Chunhee and Dohyun later walked through the courtyard together.

She familiarized him with the surroundings: the large backyard visible from the Princess's windows, the hot springs that were almost always empty, and the breathtaking flower lake, adorned with white and pink water lilies that floated gracefully beneath the sun. Finally, she showed him the drill grounds where swords were practiced daily.

Every corner of the palace felt enchantingly beautiful.

He was to live here now. The thought alone made his lips curve into a bright smile.

"You look happy to be here," Chunhee said gently, smiling at him.

"Of course!" Dohyun replied without hesitation. "Compared to the Prince's quarters, this place is really beautiful. It's quiet, too." His smile widened, the dimple on his cheek deepening. "The drill grounds are especially big. Since not many people practice there, I'll have more space to myself."

"Haha, that's true," Chunhee chuckled. "I hope you get along with Lady Haerin as well."

At that, Dohyun's smile slowly began to fade.

Noticing this, Chunhee continued, "Lady Haerin may seem hateful now, but it's because she loves the Princess dearly. She has served Her Highness for almost seven years; it's only natural. She knows things about the Princess that not many people do."

She lowered her voice further.

"And… she has sworn to dedicate her life to Her Highness. To never marry, and to remain a virgin for that sake."

"What…?"

Dohyun was stunned.

Why would someone go to such lengths for another person?

Then again, he wasn't in a position to judge. Hadn't he thought, just moments ago, about building a temple for the Princess? Perhaps Hwa Miye was simply that kind of person, someone people couldn't help but devote themselves to.

"Haha, now you see why she reacted that way," Chunhee said softly. "Don't worry. Once you prove yourself worthy, she will learn to trust you. Just give it time."

Chunhee was kind, genuinely so. She tried her best to comfort Dohyun, and she was the first person to show respect for his father's legacy. Truly, he owed her for this kindness.

"I promise you," he said firmly, "I won't let you down."

Chunhee smiled and nodded in response. ....

A week had passed since then.

The Flower Palace appeared quiet on the surface, yet within its walls, it thrummed with life. Preparations for the Prince's birthday were in full motion. Servants moved tirelessly through the corridors, their arms filled with bouquets of exquisite flowers arranged with painstaking care. Seamstresses worked day and night, stitching new garments for the Princess using lavish, rare fabrics reserved only for royal occasions. Every detail was inspected twice, sometimes thrice.

And above all else, a new royal guard was being trained, one meant to stand beside Hwa Miye herself.

Within that same week, Hwa Miye had stripped Shin Haerin of her duties.

It was not a light rebuke. He dismissed her outright as punishment, refusing to see her thereafter. He had even instructed the servants to keep her out of sight entirely. For Shin Haerin, not being allowed to see the Princess was torture enough. To make matters worse, Hwa Miye extended the punishment; her duties were suspended for an entire month.

That meant only one thing: She would not be allowed to accompany the Flower Princess to the Royal Prince's Birthday Banquet.

That realization alone was enough to crush her.

Each passing day deepened her regret, until it sat heavy in her chest like a stone she could neither swallow nor spit out.

On the other side, after going through a devastating event of losing a family member, Myeong-ok was recruited as a servant woman and sent to be handled by other servant ladies who taught her the basics of the flower palace.

Meanwhile, Dohyun had been receiving lessons from Sung Chunhee.

She taught him about the Princess's daily routines, the important events that required Hwa Miye's presence, and the occasions where her protection was absolute and non-negotiable.

"I'll just follow wherever she goes," Dohyun had thought at first.

Why bother memorizing so many details? Why waste time on unnecessary lessons?

Originally, these instructions were meant to be given by Shin Haerin. However, the woman, too proud and far too resentful toward Dohyun, refused to even acknowledge his existence by simply stating

"If I am no longer the Royal Guard of the Flower Princess, then why should I train him? I do not hold that title anymore. He can wait until my sentence is lifted."

But Dohyun could not wait.

And so, he trained on his own.

He already possessed a golden badge for swordsmanship. If anything, all he needed now was refinement, sharpening what was already honed to perfection.

As for Hwa Miye, the Princess had not left the chambers at all.

Dohyun didn't pry into the reason, yet he often found himself wondering. Even a glimpse would have been enough, just once.

