LOVED BY YOUR MEMORY

CHAPTER 6

Hye-in moved through the final sequence with the performers.

When the last drumbeat sounded, she lowered the sword.

The crowd applauded loudly.

She stood there for a moment, breathing steadily.

Then she looked toward Seo Jun.

His expression was unreadable.

After the sword dance, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Everyone was waiting for the full moon to rise.

Seo Jun stood beneath the lanterns, waiting.

Then—

“Your Royal Highness!”

Hye In's voice came from behind him.

Seo Jun turned.

His eyes met hers.

And for a moment, he forgot what he was about to say.

The lanterns reflected softly against her skin.

Her long black hair moved gently with the breeze, tied loosely behind her.

The butterfly hairpin he had given her rested neatly in her hair.

She looked different.

Not like the noisy maid who constantly complained.

Not like the troublesome girl who had dragged him out of the palace.

Just... Hye In.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” she said as she approached. “I went to return the swords.”

She adjusted the butterfly hairpin.

“Now tell me. How was my dance?”

Seo Jun blinked.

“It was great.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“But why did you dance?”

“You seemed to enjoy the first one.”

She smiled.

“So I decided to dance too.”

Seo Jun stared at her for a moment before smiling.

Then suddenly—

“Out of my way!”

A man pushing a cart came rushing toward them.

Hye In turned too late.

Seo Jun immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

Hye In stumbled forward and fell against him.

Seo Jun caught her before she hit the ground.

His arm steadied her.

Hye In looked up.

Their eyes met.

Neither of them spoke.

For a brief moment, the noise of the market seemed to disappear.

Then a young boy shouted from the crowd—

“The full moon has risen!”

Everyone looked toward the sky.

The bright full moon emerged above the rooftops.

People cheered and tossed flower petals into the air.

The petals drifted around Seo Jun and Hye In.

Hye In stared at the moon.

The mysterious woman's words suddenly echoed in her mind.

“The full moon is going to rise tonight when two fated hearts meet... a lonely heart and a desolate heart.”

Hye In looked at Seo Jun.

Are we the fated hearts?

Her eyes remained fixed on him.

Am I the lonely heart... or the desolate heart?

She swallowed.

And which one is he?

---

Later That Night

The market had finally fallen silent.

Most people had returned home.

Seo Jun and Hye In sat on the rooftop of a nearby inn, looking up at the night sky.

“The stars are beautiful,” Hye In said.

Seo Jun shifted his gaze toward her.

“Yes.”

He looked back at the sky.

“They're beautiful... and abstract.”

Hye In smiled.

A butterfly suddenly fluttered toward her.

Her eyes widened.

She slowly stretched out her hand.

“Are you lost?”

She tried to touch it.

The butterfly flew away.

Seo Jun watched her.

“Do you like butterflies?”

He smiled faintly.

“I could see the fascination in your eyes.”

“I love them.”

Hye In smiled.

“And I envy them.”

“Why?”

“Because they have wings.”

She looked toward the butterfly disappearing into the darkness.

“They can fly anywhere they want.”

Seo Jun was quiet.

“What a long night.”

He leaned back, resting his head against his palms as he stared at the stars.

Hye In turned toward him.

“Today was fun.”

Seo Jun glanced at her.

“All thanks to you.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“I'm glad.”

For a while, they sat in comfortable silence.

Then Seo Jun stood.

“Let's go before the night watchman notices us.”

Hye In nodded.

They climbed down from the roof and made their way back toward the palace.

---

At the Palace

Hye In walked toward the maids' quarters.

Just as she was about to enter, she spotted So Hee.

So Hee immediately stopped.

“Where are you coming from?”

Hye In froze.

“Uhm...”

She quickly came up with an excuse.

“Midnight walk.”

So Hee looked at the dark sky.

“At this ungodly hour?”

She shook her head.

“That's gross.”

Hye In smiled.

So Hee narrowed her eyes.

“What's with that creepy smile?”

“Nothing.”

Hye In grabbed her arm.

“Let's go inside.”

She dragged So Hee into the maids' quarters before her friend could ask any more questions.

But even after they disappeared inside, Hye In couldn't stop smiling.

For some reason, the events of the night kept replaying in her mind.

The festival.

The moon.

The butterfly.

And the moment Seo Jun caught her.

She touched the butterfly hairpin in her hair.

