The King's obsession

Chapter 4: The First Attempt

The moon hung high above Hanyun Palace, casting a pale silver glow across the tiled rooftops. Lanterns flickered along the stone corridors, their flames swaying gently in the cool night breeze. From a distance, the palace looked peaceful.

But beneath its elegant beauty...

Darkness was already moving.

Han Seo-yeon sat alone in her small chamber within the king's private residence. Although it was far more comfortable than the servants' quarters she had left behind, it still felt unfamiliar.

A folded silk blanket rested neatly on her wooden bed.

Fresh flowers had been placed beside the window.

Even her tea set was made of fine porcelain.

She sighed softly.

"Why would His Majesty show me such kindness?"

No matter how many times she asked herself that question, she found no answer.

She was only a palace maid.

Nothing more.

She carefully unfolded a worn piece of cloth she kept hidden beneath her pillow.

Inside was a small embroidered pouch made by her late father.

Running her fingers across the faded stitching, she smiled sadly.

"Father..."

"I hope Mother and Jun are well."

Her younger brother would be twelve by now.

She wondered if the money she earned had been enough to keep food on their table.

She missed them terribly.

But palace maids were rarely allowed to return home.

Leaving the palace without permission was considered treason.

Her family felt farther away than ever.

Across the palace...

King Lee Hyun stood alone on the balcony outside his chambers.

The night air cooled his face, yet his thoughts remained restless.

He had spent years mastering his emotions.

A king who ruled by feelings would destroy his kingdom.

That was what his tutors had taught him.

That was what his mother's death had proven.

Yet now...

Every time he closed his eyes...

He saw Seo-yeon's smile.

The way she frowned when she worried.

The gentleness in her voice.

He clenched the wooden railing.

"This is foolish."

He had met her only days ago.

Why could he not stop thinking about her?

A soft cough interrupted his thoughts.

Chief Eunuch Kang Do-jin approached quietly.

"Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

"It is late."

"You should rest."

Lee Hyun gave a faint nod.

Instead of entering his room...

His eyes drifted toward the servants' residence.

He had an inexplicable feeling that something was wrong.

Not far away...

Hidden beneath the shadows of a covered walkway...

A masked figure scaled the palace wall with practiced ease.

Dressed entirely in black, the intruder moved silently across the rooftops.

In one hand...

A narrow dagger gleamed beneath the moonlight.

The assassin had only one order.

Kill the palace maid.

Leave no witnesses.

The figure landed soundlessly outside Seo-yeon's chamber.

The paper door slid open...

Without a sound.

Inside...

Seo-yeon had just blown out her lantern.

She lay quietly beneath her blanket, listening to the wind rustling through the trees.

Then...

A faint creak.

Her eyes slowly opened.

Someone was inside.

She held her breath.

The room was almost completely dark.

A shadow moved toward her bed.

Every instinct screamed for her to run.

But fear rooted her to the spot.

The figure slowly raised a dagger.

Moonlight flashed across the blade.

Seo-yeon's heart nearly stopped.

Before she could scream—

A loud crash shattered the silence.

The paper door burst open.

Royal guards rushed inside.

The assassin spun around in surprise.

Steel clashed against steel.

The tiny room exploded into chaos.

"Protect the maid!"

The assassin fought desperately, knocking one guard aside before leaping through the window.

"After him!"

Several guards chased the fleeing figure into the night.

Seo-yeon remained frozen.

Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Only after the room fell silent did she realize how close she had come to death.

Moments later...

King Lee Hyun entered the chamber.

His robe was hastily thrown over his shoulders, his long hair untied.

It was the first time anyone had seen him appear so... unsettled.

His eyes immediately searched the room.

When he saw Seo-yeon sitting unharmed against the wall, relief washed over his face before he could hide it.

He crossed the room in only a few steps.

"Are you hurt?"

Seo-yeon looked at him in shock.

"N-No, Your Majesty."

He knelt before her.

His hands gently examined her arms, checking for injuries.

