The morning sun kissed the white linen curtains as a soft wind rocked the opened window panes. Hae-eun stirred in her sleep, the bright sunlight shining on her pale, but rosy cheeks. Her forehead was matted with sweat as she tossed and turned in bed. The young woman whimpered, tears slipping away as her light brown eyes fluttered open. With her heart hammering loudly in her chest, the freedom fighter bolted up from the cushy bed.

Squinting her eyes from the sudden, bright light, she dry-heaved, shuddering at that horrible dream she had. Just what was that?! What kind of dream was so vivid that she felt like she had lived through those seven years of agony and torment? She sobbed as she remembered how helpless and scared she had felt being imprisoned in that disgusting cell.

Hae-eun could still feel the pain in her body as she fearfully stared at the gold and white ceiling. Was that an alternate time that she had lived in prior to her arrival to this world…? But that was impossible! She firmly recalled waking up to this world during the ambush in the jewelry shop…

In her state of panic and bewilderment, Hae-eun failed to notice a tall and burly man making his way to her bed from the corner of the room. He was dressed in a dark, navy blue military uniform with a blue and silver cape billowing across his broad shoulders. Gleaming military badges dangled and clinked with each step he took towards the liberation leader. He stood over her as the freedom fighter cowered away from him, nearly falling off the bed in the process.

“Ha... You’re finally awake. Sit tight, I must report this to His Majesty. If you need anything, just ring this bell here and one of the maids will come in to help you.” he said in a relieved voice, as he smiled down at her, kindly.

Hae-eun didn’t respond, clutching her sheets as she stared at the man with guarded animosity. She weakly looked around the room but winced at the sharp pain on her left-side of her neck. Hae-eun froze as events of that day came flooding towards her. What if she was still at that monster’s home and this man was just lying about meeting with...?

She paused as she looked around the room in awe— it was quite different from Yong-joon’s place. The walls and ceiling were inlaid with real gold, with pristine, arched windows that reached the high ceiling. It was so beautiful here…! Perhaps she really wasn’t at Yong-joon’s estate?

The man smirked at her obvious change in mood. With a last glance at the injured woman, he swiftly left the room.

~~~

After a long moment of silence and contemplation, Hae-eun gritted her teeth. She gingerly swung her legs over the side of her bed, her toes gently touching the marble floor. She felt weak but was determined to escape this place. The freedom fighter couldn’t trust anyone. She had learned that the hard way after being imprisoned in Yong-joon’s makeshift dungeon.

She gritted her teeth as she ambled her way towards the doors.

Hae-eun was certain that he had been the one to rat them out to the Japanese Imperial Army. After all, Yong-joon had always despised Woon’s influence and power over the people. And the fact that he had imprisoned her, convinced Hae-eun even more of this theory. Tears sprang up in her eyes again as she thought about her beloved. Was he all right, back in their time? Did he manage to make it out alive?

Without warning, memories of that horrible nightmare flashed through her mind, as she fell to the marble floor.

“... I died after seven years of torture… If that dream was real, did Woon abandon me…?”

The very idea broke her heart as tears plopped onto the pristine floor. There was no way that the love of her life had deliberately abandoned her in that hellhole for seven years. Had he died? Was that why she had been imprisoned? Or... did she witness an alternate world? She shook her head. No, it was merely a dream…! Get a grip! I need to survive and get back to save them!

Hae-eun wiped away her tears as renewed energy surged through her. She had no time to waste; Hae-eun was going to return home no matter the consequences!

She glanced around the room once more, confirming her suspicions. This was the royal palace. She was sure of it. Why else did that man tell her that he was going to meet ‘His Majesty’? There had to be some clues related to her situation within the palace’s walls, right?

Jumping up to her feet, Hae-eun ran to the double oak doors and opened them without hesitation when she gasped in shock.

Standing before her was the sixth emperor, Yi Hyuk. His tall frame towered over her as his cold, hazel-grey eyes stared into her nervous, amber ones. Hyuk’s raven black bangs were slicked back, accentuating his slightly tanned chiseled cheeks and sharp jawline. He was dressed in a black, ankle-length slacks paired with a white shirt that slightly revealed a gold chain and toned muscles.

A dark, navy blue yongpo* with gold embroideries of the royal insignia (a phoenix with its wings spread wide open) was draped across his broad and muscular shoulders. The combination of modern and traditional clothing confused Hae-eun as she gazed up at his cold, glassy eyes. Was he really who she thought he was?

“Woon…?”

SIDE NOTE:

*Yongpo: a “dragon” robe made out of moire silk that Korean kings wore for official events. However, for this story, I have changed the royal insignia to a phoenix!

**NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**