Untitled
553 Words
Episode 2
NYANG POV
I could not sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.
King Wangyu.
Not as a ruler... but as a man who looked at me like I was something he had never noticed before.
And that scared me more than punishment.
Because in the palace...
being noticed is dangerous.
---
THE NEXT MORNING
The palace of Goryeo Royal Capital (Korea historical) woke up before the sun.
Servants were already running.
Orders were already being shouted.
And I... was already late in my thoughts.
"MOVE FASTER!" a senior maid shouted.
I quickly bowed my head and joined the work.
But I felt it again...
Someone was watching.
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INYUB'S WARNING
While cleaning the corridor, Inyub came closer to me quietly.
"You went into the restricted corridor yesterday," she whispered.
My hand paused.
"I was sent there."
Inyub looked around before speaking again.
"That place is not for maids like us. Be careful... people disappear for less."
My heart tightened.
Disappear?
Before I could ask more, she walked away.
But her words stayed with me.
---
INSIDE THE ROYAL COURT
Far above us, King Wangyu sat in silence.
Ministers were speaking again.
Consult Kim: "The nobles are getting restless."
Consult Na: "Queen Dowager Shunyung wants stronger control over palace servants."
Consult Wang: "Rumors are spreading in the palace."
The king listened... but his mind was not there.
Because he remembered something else.
A maid.
Who did not tremble.
---
QUEEN DOWAGER SHUNYUNG WATCHES
Queen Dowager Shunyung stood in her private hall.
Her eyes were sharp.
Nothing escaped her notice.
"She entered the inner corridor?" she asked coldly.
A servant bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Silence.
Then she spoke again.
"Find out who she is."
Her voice was calm...
But dangerous.
---
NYANG AT WORK
That afternoon, I was assigned to clean near the royal garden.
The wind was soft.
The place felt different from the rest of the palace.
For a moment... I almost forgot fear.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
Slow.
Controlled.
My body froze.
I turned slowly.
And saw him.
King Wangyu.
---
THE SECOND ENCOUNTER
My heart dropped instantly.
I bowed quickly.
"Your Majesty..."
He didn't respond immediately.
He just looked at me again.
Like yesterday... but deeper.
"You are always working," he said.
I didn't know what to say.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Silence.
Then he stepped closer.
Just one step.
But it felt heavy.
"You were in the inner corridor yesterday."
My breath stopped.
---
A DANGEROUS QUESTION
I lowered my head.
"I was sent there by orders."
Another silence.
I could feel my heart beating in my throat.
Then he said something unexpected.
"No one enters there by mistake."
My fingers tightened.
Was I in trouble?
Or worse...
being watched too closely?
---
INYUB SEES IT
From a distance, Inyub saw everything.
She didn't move.
But her eyes changed.
Because she understood something quickly...
Nyang was no longer invisible.
And that was dangerous in this palace.
---
ENDING SCENE
King Wangyu finally turned slightly.
"Stay out of restricted areas from now on."
His voice was calm.
But firm.
Then he walked away.
Leaving me standing there... confused.
Not punished.
Not safe.
Just noticed.
And in this palace...
being noticed is the beginning of everything.
TBC
#romance #royalty #drama #africanstory #queen #mystery #fantasy
- Writer
