The King's obsession

Chapter 3: The King Who Could Not Look Away

The morning mist drifted lazily over the lotus pond surrounding the king's private residence. Dew clung to the green leaves, and the first rays of sunlight painted the palace roofs in shades of gold.

For Han Seo-yeon, however, there was no beauty to admire.

She had not slept.

The events of the previous day replayed in her mind over and over again.

The stranger she had rescued...

The man she had scolded...

The man whose fever she had treated with her own hands...

Was the king.

Every time she remembered speaking to him so casually, her stomach twisted with dread.

"Han Seo-yeon."

A gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.

She turned to see the Chief Eunuch, Kang Do-jin, standing in the doorway. Though he was one of the oldest officials in the palace, his sharp eyes missed nothing.

"Follow me."

Seo-yeon immediately bowed.

"Yes, Chief Eunuch."

As they walked through the quiet halls of the royal residence, Do-jin spoke in a calm but serious tone.

"You have entered a place where one careless word can cost your life."

Seo-yeon listened carefully.

"His Majesty values discipline. He rises before dawn, trains with the royal guards before breakfast, reviews government reports until noon, and spends the evening studying military strategies."

She nodded.

"I understand."

He stopped walking and turned to face her.

"No."

"You do not."

His expression grew solemn.

"Many believe the greatest danger in this palace is the king's anger."

"It isn't."

Seo-yeon frowned slightly.

"The greatest danger," he continued, "is becoming someone the king notices."

Those words settled heavily in her heart.

Before she could ask what he meant, the Chief Eunuch slid open a wooden door.

"This is His Majesty's study."

Shelves filled with ancient scrolls stretched from floor to ceiling. Maps of neighboring kingdoms covered one wall, while a large desk stood before an open window overlooking the royal gardens.

Everything was perfectly arranged.

Almost unnaturally so.

"Your duties begin here."

"You will prepare ink, organize documents, serve tea, and ensure no one enters without permission."

Seo-yeon bowed deeply.

"I will do my best."

Do-jin studied her face for a moment before quietly leaving.

Meanwhile, inside the throne hall...

King Lee Hyun sat through another council meeting.

Ministers argued over taxes, harvests, and military supplies.

Normally, the king noticed every detail.

Today...

He didn't hear half of what they were saying.

Instead, his thoughts drifted back to the palace maid.

The memory of her gently placing a cool cloth on his forehead.

The way she had frowned when she scolded him.

The kindness in her eyes.

He had spent years surrounded by people who wanted something from him.

Power.

Titles.

Gold.

Influence.

Seo-yeon had wanted nothing.

That frightened him more than any assassin.

"My King?"

Lord Kang Min-jae's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lee Hyun blinked.

"Repeat what you said."

The ministers exchanged surprised glances.

The king almost never lost focus.

Lord Kang bowed.

"The grain reserves in the southern provinces..."

Lee Hyun answered automatically, but his gaze wandered toward the palace gardens visible through the open windows.

He wondered what Seo-yeon was doing at that very moment.

Back at the royal residence...

Seo-yeon carefully arranged scrolls according to the labels left by the Chief Eunuch.

Every item had its proper place.

Every brush faced the same direction.

Every inkstone was polished until it reflected the light.

She had almost finished when footsteps echoed outside.

She quickly stepped aside and lowered her head.

King Lee Hyun entered the study.

Unlike yesterday's royal audience, he wore a simple dark-blue robe embroidered only with a silver dragon on the sleeves.

Without his ceremonial crown, he looked younger.

Less intimidating.

Still...

His presence filled the room.

Seo-yeon knelt.

"This servant greets Your Majesty."

He looked at her for several long seconds.

"You did not sleep."

Her eyes widened.

"H-How did Your Majesty know?"

"There are shadows beneath your eyes."

She instinctively touched her face.

"I..."

"You feared punishment."

She lowered her head.

"Yes."

Lee Hyun walked past her and sat behind his desk.

"You may rise."

She obeyed.

For several minutes, silence filled the room as he reviewed official reports.

