The wind shifted through the courtyard, lifting loose strands of Hana's hair as Woojin stood in front of her, his gaze steady, sharp, unblinking. The lanternlight behind him flickered, casting long shadows that stretched like claws across the ground.
He was too close.
Too perceptive.
Too dangerous.
And yet—Hana couldn't step back.
"Kim Haneul," Woojin said quietly, "who was that man?"
Her throat tightened.
She could lie.
She should lie.
But Woojin's eyes pinned her in place, and for a terrifying moment, she couldn't think like an assassin anymore. She could only think like a human being—one who was tired, frightened, and not as alone as she pretended to be.
"Haneul," Woojin said again, voice low. "If you're in danger, I need to know."
"I'm not." Her voice cracked at the end.
Woojin's gaze deepened. "You are."
A soft rustle sounded to their left—a bird landing on a branch, or maybe something else. Woojin's head turned instantly, his instincts sharp.
Again—that wasn't normal scholar behavior.
He wasn't pretending to be observant.
He was trained.
Master Yoon's warning echoed through Hana's mind:
'Seon Woojin is not what he appears to be.'
Woojin slowly turned back to her.
"Haneul," he said, "your hands."
She looked down.
They were trembling.
Hana shoved them behind her. "It's nothing. I'm just cold."
"It's warm tonight."
She cursed inwardly.
Woojin stepped closer, lowering his voice even further. "He knew you."
Hana said nothing.
"And you knew him."
Still nothing.
Woojin's jaw clenched. "Does he plan to hurt you?"
A bitter laugh almost escaped her. If only it were that simple.
Hurt her?
He would do far worse.
"Haneul," Woojin said softly, "was he your family?"
Her breath strangled in her chest.
Family.
She'd never had that.
Only orders, punishments, missions.
"Or," Woojin continued, "was he your enemy?"
Hana's lips parted. "Both."
Woojin stilled.
The silence was heavy—like a blade pressed between them.
Then footsteps echoed from the direction of the dining hall. Hana tensed, ready to bolt, but a group of young scholars appeared, laughing loudly, carrying leftover snacks.
Woojin instantly straightened, mask slipping into place. He stepped back from her, but his eyes stayed locked onto hers.
"We shouldn't talk here," he murmured. "Too visible."
She hesitated.
"Come with me," Woojin said and turned toward the library path.
Hana didn't move.
Woojin paused, looking back.
"If he's watching, I'd rather meet him before he meets you alone again."
Hana exhaled shakily and followed.
The Library GardenThe academy's library was a towering structure of dark wood and curved rooftops, surrounded by a tiny enclosed garden. Moonlight filtered through the plum blossoms, scattering shadows like falling snow.
Woojin pushed open the side gate and gestured for her to enter.
The moment the gate closed behind them, the noise of the academy faded into silence.
"This is the one place where no one listens," Woojin said. "Not even the instructors."
"Why?" Hana whispered.
"It's where the Crown Prince studies when he visits." He sat on the low stone bench under the plum tree. "They keep it isolated for privacy."
That made sense.
It also meant Woojin shouldn't even know that.
Unless…
Unless he worked for the Crown Prince.
Woojin watched her silently as she sat across from him. His eyes wandered over her face—searching for lies, reading micro-expressions, analyzing.
Hana felt naked under his gaze.
"Tell me what he wants," Woojin said quietly.
She pressed her palms together. "He wants me to go back."
"To where?"
Hana hesitated before answering. "To the people I escaped from."
Woojin didn't react immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice stayed calm.
"Did they hurt you?"
Yes.
She said nothing.
"How did you escape?"
Hana's breath caught. She looked away. "I ran."
Woojin exhaled slowly. "So he came to drag you back."
Hana didn't answer.
Woojin leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Haneul. If someone intends to abduct you, you need to tell the academy."
"No!" Hana's voice rose sharply. "You can't."
Woojin frowned. "Why?"
"Because…" She squeezed her hands tightly. "Because they'll find out who I really am."
The words slipped before she could stop them.
Woojin's eyes sharpened.
"And who is that?"
She swallowed. Hard.
He waited.
But she couldn't speak.
She couldn't say the word assassin.
She couldn't reveal the training, the missions, the blood on her hands.
If Woojin truly worked for the royal intelligence bureau, admitting that would get her executed before sunrise.
She lowered her gaze. "It's better if you don't know."
Woojin stood slowly.
Too slowly.
"Haneul," he said, voice soft but steel underneath, "are you involved in something criminal?"
Her breath stopped.
Woojin's expression didn't change—too controlled, too neutral. That was worse than anger.
"If you are," he continued, "I can help you. But I need to know the truth."
"You can't help me!"
"Haneul—"
"No one can." She stood abruptly, fists clenched. "You don't understand."
"Then make me understand."
"I can't!"
Woojin's jaw tightened at her rising panic.
Then he stepped closer.
Close enough to touch.
Close enough to feel the warmth of his breath.