Then quickly shook her head.

“No, Hye In.”

She whispered to herself.

“Don't overthink it.”

THE NEXT MORNING

Crown Prince Seo Jun was preparing for his morning lecture when the doors suddenly burst open.

A royal guard rushed inside and immediately bowed.

“Your Royal Highness, His Majesty summons you to his chamber. Immediately.”

Seo Jun looked up, startled by the urgency in the guard's voice.

“Can you tell Father that I'll see him after my lecture?”

The guard's expression remained tense.

“I’m afraid that won't be possible, Your Royal Highness.”

Seo Jun frowned.

“All lectures have been cancelled.”

“Why?”

The guard hesitated.

“His Majesty is... unwell.”

Seo Jun's expression changed.

“How unwell?”

The guard lowered his gaze.

“Terribly ill.”

Seo Jun didn't ask another question.

He grabbed his royal gat and hurried out of his quarters, with the guard following closely behind.

As they approached the king's chamber, Seo Jun noticed the royal physician hurrying in the opposite direction.

“Physician!”

The elderly man stopped.

Seo Jun approached him.

“What happened to my father?”

The physician's face was pale.

“Your Royal Highness, His Majesty's condition is serious.”

“Serious?”

The physician opened his mouth to respond, but a loud cry suddenly came from inside the chamber.

“Father!”

Seo Jun's heart tightened.

Without waiting for another word, he pushed open the doors.

Inside, the atmosphere was suffocating.

The king lay motionless on his bed, his breathing shallow. Several royal attendants stood around him with the Queen and grand princess su jin, their faces filled with fear.

Seo Jun's expression immediately changed.

“Father!”

He rushed toward the king.

The entire chamber went silent.

Everyone froze.

The Queen slowly lifted her head.

Su Jin's eyes widened.

Grand Princess su jin stared at Seo Jun in disbelief.

Even the royal physician stopped what he was doing.

And the king...

The king simply stared at his son.

For years, that word had been almost impossible to hear from Seo Jun.

Father.

Yet now, after everything that had happened between them, his son had called him that without hesitation.

“Seo Jun...” the king whispered.

Seo Jun knelt beside the bed.

“What happened to you, Father? Why didn't anyone tell me you were this ill?”

The king's eyes immediately became wet.

He looked at his son as though he were seeing him for the first time.

“You... called me Father.”

Seo Jun frowned slightly.

“Of course. You're my father.”

The Queen covered her mouth, overwhelmed by the moment.

Su Jin glanced at her mother.

“Mother...”

The Queen couldn't answer.

She simply stared at Seo Jun.

Everyone in that room remembered the truth.

Before Seo Jun lost his memory, he and the king had been anything but close.

There had been resentment.

Arguments.

Painful words that neither father nor son could take back.

Seo Jun had once carried so much anger toward his father that even calling him Father had become something he struggled to do.

But Seo Jun remembered none of it.

To him, the man lying before him was simply his father.

The king slowly reached out and touched Seo Jun's face.

A weak smile appeared on his lips.

“I never thought I'd hear you call me that again.”

Seo Jun looked confused.

“Why wouldn't you?”

The king's eyes filled with tears.

“Because... you haven't called me that in a very long time.”

Seo Jun remained silent.

He didn't understand.

He couldn't remember the grudges.

He couldn't remember the hatred.

He couldn't remember the countless painful moments between them.

All he knew was that the weak man before him was his father.

The king gently held his son's hand.

“Thank you, my son.”

His voice trembled.

“After everything... you still remember me as your father.”

Seo Jun gave him a small smile.

“I don't know what happened between us before, Father... but you're my father. That's enough.”

The king's eyes closed as a tear slipped down his cheek.

For the first time in years, he held his son's hand without feeling the distance that had always existed between them.

Then—

The king suddenly coughed violently.

“Your Majesty!”

The royal physician immediately rushed forward.

Seo Jun stood up.

“What's wrong with him?”

The physician examined the king and his expression became grave.

“His Majesty's illness has worsened.”

Su Jin's face went pale.

“Can you save him?”

“We must act immediately.”

The physician opened his medical case.

“I need to perform acupuncture.”

Su Jeong immediately stepped forward.

“Acupuncture?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You're going to insert needles into him while he's this weak?”

“It is necessary to stabilize his condition.”