Seo-yeon quietly prepared fresh ink.

She moved so carefully that not a single brush made a sound.

When the king reached for his teacup, he frowned.

"It is cold."

Seo-yeon's heart skipped.

"I apologize, Your Majesty."

She hurried to replace it with freshly brewed lotus tea.

As she poured, her sleeve accidentally brushed the edge of the table.

A porcelain cup slipped.

Time seemed to slow.

The cup fell toward the floor.

Before it could shatter, a strong hand caught it.

Seo-yeon looked up in surprise.

The king had caught the cup effortlessly.

Instead of anger...

He simply handed it back to her.

"Be careful."

Relief flooded her face.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

From outside the partially opened door, two palace maids secretly watched.

"Did you see that?"

"Another servant once spilled tea on His Majesty's robe."

"What happened?"

"He ordered twenty lashes."

The second maid swallowed nervously.

"But he smiled at Han Seo-yeon."

"This isn't normal."

Their whispers spread through the palace before noon.

By afternoon, the rumors had reached Lady Yoon Hwa.

She sat gracefully inside her luxurious residence while attendants brushed her long black hair.

"A smile?"

One maid nodded.

"Yes, my lady."

Lady Yoon slowly placed her jade hairpin onto the table.

"The king smiled..."

"...at a servant?"

The room became silent.

After a long pause, Lady Yoon laughed softly.

The sound was beautiful.

Yet every servant in the room shivered.

"Bring me everything you know about Han Seo-yeon."

"Where she came from."

"Who her family is."

"Who she speaks to."

"I want every detail."

The maid bowed deeply.

"At once, my lady."

As soon as she left, Lady Yoon's smile disappeared.

"No palace maid will steal what belongs to me."

Elsewhere in the palace...

Lord Kang Min-jae stood alone beneath a covered walkway, watching the royal residence from a distance.

One of his spies approached quietly.

"My lord."

"The king has assigned the maid to his private residence."

Lord Kang narrowed his eyes.

"So the rumors are true."

"The king has become interested."

The spy hesitated.

"Should we remove her?"

Lord Kang smiled coldly.

"No."

"Not yet."

"If the king is emotionally attached..."

"She may become far more useful alive than dead."

That evening, after the king had finished his work, Seo-yeon was arranging the books in the study when she noticed one scroll lying open.

It was a painting.

A portrait of a graceful woman wearing royal robes.

Her expression was gentle.

Kind.

Without realizing it, Seo-yeon whispered,

"She was beautiful."

A voice answered from behind her.

"She was my mother."

Seo-yeon turned in shock.

The king stood quietly in the doorway.

His expression had changed.

The warmth she had begun to see in him disappeared, replaced by deep sorrow.

"I..."

She immediately bowed.

"I apologize."

Lee Hyun walked toward the portrait.

"She was murdered."

Seo-yeon's breath caught.

"When I was twelve."

The room fell silent.

"No one was punished."

"No one confessed."

"I watched her die..."

"...and learned that a king who trusts too easily loses everything."

For the first time, Seo-yeon saw not a feared ruler...

But a lonely man carrying years of grief.

Without thinking, she spoke softly.

"Your Majesty..."

He looked at her.

"I believe..."

"...Her Majesty would be proud of the king you became."

The words struck him like an arrow.

No minister had ever comforted him.

No noble had ever spoken of his mother with such sincerity.

For several moments, neither of them moved.

Outside, the evening breeze stirred the lanterns hanging from the eaves.

Lee Hyun realized something that unsettled him.

He had begun looking for Seo-yeon the moment he woke each morning.

The palace no longer felt complete unless she was nearby.

He told himself it was gratitude.

Nothing more.

But deep inside...

A dangerous seed had already taken root.

And with every passing day...

It would grow into an obsession powerful enough to shake the entire kingdom.

End of Chapter 3

Cliffhanger: That night, a shadow slips into Seo-yeon's quarters with a hidden dagger, while the king—unable to sleep—feels an unexplainable urge to check on her, unaware that someone has already decided the palace maid must die.