mindwomanjigrave
(The Witch's Cat)
-The Witch's Cat-
W. Seolha
Trigger Warning,
There are numerous scenes of violence and some graphic depictions of gore that some viewers may find offensive.
Please be careful.
Originally, it was not enough to be a storyteller to simply know countless stories floating around the world. It was natural that a person with a witty and smooth storytelling ability would become more famous than one who simply told boring stories. So, it was said that a certain storyteller who appeared in the capital of the nation was one of those people.
This storyteller, who had appeared out of nowhere, began to sweep the capital's streets one day. He was so skillful at leading people that the bustling marketplaces would empty out as soon as he appeared, crowds flocking to the center of the vast market. He unraveled so many tales so captivatingly that, overnight, he became a famous figure in the capital.
On the very second day of his appearance in the capital's marketplace, the storyteller gathered everyone together and began a truly bizarre tale. Against the backdrop of the darkening sky, the tale he told was so unfamiliar to the people of the capital that most of them tilted their heads in confusion as he began. Nevertheless, his eloquence was so captivating that he captured the attention of countless people. What was the story?
“...Do you know the witch named ‘Dongbaek’?”
Hongwol set down her teacup with a clatter. Her eyes, unusually wide, turned to the man in front of her. "Dongbaek?" she asked. The man sitting in front of Hongwol nodded in response. "I'm sure I heard you called her the Dongbaek Witch," Hongwol bit her lip at his reply.
“Other than that, there’s nothing else suspicious, right?”
"They say she told the story of the Camellia Witch at the end and then suddenly disappeared. Other than that, it's all just the kind of stories any ordinary storyteller would tell..."
“Ha, that’s right.”
Hongwol's crimson eyes were filled with coldness. Reddish drops of blood formed on his clenched lips. "Are you Jeongguk's subordinate?" Hongwol asked, and the man nodded. Hongwol hesitated for a moment at her "yes" answer. Then, when she said, "If you hear any more suspicious rumors, let me know immediately," the man nodded. "I will," he said, putting down the teacup he was holding and standing up. Dressed entirely in black, like his master, the man lightly climbed onto the windowsill.
Hongwol, who had confirmed the man had easily jumped out of the Hwabindang, closed the window. The wind that had been blowing into the living quarters died down. For a long moment, Hongwol clutched the window handle, lost in thought. It was clearly called "Dongbaek." This was incredibly suspicious. In this capital, where witches were rife, the man had insisted on leaking the story of the "Dongbaek" witch. It was as if he was revealing something he knew. Hongwol swallowed a hollow laugh and let out a deep breath. Shutting her eyes tightly against the headache she felt, Hongwol quickly regained control of her emotions. She let go of the window handle and stood firmly on her own two feet.
Red eyes resembling camellias slowly opened.
* * *
A full moon, ten days and a day had passed. Hongwol, mulling over her bet with the emperor, paced her room anxiously. With only four days left, she still didn't know the contents of the third stone tablet. Both Jeongguk and Hongwol knew it was a pointless sparring match, but it was the result of their mutual lack of trust. It was nothing more than a pointless game of wits. It would be comforting if Jimin returned, but he hadn't contacted her since leaving for Gyeongguk. Hongwol nibbled at her fingernails.
Hongwol, her feet lightly resting on the windowsill, jumped down without hesitation. The security at Hwabindang was unnecessarily strict. After experiencing the tragedy of a dozen court ladies swarming out after a simple walk, she had become accustomed to using the windows as if they were doors. Somewhere, she could faintly hear the chatter of soldiers on guard duty. Clad in a dark overcoat, Hongwol hurried her steps. Feeling suffocated, she desperately needed to bask in the moonlight.
Her haphazard footsteps brought Hongwol to a palace she felt quite familiar with. It was the place where she had first encountered the crown prince, the garden of the ruined palace where she had swayed the government. The cold moonlight bathed the ruined palace, adding even more eerieness, but Hongwol's steps were unwavering. With one step, she sat down on a stone by the lakeside. Her thoughts were overwhelming. Most were miscellaneous, but among them were a few troubling matters that threatened to give her a headache. One such issue was the story about the storyteller who had appeared in Hoguk. Hongwol rested her chin on her hand. She longed to escape these complex thoughts, to rest for a moment. If only she could simply let her gaze drift along the calm waters of the lake.
"...What brings you here at this hour?"
