Love in a Forbidden World

Night – Scarlett's Chamber

The air in the chamber was heavy with incense and silence. The velvet curtains swayed gently from a breeze that didn't exist.

Scarlett sipped her wine, her crimson lips curling into a smirk as she turned to Cathan, standing stiffly before her.

> "Get ready and leave now."

Cathan's eyes widened.

> "But, Miss! How can you let me go alone when you know it's dangerous? I'm not a ghost… I'm a human being!"

Scarlett raised an eyebrow and stood from her throne-like chair, her heels clicking with each deliberate step forward.

> "That's exactly why you have to go."

"Once someone becomes a ghost, they're forbidden to meddle with the human world. If they do, they risk their chance at the afterlife. They'll become corrupted… evil spirits, doomed to wander until they vanish."

"But you?" She pointed at him. "You're still human. You can meddle."

Cathan bit his lip.

> "So your ex-secretary… he did all this too?"

Scarlett tilted her head with a nostalgic smile.

> "Obviously. He served this hotel… and me… faithfully."

Cathan hesitated.

> "But why him? And… why me?"

Scarlett's gaze darkened, her voice turning quiet but firm.

> "You'll know very soon. When the time is right."

Cathan took a nervous step back.

> "No… I won't go."

Scarlett turned slowly, her wine glass hovering mid-air.

> "Are you… refusing me?" she asked, her tone sharp enough to cut air.

> "Yes. I can't go. If something happens to me… how will my younger brother live on?"

Scarlett laughed, loud and beautiful but cold like winter rain.

> "You humans are hilarious. You really have no idea how any of this works, do you?"

> "About what…?"

She stepped close and whispered,

> "If you don't work, how will you feed that precious little brother of yours?"

"Do you know how much your salary will be here?"

Cathan blinked.

> "I don't care about the mo—"

> "What about… a million per month?"

Cathan's jaw dropped. He dramatically clasped both hands over his mouth.

> "A m-million…?"

Scarlett's smirk grew wider.

> "If you work well… I might increase it."

Without a second thought, Cathan stood up straight and bowed deeply.

> "THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS! I will now head out immediately and finish my job!"

Scarlett rolled her eyes as he ran out.

> "Ugh… these humans."

Late Night – Outside the Customer's House

Cathan crouched behind a tall bush, peeking at the dark windows of the two-story house. Crickets chirped. A cold wind blew.

> "I don't know what I'm doing…" he muttered. "But let's go… and get rich."

He scaled the low wall and snuck across the yard. A balcony door stood ajar. Slipping inside, he rolled onto the carpet dramatically—

—and immediately froze.

> "Is that… moaning…?"

His face turned beet red.

> "Nope. Not my business."

He crawled past the living room sofa toward a wooden decorative box. He picked it up—light, ordinary.

> "Got it."

Just then, he paused.

Voices.

> "Darling, now that my husband is dead, I can finally live with you."

"You shouldn't have married him in the first place."

"I loved how you threw him off the building… like a tissue paper."

"Hah! He was such a loser."

Cathan's eyes burned with anger. His fists trembled.

> "You monsters...

He took a step forward—ready to confront them—but suddenly, the world around him shattered like glass.

Dim Chamber of Statues and Scrolls

Cathan blinked, disoriented. Ancient scrolls lined the walls. Candles burned with blue flames. Strange statues loomed in silence.

A figure stepped from the shadows.

> "Who's there?!" Cathan called.

Daren emerged—tall, regal, and cloaked in shadowy robes. His presence sent chills down Cathan's spine.

> "Did you complete your mission?"

> "Yes…"

"But… I heard those two. They laughed about killing him. They're monsters! I couldn't walk away—"

> "You should have walked away," Daren said coldly.

"You're a human. You don't get to meddle in the balance of fates."

Cathan clenched his fists.

> "But how do you know about my job? Did Scarlett tell you?!"

Daren's voice boomed.

> "Scarlett?!"

Just then, a portal flickered—and Scarlett stepped through, bowing gracefully.

> "Yes, Master?"

Cathan stared in shock.

Daren's tone turned stern.

> "Train this one properly. If he continues to disobey… there will be consequences."

Scarlett bowed deeper.

> "Yes, Master. I will discipline him well."

She turned to Cathan, snapped her fingers—

FLASH.

>"His lifespan is not visible", Daren muttered.

Daren turns to Scarlett his eyes soften.

>"Take care of yourself don't always drink wine and prepare for your journey."

>"Yes master", Scarlett replied with a soft nod and disappears.

Scarlett's Chamber – Moments Later

Cathan reappeared, slumped into a chair.

He looked up as Scarlett materialized before him.

> "Miss… who was he? Why do you serve him? Is he… bad?"

Scarlett's glare was sharp.

> "Shut up. That man is the Master of Soul Reapers. If he's angered… he could wipe out my entire world in seconds."

"And you? You argued with him!"

Cathan immediately bowed.

> "I'm sorry! I didn't know! But I couldn't stop myself when I heard them mocking his death like that…"

Scarlett's expression softened slightly.

> "It's not unfair," she said. "Fate always finds its way. And trust me… they will get what they deserve."

Cathan frowned but nodded quietly.

> "Where's the box?" she asked.

He handed it over.

Scarlett examined it—plain and empty-looking.

> "It's empty?" Cathan asked, confused.

She snapped her fingers. A blue light shimmered across her palm, and a silver knife appeared.

With a precise motion, she sliced the bottom of the box.

A hidden compartment popped open. Inside lay a thick bank passbook.

> "He really hid it well…" Cathan murmured.

> "His wife thought this was just decor," Scarlett smirked. "Fools."

2:00 AM – Outside an Old Neighborhood Shop

An elderly woman was washing dishes in a dimly lit kitchen.

Cathan knocked gently on the door.

The old woman opened, eyes squinting.

> "Who are you, young man?"

Cathan bowed respectfully.

> "Ma'am… I'm a friend of your son. He told me… if anything happened to him, to give this to you."

He handed her the passbook.

The woman's eyes trembled.

> "Thank you… Thank you so much… Please come in—"

> "Next time, ma'am. Please rest well."

He bowed again and walked away.

Inside, the old mother dropped to her knees, clutching the passbook to her chest. Tears streamed down her wrinkled face as she let out a sob of both grief and relief.

Cathan paused outside, listening to her cries. His chest ached.

He looked up at the sky.

> "He just wanted to take care of her… even after death."

He took a deep breath… and walked into the night.

To Be Continued…