An unyielding, tense standoff. Eyes as sharp and cold as ice, devoid of any trace of warmth.

"Starting off strong, I see."  
"They don’t seem uncomfortable with each other at all."

It was their first time exchanging lines together, yet there was nothing ordinary about it. Especially the power struggle between Queen Yoon and Yeongwol—it felt even more intense than expected.

"You talk as if you'd give anything for the Crown Prince if he asked."  
"If my meager life can be of use to His Highness, how could I not?"

One sought to hold the Crown Prince back; the other, to protect him. Both saw the other as an adversary.

With the actors' ages and the drama’s setup aligning, the clash between them felt more real, a fierce and balanced exchange where neither side could be seen as superior or inferior.

In other words, Ha-eun and Da-yeon’s performances complemented each other perfectly. If one actor dominated the scene, it would weaken the tension.

"They’ve both changed their images completely."

It was Ha-eun’s first time playing such a sharp-edged role like Yeongwol. Similarly, it was Da-yeon’s first attempt at playing a villainous role like Queen Yoon.

They both felt unfamiliar—no, they felt new.

Yet, there was not a hint of awkwardness or forced performance, allowing everyone watching to become deeply immersed. Most importantly, this sense of novelty matched exactly with Director Jin Gyuseong's vision.

"All three of you did great. I’m really looking forward to the filming."

Director Jin’s praise for the just-completed [S#13. The East Palace Confrontation] scene showed his full approval. The second scene reading then began, featuring interactions among the lead, supporting, and minor characters.

As they read through scene after scene, perfecting the tone, intensity, and inflection of each role, a sense of optimism grew among the staff.

"This one really feels different."  
"I hope we can finally celebrate with a success this time."

Three years had passed since KBC Drama Department entered its slump. They were tired of the bitterness of failed dramas.

This time, they hoped to savor the sweetness of success. The superb acting they witnessed made them believe that sweetness was within reach.

The cast and crew lost track of time during the extensive script reading, so engrossed in the flow that they didn’t notice the late hour. By the time the sky darkened and night had fallen…

"Alright, let’s wrap up with just one more scene."

Director Jin announced that they’d finish with one of the highlight scenes from *Moonlight Drawn by Clouds*. Naturally, everyone was curious about which scene it would be.

"[S#47. The Wounded Yeongwol]. Begin whenever you’re ready."

S#47. The Wounded Yeongwol.

It was the scene Ha-eun had mentioned as her favorite when talking with Yoo Sung-jae earlier.

It was also the scene that had made Ha-eun want to play Yeongwol, inspiring her interest in performing a cross-dressed role.

It wasn’t a scene of conflict with antagonists like Queen Yoon, nor one showcasing the charisma of a warrior.

"It’s the scene where Yeongwol first reveals her feminine side."

In this scene, Yeongwol, a woman disguised as a man, first shows hints of her femininity—a subtle and emotional scene, portraying the complex dynamic of a person balancing both male and female identities.

Ha-eun felt she could perform this transition confidently. No one could match her ability to shift seamlessly between masculine and feminine roles.

After all, no one else had experienced life as both a man and a woman. Ha-eun was the only one in the world with that unique perspective.

"Ha-eun, are you ready?"  
"…Yes."

Confirming that Ha-eun was prepared, Yoo Sung-jae cleared his throat, and moments later…

"I wondered where the wounded man could be rushing off to… hiding in a place like this?"

The reading began with the Crown Prince’s line as he discovered Yeongwol’s hiding spot.

"…Your Highness?"  
"Who else would wander the palace looking for you at this hour?"

Yeongwol had been wounded in a surprise attack targeting the Crown Prince upon his return from a night excursion. Fighting alone, she sustained a slash across her waist.

Though the injury wasn’t severe, her bandages had been stained with blood, so she had retreated to a small storage room in the East Palace to re-bandage herself. The scene began as the Crown Prince found her there.

"Open the door. I must see with my own eyes that your wound is not serious."

Concerned and apologetic, the Crown Prince wanted to see Yeongwol’s injury himself. Yeongwol, however, pleaded with him to stay out.

From her perspective, it was a natural request—after all, her chest bandages were partially undone.

If the Crown Prince entered, he would surely discover that she was a woman. Yeongwol, who longed to stay by his side, had to prevent him from entering.

"Please, Your Highness, you must not look at me now."  
"This wound is from protecting me. What could be so dreadful about it that you hide it?"  
"Please, Your Highness. Just this once, I beg you."

Uneven breathing. A trembling voice.

It was an emotional side of Yeongwol that the Crown Prince had never seen. For the first time, Yeongwol appeared vulnerable.

