As True as a Dream

Hae-Joo’s hair stood on end as she recalled the last memory in her head.

 

She had seen a frighteningly handsome man in a pile of corpses and was about to leave when an icy hand…

 

She could still feel the tingling sensation of that icy hand grabbing her ankle.

 

Hae-Joo shuddered and frowned.

 

The top of her head was tingling.

 

She ran her left hand over her scalp and felt a lump.

 

‘Did she hit her head when she fell and fainted yesterday? What was the bloody face she saw at the end of the dream?’

 

Swallowing her frustration, Hae-Joo raised her eyebrows.

 

There was a strange feeling in her right hand.

 

Stretching her stiff fingers, she found the platinum pocket watch from yesterday.

 

The long gold bracelet glittered in the sunlight.

 

And yet she clutched it like a lifeline.

 

‘Had I really found the pocket watch? Was all that followed a dream? And the handsome man?’

 

Hae-Joo stared at the watch in disbelief.

 

***

 

Two days later, outside Gyeongseong Station.

 

Hae-Joo leaned against the passenger door of her taxi.

 

She was dressed like a dwarf, with a tightly packed chest, bronze-colored pants, and a barnacle hat that hid her long hair.

 “Haa…”

Hae-Joo sighed heavily, her eyes dull and bloodshot.

 

That day, after returning from the clearing in the northern outskirts of the city, she had been plagued by nightmares that kept her awake.

 

The man in her dreams had shot her in the face, his face covered in blood.

 

She tried to shake it off, but it wouldn’t go away.

 

His face appeared in front of her, beside her, over her head, and kept coming back.

 

She was afraid to sleep anymore, the horror weighing her down in every dream.

 “…Ugh. I’d better sell it fast.”

Hae-Joo said gloomily, fiddling with the pocket watch in her pocket.

 

Somehow the watch seemed to be the reason for the nightmares.

 

‘It couldn’t be haunted, could it?’

 “Taxi, are you available?” 

Dazed, Hae-Joo straightened her stiff posture and looked ahead.

 

It was a man, neatly dressed in a sevilla (men’s suit), with a rather large lacquered box at his feet.

 “Yes, where shall I take you?” “Let’s go to Song Yue Pavilion.” 

As she helped the man carry the box to the car, she looked up at the sky, which had darkened considerably.

 

It was time for the Jingcheng night to bloom in all its splendor.

 

It wasn’t long before the taxi was near Song Yue Pavilion when the passenger in the back called out.

 “Driver, when we get to Song Yue Pavilion, I’d like to ask you a favor.” 

As he spoke, the man thrust a one-yuan bill in front of him.

 “Can you help me carry this lacquered box to Song Yue Pavilion or it’s too big for you?” 

Seeing the note out of the corner of her eye, Hae-Joo quickly grabbed the end of the paper with her free hand.

 “Just say the word and I’ll move it anywhere.”

She smiled, her face as friendly as ever.

 

***

 

Song Yue Pavilion, located in Namchon, is a high-end restaurant in Gyeongseong Province.

 

It’s not just about the food. They can also invite the parasites of the Kwonbun (Parasite Union) for entertainment.

 

After helping the man carry the box, she stopped unexpectedly at the threshold of the central door of the banquet hall.

 

Illuminated by red lanterns, the Song Yue Pavilion was even more colorful than during the day.

 

She could see the high, endless wall surrounding the huge compound.

 

She’d been in and out of the Song Yue Pavilion dozens of times, but each time, the size and grandeur of it left her speechless.

 

The annex they had just entered was just the tip of the iceberg.

 

The main building is for dining only.

 

Three banquet halls used for different purposes.

 

A moon hall with a stage for performances.

 

An annex for private and secret meetings.

 

An inn for overnight stays.

 

And the garden, with its ponds, bridges and pavilions, enhanced the scenery of all these buildings.

 

It’s no exaggeration to say that a mountain of gold was spent on this place.

 

She wonders how much this place makes a day.

 

She bet she could support herself by never working a day in her life with its income.

 Meow~! 

Hae-Joo turned her head.

 

A white kitten was crouching next to the cornerstone that supported the banquet hall building.

 “What kitten?” 

It was rare for such a small animal to roam the grounds of Song Yue Pavilion.

 

Since most of the guests were dignitaries, the management of the hotel was strict about not allowing pets.

 

So which nobleman’s cat is it?

 

Shiny fur, clear blue eyes, fox-like pointed ears, and a black tail.

