Chapter 3

Seol-Ah doubted her own ears for a moment.

He had just mentioned her father and grandfather by name—names she had never expected to hear from him.

Startled, Seol-Ah shot up from her seat, her face paling.

"Master, how do you know that...?

"His words implied that he already knew the disgrace her family had suffered. Worse, he might even know that she was the descendant of a traitor, a fugitive's daughter.

Seol-Ah's face twisted in anguish.

"You won't be in any danger."

"..."

"That much, I can promise you."

Su-Hyeok stated it as if it were absolute, as if there was no room for doubt.

He watched her carefully as he adjusted the contract in front of him.

"You knew... all along?"

Seol-Ah's voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

Su-Hyeok, however, remained calm as he responded.

"That you are the daughter of a fugitive?"

"Ah."

So, he had known everything from the start.

If that was the case, who exactly was this man named Su-Hyeok?

Seol-Ah's mind was thrown into disarray. Her first encounter with him flashed through her memory—the same overwhelming presence, the same way he had left her utterly defenseless.

But his gaze wasn't that of a predator. It was deep, observant—like a beast quietly watching its prey.

"A fugitive's daughter... Gu Ji-Yong."

Su-Hyeok repeated her father's name without hesitation.

Seol-Ah's nose stung as she felt heat rise to her face.

Her father had never once pledged allegiance to the king. The late king had trusted him for his military prowess, making him a powerful force in the kingdom. But for some reason, that same trust had led to her family's downfall.

"..."

"They labeled him a traitor and sent him to exile. Then, they executed him without hesitation and even wiped out his entire bloodline."

"Ah."

It was too painful to listen any further.

Seol-Ah's chest tightened as if her heart had been pierced. She could barely breathe from the overwhelming pain.

"I needed you—the last survivor of that family."

"Why..."

"To be exact, I needed your thirst for revenge."

"Hah."

"That's why I searched for you, even turning over every corner of the courtesan house."

The way he had casually spent an absurd amount of money the previous night to take her away now made sense. His actions had seemed excessive, but there was a reason behind them.

He neither drank nor sought pleasure, yet he had spent his time there before finally returning to take her away. It was all intentional.

Seol-Ah, her eyes filled with tears, looked at Su-Hyeok with a gaze of disbelief.

"I have no power. You must already know that my father and grandfather were executed for treason."

"..."

"They branded my family as traitors, cutting ties with even our closest relatives. My mother, my young brother, and my elderly grandfather—barely surviving in labor, struggling every day... We are nothing more than forgotten, lifeless bodies."

Seol-Ah struggled to speak, her voice shaking. Tears welled up in her eyes and began falling, one by one.

She had thought that burying the past would make it easier to live, but every time she was forced to recall it, the pain etched itself deeper into her bones.

"I don't know what you hope to gain by using me in the palace, but whatever it is, you won't get what you want."

Seol-Ah's voice was steady, her words resolute.

At her firm response, Su-Hyeok silently rose from his seat.

Su-Hyeok let out a short laugh, lifting his chin slightly as he stepped closer and firmly grasped Seol-Ah's shoulder.

"Whether you get what you want or not… I'll be the one to decide that."

"…!"

Seol-Ah's trembling shoulders momentarily stiffened.

"Don't you want to avenge your family?"

Revenge.

That single word sent a surge of emotion through Seol-Ah, making her stomach churn.

"I assumed you and I shared the same goal."

If their goal was the same, did that mean Su-Hyeok was also aiming for the king's downfall?

His words were spoken so casually, yet when Seol-Ah met his deep gaze, she could see the intensity hidden beneath his composed expression.

Revenge—if she were to take even a single step toward it, she had to be prepared for the consequences.

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But revenge was nothing more than a dream. How could she ever achieve it when merely surviving required her to remain unnoticed by the king?

Her father's last words had stopped her from ever crossing that line.

She had no strength, no resources. All she had was her sheer will to endure.

And yet, Su-Hyeok's words struck her like a blade, reopening the wounds she had long tried to bury.

"You take revenge, and I get what I want."

"…!"

"Mutual benefit—that's how you should think of this. So why aren't you pleased?"

"…That…"

"Wouldn't it be easier to let go of your resentment while working under me?"

At his words, Seol-Ah clenched her jaw.

"Are you asking me to rebel? That is outright treason."

"Treason," Su-Hyeok repeated, chuckling as he slowly let go of Seol-Ah's shoulder.

His amused smile made Seol-Ah fall silent.

"That's not treason. It's correcting a wrong."

His eyes burned intensely once again.

"What do you say?"

"..."

"This is the best opportunity you'll ever get."

His smooth voice carried the subtle pull of temptation, weaving its way into her thoughts like a trap.

Seol-Ah's fingers trembled as they hovered over the contract once more.

Never... don't even think about revenge. Leave behind the resentment you and your mother carry, and live in peace.

If I become a monster, I'll only end up suffering the same fate as them. You must start a new life with your mother, your grandfather, and your younger brother.

Her father's words, spoken just before his execution, resurfaced in her mind.

But even though more than three years had passed since he was gone, those responsible for his death still lived lavishly, unbothered and untouched.

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Seol-Ah's small clenched fist trembled as she slowly opened her mouth."

Add a fifth clause to the contract.

"Su-Hyeok's ever-calm expression faltered for the first time at her unexpected demand. His eyes briefly flickered with surprise.

"A fifth clause?"

"In case anything happens to me..."

"..."

"You will take responsibility for my mother and younger brother."

"..."

"If you agree to that, I will accept your offer."

Her voice was still unsteady, but her words carried a firm resolve.

Su-Hyeok, instead of rejecting her outright, simply studied her face, as if reading her thoughts. He slowly lowered his gaze, then wordlessly picked up the contract.

Without hesitation, he added the fifth clause as per her request.

Seol-Ah's eyes followed his hand as he wrote. When his pen finally stopped, he pressed the document down firmly, sealing it.