"I admire you, Lady Diana. I want to be by your side forever." The voice echoed in Diana's mind, sending a shiver down her spine. It was a voice she had longed to hear, a voice that held both familiarity and longing. But why now? Why at this moment of uncertainty and fear?
"Wait...!" Diana's voice trembled as she reached out her hand, her fingers grasping at the thin thread that wound around her ring finger. It was a delicate thread, shimmering with a subtle golden hue, connecting her to a presence that seemed both near and far.
"Come with me...!" Diana's words hung in the air, a desperate plea to the unseen figure at the other end of the thread.
[Workshop]
Mina's voice pierced through the haze of Diana's sleep, jolting her awake from her restless slumber.
"Mina...?" Diana's voice was groggy as she struggled to open her eyes.
"I knew this would happen! You're still sleeping?!" Mina's tone was a mixture of annoyance and concern, her hands shaking Diana awake with urgency.
Diana blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of her dream. "Umm... No..."
"What do you mean no?! You can't sleep peacefully right now." Mina's agitation was palpable as she clapped her hands in front of Diana's face, urging her to wake up fully.
Diana rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of her dream. "I had a dream."
"What, did you dream of a ghost? You doze off like a sick chicken because you've been up all night for days! Hurry up and get ready! Quick! You didn't forget the meeting, did you?" Mina's rapid-fire questions only added to Diana's confusion.
"Meeting...? Oh my god...! W-What time is it now?" Diana's heart raced as she scrambled to check the time, realizing that she was running late.
Mina sighed, a mixture of exasperation and amusement evident in her expression. "You got everything, right?"
"Of course, who do you think I am? I'm perfectly prepared, so don't worry!" Diana's response was rushed as she hurried to gather her things, Mina's reassuring smile easing her nerves as they headed out of the workshop together.
Mina's farewell echoed in Diana's ears as she stepped out into the bustling streets.
"Okay, take care," Mina's words lingered in the air as Diana navigated through the crowd.
Suddenly, a voice pierced through the noise of the city, calling out to her.
"National needlework master Diana!"
Diana paused, the weight of those words sinking in. Three years had passed since she had achieved the title of the youngest national needlework master in the industry. As a sudden gust of wind swept through the streets, she looked up at the sky, feeling a pang of nostalgia.
"It's already... It's already this season," Diana murmured to herself, the memories of seasons past flooding back to her like a distant dream.
But then, a sense of frustration overtook her. "It's the third time... Already. ...Oh, this is not the time. It has been three years ago, so why am I still... It's all because of that stupid dream! Yeah, it's all because of that dream."
Pushing aside her thoughts, Diana focused on the task at hand. She was working on the restoration of King Lee's Royal Robe, adorned with intricate golden dragon embroidery, damaged by the recent spring rainstorm that had battered the royal tombs.
"If you check the shape of the sleeve and its curved bottom, you will see the difference," Diana instructed, her attention to detail evident as she meticulously worked on the delicate fabric.
The royal tombs, battered by heavy rain and winds from an untimely spring storm, bore the brunt of nature's fury. In the aftermath, a massive restoration effort began to repair the damage inflicted upon the excavated artifacts. Among them was the King Lee's Royal Robe, adorned with intricate golden dragon embroidery, a masterpiece in need of careful restoration.
"You'd better refer to the King's Portrait. Your Highness wanted to recreate the days of his achievements, so it's based on the King's Portrait," Diana advised, her voice laced with authority as she guided the restoration process.
The person in charge, who had been listening intently, offered a curious smile in response to Diana's instructions.
"It's like you've heard it in person and are telling me. That's interesting," the manager remarked.
Diana chuckled nervously, feeling a flush of embarrassment. "Oh... That's because... It has been my own opinion... Haha..."
Lost in her thoughts, Diana turned her gaze to the image projected onto a nearby screen. Faces flashed before her eyes, each one holding a special place in her heart. There was Lord Sung, a beacon of light in the darkness, whose memory warmed her soul. And then there was Lord Kooju, elegant and enigmatic, a figure she admired from afar. Young Lord Taesoo and Officer Young also crossed her mind, each representing different facets of the world she longed to explore.
As the images danced before her, Diana couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find herself in their arms, enveloped in their warmth and protection. But reality soon intruded, pulling her back to the present moment.
