Chapter 11

The Safe Place

The figure emerged from the corner, closing the door quietly behind them.

"Jin...! You—what are you—" Shock and concern spread across her face.

"I know, I know… I’ll explain everything. But first—where’s your father?"

"He’s off collecting medicines in the forest… Why? What happened?"

"When will he be back?"

"No idea. Maybe a week or two — he’s planning to visit the nearby towns later."

"Okay. I need your help."

"For hiding you both?" she asked, her eyes flickering between Jin and Lily.

"To hide Lily. Just for a few days." Jin hesitated, glancing at Lily.

"Oh—uh—she’s my—"

"Not just a friend, I guess!" Yoona teased, raising an eyebrow.

Jin scratched the back of his neck, his face turning a little red.

"Ah… right."

That’s when Yoona’s gaze fell on Lily. There was a warmth in her expression that put Lily at ease despite the awkward situation.

"Hello…" Lily offered a small, uncertain smile.

"My name is Lily."

"I’m Yoona. Jin’s childhood friend. It’s nice to meet you, Lily."

Yoona’s smile was bright and genuine.

Then she turned back to Jin, her voice dropping slightly.

"And you! Where were you yesterday? The whole palace was looking for you!"

"What? I was only gone for a day?" Jin’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes! You better explain everything to me later."

"I will, I promise."

Lily stood there, stunned. She couldn’t take her eyes off Yoona — she was beautiful, kind, and so… familiar, in a strange way. But her mind kept circling back to something else. Jin had been with her for nearly a month… but here, he had only been gone for a day? How was that possible?

The confusion started to overwhelm her, her thoughts spiraling—

"Lily?" Jin’s gentle, concerned voice broke through the haze. "Are you okay?"

Before she could answer, his face softened with regret.

"I’m sorry, but I have to leave for now. Don’t worry — I’ll be back tomorrow. Be comfortable here, okay?"

And just like that, he slipped out the door, disappearing into the fading light.

Lily stared after him, her heart pounding. Nothing about this world made sense.

Sensing her unease, Yoona stepped closer and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Hey. Don’t worry — he’ll be back. You’re safe with me. Come on, you need to change."

Lily followed Yoona, noticing the way her eyes lingered on Lily’s clothes — clothes that clearly didn’t belong here. It was like Yoona had never seen anything like them before.

A little while later, Yoona handed her a set of traditional clothes — soft, comfortable, and surprisingly fitting. When Lily saw herself in the mirror, she barely recognized the girl reflected back at her.

That evening, as the stars began to dot the sky, Yoona brought them cups of hot, fragrant tea. The warmth seeped through Lily’s fingers, easing her tension just a little.

"So, Lily… you’re not from here, are you?" Yoona asked gently.

Lily hesitated, then shook her head. "No… I think I’m not even from your time."

Yoona blinked. "What do you mean?"

Taking a deep breath, Lily explained everything — how Jin had appeared in her world, how their lives had become tangled together in ways she still couldn’t fully understand.

It was a lot to take in, but to Lily’s surprise, Yoona believed her.

And just like that, the days passed. Two, three, then four. Lily and Yoona grew comfortable with each other — the kind of comfort that felt like they’d known each other forever. They would sneak out when the sun dipped below the horizon, exploring the quiet, moonlit world together.

Jin started spending entire days with them, and those moments — laughter, shared glances, the warmth of friendship — felt almost… normal.

But by the fourth day, a creeping unease settled over Lily’s heart. She was starting to miss her apartment, her daily life — and an unfamiliar fear began to creep in. What was going to happen next?

That morning, Yoona had left early to visit nearby towns and check on her patients. And Jin… Jin was nowhere to be seen.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting everything in soft gold and long shadows, there was still no sign of him.

Worry gnawed at her.

Then—

A sharp knock on the door.

Lily froze. Her heart thumped wildly as her mind spun with possibilities.

Was it Yoona? Or someone else?

The next knock came — and this time, something about it felt… familiar.

Before she realized what she was doing, her feet carried her to the door. She reached out, hands trembling—

And when she opened it, the world seemed to stop.

"Lily!"

The voice — raw, filled with pain — struck her like lightning.

And she stood there, frozen.