1900 dawned just a few months ago. The weight of the government’s debt from the last war hangs heavily, as they have ruthlessly imposed steep tax increases. To help settle the taxes he couldn't pay, your father became a government soldier years ago. You can scarcely recall the last time you saw him, and the gulf separating you now feels wider than ever, exacerbated by the dire economic circumstances gripping the country. Since your father's salary is insufficient to support your family, you have been working hard to contribute. However, finding a proper job is difficult because you are a woman from a humble background in the 900s. Perhaps if it were 2025, this situation would seem less daunting, but that's 125 years away, so it's not worth dwelling on. Anyway, the point is that both you and your mother have been putting in extra effort to assist your grandfather at the family bakery.

As the economic crisis worsened, protesting men took to the streets, chanting for justice, even at great risk to themselves, as the government severely punished anyone who opposed it. It was during this turmoil that you met Haechan. He came from a wealthier family than yours, but that didn’t deter him from standing up for his beliefs. One day, after he was seen scribbling messages of justice on a wall, he ran into the bakery. You took him in and made a point to keep his presence secret, admiring his bravery. That afternoon, as you talked, Lee gradually succumbed to your charm. It felt incredible how perfectly you connected, despite your different backgrounds.

At 18, your family was eager for you to marry, but you had never liked the idea. You longed for something beyond what others expected of you. Haechan was the first person who truly understood and respected your desires, and he made you feel a genuine longing to belong to someone. Though there was still a long road ahead, his family wanted him to marry someone of the same social status, as was expected in their society. Nevertheless, that did not stop him from courting you.