Su Jin's eyes filled with tears.

“Please... save my father.”

Seo Jun looked at the king, his expression filled with genuine worry.

“Do whatever you have to do.”

The physician nodded.

But just as he prepared to begin—

BANG!

The chamber doors suddenly flew open.

Everyone turned.

A figure stood in the doorway.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Grand Prince (Shadow) had arrived.

Su Jin's eyes widened.

“Shadow...”

Shadow didn't respond.

His eyes were fixed on the king.

Then, slowly, they shifted toward Seo Jun.

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

HOURS LATER — TRAINING FIELD

The training field was quiet except for the occasional sound of hooves against the packed earth.

Hye-in stood beside Whisper, holding the horse's reins with both hands.

She had been waiting for some time.

When Seo Jun finally entered the field, she turned toward him.

“Your Royal Highness.”

He stopped in front of her.

“You have been waiting?”

“Yes.”

She lowered her gaze briefly before adding,

“I was beginning to wonder if something had happened.”

“I went to see His Majesty.”

Hye-in's expression immediately changed.

“His Majesty?”

Seo Jun nodded.

“Is the rumor about His Majesty's health true?”

Seo Jun raised an eyebrow.

“Rumors travel quickly.”

“I apologize, Your Royal Highness. I did not mean to pry. I was simply concerned.”

“There is no need to worry.”

Hye-in nodded.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

Seo Jun turned his attention to Whisper.

He ran a hand along the horse's neck before looking back at Hye-in.

“Can you ride?”

Hye-in stared at him.

“Ride?”

“Yes.”

She glanced at Whisper.

Then back at Seo Jun.

“Your Royal Highness, I am a palace maid. I have never had the opportunity to learn.”

“I see.”

He mounted Whisper with practiced ease.

Then he extended his hand toward her.

“Come.”

Hye-in hesitated.

“Your Royal Highness?”

“You said you cannot ride. I will teach you.”

She carefully placed her hand in his.

Seo Jun helped her onto the horse.

Before she could find a comfortable position, he mounted behind her.

Hye-in immediately stiffened.

“Your Royal Highness…”

“Relax.”

“I am trying.”

Seo Jun gathered the reins.

“Hold on.”

He gently urged Whisper forward.

The horse began walking around the training field.

Hye-in gripped the front of the saddle.

She could feel Seo Jun's steady presence behind her.

Her heart began beating faster.

She frowned to herself.

Why am I nervous?

She took a slow breath.

It is only because I am on a horse.

It has nothing to do with him.

“Your shoulders are too tense,” Seo Jun said.

Hye-in straightened.

“My apologies.”

“You do not need to apologize. Just relax your hands.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

He guided the reins with her.

“Do not pull too hard. Let the horse feel your direction.”

Hye-in nodded.

“I understand.”

After another round, Seo Jun brought Whisper to a stop.

He dismounted.

Hye-in looked down at him.

“Your Royal Highness?”

“Stay there.”

She blinked.

“Stay?”

Seo Jun stepped a few paces away.

“Hold the reins.”

Hye-in's eyes widened.

“You are leaving me here?”

“You said you wanted to learn.”

“I did not say I wanted to learn this quickly.”

A faint smile crossed Seo Jun's face.

“You will be fine.”

Before Hye-in could respond, he gave Whisper a gentle signal.

The horse suddenly moved faster.

Hye-in's eyes widened.

“Your Royal Highness!”

Whisper broke into a gallop around the field.

Hye-in grabbed the reins.

“Wait!”

Her voice echoed across the training grounds.

Seo Jun laughed.

“Keep your balance!”

“I am trying!”

At that moment, Lady Ju Young was walking nearby with one of her attendants.

She heard Hye-in's voice and looked toward the training field.

Her expression changed when she saw Seo Jun standing there.

Then she noticed Hye-in struggling to control Whisper.

She approached.

“Your Royal Highness.”

Seo Jun turned.

“Lady Ju Young.”

Ju Young gave a polite bow.

“I heard someone calling for help. I did not realize it was your personal maid.”

Seo Jun glanced toward Hye-in.

“She is learning to ride.”

Ju Young watched Hye-in carefully.

“She appears to be having difficulty.”

“She is inexperienced"

Lady ju young said with a smile

Hye in stared at them from afar while fighting for her life

" I've to make it out Ali...." But before she could say anything else