Genie straightened on her throne. Resolute, she pushed aside her lingering doubts and addressed Minister Lee with regal clarity.
"Then send word to Park's daughter. Invite her to the palace to serve as chief cook in charge of preparing restorative meals for the palace maids and guards. Should she decline, let her know that her decision will be respected without consequence."
Minister Lee bowed deeply.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Genie gave a final nod.
"With that, I hereby conclude the first government meeting of the new year. Any ministers with further reports may present them in my study."
With the creak of robes and murmurs of protocol, the officials rose from their seats, and the grand hall once again echoed with the quiet rhythm of a kingdom in motion.
The kitchen was alive with the rich aroma of simmering herbs and the soft bubbling of broth when a servant burst through the doorway, breathless.
"Lady Enna! Minister Lee Baewon is here to see you!"
Startled, Enna looked up from the large iron cauldron she had been stirring with focused care. Her sleeves were rolled up, and strands of hair clung to her flushed cheeks from the heat of the fire.
"Minister Lee Baewon?" she repeated, brow furrowing slightly. "Why would he come all the way out here…?"
Her voice trailed off in quiet bewilderment. Minister Lee had long been a trusted friend of her father's—an esteemed official known for his dedication to court matters. It was unlike him to appear without notice, especially in the middle of the day when the palace would be at its busiest.
Still holding the ladle, Enna turned back to the steaming pot.
"I'll be out shortly. Let me finish this first," she said gently, not wanting to ruin the timing of the broth.
The servant gave an exasperated sigh.
"Even with a minister waiting, your cooking comes first. That's just like you, my lady."
Enna offered a sheepish smile.
"Please let him know I'll be with him soon—and apologize for the wait."
"Yes, my lady."
The servant bowed quickly and disappeared.
With one final stir, Enna lifted the ladle and tasted the broth, her expression softening at the familiar, earthy flavor. Satisfied, she wiped her hands and made her way toward the courtyard.
There, seated with his hands neatly folded atop his lap, was Minister Lee Baewon. The sunlight filtered through the wooden lattice behind him, casting gentle patterns across the veranda where he waited patiently.
"Minister," Enna greeted with a respectful bow.
The older man rose to his feet with a warm smile, eyes crinkling at the corners.
"It's been some time. How have you been, Enna?"
"I've been well, Minister. And yourself?"
He gave a soft chuckle and nodded. "There have been challenges, as always—but thanks to Her Majesty's kindness, I've weathered them well. In fact, I bring you some rather good news."
Enna blinked.
"Good news?"
"The Queen is seeking someone to take charge of preparing restorative meals for the palace staff and attendants. A role of both responsibility and honor."
He paused, watching her reaction with a glint of anticipation in his eyes.
"I have recommended you."
Enna's eyes widened, her breath catching.
"Me…?"
"Your reputation for creating nourishing dishes has already spread far across the provinces," Minister Lee said with quiet pride. "When the Queen asked for recommendations, none of the ministers even uttered another name. They were all in agreement."
Enna lowered her gaze, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. Her heart pounded with the weight of the moment.
"But… I'm not sure I'm good enough to serve in the palace," she said softly. Her voice trembled, not from false modesty, but from the honest burden of self-doubt.
"There's no need for such modesty," Lee Baewon replied, his voice firm yet kind. "Few possess your skill in preparing restorative meals—and fewer still carry the heart you do. This isn't just about food, Enna. It's about healing. And you have the gift for it."
He leaned forward slightly, studying her with the fondness of someone who had watched her grow since childhood.
"So… what do you think?"
Enna hesitated, caught off guard by the proposal that had come so suddenly, like a strong wind rushing through an open window. A thousand thoughts fluttered in her mind.
'If I go to the palace… I won't be able to take care of the people here anymore. What will happen to the old man whose breathing eases only after drinking my herbal tea? Or the children who wait outside the kitchen for a bowl of warm porridge…?'
Slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet him.
