That’s how long it had been since Da-yeon and I had spent any real time together.
It wasn’t an incredibly long period, but it wasn’t particularly short, either.
Truthfully, things had grown slightly awkward between us during this time.
Even though it’s impossible to suddenly become strangers with someone you’ve known for over a decade,
there’s a reason people say that when bodies drift apart, so do hearts.
There were moments when I wondered if we could ever return to the way we used to be.
We had agreed to keep our distance during the drama’s filming period, which made sense, but after the shoot,
I hoped we could go back to how things were.
The problem was situations —when we happened to meet during the filming period.
"…If you have something to say, spit it out."
Strictly speaking, I was the one who sought her out this time.
But even so, breaking through the awkward air that had developed between us while we’d been apart and actually speaking up wasn’t easy.
Asking why she suddenly started watching VTuber streams? That was even harder.
At least she hadn’t recognized my voice—it was a massive relief.
But why had someone like her, who never even mentioned the word "VTuber," suddenly changed so much?
At this moment, I was more curious about what had changed Da-yeon than I was about what might have changed in myself.
At the same time, I couldn’t help but worry.
No one in her class seemed to know where she went these days.
The only thing I managed to hear was that she would sometimes disappear without explanation.
Concerned, I reached out to her parents, taking the risk of being seen as intrusive, but they said everything at home was normal.
The Da-yeon I knew would never ask for help herself.
She had such a stubborn pride that I’d seen her take on unnecessary struggles just to avoid leaning on others.
Of course, I knew my meddling might be unwelcome.
Da-yeon wasn’t the warmest friend, and her personality could be challenging to deal with.
But I’d spent too much time with her to ignore the way she seemed to be hiding something.
Even if it meant we’d have to become complete strangers one day, I wanted to ensure that “incident” didn’t happen before that.
I’ve never been the type to just stand by while people I care about suffer.
Just as I was finding happiness in my life as Dia, I didn’t want others to stray too far from their own normal routines.
"If you’re struggling with something, just tell me. …Please."
I pleaded earnestly, my expression and tone serious, asking her to let me help.
The problem was that no matter how much time passed, Da-yeon didn’t say a word.
Well, she *did* say something just as we were about to part ways—
"…If a dating rumor about us spreads, it’ll be a huge problem. End it quickly before things get out of hand."
But even that had nothing to do with what was actually troubling her.
Once again, I found myself at a loss for words, unable to offer any meaningful response as I watched her walk away.
*…Why does she even think I’m dating someone…?*
"Doesn’t Ha-eun seem a little different lately?"
A staff member who had been watching Ha-eun from a distance posed the question to his colleagues.
Jin Gyu-seong responded,
"It’s probably because of her role as Yeong-wol."
"Her role as Yeong-wol?"
He speculated that her changed demeanor was related to her work on *The Moonlight Split by Clouds*.
It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption—Ha-eun was the type of passionate actor who did everything she could to immerse herself in her roles.
"If you think about it, the part she’s currently filming is a romance arc."
"So, you think Ha-eun’s change in demeanor is because…"
"She’s expressing Yeong-wol’s feelings for Lee Hyun in her own way."
"Wow, that’s incredible. That’s not easy to pull off at her age."
It was pure admiration without any ulterior motives.
Jin Gyu-seong’s theory wasn’t entirely baseless.
One of the strongest pieces of evidence backing his claim came from Ha-eun’s approach to her historical swordsmanship training.
*"She’s practicing with a sword several times heavier than the actual prop?"*
Jin Gyu-seong had initially provided her with a lighter sword, worried about the strain on her wrists and safety.
But he later learned, much to his surprise, that Ha-eun had chosen the heaviest practice sword available for her sessions at Kim Kyu-tae’s action school.
Concerned, Jin contacted Kim directly to ask if he’d been pushing Ha-eun too hard.
*"She keeps seeking out the heaviest sword herself. I’m worried about her wrists too, but what can I do?"*
Even with his years of experience, Jin Gyu-seong had never encountered an actress like Ha-eun.
When he finally asked her directly why she was putting herself through so much, she’d said,
*"Well… In the original novel, Yeong-wol’s sword is described as being extremely heavy."*
It was a simple explanation—a practical excuse for a more authentic workout—but Jin Gyu-seong had fallen for it completely.
His respect for her as an actor naturally deepened.
"Yes, Ha-eun seems gentler lately. But it’s all probably for the sake of the role. You don’t need to worry."
"I wasn’t worried—I just thought I might be the only one seeing her differently."
The staff member, now convinced by Jin Gyu-seong’s reasoning, decided to show some support for Ha-eun, handing her a bottle of vitamin drink from their pocket.
Surprised by the unexpected gesture, Ha-eun hesitated for a moment before accepting it with a smile.
Preparations for the first shoot of the day began about ten minutes later.
"Seong-jae and Ha-eun, please stand by!"
"Everyone, be careful with the flagpoles—they might topple in the wind!"
The set grew busier by the second.
Lights and microphones were adjusted into position.
Both lead actors, Yoo Seong-jae and Ha-eun, moved to their respective marks.
Just before filming began, Ha-eun turned to Yoo Seong-jae.
"Do you… notice anything different about me?"
The question sent Yoo Seong-jae into a mild panic. His eyes quickly scanned her from head to toe.
But aside from her slightly gentler demeanor compared to the first shoot, he couldn’t spot any changes.
"…Did you change your lipstick?"
"Uh, then… Maybe your eyeshadow is a little darker?"
"I don’t wear eyeshadow."
His guesses, none of which related to her acting, were all wrong.
"You really can’t tell?"
He answered honestly, and to his surprise, Ha-eun’s expression brightened slightly.
He’d expected her to look disappointed and found himself confused by her reaction.
"Thank you for being honest," she said with a smile.
"It seems everyone else was just mistaken."
Before Yoo Seong-jae could figure out what she meant, the countdown to the shoot began.
"Three, two, one… Action!"
Pushing his curiosity aside, Yoo Seong-jae stepped into his role as Crown Prince Lee Hyun.
The scene, S#51, was a leisurely stroll through the market—a rare outing for the Crown Prince and his bodyguard Yeong-wol.
Unlike earlier scenes where Yeong-wol was nothing more than a loyal guard, this one depicted her slowly coming to terms with her feelings for Lee Hyun.
"These bracelets symbolize wishing for each other’s safety. Would you like to try one on?"
The simple gift of a bracelet left Yeong-wol visibly shaken, her usually sharp gaze softening.
Her attempts to act unaffected crumbled when Lee Hyun noticed her flushed cheeks.
"Your face is red. Do you have a fever?"
"…! Y-your Highness!"
S#51 was a quintessential romantic scene, full of subtle tension as Yeong-wol, unmistakably in love, struggled to maintain her composure, while Lee Hyun remained oblivious.
This scene was a build-up for S#52, where the lighthearted atmosphere would take a drastic turn, catching viewers off-guard.
No one would have predicted that Yeong-wol’s budding feelings would lead her straight into the clutches of Queen Consort Yoon’s schemes.
Her tender vulnerability in S#51 would soon be met with harsh betrayal, leaving both the characters and viewers reeling.