Chapter 2.5

The next day.

The place where she had been assigned to sleep was surprisingly comfortable. It seemed they had made some effort to provide her with a decent rest.

After all, she had refused food the day before and climbed the mountain path tirelessly, her body sore from walking for hours. A bath and a medicinal tea had helped ease her weariness.

"Haa…"

Letting out a sigh, she stretched her fatigued body. She had no choice but to get ready for what lay ahead.

Seol-Ah let out a deep breath and tidied up her bedding. Then, she firmly adjusted her clothing and left the room.

She took in the sight of the grand building glowing in the dazzling morning sunlight. Compared to what she saw the night before, it appeared even more majestic.

In the courtyard, people were busily going about their tasks. Servants were moving quickly, while guards patrolled in haste, seemingly on their way to some urgent task.

Everyone was caught up in the busy morning, but Seol-Ah couldn't find a place where she fit in.

"Has the master woken up?"

She glanced at the spot where he had disappeared the previous night. Now, Seol-Ah had no choice but to wonder what kind of work awaited her here.

As she stared blankly, she noticed the unkempt garden that had gone untouched for some time and quietly rolled up her sleeves.

"I guess I should start cleaning here."

By now, doing such tasks in an unfamiliar place was something she was used to. Seol-Ah began carefully inspecting the garden, looking for where she could begin.

At that moment, a sharp voice suddenly sounded behind her.

"What are you doing there?"

"Ah!"

Startled, Seol-Ah turned around to see the master standing there, gazing down at her with a calm but penetrating expression.

"If you're awake, don't just stand around."

For some reason, his dark eyes seemed to gleam even brighter today.

At his words, Seol-Ah's shoulders tensed. Without further explanation, he turned and began walking, his gesture indicating she should follow him.

Seol-Ah hesitated briefly, then cautiously followed him.

It felt like she had become a shadow, trailing behind him as if she truly belonged to him now.

"This place…"

He stopped in front of a small but well-maintained room, not far from where she had been standing earlier.

Inside, the interior was neat, adorned modestly but with an air of sophistication. His neatly arranged clothes hung on the walls, adding to the organized atmosphere.

It was evident that this was his room. The atmosphere inside contrasted with the grandeur of the building's exterior, giving it an understated yet refined feel.

"Sit."

While Seol-Ah hesitated, he sat down in a chair and slid a piece of paper toward her.

It looked like some sort of pre-prepared contract. Seol-Ah hesitated briefly, then sat down across from him, her expression tense as she picked up the paper.

"It's a servant contract. Read it, and if there's anything you don't understand, ask."

The neatly written words on the paper made her uneasy, and her hands trembled slightly as she held it.

Her gaze was drawn to the name written at the top of the contract: Gam Su-Hyeok.

"Is that... your name, Master? Su-Hyeok?"

It was a name she had never heard before.

"It is."

His concise reply left no room for further questions, and Seol-Ah turned her attention back to the contract, reading it carefully.

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The contract read as follows:

1. All work done here is to be kept strictly confidential.

2. You will reside here until the agreed terms are fulfilled.

3. Payment will not necessarily be in money; the work will be compensated as deemed appropriate.

4. You must faithfully carry out the duties assigned to you.

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The terms seemed simple, almost too straightforward, with nothing particularly suspicious about them.

Seol-Ah carefully read through the document again. She lowered her gaze to avoid looking directly at Su-Hyeok's sharp, scrutinizing eyes, which seemed to pierce her as she read.

"There's something I didn't mention last night because it was late," Su-Hyeok began unexpectedly, making Seol-Ah turn to look at him with wide eyes.

"What?"

"To others, you may just appear to be one of my servants. But there's another task you must handle."

The unforeseen revelation made Seol-Ah's eyes grow even wider.

"Another task...?"

A shiver ran down her spine as the weight of his words sank in.

"From now on, you'll live as a 'participant.'"

The unexpected term fell from his lips, sending ripples through Seol-Ah's mind.

"A participant? You want me to... enter the palace and live there?"

"Yes. As a participant, you'll reside in the secret palace, assisting me in my work."

His sharp words left no room for misunderstanding, yet Seol-Ah couldn't fully grasp the situation. She stood stunned, unable to respond.

Su-Hyeok's face remained stoic as he watched her.

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"I... How could I..." Seol-Ah stammered, struggling to find words.

"You don't need to worry. I'll make sure you're prepared to live there without issue," Su-Hyeok replied, his tone calm but firm.

"But I know nothing about the palace. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do there..."

"You'll learn gradually, starting now. You'll need to know everything about the palace and carry yourself like someone who belongs there."

"...!"

"And," Su-Hyeok added, his gaze fixed intently on her, "you'll also need to do the tasks required of you within the palace."

The word "palace" made Seol-Ah go pale. Her breathing quickened as she tried to process what it meant.

A place where people with power greater than her own father or family gathered—was she really meant to enter such a world?

Su-Hyeok's unwavering gaze bore into her, forcing her to confront the enormity of what he was asking.

Seol-Ah felt fear creeping over her as she thought about how ruthless and cruel the people in the palace could be. She knew all too well what kind of world it was—a place ruled by those who prioritized power and wealth above all else, trampling on the weak without a second thought.

She let the contract slip from her trembling hand onto the table. Su-Hyeok's gaze followed the falling paper before returning to Seol-Ah, who sat frozen with an uneasy expression.

"If I'm a participant... shouldn't I hide my true identity from everyone in the palace and perform my duties perfectly?"

Her voice shook with doubt, uncertainty clouding her eyes.

She had no confidence in herself. She would have much preferred to stay here, even as the lowest servant, than to step into the treacherous and dangerous palace.

But one thing she despised more than anything was the palace itself. She would rather die than set foot there.

The very thought of being discovered in the palace sent chills down her spine. If her identity were to be revealed, it wouldn't just be her life that was at stake—her mother and young siblings could be dragged down with her.

Her fingers trembled as they rested on the table. Su-Hyeok's piercing gaze locked onto her, unwavering and calm.

"You won't die," Su-Hyeok said, breaking the silence.

"...What?"

"Like your father and grandfather, you won't die," he stated firmly, his tone devoid of doubt.

"Master...?"

Seol-Ah's trembling eyes met Su-Hyeok's unyielding expression. His calm demeanor exuded authority, silencing any protest she might have had.

"I won't let you be abandoned to such a fate," Su-Hyeok continued, his voice steady but filled with a quiet intensity.

Those words, spoken with unshakable certainty, struck Seol-Ah deeply. For a moment, her fear was replaced with the faintest flicker of hope.