The letter lay in Hana's trembling hands, its edges worn with age. Mi-Ho had found it tucked between her mother's old medical records, long forgotten in a locked cabinet.
She read slowly, her heart racing with every line.
"My dearest Hana,If you're reading this, I'm no longer by your side. But I pray that So-Yeon has kept her promise. You're stronger than you think, my little star. You were born to shine, not to serve. Fight. For your freedom. For your dreams. For love."
Tears spilled before she could blink them away. The paper shook, her soul splitting open.
Mi-Ho watched from the doorway, silent. He hadn't read the letter—it was hers alone. But he could feel the change in her aura. Lighter. Fiercer.
"She really loved you," he said softly.
Hana nodded. "And she trusted your mother."
"My mother trusts you too. That's why she wants us to be married."
The words hit her like a wave. It wasn't just a suggestion—it was a shield. An offer of sanctuary... or a new kind of prison?
"I don't want a marriage built on duty," she said, voice barely above a whisper.
"Then let's build one on choice."
She turned toward him, her eyes red but clear. "Do you really think we could survive this war together?"
He stepped closer. "Only if we stop pretending we're alone."
For the first time, Hana didn't step back. She folded the letter and held it to her chest, as though anchoring herself.
Then, she nodded.