The woods were dark and quiet again. A thin fog had started to settle in, and the cold breeze made the trees sway gently.
Eun Sook was just about to mount her horse when her eyes caught something lying close to where Seo Jin had fallen.
She walked over to it carefully, still glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby. She bent down and picked it up.
It was Jin's notebook. The cover was made of brown leather, but it looked like it contained to information that was important. As she opened it, she saw that the pages had writing on them. But it was too dark to make out any of the words. She closed it and slipped it into her bag.
"I'll read it later," she muttered to herself.
She mounted her horse, adjusted her mask, and rode off into the night, leaving Seo Jin unconscious on the cold ground.
A few minutes later, Seo Jin stirred. His hand touched his neck where the dart had hit. He groaned softly as he sat up, blinking hard. Everything was quiet. The wind rustled through the leaves above him, but the figure he had seen earlier was gone.
He stood up slowly, holding his side. His body ached. He looked around but saw nothing—no horse, no woman, no sign of where she had gone.
"Damn it… she's gone...." he whispered.
Without wasting time, he picked up his sword and began walking back to Lord Baek's residence. He had to act quickly.
When he arrived, the fire had already been put out. The air still smelled like smoke and wet wood. The servants and guards were gathered near the study, some crying, others sitting on the floor in shock. The body of Lord Baek lay on a mat covered with a cloth.
Everyone looked up when they saw Jin.
He walked past them silently, straight to the body. His eyes were cold. His heart was still beating fast.
Then, to everyone's surprise, he did something no one would have expected.
He picked up a lantern sitting nearby, lifted it high, and smashed it right on top of Lord Baek's body.
The glass shattered, and the oil inside soaked the cloth.
Gasps filled the air.
No one said a word.
Everyone just stared at him.
"What… what are you doing, my Lord?" one of the guards asked, confused and scared.
Seo Jin turned to face them.
"You will all listen to me carefully," he said, his voice low and serious. "Lord Baek was not assassinated. This was an accident. A fire broke out in his study. He couldn't escape. That's how he died. Do you understand?"
The servants looked at one another, not sure what to say.
Seo Jin took a step closer. "If anyone says otherwise, you won't just be punished… you'll be investigated. And if they find out he was murdered… they'll blame all of you. You may be charged with murder. This is for your own benefit."
One of the older servants nodded slowly. "We understand, my Lord."
Seo Jin took a deep breath. "Good. Now go and do what needs to be done. Wait till his body is burned so no one can spot the cut in his neck. Prepare for his funeral. Call his family. Tell them it was a fire. Nothing more."
As they all got to work, Seo Jin turned away and left the residence, his thoughts were heavy. He had just buried the truth to protect the investigation. But deep down, he knew… he was getting closer.
...
At the edge of the woods near the Jang residence, Eun Sook arrived at the her training ground.
Na Mu was already waiting for her. As soon as he saw her, he walked up quickly.
"Did everything go as planned?" he asked, taking the reins of the horse.
Eun Sook said nothing. She handed him the sword and dismounted. Her face looked tired.
Na Mu handed her a soft black robe. "Put this on. It'll help you blend in before you enter through the back gate."
She nodded and wore the robe over her black clothes. Then, with slow steps, she walked toward the back gate and entered into the Jang residence quietly.
Inside her chambers, a lamp was already lit.
She opened the door and stepped in, only to see Lord Jang standing in the middle of the room.
He was holding a letter. The red wax seal had been broken.
Eun Sook stopped in her tracks.
Her heart jumped.
Lord Jang turned to her slowly. His face was calm.
"So," he said, with a small smile, "that's why you attended the banquet yesterday. To make Madam Han give you information on Lord Baek."
Eun Sook stayed quiet for a moment. Then she walked in and closed the door behind her.
"You told me to do whatever it takes to finish any mission you give," she said. "And that's what I've been doing."
Lord Jang didn't speak.
"I know you don't trust me," she continued. "You always think I'm hiding something. But I'm not. I have no reason to disobey you. Can you trust me without always suspecting me?"
She stepped closer, her voice calm but firm. "I may not do things the way you expect… but what's important is I always get the job done."
Lord Jang let out a long breath. Then, to her surprise, he smiled—genuinely this time.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "For what I did yesterday."
He walked toward her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You're getting thinner. You haven't been eating or sleeping well," he added. "Please make sure you do. I need you strong."
Eun Sook simply nodded.
He left the room quietly.
Moments later, Na Bi came in carrying a clean hanbok for Eun Sook to change into. "Let me help you, my lady. You need a bath."
She led Eun Sook to bathhouse where a hot medicinal bath was already prepared. As she helped her undress, she noticed the small bruises on her shoulder and back.
"My lady…" Na Bi whispered with worry. "You're hurt again."
"I'm fine," Eun Sook replied softly.
While Na Bi helped her into the water, Maidservant Shin came in the Eun Sook's chamber with a tray of hot food—soup, steamed vegetables, and rice and kept it on her table. She then went to the bathhouse to tell Eun Sook her dinner was ready.
"Lord Jang said to make sure you eat," she said, I have kept the food on your table. "You need strength."
Eun Sook didn't say anything.
She sat in the water, her eyes fixed on nothing.
The steam rose around her, but her face didn't soften.
She looked cold. Sad. Empty.
She stayed there for a while, lost in her thoughts.
Later, she dried off, wore her night robe, and sat down to eat. She didn't eat much—just enough to quiet her stomach.
Then she went to bed.
As she lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, the small notebook she took from Seo Jin sat quietly inside her drawer… waiting to be opened.