(Y/n)'s POV

~The next day~

By the time I woke up, it was already morning. The sunlight had come in through the window, lighting up the room.
Ah Ro had fallen asleep beside me with a small smile on her face. Was she thinking about Sun Woo or something?

"Yah, are you going to sleep all day? Is your romantic dream with Sun Woo that nice? But I suggest you wake up before he comes in and sees the drool coming out of your mouth."
"*groans* Just five more minutes..." she muttered quietly before pulling the blanket over her face.
"Hmm, I wonder if you actually heard what I said before."
"Alright! I'm up, happy now?" she asked with a pout.

I laughed and nodded. She sat up and stretched while yawning, with her eyes still half open.

"Ah Ro, what time did you sleep last night? It's already 9:30am."
"Huh? Oh, some time after midnight. I was worried about you so I stayed up," she replied sleepily.
"Ah Ro! You should get some rest!"

She just shrugged. Before either of us could do anything, a loud crash from just outside my room caused the both of us to jump.

We opened the door and went outside, only barely managing to avoid being crushed by Hansung.

"What's going on here?"
"(Y/n), watch out!" yelled Sun Woo.

I moved to the side, dodging the incoming arrow. It seemed like a group of bandits had come to cause trouble. Suddenly, I heard a scream behind me. Ah Ro had been taken by one.

I immediately got on a horse and chased after them.

Ji Dwi's POV

"(Y/n), no!"

It was obviously a trap. They weren't after Ah Ro, they just needed someone as a hostage.

I quickly whistled, calling my horse over. Sun Woo grabbed onto my arm, preventing me from going after them.

"It's a trap, they didn't come here to steal anything," he exclaimed.
"I know, but I have to save them."

He sighed before jumping on his horse. I just smiled before chasing after the bandits who took Ah Ro.

Mother planned this, but why? Why take her before that day? It didn't make any sense unless she already got a hold of 'it', the book of ties.

"Oi Ji Dwi, do you know what's happening?" asked Sun Woo.
"N-no, I don't."

He glanced at me before shrugging it off. I secretly sighed in relief, grateful that he didn't ask more about it.

Once we got there, we saw Ah Ro at the door, begging for them to release (Y/n).

"Ah Ro, what happened?"
"(Y/n), she tried to rescue me but they captured her. It was all a trap from the beginning. They were saying something about a ritual," Ah Ro replied quickly.
"Ah Ro, get on the horse and go back. Don't argue with me and just go," Sun Woo ordered.

She simply nodded before leaving. Sun Woo and I cut the lock with our swords and pushed the door open. Once we were inside, bandits rushed towards us from all directions.

(Y/n)'s POV

I was chained to the ground in the middle of a large, creepy-looking room. There were candles everywhere, which lit up the room.

I pulled at the chains but it didn't budge. A person cut me, drawing blood. I winced as they did this to my other arm.

"Don't worry, this'll all be over soon."
"Let me go!"
"Sorry but that's not something we can do. If you have a problem, then go talk to the queen about it. But you'll most likely be dead by the time we're finished with you."
"What...are you talking about?"
"You're not human. *sigh* It seems that you don't know much about yourself."
"What do you mean I'm not human?!"

Before she could reply, the door burst open. Ji Dwi and Sun Woo came in, panting probably from their fight earlier.

"So you've come to rescue her..."

She held the knife to my neck and muttered something. Suddenly, pain spread throughout my body until it was so painful, I couldn't even scream.

"Stop hurting her!" yelled Ji Dwi.
"Sorry but if she remains alive, the royal family will disappear because...that is what she was born to do."
"What the hell are you talking about?! Let her go!" Sun Woo demanded.

The woman clicked her fingers. That was when we heard a low growl from outside. Lulu ran inside, going towards Ji Dwi and Sun Woo.

"No, Lulu! Stop- ugh!"

The pain was getting worse and worse until it felt like I was dying over and over again. Blood ran down my chin.

"L-Lulu...stop..."
"It's no use, she's under our control now."

I watched in horror as Lulu jumped up and onto Sun Woo. Ji Dwi was thrown against the wall.

"Lulu, stop! Stop hurting them!!"

The mark on my hand glowed white until the whole room was surrounded in a bright light. That was when I heard a scream from where Lulu was. I could tell that she had calmed down, so why did I hear screaming?
Ji Dwi! It must've been him! The light burnt him before.

"(Y/n), stop the light unless you want your friend to die," ordered the woman.
"I-I can't, but why is it affecting him? He-"

That was when I realised it. She had said that my purpose was getting rid of the royal family.

"You stupid girl, now do you get it?! That's why-"
"No...Ji Dwi won't die like this. I won't let him! Ji Dwi...no, Jinheung! You can't die, no matter what! You have to live because...I love you!"

The light faded but I had lost consciousness straight after, without seeing the outcome.