Friday, January 5, 2024
My heart is racing.
I don't know where I am. What is this strange place? Who are these people? Why are they wearing such unusual clothes? How did I end up here?
The only thing I remember is returning to my chambers and falling asleep.
My body feels heavy, and then everything goes dark.
My memories begin to return—especially the memories of him.
Kim Min-jae. My beloved.
I remember the exact moment we met. The first time I saw him, I felt warmth spread through my heart, even though he was a man. Min-jae was kind and treated everyone with respect. That's what made me fall in love with him, even though I knew our love was forbidden.
Our first kiss was an accident, but it changed our lives forever.
Min-jae tripped, and we both fell to the floor. He landed on top of me, and our lips met.
Our eyes widened in shock.
We were alone in the royal library.
We tried to pretend nothing had happened, but it was impossible. That kiss had stirred something inside both of us. It didn't take long for me to realize I wasn't the only one whose heart raced whenever we were together.
After that, we fell deeply in love and remained devoted to each other until the day we died.
There was a war.
Amid the chaos, our enemy drove his sword through both of us, impaling us against a tree.
The burning sensation in my chest returns with terrifying intensity.
Min-jae pulls a dagger hidden beneath his robes. He takes aim and plunges it straight into our enemy's chest.
"Even the way you hurt me is gentle," Hyeon-um says as he pulls the dagger from his own chest.
Suddenly, the sword is ripped from the tree and flies straight into his hand.
"Argh!" Min-jae and I scream in agony as the blade is pulled free. We collapse forward.
"You're a damned murderer," I manage to say.
"Unfortunately, I've become a murderer. That's life... Some are born good, others are born evil," Hyeon-um replies, approaching us. "You caused all these deaths, Min-jae. Why wouldn't you perform the spell for my mother?"
"Your mother is a monster. I would never help that witch bring more suffering into this world," Min-jae answers.
"My mother is dead because of you!" Hyeon-um cries, his voice filled with resentment.
"We had to stop her," I say with difficulty. "She had lost her mind, consumed by hatred... and she killed innocent people."
"My mother isn't insane!" Hyeon-um roars furiously. "She simply took revenge on those who made her suffer."
"And those people you call innocent carry the cursed blood of the very people who wronged us," Hyeon-um adds, his voice thick with hatred.
His voice begins to falter, and he struggles to get the words out.
"What... is this?" he mutters, struggling to speak.
He begins to stagger.
Suddenly, he falls to his knees, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"I don't believe it... Poison..." he whispers with difficulty before collapsing to the ground.
He begins to choke, gasping for air, until finally, he stops moving.
"We did it..." I manage to whisper, resting my chin on Min-jae's shoulder.
Blood trickles from my lips, staining his robes.
"But we're not exactly in great shape ourselves, are we?" he jokes weakly.
"I don't want to die," I sob. "I want to stay by your side forever."
"Perhaps... in our next life," Min-jae says, struggling to turn his head toward me. Tears are streaming down his face, too. "Promise me you'll find me."
"I promise. I'll find you, and we'll be happy together," I reply.
"Your Highness... you mustn't forget me. You have to remember me," Min-jae whispers, lowering his head. "Don't forget our love."
He closes his eyes.
"I promise..." I whisper before closing mine as well.
And everything goes dark.
I open my eyes again and find myself in that strange place from before.
Now I remember.
I died... and somehow, I'm here.
So this is my next life?
The man I saw when I first woke up...
It's him.
It's Min-jae.
My beloved.
I remember everything now.
But where is he?
I look around. There's a woman dressed in white and a man sitting in a chair beside the bed.
"He's awake," the woman in white says when she notices my eyes are open. "I'll go get the doctor."
She hurries out of the room.
"Son, you're finally awake!" the man says, approaching me with visible relief.
"So you're my father?" I ask.
"Yes," he answers, his voice filled with emotion.
"Where is the man who was here earlier?" I ask anxiously.
"Do you mean Ariel?" my father asks, raising an eyebrow. "He went home to take a shower and change his clothes."
"I want to see him," I say anxiously, trying to sit up.
"Easy, son. He'll be back soon," my father replies, trying to keep me from getting up.
At that moment, a man enters the room.
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"I want to see Ariel," I insist.
"Victor, please calm down," the man says.
"Victor?" I repeat, confused.
"Yes. That's your name. You're Victor Castellani," my father explains.
So that's my new name.
I'm no longer Crown Prince Yi Do-hyun.
Now I'm Victor Castellani.
It's a strange name... but it's the name I've been given in this life.
"Let's get some fresh air," my father says, helping me to my feet.
This new father of mine seems much kinder and more affectionate. My father in my previous life, the king, was a cold and distant man.
As we walk, he explains many things to me. He tells me about Min-jae, who is now called Ariel.
We're married.
I still can't believe it.
In this life, two men can marry each other. Even without our memories, we found each other again... and we're together once more.
I catch my reflection on a mirrored wall. There are many surfaces in this place that look like enormous mirrors.
I study myself carefully.
I look so different...
It's the same face, yet somehow, it isn't.
The clothes are strange, and my hair is short.
"Sir!" a man calls out, running toward me. "I've finally found you!" he adds, panting.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"This is Carlos, your secretary," my father explains.
"But what is a secretary?" I ask, confused.
"I was hired to manage your schedule," Carlos replies, still trying to catch his breath. "I'm here to assist you with anything you need."
"So you're my servant," I say matter-of-factly.
"Don't use that term. It's highly offensive," my father scolds me.
"Sir, Mr. Ariel is looking for you," Carlos informs me.
"Min-jae..." I whisper.
Then I correct myself with a faint smile.
"Ariel. Where is he?"
"He's in your bedroom," Carlos replies.
"My bedroom?" I repeat, confused.
"Your chambers," my father corrects me.
"Oh, right!" I exclaim happily before hurrying toward my chambers.
My heart races.
At last, I'm going to see my beloved again.
I enter my bedroom and find Min-jae lying in the same place where I had been earlier.
He's asleep.
I approach him slowly and watch him in silence.
He looks just as he did before... only his clothes are different, and his hair is shorter.
But none of that changes the fact that he's still beautiful.
I lean slowly toward his face.
"I'm here... I kept my promise," I whisper before kissing him.
His lips are still the same.
Soft.