The office felt quieter than before. Not in a peaceful way, but in a way that made Yoon Ha-rin suddenly aware of every small movement she made. The file in her hands felt heavier than it should.
"Palace Coup Records — Restricted Access." She hadn't even realized she was staring at it until; "Interested in that?" The words came.
Ha-rin turned quickly. Seo Do-hyun stood behind her. Calm, composed and smiling as always.
"Oh—" she said, slightly flustered. "I was just organizing the files."
Do-hyun stepped closer, his gaze falling briefly on the document in her hands. "That's not something interns usually handle." His tone wasn't harsh but it wasn't entirely casual either.
Ha-rin quickly placed the file back on the desk. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"It's alright." He cut in, picking up the file himself and flipped it open. "History tends to draw people in… even when they don't understand why."
Ha-rin hesitated. Then, spoke up. "I heard about it before."
Do-hyun looked at her. "Oh?" He expressed.
"At the gallery, the painting," she said and paused. "The guard's daughter." Something flickered in his eyes as she continued.
"Did you now?"
Ha-rin nodded. "They said she died saving the Crown Prince."
Do-hyun closed the file softly. "That's the version most people know."
Ha-rin frowned. Silence stretched across the room and a cold chill raced down her spin. There seemed to be more than expected. "There's another version? She finally asked.
A faint smile instinctively dazzled along his gaze. "There are always other versions." He added, leaning lightly against the desk. "History is written by those who survive. Not necessarily those who tell the truth."
Her heart pounded, both lost and flashed. "I don't get what you mean," She softly stated but he didn't answer. "Then… what do you think really happened?"
His gaze lingered on her face while he studied her. Searching through her as if he was waiting for something. Right then, he Slowly stepped closer, heels clicking softly as he neared. Then he quietly spoke.
"What if her death wasn't an accident?"
Ha-rin's heartbeat quickened. "What do you mean?" Her voice broke.
"What if someone wanted her to be there that night?" The words felt heavier than they should which made her swallow hard.
"That would mean…" Her expression shattered.
"Yes," Do-hyun said softly, his voice dripped with amusement. "Betrayal."
The word echoed in her chest and it tightened painfully. The air shifted, suddenly, a faint image flashed in her mind. The shadow soundlessly moved behind the palace pillars. It was a figure watching from the dark.
Her breath caught and Do-hyun noticed immediately. He grabbed her wrist, his eyes sharpened. "You look pale."
"I'm fine," she cut in sharply. But she wasn't because, she could still feel it. That feeling again. Like something inside her was trying to surface but couldn't. This stiffened her.
At that moment a sharp voice cut through the tension "Yoon Ha-rin." It called and they both turned. Choi Eun-seo stood a few steps away, her arms crossed.
"There are files that need organizing in the storage room." She ordered. Her gaze flicked briefly toward Do-hyun. "And I believe interns shouldn't be wasting time chatting." The meaning was clear and without further words, Ha-rin bowed.
"I'll go right away." She instinctively felt her gaze lingering on her as she walked past her. You could tell how cold and evaluating it was at a glance.
Once Ha-rin had disappeared down the hallway, Do-hyun closed the file again. His expression slowly changed. The softness in his eyes faded, replaced by something more thoughtful and calculating.
"She reacted," he smirked. "You shouldn't have interfered," he continued calmly. "This doesn't concern your second life." His voice dropped.
Eun-seo raised an eyebrow. "Reacted to what…what do you mean?"
Do-hyu's face laced with a faint smile. "Nothing you need to worry about." Eun-seo didn't look convinced. But she didn't press further and trod off.
"This time, I won't wait for you to remember everything. Because the moment you do" His smile instinctively turned cruel "you'll choose me instead."
"Hyun..." a voice invaded from the entrance." The receptionist brought your file" he continued as he glanced back at him.
" Alright, I'll be there in a second". He immediately headed out along.
Ha-rin leaned gently against the shelf the moment she entered the storage room. Her chest was still tight. Betrayal? Why did that word affect her so much? She wondered.
Her fingers pressed against her temple. "What's wrong with me?" She mumbled, her eyes remained shut for a brief moment as she tried to calm herself. His voice echoed, not in her ears, but rather in her chest.
The room was filled with old documents and archived materials. It was quiet and still, almost suffocating. She tried to focus on organizing the files but her hands moved slower than she had wished.
Even though the room was empty with only herself in there, she felt eyes watching and a sudden brief movement here and there. The air felt cooler and heavier, as if time itself moved differently there.
Kang Jae-min was already outside the research department. He had come down for a meeting but his steps involuntarily slowed. His gaze shifted toward the hallway which led to the storage room.
A strange unease settled in his chest, without fully understanding why he had changed direction. Ha-rin quickly gathered the files, about to leave. But a voice jerked her, knocking her into a table.
Wrapped in fear, she packed back the table and dashed out. Only to nearly collide with someone who caught her instantly. She gasped, her hands trembling. Her breath uneven as her chest rose and fell rapidly.
The silence between them was louder than any scream.
Jae-looked down at her. His body rigid, yet his expression, calm with an intense gaze. For a brief moment, he felt guilty but didn't know why. Neither of them spoke either.
Then he quietly asked, "What happened?" His tone was cold.
"…Nothing." The words slipped out before she could stop them. But even she knew that wasn't entirely true.