That Morning, Before Archery Practice

The palace hallway echoed with soft giggles, Areum's small hands reaching eagerly for the plush toy in my grasp. She squirmed in delight, her laughter light and pure-the kind that could heal even the deepest of sorrows.

She loved being the center of attention, a bright spark in a world that had long ignored her existence. Despite everything she had endured, she had chosen to give life a second chance. And in return, we did everything we could to make it worth it for her.

It was a morning like any other-Areum nestled in my arms, Lady Choi patiently feeding her spoonfuls of porridge while the other maids bustled around, their chatter and warmth making the moment feel almost... perfect.

But that moment shattered when a pair of sharp hands ripped her from my arms like a piece of paper.

Areum let out a startled cry as she was harshly placed into her basket. The happy baby, who only moments ago was giggling in my embrace, now whimpered, her eyes wide and teary.

I snapped my head up, my disbelief quickly morphing into anger as I locked eyes with the woman responsible.

She stood tall, regal in her silk robes, but there was no warmth in her gaze-only judgment, sharp and cold.

"Where are your respects?" she said looking at everyone but me, her voice smooth and laced with authority.

Around me, the court ladies stiffened before hastily bowing, their fear thick in the air. I glanced at them, then back at her, my lips pressing into a thin line.

Then, finally she got me under her gaze, I stiffened. Her chin lifted high, she took a step closer, invading my personal space, as if trying to make me feel small against her, "Should I write a letter to you?" she mused.

Lady Choi, standing beside me, immediately forced my head into a low bow. "Apologies, Your Majesty," she murmured. "She did not recognize who you were."

I clenched my fists, not liking the way this woman marked her authority on the powerless and how easily she looked down on me like I wasn't a princess myself.

"Regardless," she continued, voice calm but cutting, "why was a mistress tending to my child?" She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Does she not realize she is even lower than the concubines?"

The words sank in, a slow-burning fire igniting in my veins.

P̶r̶i̶n̶c̶e̶s̶s̶ . Mistress.

The word had followed me like a cursed shadow ever since I stepped foot into this palace. The whispers, the knowing looks-everyone assumed that was all I could be. As if my worth began and ended at Jungkook's bedside. As if my name, my identity, my own life, did not exist beyond my abduction.

I had ignored it, pretending it never mattered. But now, now that she called me one like it was my very name; it did matter.

"I am no mistress." I said, my voice steady, unyielding.

I heard her scoff in mockery before she tilted my chin up with a single finger, forcing me to meet her gaze. "No?" she mused, "Then what are you?"

I already despised her for what she did to Areum, her own child. However, she turned out to be more disgusting than I intended.

I hated the way she looked at me. Like I was something insignificant. Something she could crumble under her shoes. And what I hated even more was that she thought she had the right to define me.

My jaw tightened, my nails digging into my palms as I glared.

What was I?

To some, I was nothing more than a mistress-a woman whispered about in the halls, judged and despised for no reason other than existing beside him. To others, I was an abducted princess, a poor little thing meant to be pitied.

But I was neither.

I wasn't just a woman attached to a man; I was me. Kim Yesol. A woman who wanted to mark her name in the history and fight battles.

Her lips curled into a sneer. "A warrior?" She let out a mocking laugh before shoving me back slightly, like I was nothing more than a foolish child. "Hah. Is that what you think you are?"

I didn't understand why she was targeting me. Someone like her-high, mighty, untouchable shouldn't even care about my presence. And yet, she was here, tearing me down.

It wasn't because of Areum, that I knew. Her cries echoed beside us, raw and unrelenting. My heart clenched at the sound, aching to reach for her, to hold her. But the woman before me didn't even flinch.

Because to her, Areum didn't matter. She never had. And neither did I.

Then, the assumption hit me like a slap. Was this because of Jungkook? Was it true? The rumors, the whispers-that she and Jungkook have something going on?

The thought alone made my stomach twist. I tried to bury my thoughts away, I shouldn't make assumptions about such a raw topic without any evidence.

"A woman on the battlefield?" she scoffed, stepping closer. "Don't make me laugh."

Then, before I could react, she pressed her thumb against my lips, smearing the red taint across my skin.

I stilled. A slow, sinking dread settled in my bones.

