As it was still a cold region,

Only the sound of cold wind soaked the ears.

Jwa Woo and Hong Woo Geon silently stared at the lit main house. The servants who had gathered in the yard had long since returned to their quarters.

Only Goo the steward, the household manager, stood below the porch waiting for the master’s daily routine to end.

A considerable amount of time passed.

Finally, the closed door of the main house opened.

Lee Gyo Young and Yoo Chi Sung, who had gone in to drink tea with Master Jung, emerged. Unlike when they entered, the two left the mansion with Master Jung’s warm sendoff. Ha ha, ho ho, laughter continued until the front gate.

Goo the steward, who had sent Lee Gyo Young and Yoo Chi Sung out, locked the gate and turned around.

The expression of Master Jung, who had maintained a smile throughout, suddenly changed.

“I think I need to go there.”

“What? At this hour?”

“Something inexplicably unsettling won’t go away.”

Master Jung stared towards the gate where Lee Gyo Young and Yoo Chi Sung had disappeared.

Then he soon turned his feet.

As he moved, Goo the steward also followed behind Master Jung with quick steps.

“Now it begins.”

After Lee Gyo Young and Yoo Chi Sung disappeared.

Hong Woo Geon, who had been hiding in the grass all along, gently tapped Jwa Woo’s shoulder.

Had she dozed off for a moment? Jwa Woo opened her eyes with a start and followed Hong Woo Geon’s footsteps.

Master Jung, who was expected to return to the guest quarters, turned his steps towards the north backyard for some reason.

The fact that the secret royal inspector had visited his house at this hour raised a line of doubt in his mind.

Master Jung and Goo the steward didn’t forget to cover their noses and mouths before entering the granary.

A satisfied smile appeared on Hong Woo Geon’s lips as he watched from afar.

“I knew this would happen.”

“Pardon?”

“The real granary was over there.”

There were two pavilions where Hong Woo Geon was pointing. Come to think of it, they were pavilions that didn’t fit in the backyard.

“Let’s check it out directly.”

As Jwa Woo was about to move, Hong Woo Geon suddenly grabbed her.

“You wait here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you see? Those guys covered their faces before going in there. They must be doing something bad in there.”

“That’s why I should check too.”

“I’ll check. You keep watch here.”

“I didn’t come all this way just to keep watch, did I?”

Hong Woo Geon spoke sternly to the stubborn Jwa Woo.

“We’re a team.”

“Pardon?”

“Do you know what teammates do? When one goes to scout, the other watches their back until the scouting is safely completed.”

“……”

“So if anyone else comes here or if there’s any new variable, signal me.”

“I won’t make a cuckoo sound.”

“Use an owl then.”

“……Just be careful.”

“Don’t worry.”

“If you get hurt, I won’t let it go.”

“With your oath not to get hurt, how could I?”

“There was no such clause in the oath though.”

“Ah, I added it as an additional clause.”

“Hey! I never agreed to such a clause!”

“We’ll settle that later. For now……”

Hong Woo Geon pointed to the northern warehouse.

He took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and covered his mouth and nose like Master Jung had done, then headed towards the warehouse.

“Are you really going alone?”

“I have to go alone.”

If I take you with me, I’ll be too anxious to do anything.

Swallowing the words that had risen to his mouth, Hong Woo Geon darted towards a secluded spot of the northern warehouse.

Unlike his usual slow gait, his movements were incredibly nimble.

Nevertheless, Jwa Woo couldn’t hide her anxious look.

Please, let nothing happen……

All the windows of the granary in the northern backyard of the mansion had shutters drawn. Because of this, one couldn’t see inside.

Hong Woo Geon stood close to the wall.

He listened intently for any signs of life leaking from inside.

How much time had passed?

Hong Woo Geon frowned as if he couldn’t understand.

Time had already passed midnight.

Yet the sounds from the granary showed no signs of dying down.

What were they doing in the granary at this hour?

And what were those occasional roars of men and screams of children leaking out?

Curiosity and anxiety poured out like a flood.

That’s when it happened.

“Who’s there?”

Had Hong Woo Geon’s presence been detected?

Suddenly the granary door opened and someone appeared.

It was Dol Seok, who had been yelling at the children inside the warehouse.

He had been awake for several days and nights to meet the deadline set by Master Jung. His senses were on edge from lack of sleep.

Perhaps that’s why. He felt a small presence outside.

“Did I hear wrong?”

Dol Seok tilted his head. Then suddenly he became scared.

Could I be intoxicated too?

Even if he covered his nose and mouth, the vaporized smoke could penetrate the face covering.

Dol Seok’s expression hardened at the thought that he might have heard hallucinations, unknowingly intoxicated by the poison.

“Kaa, ptui!”

Dol Seok, who had come outside, spat out as much saliva as possible. He thought this might expel some of the smoke he had inhaled so far.

