Chapter 8
“What do you mean? I told you to bring Eunseol. Then why… are you here alone?”
Seolha’s voice rose as she tried to suppress the anxiety building inside her.
A chilling feeling crawled up her spine.
“Eunseol questioned the head cook about why your meals were so poor. Madam Hong saw it and said she was being insolent… and had her beaten.”
Dowoon’s face was filled with urgency and anger.
“They also accused her of stealing food from the kitchen. And a maid even came forward as a witness.”
“…”
“But, Miss—Eunseol would never do such a thing.”
Seolha inhaled sharply.
“With Madam Hong involved… I cannot handle this alone.”
Dowoon tried to stay calm, but the veins on his hand stood out.
“Where is she?”
Seolha’s lips were dry.
They had only been together a few days—
But that was enough.
Eunseol was kind.
She cared for Seolha wholeheartedly, even without any blood relation.
The thought of staying quiet and avoiding trouble disappeared completely.
She remembered—
The moment Eunseol protected her in the marketplace.
The nights she stayed by her side while she burned with fever.
The gentle hands that never left her.
Even when Seolha had no memories—
Eunseol and Dowoon never abandoned her.
So now—
It was her turn.
“Where is Eunseol?”
Even if she herself wasn’t treated properly as family—
Dowoon had come to her.
Then I have to do this.
“Take me there.”
“It’s far. I’ll carry you.”
He lifted her and ran.
***
Seolha looked around as they moved.
The old wooden floors.
Servants carrying bundles.
Voices shouting in the distance.
Everything was unfamiliar.
This was not her world.
As Dowoon slowed—
Seolha followed his gaze.
“…Eunseol?”
Her breath caught.
It was a horrifying sight.
“You wretched girl! Still refusing to confess? So many witnesses—how dare you lie!”
A harsh voice rang out.
Under torchlight—
Eunseol lay on the ground.
Covered in blood.
“Put me down.”
Dowoon set her down.
Ignoring her injured ankle, she walked forward.
“Who dares interrupt?!”
Seolha ignored the woman and knelt beside Eunseol.
“…Eunseol.”
“…Mi…ss? Your… ankle…”
Even like this—
Eunseol worried about her.
Seolha’s eyes burned with fury.
“…This isn’t the time for you to worry about me.”
Her voice trembled with anger.
“That’s enough.”
“…Miss?”
“Leave it to me.”
Eunseol lost consciousness.
Seolha caught her.
“…I was trying to stay unnoticed.”
She had tried to avoid getting involved.
To avoid the original story.
To survive quietly.
“That was stupid.”
Seeing Eunseol like this—
Everything changed.
“No running anymore.”
She gritted her teeth.
“I’ll fix this.”
“Dowoon.”
“Yes.”
“Take Eunseol to a doctor.”
“Yes.”
“Do whatever it takes to keep her alive.”
“…”
“If anything happens… I won’t forgive you.”
Her cold gaze swept across everyone present.
“Go.”
Dowoon left immediately.
***
Seolha slowly turned.
Her eyes locked onto the woman in charge.
For the first time—
She was glad this was the world of the Heavenly Martial Emperor.
Because here—
She wouldn’t lose.
“How dare you! Do you know where you are?”
The woman shouted.
Seolha smirked.
“How dare you?”
“Who do you think you are… to speak to me like that?”
Under the torchlight, her light brown eyes burned brightly.
“There are very few people in this household who can speak to me that way.”
She remembered Eunseol’s words.
How careful she had been.
How she tried to protect Seolha.
How she always looked at her with warmth.
Eunseol… You really cared for me.
And the original Seolha must have cared for her too.
So—
“This household is really something.”
She spoke coldly.
Now that she was Seolha—
Protecting Eunseol was her responsibility.
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
“She… she’s the young lady from the annex?”
“I thought she never left her quarters!”
“They said she was weak…”
People stepped back.
They sensed something was wrong.
But Madam Hong quickly composed herself.
“There seems to be some misunderstanding.”
Her tone was gentle—
But her gaze was condescending.
Seolha smiled crookedly.
Good.
If it ended easily—
It wouldn’t be fun.
