Holding You Close is a romantic fantasy webtoon that combines court politics, childhood friendships, and fated love in a frosty kingdom where warmth is rare–except in the hearts of its characters. It revolves around a bright and bold young woman, named Yuna, who is engaged to the cold yet complex Theo, the duke of the kingdom. In Holding You Close Chapter 10-16, the story deepens with the arrival of Asarim, Yuna’s childhood friend from the Isle of Ruhe. His presence stirs jealousy in Theo and awakens memories from Yuna’s past. As secrets of her heritage emerge. That she might be the mythical Snowborn. Yuna is faced with a choice that can save her homeland… or destroy everything.
Holding You Close Chapter 10: Snowflakes and Secrets
Holding You Close Chapter 10 begins with a mysterious look into the Eye of the Storm, where the revered Main Temple of Daphne stands high above the clouds. The entry is restricted to a select few priests only. And once they retire, all traces of the temple from their memory are erased. Back at the palace, Yulis has some devastating news to give to Theo. Count Delkan suspects that Yuna could be the Saintess, the divine messenger of Daphne, the one known for her radiant presence. Her coming-of-age ceremony and the red marks she bears triggered a shift in the island’s seasons, and a stone inscribed in Ruhein was discovered near the storm’s edge. Theo confesses that he has never seen the stone.
In the meantime, Yulis’s bold little sister, Maylene, arrives and is instantly charmed by Yuna’s beauty. She is appointed as Yuna’s new maids. She fusses over her hair and is shocked to learn that Yuna has never seen snow. Maylene is determined, and she vows to show her the winter magic. As the girls chat about fun things to do in the Archduchy, Yuna shyly wonders about Theo’s preferences. Maylene notes that Yuna clearly cares for the Duke.
Whispers of Snow
Both of them decide to visit the White Tower. Right at that moment, Theo shows up and awkwardly asks Yuna to go on a walk with him. She innocently asks why the tower is called “white” if it’s made of dark bricks. Theo coldly replies, saying it is because of the snow. But, when Yuna dreams of walking with him in fresh snow, Theo loses his temper and says, “I hate the snow. I’m sick of the color white.”
Yuna, visibly hurt, quickly excuses herself, leaving Theo confused and Maylene trailing behind. Holding You Close Chapter 10 ends with heartbreak falling like snow.
Holding You Close Chapter 11: Snow, Secrets, and Shared Warmth
Holding You Close Chapter 11 begins with Yulis nervously reporting to Theo that Yuna has holed herself up in the White Tower since their awkward conversation. She had been taking all her meals there and not stepping outside. Theo, irritated, asks why she hasn’t gone on her usual walks. Yulis reluctantly tells him that she might be avoiding him after his harsh words. Theo freezes when Yulis points out that Yuna’s white hair, often compared to snow, may have led her to believe his outburst was directed at her. Realizing the painful misunderstanding, Theo storms off to see her.
He finds Yuna wrapped in a heavy blanket. He gently pulls it off her, softly telling her that he does not see her hair as snow but something beautiful. Apologizing sincerely, he finally opens up about why he hates snow: it reminds him of loss. His mother had gone to the fatal Eye of the Storm and promised to come back, but never did. Snow makes him think of unfulfilled promises and helplessness. Yuna moved, listened quietly. Theo then confesses that it gives him a weird comfort to see her wearing his mother’s earrings.
A Silent Comfort
Just when he is about to leave, Yuna stops him gently. She asks him whether they can drink together rather than him doing it alone. Theo gets flustered and agrees to go and get something warm. However, he comes back to find her sound asleep. He smiles to himself and lies down beside her, just for a moment. Theo observes her quietly, only to get flustered when a strand of hair lands on her lips. He is about to move it when she turns instinctively toward him in her sleep–and cuddles up to him like a warm, sleepy kitten.
Holding You Close Chapter 11 ends with Theo frozen in place, pink-faced and completely undone by one very accidental snuggle.
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Holding You Close Chapter 12: Warm Fires and Rising Jealousy
Holding You Close Chapter 12 begins with Yuna waking up beside Theo from their accidental sleepover. Theo, embarrassed and attempting to save his face, awkwardly asks if they should drink the wine they talked about. But before the moment can linger, Maylene bursts in with a cheerful “Good morning!” Yuna, unfazed, casually says they’ll have that wine later at dinner.
