The underground basement of Cheonbugwan was a place filled with shadows and secrets. Jin-Mu paced in front of several large, ominous urns. They loomed in the dim light, casting long shadows on the stone walls.

"Jang-Uk and the Crown Prince," Jin-Mu muttered to himself. "They're growing too close. That bond must be broken before it becomes a threat."

He traced his fingers along the surface of one of the urns, a malicious glint in his eyes. These urns held a dark secret, one powerful enough to control Jin Ho-Gyeong, the current leader of Jinyowon. Jin-Mu clenched his fists, convinced that Jinyowon would soon be his.

A shadowy figure approached from the corridor.

"Is it ready?" Jin-Mu asked without turning.

"Almost," the figure replied. "All that's left is the final ritual."

Jin-Mu smirked. "Perfect."

Back at Songrim, Jang-Uk sat at a wooden desk, the blank pages of Words of the Heart taunting him. He tapped his fingers against the cover, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Despite all his efforts, the book refused to reveal its secrets.

"You're thinking too hard," came a voice from behind. Master Lee stepped into the room, his gaze calm and wise.

"I've tried everything," Jang-Uk sighed. "Ink, fire—nothing works."

Master Lee chuckled softly. "This book is different. It's not about logic. It's about emotion. Master Seo-Gyeong wrote it as a love letter."

Jang-Uk blinked. "A love letter?"

Lee nodded. "To a woman who could not see. Every word is imbued with his emotions. If you want to read it, you must understand the heart behind it."

He leaned in closer. "Of course, if you'd rather become my pupil, I could show you the way. But it would require drinking my special tea."

Jang-Uk cringed. "I'll pass."

"Suit yourself." With that, Master Lee left, leaving Jang-Uk with new clues—and more questions.

In a surprising twist, Mu-Deok had found a loophole to enter Songrim: a contest for maids. If she won, she could stay close to Jang-Uk.

News of the contest spread quickly, reaching Yul, Dang-Gu, Hae-Rin, and even the Crown Prince. They gathered in a small courtyard, the exam papers spread out before them.

Dang-Gu leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "These questions are brutal. I doubt even Cho-Yeon would pass without help."

Seo Yul scanned the parchment with a critical eye. "They're designed to weed out the weak. It's not just knowledge—it's about testing resolve and instinct."

"And you think Mu-Deok has any of that?" the Crown Prince said with a scoff.

"She'll fail before she even makes it to the written section."

Hae-Rin's eyes narrowed. "You're awfully confident for someone who knows nothing about her."

"I know enough," the Prince said smugly.

"She's just a servant pretending to be more than she is."

"Servant or not, Mu-Deok has helped Jang-Uk come this far," Hae-Rin shot back.

"She's resourceful. Smarter than you give her credit for."

The Crown Prince folded his arms. "Even if that's true, it doesn't change the fact that this exam is almost impossible to pass."

"That's why we're helping her," Dang-Gu said with a grin.

Seo Yul nodded. "She'll need more than just answers. The questions are full of traps."

"But delivering the answers still gives her a fighting chance," Hae-Rin said, stepping toward the Prince.

"And we all know you're the most inconspicuous one here."

"Me?" The Crown Prince looked genuinely offended. "You expect me to cheat for her?"

"Oh, don't act so righteous," Hae-Rin teased.

The Prince bristled. "I'm the Crown Prince of Daeho. I have a reputation to uphold."

"Exactly. No one would ever suspect you of sneaking around," Hae-Rin said with a mischievous smile.

Seo Yul exchanged a look with Dang-Gu. They both nodded silently in agreement.

Hae-Rin leaned in, her tone light but firm. "Think of it as an investment. If Mu-Deok passes, Jang-Uk becomes stronger. And if Jang-Uk becomes stronger, you'll have a more worthy rival."

The Prince paused, clearly weighing her words. "You're really determined about this, aren't you?"

Hae-Rin smirked. "I'm just better at seeing potential than you are."

After a long silence, the Crown Prince sighed heavily. "Fine. But if this gets me into trouble—"

"It won't," Hae-Rin said quickly. "We'll make sure of it."

The next morning, Mu-Deok stood just outside the exam hall, adjusting the plain ribbon on her apron. She had spent the entire night studying but felt woefully unprepared.

