♈︎ ♉︎ ♊︎ ♋︎ ♌︎ ♍︎ ♎︎ ♏︎ ♐︎ ♑︎ ♒︎ ♓︎

The excitement in Daeho region was palpable because of the glorious news of the upcoming wedding presentation of the two dynasties heirs, Park Dan-gu and Lady Cho-yeon. The two families decided to give the young couple a chance to pursue a love marriage. Dan-gu was overwhelmed with excitement after a few weeks of depression. Cho-yeon was also busy practicing her skills to summon a curse relic.

She'll practise daily to perfect her skill. Sometimes she will go to the relics vault behind a hidden enclosure which only the heir of Jinyowon could open. It was a secluded cave.

Namjoon felt more restless than ever, the fact that Cho-yeon 'Arin' decided not to return was too painful for him. She was so busy at the Jin residence with preparations and he hasn't seen her for more than a week. Jang-uk was overly occupied and you'll never find him alone but always in the company of his sassy maidservant, Mudeuk.

Namjoon spent his time researching and assisting Yoongi with the research. He and Yoongi had a wonderful understanding, and he discovered that Yoongi has a cute rural girl whom he always runs out to meet secretly.

Yul could tell Namjoon felt disoriented, and he wonders if his memory is still unclear. It seems like Namjoon has been in a different place for almost five months, and he is definitely been more reserved than usual.

Seeing 'Arin' happy in Dan-gus company made the pain in his heart intolerable. At the Tarven restaurant, the company enjoyed a pre-wedding lunch that Ji-wol had lovingly prepared. Jang-uk, his servant Mudeuk, Lady Cho-yeon, Dan-gu and Yul were also present.

They were laughing and joking around, clearly enjoying themselves. Every now and then, Namjoon and Arin's eyes will meet in a secret way. Namjoon looked into Arin's eyes and saw evident regret; he wondered if she was having second thoughts, but he knew she had already decided.

Namjoon could feel Dan-gu's genuine love and happiness in 'Arins' presence. Her eyes brightened up as he spoke to her, fed her treats, and just told her how lovely she is. She was radiant in his presence, while Namjoon's heart grew heavier and more sad. He realised immediately why she opted to stay. She is dearly adored, has a wonderful family legacy here, someone who worships the ground she walks on, and 'Cho-yeon' appears to sincerely love Dan-gu.

Namjoon understood that she is being treated with more affection and respect than he has ever treated her. He regretted every harsh comment and his deliberate actions to hurt her, such as kissing his fiancé or flirting with Min-ju in front of her; he knew what he was doing. After that, he could see the devastation, sorrow, and pain in her eyes.

He now realised why she could not forgive him: he never went out of his way to apologise; instead, he gave up when she rejected his apologies. He really should have been honest with her about the whole thing being a bet for a month, instead of leading her on like that. She believed he was actually in love with her, which he was not at first, but he came to know Arin's lively, authentic, and pure heart.

She shared her feelings openly, and after three weeks of the bet, he realised he was falling for the plain first-year student. He just could not let her go. After three months of keeping it all to himself, his friends got tired of waiting. So, at the party, they spilt the beans, and he found himself unable to deny it any longer. So, it turns out their fake relationship was revealed.

He was plagued by the expression in her eyes for years, as she felt immense humiliation. The pain did not end there; she was the campus' laughingstock. The sight of her hunched over as she walked to class made him feel her despair. She has cut off all contact with him, deleted all of her social media accounts, and blocked his number.

In spite of his awareness of his intense feelings for her, his family had already finalised their negotiations with Minju's, and she had ensured that word of their romance spread around campus. They were in the same social circle, yet he never even asked Min ju to be his girlfriend.

Arin seemed a bit more closed off with all the bullying, ridicule, and pity going on. Her face was pale and sunken, her eyes had lost their sparkle, and she seemed a bit lost. She lost her spark for life. Back then, her friend was not too keen on him getting close to Arin. She would not hear his apologies because she viewed him as a liar, a betrayer, and someone who took advantage of her innocence for a flipped bet.

A month later, he learned that she had dropped out of SNU and switched to online study for her last two semesters. Until she returns the following year...with a different attitude...a complete personality transplant-cold, stern, harsh, and condescending.

He gazed at her glowing radiance and the pure happiness she exuded. At last, she had found her tranquilly and happiness. He can not really ask her to give it up. He had an amazing life ahead of him, but she doesn't. He let out a deep sigh and smiled softly when he noticed Yul looking concerned.

"You okay, Nam-joon?"He questioned quietly.

