Jungwon exhaled a weary sigh as he stepped out of the grand manor, the faint scent of perfume and wine still lingering in the air. His latest client—a refined woman in her late fifties—had just finished introducing her three daughters to him. Each one was elegant, poised, and perfectly rehearsed in charm. Yet, as he observed them, not a flicker of interest stirred within him.

He stepped into the courtyard and reached for his cigarette, striking a match with a soft flick. Just as the flame touched the tip, a subtle movement caught his eye. Beyond the marble fountain, near the stables, was a girl—much younger than the three ladies he had just met. She was kneeling beside a horse, her soft laughter mingling with the gentle snorts of the animal.

Her skin was fair, almost glowing beneath the late afternoon sun, and her jet-black hair gleamed like polished silk. There was a quiet warmth in the way she spoke to the creature—as though she belonged more to nature than to the cold world of nobility around her.

Before he could call out, the older woman’s voice broke the moment. “Your Majesty,” she said sweetly, “have you decided which of my daughters will become your bride?”

Jungwon didn’t turn to face her. His gaze remained fixed on the girl by the stables. “Who is she?” he asked, tilting his chin subtly toward the young woman.

The lady’s smile faltered. Her eyes followed his line of sight and hardened. “She?” Her tone flattened. “She’s my niece. My late sister’s only child.”

There was venom beneath her words—resentment born from old wounds. “She works here as a maid. Pay her no mind, Your Majesty.”

But Jungwon’s mind was already made up. He took a slow drag from his cigarette, then flicked it to the ground, the ember hissing faintly against the gravel. “I’ve decided,” he said, his voice low yet certain. “Her. I want her.”