Chapter 3.5

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.

Su-Hyeok slid the contract toward Seol-Ah, letting her see it clearly.

"..."

Seol-Ah took a deep breath and sat back down.

Without a word, she picked up the brush, signed her name at the bottom of the contract, and pressed her seal onto it.

"I will do my best."

Su-Hyeok finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"As long as you work with me here, your body and mind must belong to me."

"Yes."

And with that, Seol-Ah became completely his.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

After breakfast, Seol-Ah returned to her quarters, pulling her knees close to her chest as she sat in silence.

"Father... Will I be able to do this?"

Becoming a secret palace maid—what exactly would she have to do after stepping into that world?It wasn't as if she was expected to take the king's life herself.

Lost in her thoughts, Seol-Ah let out a quiet sigh.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. Jolted from her daze, Seol-Ah quickly sat up and turned to look.

"Come out. There's something I need to show you."

It was Su-Hyeok's voice.

Hurriedly, Seol-Ah stood and opened the door. But by then, he had already started walking away without waiting for her.

Not wanting to fall behind, she quickly followed after him, her small steps moving briskly.

He led her to a small annex, not far from her room.

"This will be our secret office, where we'll conduct our secret tasks from now on."

Hearing the word secret, Seol-Ah unconsciously tensed.

Cautiously stepping inside, Seol-Ah found a large desk and two chairs neatly placed in an area where bookshelves lined the walls.

It was clear that this space belonged to Su-Hyeok and her alone.

Perhaps this was where discussions about treason and rebellion would take place. As that thought crossed her mind, Seol-Ah let her gaze wander, scanning the room with growing curiosity.

"That's your seat."

Su-Hyeok gestured casually to a spot, partially hidden from view, where sunlight streamed in through the windows, making the space feel unexpectedly warm.

It had been so long since she had last sat at a proper desk.

For the past three years in the courtesan house, she had spent her days mixed in with the other attendants, never even dreaming of having a place to study.

Even when books were available, she had never been able to sit comfortably and read them.

That's why even this small desk, given to her now, felt like an unexpected kindness.

"This is my seat," Su-Hyeok added.Turning to look at him, Seol-Ah noticed that he was covering a spot slightly distanced from hers, as if subtly marking their separate spaces.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moving forward, she realized that from now on, she would be working in this space with him.

"The first thing you need to do is learn palace terminology."

"Yes."

"All the books on that desk—you'll memorize them. That much, you should be able to handle."

A few books caught her eye.

Seol-Ah hesitated before carefully reaching for them and sitting at her desk. She ran her fingers over the covers, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

"Yes, I'll do my best."

"From now on, your name is not Seol-Ah. It's Yeon."

"Yeon...?"

Seol-Ah looked up at Su-Hyeok in surprise. But he simply turned away, expression unreadable, as he continued.

"You're neither a fugitive's daughter nor a captive. From now on, you are Yeon—my personal servant. Do you understand?"

"You mean... I must completely erase my past identity?"

"Yes. And from now on, you will serve as my scribe. You must conceal your true duties from everyone here."

"I understand."

Seol-Ah nodded as she clutched the book in her hands, avoiding his gaze. She then opened it and skimmed through the contents, letting her eyes scan the tightly written pages.

He had told her everything she needed to know, so she assumed he would leave.

But instead, Su-Hyeok remained standing there, watching her in silence.

Feeling the weight of his unreadable gaze, Seol-Ah hesitated before slowly lifting her head to look at him.

And in that instant, their eyes met.

"Is there… something else?"

Was there something left unsaid? His piercing gaze unsettled her, making her fingers grip the book a little tighter.

Su-Hyeok didn't answer. Instead, he wordlessly reached into his robe and pulled out a small package, placing it on the desk in front of her.

"What is this?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even though she had asked, Su-Hyeok didn't respond. Instead, he simply turned away and exited the room.

"Deliver it personally."

"…?"

"It must reach them safely."

Leaving only those brief instructions, Su-Hyeok shut the door behind him.

Seol-Ah stared after him, then lowered her gaze to the package.

"What is this…?"

Carefully untying the tightly wrapped bundle, she unfolded the cloth and found a letter inside.

The sight of the familiar handwriting made her heart stop.

"Oh… Father…"

At that moment, the memory of the previous night came rushing back—the night she had been taken from the courtesan house, her scattered belongings left behind.

And Su-Hyeok's gaze, watching her from the shadows.

Seol-Ah slowly pulled up her sleeve and looked underneath.

A faint scratch remained where she had been grabbed roughly while trying to escape from Daejehak.

Her skin turned red as the memory resurfaced.

In just a brief moment, he had noticed this injury.

And now, he had even provided medicine for it. The thought made her chest tighten strangely.

Seol-Ah carefully tucked the letter into her sleeve and turned to look at the door Su-Hyeok had just exited through.

"Master… what kind of person are you?"

Cold and indifferent, yet sharp as a blade—someone who moved like the wind but remained untouched by the world.

For some reason, she found herself growing curious about the man who had just left the room.