"You're a mistress." Her voice was low, deliberate, each word digging into my skin like a blade. "A woman who is supposed to serve herself on the bed"

Then, as if that wasn't enough, her fingers up, smudging the kohl beneath my eyes, erasing the neatness, the dignity. The gentle touch of hers was a stark contrast to the meaning behind her cruel words, it felt like needles digging into my skin.

"Stay like one."

Her hands moved again-this time, gripping the fabric of my hanbok. With a slow, cruel tug, she pulled it just enough to bare my shoulder. The ladies around watched in shame and disbelief as she tugged at my neatly styled hair, the strands falling loose, brushing against my cheek, disheveled.

But I couldn't even blink.

I wanted to slap her hand away, to shove her back, to spit words sharp enough to cut. But my body betrayed me, frozen in place.

I was so angry. So furious that I could barely breathe. But I felt stripped. Not of my clothing, but of my strength, my dignity. My voice.

She leaned in slightly, inspecting me like a masterpiece of her own making.

"Now, that suits you" she murmured, her smirk sharp enough to slice through flesh.

My eyes burned, and everything inside me shattered.

The shame. The humiliation.

It clawed at my heart, sinking deep, making it ache in ways I couldn't describe. Yet, I stood there-motionless, frozen, like a statue with no visible wounds but torn apart from the inside.

I should have spoken. I should have done something. But I didn't.

That was why I was so furious during archery practice.

Fury, because I had been stripped of my dignity like a lifeless doll, and I couldn't do anything about it.

Fury, because I had let myself be treated like someone's punching bag, reduced to nothing beneath the weight of someone else's power.

Fury, because in that moment, it felt like I truly was what they called me-a mistress, a woman with no worth beyond the desires of a man.

I needed someone to blame. Someone to throw this storm of emotions at. And I blamed Jungkook. I blamed him because he was the only one I could blame. Because he was the one who dragged me into this life, he was the one who called me his mistress.

He was the one who tried to force himself over me, who played his cruel games in front of everyone just to show everyone that I was his even if I didn't like it.

And then there were the rumors.

The whispers of his affair with his late brother's wife. That was what angered me the most. The thought that Jungkook's relationship with her had brought me such shame, boiled my blood.

Even after everything that happened on the training grounds, after the banter that could've led to another game, after I had broken his arrow midair-something that even I hadn't expected.

I still thought, Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Jungkook isn't that kind of man. He wouldn't be with someone like her.

But then I saw them in the corridor outside the court.

I hadn't meant to witness it. I was just passing by lost in my own thoughts when I happened to catch a glance. Though I couldn't even hear a word of what they said. But I saw everything.

Queen Eun Ae in his arms.

Jungkook holding her close.

And then-her lips on his.

At first, I thought I imagined it. But no. It was real. It was happening. He shoved her away after a second. I saw the fury in his gaze, the loath in his stance but that didn't matter.

He still let it happen.

And for some reason, that burned more than anything else. I should have looked away. I should have walked past them and erased the image from my mind but I couldn't. I couldn't tear my gaze away. Not even for a fleeting second.

It was disgusting, really.

But the way Queen Eun Ae clung to him, the way she held him-it made something inside me twist so violently that I felt like my heart would explode.

I hated it.

I hated how familiar they seemed.

I hated how effortlessly she touched him, how he didn't push her away immediately.

I hated that it reminded me of us.

Of the way he had held me close. Seen me in my most vulnerable moments, nuzzled into my neck like I was his pillow. The way he had slept beside me all night, waking up next to me like it meant nothing.

The way he came for me when I was taken away, and how he dug a knife into his chest just to show me his pain. And then hugged, whispered stupid, empty promises and burned the rare woods just because I said they meant nothing.

And now I understood. It had all been meaningless to him. Of course, it had been.

What else could I have expected from a man like him?

A man who dragged me into his world without my consent. A man who only saw women as something to possess. A lustful, dark, twisted man who probably had dozens of women at his feet.

He had been doing this for every woman who had caught his eyes, right?

And I was supposed to be one of them.

A part of me—some weak, stupid part of me—ached. Maybe I had been hurt by what I saw. Maybe, for just a second, I had let myself feel something I shouldn't have.

But I shouldn't be hurt over a man like him. Never. Jungkook was a bastard. A jerk. A man I would never choose.

He didn't even deserve my hate. Because who was he to me? And who was I to him?

If he loved Queen Eun Ae, fine.

