◆◆
Should I say I got lost again?
When I thought about it, maybe it was only natural that my excuse wouldn't work anymore.
The room, dark as pitch, brimmed with a lethal tension—like something terrible would happen if I said the wrong thing.
Thud.
My body slammed into the wall.
Gowon's arm shot out, his hand clamping around my throat as he drove me hard against the wall.
Had the threat of being choked always been this terrifying?
With his other hand, he shone a small flashlight at me. The harsh beam felt sharp enough to pierce my eyes. I frowned instinctively and gagged, coughing as my tight throat struggled for air.
When he recognized my face, I felt the strength in his grip ease—only slightly. A short, low sigh followed.
"This time, too… did you lose your way?"
Even then, he didn't release me completely. He looked like he could tighten his hold again at any moment.
"…I was doing an errand for Chaeha-nim."
"At this hour?"
"He said his fever went up and asked me to bring him some medicine."
"Normally he would've asked one of the maids in this annex. The fact he spoke to you directly… it seems you two have grown quite close."
"I only happened to run into him. I just did the errand, that's all."
"You're diligent about pointless things."
The annex was silent, yet in my ears it felt like I could hear a clock's second hand ticking. I clenched my sweaty hands and spoke.
"I can't leave the palace. There's nowhere else for me to go. This place is my whole world—and if this is all I have, then I wouldn't steal from it."
"What should I do, then. What you just said is nowhere near enough for me to keep a rat inside the palace."
"…"
"You were irritating from the start. And I get rid of anything that irritates me."
When he turned away, I felt it—this might be the last moment of my life in the palace. There was nowhere left to retreat. I had to face him head-on.
All or nothing.
"Your Highness… your gloves smell like blood."
Gowon stopped.
A brief silence.
Slowly, he removed his glove and let it drop to the floor.
"How insolent."
I heard him murmur to himself. Then he let out a soft, derisive laugh.
To be able to scoff so calmly in a situation like this…
But the choice was his. Maybe that was exactly why he could.
As if delivering judgment, he walked back toward me, ready to announce the result.
"Now that I look at you… you're more useful than I thought. Sneaking in and out like that. And up close, your face isn't bad."
As if appraising me, he tilted my chin up and down.
"Fine. I'll let you stay in the palace—just as you want."
"… …"
"But in exchange, from now on, you'll be my plaything."
Chaeha's words flashed through my mind.
'For a while, don't run into him. Even if you do, just greet him and get away. Understood?'
'The brighter the light, the darker the shadow behind it. Don't forget that.'
Only then did I realize I'd made a mistake.
"I didn't mean to oppose you."
"If you lower your tail now, it won't be fun."
"It's too late."
When I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me back. Before I could react, my body collided with his chest.
"If you're caught roaming around this late, people will think it's suspicious."
"Like you looked at me and thought I was suspicious?"
"I'll pretend I don't know what you're doing. I'll close my eyes to it. So from now on—"
"You think you're making a deal with me."
"…"
"You barged into my room without permission, acting as if an unconfirmed suspicion is the truth… and now you try to leave without my approval."
He stepped closer. I stepped back.
"I gave you a chance when I first saw you. Setting aside whether you were suspicious, one thing irritated me. You still don't show proper respect in front of me."
"…"
"Kneel."
A short, uncanny silence.
Slowly, I dropped to my knees before him.
◆
That first day she dared to snap back at me—violating royal rules and arguing with my words.
It had been absurd. And unpleasant.
And seeing her still like this now, I'd been right.
"I gave you a chance, yet you still refuse to carry yourself with respect before me."
Still unpleasant—that look on her face. If I indulged her like this, it felt as though she'd point a finger at me and shout someday.
"Kneel."
She knelt, as if she were finally learning where she belonged.
When I unfastened the belt at my waist, I saw her expression crease.
Her face, looking up at me from below, was… interesting.
It felt like my thirst was being quenched.
I watched.
She couldn't completely hide what she felt—her lips trembling faintly, her jaw tight, the slightest shake in her gaze before it hardened again.
In a situation this oddly entertaining, my body reacted without permission.
"Are you afraid?"
"…"
"Aren't you supposed to serve as my plaything?"
"…"
"Take it in."
"I can't."
Refusal was only natural.
A woman who didn't know her place.
"There's nothing you can't do if you want to avoid being thrown out of this palace."
I seized the back of her head and forced her closer.
Yes. Only now did it feel complete.
Look closely.
This is the relationship between you and me.
She struggled for breath and tore herself away after only a moment.
"Not enough."
"Find someone else. Not me… there are plenty of—"
"I don't want to hear it."
I pushed her down and held her fast.
A draft slipped through the gap of an unlatched window, and the curtain fluttered.
I would take my time and train her properly.
◆◆
A taut, punishing sensation flooded through me.
"Ah…"
The solid, muscular body that had been obvious even when he was fully dressed caged me in, as if he meant to keep me trapped.