As Dol Seok was getting some fresh air outside, Master Jung and Goo the steward appeared before him.

As this was a rare occurrence, Dol Seok hurriedly bowed.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes. Nothing’s wrong.”

“No one’s been spying on this place?”

“If there were such a person, this Dol Seok would have crushed them long ago.”

Dol Seok struck a pose showing off his strength.

Just then, a thud was heard from inside.

“What’s that?”

Dol Seok turned towards the inside, bellowing.

The one who had been vomiting for days had finally lost consciousness and collapsed.

“That bastard’s slacking off again.”

Whack! Whack!

Dol Seok entered the warehouse and mercilessly whipped the unconscious child.

Yet the child didn’t move an inch.

“Is he dead?”

Muttering to himself, Dol Seok put his index finger under the child’s nose.

A faint breath was felt. Seems he’s not dead yet.

Dol Seok grabbed the fallen child’s legs and dragged him to a corner of the warehouse, throwing him down. It was because he was interfering with the work.

Master Jung and Goo the steward, who were watching the situation inside the warehouse from outside the door, nodded.

“Well then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Of course, of course. Master, just trust this Dol Seok.”

Thump thump, Dol Seok beat his chest, boasting.

Shortly after Master Jung left with a satisfied expression, Dol Seok locked the warehouse door from the inside.

Inside the closed warehouse, the making of grain to kill people resumed.

Not long after, Hong Woo Geon appeared in front of the closed warehouse door. The usual playfulness on his face was nowhere to be seen.

Hong Woo Geon glared at the warehouse with cold eyes.

Viscous anger flickered in Hong Woo Geon’s eyes.

He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

He wanted to go inside right away.

However, as mere secret royal inspector candidates, they had no arrest powers. He had expected this, but faced with the more miserable reality, he closed his eyes.

Forcibly suppressing the rising anger, Hong Woo Geon moved his feet.

Behind him, the screams of young children could be heard.

It was a night that felt as if the spirits of the dead were circling around Hong Woo Geon.

The dawn broke dimly.

Jwa Woo, who had tossed and turned all night, finally got up.

Hong Woo Geon and Lee Gyo Young were on either side of her.

Trying not to disturb the two’s deep sleep, Jwa Woo tiptoed outside.

As soon as she stepped out, Jwa Woo took a deep breath. The cold dawn wind seemed to dispel some of the hot energy that had built up in her chest.

But that was only for a moment.

As she breathed heavily again, the heat in her chest rose once more.

Her mind was in a tangle like tangled thread from the events of last night.

The kiss with Hong Woo Geon.

It had been a night of confusion and ecstasy.

Try as she might not to think about it, Hong Woo Geon’s face looking at her flashed in her mind.

His eyes as he breathed heavily after kissing her.

Every time she thought of him, a tingling sensation ran through her whole body.

Jwa Woo sat down on the cold porch of the guesthouse to drive away the tingling sensation enveloping her body.

“Do you need help?”

Lee Gyo Young, who had gotten up at some point, came out of the room and sat down next to her.

“Why are you up so early?”

“And you, Kwon candidate, didn’t you stay up all night.”

“……”

“Did something happen?”

“Does it seem that way?”

“It’s written on your forehead… ‘I have a lot of worries.'”

Jwa Woo covered her forehead with her hand.

Lee Gyo Young smiled slightly at her innocent gesture.

Jwa Woo, belatedly realizing, removed her hand from her forehead.

Glancing at her, Lee Gyo Young opened his mouth.

“I don’t know what it is, but sometimes it’s good to confide in someone.”

“……”

“If you don’t, you might end up living with a big ball of fire in your chest later on.”

Lee Gyo Young smiled sadly as he spoke of his own experience.

Jwa Woo stared at him blankly.

As Lee Gyo Young said, the things she had suppressed could become a huge fire and dominate her later.

But…….

“Couldn’t that ball of fire be a reason to live?”

One kiss with Hong Woo Geon could become a great memory for her life ahead.

But forget it for now.

When all this emotional turmoil passes, and in the distant future when thinking of him brings no emotion, make it a memory to look back on occasionally.

Having made her decision, Jwa Woo stood up.

“I’m going to look for something to do.”

“You said you’re looking for something to do?”

“When I have worries, it’s best to bury myself in work. Master Lee, do you have anything to do? Ah, you said you were going to look over documents, have you finished that? If you haven’t finished yet, I’ll help you.”

That’s when it happened.

The door burst open and Hong Woo Geon, who had just woken up, poked his head out.

“Leave the document reviewing to that bunch. You, have something to do with me.”

“What is it?”

Hong Woo Geon, who hadn’t even rubbed the sleep from his eyes, shouted.

“First, let’s brew some alcohol!”