Chaotic Nights — Chapter 98. Spectators

Translator: Atlas

Weekly Chapter 4/6

Eunha was so disturbed that she put down the brush.

—It may be too late.

His last words echoed in her mind. He had said that she was the deer’s replacement.

When she remembered their names on his arm, she felt her heart break.

—Did you think you were special? Maybe you thought he was in love with you!

She was wrong.

—Don’t think you can escape this place just because you read all the books.

She thought Jihak would listen to her.

When she told him she was going to the mountain, he had asked her to stay with him. Don’t climb up the mountain, you can r#de me (i). You don’t need vegetables, you can e#t (a) me.

She squeezed her arm tighter. Dark red nail marks were etched into her pale arm. But she felt no pain.

Eunha, who felt frustrated, opened the door. She walked past the attendants who were busy, and stood under the oak tree from which the annex could be seen.

The annex’s side window opened. The courtesans laughed. The men were delighting in their time, with a few even rising to partake in dancing.

Eunha looked at Jihak. The Prince, who crookedly smiled, suddenly turned his head.

The moment their gazes met, she hid behind the oak tree. She didn’t know why she did it, but her heart was beating so fast that she felt she had seen something she shouldn’t have. Sweat trickled down her back.

She squatted behind the oak tree for a long time. She hoped the darkness would leave soon.

Had someone closed the window? When she poked her head toward the annex again, a white robe appeared before her eyes.

“Hey!”

When she raised her head, he held out his hand with a smile.

“Are you hiding like a rodent once more? I told you to stay in the room.”

Her pulse quickened.

“I just felt suffocated. Why did you come out?”

“I thought there was a murderous fool hiding behind the oak tree.”

“Jihak! That’s a misunderstanding…”

He had a particular scent.

Eunha stood up on her own. After a bow, she tried to leave the place. But Jihak pulled her by the wrist and hugged her.

She turned her head to avoid his kiss. His lips touched her cheek. Her heart raced wildly as a smile took shape on his lips.

“Do you know that rumors were spread about you? Everyone was curious. Are you just a reader or did I hug you in the night?”

“I’m uncertain as to your motive for making such a statement.”

He erased his smile. She was embarrassed but couldn’t understand his words.

When she turned her head, some people in the annex who opened the windows were looking in their direction. They were whispering. Eunha’s face turned red.

“Release your hold on me, please.”

“Why are your cheeks red?”

“Many people are watching us.”

“But you came here.”

“I thought no one would notice…!”

Jihak grabbed her chin, then kissed her. Their delicate lips parted. When their tongues mingled, he pushed her body into the oak.

She clenched her fists, and bit his lower lip. The taste of blood spread through her mouth. Even though she bit him, Jihak just took a deep breath.

His smile was so wide that she felt cold.

“Tell me. Who’s watching us?”