He didn't know what this feeling was.

It wasn't affection, not exactly. Nor was it admiration alone. It was something quieter and stranger.

A type of pull he could not name.

Eventually, he dismissed it, blaming it on Hwa Miye's blinding beauty.

When something was that beautiful, that ethereal, it was only natural to want to look longer.

Yeah, that had to be it.

With that thought lingering in his mind, Dohyun swung his sword with full force, as though aiming to pierce the air itself. The sharp whistle of steel cut through the space around him, snapping him back to reality.

The sun sat high in the sky, unforgiving in its intensity. Sweat drenched his body as he trained alone against an imaginary opponent, the sunlight steaming the droplets that ran down his back.

Since it was the drill grounds, and women rarely came near, he untied his shirt without hesitation. The fabric slipped loose and hung low on his hips, secured only by the cloth tied around his waist. His broad back was sculpted with such precision that it looked as though it had been carved by the hands of a master artisan, each muscle defined through years of relentless discipline.

His peach-toned, plum-tinted chest rose and fell heavily with each breath. Veins stood out along his arms, fierce and prominent, like a lion baring its strength without restraint.

A bead of sweat trickled from his brow, falling to the ground where it darkened the earth for only a moment before vanishing beneath the sun's heat.

His breath came hot and heavy.

He had been training for three hours straight-- no water, no rest, standing beneath the blazing sky.

For Dohyun, this was merely a warm-up. That was the extent of his endurance.

Suddenly, a thud was heard behind him.

Dohyun's mist-dark eyes snapped toward the sound at once. It came from the equipment room: a simple, open shed used for training weapons. Its exterior was built from rough bricks and fodder, unassuming and worn. Inside lay copper shields stacked against the walls, swords clinging faintly together, wooden rods, daggers, target circles, and neatly bundled arrows.

No one was inside.

Another thud followed.

This one was unmistakable. It came from behind the shed.

Dohyun wiped the sweat streaming down his forehead with the back of his arm. Letting out one last heavy exhale, he dragged his sword along the ground and walked toward the equipment room.

The moment he peeked past the edge, he froze.

A familiar yet ferocious figure filled his vision.

"Hiyaah!"

Another slam echoed, louder and heavier.

Before him was the back of a woman with a thin, defined waist, her muscular back shifting with every movement. She gripped a large wooden hammer, her palms wrapped in dusted white cloth, and brought it crashing down against a massive boulder, as if she intended to split it in half.

She wore no top. Instead, her chest was tightly bound with layers of white cloth, leaving her stomach exposed - ripped abs and coarse muscle carved plainly beneath her skin. For bottoms, she wore black trousers knotted at the waist and black boots grounded firmly against the earth.

As she lifted the hammer again, her ferocious brown eyes sharpened, her collarbones deeply etched beneath her skin. This strike, truly, was meant to crush the boulder entirely - using nothing more than a mere wooden hammer.

Shin Haerin was indeed strong.

That hammer had to weigh at least twenty kilograms. Yet she lifted it effortlessly and slammed it down as if it were weightless.

Her wolf-cut hair was messily tied into a ponytail, damp bangs clinging to her forehead beneath a brown headband now darkened with sweat.

Dohyun gulped. For a moment, he was genuinely thankful that Shin Haerin had been avoiding him.

He definitely did not want to be under that hammer. Honestly, he pitied the boulder.

Then, a thought crossed his mind.

"Senior," he called.

Haerin ignored him, lifting her arms once more to strike.

"Senior," he called again.

No response.

"Senior Shin," he finally said.

This time, her arms froze midair before the hammer could descend. From the corner of her wet, burning eye, she glanced at an absolutely shameless man standing there half-clothed.

"Tch." She frowned. "What are you showing off?"

"Pardon?"

Only then did Dohyun realize. He quickly pulled his shirt back up, covering himself properly. Then, as if nothing had happened, he smiled, his small dimple appearing on his right cheek.

"If you're done, get lost," Haerin harrumphed, "And who are you calling senior? I don't remember having any juniors."

"Senior Shin, I just wanted to talk to you-,"

He took a step forward when, in an instant, Haerin raised the hammer with one hand, pointing it directly at his face.

