Min Ah swallowed her tears as she recalled the sight of Min Seo she had seen a few days ago during the day.

Her heart still ached when she thought of that child.

When he heard the news that Min Seo was coming, Yoon Tae Soo rushed to the front of Unyeon Palace as soon as he entered the palace.

He just waited aimlessly, not knowing when she would arrive.

How much time had passed?

The sound of hooves was heard and a palanquin stopped in front of Unyeon Palace along with a horse.

A man who got off the horse helped Min Seo’s hand as she got out of the palanquin.

Min Seo, who got out of the palanquin holding the man’s hand, blushed and slowly looked around.

She had lost a lot of weight in the time they hadn’t seen each other, and her face was also dark.

Min Seo kept hiding behind the man, seemingly anxious about the unfamiliar place.

“There’s nothing to worry about now. This is where you’ll be staying for the time being.”

“Um… Will you also be staying here, sir?”

“I practically live here. But why do you ask?”

“I, I was just asking.”

A moment later, the door of Unyeon Palace opened and the two disappeared inside.

Min Ah, who had been watching the scene while hiding, sat down on the ground right there.

She wanted to hug Min Seo just once, but she didn’t have the courage to step forward.

She didn’t want that child to be hurt because of her tainted self.

It was enough to have seen her face.

“Min Seo. Forget about this elder sister and live happily. Forget all the painful and lonely memories and live so happily that you cry tears of joy.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. An overwhelming sense of sorrow came over her, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.

She got up from her seat as if she had made up her mind and started walking home.

Late at night, when Yoon Tae Soo returned from the palace, he hastily threw off his official robes as soon as he entered the room.

His hat was already off and rolling on the floor.

He abruptly embraced her and untied the strings of her jacket.

It was always like this.

He took her as he pleased and didn’t care about her pain at all.

If he was even slightly displeased, his hand would fly mercilessly, and if she didn’t do as he wished, he would beat her.

Every day was hell for her. A living hell she couldn’t escape from even if she wanted to.

“My lord, please wait a moment.”

“I’m in a hurry. If you’re trying to play tricks again, I won’t let you off easily.”

Yoon Tae Soo’s face contorted as his hand holding the strings of her jacket moved urgently.

Min Ah calmly and nonchalantly grabbed his hand.

“The night is long. I’ve been waiting all this time because I wanted to have a drink with you tonight, my lord.”

“Ho ho, it seems you’ve come to your senses after being beaten so much yesterday.”

“Upon reflection, I realized your words were correct, my lord. Even if I became a noblewoman again, where could I go with this defiled body? If you allow me, I will serve you for the rest of my life.”

“That’s right. What man would accept your defiled body? Even your sister wouldn’t like it, would she? If you don’t want to be treated like dirty filth, just stay by my side.”

Yoon Tae Soo, in a much better mood, let go of her and sat down.

Min Ah’s fingertips trembled slightly as she tied the loosened strings of her jacket.

She sat down in front of him, pretending to be calm.

“Tonight, I will give you an unforgettable night, my lord.”

Before she could finish speaking, the door opened and a tray of alcohol was brought in.

Yoon Tae Soo had loosened the front of his jacket and was half-lying, half-sitting against the headboard.

He looked no different from a common ruffian.

His gaze, which swept over her entire body, was snake-like, making her skin crawl.

His eyes were already unfocused, even though he wasn’t drunk.

“So you’ve become a noblewoman now, no longer a slave? In that spirit, please make me happy tonight with a joyful heart.”

“On such a happy day, we can’t forget the alcohol. That’s why I prepared it.”

Min Ah deliberately acted coy to restrain the hurrying Yoon Tae Soo.

Yoon Tae Soo, who had pulled her arm, grabbed her nape with his other hand.

“Indeed, blood doesn’t lie. Even you, who used to throw such tantrums, have ended up just like your mother. A woman who can’t live a day without a man.”

“…”

“You probably think your mother took her own life after being violated by Kang Chi Sung. No, your mother didn’t just submit, she untied her own clothes. You’ve inherited her vulgarity in seducing her dead husband’s friend. In fact, you like men just like your mother, don’t you?”

Min Ah clenched her fists so hard that her nails dug into her palms.

Her tightly clenched fists and eyelashes trembled, but she gritted her molars to avoid showing her emotions.

“Seeing how you crawl into my arms even after being treated like that by Kang Chi Sung, you’re not ordinary either. I don’t like that you’re someone else’s used and discarded object, but it’s quite enjoyable in its own way to embrace a noblewoman who has become a slave.”

“My lord, may I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

Min Ah took the opportunity when Yoon Tae Soo stepped back to break free from his embrace. Then she asked a meaningless question.

“Have you ever felt sorry for me even once? Or have you ever been sincere even once?”

Yoon Tae Soo, who had been staring at her while raising his upper body, suddenly started laughing out loud.

“Is there a man in this world who would hold a woman who has played around with other men in his heart? You’re just a trash can to satisfy my lust. Stop talking nonsense and pour me some alcohol.”

She hadn’t asked with any expectation, but she had wanted to hear him say he was sincerely sorry just once. If he had, her heart might have changed.

The maid who brought in the alcohol tray quickly lowered her head when she saw her master with his chest exposed.

Yoon Tae Soo, who wouldn’t miss such a sight, stroked the maid’s buttocks as she stood up after setting down the alcohol tray.

“How old did you say you were this year?”

“Six…sixteen.”

