As the rooster heralded the arrival of dawn, its crow slicing through the darkness like a beacon of hope, Diana stirred from her slumber. With a heavy heart, she rose from her bed and made her way to the atelier doors, each step a solemn reminder of the emptiness that lingered within.
As she pushed open the doors, the familiar glow of the city lights greeted her, casting a warm embrace amidst the predawn darkness.
"Phew, it's already been several times, but I'm never getting used to this. Especially when I'm missing him..." Diana murmured to herself, her voice tinged with longing and uncertainty.
Her heart fluttered at the thought of the man who had captured her thoughts and emotions, his presence a constant presence in her mind.
But amidst the turmoil of her emotions, a flicker of resolve ignited within her. With a determined sigh, she noticed the silk lantern outside the atelier doors, its soft glow illuminating the path before her.
Quietly, she made her way to the lantern and extinguished its light, the darkness of the dawn enveloping her like a shroud.
"Right... I shouldn't have any feelings towards any of them," Diana whispered, her words a solemn vow to herself.
In the quiet solitude of the atelier, where the darkness of the lunar month enveloped the world in its embrace, Diana found herself lost in thought. The absence of the moon cast an eerie stillness over the yard, its shadows stretching long and ominous in the absence of its gentle glow.
"...I want to go back to Chosun and-... Huh, am I growing closer to them...? I... shouldn't be feeling this way... Huh? Are they here?" Diana pondered aloud, her voice barely a whisper in the silence that surrounded her.
But before she could dwell further on her thoughts, a sudden knock at the door shattered the quietude, its urgency sending a jolt of apprehension coursing through her veins.
"...Is it really Lord Sung? Something's fishy..." Diana mused, her instincts tingling with unease.
Should she listen in on the conversation behind the door? Or perhaps confront the visitors head-on? The uncertainty gnawed at her, casting a shadow of doubt over her every move.
With a deep breath, Diana grasped the door knobs and swung the doors wide open, her heart pounding with anticipation. Before her stood three men, their expressions a mixture of surprise and concern.
"L-lady Diana!!" Sung exclaimed, his voice tinged with relief at the sight of her.
"Why are you all looking so terrified...?" Diana questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Without hesitation, Taesoo rushed past her into the atelier yard, his face pale with worry. "Are you here alone?" he asked, his voice urgent.
Meanwhile, Young's gaze bore into her with intense scrutiny, his eyes searching for any signs of injury. "Aren't you hurt anywhere?" he inquired, his voice laced with concern.
And as Sung rubbed his forehead with a deep sigh, his usual smile replaced by a mask of seriousness, Diana realized the gravity of the situation.
"So basically, these three men are all terribly worried about me..." Diana observed, her heart swelling with gratitude at their concern.
"I'm really okay... What's the matter?" she reassured them, her voice soft yet steady.
"The light was off," Sung explained, his tone grave.
"The light? What light?" Diana questioned, her confusion growing by the moment.
"The silk lantern outside!" Taesoo interjected, his voice tinged with urgency.
Realization dawned upon Diana like a bolt of lightning. "The silk- Oh-....I impulsively turned the switch off last night and forgot to turn it back on..." she admitted, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Before she could dwell further on her mistake, Young stepped closer to her, his expression unreadable.
"M-master Young...?" Diana ventured, her voice trailing off as she awaited his response with bated breath.
Young's voice cut through the tension like a knife, his concern palpable in the air. "You don't look so well. Are you sure nothing happened...? If there's anyone harassing you, I'll-"
Before Young could finish his sentence, his hand instinctively went to his sword, ready to defend Diana at a moment's notice. Panicked, Diana reached out to stop him, her hand trembling with urgency.
"Y-you should calm down...! I have nothing going on, I'm perfectly fine, and no one's harassing me. Haha...." Diana stammered, her voice wavering with nervousness.
Young's intense gaze bore into her, searching for any signs of deceit. Diana could feel the weight of his scrutiny, the intensity of his stare sending shivers down her spine.
"Oh, I should turn the lantern on, first," Diana muttered, her voice barely a whisper as she hurriedly made her way to the gates.
As she flicked the switch, casting light upon the darkness, a sudden movement caught her eye. A long sword emerged from the shadows, its glinting blade reflecting the light in a sinister manner.
"W-watch out-!!!!" Sung's warning cry echoed through the air, but before Diana could react, the assailant lunged forward, intent on striking her down.
Instinctively, Diana reached out her hand, her heart pounding with fear. "Lord Sung!!!" she cried out, her voice trembling with terror.
In that fleeting moment of danger, Young sprang into action, his sword drawn in a flash as he pulled Diana behind him, shielding her from harm. With a resounding clang, Sung engaged the assailant in combat, his movements swift and decisive.
"Lady Diana...!!" Sung's voice was filled with urgency as he fought off the attacker, his every move calculated and precise.
As Sung pulled her into his arms, Diana felt a rush of conflicting emotions wash over her. "Wh-what is happening to me...?" she wondered, her mind reeling from the chaos unfolding around her.