I didn't care.

I had already prepared myself for this long ago. The moment I heard the rumors, I had known this was inevitable.

But still-

Hating this.

Hating that.

Hating him.

Hate. Hate. Hate.

I didn't want 'hating him' to be my whole personality. Jungkook shouldn't be the center of my world.

I had my own life, my own dreams, my own struggles.

And what was I even hurt about, huh? I never liked him for once. If anything, I only felt used—it wasn't something new, just disappointing.

So why should I treat him specially?

He was nothing but a man. A man who had nothing to do with me. And from now on, I should treat him like one.

Like I treat strangers—something random, common, insignificant. Someone I should only bear up with because I can't throw a tantrum at everything I dislike; I can only avoid them as much as I can for the sake of my own sanity.

I should only focus on myself.

After Jungkook was summoned to the court, Madam Erdene came to me. The sharp look in her eyes told me everything—I didn't need to explain. She already knew what had happened between me and Queen Eun Ae that morning, of course, most of them knew. That was why she didn't say much when I acted out of character.

But her silence wasn't approval; it was disappointment.

She told me that she would never take credit or demand payment for teaching me, because, in her eyes, I had learned nothing. She was disappointed that I had allowed Queen Eun Ae to walk all over me so easily, to brand me with a title I never claimed, without so much as a fight.

"A warrior isn't just action, Yesol," she said firmly. "It's presence. It's words. It's the unshakable belief in oneself."

She told me that if I truly wanted to carve my name into history, I had to become powerful enough to silence those who doubted me—not by ignoring them, but by proving them wrong. I had to make my place in this world known, rather than keeping it hidden like a secret I was too afraid to own.

Because if I couldn't even take a stand for myself, how could I ever take a stand for a nation?

"If you truly wish to lead, then show them why Jeon Jungkook sent you for training. Show them why you belong at the center of it all. But if this is just a hobby to you, then stop now," she said. "Stay at home. Don't waste your time pretending."

Her words hit me like cold steel.

She wasn't trying to scold me; she was giving me a choice. And I realized then that this had never been just a hobby for me. If it was, I wouldn't keep running to it every time I felt lost, every time I needed to remind myself of my own worth.

I wanted to be more than just a pitiful girl crying over the unfair hand fate had dealt her.

I wanted to be strong enough to fight back.

And after what I had seen earlier—Jungkook and Queen Eun Ae in the corridor, their so—called romantic moment, I knew I had to detach myself from everything that had been holding me back.

I was alone. I shouldn't forget that.

And that wasn't a tragedy.

It simply meant that I had only myself to rely on. That I wouldn't sit around waiting to be saved like some fairytale princess.

If I had chosen this path, I had to walk it to the end—not as a pastime, not as an escape, but as my true purpose.

That was when I heard whispers in the palace corridors. Whispers of an investigation into the rice supply. A matter of corruption and deceit.

And I knew then—if I wanted to be more than just a pitiful girl, I had to step into the world. Earn a title that no one could take away from me.

Only then would I return to Queen Eun Ae—not to argue, not to defend myself, but to prove exactly who I was.

And this time, my skills would speak for me.

"Lady Choi," I called out, peering into my small glittery mirror. Tilting my head, I pressed my cheeks and frowned slightly. "Do I look chubby?"

"No, your highness" she replied with practiced ease.

I chuckled softly, narrowing my eyes at her reflection. She was probably too hesitant to tell me the truth. "Oh, Lady Choi, please be honest. I need to gain weight."

"I'm being honest."

I turned to face her, blinking in mild disbelief.

"I wish you weren't," I mumbled before returning my gaze to the mirror. Letting out a dramatic sigh, I suddenly whined, "Ah, how am I going to catch the culprit like this?" I threw my legs up like a frustrated child before quickly composing myself.

Brushing my hair back, I tugged the brush from behind my ear and refocused on the scribbles I had jotted down at the market yesterday.

Yesterday had marked the first day of Mission: Catch the Rice Culprit, and I had gone in disguise with Geehee. Nobody knew me there, which made it the perfect opportunity to observe without interference.

Since this was my first time conducting an investigation, I wasn't entirely sure where to start. But if there was one place that held the highest probability of illegal dealings, it was the marketplace. A hub of trade, whispers, and unspoken agreements.