The manly persona of Yeongwol began to fade, and in its place, her feminine side emerged. Such a transition was usually difficult for most actresses to portray naturally.

"…It’s so convincing."  
"Is this really acting?"  
"Where could she have learned to act like that?"

But for Ha-eun, this transformation was effortless.

"…Are you truly alright?"  
"Yes, Your Highness. I assure you, it is nothing that should concern you."

Despite his worry, the Crown Prince refrained from entering and instead sat down, leaning against the storage room door. There, he began to share his past with Yeongwol.

"I saw a court lady cough up blood and die when I was five."

Assassination attempts had plagued the Crown Prince’s life. He had narrowly survived by sheer luck, but the constant threats eventually…

"Fearing that I would see another lifeless gaze, I kept everyone at a distance. I truly… I couldn’t bear to keep anyone close."

The Crown Prince had resigned himself to solitude, unable to trust anyone in the palace.

However, when he first met Yeongwol a few years ago and she chose to become his guard…

"Only after meeting you did I have someone I could call my own for the first time."

No longer did he need to endure loneliness. No longer did he have to reject those who tried to get close.

"So, never again."

Yet the sight of Yeongwol’s darkening, blood-stained clothes from earlier—a haunting image burned into his memory…

"…Do not make me fear like that again. That is an order."

No matter how strong she was, the image reminded him that Yeongwol could leave his side. It rekindled the fear he had first felt at five years old.

From behind the storage room door, the Crown Prince’s voice was one Yeongwol couldn’t ignore. It told her how precious she was to him.

At that moment, Yeongwol finally understood why she had wanted to remain by his side.

"…Yes, Your Highness."

Suppressing the feelings she could never express, she forced herself to respond, her voice tinged with slight emotion, her face the darkest it had ever been.

With Yeongwol’s expression reflecting her mixed emotions, the scene S#47. The Wounded Yeongwol finally ended.

Breaking the silence, Director Jin spoke up, delivering a brief but precise review.

"That was perfect."

As the heavy atmosphere gradually lifted, a murmur of reactions filled the room, everyone expressing their thoughts on Ha-eun and Yoo Sung-jae’s performance. Amid the murmurs of awe and anticipation, one person remained silent: Da-yeon.

Yet, when Ha-eun eventually approached her, Da-yeon couldn’t help but respond.

"…Why didn’t you tell me?"

Ha-eun’s face held only disappointment directed at Da-yeon. Her usual calm demeanor had vanished.

"I didn’t think I needed your permission to apply for a role I wanted."  
"But… you could have at least told me. I told you everything."

Ha-eun’s expression clearly conveyed her frustration at Da-yeon’s secrecy.

However, Da-yeon hadn’t auditioned for Queen Yoon’s role just to slap Ha-eun, but rather to resolve an "unsettling feeling" she had experienced when seeing Ha-eun surrounded by their classmates.

"…Let’s act like strangers until the filming wraps."

Declaring that she would keep her distance from Ha-eun for the time being.

After all, staying close to Ha-eun would make it impossible for her to fully immerse herself in the role of Queen Yoon, who constantly antagonized Yeongwol.

Unlike Ha-eun, who could handle her emotions freely, Da-yeon needed to maintain her composure outside of filming as well.

"If I don’t do this, there’s no way I can handle that girl."

Once she had underestimated, been embarrassed by, admired, and even resented Ha-eun’s acting.

So, she was determined not to face Ha-eun’s performance with a half-hearted resolve.

However, there was one thing Da-yeon hadn’t anticipated in her decision to distance herself from Ha-eun.

"…I’m so bored."

The truth was, aside from Ha-eun, she didn

’t have any close friends.

Perhaps due to her sharp aura in preparation for Queen Yoon’s role in *Moonlight Drawn by Clouds*, no one at Narae Arts High dared to approach her.

To fill the growing emptiness, Da-yeon turned to her phone, specifically a stream clip featuring a name that felt oddly familiar.

"Do I have a boyfriend? Oh, of course☆"

- gasp
- omg
- Dia, my heart hurts, Dia, my heart hurts, Dia, my heart hurts  
- laugh  
- omg  
- Wanna perform at a dome too? Wanna perform at a dome too? Wanna perform at a dome too?  

"What’s the surprise? I think I’ve got about 3,000 boyfriends in this room alone."

- what  
- lol  
- Not hurt anymore, not hurt anymore  
- laugh  
- dead  
- I want my firstborn to be a daughter (message deleted)  
- Since when did I escape being single?

"…It’s actually pretty entertaining."

At first, she watched because the name sounded familiar, but soon enough, she found herself drawn in by the lively voice and the ever-changing chat comments.

Of course, she only watched when no one else was around. She wasn’t yet comfortable explaining to her classmates if they asked about it.