The air in the darkened palace felt heavy with silence, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric and the faintest sound of breathing. Shadows clung to the ornate walls, enveloping the room in a somber gloom that seemed to echo the frail condition of the old woman lying on the grand bed. A palace bird perched silently at the edge of the bed.
The old woman's spirit flickered like the dim candlelight. Her veined and trembling hand gripped that of a young lady seated beside her. The old woman's eyes, glistening with unshed tears, reflected the weight of unspoken fears.
"Please, don't say things like that," the lady implored, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with urgency as if hoping to stave off the inevitable.
The old woman smiled softly, the corners of her lips curling up in a bittersweet expression. "It's true, Daji. We shouldn't close this resort for long just because of me."
Her gaze drifted, lost in memories. "Seeing you cry like this reminds me of the day I saw Wukon beside the previous owner," she said softly.
The muscular man's face darkened as the old woman continued, "And how he felt when I didn't want to visit him," glancing at the photo of her son's family on the table beside the bed.
Daji handed the old woman the photo, and she gently touched the image of her three grandchildren in the portrait.
''My son…" Her breath caught, and sorrow clouded her eyes. "He won't come, leaving his family behind."
"I fear I will be seen as a bad grandmother," the old woman admitted, her voice trembling with regret.
The man stepped forward, breaking the tension in the air with his deep, steady voice. "Yes, Manager!"
With one last lingering glance at the two women, he turned to leave, a vivid memory flashing through his mind of the old woman in her youth, holding hands with the lady, Daji their faces lit with joy. The woman had said, "Wukon, could you ensure the royal guests are well attended?"
As he exited the room, determination etched into every line of his muscular frame, tears fell from the old woman's eyes. The palace bird chirped loudly in response, and the man paused in the doorway, the Daji's cry echoing through the whole place—each drop a sorrowful reminder of love, loss, and the legacy that must endure in the hearts of those left behind. Outside, the storm raged on, but within the palace, the weight of their shared memories lingered, echoing with a profound sadness.