Tae carefully wiped Yeoul’s forehead and said,

“Someone precious to me had fallen in the water before.”

The Kang Sung Dae Gun Lee Tae that Yeoul knew was an arrogant person who lived in his own world of self-importance.

Yeoul was surprised to learn that Tae had someone precious to him.

Yeoul sat up.

“Did you save that person?”

“They died.”

The conversation grew heavy, and Yeoul closed her mouth, not knowing what to say.

As Tae brought the handkerchief to the basin, he continued,

“Sometimes. When I see water, I think of that child who died.”

Tae’s voice was dry as usual.

As he was wringing out the handkerchief with his head turned, it was difficult to see his face.

So Yeoul couldn’t tell what emotion Tae was feeling.

It was difficult to ask for details or offer clumsy condolences.

“Everything depends on how you think about it. The moment I think I’m in pain, that pain becomes mine.”

Tae wrung out the wet handkerchief.

“Instead of suffering, I chose to become a stronger person.”

The sound of water dripping into the basin could be heard.

“Now, even when I see water, I’m no longer in agony. I think about how I can become strong enough to protect my people. How I can break down the opponent.”

Tae turned his body to look at Yeoul.

His dark eyes seemed unusually deep today.

“Why don’t you also try turning your fear into something else? Fear can sometimes become a powerful weapon, you know.”

“…I think it’s still difficult for me to grasp.”

Yeoul gave an awkward smile.

She couldn’t shake it off like Tae, but she knew he was a solid person.

Perhaps that was why Tae felt so reassuring.

“Anyway, since you’ve survived death, isn’t this like living a bonus life?”

“I had never thought of it that way….”

“You’ve been given a second chance at life.”

Yeoul pondered deeply.

Having survived death, Yeoul didn’t know what her previous life was like.

Her current life was as bland as black and white.

But thinking of it as a bonus life, it wasn’t a loss.

Even if not for that, Yeoul’s world had changed once more after meeting Tae.

As Tae said, perhaps a second chance had come to Yeoul’s life.

Tae brought the moderately warm handkerchief to Yeoul’s forehead.

And he gently wiped Yeoul’s forehead.

The clumsy yet gentle touch made Yeoul feel a warmth spreading from a corner of her heart.

A smile escaped Yeoul’s lips.

“Why are you smiling?”

“I think you really are a kind person.”

Yeoul looked at Tae.

Tae, who had always been difficult, scary, and uncomfortable, now felt like an ordinary person.

No, he felt warmer and more comfortable than ordinary people.

“I told you I’m not that kind of person.”

“At least to me right now, you are.”

Tae stopped wiping Yeoul’s forehead.

Then he looked at Yeoul.

There it was again. That feeling of a stinging yet ticklish sensation somewhere near the heart.

Seeing Yeoul smiling at him prettily, Tae felt strange.

Her smile was so innocent it was almost foolish, but he didn’t entirely dislike it.

At the same time, curiosity stirred in Tae’s depths.

The vulgar curiosity to touch this woman.

First, her smiling eyes.

Next, her flushed cheeks.

And then….

Tae quietly gazed at Yeoul.

Under his gaze, the smile in Yeoul’s nicely curved eyes gradually faded.

Her transparently brown eyes grew wider and began to tremble slightly.

“Ah…!”

Yeoul hastily turned her head away.

Without showing her face, she changed the subject.

“Wh-what happened to Lady Chae Rin? We were supposed to have tea together….”

The wet handkerchief moved away from Yeoul’s forehead.

The peony scent emanating from Tae also grew slightly fainter.

“I sent her back.”

“Even though you invited her. You could have gone to have tea at least.”

Yeoul had to change the subject like this, or else her face might burst.

It was all because of Kang Sung Dae Gun Lee Tae.

Why did he have to look at people that way? Making them feel strange.

Yeoul’s face still felt hot.

What was even more embarrassing was feeling Tae’s gaze on her even as she lowered her head.

“You fainted and you expect me to go have tea? Do I seem that heartless to you?”

“But because of me, your appointment was ruined….”

“Enough. Even if I went, I would have only seen things I didn’t want to see anyway.”

“Things you didn’t want to see?”

Yeoul raised her head.

Her reddened face had returned to its original complexion.

“For what reason would Shim Chae Rin, who is entering the selection, ask to have tea?”

“To make a good impression on you?”

“And? Why did you invite her?”

“…To keep an eye on her?”

“Right.”

Tae nodded.

“If it’s a woman who is close to me, especially one entering the selection, she will try to keep an even closer eye. Just as Shim Ga is your rival, to the Shim Ga women, you are the rival.”

“I thought if I had tea with Lady Shim, I could learn something. Knowing yourself and your enemy leads to victory in every battle.”

“At times like this, you’re quite bold.”

Tae laughed softly.

Yeoul thought his laughter sounded nice.

“Now is the time to be careful. If the Shim family makes you their enemy, you will have to stake your life.”

Yeoul gulped.

It seemed the opponent she had to face was rougher and stronger than she had anticipated.

But she had jumped into this fight with resolve.

