Behind the mask
Chapter Three
Ping hurried toward the carriage, afraid to make the king wait. She had heard the stories—how one wrong move could cost her life. If she angered him, he wouldn't hesitate to punish her.
Her legs trembled as she approached. She hesitated for a moment, afraid to step inside. What if this was a trap? What if, the moment she entered, there was no way out?
Her thoughts were interrupted when Ling extended his hand. It was unexpected—gentle, almost polite. But the moment his fingers touched hers, she quickly withdrew, as if burned.
He didn't react. He simply stepped into the carriage, waiting.
The ride was silent. The only sound was the rhythmic clatter of the horse's hooves against the dirt road. Ping sat stiffly, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. She didn't dare look at him.
Her eyes flickered to his mask.
Why hasn't he removed it? she wondered. Is he waiting until we reach his kingdom to show me his true form?
She had heard horrifying rumors about Mora Kingdom—the Monster's Kingdom. They said it was a cursed land where shadows moved on their own, and people disappeared without a trace. Some even believed the people there ate human flesh to survive.
A chill ran through her body. Her hands felt ice-cold.
Ling, the feared monster, seemed to notice. Without a word, he gestured to one of the guards, who handed him a thick blanket. He turned toward her and moved to drape it over her shoulders.
"I'm okay," Ping whispered, shrinking back.
But he didn't listen. With quiet determination, he reached for her hands, gently pushing them aside to cover her with the blanket.
She tensed at his touch.
Why hasn't he said anything? she realized. What does his voice sound like?
The cold worsened, creeping into her bones. Her vision blurred. Her head felt heavy, her body weak.
She was barely conscious when she heard his voice for the first time.
"Lady, are you okay?"
It was deep, smooth—nothing like the monster she had imagined.
Her eyelids fluttered. Just before she lost consciousness, she caught a glimpse of his face.
The Shadow King—the man the world feared—was breathtakingly handsome.