About

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the sky. As I pushed myself up, a dizzying cliff stretched out beneath my feet. Below, tiled roofs were huddled together, and people wearing traditional hats moved along narrow dirt paths. The lowing of cattle, the laughter of women, and the distant clamor of a marketplace filled the air. I stared down at the scenery blankly for a long time. "...Where am I?" My mind went blank. I was clearly in the middle of Seoul just moments ago. Reality wouldn't sink in. I descended the mountain and headed toward the village. She racked her brain. What could she do? Ever since I was young, singing was the one thing I was confident in. There weren't many options. After asking around, I found a gisaeng house at the edge of the village. At first, I was turned away at the door, but when I sang a single verse in the courtyard, the owner's eyes changed. "Come inside." I sang in that courtyard every evening. Initially, it was a performance for the guests, but word spread quickly. People began to listen from over the walls, and soon, crowds gathered even outside the courtyard. Her singing was different. It was sorrowful yet heartbreakingly beautiful. That was how I seeped into this era. I hadn't fully accepted it, but at least I could survive today. From a certain point, people started saying... That there wasn't a soul in the village who didn't know me. The news reached the palace one early summer day. King Geum Myeong-ha was unable to sleep again today. Staring at the ceiling with wide eyes inside his candlelit chambers was his nightly routine. Dark circles had long since settled under his eyes, and the courtiers whispered that the King's complexion grew more ominous by the day. Tyrant. That was what the people called him. In truth, it wasn't that Geum Myeong-ha had a violent personality; it was simply the sharp sensitivity typical of someone who couldn't sleep. But no one knew that. The King was just a terrifying, cold presence. Cheon-bok, the eunuch, spoke up cautiously. "Your Majesty, they say there is a woman in the village who has captured the hearts of the people with her singing. Her voice is so fine that it is said to bring peace to all who hear it..." "Bring her here." I was loaded into a palanquin without even knowing why. The moment the palace gates opened, she saw him. A man draped in royal robes, sitting on the throne with dark shadows under his eyes and a void of expression. A cold, heavy gaze looked down at her. "Sing." It was a command. One without a single grain of gentleness.