The frightened maid’s voice trembled. Yoon Tae Soo’s gaze slowly moved and stopped at the maid’s chest.

“You’ve grown up.”

“My lord. She’s still a child.”

Min Ah gently pulled back the maid who was on the verge of tears and didn’t know what to do.

“Child? She’s just the right age. Alright, you can go now for today. And, don’t give your body to any man, keep it safe.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off the maid as she was leaving and said one more thing.

He showed a vile smile as he watched the maid rush out with a pale face.

Yoon Tae Soo emptied his cup repeatedly as if his throat was parched, then roughly set it down.

“I shouldn’t have sent that wench to the Grand Prince. She’s been useless since birth.”

“Has something happened, my lord?”

“The Left State Councillor’s attitude towards me has changed. Why wouldn’t it? He probably doesn’t like that I have the Grand Prince as a son-in-law.”

“I thought there were marriage talks with the Left State Councillor’s son. Did it not work out?”

“That wench Eun Seol threw ashes on the almost cooked rice.”

Yoon Tae Soo picked up his cup again and held out the empty cup.

Min Ah’s fingertips trembled as she poured the alcohol, but fortunately, Yoon Tae Soo didn’t notice.

“If it weren’t for the Queen Dowager’s request, I would have just left her to die. She takes after her mother and keeps blocking my path until the end.”

“She’s your daughter, my lord. Won’t she be of help to you someday?”

“You like daughters, don’t you? I never felt affection for her from the beginning. I even doubt if she’s really my blood. Who knows if her mother slept with another man.”

He frowned deeply and emptied his cup.

Yoon Tae Soo’s eyes looked lecherous as his face turned red from the alcohol.

“The night is deep. Undress and come here.”

“Have one more drink, and give me one too. I want to get drunk tonight as well.”

“Alright. Let’s get drunk together and have a wild night.”

He repeatedly emptied the cups she poured, shaking his head as if trying to clear his foggy mind.

“Why is my body like this? I feel dizzy and weak. I must have overdone it for the past few days… Getting drunk so quickly…”

Yoon Tae Soo’s hand shook violently as he held out his cup. At the same time, the cup fell and rolled on the floor.

His face contorted in pain as he clutched his chest.

Min Ah, who had been watching this scene, roughly pushed away Yoon Tae Soo’s hand and moved the table back. Then she went to Yoon Tae Soo’s side as he was suffering.

“Are you in pain? It seems the effect of the medicine is starting to show.”

Her voice was chillingly cold.

Yoon Tae Soo, who was breathing heavily, tried to grab her, but his body went limp and he collapsed on the floor.

“You, you wench… What did you… What did you feed me?”

“If you want to go to the other world without pain, wait quietly. Your body will slowly become paralyzed now.”

“You, you wench!”

Yoon Tae Soo’s hand tried to grab her once more, but it fell limply before it could reach her.

“If you struggle like that, the paralysis will spread faster. You should also feel the pain of your whole body being paralyzed and your internal organs burning up.”

“…!”

“Don’t feel wronged. Is your sense of injustice comparable to my parents’? Is your resentment and bitterness comparable to mine!”

Min Ah mercilessly pushed Yoon Tae Soo’s body to the floor.

A groan of pain echoed in the room.

“You, you wench…!”

A shrill voice echoed in the room, but Yoon Tae Soo, with poison already spread through his body, couldn’t move at all.

He could only glare at her with wide eyes.

Min Ah laid his fallen body straight and tightly tied the strings of his jacket.

Even during this time, Yoon Tae Soo’s body didn’t move.

He cried out in pain, glaring at her with eyes full of anger.

“Low and… di, dirty wench. I, I won’t… let you… get away with this!”

“Don’t worry. I will follow soon. Even if I fall into the fiery hell after death, I must take you with me. That way, our Min Seo and Lady Madam can live in peace, don’t you think?”

Yoon Tae Soo, who had been writhing in pain, coughed and vomited blood.

His eyes could be seen gradually becoming cloudy.

Sensing it was the end, Min Ah whispered softly into his ear.

“Kang Chi Sung has been stripped of his official position. You’re next, my lord. If that happens, Lady Madam will suffer, so what can we do? You’ll have to take your own life. Think of it as performing your last duty as a father.”

“Ugh, you… you wench!”

Yoon Tae Soo glared at her, struggling until the end.

Unable to move his body properly, he twisted his lips and gritted his teeth.

“Do you know why I wanted to do this for so long but held back? Because I wanted to confirm our Min Seo’s safety. If you hadn’t brought up Min Seo, I wouldn’t have killed you so miserably. Don’t feel wronged and go to hell now.”

“Ugh… you wench.”

“People will think that you and I committed suicide together. Isn’t it a clean ending?”

Yoon Tae Soo’s angry struggles subsided and his breathing stopped.

His wide-open eyes were still glaring at her.

Min Ah closed his eyes with her hand and pulled the table she had pushed away back in front.

She stood up and bowed in the direction of Unyeon Palace.

“I’m sorry to leave without repaying your kindness, my lady. Please be happy. And although it’s shameless of me, please take care of our Min Seo. I will not forget this kindness even after death.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks incessantly. This is really the end now. She just wanted to rest.

Min Ah drank the remaining alcohol in the bottle in one go. There was a burning pain in her throat, but it was bearable.

Compared to the pain she had endured so far, this was nothing.

After drinking all the remaining alcohol, Min Ah staggered to Yoon Tae Soo’s side.

A faint smile spread across her lips as she lay down neatly.