Chapter 1: The Faceless Singer of Moonlight Palace

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[Entertainment News] The original soundtrack for ‘Moonlight Palace,’ which concluded last month with an impressive 42.5% viewership rating, continues to sweep the top spots on various music charts.

While the identity of ‘Yeon,’ the singer of the OST, remains unknown, interest has surged with the announcement of their upcoming performance at the KBC Drama Awards.

‘Moonlight Palace,’ lauded for its quintessential historical romance led by its male protagonist Jung Ihyeon (as Yihan), has become a sensation, sparking what is now dubbed the ‘Moonlight Syndrome.’ This phenomenon extends to the music charts as well.

Among the numerous tracks from ‘Moonlight Palace’ that are evenly distributed across the charts, ‘Moonlight Palace Part. 1,’ sung by Yeon, particularly stands out, maintaining its number one position.

In light of this, a past statement by Jung Ihyeon, who plays the male lead Yihan, has garnered renewed attention.

“When I first heard the song, tears welled up without my realizing it. Yeon must be the one who best understood Yihan’s heart,” Jung Ihyeon praised, adding that he listens to it daily.

Following actor Jung Ihyeon’s remarks, the drama’s online bulletin board was inundated with inquiries about the identity of ‘Yeon,’ the OST singer.

However, Yeon’s identity has not yet been revealed. As public curiosity intensifies over who the ‘faceless singer Yeon’ truly is, Yeon is scheduled to perform a celebratory stage at the KBC ‘Drama Awards’ at year-end.

moonsong@ynews.com Reporter Moonsong

Hari turned off their tablet screen, staring blankly out the window.

Yet, the oppressive feeling refused to lift. As if fleeing, they closed their eyes and leaned their head against the pane. The glass, still proving it was the biting cold of winter, felt icy against their forehead.

The hidden star behind the drama’s success.

The unknown singer, ‘Yeon.’

This was the moniker that came to mind whenever Hari closed their eyes, a recent designation for themself. Hari sighed softly, their eyelids fluttering.

Yeon, as spoken of by everyone in unison, was such a person.

However, Hari found it difficult to simply rejoice in the myriad descriptions used to refer to them.

After all, it was everyone in Daon who had yearned for a number one spot on the charts.

This number one, achieved alone, felt too heavy for Hari to bear, and profoundly lonely.

‘Could this attention possibly extend to Daon?’

If the outcome wasn’t favorable this time, Daon would face disbandment.

Hari forcefully suppressed the sudden surge of anxiety, closing their eyes. They needed to rest, even for a little while, as a long wait would surely be in store once they arrived at the broadcasting station.

****

The car drove for another thirty minutes before reaching the broadcasting station. It was quite early, considering the broadcast would begin late in the evening.

“Hari, you should wear your mask too.”

At their manager’s words, Hari pulled their cap down further and moved quietly. Given the intense public interest in the performance, the broadcasting station had also requested strict security.

For Daon’s agency, which had been eager to generate buzz, this was a welcome development.

Thanks to this, Hari, still very much a rookie compared to others, was able to rehearse with their face obscured by a cap and mask.

“It suits you well.”

Clad in the costume provided by the drama production team, Hari looked as if they had stepped right out of a historical drama. They had heard it was a precious garment, a hanbok commissioned from an artisan, and indeed, the fabric felt soft against their skin.

Once the wig was also on, Hari’s reflection in the mirror seemed unfamiliar, causing them to roll their eyes. Everyone around them exclaimed how well the half-up, flowing hairstyle suited them, but Hari, feeling only awkward, offered an embarrassed smile and thanked them.

“It’s not too tight, is it? And not too loose?”

“No, it’s fine.”

The final touch of the styling was to blindfold Hari’s eyes with a piece of cloth, making their face unrecognizable. Though they had covered their eyes as instructed by the company, it felt awkward and cumbersome, and they longed to take it off quickly.

“Can you see well?”

“I think I can see, as long as it’s not too dark.”

“The stage will be bright, so it should be fine. Let’s check it one more time so it doesn’t come undone midway.”

Fortunately, it was a thin mesh fabric, so it didn’t completely block their vision. Still, it was more uncomfortable than seeing with bare eyes, so Hari blinked and focused, gradually adapting to the restricted view.

“Yeon, please get ready!”

Just as the final checks were completed, a staff member timely announced their turn. Hari recalled the preceding rehearsal as they began to move.

