Sohee POV

I had hoped this day would never come. Now that it is here, I'm surprised that I can be this calm and rational.

"I see" was all he said, but I could tell from the look in his eyes that he regretted asking.

"It's getting pretty late" I commented. "We should turn in for the night. Perhaps the rain will stop by morning."

"Right" he said devoid of energy.

He shuffled inside the small room and I quickly set up the bedding for him. "You can use this room" I told him.

"Okay" he replied as though he were on autopilot.

"Good night" I said as I grabbed a set of bedding for myself and left the room. I walked across the patio to the study and set up my bedding in there. 

I hope the rain stops soon, so that I can send him down the mountain before it's too late.

A tightness in my chest began to build and I pounded on it as hard as I could hoping it would just go away. Please! Please! Please! Don't do this to me! Not again! I can't! 

Why? After all this time, why now? Why him?

Howon/Hoya POV

I know that I only just met her, but I couldn't help myself from liking her. Even after I discovered she was a gumiho, I couldn't stop looking at her. She may not have been the most beautiful woman in the world to everyone else, but she was to me.

Is this what it's like to fall in love at first sight?

When she said he was her husband, I knew I had made a mistake. I knew I shouldn't have asked. What's worse was the look she had on her face as she said it. It made my heart ache. It felt as though there were a heavy weight on my chest that I couldn't move. Like someone had reached deep into my chest and was squeezing my heart so it couldn't beat.

I collapsed onto the bedding she had laid out for me. Why? Why did this have to happen to me? Why did they choose me to deliver this damn edict? Why did it have to be her?

Tears fell from my eyes uncontrollably. Why did I have to fall in love with her?

Sohee POV

The next morning, I woke up early to prepare breakfast. Just as I was about to knock on the door to let him know it was ready, it opened and I came face to face with him.

"Good morning" I blushed a little.

"Morning" he replied as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Breakfast is ready" I shyly said.

"Oh" he paused. "Right... Uh... Let me just wash up first" he stuttered as he went to the washroom. When he came back, he sat down and smiled "This looks delicious."

We ate in silence. It was a little awkward, but it still made me happy.

"It looks like the rain hasn't stopped" he said as he looked up at the sky.

"No, it hasn't" I commented.

He helped carry the tray back to the kitchen and we washed the dishes.

"Maybe it will clear up by noon" I nervously stuttered.

"Maybe" he sighed. Then he looked at me and said "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it didn't stop."

My heart stopped beating. What did he just say?

He took a step closer and said "I hope it keeps raining, so I can stay here with you."

He pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around me. My heartbeat started to speed up. "What are you saying?" I blushed.

He pulled away a little and said "I don't want to leave. I want to stay here with you." Then he leaned forward and kissed me.

My mind went blank. Is this really happening?

Howon/Hoya POV

I've made up my mind. I don't care what anyone says. I'll even pretend that damn edict never existed. That I lost it somewhere along the way.

"Hoya" she blushed as we parted.

"I know that this is awkward and it must feel like I'm moving too fast" I started rambling. I didn't know what to say or how to put it. All I knew, was that I had fallen in love and I didn't want to lose that.

"Hoya" she said my name sweetly and I stopped. I can't believe her voice can do this to me. As I stood there waiting for her next words, she leaned forward and kissed me.

When we parted this time, I had a difficult time trying to remain calm and rational. "Sohee, I love you. I don't want to leave. I want to stay here with you forever."

Her eyes widened. "Hoya!"

"I know you must think I've gone crazy, but I don't care. I know how I really feel." I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I love you" I whispered in her ear.

Sohee POV

My heart clenched at those words. The same words I had wanted to say, but was too afraid to.

I pulled away from his embrace and said "There is something you should know first."

"I will listen to whatever you say, but it will not change my feelings."

"I know it will not. In fact, I believe that it will only serve to make them stronger" she sighed.

He seemed confused by my words. "The edict you were tasked to deliver, was meant for me."

"I know" he replied. "I realized that when you said Lee Howon was your husband."

"It is true that we were husband and wife in the eyes of the people, but we were never actually married."

"What? What do you mean? The legend says that you..."

"Yes," I quickly interrupted him. "It is true that I went to the palace and demanded that he be sent as my husband. It is true that he came to Fox Mountain dressed in wedding attire" she sighed. "However, there was no wedding ceremony. No blessings were bestowed on us. We never shared a room together."

"But I thought you said he was your husband" he argued.

"Yes, I did say that."

"Now you are saying he wasn't?"

"Although we never had a ceremony, the people considered us a married couple. Over time, we got tired of arguing it. When Howon passed away, his brother planned to posthumously name him King and, as a result, give me a title of Queen Dowager. Not wanting to refuse an edict given by the King, I stated I would only accept the decree if it was delivered at his grave."

"So the reason no one has been able to deliver the edict..."

"Is because we have interfered in every attempt."