Episode 4: Just Like Her
"Even if the soul forgets… the heart remembers."
The castle was colder than Aera expected.
Even with torches lit and shadows flickering, it felt hollow.Like something had been ripped out of its walls.
She wandered the hallway quietly, her bare feet making the faintest sounds on the marble.There was no one around.
Except—
"Lost?"
She turned.
Seo-Jin leaned against the wall near the staircase, arms crossed, face unreadable.
"Oh—um… yeah," she smiled awkwardly. "I forgot where the room was again."
He raised a brow. "You've been here half a day."
"I'm bad with directions." She shrugged. "I used to remember everything… I think."
A strange flicker passed through his eyes.
"You talk like you've forgotten a lot," he said, stepping closer.
"I have."She looked up at him. "But sometimes, things feel familiar. Like this place. And you."
Seo-Jin's heart stopped.
She used to say that too.
Iris.
He could still remember her voice, soft but teasing:
"You're easy to talk to, Seo-Jin. I don't know why. It just feels natural."
"Promise you won't hate me if I tell you something?"
"I think I… I think I like Dae-hyun."
He'd smiled back then. Hidden the ache behind it.Because what else could he do?
But now—Here she was. Again. But not her.
Aera tilted her head at his silence.
"…Did I say something wrong?"
"No," Seo-Jin muttered, voice quieter now. "You just remind me of someone I used to know."
"I get that a lot." Aera gave him a soft smile. "You seem… kind. Even if you pretend not to be."
Seo-Jin blinked.
That was exactly what Iris used to say.
His voice dropped.
"You don't know anything about me."
"Maybe not. But something tells me you cared for someone once. And maybe… you lost them."
His breath hitched.
He turned away.
"You should go back to your room."
But as she walked past, she said softly:
"If I did remind you of someone… I hope they made you smile too."
He stood there long after she was gone.
Fist clenched.
Jaw tight.
And deep inside his chest—A memory echoing too loud to ignore.
"Seo-Jin… thank you for always listening. I think I love him. But if he ever breaks me… you'll still be there, right?"
He had nodded then.
But now?
Now he couldn't protect her.
Not when she'd already forgotten everything…And not when Dae-hyun had destroyed the one girl who ever looked at both of them like they were worth saving.
[To be continued…]