"It ended earlier than I thought... I don't want to go back to the workshop," Diana mused, her mind lingering on the missed call she had received. Despite the beautiful weather beckoning her outside, she hesitated, torn between duty and desire.
Diana sighed as she powered off her smartphone, feeling a wave of frustration wash over her.
"...Oh, whatever," she muttered to herself, turning away from the device and casting it aside.
As she wandered through the streets of Seoul, her thoughts drifted back to a place that held significant meaning for her—the old mansion once owned by Madam Lee, now a dilapidated relic of its former glory.
"It is Madam Lee's mansion... which has turned into an old mansion now," Diana reflected, her voice tinged with nostalgia. The mansion held memories of her time learning Chosun's needlework and adapting to life in the foreign land. It was a space steeped in history and stories, a testament to the events that had shaped her life.
"How's everyone doing?" she wondered aloud, her thoughts drifting to the friends and acquaintances she had left behind in Chosun. Since returning to Seoul, she had found herself caught between the past and the present, grappling with the aftermath of the failed treason and the passage of time.
Despite her initial efforts to uncover the truth, Diana had gradually stopped searching for answers, choosing instead to bury herself in her work. Three years had passed since her return, during which she had risen to become the national needlework master, a testament to her dedication and skill.
"It has been indeed a long time," she murmured, a sense of melancholy settling over her as she contemplated the passage of time and the changes it had wrought.
Despite the passage of time, memories of those days remained vivid in Diana's mind, as if they had unfolded only yesterday. Lord Sung, his name echoed in her thoughts like a refrain, a constant presence even after three long years.
"I miss you... Lord Sung," Diana whispered softly to herself, her voice carrying a hint of longing.
But then, as if in response to her words, a voice—an unbelievable voice—reached her ears.
"I missed you, too."
Diana's heart skipped a beat at the sound, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"I can't believe it," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before her stood Sung, his presence as real as the air she breathed. His eyes, like sunlight filtering through the trees, held a warmth that washed over her, and his lips, curved into a playful smile, seemed to mock her disbelief.
"Which part can you not believe it?" Sung teased, his smile widening. "Is it the part that I said I missed you? Or is it the part... that I'm in front of you?"
Diana could only stare at him, her mind reeling with a mixture of shock and joy. And then, as if to confirm the reality of the moment, her gaze fell upon a familiar thread bracelet adorning Sung's wrist—a symbol of their connection that transcended time and space.
Sung's request to hold his hand sent a jolt of warmth through Diana's heart, melting away any resistance she might have harbored.
"Why... Why did you come so late? You're too late..." Diana's voice trembled with a mixture of relief and reproach as she questioned Sung's tardiness.
But Sung, unfazed by her words, gently lifted her hand to his lips and planted a soft kiss on the back of it. His lips, tender as petals, left a lingering warmth on her skin.
"Yeah. I should be punished for a long time," Sung admitted, his tone tinged with regret.
Sung couldn't help but recall the events of three years ago, the day when Diana appeared in her dream with a plea for her to come to Seoul.
"Come to Seoul with me...! This is the only chance we have. So Please!" the woman in Sung's dream had implored, tears glistening in her eyes.
"At first I thought it was just a dream," Sung confessed, echoing Diana's own skepticism about the supernatural encounter.
Just like Mina's miraculous transformation, Sung's reappearance seemed almost too fantastical to believe—a testament to the enduring power of fate and the unbreakable bonds that tie souls together across time and space.
Diana's voice was barely a whisper as she asked, "So... When did you realize that?"
Sung's eyes softened as he recalled the moment. "My foundation happened to sponsor one project. Those damaged royal tombs, restoration work, and..." He paused, locking gazes with Diana. "...Diana, you. You were the last piece I needed."
Her heart swelled with emotion at his words. It was the sweetest confession she had ever hoped to hear.
"You know what?" Diana began, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "When I was young, I also had a dream. There was a golden thread tied on my finger, and that led to someone else... Perhaps. I've needed you since then."
Sung's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with affection. "I thought 3 years would be enough for my punishment. But I'm already looking forward to it. What kind of punishment will be waiting for me in the future?"
A soft chuckle escaped Diana's lips as she leaned closer to him. "Yes. You'll have to be prepared."
In that moment, as they drew nearer to each other, their warmth and breath mingling, it felt as though they were weaving together the threads of their past and present lives. With each knot that formed, they embarked on a new journey—a journey of love, forgiveness, and the promise of a future together.