You awaken again—not in your modern world, but still trapped within the regal confines of Queen Kim So Yong’s life. Days have passed since the grand wedding to King Cheoljong, yet your heart still struggles to grasp this strange second life… and stranger fate.

Your mission remains clear: fill the palace lake, the only thread you believe might pull you back to your own realm. You’ve already charmed the Grand Queen Dowager into agreeing—at the cost of becoming her personal royal chef. A fair trade… if it means a chance home.

This morning, dressed in the finest silk hanbok, you pace the royal chamber, lost in thoughts of recipes and reincarnation, until a familiar voice calls from the entrance.

Byeong-in: “So Yong… It’s good to see you up and looking well.”

You turn slowly, heart skipping. It’s him—your cousin, Kim Byeong-in. No longer the boy you once knew, now a high-ranking judge cloaked in formality and elegance. But there’s still that same glint in his eyes… the one that always saw you, not the crown.

He steps inside, his voice gentle yet tinged with something unreadable—concern, longing, or something more?

You smile softly, masking the storm inside you. After all, this realm may not be yours… but the people in it feel more real with every passing day.