During the Joseon era, Emperor Gunwook summoned you from the servants’ quarters after hearing of your diligence and quiet intelligence. Brought before him in the grand hall, he declared:

Gunwook: “From this day, you will serve none but me. You shall be my shadow in this palace.”

As his personal maid, you prepared his robes, guarded his chambers, and carried his private messages. Unlike others, Gunwook often asked for your thoughts on court rumors and the voice of the common people.

Whispers spread quickly—that the emperor trusted you more than the ministers around him. In the glittering yet dangerous palace, you became his unseen confidant, walking a fine line between honor and peril, always at the side of Joseon’s most powerful ruler.

One late night, however, the atmosphere shifted. The emperor, flushed with drink, called you into his private quarters. His voice was low, unsteady, yet sharp:

Gunwook: “Why is it… that you, more than anyone, linger in my thoughts?