I had wandered from stall to stall, attempting to engage the sellers in casual conversation. The problem? Everyone looked suspicious to me. Hardened faces, darting eyes, hesitant answers-it was impossible to tell who was hiding something and who was simply wary of a stranger.

Still, I had gathered a few murmurs, overheard fragmented conversations, and noted small details that could be useful. But the crucial piece-the who behind it all, remained a mystery.

Frustrated, I leaned back, staring at my book sprawled open on the study table, my fingers drumming against the map beside it.

There's no way the poor are operating this on their own. Someone with power had to be backing them. Which meant one of the nobles, ministers, or someone from the royal family itself.

Queen Eun Ae?

I scoffed, shaking my head. Hah. Stop.

According to the list I had obtained from the council, there were twenty noble families in the city, along with fifty ministers in the royal court. Before setting my sights on the ministers, it made sense to start with the lower nobility. They had influence, but they weren't untouchable. And they were far more likely to take risks, thinking they could slip away unnoticed.

I tapped my fingers against my diary, my eyes settling on one particular note-the rice shop owner.

He had acted unusually defensive, snapping at simple questions, his tone far too aggressive for someone with nothing to hide. More suspiciously, he had only two sacks of rice for sale-both cheaper than the rest of the market. A glaring inconsistency.

If I could follow him, or even better, get inside his shop, I might find some evidence of where the rice was truly going.

I bit down on my brush, deep in thought. Should I alter my disguise today? Blend in differently?

"Geehee, are you friends with the noble family maids?" I asked, my voice bored and casual.

She nodded without hesitation. "Yes, your highness. I know most of them."

"How many out of the twenty families?"

She paused, thinking. "About ten."

My eyebrows shot up. She was seriously a social butterfly.

Lady Choi spoke up quietly. "I know most of them as well. And I'm certain the other court maids are familiar with the rest. Do you have a message for them, perhaps?"

A slow, satisfied grin spread across my face.

I slammed my hand down on the table with a triumphant spark in my eyes. "All of you, come here. And close the door!"

If my original plan failed, this would be Plan B. The court maids would serve as my messengers, carrying discreet inquiries to the noble families, weaving through conversations, and gathering the crucial missing pieces of the puzzle.

With this, we would pinpoint exactly where the rice was going and who was behind it.

I leaned back with a smirk.

I'm not so bad, after all.

_____________________________

I was struggling to get dressed as a man for the second day of my mission when the door creaked open, making everyone turn their heads.

Jungkook.

He stood there, holding a tray of breakfast in his hands.

I frowned at his presence. "Why are you here?" I asked, shifting my focus back to the mirror as I wrestled with my hair tie, frustrated with the mess of strands refusing to cooperate.

Without answering, he passed the tray to one of the maids and walked toward me. Then, without warning, he snatched the hair tie from my hands and started combing my hair himself.

Startled, I looked up at him.

"Because I knew Detective Hawk would skip breakfast and try to fight goons on an empty stomach." He tilted my head down, voice was laced with mockery, but his eyes remained focused on my hair as his fingers worked through the tangled strands with effortless ease.

I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. Why doesn't he go take care of Queen Eun Ae instead? The woman he held so dearly, the one who seemed to be at his side so easily. I clenched my jaw, refusing to throw a fit at his ridiculous act of kindness.

And what— Detective Hawk? Was he calling for trouble now?

To distract myself, I picked up "101 Investigation Techniques" and pretended to be deeply engrossed in its contents.

Meanwhile, Jungkook continued. He rolled my hair neatly and secured it into a tight bun, his touch gentle yet firm. I watched as he picked up a black head tie and fixed it carefully around my forehead.

Behind him, the other maids giggled softly, their smiles full of meaning. I sighed, resisting the urge to say something sarcastic. It's just help after all. And I was getting late as well. I would've done the same to any stranger.

"So, you're going to a particular rice shop today?" Jungkook asked, stepping back as his gaze flickered to my investigation papers scattered across the table.

My eyes widened slightly before I hastily gathered them up, clutching them against my chest as I shot him a glare.

"I don't need your help!" I snapped.

Jungkook simply leaned back in his chair, unconcerned. "Sure, you don't, Detective Hawk" His tone was light, but there was an undeniable hint of smugness in his voice.

I narrowed my eyes. "Are you not going?"