"Haneul," he said quietly, "I'm not your enemy."
Her throat tightened painfully.
"Then stop asking questions," she whispered.
Woojin stared at her, conflict flickering in his gaze. Something like fear. Something like concern. Something like anger that she wouldn't trust him.
Finally, he spoke again.
"Do you think I haven't noticed?" he murmured. "You never flinch. You never panic. You never show fear unless you're cornered." His voice lowered. "And tonight… you were terrified."
Her breath hitched.
Woojin's pupils dilated slightly. "When he stood near you, your entire body shifted into a defensive stance. That's not normal training."
He took one more step toward her.
"That man wasn't just someone you knew." His voice was barely above a whisper. "He was your handler."
Hana's heart stopped.
Her blood froze.
Handler.
He knew that term.
Only people trained in espionage or assassination used it.
Woojin searched her face.
And she saw it—
Recognition.
Certainty.
Cold, dangerous understanding.
"I see," he said softly. "You weren't lying about being in danger."
Hana stepped back. "Woojin—"
He moved forward.
"Haneul."
She stepped back again. "Stop—"
Woojin grabbed her wrist.
Not harshly.
But firmly.
Enough to stop her from retreating into the shadows.
"Haneul," he said, voice shaking just slightly, "listen to me."
She froze.
Woojin leaned closer, gaze burning into hers.
"You're not going back," he whispered. "Not while I'm here."
Her lips parted in shock.
"What?"
Woojin's grip loosened, but he didn't let go.
"I don't care who he is. Or what you were forced to do. You're safe in this academy."
"No, I'm not."
"You are!" Woojin snapped—louder than he intended.
The sudden spike of emotion startled both of them.
Woojin exhaled, struggling to calm himself.
"Haneul," he said more softly, "I won't let them take you."
Her chest tightened painfully. "You don't even know who I am."
"Then tell me."
"I can't."
Woojin clenched his jaw. "Then I'll find out myself."
Panic jolted through her. "Woojin—no. You can't—"
He stepped closer again, lowering his voice.
"You're not the only one who hides things."
She stilled.
Woojin continued, "You're right that I notice things others don't. That I sense people watching, following, eavesdropping." He swallowed. "Because I've trained for it."
Her breath caught.
"Woojin," she whispered, "who are you?"
Woojin studied her, expression unreadable.
Finally, he said:
"I will tell you only if you tell me first."
She froze.
That was impossible.
She couldn't reveal her identity.
She couldn't trust him.
She couldn't trust anyone.
Hana turned away. "I can't."
Woojin didn't stop her this time.
His voice followed her like a whisper.
"Then stay close to me anyway."
She turned slightly.
"I don't want to watch you get taken in the middle of the night," Woojin said. "Or worse."
Hana's throat tightened.
He continued, voice low and raw. "I don't want to find your body in the river."
Her breath trembled.
Woojin looked at her, eyes dark with something she didn't understand.
Fear?
Anger?
Possessiveness?
No.
It was something simpler.
Concern.
"Haneul," he said, "if you disappear, I won't forgive myself."
And that—
That was the moment Hana made her mistake.
Her heart softened.
Just a little.
Just enough.
"Woojin…" she whispered.
He stepped closer again, slow, gentle, almost hesitant.
"Haneul," he murmured, "stay close tonight. Please."
Her breath hitched.
He rarely said please.
Then—
A loud thud echoed from beyond the library wall.
Both of them froze.
Woojin instantly shifted into defense stance. "Someone's there."
Hana felt the blood drain from her face.
Master Yoon.
He wouldn't attack—not yet. But he would watch. Listen. Wait.
"Haneul," Woojin whispered, "get behind me."
She shook her head. "No. I can fight—"
"I know," he said. "But not against someone who wants you alive."
Her heart stuttered.
He was right.
Master Yoon would never harm her—not yet. But he would harm Woojin.
Woojin glanced back at her. "Stay still."
She had no choice.
Woojin stepped forward—
—and the shadow behind the wall moved.
Too fast.
Too controlled.
Too silent.
Master Yoon was still watching.
Woojin narrowed his eyes. "He's fast."
Hana whispered, "He's better than fast."
Woojin's jaw tensed. "Then we need to get you somewhere safe."
"Where?"
He looked at her, eyes blazing with conviction.
"My room."
Hana's breath caught.
"That's the only place he won't enter," Woojin said. "He won't risk attacking me openly—not unless he wants the Crown Prince's entire guard on him."
Hana swallowed hard. "Woojin—"
He extended his hand.
"Trust me."
Her heart pounded.
Behind them, the shadow moved again.
Master Yoon wasn't leaving.
Hana looked at Woojin's hand.
At the man who might be her enemy—
or her only chance at survival.
She placed her hand in his.
Woojin pulled her close—
too close—
and whispered:
"Then stay with me tonight."
The plum blossoms rustled.
The shadows shifted.
And everything Hana thought she could control
began to crumble.