The backstage area was utterly chaotic. As Hari made their way to their upcoming stage, they swallowed hard, affected by the bustling atmosphere. A recipient in a dazzling dress passed by, offering Hari a silent greeting with their eyes.

Hari, who had been nervously fidgeting with their fingers, was startled by the greeting and straightened their posture. They instinctively returned the nod, but a queasy feeling churned in their stomach.

‘This is bad…’

They were more nervous than expected.

Standing alone backstage, it truly dawned on them that this was their first performance without the others. Moreover, it was a crucial stage. Hari struggled to maintain a composed expression, managing a calm smile.

‘…Go do well. We’re rooting for you.’

The encouragement from their members resurfaced, and Hari steeled their resolve, gripping the microphone tightly. The microphone in their hand felt impossibly heavy.

A breathless sigh escaped Hari’s lips. They consciously took a deep breath, fixing their gaze forward.

“Yes, the highly anticipated one, ‘Yeon’ from ‘Moonlight Palace.’ I’m truly a fan.”

“Me too. I don’t know how many times I cried watching the drama whenever Yeon’s song came on. I never expected to see them perform live. It’s truly an honor.”

“Then there’s no need to delay any further. Let’s meet them right now. ‘Yeon’ from ‘Moonlight Palace.'”

Amidst the applause, a melody evoking scattered moonlight filled the empty stage.

The stage lights, piercing even through the cloth covering their eyes, felt intense. Simultaneously, the murmuring of the crowd reached their ears. Everyone seemed surprised by their blindfolded appearance.

‘Don’t mind them, focus.’

Hari felt their facial muscles stiffen with tension. They calmed their trembling body, lowering their head slightly.

Consequently, Yeon appeared outwardly serene, as if oblivious to the audience’s reactions.

Step by step, the hem of their hanbok swayed gently, matching Hari’s upright and graceful gait. The audience could not tear their eyes away from Yeon.

Even with their eyes covered—no, precisely *because* their eyes were covered—Hari’s appearance was exactly what people had imagined ‘Yeon’ to be.

Before they knew it, Hari was at the center of the stage. With a natural gesture, they raised the microphone.

[In the moonlight obscured by clouds]

Despite their intense nervousness, the low voice emanating from Yeon’s lips carried the very emotions that had moved so many. Yeon, with a trembling voice, recited the lyrics as if each syllable were precious. The camera captured this image of Yeon.

Hari recalled Yihan from the drama ‘Moonlight Palace.’ Yihan, who could do nothing despite having his beloved before him.

He was the one who found joy in gazing at his beloved from afar on rare nights illuminated by bright moonlight.

He had never once uttered the words ‘I love you’ throughout the entire drama.

Hari tried to infuse the song with the emotions they had first felt upon realizing this fact.

[To hold your beautiful hand]

Only a few lines remained. Hari secretly felt a pang of regret that the performance was ending, but quickly shook it off.

For now, simply focusing on concluding this stage well was enough.

As instructed by the staff beforehand, Hari slowly untied the cloth from their eyes and descended the stage. The black fabric that had covered their eyes fluttered to the floor.

Hari then picked up a plum blossom branch from a small table at the bottom of the stairs.

Though they tried to maintain composure, the camera followed Hari closely. Moreover, they knew, without having to look around, that every audience member was staring at them. The murmuring grew louder, and they could almost feel the audience’s intense gaze.

They desperately wished they could control their trembling hands, given how many eyes were on them, but their nervousness was hard to conceal. Fortunately, Hari’s singing continued, unwavering.

Hari, with a pale face, looked at a man seated in the audience.

The task at hand was immense, and Hari’s mind was consumed with the thought of not making any mistakes.

As Hari drew nearer, the man covered his mouth, his expression clearly flustered. His bewildered look was captured by the camera.

Unlike his usual demeanor, he was completely unable to control his expression.

Both the cameras and the audience focused on Jung Ihyeon, the lead actor of ‘Moonlight Palace.’

At the same time, Hari recalled a scene from the drama where Yihan broke off a plum blossom branch. Standing with his back to the moon, Yihan looked into the woman’s eyes and said:

Along with Ihyeon’s voice, a scene from the drama played on the screen behind the stage. Jung Ihyeon in the screen offered the branch to the woman with a faint smile. People began to murmur upon seeing that scene.

For Yeon, with their exquisitely graceful figure, had stopped right in front of Ihyeon.

‘Now.’