A low voice interrupted Hongwol's thoughts from behind. Hongwol slowly turned his head. Hongwol let out a faint laugh at the owner of the voice who was standing there, looking at him from afar. "Your Majesty, what are you doing all this time?" Hongwol asked, and Yoongi stroked the back of his neck. "Sleep doesn't come easily," Yoongi said, his footsteps gradually drawing closer to Hongwol.
The calm lake rippled in the breeze. The clear water perfectly captured the scenery of the ruined palace, and behind the crimson moon reflected on the water, I could see the figure of Yun-gi. Sitting quietly behind me, gazing at the lake's edge, his presence was quite incongruous with the image of the emperor, known for his cruelty.
“The lake is really beautiful.”
“...Does it look like that?”
“Isn’t this truly clear and clean water?”
“It’s the water that swallowed people.”
“....”
“You are the only one in this palace who cherishes this lake.”
“I think someone drowned in this water.”
“That’s where Lady Kim threw herself. The Crown Prince’s mother.”
Was it because it was the place where her mother died that she had sharpened her blade so sharply? Hongwol recalled the prince's image, thrusting his sword, a place where no monster like her would ever come. Even as his fingertips trembled in fear, he held the sharp blade pointed at me until the very end.
Yoon-gi frowned slightly, as if annoyed. Perhaps it was because he'd brought up the subject of Concubine Kim, Hong-wol vaguely thought. Perhaps he was a better person than she'd thought, to the point where even after throwing herself into the lake and risking her life, she was still loved by someone. Hong-wol blinked slowly. She smiled, thinking, "I probably won't understand until the day I die."
“...The weather is getting cold,”
“You go in first. What if you get caught in a horn?”
“Are you not planning on going in?”
A fairly strong wind ruffled Yun-gi's bangs. Hong-wol, who had been quietly observing the scene, raised a corner of her mouth slightly and turned her gaze back to the lake.
“I think I’ll go and look at the flowers a little more.”
Yoon-gi looked around. It was natural to question the palace's appearance, devoid of even a single flower. Still, he had no intention of criticizing Hong-wol, wondering what absurd remark that was. Yoon-gi let out a breathy laugh and unconsciously stroked Hong-wol's beautiful hair. The luscious strands tumbled from his fingertips. "Do as you wish," Yoon-gi said, grabbing a handful of ebony hair and kissing it.
As Hongwol watched Yoongi's back recede, someone approached him. As if by habit, someone took a seat near the rock where Hongwol had been sitting. Hongwol averted her gaze from Yoongi's and turned to face him. It was a familiar sight. It was the man, still clad in pitch-black attire.
"What brings you here in the middle of the night?"
“You’re hiding so well, you’re showing up.”
“You knew he was hiding, so you sent the emperor away in such a hurry, didn’t you?”
"You managed to figure it out."
“How could I not know, when our eyes met so many times?”
"Yes, so, as for the Crown Prince's dog, why did you come to me, leaving your owner behind?"
Jeongguk's brow furrowed strangely. When Hongwol gave a faint smile and denied it, Jeongguk's frown deepened even further. Yet, Hongwol, seemingly oblivious to Jeongguk, simply smiled faintly, taking in the breeze blowing from the lake. It was a truly leisurely, truly beautiful scene, but to Jeongguk, it was nothing but a frustrating sight. The bet between the witch and the emperor was drawing to a close. Four days, four days, and it was clear that she and he had more than enough to prepare, yet she remained relaxed. Of course, this was only possible because she didn't know that Hongwol was chewing her lip and stamping her foot in her quarters. The fact that he hadn't even seen the tiger flower fruit, the white camellia petals, or the red leaves of the snowdrop—the only clues that could lead his lord out of this bloody palace—only made him even more frustrated. Jeong-gook sighed deeply and settled down next to Hong-wol. He had long since heard Hong-wol's playful remark, "The ground is about to cave in."
"How about we stop here?"
"what?"
"Whatever our feelings for each other, aren't we in a relationship of need? I know what you want to know, and you have what I need."
"Hmm... so?"
"It means that if you just wait for the nine-tailed fox you sent to Gyeongguk to return, it will definitely be too late."
Hongwol's eyes widened. Her crimson pupils seemed to shine brightly in the moonlight. A final moan escaped Hongwol's lips. It was pure admiration. "Do foxes even recognize each other?" she muttered. Jimin, a nine-tailed fox, a monster with enough power to rival nature, had never imagined that a mere seven-tailed fox would notice her presence. But no. Jeongguk knew more than he thought. Despite laying down his most significant card, Jeongguk's face remained calm.