Instead of answering, he lazily pointed at the tray of food sitting between us. "Finish your breakfast."

For a moment, I debated ignoring him, but my stomach betrayed me with a faint grumble. I sighed in defeat and picked up the chopsticks.

As I ate, Jungkook—without being asked—began giving me crucial information about each noble family. Their sources of wealth, their connections, their hidden dealings.

And not only that—he wrote it all down for me, organizing the details while I focused on eating.

I hated to admit it, but it was useful.

"You sure you don't want me to join you, princess?" Jungkook asked, watching as I packed my materials into a small bag. His voice carried a teasing edge, but I could sense the underlying seriousness in his tone.

I slung the bag over my shoulder, barely sparing him a glance. "Don't you have more important things to do than following me around?"

"Trust me, that's one of my important-" he started, but before he could finish, I turned and placed Areum from her crib into his arms.

"Oh-" He blinked in disbelief, looking down at the baby in his arms.

"Take care of her until I return," I instructed, not waiting for his reaction before making my way toward the door. I didn't look back, though I could imagine the conflicted expression on his face.

By the time I reached the market with Geehee, the air was thick with the usual noise—vendors calling out prices, customers bargaining, and carts rolling over uneven cobblestone. But my focus was set. Across the bustling street stood the rice shop, the one I had been keeping an eye on since yesterday.

Turning to Geehee, I gave her a firm nod. "Try reaching as many houses as you're familiar with today. Deliver the message discreetly."

She nodded, her eyes sharp with understanding, before disappearing into the crowd, blending in as if she belonged to the chaos.

Now, it was my turn.

As expected, the laborers arrived—a group of ten men, just like yesterday. Their faces were unfamiliar, proving that the workers changed daily. That worked in my favor. If they didn't recognize each other, they wouldn't recognize me either.

Taking a deep breath, I adjusted my hood and stepped forward, merging seamlessly into their ranks. I could only hope they wouldn't notice an extra pair of hands among them.

Nobody questioned my presence. They were too busy, and I kept my head down, mimicking their movements as I followed them inside.

Once inside, I was struck by what I saw.

Stacks upon stacks of rice sacks—more than even the royal family had in stock. My heart pounded in my chest as my eyes darted across the massive storage space. This wasn't just stock for a single shop. This was an operation.

I moved carefully, pretending to adjust my grip on a sack while scanning my surroundings. That's when I noticed it—each section of rice had names written on small wooden plaques. Names of noble families.

So it was true.

The rice wasn't simply produced less—it was being distributed in amount the rich.

As I edged forward, my gaze landed on one particular sector. The sacks here were piled higher than anywhere else. Whoever owned this stock had a significantly larger share than the others.

I took a step closer, my fingers itching to pull back a sack and check the name on the plaque. But before I could, a sharp voice interrupted me.

"Hey, you! Stop standing around and get to work!"

I stiffened.

A worker eyed me suspiciously, waiting for me to obey. Swallowing down my frustration, I quickly grabbed a sack and hoisted it onto my shoulder, blending back into the flow of laborers. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to myself.

For now, I had to act the part. Carrying the heavy sack, I followed the others outside, loading it onto the cart parked behind the shop.

But I had seen enough.

Now, I just needed to figure out which noble family was hoarding the most rice and why.

I had barely loaded three rice sacks, and my back was already screaming in protest. I wished I gained weight as easily as I lost it—maybe then I wouldn't feel like my bones were about to snap.

"Take this to the Yang family," the shopkeeper instructed the cart driver, who nodded before setting off.

I watched as the cart rumbled away, carrying only eight sacks of rice. That wasn't much for a noble family. The Yangs were definitely a part of this but they couldn't possibly be behind this... or could they? What if they were ordering small portions every day to avoid suspicion? I made a mental note to keep track of their deliveries.

Suppressing a yawn, I stretched my sore muscles, feeling exhaustion settle in. That's when I noticed an intense gaze boring into me.

My breath hitched.

Someone was watching me.

I turned swiftly, scanning the area. My heart pounded against my ribs. How? How did word spread when I was working in secret? It had only been two days since I started investigating, and I was already being watched?

I gulped. I didn't even know how to fight properly yet. I had only brought a knife with me, but what if there were more than one of them? What if I was already surrounded?