"I'm sorry, Minister," she said gently. "I don't think I can accept."
Lee Baewon blinked, clearly taken aback. "But why?" he asked, brows furrowing. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve in the royal palace. Many would give anything for such an honor."
"I'm deeply grateful," Enna said with sincerity. "Truly, I am. But there are still so many in this village—and in the neighboring ones—who depend on me. Some of them have no one else. If I leave… I'm afraid they won't receive the care they need."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft rustle of the summer breeze moving through the courtyard trees.
Minister Lee exhaled slowly, his stern expression melting into something more tender.
"You truly haven't changed," he murmured. "Even when standing at the threshold of honor, you think first of others." He paused, then straightened. "If that is your concern… then let me make arrangements. I will submit a formal petition to the palace. We'll send caretakers and medical aid to Seonam and the nearby villages. You will not leave your people unattended, I promise you that."
Enna's eyes widened.
"You would… do that?"
"For someone like you? Absolutely," he replied. "Your heart is too valuable to be confined to one place—but with the palace's reach, your kindness can extend farther than ever before."
Still, uncertainty lingered in Enna's eyes.
She looked down, her hands clasped tightly in front of her apron. The flicker of hesitation had not yet faded, and Minister Lee could sense it. With the gentleness of a fatherly figure, he tried once more to reach her heart.
"This is a rare opportunity, Enna," he said softly. "A chance for your talents to reach far beyond this village. You've dedicated so much of yourself to healing and feeding the weak—what if you could do the same for those who serve the kingdom every day?"
He paused, then added with deliberate weight, "More than anything… Her Majesty the Queen himself is looking for someone like you."
Enna's head slowly lifted.
"The Queen…?"
"Yes," Minister Lee continued, his voice warm but earnest. "She's asked for nourishing, hearty meals to be served regularly to the guards, soldiers, and staff who labor tirelessly behind palace walls. Meals that restore—not just the body, but the spirit. She believes the palace needs not just food, but care."
Enna's breath caught.
'The guards…?'
Unbidden, an image flashed in her mind: the tall, solemn man in uniform—the Minister of Military who had recently visited her father and taken humble notice of her cooking. She remembered how he had lingered at the table longer than expected, how his eyes had softened ever so slightly at the first taste of her stew.
'Then… that man… will be there too?'
A strange flutter stirred in her chest, a mix of nervousness and something gentler, more curious.
But she shook the thought from her head and steadied herself, pressing the feelings down like one would smooth the surface of a boiling pot.
'Still… I must stay. I can't abandon Father.'
She drew in a breath and spoke, voice quiet but firm. "Minister… I truly appreciate your faith in me. But I can't accept it. I have to stay here… My father still needs me."
Before Minister Lee could respond, another voice rose from behind.
"You don't need to worry about me, Enna."
It was her father, Park, returning from his usual morning stroll along the outer field paths. His steps were slower these days, guided by a cane, but his presence still carried the quiet strength of a man who had once commanded respect in both court and countryside.
Minister Lee turned at the sound of his approach and broke into a smile.
"Oh, Park! It's good to see you!"
Park let out a hearty laugh as he grasped Lee Baewon's hand.
"I've been well, old friend. And you—still sitting among scrolls and politics? You must be doing quite the job to remain a minister after all this time!"
Lee chuckled.
"Thanks to Her Majesty's endless mercy, I've been forgiven more than a few mistakes and somehow still find myself seated at the Assembly."
The two men shared a fond look—one forged through decades of friendship, trials, and aging wisdom.
Lee added more seriously, "In truth, I came today on royal orders to speak with your daughter."
Park nodded, as if already expecting it.
"Yes—I heard the servants whispering as I came through the gate." He turned then to Enna, his expression softening. "Enna," he said gently, "don't concern yourself with me. I've lived a full life, and these old bones are looked after well enough. But you—this is your chance to do something greater. To share your gifts where they are truly needed. To serve not only the sick, but the Queen herself."