It felt like a boulder pressing down on me, yet all my nerves were fixed on the place where he claimed me.
"S-stop…"
His movements were the exact opposite of Chaeha's.
He treated me roughly, like a toy to be used—like the "plaything" he'd named me.
At a distance so close our breaths mixed, our gazes locked, and in that instant our body heat surged.
This shouldn't be happening.
I kept trying to hide my expression. My body burned, and it was hard to endure. With my lips pressed tight, I covered my eyes with the back of my hand—an unyielding refusal to give him everything he wanted.
"Enduring even this… you're stubborn."
"Please… stop."
When I tried to pull away, he wrapped an arm around my waist, blocking my movement.
"Is running away your hobby?"
The hand pushing him away and the hand holding me in place crossed and fought. As if irritated, he dragged me back more harshly.
Deeper. Faster.
My shoulder and arm scraped, my breath suppressed—boundaries blurred, little by little.
The next morning.
Jeong Najeong told me, wide-eyed, that she'd had a terrible dream.
"I swear, I dreamed a long-haired woman came into our dorm room last night. And the creepiest part? She lay down on your bed, Sunmi. I was so shocked I squeezed my eyes shut and counted numbers until morning—then I finally got up."
Seeing how frightened she looked, I pretended to be shaken too.
"Let's never do scary stories again. What if a real ghost attaches itself to us?"
"No, seriously—she went to your bed. If anything attached itself, it would've attached to you."
"Don't worry. I'm fine."
I had to be.
Because the "ghost" she saw in her sleep was me.
During morning assembly, I felt someone's sharp stare. When my eyes shifted, Kim Sera was glaring at me—she didn't even bother to hide it.
Thinking there was nothing to gain by provoking her, I looked away first.
Jo Misook, the royal HR officer, stood before us as always, dressed in neat clothes made of expensive fabric. Her red lipstick was painted on with deliberate force, and her gleaming lips spoke.
"Today is the day of the royal official banquet. The attendees are all people connected to state affairs, directly or indirectly."
She swept her eyes once over the maids' appearance and posture, then continued.
"Pay special attention to your clothes and every action. Let's make sure we finish without incident."
After assembly ended, everyone scattered to their assigned posts.
Not everyone worked in the banquet hall. Only around ten people went inside to do the tasks they were given.
"Sunmi. You—come to the banquet hall later."
Kim Sera, the head maid, tossed the words out sharply and disappeared. Jeong Najeong, who'd been nearby, scurried over.
"What? You're going to the banquet hall later? Lucky! I heard you barely have to rush around—mostly you just do a bit of serving and stand there. And you'll get to see tons of glamorous, amazing people. Lucky you. Why won't they call me?"
Everyone seemed to secretly want to work in the banquet hall, so I couldn't understand why they'd given the position to me—especially when it came from Kim Sera, who clearly didn't like me.
The banquet proceeded smoothly.
People working there moved like machines: complete the assigned task, then return to the spot they'd started at and watch as the guests ate.
Even if I tried not to listen, fragments of conversation drifted into my ears.
"Lady Hong Yeonhwa. It's been such a long time."
"The last time you visited our home was the spring before last, wasn't it? It has been a while. I'm glad to see you."
At the table closest to me, the conversation centered on someone named Hong Yeonhwa. Even before they spoke, her brilliant beauty had drawn my eyes. She was a noble, gorgeous woman—like a red rose.
Just as my eyes and ears were drawn to her, someone tapped my shoulder.
"Don't space out here. Get out."
Kim Sera whispered. I covered my mouth with my hand and answered quietly.
"But the banquet isn't over yet."
"The important part is already done. One person leaving won't affect the event."
"But…"
"I said, go."
At her urging, I carefully walked out of the banquet hall.
"The event isn't over—where are you going?"
Outside the banquet hall, I ran into none other than Crown Prince Gowon.
Maybe because of last night, seeing him felt uncomfortable. I answered without meeting his eyes.
"It's an order from the head maid."
"So you listen well over there."
He still had a talent for needling people. Thanks to that, the discomfort vanished. I lifted my chin and spoke.
"Your Highness. There are many eyes on us, so please refrain from childish games."
"Is that so? Then I suppose I should play where no one can see."
He always moved one step ahead—like he'd predicted what I would say and do.
I didn't even know who started this game, but I didn't want to lose.
We faced each other in a quiet contest of nerve when a commotion rose from the banquet hall. The doors opened, and Hong Yeonhwa—wearing an awkward, troubled expression—hurried out with Kim Sera.
"Have you seen Miss Yeonhwa's earring?"
"An earring…?"
"The one shaped like a camellia, with diamonds set in it."
Kim Sera suddenly ran her hands over me, rummaging through my clothes.
"Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"
"Because you're the only one who left after the earring disappeared."
"Are you saying I stole it?"
Ignoring my flustered protest, Kim Sera searched me as if she'd already decided I was the culprit.
Then she lifted her hand sharply and cried out—
"Miss, I found the earring!"