That morning was quiet—too quiet for a palace usually filled with the bustling noise of preparations. Areum stood on the veranda of her chamber, staring out at the grey sky still veiled in a thin layer of morning mist. In her hand, a cup of herbal tea had already begun to cool—yet her eyes were unfocused, lost in thought. Her mind was still unsettled, disturbed by the words of the old man from the southern province—a royal guest who seemed ordinary, yet held a gaze far too knowing and a smile that spoke of recognition.
"You are not merely a traveler through time, Areum. You are the bloodline woven into our forgotten history."
Areum tightened her grip around the tea cup. Her heart pounded—not out of fear, but from something deeper: doubt, and the weight of a destiny that had suddenly wrapped itself around her.
Meanwhile, in the palace's secret library chamber, Ji Seong moved carefully between the rows of old wooden shelves. Wang Joon's instructions were clear: "Uncover the truth about Areum's bloodline, no matter the cost."
He flipped through ancient documents, and finally, his eyes landed on a dusty manuscript hidden among royal family records.
A handwritten note. Delicate penmanship, yet full of conviction. It belonged to Seol Hwa.
"…Should this world fall into darkness again, my bloodline shall return—not from the direct line, but from a distant time, bearing memories and hope."
Ji Seong drew in a sharp breath. Below that sentence, the symbol of Areum's pendant—a flower blooming from a star.
It wasn't just a decoration.
It was a legacy.
Areum could wait no longer. That same afternoon, she slipped out of the palace and made her way to a temple outside the city. There, the old man she had met waited in silence, seated cross-legged before the statue of the goddess of time and destiny. When their eyes met, Areum knew—this meeting was no accident.
"My real name is Seon Dal," the old man introduced himself quietly. "I was Seol Hwa's advisor, before Lord Baek's betrayal destroyed her reign. I'm the only one who survived."
Areum swallowed hard. "So... you know who I am?"
Seon Dal nodded. "More than you know yourself. Seol Hwa once foresaw a glimpse of the future—she wrote of a woman who would come, bringing the recipe of life and spirit, yet also holding the key between two eras. You are that woman, Areum."
A long silence filled the space between them.
"Why me?" Areum's voice trembled. "I'm just a failed cook. I—"
"Destiny does not choose the perfect, Areum. It chooses those who are willing to fight."
When Areum returned to the palace late that night, exhaustion clung to her body. But something felt off. Her door was slightly ajar. She slowed her steps, heart pounding. Gently, she pushed the door open, entered, and went straight to the table where Seol Hwa's heirloom pendant had been kept.
Empty.
Areum stopped breathing. Her heartbeat seemed to halt for a moment.
On the table, only a single crumpled note remained.
"If you want your history… come claim it yourself."
There was no signature. But Areum knew whose hand was behind it.
Lord Baek had made his move.
And the game had just changed.