It was already late in the morning. The Magistrate Office was full of activity. Officers moved around, sorting out reports and checking through documents. Yet, Seo Jin still sat quietly at his desk, barely noticing any of it.
He stared at the small dart in front of him like it held all the answers he had been looking for. His notebook was gone. He had searched everywhere. He even went back to the woods to search for it, but it was nowhere to be found. His eyes were tired, and his body felt weak from staying up all night, but his mind refused to rest. The dart. The strange woman. The sweet smell. The confusion in his chest wouldn't go away.
As he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his forehead, a palace guard suddenly walked in. The room fell quiet as the man stepped forward and handed a scroll to Seo Jin. The royal seal was pressed onto it.
"You have been summoned to the palace," the guard said.
Seo Jin stood up, quietly tucked the dart away, and without saying a word to anyone, he followed the guard out.
---
Meanwhile, Jang Eun Sook was walking out of Hwa-ryeong Jeong alongside Na Bi and Na Mu. Her mind had not stopped spinning since she heard everything about Seo Jin's background.
He was not an ordinary man.
"Let's make a stop," she said.
"Where to, my lady?" Na Bi asked.
"To Cheongjeonghan Inn… Madam Jung said she had something more to tell me about Seo Jin. I want to hear it."
Na Bi gave a small nod and followed. She didn't ask further questions. She could tell her mistress was restless.
---
Back at the palace, Jin was led through a wide hallway and into the King TaeGwang's private court.
King TaeGwang sat alone, no other officials around. When he saw Jin enter, he waved his hand and asked him to come closer.
Seo Jin bowed deeply.
"I've heard the news," the King said. "About Lord Baek's sudden death. Quite an unfortunate end for a man who had served this long."
Seo Jin raised his head slightly. "Yes, Your Majesty. But I must confess something. Lord Baek's death was not… ordinary."
King TaeGwang tilted his head with interest.
"There was a fire in his study," Jin continued. "I broke through the door myself and found him. His neck had been cut… He had been killed before the flames reached him. But I chose to cover it up."
King TaeGwang's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I had to say it was an accident. I was trying to prevent panic. I didn't want the people to believe there's an assassin moving around freely in the capital."
King TaeGwang was quiet for a while.
"You made a bold choice, Seo Jin."
"I'll accept whatever punishment you think is fit."
Instead, King TaeGwang stood up.
"What punishment?" He said. "You did what you thought was right. I trust your judgment."
Seo Jin blinked in surprise.
"And because of that, I want you to take over as Head Magistrate. The office needs someone sharp. Someone who doesn't just follow rules but knows how to act when things fall apart."
Seo Jin bowed again, lower this time. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Keep your eyes open. I trust you'll get to the bottom of all this."
---
As Seo Jin walked out of the palace, his face wasn't filled with joy. He had just received a big promotion, one that most people would celebrate, but he felt heavy. He didn't want this title, not like this… not over the body of a dead man.
He was still deep in thought when he heard a familiar voice.
"Head Magistrate now, are we?"
He turned and saw Wang Yul standing under a tree nearby, arms crossed, a small smile on his lips.
"I heard what happened," Yul said, stepping forward. "Congratulations, Jin."
Jin didn't reply. He just sighed.
"You don't look happy about it," Yul said.
"I'm not," Jin finally muttered. "Lord Baek's death... I can't stop thinking about it."
Yul studied his face.
"You know what?" he said after a while. "Let me take you out. Just for a drink. You look like you could use one."
Jin gave a weak nod. "Yeah… maybe."
---
Not far from there, Eun Sook and Na Bi arrived at Cheongjeonghan Inn. The place wasn't busy yet—only a few maids moving around and some early visitors having food.
They were led to Madam Jung's room upstairs.
Madam Jung greeted her with a smile. "I was expecting you," she said. "Come in."
Eun Sook sat down quietly. She didn't waste time.
"I need to ask you something first," she said. "Did Hye Jin leave?"
Madam Jung poured her tea. "Yes. She left not long after you asked me to help her. She's safe now. She's in Mongolia."