Yeoul had to make it to the final selection no matter what to keep her promise with Tae.

“From the moment you enter the first selection, all the ladies in the selection are your enemies. Especially be wary of the Shim family.”

“I will.”

“It’s important to stand out just enough without being too conspicuous, or else you’ll be seen as a threat. Just quietly endure until the final selection.”

Yeoul nodded with determined eyes.

Tae was very worried about this innocent woman who didn’t know the ways of the world.

It was like watching a child left by the riverside.

But from now on, it was entirely up to Yeoul.

Tae had no choice but to trust and leave everything to Yeoul.

***

On the day of the selection.

Yeoul tied her hair in a ponytail and wore a plain face without makeup. She put on a yellow jeogori with three hoejang and a crimson skirt.

She arrived at the palace, the assembly point, in a palanquin.

Yeoul was dazed by the grandeur of the palace she was seeing for the first time.

Ladies in the same attire began to gather at the assembly point one by one.

The reality of participating in the selection was finally starting to sink in.

“I had a feeling. We meet again here.”

“Lady Shim.”

Before she knew it, Chae Rin had approached Yeoul.

The yellow jeogori and crimson skirt she wore had a finer quality than the clothes the other ladies wore.

“It’s nice to see you again, Lady Han. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine now. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused when you kindly invited me.”

“It’s alright. Health is the most important, isn’t it?”

A casual conversation passed between them.

Then, Chae Rin casually brought up a topic.

“I saw you entering with His Highness the other day. You must be quite close with him?”

Yeoul recalled what Tae had said.

― If it’s a woman who is close to me, especially one entering the selection, she will try to keep an even closer eye. (italics)

― From the moment you enter the selection, all the ladies in the selection are your enemies. Especially be wary of the Shim family. (italics)

Chae Rin was likely keeping an eye on Yeoul.

Yeoul thought there would be nothing good about revealing her relationship with Tae here.

“No. That was the first time I had met him too.”

“Really?”

Chae Rin’s eyes narrowed.

“Really.”

At Yeoul’s answer, Chae Rin’s eyes curved gently again.

“It would be better if that’s true. It would be to your benefit as well.”

“What do you mean?”

Yeoul stiffened her face at the warning that wasn’t quite a warning.

“It means I’m being nosy.”

Chae Rin’s face held a smile and her tone was kind.

But Chae Rin’s meaning didn’t feel entirely kind.

At that moment, an elderly court lady appeared.

“I will escort the ladies to the selection site. Please follow me, everyone.”

The conversation between Yeoul and Chae Rin had to end here.

Yeoul moved to the selection site with the other ladies, following the court lady.

The selection site was a pavilion located within the palace.

The ladies lined up and ascended the pavilion. At the end of the floor, a long white ramie cloth hung down.

Through the translucent cloth, silhouettes of people could be seen.

They were likely the palace court ladies and officials.

Due to the translucency of the cloth, the people’s appearances weren’t clearly visible, but the palace’s prestige and dignity were clearly conveyed.

As the ladies found their places and stood on the floor, the head court lady Choi who had led them opened her mouth.

“Bow and pay your respects.”

The ladies participating in the selection began to bow, stating their family names.

“Kim Dan Bi.”

“Kim Dan Bi, isn’t she the daughter of Chief State Councilor Kim Ju Chan and the aunt of the Crown Princess?”

A dignified voice of an elderly woman was heard from behind the ramie cloth.

There weren’t many court ladies who could address the nation’s highest official, the Chief State Councilor, informally.

The owner of the voice was undoubtedly the Queen Dowager.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“The Chief State Councilor is known for his generosity toward the people. Having been raised watching a virtuous father, much can be expected of your future.”

“I am honored, Your Highness.”

Next, Chae Rin bowed.

“Shim Chae Rin.”

Hui Ran spoke from behind the cloth.

“I’ve heard much about Lady Shim. I hear you spare no effort in following your father’s teachings to practice filial piety and cultivate the virtues of a lady.”

Although not visible through the cloth, Hui Ran’s voice was very elegant.

Soft yet dignified.

If there was a set voice for the Queen, Yeoul thought Hui Ran’s voice would be perfect.

“Can we expect to see much from you in the selection as well?”

“I will meet your expectations, Your Highness.”

Chae Rin was from the same family as Hui Ran and a lady Hui Ran had her eye on.

So they naturally exchanged pleasant words.

Introductions of ladies from prominent families continued, and finally it was Yeoul’s turn.

Yeoul bowed, took a deep breath to calm her trembling throat, and parted her lips.

“Han Yeoul.”

“Han Yeoul? Are you referring to the adopted daughter of Han Young Gam, the Second Minister of Rites?”

It was the Queen Dowager’s voice.

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“I hear Madam Jeong brought you in without knowing your origins?”

The Queen Dowager’s voice had a sharp edge to it.

Yeoul suddenly felt a sense of unease.

As sweat gathered on Yeoul’s clenched palms,

the Queen Dowager shouted,

“How dare you! What insolent thoughts brought you into the palace when you don’t even know what blood flows through you?”