His feet came to a halt.

"Take another step," she warned, "And it's going to land on your face."

"Alright, alright," Dohyun lifted both hands and let his sword drop to the ground, "I'll talk from here."

Haerin turned away, dismissing him entirely.

Seeing that Haerin continued to ignore him, Dohyun realized this conversation would not be easy. Still, he had to get on her good side. She was his senior, at least once her sentence was lifted.

"I actually came to apologize," Dohyun began.

"…"

"I know you wanted to go with the Princess to the banquet, but you're under suspension because of me. So… ultimately, it's my fault."

"Hmph. At least you're self-aware."

"Senior Shin, I only ask that you give me a chance. I won't let you down, nor the Princess. I swear my life on it."

"Fuck you."

Her breath was heavy as she turned. "What do you know about swearing your life to someone?"

Haerin strode forward, gripping the hammer in one hand. With the other, she seized Dohyun's sweat-soaked collar and yanked him close.

That was when Dohyun realized that Shin Haerin was almost the same height as him. They could stand shoulder to shoulder without effort.

Their faces were dangerously close. Dohyun felt heavily intimidated, afraid even to swallow the lump lodged in his throat.

"You don't know anything about her!" she shouted. "You dare give me some cheap reassurance that you'll do well? Do you even know what to do during the banquet?! You have no idea how much I'm holding back just to stay by her side!"

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind: Does she...perhaps like the Princess?

It was absurd, especially at a moment like this, but he couldn't stop it. The way Haerin always looked at Hwa Miye, Dohyun had noticed a faint flush on her cheeks. Even Lady Chunhee's words suddenly made sense.

Why else would someone dedicate their entire life to another if not out of love?

Unknowingly, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.

Now, Haerin wasn't so blinded as a fool to not notice.

"IS THIS FUNNY?!"

Rage boiled within her. Under that scorching heat, she was nothing but flame. Furiously with a snarl, she raised her arm to strike him.

All it took was five seconds.

Within that duration, Dohyun had pushed her back, spun behind her, and seized her rough arm, attempting to weaken her grip. Pain flickered across her face, yet she refused to drop the hammer. In the next instant, he caught her other arm and twisted it behind her back before she could react.

Haerin was locked, restrained helplessly.

"You dare - !"

"Senior, I didn't intend to do this, but I have to save myself," Dohyun said, his voice low and steady. "I, too, have sworn my life to someone. So I must live for them."

Hearing those last few words, her grip finally loosened. Before the hammer could strike the ground and crack the earth, Dohyun caught it and released her from his hold.

The words echoed in Haerin's mind.

He also... swore his life to someone?

There was a quiet pain beneath his tone, the weight of emotions long suppressed. He was being genuine.

And his grip? His strength? His technique?

Had she underestimated him?

"True, I don't know anything about the Princess," Dohyun said, lifting his long lashes to meet her gaze, determination carved deep into his eyes. "But I am willing to learn. You once knew nothing about her too, didn't you?"

"…"

Haerin said nothing, only stared at him while holding the wrist from which he had taken the hammer.

"I know you can't stand the sight of me," Dohyun continued, "but please, learn to endure it. Because I am - and I will always be - by the Princess's side, guarding her with my life. This job, this position… It's the only reason I even exist."

It was true. This was the sole reason for his existence.

Did he have any other wish to live?

His parents were gone, both assassinated. He had no one to call family. His father's last words echoed endlessly in his mind: "Dohyun, go to Hwachon… Find Hwang and… live. You must live!"

The voice broke, as if a stabbing pain had pierced the wounded flesh, taking life out of what was left of the remaining breaths,

"You must live for me… for your mother… Honor us, son. Prove them all wrong."

After their deaths, he had lived alone. Uncle Hwang had saved him, but only to an extent.

The beatings, the bullying, the times he nearly died. It was sheer will that had kept him alive.

"Forgive me for my impudence, Senior," Dohyun said finally, clenching his fists and jaw. Any longer, and he would begin to shed suppressed tears.

He bowed deeply, picked up his sword, and walked away.

Haerin remained where she stood, left alone with her thoughts.

In the end, she decided to let Dohyun be....for now.

….

Another week passed, and it was finally the day of the birthday banquet.