Inside the hall, Songrim maids arranged parchment and ink pots while several Songrim instructors prepared the testing area.

From behind a pillar, the Crown Prince scanned the area. When he was certain no one was watching, he slipped the rolled parchment under Mu-Deok's study book.

"Done," he muttered, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves.

Dang-Gu and Hae-Rin emerged from the shadows, grinning like children who had just pulled off a successful prank.

"You should've seen your face," Dang-Gu chuckled. "You looked terrified."

"I wasn't terrified," the Prince snapped.

Hae-Rin tilted her head. "Admit it. You care more about Mu-Deok's success than you're letting on."

"I care about fairness," the Prince replied stiffly. "And ensuring Jang-Uk has no excuses when he loses to me in the future."

Seo Yul, watching quietly, finally spoke. "Whatever your reasons, you did the right thing."

The Crown Prince didn't respond, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

The stage was set. Whether Mu-Deok would triumph or not, the four of them had done everything they could. And now, all they could do was wait.

Passing the written exam was one thing. The physical challenges were another. Mu-Deok had to prove her skill in cooking, cleaning, and even combat. Her blade skills impressed everyone, especially when she narrowly passed the fitness test by leaping across a pool of water at the last second.

Park Jin, observing from the sidelines, couldn't help but notice.

Hae-Rin gripped her wooden training sword tightly, sweat dripping down her brow. Her strikes were relentless, each swing sharper and faster. However, the fatigue she'd been hiding since her last illness began to show. Her form wavered.

"Hae-Rin!" Ji-Hoon's stern voice echoed through the training grounds.

Hae-Rin froze mid-strike, her breath ragged. Turning, she met her brother's piercing gaze.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, wiping sweat from her brow.

"What am I doing here? You should be resting!" Ji-Hoon marched over, his frustration barely contained. "Master Heo specifically said no physical activity."

"I'm fine, Ji-Hoon."

"You're about as fine as a cracked teacup," he snapped.

Before the argument could escalate, Seo Yul and Dang-Gu appeared, having heard the commotion.

"Hae-Rin," Seo Yul said softly, his eyes filled with concern. "You shouldn't push yourself."

Dang-Gu, ever the jokester, leaned on his sword. "You're lucky Ji-Hoon found you first. If it had been Master Heo, you'd be locked in the infirmary with no sweets for a week."

"I don't need everyone treating me like a child!" Hae-Rin snapped.

Ji-Hoon crossed his arms. "Then stop acting like one."

At that moment, Maidservant Kim bustled over, followed closely by Master Heo and Park Jin.

"Not again!" Maidservant Kim cried out. "Hae-Rin, if you don't listen, I'll send word to your parents myself!"

Master Heo, usually calm, was visibly irritated. "What did I say about resting?" He pointed a finger at her.

"One more stunt like this, and I'll prescribe the bitterest herbal tea I can make."

"Master Heo's 'Bitter Root Special,'" Dang-Gu whispered to Seo Yul. "Legend says it could make even a spirit cry."

Seo Yul's lips twitched with amusement, but his gaze remained on Hae-Rin. "You should listen to them."

Park Jin stepped forward, his authoritative presence silencing the group. "Hae-Rin, it's not about proving strength. True strength lies in knowing when to stop."

Despite her stubbornness, Hae-Rin felt the weight of their concern.

Hae-Rin sighed, finally setting down her sword. "I'm not used to it."

Ji-Hoon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Get used to it. You have people who care, whether you like it or not."

Hae-Rin gave a small smile, her exhaustion finally catching up with her.

Later That Evening

Back at the dorms, Hae-Rin lay on her bed, a damp cloth placed on her forehead. Seo Yul sat beside her, his expression tender but firm.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

"You don't need to prove anything," Seo Yul replied. "Just take care of yourself."

Ji-Hoon poked his head in. "Next time, I'll have Master Heo personally watch you."

Maidservant Kim appeared behind him. "And I'll make sure you get the bitter tea."

Dang-Gu added from the hall, "Or we could all just follow you around all day."

Despite her exhaustion, Hae-Rin laughed softly.

Seo Yul leaned in. "Rest now. We'll be here when you wake up."