In the pale stillness of early dawn, when even the palace shadows lay undisturbed, Kim Jin stood alone in the yard, cloaked in the cold breath of morning. His eyes remained fixed on the gate, scanning the dim horizon with quiet urgency.
The appointed hour had long passed.
Still, Jade had not come.
'He's never late,' Kim Jin thought, anxiety stirring like coals in his chest. 'Not once in eleven years.'
Lately, something about Jade had changed—and Kim Jin had felt it. Missions that had once been swift and precise now dragged. Messages arrived with delays. His eyes, once sharp with purpose, now wavered with hesitation.
He's been acting strange, Kim Jin admitted to himself, his brows drawing close.
For over a decade, the two had operated as silent pillars of a secret cause—Jade, the spy within the palace of Hana, smuggling out information; Kim Jin, the loyal courier delivering intelligence to the Kingdom of Ash and bringing back orders in return.
Crossing into Ash himself would've meant certain death for Jade. The risk was far too great. So Kim Jin became the middleman, a shadow between two nations.
Their partnership had been flawless. Efficient. Unquestioning.
But now...
Kim Jin's thoughts returned to the boy Jade had once been—an orphan, just a child, wandering the streets alone after losing his parents to Hana's injustice. Kim Jin, himself the disgraced heir of a noble house stripped of honor, had seen something in that child—fury, strength, and the makings of a warrior.
He had taken him in, raised him not only with care, but with purpose.
When the time came, Kim Jin made the only choice that seemed wise: to send Jade away from a kingdom that had no place for him. He sent the boy to Ash.
And Ash had embraced him.
Jade's martial skill quickly earned him renown. His knowledge of Hana's culture, his fluency in its customs, made him invaluable to Ash—who had long prepared for the day they would strike.
They sent him back, not as a soldier, but as a shadow.
A spy.
Kim Jin had welcomed it. He offered himself as Jade's contact within Hana, eager to serve Ash and redeem his forgotten legacy. For his service, he gained the trust of Ash's king—and wealth, quiet and accumulating, far from the eyes of his own disgraced countrymen.
Through Jade, Kim Jin found purpose. Recognition. Power, even, if only from the shadows.
And he dreamed. He dreamed that one day, when Ash finally brought Hana to its knees, Jade would be a key to that victory—and Kim Jin, the man who had raised him, would be rewarded with rank, influence, and restoration.
But now, all of that felt uncertain.
He glanced again toward the gate.
Still no sign of Jade.
Several more hours passed in the silence of a dying night, and still… no footsteps, no shadow, no word.
Kim Jin's chest tightened.
'This has never happened before.'
His breath fogged in the morning air. The world remained quiet.
'What on earth is going on with Jade?'
Early morning sunlight filtered gently through the palace gardens, casting a golden hue over dew-kissed petals. After a light breakfast under the canopy of cherry trees, Princess Genie made her way swiftly toward the Noble Women's Society meeting, held in the grand hall nestled deep within the inner court.
She wore a soft pink hanbok—delicate and elegant, befitting her royal title. Her heart, however, fluttered with nerves beneath the layers of silk.
'Just be graceful. Polite. Make a good impression,' Genie reminded herself. 'This is your first official appearance among the court ladies. First impressions matter.'
Lady Han, walking calmly beside her, offered reassurance in her even voice. "Don't worry, Your Highness. You'll do well."
Genie glanced back with a grateful smile. "Thank you. Do I look nervous?"
From behind, Lady Han's attendant, Park, gave a soft chuckle. "You're usually so relaxed, Your Highness. But today... yes, you seem a bit more composed than usual. Almost too composed."
Genie slowed her steps, drawing in a breath and exhaling as if to shake off her nerves. "It's silly, really. Why am I nervous around a few noblewomen?"
Lady Han's face turned serious. "It isn't silly, Your Highness. They may be smiling in your presence, but if displeased, they can be ruthless behind your back."
Genie let out a light laugh, nodding in agreement. "I was joking, of course. I do understand the importance of this meeting. Still… I'll leave the rest in God's hands. I'm not good at pretending to be someone I'm not."
Just then, they reached the entrance to the noble hall. Behind the ornately carved doors, the high-pitched laughter and chattering of noblewomen could be heard echoing.
"Here we go," Genie said with a confident smile, placing her hand on the doors.
