Thankfully, I caught Mi-Nyu trotting down the hallway. I stuck my head out the door and called out to her, begging her to bring me some clothes. She tried very hard to stifle her laughter, but I could tell my predicament brought her much entertainment.

After putting on some actual clothing, I began changing out the Queen’s bedsheets. Like yesterday, there were stains on the sheets. Unlike yesterday, the lingering smell was heavenly. 

I inhaled a few more times, letting out a shaky breath each time. I wanted to wrap the bedsheet around me. I wanted to live in this smell. 

I would have stayed like this forever if not for the head palace lady storming back into the room and screaming at me to get back to work.

And off to laundry duty I went. 

Once again, I cleaned out the Queen’s bedsheets, nightgown, and every dirty laundry the other servants threw at me. Like yesterday, I was prepared to spend an entire day on this. Unlike yesterday, the head palace lady told me to stop before midday.

“The Queen calls for you,” she grumbled. “For some reason, she wants you to meet the Marquis.”

My heart fluttered, and I broke into a wide grin that made the Sanggung scoff in annoyance.

“Just hurry up and go,” she snapped.

“Yes, Sanggung.”

I dumped my unwashed bucket of clothes to another maid before rushing off to the Queen’s study. I did not know much about the Marquis, but I remembered how the Queen had talked fondly about him. 

And whoever she liked, I liked.

I kept my body bent as I entered the study. Lowering my head to the floor, I greeted, “Your Majesty, my Queen. Your Highness.”

“Ah, is this the new maid you were telling me about, Your Majesty?”

The voice was much lower than any voice I heard on a regular basis. Low and rumbling, it had the timber of an adult man with a tinge of boyish lightheartedness.

“Yes, Oppa,” the more familiar—and much better—voice replied. “You may rise, Seul-Ki.”

I complied. 

The Queen was at her usual table, her hands placed modestly on top of her billowy dress. Two bowls sat in front of her—one empty, one half eaten. I gave myself a moment to take in the Queen, relishing her beauty, before I turned towards the other person.

The man was almost two heads taller than the Queen. He donned a plain but formal black robe, with his hair tucked inside a round, black hat. I could see his similarities to the Queen—his eyelids and nose were of the same shape. His jaw was squarer, however, and his eyes sparkled with spirit.

“So this is the maid who has been cheering my sister up.” He smiled at me, and I had to admit that his face was objectively handsome. In fact, he looked like the type of man Seul-Na would gush over. “I’m glad I get to meet you today.”

I was not sure what to reply, so I opted for a respectful dip of my head. “I am honored to be in your presence, Your Highness.”

“Please, there’s no need for that.” He laughed. His resemblance to the Queen increased tenfold, and my shoulders immediately relaxed. “We were chatting a bit about you, actually. The Queen mentioned you worked for the Kang family. Is that true?”

I tensed up again, my heart skipping a beat. I bowed—a lot lower this time. “Yes, Your Highness, but I- I have no more loyalties for them, I…”

“Ah, well, of course not. They’re all dead.”

My head jerked up. The expression on the Marquis’ face was as strange as his comment. He exchanged a knowing look with the Queen before turning back to me. 

“Did you know the late Second Young Master?” he asked.

I nodded. The Second Young Master of the Kang family had been rumored to be sickly. He had seemed healthy whenever I had seen him, but he had never left the house, or even his room, much. “Yes, Your Highness, but I did not really interact with my previous masters much.”

“I see. That explains why I do not remember seeing you around.” 

“Seeing me around, Your Highness?”

“Why yes.” A cloud passed over the Marquis’ eyes. “Second Young Master Kang was my very good friend.”

My hand flew to my mouth before I quickly bowed—once again. “I’m- I’m so sorry, Your Highness…”

“It’s alright…” He cleared his throat as he trailed off, his cheery smile returning by the time I lifted my body back up. “What happened to the Kang family is unfortunate, but we will not let that happen again.”

I frowned. What did he mean by that? Was he going to somehow stop people from ever rebelling again?

“How long will you be in Hanyang for, Oppa?” the Queen asked.

The Marquis seemed relieved with the topic change. “Tomorrow, Your Majesty. I will rest in an inn outside the palace for the night and leave early morning tomorrow.”

“Safe journeys, Oppa.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Why don’t you stay here for the night, Your Highness?” I blurted.

The siblings shared a look again before the Marquis chortled. “I’m not allowed to, Seul-Ki. The only man who can sleep overnight in the palace is the King.” He paused as if for a dramatic effect. “And the eunuchs.”

“Oh.” I felt my cheeks burning at the realization. I forgot all about the bizarre rules in the Royal Palace.

“Where will you be going next?” the Queen continued with her questions.

“Up north into the mainlands. There are a lot of farmers in Pyongyang that I would like to chat with.” He saw my quizzical look and added, “I travel around Joseon a lot. For… work.”

The idea intrigued me. I had never left any of the estates that which my masters had lived. “What do you do for work, Your Highness?” 

“Talking to civilians. Understanding the problems they face in life.”

“Is it fun to travel?” 

His smile widened. “So much fun.” Leaning towards me, he gave me a cheeky wink. “Would you like to travel, Seul-Ki?”

That had never crossed my mind before, but I knew I wanted to the moment I heard the Marquis mention it. 

“Yes, Your Highness.” I glanced at the Queen. Her posture was perfect, and her face was unreadable. “I’d- I’d like to…” 

I’d like to travel with the Queen. To get out of this place.

Together.

The Marquis let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, how I wish Joo-Hyun was half as adventurous as you are!” 

“I have a lot of responsibilities as the Queen now, Oppa,” she argued.

“Oh, come on. You never wanted to come along with my travels even before you became the Queen.”

The Queen pursed her lips in feigned anger, but she burst out giggling soon after. The two siblings shared yet another look as merry chuckles filled the cozy room.

My heart fluttered. This was the best conversation I had ever witnessed. The Queen was chatting and laughing so freely, and the Marquis was nothing but kind. I was so glad she had him in her life. I was so glad to see her this happy.

“I am so glad Joo-Hyun has you with her, Seul-Ki,” the Marquis said, mirroring my thoughts. His sincere eyes bored into me. They were as dark as the Queen’s, sending a quiver down my gut.

I looked at the Queen again before lowering my head.

“No, Your Highness,” I whispered, “I am the one who is glad to be with her. I am the luckiest maid alive, Your Highness.”