Eun Sook hurried back home, followed by Na Bi and Na Mu. The crowd of nobles whispered gossip behind her back as their voices were a sinister murmur as they dispersed after the Princess' banquet was abruptly cut short. Seo Jin who still puzzled by the unfolding events turned to Prince Wang Yul.
"Your Royal Highness, what just happened?" Jin asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Prince Yul sighed, his eyes distant. "I'm not entirely sure, Jin."
Jin nodded, his mind racing with questions as he bade farewell to Prince Yul and left. Reluctantly, Jang Yeon Woo decided to follow Eun Sook back home.
The four of them journeyed in silence. Eun Sook's face was stoic, her composure was unbroken. Na Bi who is usually calm and composed, glanced anxiously at her brother Na Mu. Na Mu, sensing her worry signaled with her his eyes, urging her to remain calm.
The silence was shattered by Yeon Woo, who spoke in a sly, venomous tone, "I didn't know that someone who always disliked public occasions secretly pretends to be Gisaengs to get attention. It must have been a lot of fun for them."
Eun Sook remained unbothered and her expression was serene and stoic. Yeon Woo's frustration grew, and she frowned deeply. Na Bi's worry had turned into anger, she glared at Yeon Woo, who smirked in response.
Finally, they arrived at the Jang residence. Head Maid Servant Shin stood by the gate, her eyes were darting around the street, her face was filled with anxiousness and worry. As soon as she spotted them, she hurried forward with her expression mixed with relief and tension.
"Welcome back, Young Lady Eun Sook, Young Lady Yeon Woo," she greeted them with a bow. "Lord Jang seeks you immediately, Young Lady Eun Sook. He is waiting for you in his study."
Yeon Woo's eyes burned with hatred as she glared at Eun Sook. "Of course, he is," she muttered under her breath before turning on her heel and storming off to her chambers.
As Eun Sook walked towards her father's study, Head Maid Servant Shin and Na Bi shivered with worry. Even Na Mu who is usually stoic couldn't hide his concern.
Eun Sook continued her way to the study, her steps echoing in the silent corridor. Though she and Yeon Woo had lived under the same roof for ten years, Yeon Woo was clueless about what she had done to incur such disdain. She always felt their father loved Eun Sook and cherished her more.
As she approached the study, Eun Sook took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever awaited her behind the door. The air around her seemed to be filled with tension and foreboding, casting long shadows on the walls.
Eun Sook hesitated for a moment before knocking on the imposing wooden door. Her heart pounded in her chest, echoing in the dimly lit corridor. After a tense pause, Lord Jang's voice, low and menacing, commanded her to enter.
She stepped into the study, bowing respectfully, though her eyes remained fixed on the floor. Lord Jang, seated at his ornate desk, barely acknowledged her presence. His gaze was cold, his fingers tapping impatiently on the polished wood.
"Where have you been, Eun Sook?" His voice cut through the silence like a knife. Eun Sook remained silent, her eyes still downcast.
"I asked you a question," he repeated, his tone icy. "Where have you been?"
Again, she said nothing, the truth lodged in her throat like a stone.
"Why have you not attended to the task I assigned you?" he demanded, his patience wearing thin.
When Eun Sook still didn't respond, Lord Jang's face twisted with rage. In a blur of motion, he struck her across the face, the force of the blow sending her reeling. She gasped but didn't cry out. Her body slammed against the table, and Lord Jang's hands wrapped around her neck, squeezing mercilessly.
"Do you think you can defy me?" he hissed, his eyes blazing with fury. "This is your final warning. Do not let petty distractions deter you from your duty."
With a violent shove, he threw her to the ground. She lay there with her breath coming in ragged gasps as he towered over her. "Finish your work before tomorrow ends, or you know what will happen," he snarled before storming out, leaving a chilling silence in his wake.
Eun Sook remained motionless, her mind racing. Her eyes which were once filled with fear, now burned with a mixture of rage and resolve. Moments later, the door burst open, and Na Bi, Na Mu, and Head Maid Shin rushed in, their faces filled with concern.
"Young Lady!" Na Bi exclaimed, kneeling beside her. "Are you alright?"
Eun Sook slowly sat up with her expression unreadable. " Maid servant Shin, please prepare a bath for me. And bring a meal to my chambers. I'm tired."
Head Maid Servant Shin nodded with her eyes filled with worry. "Right away, my lady."
As Na Bi helped her to her feet, she couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes. "Please, my lady, let me attend to your injuries."
Eun Sook allowed her to inspect the bruises and the old scar on her arm, the Gisaeng tattoo on her back a silent testament to her past. But when Na Bi's touch lingered, Eun Sook pushed her away gently.
"Leave me," she said quietly. "I need to be alone."
In the bathhouse, Eun Sook eased into the hot water, feeling the aromatic herbs meticulously blended by Head Maid Shin work their magic on her weary limbs. As she submerged herself, the ripples in the water mirrored the turbulence of her thoughts. This life, she reflected bitterly had offered no respite, but she had discovered a way to harness its challenges to her advantage.
Emerging from the bath she enveloped in a plush robe, her eyes gleamed with a potent blend of fury and contentment. She harbored a meticulous strategy now, one that would brook no interference. The seeds of vengeance had been sown, and Eun Sook was determined to nurture them to fruition. The flower of vengeance had begun its pleasant scent and its petals poised to unfurl and cast shadows over those who had wronged her.