Maylene later apologizes to Yuna for her previous interruption. Yuna is curious and steers the conversation toward Theo’s mother. Maylene tells that she was a brilliant woman whose brave investigations led to most of what they know about the Eye of the Storm. She also adds how Theo transformed so much after her death. Touched by his pain, Yuna silently decides to take care of him even more.
Evening arrives, and the duo reunites for dinner. Yuna surprises Theo by saying this could one day be “their room.” Theo immediately turns red, thinking it was a romantic bedroom hint. But Yuna explains that it is to hide from the snow. Because now, she hates it too. She then expresses her desire to know him better.
A Room for Two
Flushed and charmed, Theo says he wants to know more about her, too. Yuna reveals how she lost her mother when she was still young, and her father never mentioned her. She used to light fires just to feel close to the memory and the warmth. Theo sweetly suggests they also light a fire to talk honestly, just the two of them. It’s a warm, almost confessional moment. They toast to it.
But then–bam! Yulis barges in, announcing a visitor from the Isle of Ruhe: someone named Asarim. Yuna lights up and asks Theo for leave, calling Asarim her friend. Theo, intrigued, follows. He freezes when he sees Yuna joyfully hugging a tall, handsome man. It is her childhood best friend. Theo’s eyes narrowed, his heart sinking into a pit of confused jealousy. Holding You Close Chapter 12 ends with Theo trying very hard not to let his blood boil as he watches Yuna smile brightly… at another man.
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Holding You Close Chapter 13: Tensions and Teacups
Holding You Close Chapter 13 begins with Asarim greeting Theo in his quirky, informal tone. Which immediately catches Theo off guard. Yuna quickly explains to tell that he struggles with the common language, so he tends to sound weirdly informal. The two men shake hands. But Theo, in a not-so-very subtle move, crushes Asarim’s hand in such a way that he leaves quite a bruise. Asarim refers to it as beast-like in Ruhean, and Yuna quickly scolds him to switch to the common tongue.
She invites Asarim to have dinner with them, and the two old friends dive into their nostalgic talk about their village. When Asarim tells Theo that he can leave now, because his food is finished, Theo calmly says he is still hungry. The actual tension starts when Asarim casually states that he missed Yuna, causing Theo to pause mid-bite. Yuna, in her attempt, tries to diffuse the situation. She says that Theo, Maylene, and Ray take care of her now. Asarim boldly says that if not for Theo, Yura might’ve married Yuna by now. Theo snaps back, calling it plain nonsense.
The Childhood Friend
In Ruhean, Asarim admits to Yuna that it was all a test to determine whether or not the intentions of Theo were real. But Yuna appears to be uncomfortable and states that the test has only left her feeling awkward. Asarim comes to his senses and apologizes to the two of them. Towards the end of dinner, Asarim casually suggests that he will sleep in Yuna’s room just as they used to back at home. When Theo hears that, his face grows dark, and he immediately rejects the idea. Yuna, with a bright smile, says that they will talk tomorrow.
Later that night, Theo considers that getting rid of Asarim could be the solution to everything. But he abandons the idea since that would make Yuna unhappy. His homicidal jealousy cools off when Yuna comes to pay him some freshly brewed yas leaf tea. She thanks him sincerely. Just when things seem peaceful for a second, Theo catches Asarim wandering the halls at night and asks suspiciously, “What are you doing here?” Holding You Close Chapter 13 ends with a hallway stare-down under moonlight between a protective lover and an overly friendly childhood friend.
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Holding You Close Chapter 14: Swords, Scars, and Spiteful Rivals
Holding You Close Chapter 14 begins with Asarim casually strolling through the hallways in the dead of night, like it is his summer vacation home, telling Theo he just had to see Yuna because he could not sleep. Theo, who is already at the end of his limit, asks the real question: “When are you leaving?” But, Asarim only smiles and says that now that he has seen Theo, he is tempted to stay even longer. He even says that he became the heir of his tribe only to win Yuna’s hand. Asarim accuses him of forcing Yuna into this arrangement. He even questions the motives of the count. Theo simply agrees to duel–without a word to Yuna.
