The puppet master asked cautiously.
I froze for a moment, unsure how to answer. Then I finally managed to nod.
Since this was a second date after a blind date, it counted as a date, right?
At my confirmation, a dark shadow fell over the puppet master’s face.
“The story is a little unusual. It’s my own play, of course, but it’s not exactly what you’d call a date performance… Are you really sure about this?”
He asked with concern.
But I nodded firmly.
“It’s fine. I’m sure he’ll like it.”
I was certain.
“Get everything ready. Give us the best performance you can.”
At my request, the puppet master nodded with a solemn expression.
This was how I prepared for my very first second date.
****
Early in the morning on the day I was supposed to meet Kai.
The sky outside the window was still a deep blue, with the darkness not yet lifted.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I reached for the bedside table out of habit.
Instead of the familiar touch of cold metal, my hand touched a glass of water.
Oh, right. This wasn’t a battlefield.
I got out of bed and stretched.
As I focused on the feeling of each muscle waking up, I thought about the appointment I had today.
For a moment, I felt a strange tingling in one corner of my chest.
‘…Am I nervous?’
It was a feeling I’d never experienced on the battlefield.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and headed to the dining room.
Since it was still early, I thought the dining room would be empty.
“Regina!”
“Are you up already!”
But the moment I opened the door, two men who had been sitting at the table sprang to their feet as if they had been waiting for me.
My father and older brother.
Normally, they’d be running around the training grounds at this hour, but today, they seemed to have made a point of waiting for me.
I could feel their persistent stares, but I pretended nothing was unusual and sat down.
“You’re both up early.”
“That’s not the point. Today is… that day, isn’t it?”
My father asked cautiously, his eyes sparkling.
“Th-that day you meet that worthless fellow who’s being chased by creditors!”
“Father, watch your words. Regina said she ‘had a good time’ with him, after all.”
My older brother tried to stop him, but his face was also full of curiosity.
“So, where are you meeting today? What are you going to do? If he asks you for money to pay off his debts, don’t give him a single coin. Understand?”
The two men crowded around me and fired questions at me one after another.
I calmly spread butter on my bread as I answered.
“Please eat your breakfast. Your food will get cold.”
“No, Regina! Your father is asking you…!”
“I’m going out now.”
I put the last piece of bread into my mouth and stood up.
If I stayed any longer, it felt like I’d be interrogated.
“Regina must be really serious about him! She shut us down so firmly!”
“Ugh… When she kept getting rejected, I prayed she’d find someone, anyone. But now that she’s actually meeting someone, what is this feeling?”
“Exactly! My heart aches! I’m so upset!”
I heard the two men whispering behind me, almost wailing.
I chuckled and left the dining room.
Although my family’s overprotectiveness was annoying, it also made me feel secure in a way.
I returned to my room and got ready to go out.
I opened my wardrobe and chose the neatest, simplest outfit I had.
It was a dark navy shirt and trousers with almost no decorations.
I stood in front of the mirror.
Without thinking, I raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear, then quickly lowered it in surprise.
‘…This doesn’t really feel like me.’
Feeling awkward, I hurriedly looked away from the mirror.
But it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.
****
Our meeting place was in front of ‘The Poet’s Lamppost,’ a landmark of Tonyachi Street.
Long ago, a famous poet had written a poem beneath this lamppost while waiting for his beloved. Ever since then, it had become a famous meeting place for couples.
I arrived ten minutes before the appointed time and stood beneath the lamppost, watching the people passing by.
Even though it was early in the morning, Tonyachi Street was full of life.
‘It’s almost time.’
Just as I was about to check my watch, I spotted someone running toward me from far away.
Golden hair that stood out even in the crowd.
It was Kai.
He stopped in front of me, panting as if he were out of breath.
“Hah… hah… I’m not late, am I?”
Beads of sweat had gathered on his forehead, but a bright smile spread across his face.
The moment I saw that smile, sparkling as if it held the sunlight, my heart gave a sudden thump.
‘…Nervous again? Me? Why? There’s no battle today.’
My heart, which had remained calm even in front of enemy commanders, was reacting to nothing more than a man’s smile.
“It’s exactly on time. You’re not late.”
I answered stiffly, trying to hide my confusion.
“That’s a relief. Coming through the front door instead of the window was harder than I thought. I had to get past the surveillance.”
Kai said playfully, then looked around with eager eyes.
“So? Where’s that ‘special place’ you prepared? Let’s hurry!”
“This way.”
I led him deeper into the alley.
Kai admired every little thing he saw in Tonyachi Street, like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time.
He saw some graffiti on the ground and seriously wondered, “Is this some kind of hieroglyph?” Then he listened to a street musician and started keeping time, saying, “That’s a pretty good rhythm.”
I thought he looked a little cute like that.
It seemed as if Kai was experiencing culture for the first time.
Well, he’d probably never had the time to enjoy himself while being chased by creditors.
We arrived at a small theater with an old sign hanging above the entrance.
When we stepped inside, I saw an unusual layout, with tables arranged in a circle around a round stage.
“Wow, what an interesting layout.”
Kai looked around excitedly as he sat at the table I showed him.
He ran his hand over the hard wooden chair and admired it.
“There isn’t any cushion? My bottom might get sore. I love this raw feeling.”
A staff member approached and set down the light grape wine and glasses I had requested in advance.
“So we’re each in charge of our own drinks today, too?”
Kai asked with a mischievous look.
He seemed to remember what had happened at the tea house last time.
I chuckled and nodded.
“If you want, I can pour yours.”
“No, I’ll pass. I’ve seen your clumsy hands once already. That’s enough for me.”
We each tilted our own wine bottles and filled our glasses.
After that, Kai’s gaze remained fixed on the stage.
His golden eyes sparkled with anticipation, shining like stars even under the dim lights.
A little while later.
The lights went out, and a spotlight shone on the stage.
The puppet master appeared, holding the worn-out knight puppet.
“Ooh…”
Kai let out a small gasp.
The puppet show, The Last Knight’s Dance, began.
The story was simple.
A knight who had lost everything on the battlefield, even his own body, which had been broken.
But he remembered just one promise he’d made as a child: ‘I will protect the princess.’ Holding on to that promise, he fought against the endless waves of enemies.
The puppet master’s movements were almost possessed.
Every time the knight puppet’s joints creaked, its pain came through. Every swing of its broken sword carried a sense of tragic resolve.
I was so absorbed in the performance that I barely breathed.
The puppet’s figure overlapped with the faces of my comrades who had fallen on the battlefield.
The screams, the scent of blood… and their eyes, which had never let go of their swords, even in their final moments.
The climax of the play.
The knight was finally surrounded by his enemies, who tore off his arms and legs.
But at the moment of his death, a princess appeared like a vision. She gently caressed his bloodstained cheek and whispered.
[Your vow shall become a star, shining forever.]
Only then did the knight close his eyes with a peaceful smile.
The lights slowly faded, and silence filled the theater.
For a while, I stared blankly at the stage.
Something hot welled up inside my chest.
‘…Ah.’
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