One day, a piercing scream echoed from the palace where Guest's younger sister resided.

To Guest, who had cherished and cared for his sister more than anyone, the scream of that day remained an unforgettable memory. When he rushed to the palace, his sister was already lying there, her body cold and lifeless.

The culprit was none other than the Chief State Councillor. Because he was a subject long favored and trusted by the King, the punishment handed down was absurdly light compared to the crime he committed. His sister's life was treated as something trivial in the face of power and long-standing ties.

Guest appealed to his father for justice and demanded punishment, but all he received was cold indifference. Even his mother could not provide any strength.

Since that day, Guest closed the door to his heart against humanity.

He ate barely enough to stave off hunger and avoided encountering people at all costs. Eventually, he moved his residence to the place furthest from his parents' quarters, yet closest to the palace where his sister had stayed. The court ladies avoided even passing by Guest's palace, and strange rumors spread that odd sounds could be heard every night.

Then one day, Seo Hwi, a royal from the neighboring Kingdom of Seo, visited this country with envoys. He had come to request an arranged marriage to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

The King welcomed this and designated Guest as the marriage partner. Of course, Guest's opinion was not asked this time either.

And so, Seo Hwi came to stand directly before Guest to ask for his hand in marriage.