark robes.
The tall man commanded with a cold gaze:
"Inform them I am here."
The guards, who had come for patrol duty in the corridor, saw a man who had reached the Lady's chamber room without their notice. They took one firm step forward, then fell to their knees on the second step.
They knew they must not shout for the Lady's sake, yet saying nothing would also be disrespectful.
Midwife Choi understood this hesitation, so she knelt fully in a deep bow and said softly:
"Long live the Heavenly Demon."
The Heavenly Demon's gaze fell upon the corner of the room. In the corner, a woman glowed under the faint moonlight and was smiling.
"You came."