My fingers instinctively traveled to the blade hidden in my boots. Clutching the handle, I moved toward the alley where I thought the stare had come from, my steps calculated, my senses on high alert.

Then, in one swift motion, I spun around, extending my knife—

Only to find Jungkook standing there, arms raised in surrender.

I exhaled sharply, tossing the knife aside with a deep sigh. My heart, which had been racing with panic, now pounded with sheer frustration.

This man—he was going to give me a heart attack!

"Are you my dog?!" I yelled, my voice echoing in the narrow alley.

Jungkook blinked, taken aback. "Dog— what?"

"Why do you keep following me?!" I fumed, crossing my arms. "Are you my dog?"

His brows furrowed in offense. "I just wanted to see where you were working," he said, his tone bored.

"Don't act like you can't ask your eunuch or Court Lady Choi!" I snapped. "You just don't trust me, do you?"

He sighed dramatically, as if I was the one being difficult. "Why were you picking up sacks?"

I scoffed, pointing backwards "Go back to the castle and babysit Areum until I come back."

Ignoring me completely, he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "Now, what's the deal with this shop?"

I clenched my jaw, inhaling deeply. No more banter. No more letting him get under my skin. I had more important things to focus on.

"The shop has more rice than the royals do," I said, forcing my voice to remain calm. "I doubt the administration center has even recorded this surplus."

Jungkook's gaze darkened with thought. "So they were right, more rice was produced than officially counted" he murmured to himself. "And the extra supply was secretly distributed among the nobles for free."

"Not all of them," I corrected, catching his attention. "One section of the shop had significantly more sacks than the others. I didn't get a chance to see which family it belonged to, but I'm sure they're trading it for a higher price somewhere else"

His eyes flickered with intrigue, but I wasn't in the mood for his input.

This investigation was mine.

____________________________

Five days later, at night.

"Kims, Yangs, Ohs, Lees, Mins..." I murmured, ticking off the names of the noble families from my list—each one implicated in the secret transfer of rice.

I glanced up from my notes to see the court maids sitting across from me, their expressions tense yet expectant. The candlelight flickered between us, casting long shadows against the chamber walls.

"So all these families purchase rice from that shop, only to transfer half of it elsewhere?" I asked, my voice calm but sharp.

"Yes, Your Highness," Lady Choi confirmed. "We gathered information from the maids working in their households. Their stories match, each noble house follows the same pattern simultaneously"

"The only exception is the Jang family," Gee-hee added, her voice pitched higher and brows furrowed. "They don't resell the rice at all. Instead, they are the only ones receiving it from that shop"

My grip on the brush tightened as memories of the rice storage flashed in my mind—the sector with the most sacks bore the name Jang.

"They only purchase three sacks of rice per week," Gee-hee continued thoughtfully. "From what we can tell, they don't appear to be involved in the scheme. Their hands seem clean."

Clean?

I leaned back, my eyes narrowing. The Jangs—close relatives of Tax Minister Jang, a family so powerful that no one would dare question their actions. They only buy three sacks of rice weekly, just enough to avoid suspicion. There's no direct evidence linking them to the mass redistribution, yet...

Their backyard was off-limits to servants. No one was allowed to clean it. They were obscenely wealthy. Too clean. Too perfect.

Bingo!

The shiniest apple is always the most rotten inside.

I exhaled slowly, a smirk curling at my lips.

Lady Choi shifted uncomfortably, noticing the glint in my eyes. "What are you planning, Your Highness?" she asked, almost fearfully.

I set down my brush, tapping my fingers against the wooden desk as I thought...

________________________

"Shh... follow me," I whispered, motioning to the six masked women trailing behind me as we navigated the shadows of the Jang family's estate. The night air was crisp, thick with the scent of damp earth and secrecy.

Our footsteps were silent, the only sound being the occasional rustle of fabric as we moved toward the backyard. The towering walls loomed ahead, shielding whatever secrets the Jangs had buried within.

"Lady Choi, did you call the carts?" I asked under my breath, my eyes locked on the path ahead.

"Yes, Your Highness. They will arrive as soon as we reach the yard" she assured me from behind.

I adjusted my mask, "And Gee-hee, you took care of the secret, right?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I told His Highness you'd be busy in the royal library, so no one is to enter. The other ladies are handling the rest."

I nodded, exhaling in satisfaction. This was my plan—my mission. No one, not even Jungkook knew about it.

