“No, the real question is, who are you?”

Hae-eun stared at him, confused. What did he mean by that? If he didn’t even know who she was, why had he brought her here to this estate?! Ignoring the mysterious man’s gaze, the freedom fighter quickly scanned the room, trying to find something to use as a weapon. If they were planning on trapping her here, she might as well fight to get out—even if it cost her life. Hae-eun refused to be taken in by a group of Japanese supporters! These traitors who traded her country for money and wealth would never sully her honor as the proud daughter of the noble, House of Min!

Smirking at the woman’s obvious wariness and contempt for him, the brunette man sighed, standing up from his seat. He strode up to the suspicious freedom fighter and quickly grabbed her wrist, pinning her against the wall as she thrashed around, trying to escape from his grasp. He glimpsed at the porcelain vase on the dresser that rattled with Hae-eun’s desperate attempts to break free. Pushing her away, he sighed, scratching his head in annoyance. This was going to be much more difficult than he had thought.

“… Like I suggested earlier, you won’t be able to escape a second time. So, stop trying to grab anything you can get in your hands to harm me.”

“Is this a hobby of yours? Kidnapping and grabbing women, left and right? Let go of me—” she cried out as the man dragged her over to the emerald sofa.

Forcibly sitting Hae-eun down, the brunette man sat in front of her on the coffee table, his stern eyes softening as he studied her irritated and fearful face. How long had it been since he had last seen her? His heart painfully constricted in his chest. He had finally found his “best friend” and one-sided love nearly a century after her disappearance. Swallowing his tears, he flashed a smile at the woman before him, who flinched—unsure of what to make of this situation.

“… What? Who are you and why is a Japanese supporter—”

“After everything you’ve seen, both within and outside of this manor, do you still believe that you’re in the year, 1919?” he asked with a smirk as he leaned forward in his seat, clasping his hands together while resting his chin on his hands.

Hae-eun shirked away, uncomfortable with their close distance. “Then, pray tell, what year is this?”

“It’s the year 202x and August 15.”

Hae-eun felt herself shake with terror. She had expected that this world may not be hers… But to have it confirmed… What was she going to do? How was she going to get back to her loved ones? She still had so much to do to liberate her country…

Her mind flashed back to the poster from earlier in the square. Had they failed to gain independence for their country…? Then what had happened to Woon, her fiancé and the Imperial Crown Prince of the nation? Had he been executed? Was that why this country was still a monarchy? Her breath started to labor as she clutched her palpitating chest. No…

The man calmly gazed down at her, unsurprised at the state she was in. He had gone through the same ordeal when he had first arrived eight years ago. He swallowed, hard, as bitter memories of that gruesome scene flashed before his eyes. All that chaos and blood… He gripped her shoulders, instinctively, shaking her out of her trance-like and panicked state. His hands trembled just slightly as he quickly let go when his eyes met hers.

“How did you arrive here? Do you remember what happened before you woke up in my home?”

“I…” Hae-eun’s mind flashed a white, luminous light. She flinched. What the… She furrowed her eyebrows. Was it because of that light she was here now?

“A light. There was a bright, white light. I was running through the tunnel when I felt sick to my stomach and before I knew it… that light engulfed me….”

“A tunnel? Was it the one underneath Rose Noble?”

Hae-eun jerked her head up, gaping at him in utter shock. How did he…? Wait, how did he even know who she was from the beginning?! Her confused and baffled expression was quickly replaced with one of cautiousness. She couldn’t trust this man— he gave off an odd feeling of nostalgia but no matter how much she racked her brain, Hae-eun had no idea who he was.

“… Hmm. Do you… remember me?” he asked curiously, somewhat amused at her confusion and wariness.

“No… Am I supposed to know you?”

“Interesting. So, she can’t remember me… Did she come before then? Then from what time did she come from?” he murmured to himself, resting his chin between his thumb and index finger. Hae-eun scowled at him, how annoying. Why didn’t he ever answer any of her questions?!

“What do you remember last?” he suddenly asked, whipping his head up to meet her defiant and irritated glower.

“You need to explain yourself to me. Who the hell are you? Why have you brought me here?”

“Because…” he said, glancing up at her, “I’m a time traveler myself.”

**NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**