The underground corridor fell silent once more after the brief skirmish that nearly claimed a life. The assassin sent by Lord Baek lay stiff on the damp floor, his blood soaking into the cold earth. Yu Jin was still shaken, her hands trembling as she watched Ji Seong calmly sheath his sword.
"We don't have time," Ji Seong said while lifting the weakening Do Kyung. "If they've sent one, the others won't be far behind."
Yu Jin nodded slowly and helped lead the way through a hidden passageway known only to a handful of palace guards. Along the route, the sound of dripping water and distant voices of night sentries urged them to move faster.
In the secret pavilion, Areum clutched tightly onto the bracelet on her wrist — the only item connecting her to her original world. But that night, more than just longing and fear haunted her thoughts. A strong premonition gripped her — something terrible was about to happen, and she wasn't ready.
A soft knock on the door. Yu Jin appeared, her face weary but composed.
"He's safe," Yu Jin said briefly.
Areum stood up immediately. "Where is Do Kyung?"
"In a safe place for now. But there's a problem... Do Kyung asked to speak to you directly."
A few hours later, Areum sat in front of Do Kyung in a hidden room behind the old palace kitchen. The man's face was bruised, but his eyes remained sharp.
"I know who the real traitor in the palace is," Do Kyung said softly. "But more importantly… I know who you truly are."
Areum fell silent. "What do you mean?"
Do Kyung stared at her for a long moment. "You think you're just a cook from the future, but your fate is far more than that. You... are the granddaughter of the woman who once changed the course of this kingdom's history — a woman lost to the records… and the only one who ever loved the king without craving power."
Areum froze. Suddenly, the faces in her dreams — the veiled woman in red, the gentle voice calling her name — felt all too real.
"And that's why Lord Baek wants you dead," Do Kyung continued. "He knows you can change everything."
In the eastern wing of the palace, Wang Joon stood before a map of the region. His face was calm, but his mind was in turmoil. News of the assassination attempt on Do Kyung had reached his ears faster than expected. He knew the game had begun — and Areum was at the center of it.
"Areum…" he whispered. "I swear, I'll protect you… even if I have to go against my own blood."