The following morning, Maylene casually informs Yuna about how dreamy Asarim is. Yuna, confused, mutters Theo is way more beautiful. At the training ground, Asarim is in his usual cocky and confident self, boasting to the guards that he is the best warrior in his tribe. Theo shows up silently, and their swords cross. Asarim continues to jab verbally while Theo continues to jab physically. And then, crack!-Theo snaps Asarim’s sword as though it were a branch, and gives him three solid hits. Asarim hits the ground, pride in shambles, yet he smirks.
Later, Yulis notices Theo bleeding-apparently, he allowed Asarim to score a couple of hits in the beginning. Classic Theo: elegant, cool, and cold. He smirks, thinking of Asarim trying to win Yuna over, which he most definitely won’t allow to happen. Asarim, in the meantime, opens a door… into a room that is totally wrecked. Someone is not taking the loss well. Holding You Close Chapter 14 ends with the tension between rivals reaching a breaking point…(Quite literally!)
Holding You Close Chapter 15: Thorns in the Garden of Affection
Holding You Close Chapter 15 opens with Theo lounging in his chamber when Asarim barges in like a storm, demanding that he not interfere with him meeting Yuna. Theo, ever the cool-headed planner that he is, simply smirks and tells him that he can not even get to Yuna unless he has his permission. Because their rooms are connected through a private bridge. Theo lies without hesitation that the stairs of the tower were “damaged in an accident” when Yuna and Maylene walk in. Asarimis was stunned by the man’s lying skills and his ever-present poker face. Yuna, without realizing it, happily remarks that they seem closer now. Theo says, “Of course,” and Asarim is speechless.
Yuna says that she would like to work in the garden. Asarim volunteers. Theo jumps in right away, too. Later, Ray shows up in the garden and is surprised to see both men in the garden. She does not take a liking to Asarim, feeling his sharpness. Although she does not deny his excellent skills with a sword. When Asarim tells her how good she is in sparring, she even blushes, which is rare for the ever-stoic Ray.
Jealousy in Bloom
Yuna asks the men to cut down a tree. Theo struggles, still wounded. Asarim makes an effort, but it is Ray who swings into action impressively, chopping the tree down. Theo gives it another try and looks at Yuna, craving to hear her sweet voice praising him. She urges him to rest.
Asarim invites Yuna for a walk. Theo insists on tagging along, but Yuna affectionately shoos him away to rest. Still overbearing, though defeated, Theo sweetly insists that she must hurry up and make him his recovery tea. As soon as she leaves with Asarim, Theo calmly tells Ray to assign guards to follow them. He senses that Asarim is up to something. Holding You Close Chapter 15 ends with Theo plotting to protect Yuna from more than just emotional battles.
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Holding You Close Chapter 16: Whispers of the Snowborn
Holding You Close Chapter 16 picks up with Yuna and Asarim taking a quiet stroll. She describes how the flowers in the kingdom grow in the freezing cold, due to the underground magic stones. Their walk slowly becomes more nostalgic as they reminisce about their childhood days in Ruhe. Feeling someone behind them, Asarim takes them towards Theo’s hunting lodge. Once inside, he switches to their native language and encourages Yuna to reconnect with her roots.
He tells her that her father now lives a lonely life since her departure, and asks her to come back and prove that she is doing well. Yuna objects and says it is too soon, perhaps after a year. But, Asarim then pulls out a scroll and tells her he has a way to get her to help the island much faster. Back at the palace, Theo hears anxiously as Yulis tells him that it was only the two of them in the lodge and speaking in Ruhean. Yulis reveals that Asarim pleaded with Yuna about something important. Theo grows furious at the secrecy.
A River, A Scroll, And A Secret Past
Later that night, Yuna lies in bed, replaying Asarim’s words. He claimed that if the Snowborn drink from the River of Memory, they will regain their powers and save Ruhe. Everyone in their homeland believed Yuna resembled the mythical Snowborn. Asarim claims to have even found the location of the river. Though he claims that the information came from a questionable source within the kingdom.
Yuna feels confused and emotional when, suddenly, she remembers Theo’s tea made from yas leaves, which she had to prepare. She rushes to his room and knocks gently, and sees a not-so-sleepy but clearly tense Theo. The chapter ends with her wondering… is he angry at her? Holding You Close Chapter 16 leaves us at a crossroads–between trust, destiny, and unspoken feelings.
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