YOSUKE SHIN
I grabbed the door handle, opened it—and there she was.
The woman with long blonde hair and crimson eyes, standing right in front of me.
"Hi… can I help with anything?" I asked.
She didn't answer right away. Her gaze lingered on me, lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but she closed them again and looked away. That's when I noticed the white towels in her hands.
"Please, come in," I said, stepping aside with a wide smile.
She entered silently. I closed the door behind her and gently took the towels from her hands. Our fingers brushed. Her hands were cold—unexpectedly cold.
I set the towels on the bed and guided her to sit at the small table. Then I moved to the little kitchen corner, pulling down herbs and preparing tea. The same tea I had shared with Jiro and the old man earlier. He was the one who'd taught me how to make it, years ago. For me, it was second nature—something I used to brew for Taro and old Jiro all the time.
I placed the steaming cup in front of her.
"Enjoy, my lady," I said warmly.
She smiled faintly and wrapped her pale hands around the mug. The warmth made her shoulders relax.
"Thank you, sir," she said shyly.
I sat opposite her, taking in her golden hair and crimson eyes. There was something both amiable and haunting in her face. She stared at me, but not at my eyes—at my neck, as if she could see through me.
She lifted the cup, took a long sip, and her pale face seemed to bloom with life again. Her expression softened.
"It's so good, sir," she said, sipping again.
"I'm glad you liked it. But please… stop calling me sir," I said with a smile.
She lowered the mug, and I reached across the table. "Your hands," I said.
She hesitated, then placed her hands in mine. Still cold. I closed my eyes, bent a spark of fire into my palms, and spread it gently with a swirl of air, letting the heat flow equally across both our hands.
Her lips parted. "You're warm…" she whispered.
She didn't seem to notice the trick of fire and windlight. Maybe she was too tired. Or maybe she simply didn't care.
"What's your name?" I asked softly, staring at her.
"Naemi," she said gently.
"It's a beautiful name," I replied, playing absently with her fingers.
She looked at me with eyes like a sad cat. "And you, sir? What's your name?"
"My palms pressed over hers to hold the warmth. "Yosuke."
Her crimson eyes softened. "An elegant name. Mr. Yosuke."
"Just Yosuke, for you," I said with a wide smile.
I stood, taking the towels to the bathroom. But before I could return, she suddenly rose to her feet.
"I'm sorry. I can't stay too long. If the head of the village learns, I might lose my position," she said hurriedly, moving toward the door.
In an instant, I shadow-stepped between her and the exit. She gasped.
"When will you have free time?" I asked, my voice low.
Her eyes searched mine. "The moment the personal army returns."
"Then I'll wait. I want to know more about you," I said.
She softened, whispering, "Yes, Yosuke… me too."
I opened the door slowly for her.
"See you later, Naemi."
She smiled before slipping away into the corridor.
When the door closed behind her, I returned to the kitchen, cleaned the cups, and placed the towels neatly in the bathroom. Then I fell onto the bed.
For a while, I just stared at the ceiling, her crimson eyes still vivid in my mind. But then the fatigue hit me, and my eyes slowly closed.
In the end, everything became black, and I fell asleep.