"Did your friend leave the gates open?" I asked, double-checking every detail.

"Yes," Gee-hee confirmed.

For six days, I had pieced this puzzle together, collecting information from the court maids, studying the rice distribution, and confirming my suspicions. The Jangs were the only ones receiving large quantities of rice along with the usual three sacks.

I also got to know that they were transporting other items like, grains, spices and herbs. Which was a crucial hint that bridged the gap between two ends of this scenario—some noble families were receiving sacks of one of these items every week, and that only meant they were exchanging their rice with the Jangs.

When I disguised myself as a laborer to deliver rice to their estate, I wasn't permitted beyond the threshold. But I had seen enough. A spacious backyard, towering walls, and most importantly—two burly guards stationed in front of the storage room.

If we can lure them away, get that door open, and transport the stolen rice back to the palace along with the other items, the Jangs will be caught red-handed.

And I would have done it all without Jungkook's interference.

We halted before the slightly ajar backyard door. I pressed my back against the wall, peering through the gap. Just as expected—the two bodyguards stood like statues before the storage room, their gazes sharp even in the dim torchlight.

"Lady Choi," I murmured.

She leaned in.

"Did you bring the chloroform?"

Without a word, she pulled a small bottle from her pocket, holding it up as confirmation.

"Keep it ready," I commanded.

Then, turning to the two women beside me, I smirked.

"Gee-hee, Yuna..."

They stepped forward, knowing exactly what to do.

"Lure them."

The two brave women slipped inside, moving with the grace of cats. Gee-hee and Yuna, adorned in elegant noblewomen's attire, were prepared to command the guards' attention. And I trusted their acting with my whole soul.

My hands trembled and it'd be a lie if I say I wasn't nervous at all. My heart raced, I was sweating because of how scared I was. But trust was my only way to suppress the nervous tremor in my chest. Trust in myself, my plan and most importantly, my ladies.

These women had no obligation to follow me into this mission, yet they stood beside me, unwavering. The least I could do was trust myself for their sake. Stay calm. Stay positive.

I bit my lip, peeking through the door.

"Let's go."

Lady Choi nodded, pressing a white handkerchief into my palm, the sharp scent of chloroform lingering in the air. My hand cold as I looked at it.

But I had never done this before.

But when I was lost in a storm, Lady Choi clasped my hand. "Strength comes with the action, Your Highness. You can do this. We can do this"

I looked up at them, the two court maids nodded with determination flashing in their eyes.

We. Yes, we can do this.

I wasn't alone. I was with the people who had my back. These women, standing behind me with unwavering smiles, made the impossible feel just a little less daunting.

I inhaled deeply, willing my hands to steady. Then, I nodded.

With silent steps, Lady Choi and I crept into the yard. Ahead, Yuna and Gee-hee had already engaged the guards, their voices sweet and coaxing.

"Dear, look into my eyes" Yuna purred, her fingers tracing delicate circles on the guard's arm. "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Mine too!" Gee-hee pouted, trapping the other man in her gaze.

The men, lulled by their charms, leaned in—typical men.

Lady Choi and I seized the moment. Swiftly, we lunged from behind, pressing the chloroform-soaked cloths to their mouths. The guards struggled, their brute strength overwhelming.

"Hit them in the balls! Push them to the ground!" I shouted in panic, my heart thud harder.

Yuna and Gee-hee reacted instantly. A well-aimed knee, a forceful shove, and the men collapsed like felled trees.

We stood there for a moment, breathless. Then, as silence settled over the yard, I exhaled.

The hardest part was over. Now, it was time to finish what we came for.

"Your Highness, the carts are here!" one of the maids outside called urgently.

"Rock. Find a heavy rock!" I commanded, scanning the ground in panic. My eyes landed on a sizable stone near the garden path, and I lunged for it.

With a deep breath, I raised the rock and slammed it against the rusted lock. Once. The metal rattled but held firm.

Twice. A dent formed, but it didn't budge.

Thrice. A loud crack! echoed through the night, and the lock snapped open. The door creaked as I shoved it aside.

My breath came fast, but there was no time to celebrate. I turned and signaled everyone. "Now! Move quickly!"

The four cart drivers rushed inside, their footsteps swift but careful. The court maids followed, their silk robes whispering against the ground.

