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Jiyu and Subin had managed to sneak away from their duties for a rare day at a secluded lake hidden deep in the woods. The path had been narrow and winding, dappled with sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of leaves, the scent of pine and damp earth filling the air. Tiny ferns brushed against their ankles, and the occasional rustle of small woodland creatures echoed through the undergrowth.
When they arrived, the water shimmered under the afternoon sun, reflecting the sky like a perfect mirror, surrounded by tall trees whose branches swayed lazily in a gentle breeze. The faint, sweet sound of birdsong and rustling leaves mingled with the distant hum of insects, creating a secluded symphony that belonged only to them. For once, the duchess didn’t have people to greet, and the guard didn’t have threats to watch for. It was just the two of them, the world reduced to sunlight, water, and the brush of wind against bare skin, a rare and fragile kind of freedom.
Subin wasted no time shedding her shirt, rolling up her sleeves and stepping toward the water. Her movements were fluid, casual, yet somehow charged with a subtle confidence that made Jiyu’s chest tighten. The way her muscles flexed under smooth skin, the faint sheen of perspiration glistening like dew from the hike, made Jiyu’s pulse flutter unexpectedly.
Jiyu froze mid-step, cheeks flushing hotter than the sun overhead, suddenly hyper-aware of every sound, the snap of a twig underfoot, the whisper of leaves, the slap of water against Subin’s legs. She had never seen Subin like this, broad shoulders, a strong back that hinted at countless hours of training, and a presence that felt almost magnetic. Jiyu’s stomach twisted, and she quickly looked away… until her eyes caught on something she hadn’t expected.
A black handprint soulmark, perfectly centered on Subin’s upper back. Jiyu’s pulse jumped, sudden and sharp, her heart hammering in a way that made her ears ring slightly. Without thinking, almost instinctively, she reached out and pressed her own hand against the mark. The instant touch sent a shiver up her arm, a rush of heat and energy that made her fingers tingle.
The moment her palm met Subin’s skin, the black mark exploded into rainbow colors, glowing softly across her back. The hues swirled and shimmered like liquid light, reflecting faintly on the surface of the lake, creating tiny prisms that danced across the water and dappled nearby rocks. Jiyu stumbled back, eyes wide, heart hammering so loudly she was sure Subin could hear it. “W-what…?!” she stammered, voice cracking under the weight of disbelief and awe. Her words caught in the thick, scented air, the sound almost swallowed by the forest around them.
Subin glanced over her shoulder, a smirk tugging at her lips, eyes glinting mischievously in the sunlight. “Looks like… we’re soulmates,” she said, voice teasing but calm, like it was the most natural thing in the world, as if she had been expecting this moment all along.
Jiyu gawked, speechless, cheeks burning hotter than ever, feeling the warmth crawl down her neck and settle like fire in her chest. She opened her mouth to say something, but Subin didn’t give her the chance. With a playful glint in her eye, Subin lunged forward and gave Jiyu a firm shove, sending her splashing into the cool water with a loud, satisfying splash. The cold bite of the lake made Jiyu gasp and shiver, water lapping around her ears, sparkling droplets catching the sunlight like scattered gems.
Jiyu surfaced, sputtering and laughing despite herself, droplets of water catching the sunlight as they flew from her hair and arms. Subin was already wading toward her, the smirk still firmly in place, wet hair plastered to her forehead, sleeves clinging to her arms. “Come on,” she said, hands raised in mock surrender. “You’re not going to just float there all day, are you?” The words carried the weight of teasing promise, and Jiyu could feel the pull of Subin’s energy like a current through the water.
The afternoon passed in a blur of splashes, laughter, and playful challenges. Jiyu’s fingers occasionally brushed Subin’s arms or shoulders, and each contact sparked a little thrill she couldn’t ignore. She kept sneaking glances at the rainbow mark glowing faintly on Subin’s back and the mark glowing on her own hand, feeling a mix of awe, disbelief, and something warmer, something impossible to name. Every accidental brush of skin, every push and tug, carried a new significance she hadn’t noticed before, making her chest ache with excitement and a little fear of what this bond meant.
At one point, Jiyu tried to hide behind a large rock to catch her breath, the rough surface scratching lightly against her back, only for Subin to sneak up behind her and throw her under the water. Jiyu emerged gasping and laughing, hair plastered to her forehead, droplets sliding down her arms and back. “You’re impossible!” she yelled, though the wide smile on her face betrayed her mock annoyance, her voice ringing off the trees around them.
Subin chuckled, swimming closer, the water dripping from her hair and arms like liquid jewels. “And yet, you keep coming back for more,” she said, voice teasing but warm, eyes sparkling with amusement and something softer beneath the surface, a depth Jiyu hadn’t dared hope to see before.
By the time the sun began to dip behind the trees, painting the lake in gold and pink, Jiyu floated on her back, staring up at the sky, letting the ripples rock her gently. Clouds streaked across the horizon, catching the last hints of sunlight and turning the sky into a canvas of molten color. The rainbow glow on Subin’s back and Jiyu’s hand was a constant, quiet reminder of their bond, flickering softly like a heartbeat. She finally allowed herself to fully breathe, fully relax, and fully enjoy the moment, the cool caress of the water, the warmth of the setting sun on her face, and the comforting presence of Subin nearby.
Being soulmates with Subin was chaotic, teasing, and completely overwhelming, but Jiyu realized, with a small, happy sigh, that she wouldn’t have it any other way. There was a thrill in the unpredictability, a joy in the laughter and splashes, and a deep, grounding sense of belonging she hadn’t known she was missing. And as the last light of day shimmered on the lake, she knew that this was only the beginning of something luminous, messy, and perfectly theirs. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, leaves stilling as if to witness the quiet promise of what had just begun.