It was a moment unlike any other she had experienced, a deadly dance of blades and desperate struggle. Yet amidst the chaos, Sung's warmth enveloped her, offering solace and reassurance in the face of danger.
"It's okay, Diana. It's okay..." Sung whispered soothingly, his voice a comforting presence in the midst of turmoil.
As Taesoo rushed off to fetch the city guards, Sung held Diana close, his embrace a shield against the darkness that threatened to consume them. And in that moment of uncertainty, as the battle raged on around them, Sung's bright smile pierced through the shadows, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of adversity.
Sung's words hung in the air like a heavy shroud, their weight sinking deep into Diana's consciousness as she struggled to comprehend their meaning.
"You truly are my savior, my lady," Sung murmured, his voice filled with gratitude as he gazed at her with unwavering sincerity.
"Well, I didn't do much..." Diana replied modestly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the praise.
"Why do you look so shy, my lady?" Sung teased gently, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Wh-who's shy here...?!" Diana retorted, her voice tinged with indignation as she met his gaze head-on.
As Sung wrapped his arms around her shoulder once more, Diana felt a rush of conflicting emotions surge within her. "Well, things seem to be taken care of now, my lord," Young interjected, his voice calm and composed as he addressed Sung.
"You may come outside," Young added, extending his hand towards Diana in a gesture of invitation.
"Oh, right...!" Diana exclaimed, her thoughts still reeling from the events that had transpired.
But before she could move, Sung pulled her back into his embrace, holding her close with an unexpected tenderness.
"You still look shocked and frozen. Are you not?" Sung inquired, his voice soft and reassuring as he gazed at her with concern.
"...Oh, uhm... w-well..." Diana stammered, her words faltering in the face of Sung's unwavering gaze.
As the chaos of the moment began to settle, Diana watched as the two assassins were taken into custody by the city guards, their faces a mask of fear and uncertainty.
"Huh?" Diana murmured, her curiosity piqued by Sung's uncharacteristic behavior. "Tell me everything," she demanded, turning to face the three men with a determined expression.
"I need to know who sent those assassins and why they are after you. And most importantly, I need to know who you are, exactly," she continued, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within her.
Sung regarded her with a solemn expression, his eyes searching hers for any trace of doubt or hesitation. "Can you believe every word I tell you...?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Huh? Sure I'll believe you. What are you trying to say??" Diana replied, her confusion mounting with each passing moment.
As Sung stepped forward, his gaze unwavering, he revealed the truth that had been hidden from her all along.
"Taesoo is not just any young lord of a family, but a Sungkyunkwan student who helps the crown prince of this country. And Young--is not just an officer at the palace, but a special bodyguard of the crown prince," Sung explained, his words heavy with meaning.
Diana's eyes widened in shock as the realization dawned upon her. "And I--am the crown prince of Chosun, who will become the next King," Sung declared, his voice ringing out with authority.
"What did he just say...?" Diana's mind reeled with the weight of Sung's revelation, her world spinning out of control as she struggled to come to terms with the truth that had been laid bare before her.
Diana's attempt at humor faltered as the weight of Sung's revelation settled upon her shoulders like a heavy burden. "Wow... that was a funny one. Are ya trying to lift my spirit up with a nice little joke? 'Cause it's definitely working...!" she quipped, her smile empty and forced.
But as Sung's words hung in the air, the gravity of the situation began to sink in, and Diana felt a sudden shiver run through her body. "But...if that's not a joke... How am I supposed to cope with that news...?" she wondered, her mind racing with the implications of Sung's revelation.
Mina's warning echoed in her mind, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked beneath the surface of their seemingly idyllic existence. "Why, you know- there are several movies about if you try to change the past, it will affect the future..! Perhaps... you and I might suddenly disappear, along with this atelier!" Mina's words resonated with a newfound urgency, cutting through Diana's confusion like a knife.
With a heavy heart, Diana realized the truth of Mina's words. "Right... I've only been ignoring her words even though I know what's right. Because I got used to these men's kindness. And... I've grown to like them. But... This shouldn't last any longer," she admitted to herself, her resolve hardening with each passing moment.
"Please leave," Diana murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she addressed Sung and the others.
Sung's expression softened, his eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and regret. "Diana," he began, but she cut him off before he could say anything further.
"I'm sorry. I just can't be with you guys-," Diana trailed off, her voice choked with emotion. "Anyhow... I feel like I shouldn't get any closer to all of you. This just- like the right way to do," she finished, her words tinged with sadness and finality.
As she walked past Sung towards the front gate, Diana felt a sense of emptiness settle over her like a heavy blanket. Behind her, the other two men followed suit, their footsteps echoing through the silent courtyard.
"Thank you for everything you've done, Lady Diana," Sung said softly, his voice filled with gratitude.
And with that, they were gone, leaving Diana standing alone in the empty courtyard, the weight of their absence pressing down upon her like a suffocating darkness. "So... Is this the end...?" she wondered aloud, her voice barely above a whisper as she reached out to brush her fingers over the closed wooden doors.
But even as she stood there, alone in the darkness, Diana couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a new chapter in her strange and unpredictable journey through time.