"Okay, so what do you want me to do?"
"Since we both lack mutual trust, let's do this. First, find the two things I asked for. You might already have them, so it shouldn't take long for me to get them."
"What if I do that?"
"After receiving it, I will tell you the contents of the tombstone. Then I will receive the remaining one."
"Hmm... I guess you really believe I'll give you that last condition without any problems."
"The original terms of the deal were to exchange those three items for the contents of the stele."
"What is made of words is easily broken, but perhaps because you have spent so many years with humans, you too have become close to them."
"How incredibly stupid—" Even as she harshly criticized Jeongguk, Hongwol's expression was filled with amusement. Jeongguk couldn't help but notice this, and when he saw the smile on Hongwol's lips, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Then I will trust your conscience."
"What could be more ridiculous than that?" Jeongguk continued. Hongwol smiled contentedly and said, "Yes, let's do that." Hongwol straightened her awkward posture. Moonlight seeped into her outstretched hands.
Camellia, a flower with red petals, bloomed in Hongwol's hand. Each bloom, as if boasting of its own existence, was so delicate that Jeongguk took it all in without fail. Camellia, by nature, blooms in winter, but now, with summer having only recently departed, it was a flower impossible to find. Yet, in Hongwol's hand, a camellia bloomed, and a truly beautiful flower at that. Hongwol carefully picked up the camellia blooming in her palm.
"Isn't it pretty?"
Hongwol spoke. A smile still hung on her lips. Hongwol, holding out her other hand that wasn't holding the flower, stared intently at his palm. Jeongguk felt the energy surrounding Hongwol ripple. It was truly a powerful energy. In the blink of an eye, Hongwol's hand was engulfed in a red aura, and he couldn't take his eyes off it. It was a brilliant, dazzling red. The dazzling light faded. The bright crimson light gradually faded, taking on the color of coral. Even that gradually lost its color, and by the time the auras surrounding Hongwol's hand had coalesced into a small sphere, it had turned completely white. With a snap, the bead fell into Hongwol's hand. Hongwol picked up the white bead, which seemed fragile, and dropped it onto the camellia flower. As the bright light enveloped the flower, the once brilliant red petals slowly turned white. After the light had finally subsided, what appeared in Hongwol's hand was a camellia with truly white petals.
When Hongwol handed it to Jeongguk, Jeongguk, unable to hide his bewildered expression, carefully embraced the camellia. Hongwol, who had been watching the ridiculous sight, bloomed a flower in her hand again. The blooming flower must be a red plum blossom. Hongwol, who had been looking down at the flower indifferently, bit her other hand with her sharp teeth. Jeongguk was so startled that he couldn't stop her. Hongwol placed her hand on the newly bloomed red plum blossom. A crimson drop of blood fell onto the petals, emitting a faint scent of blood. The flower, covered in red drops of blood, sagged under its weight, and soon absorbed all of the witch's blood, turning the petals twice as red as they were originally.
"Take it."
"...."
"Why are you just standing there, dumbfounded? I already made you two of the three ingredients you wanted."
Jeongguk's mouth twitched. While he held the camellia flower preciously, he couldn't accept the plum blossom soaked in Hongwol's blood, and instead stared blankly somewhere. Hongwol felt Jeongguk's gaze fixed on her hand. It was clearly the hand he had bitten, and Hongwol burst out laughing at Jeongguk's unexpected action. Hongwol held out her hand. "Is it okay?" the voice asked, a hint of laughter. The bitten hand was flawlessly clean, the only trace of the wound being the bloodstain on Hongwol's sleeve. Jeongguk blinked his large eyes, staring at Hongwol's hand, and then took the snow plum and red plum blossom from her hand. It felt like their fingertips had briefly brushed against each other.
"jungkook jeon,"
Jeongguk's frozen hand lingered in the air. He knew the owner of that sharp voice all too well. Hongwol's gaze also turned to the owner of the cold voice, and at its end stood a man staring at him with a cold, hard face. Hongwol suddenly remembered. The roses that had bloomed profusely in the garden where she had strolled with the emperor. The scene of those red petals falling vividly came to mind. Yes, the one who resembled a rose—,
"...how dare you,"
The sound of teeth gnashing in anger was heard. Yes, the one who resembled the rose wasn't me. Hongwol stared at Taehyung. It was the boy who resembled the rose.