 

This was definitely no ordinary stray cat.

 

As she pondered, the cat turned around and showed her its backside.

 

The skin around its hind legs was torn and bleeding.

 

Hae-Joo hesitated for a moment, then ran after the cat.

 

‘What if a dignitary lost a cat?’

 

If she protects it well, there might be some reward.

 

Hae-Joo chased after the cat, frantically circling the vast grounds of Song Yue Pavilion.

 

She doesn’t know what it’s doing with its injured leg.

 

The sounds of the musical instruments that add to the ambiance of the Song Yue Pavilion faded away.

 

The cat finally stopped.

 “Come here, doesn’t your leg hurt? If you leave it alone, it will get infected, so let’s treat it nicely.” 

Hae-Joo crouched down towards the cat, spoke softly, and quickly extended her hand.

 Meow! 

She finally understood.

 “Shhh-it’s okay, I’ll take care of your wounds and find your owner. But is your owner a man of noble blood, and does he have a lot of money? I hope he’s a very rich one.” 

The cat’s wounds were avoided, and Hae-Joo examined it carefully.

 

Then she felt a little lost.

 “…Where is this place?” 

Was there such a place in Song Yue Pavilion?

 

Most of the buildings in Song Yue Pavilion were a mixture of Korean and Japanese architectural styles.

 

For example, one of the banquet hall buildings is called a ten-tatami room, which is a room with ten connected tatami mats, and the interior follows a Japanese-style structure.

 

The roof, on the other hand, was covered with whale-like tiles in a hip-shaped pattern, with a solid stone foundation underneath, in keeping with the nobility of the palace.

 

The building in front of her is a two-story Western-style red brick house with ivy on the exterior walls.

 

Unusually, the facade of the building had arches in each section, with a parapet at the bottom and a veranda inside.

 

Also, unlike the colorful and bustling Song Yue Pavilion, there were no lights and it was deserted.

 

I felt like I was in a place I shouldn’t be, and my chest tightened unnecessarily.

 Meow! 

Her arms slackened in surprise, and the cat jumped out of her arms and scampered across the wide lawn in front of the building.

 “Huh? Hey, where are you going?” 

Hae-Joo turned her attention back to the cat.

 

Two tall, dense Zelkova trees stood beside the building, and the cat was crouching under one of them.

 

Crouching down in front of the cat, she checked the time on her watch and sighed.

 

About forty minutes had passed since she’d entered Song Yue Pavilion’s room.

 “Hey, do you have any idea how much time I’ve wasted because of you…” 

Hae-Joo muttered and grabbed the cat with a frown.

 

She saw a pair of men’s shoes near the cat’s seat.

 

‘Was a man there?’

 

He was behind a tree, so she couldn’t see him from where she was standing.

 

Hae-Joo lifted her head and tugged at the corners of her mouth.

 “I’m sorry, sir. A cat jumped in. I’ll get it out in a minute…” 

Hae-Joo’s jaw dropped as she continued.

 

It was because of the man sitting in a simple stylized tonette chair (a chair made by steam bending wood).

 

Long, thick eyelashes, a delicate jawline, lips as red as a camellia flower, and white skin that glowed softly under the dark night sky…

 

She felt a shiver run down her spine.

 

The pulse in her temple jumped as if it would burst.

 

Her heart felt like it was going to jump into her throat.

 

‘Was I dreaming again?’

 

If not, why is she seeing the man she saw in the pile of corpses earlier that day?

 

Suddenly, the man’s closed eyelashes moved.

 

Then they slowly opened.

 

Hae-Joo’s legs went limp, and she fell back onto her ass.

 

The pocket watch in her hand fell to the grass, but she didn’t notice.

 

All her nerves were focused on the man.

 

Her eyes, nose and mouth would bleed.

 

Everything. He would stare at her with bloodshot eyes full of revenge.

 

Hae-Joo closed her eyes tightly and swallowed a silent scream.

 

‘If this is a dream, please wake me up! I want to stop sleeping!’

 

Suddenly, she felt the annoying sensation of a dog licking the back of her hand.

 Meow! 

‘A cat? This sensation… Is this a dream…?’

 

Confused, Hae-Joo slowly opened one eye.

 

The man was still there.

 

In the midst of her stupor, not knowing whether she was dreaming or in real life, the man’s calm gaze drifted somewhere beside her.

 

A corner of his mouth turned up in amusement.

 

Hae-Joo followed his gaze, mesmerized.

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