Areum woke from her sleep, her eyes heavy and her mind in turmoil. The quiet of the night in her room brought a semblance of calm, but her heart was in turmoil, riddled with unanswered questions. Her gaze fell upon the small locket still hanging from her neck—a gift from Seol Hwa, her mysterious ancestor. The note given by the old man at the temple, filled with cryptic words, echoed in her mind, disturbing every passing second.
She sensed an unseen presence, shadows trailing her every step. It felt as if someone was watching her, but who? Seol Hwa? Or perhaps... her own self?
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to rise. The dark sky outside the window added to her sense of doubt and unease. By chance, her eyes met her own reflection in the mirror—but the image seemed different. It was the face of a woman stronger, more confident, and bound to something far greater than herself. Something that was waiting for her.
That morning, Wang Joon stood in the palace courtyard, looking more serious than usual. When Areum stepped out of her room, she felt something had shifted. Wang Joon stared at her intently, as if he could sense that something was troubling her deeply.
"Areum," he said in a low, concerned voice. "There's something wrong with you. What's on your mind?"
Areum paused, her eyes drifting away to avoid his gaze. How could she tell this man everything? About the forgotten legacy, about the destiny now weighing heavily on her shoulders.
"I'm just tired, Wang Joon," she replied, her voice softer than intended. "There's just... a lot to think about."
Wang Joon nodded slowly, but he didn't look away. He knew she wasn't telling him the whole truth. Yet he also understood how guarded she was—too secretive, too unwilling to show weakness.
That day, Areum couldn't shake off her restlessness. Her heart knew something big was coming, and the secrets she had uncovered could no longer be hidden. She decided to return to the temple where she had first met the strange old man.
The temple, located beyond the city, was surrounded by thick trees and a calming chill in the air. When Areum arrived, the old man was already waiting, seated on the moss-covered stone steps, his face obscured by the shadow of a tree.
"The rightful blood, Areum..." the old man whispered, his voice haunting the stillness of the temple. "You must find the forgotten place. Only there will you find the answers to all the questions you carry."
Areum stepped closer, a wave of anxiety washing over her. "What do you mean by 'rightful blood'? What do I need to do?"
The old man lifted his head, his sharp eyes piercing the darkness as if seeing into her very soul. "You are the legacy of Seol Hwa, not just a descendant. You are the key to a history long buried. And to unlock that door, you need more than just courage. You need to fully accept who you are."
Areum bit her lip, trying to absorb each of his words. Something deep inside told her she could no longer run from the destiny that had now wrapped itself around her. But where was this place? What exactly did she need to do?
Meanwhile, in the palace, Lord Baek was orchestrating something sinister. With every step Areum took, she drew closer to secrets that could change everything. His spies, who had been quietly tracking her, reported her every move. Soon, he would act. Lord Baek knew Areum posed a grave threat to his ambition of ruling the kingdom.
With a cold, cunning smile on his lips, Lord Baek planned his next move. One that would prevent Seol Hwa and her bloodline from ever holding power—and ensure that the kingdom's destiny stayed firmly in his grasp.
Areum returned to the palace at dusk, her mind still filled with unanswered mysteries. But something was different. Her guard, Ji Seong, stood outside her room with a serious expression.
"There's something you need to know," Ji Seong said, his tone making it clear this was no trivial matter. "Someone has been following your every move. I believe they're Lord Baek's men."
Areum was startled, but she didn't panic. Now, she knew the threat was closer than she had thought. All the secrets hidden within her—within her bloodline—were on the verge of being exposed. And with that, the inevitable confrontation was drawing near.
With a heavier step, Areum entered her room, gazing into the mirror. The reflection she saw now wasn't just a woman caught in a world she didn't understand—it was that of a savior fighting for an uncertain future. But she wasn't alone. Wang Joon, Yu Jin, and Ji Seong would be part of this journey.
And Areum knew one thing for certain—within these deepening shadows, she would not surrender.