Namjoon nodded at his attractive brother and said, "Yeah, I am alright, just tired."

Jang-uk chuckled, "This will be the wedding of the year! Congrats, Dan-gu." He nudges Dan-gu jokingly while the group enjoys the free wine and food platters. Cho-yeon just sticks out her tongue at Jang-uk, who winks at her.

Namjoon smiles brightly: "Lady Cho-yeon will be the most gorgeous bride ever. Dan-gu, you are a very lucky man.

'Arin' smiled gratefully at Namjoon's blessings.

Dan-gu chuckled, "Thank you Namjoon, if you did not offer that well-crafted speech on behalf of our union. We would not be having a celebration at this moment.

He bowed deeply in Namjoon's direction. Namjoon just smiled widely, and he noticed Arin's eyes on him, a mix of emotions flickering across her face. They both realise that this was it, the last time they might be together.

After the fun lunch, the group headed to the exit downstairs. Yul's eyes went wide when he spotted three mages walking into the place just as they were heading down.

Namjoon's eyes widened when he saw Hoseok, or 'Hobi,' along with two second-level mages. He bowed deeply and motioned for Yul, Dan-gu, and Jang-uk to immediately follow him to a private area, while Lady Cho-yeon and Jang-uk's servant stood with Ji-wol and spoke softly. Thinking that the men were just doing mages business.
He glanced at Hoseok with wide eyes.

♈︎ ♉︎ ♊︎ ♋︎ ♌︎ ♍︎ ♎︎ ♏︎ ♐︎ ♑︎ ♒︎ ♓︎

Yul looked perplexed, "Seriously!" He glanced at Hoseok with wide eyes.

Hoseok seemed gloomy, "Yes...according to Master Park Jin, we need to get rid of Naksus' body to prevent her from returning to it through sorcery."

Jang-uk appeared bewildered, and Namjoon could see the horror in his eyes. "When will this happen?"

Hoseok gazed seriously at Jang-uk, saying, "Her body will be burned tonight. It will be like a public display, and wherever she hides, she will understand that her time is over. She could show herself when she notices her body being cremated."

Namjoon shook his head and said, "So, this assassin could still be lurking in a body somewhere around here."

Yul nodded and said, "Yeah... she could be anyone." Yul's eyes met Jang-uks for a brief moment, and Namjoon wondered what that wordless conversation was all about.

Namjoon exhaled deeply, feeling weary and emotionally exhausted, and excused himself to return to Songrim to rest.

Yul smiled, "I will see you later, Lil brother. We are going with Hoseok to master Park Jin, who is in the West Room."

Namjoon smiled, "Great...see you soon then."

He turned and walked away, down the wooden stairs to the entryway. Everything around him seemed off. Even as he breathed in, Namjoon could feel the magical energy surrounding him.

There was an unseen danger lurking around. He felt shivers run up his spine as he greeted several of the females who strolled around with large platters of food for the customers.

As he was about to reach the exit doors, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Namjoon turned to see Arin, or for the time being, Cho-yeon, smiling up to his tall stature. Namjoon could only look at her beauty, which aggravated the pain in his heart. He wished he could take her in his arms and kiss her one last time before he left and her existence ended.

Cho-yeon smiled and said, "Namjoon, thank you so much for everything you have done. Dan-gu and I are getting married this weekend. This summoning spell is also becoming more powerful. I am going to use the spirit plaque to summon the cursed relic. It is usually a good idea to have a replica of the object to reflect the curse. Once I have perfected my skill, I will share it with you. But I really have no clue how we are going to create the portal with that."

She seemed a bit worried.

Namjoon nodded, his brows furrowing. "Maybe I am the one who needed to touch or activate the portal. Maybe it is because I was totally aware of my time travel to this realm". He paused and thought deeply.

Cho-yeon was astonished, "That will be logical. If it is successfully summoned, I will bring it to you."

Namjoon smiles, but great sadness is in his eyes. "Thank you...Arin. "I'll always remember you, even if you're not really part of my world."

Cho-yeon giggled, "Do not be silly. Return to your life and live it fully. Perhaps I will give birth to you ancestors you will never know." Then her eyes suddenly darken, "You will have no memory when you return to our time. We will have no regrets..." She peered around nervously, then stood on her toes and muttered something that caused his eyes widen, before giving him a brief peck on the dimpled cheek.

Cho-yeon smiled as he stared at her, perplexed, "Farewell Namjoon..." She turned back to enter the establishment, where she would spend some time with Ji-wol.