Eun Sook gave a small nod, her gaze dropping to her lap. "Good. She was stubborn the first time I told her to leave. I just wanted to be sure she finally went."
Madam Jung smiled faintly. "She did. I'll be leaving Goryeo soon myself. I plan to take her daughter along so they can reunite."
Eun Sook didn't respond. She picked up her teacup slowly, holding it with both hands to keep herself still.
"You said you had more to tell me," she said, avoiding Madam Jung's gaze.
"I do." Madam Jung's tone changed.
"As you know, Seo Jin is the only son of the late Lord Seo. HE joined the office when he was barely twenty. He's the reason some very old cases were reopened and solved. I heard he doesn't sleep much… and doesn't stop until he gets what he's looking for."
Eun Sook's lips tightened. She didn't like what she was hearing.
"He doesn't stop?"
"No," Madam Jung replied. "He's quiet, calm… but once something catches his attention, he won't rest until it's done. That's the kind of man he is."
Eun Sook stared into her teacup. Her fingers were stiff around it. Her other hand went back to her lips and she bit her nails again, even harder. Her heart was racing.
Madam Jung leaned forward.
"I'll be honest with you, girl. That man… you should stay away from him. Better yet, get rid of him."
Eun Sook raised her head slowly.
"What do you mean?"
Madam Jung's voice dropped. "If you let him get too close, he'll ruin you. That's the kind of man he is. Either kill him or-... " Madam Jung bent and whispered into Eun Sook's ears. "There's no in-between with men like him."
Eun Sook sat frozen for a moment, her mind racing. She stood up without saying much.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Madam Jung gave a small nod.
As they walked out through the corridor, Eun Sook was still chewing on her fingernail. Na Bi and Na Mu followed silently behind her. Just then, they turned a corner and bumped into two men.
It was Seo Jin and Wang Yul.
Wang Yul's eyes lit up when he saw her.
"Eun Sook—"
She walked right past them without a word, her eyes cold and blank. It was as if he hadn't spoken at all.
Yul turned in confusion, watching her leave. "Eun Sook!" he called again.
She didn't stop.
He reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.
Her eyes finally met his, and her voice came out sharp and cold.
"You are really despicable, aren't you? How hard is it to stop bothering me."
Yul let go of her arm slowly. His face fell, but he didn't say another word. He just watched her walk away.
---
The drinks meant to celebrate Seo Jin's promotion ended up being quiet. Wang Yul sat across from him, drinking one cup after another.
He didn't speak much. Just kept drinking. His mood dropped further the more he drank.
Jin noticed.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Yul shook his head and downed another cup. He kept drinking until he almost passed out.
"Is there anyone out there," Jin called for a servant . "Take him back to his residence."
Yul was too drunk to protest. He leaned against the servant's shoulder and staggered out.
Jin stood there for a moment before turning and heading back to the Magistrate Office.
---
At At the Jang Residence, Eun Sook stood in her training ground, her sword resting by her side. She hadn't touched it. Her eyes stared blankly at the walls as her thoughts kept circling Madam Jung's words.
Na Bi and Na Mu stood nearby, looking worried.
Eun Sook's fingers trembled as she rubbed them together. She hadn't been this confused in years.
"Kill him—quickly, while you can," Madam Jung had said.
But that wasn't all she said.
The part she didn't speak aloud in front of the others still echoed louder in Eun Sook's mind.
"Or seduce him. Make him fall for you. A man in love is blind—and easy to use. If you can't kill him… make him yours and twist him to your will."
Eun Sook didn't know which choice was worse. Killing an innocent person or making someone fall in love with her and using their emotions against them.
A part of her wanted to run away.
Another part… was already deciding.
---
Back at the Magistrate Office, Seo Jin sat alone again. He had taken the dart out of his drawer. It lay on his table. Something pulled at him.
He leaned closer and brought it to his nose.
A faint smell still lingered.
It was sweet… strong, like a perfume. Something sharper.
He blinked.
"So the scent...it wasn't perfume...it was poison!"