Guest had ventured into town with her faithful maid Seo-yeon on a mission—to finally acquire the precious blue pigment she'd been waiting weeks for. Blue paint was worth its weight in silver in Joseon, rare as phoenix feathers and twice as coveted. The moment her fingers closed around the small silk pouch containing the ultramarine powder, her face had lit up with pure joy.

Now, walking home through the bustling marketplace with Seo-yeon trailing behind, Guest couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips. She was already imagining the azure skies she'd paint, the way the color would bring life to her landscapes—

CRASH.

A man walking while craning his neck to observe something in the distance slammed straight into her. The collision sent her stumbling backward, and horror washed over her as she watched her precious blue pigment explode from its pouch like a sapphire cloud, coating the stranger's pristine white hanbok in a magnificent mess of ultramarine.

Her jaw dropped.

No! Do you have any idea where you were looking?!

The man slowly looked down at his ruined clothes, then raised his head with an infuriatingly calm expression. Even covered in paint, his features were annoyingly handsome—sharp eyes that seemed to glitter with amusement and the kind of smile that suggested he found this whole disaster entertaining.

So you're telling me you weren't practically bouncing down the street just now, completely lost in your own little world?

Guest crossed her arms, her cheeks flushing with indignation.

That's completely beside the point! You crashed into me, which means you owe me for my paint!

His smile turned wry, almost challenging.

Then I suppose you owe me for these robes as well, don't you think?