Inside, towering stacks of grain sacks filled the dimly lit storage room. Far more than I had expected. My suspicion had been right—this was stolen grain.

"Start loading them!" I ordered, stepping forward to help.

The drivers wasted no time, hoisting sacks onto their shoulders and carrying them toward the carts. The maids, though less accustomed to manual labor, worked with just as much urgency, pushing and rolling smaller bundles toward the entrance.

"Faster," I urged, my hands gripping the coarse fabric of a sack as I dragged it toward the exit. "We don't have much time!"

The night air was thick with tension, but the sound of sacks rustling, wheels creaking, and hurried breaths filled me with adrenaline.

Soon, one cart was full. Then another.

As the third cart filled, I made a quick decision.

"Leave for the palace," I instructed, my voice firm yet quiet. "Each cart with one maid. We can't risk getting caught with so much rice at once."

The maids nodded, their eyes filled with urgency and trust as they climbed onto the carts. One by one, the carts rolled away into the dark, disappearing down the empty alley.

Now, only Gee-hee, Court Lady Choi, one remaining cart driver, and I were left.

We moved fast, filling the final cart as quickly as we could. Yet, despite our efforts, too many sacks of rice were still left.

I gritted my teeth. We won't be able to take them all. But we've done enough, while I have written evidence too.

"Lady Choi, you should leave now," I said, dusting my hands and turning to her.

"Your Highness, not without you," she insisted, her voice firm with worry.

And then I heard it.

A rustling sound. From behind.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Lady Choi, listen to me," I whispered urgently, "we've worked too hard for this. We cannot risk getting caught now."

She opened her mouth to argue, but I grabbed her hands, squeezing them tight. "Go ahead," I pleaded. "I'll keep them here, distract them long enough so they don't suspect that any carts were here."

"No— "

"Lady Choi, please. For me." My eyes begged her to understand.

She hesitated for a heartbeat, then with a reluctant nod, she turned and hurried toward the cart.

I ran instead—straight back inside, shutting the yard door behind me just as the guards rushed in.

My pulse roared in my ears as I turned to face them. They saw me immediately. Their eyes darkened as they approached, gripping my arms tightly.

"Looks like we caught a little thief," one of them scoffed.

"Lord Jang isn't home yet. Let's lock her inside and bring her before him tomorrow," one suggested.

The other chuckled. "Seems fair enough." he nodded as he snatched my diary which was tugged on my hambok.

I jumped, "No. Not my diary!" I tried to break free and get it back but failed miserably.

The guards exchanged glances, amused. And laughed at my attempts as if I were childish. The one who took the diary slid it into his pocket and then they shoved me forward.

And before I could do anything they threw me into the dark storage room, slamming the door shut behind me.

A lock clicked into place.

I exhaled sharply, my heart pounding.

Oh, no. Not my diary. It had all the written evidence.

But I hope the carts have reached the palace safely. They had to or all of this would be useless.

As I sat back in the cold, dark storage room, a faint, muffled sound reached my ears.

Sobs.

I tensed, my heart pounding as I scanned the shadows. My gaze landed on a trembling figure crouched behind the sacks of garlic.

"Gee-hee!" I gasped, crawling toward her in alarm.

She flinched but didn't move, her small frame curled in on itself.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered urgently, grabbing her hands in mine, my thumbs gently caressing her cold skin. "You were supposed to leave with the others!"

Her wide, teary eyes met mine.

"Your Highness!" she wailed, her voice shaking. "How could I leave you behind? If I am to die, I will die with you!"

I stared at her in disbelief.

"Ugh...Why do all of you want to die?... Why would we even die?!" I groaned, exasperated but oddly touched.

Gee-hee tried to stop crying, sniffling as she wiped her face. "B-But what if we really die?" but she only broke into more tears.

I let out a sigh, pulling her into a warm embrace.

"Why would we die, huh?" I murmured, gently stroking her hair. "You've been so brave today... then how can you die without getting rewarded for your bravery?"

She sniffled against my shoulder, her body still trembling.

"What reward?" she mumbled.

I smiled faintly, trying to lighten her mood. "I'll personally make sure you get an entire week off. No duties, just rest and as many sweet buns as you can eat."

That earned a tiny chuckle from her, though she was still sniffling.

I held her tighter, both of us wrapped in the uncertainty of the night.

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A/n:- Next update would be by the end of April.

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