As she pushed them open, sunlight streamed in alongside her. The sudden brightness filled the room and silenced the gathered noblewomen, who turned at once to look.
A brief, awkward silence hung in the air.
Fifteen noblewomen stared at her—not with reverence, but with sly, curious smiles. Among them sat Lady Lee Jan, wife of Ju Tak from the Ministry of Administration. Her gaze was particularly cutting, her smile tinged with arrogance.
"Hello, Your Highness."
"Welcome, Your Highness."
The greetings were formal—but no one stood.
Lady Han's eyes narrowed. Why aren't they rising to greet her properly? she thought, a chill settling in her chest.
"Please show your respect to Her Highness, the Princess of Hana," Lady Han said firmly, her voice resonating with quiet authority.
Reluctantly, the noblewomen exchanged glances and stood, their movements stiff and begrudging.
Genie's smile wavered slightly. She could feel it—this wasn't a warm welcome. Something was off. Cold.
Lee Jan was the first to speak again, her voice sweetly poisoned. "It's our first time meeting you, Your Highness. Welcome back to the palace."
With a strained smile, Genie made her way to the central seat prepared for her—the highest position at the table, reserved only for royalty.
She glanced around at the women seated before her, sensing instantly that Lee Jan held sway over the rest. Her energy made it clear: she was the unofficial leader of this society.
"Well, it's lovely to see you all," Genie said, masking her discomfort with a casual smile. "I had meant to visit sooner after my return to Hana, but I've been busy with court training and administrative briefings. As a Princess, I must take responsibility for the palace's operations."
Her words, though polite, carried weight—and Lee Jan noticed. The corner of her lips curled upward in a sly smirk.
'She's trying to imply she'll take control,' Lee Jan thought. 'Perhaps she even sees herself as the next ruler? Hah. Unbelievable.'
Genie caught the look and met her eyes. Something clicked in her memory.
'It's her… The woman from all those years ago—the one who kissed Jade… The one who was said to be engaged to him.'
Maintaining her composure, Genie asked politely, "Would you all kindly introduce yourselves?"
Lee Jan stood first, her voice velvet over ice. "Forgive the delay, Your Highness. I am the wife of Ju Tak, Minister of Administration."
"A pleasure," Genie replied coolly.
The rest followed in turn, introducing themselves with rehearsed grace.
When the introductions concluded, Genie gave a poised nod. "I've heard of the many duties you manage—organizing court feasts, overseeing the palace ladies, ensuring decorum in events. Valuable contributions."
Lee Jan gave a saccharine smile. "Yes, indeed. That is the purpose of our society, after all."
Genie inclined her head, her voice even. "And for that, I thank you. But..."
The room shifted.
"In my review of the palace's administrative structure, I found that the oversight of court ladies falls, by tradition and protocol, under the authority of the senior court ladies. Such as Lady Han."
Lady Han bowed her head with humility.
Faces around the table began to tighten.
"And more than that," Genie continued, "Hana's history has always placed the welfare of its people above palace indulgences. Feasts and grand events were never meant to be frequent spectacles—they were sacred, reserved for honoring heaven or mourning the nation. Funds for excessive celebrations should be redirected to serve our citizens."
Tension thickened. Discomfort flickered in the women's eyes.
"So," Genie said, her tone calm but resolute, "now that I've returned—not as the twelve-year-old girl I once was, but as a grown woman prepared to fulfill my role—I intend to manage palace events going forward. With your cooperation, of course. May I count on your support?"
The women exchanged uneasy glances. Murmurs passed between them like a hidden current.
Lee Jan's lips thinned before she replied, smiling falsely. "Your Highness, I can see you've studied diligently since your return. But planning and managing these affairs is more complicated than it seems. We already have an established system. I respectfully ask that you allow us to continue in our role… and instead focus on your duties as Princess."
A few of the noblewomen smirked, emboldened by Lee Jan's words.
Lady Han and Park both stiffened at the veiled dismissal.
But Genie did not flinch. Her gaze remained steady.
"This is my duty," she said. "And I must fulfill it—until the day I step into an even greater role."
The room fell still.
Eyes widened. Throats cleared.
Lee Jan's smile faltered ever so slightly.
Genie, unbothered, looked around the room once more, her voice ringing with quiet conviction.
"Until that day, I will lead. And I trust you will all do your part."
Her words settled like a stone into still waters, sending ripples through the chamber.
The meeting had only just begun—but the lines had already been drawn.