♈︎ ♉︎ ♊︎ ♋︎ ♌︎ ♍︎ ♎︎ ♏︎ ♐︎ ♑︎ ♒︎ ♓︎

Everyone in the plain was buzzing with curiosity and a bit of anxiety when the assassin's body went up in flames. The mages gathered around the body while the entire town watched with a mix of curiosity and concern.

The mages and elders council members watched in awe, as if expecting a miracle, hoping Naksu would somehow unveil herself. Jang-uk and his servant girl also stood there with serious expressions. on at the proceeding.

.Jang-uk and his servant girl stood also there with solemn looks. All dynasties were present. Cho-yeon was standing next her mother, her gaze fixated on the flaming body.

The plain was enveloped in magical energy. It felt like your usual funeral, but for Naksu, it was a pretty humiliating moment...being laid to rest like a criminal.

The people's faces were serious, but you could see a flicker of fear in their eyes, knowing that anything could happen to the body of the most feared assassin.

.....

The day of the Wedding came with excitement and fan fare. Cho-yeon looked absolutely stunning in her wedding gowns. Her eyes were sparkling. She was aware that this was it. Upon exchanging vows, her soul will be struck in this dimension. She will live happily with the boy who loved her completely.

She was filled with sadness as she sat there while her maid servants made her gorgeous. Her mother seemed satisfied and proud as she glanced at her youngest daughter. She could not believe the time had come to give her up in marriage.

Cho-yeon just kissed her mother affectionately. But her heart felt a bit uneasy, as if her magical core sensed that something strange was about to happen. As the family gathered around, her uncle appeared oddly content.

Unfortunately, she has her doubts about him and is crossing her fingers that her uncle Jin-mu will honour her special day. Even her father appeared uneasy, as if his demeanour was disturbed. Cho-yeon could not quite put her finger on his cautious expression, but she thought it seemed like nervousness. It will be the Jin- family's first wedding in ages.

Cho-yeon brushed off the ominous mood. She attributed those feelings to wedding jitters. Today, she's going to stand in front of their priest and say those vows with dignity and sincerity.

She knows she led Namjoon down, but he has no idea that she could summon the curse relic. So, she accidentally touched this mirror artefact in the cave, and suddenly, she found herself in this misty forest that seemed totally fantastical and unreal.

She had no idea what made her start chanting the summoning spell, but suddenly, there it was-the lost relic revealed itself sitting on a black rock, looking just like any spirit plague.She was so excited, but she had to wrap it in a silk cloth to keep it safe from the air if she went back into the mirror artefact. It could react and disappear again, leaving Namjoon stuck in the past forever.

Cho-yeon smirked at herself as her hair was intricately brided.She is really excited to show it to Namjoon, maybe at her wedding reception. She has hidden it in one of the concealed pockets of her wedding gown. She will hang back until everyone of the guests are in a drunken festive mood, maybe suggest a dance with Namjoon and then pull him aside to work her magic privately, summoning him back with the lost relic

She really hoped it would work.

Cho yeon looked stunning in her marriage float. She was waving to the crown, who had come on the pier to admire her beauty. Daeho regarded her as royalty. All of the council's mages and senior elders stood with big smiles on their faces.

Cho-yeon's gaze scanned the surroundings for Namjoon. But he was not standing close to where the dynasties were gathered.

He shone in his absence. Cho-yeon's eyes lost their sparkle. Is not he coming to celebrate her most special and exciting day? It is her wedding day!

But she understood Namjoon was still upset and saddened by her refusal to accompany him. She is not quite sure if he really confessed his feelings for her just so she could help him with finding the relic.

She intended to surprise him with it. She pressed her lips together for a moment, but then a big, bright smile broke out as she heard the excited yells and cheers of congratulations.

As she arrives at the small dock, her eyes light up when she sees her maidservants laying out a flower path for her. This beautiful trail leads to the temple where her family, the Parks, and her future husband are waiting for her.

She had a radiant smile as she made her way down the big red carpet, with the crowd trailing behind her. Even the royal family will attend this beautiful occasion.

Cho-yeon inhaled deeply as she proceeded slowly to the altar, where Dan-gu greeted her with the most radiant grin ever...

♈︎ ♉︎ ♊︎ ♋︎ ♌︎ ♍︎ ♎︎ ♏︎ ♐︎ ♑︎ ♒︎ ♓︎

A/n: Arin is getting married.

A big shout out to all the Sparkles that stayed loyal to this historical-fantasy fanfic. I hoped you enjoyed the journey of Arin and Namjoon in the Joseon period.

1. Do you think Namjoon might stop the wedding?

2. Any thoughts what she whispered in his ears?

3. Do you think Arin might have second thoughts?