Only after confirming she was safe did he finally breathe.

"You are trembling."

"I..."

Her voice broke.

"I thought I was going to die."

For a long moment...

Neither of them spoke.

Then, without thinking, Lee Hyun pulled her into his embrace.

Seo-yeon's eyes widened.

His arms wrapped around her protectively.

"You are safe."

His voice was unusually soft.

"No one will harm you."

She could hear the steady beat of his heart.

Strong.

Warm.

Steady.

For reasons she could not explain...

The fear slowly faded.

Outside the broken doorway...

Several guards exchanged nervous glances.

None of them had ever witnessed the king embracing anyone.

Chief Eunuch Kang quietly dismissed the servants before more rumors could spread.

The next morning...

The palace buzzed with whispers.

"They say an assassin entered the royal residence."

"I heard His Majesty personally carried the maid to safety."

"No..."

"I heard he stayed outside her room until sunrise."

Every version of the story grew more unbelievable than the last.

By noon...

The rumors reached Queen Dowager Kim.

The elderly woman sat rigidly inside her audience hall.

Her sharp eyes narrowed.

"A palace maid?"

She set down her teacup.

"The king risked himself..."

"For a servant?"

An attendant bowed.

"So the palace says."

The Queen Dowager's expression hardened.

"Bring the girl to me."

Seo-yeon was escorted to the Queen Dowager's residence that afternoon.

Unlike the king's peaceful quarters, the older woman's residence felt cold and imposing.

Rows of elderly court ladies watched her every movement.

Seo-yeon entered the hall and knelt deeply.

"This servant greets Her Majesty."

The Queen Dowager studied her for several long moments.

"So."

"You are Han Seo-yeon."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You have caused quite a disturbance."

Seo-yeon lowered her head.

"I never intended to."

The older woman gave a dry laugh.

"No?"

"My grandson has ignored every noblewoman in this kingdom."

"He has rejected marriage proposals from the most powerful families."

"And now..."

She leaned forward.

"...he protects a palace maid."

The room became silent.

Seo-yeon's hands tightened inside her sleeves.

"I have done nothing to encourage His Majesty."

The Queen Dowager's gaze remained cold.

"I hope that is true."

"Because women who reach above their station rarely survive in this palace."

Those words chilled Seo-yeon more than the assassin's blade.

She bowed deeply.

"This servant understands."

That evening...

King Lee Hyun learned of Seo-yeon's meeting with the Queen Dowager.

His expression darkened.

Without hesitation, he left the council meeting halfway through.

The ministers stared after him in disbelief.

He walked directly to the royal residence where Seo-yeon quietly prepared evening tea.

She immediately knelt.

"Your Majesty."

He looked at her carefully.

"Did my grandmother threaten you?"

She hesitated.

"It was only advice."

His jaw tightened.

"You need not hide the truth from me."

Seo-yeon finally met his eyes.

"I am only afraid that because of me... Your Majesty will face conflict with your own family."

The room fell silent.

Lee Hyun took one slow step toward her.

Then another.

Until only a breath separated them.

"You worry about me..."

His voice was almost a whisper.

"...even after someone tried to kill you."

Seo-yeon lowered her gaze.

"I serve Your Majesty."

He shook his head slowly.

"No."

His eyes never left hers.

"You are no longer merely someone who serves me."

The words escaped before he could stop them.

Both of them froze.

Realizing what he had almost confessed, the king turned away and walked toward the window.

Outside, thunder rumbled in the distance.

The assassin had failed.

But somewhere within the palace walls, the person who had ordered the attack smiled calmly.

One failure meant nothing.

There would be another attempt.

And another.

Until Han Seo-yeon was dead.

Or until the king destroyed everyone who stood between him and the woman he could no longer bear to lose.

End of Chapter 4

Cliffhanger: A secret investigation reveals that the assassin carried the crest of one of the kingdom's most powerful noble families, while Lady Yoon receives a mysterious letter reading only: "The first attempt has failed. Shall we proceed with the second?"