Orla:

  I sat perched on the edge of the ornate chaise, waiting, heart pounding in my chest. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity, but I had to stay calm. Gyeong had finally left, and with her, the trail of younger servants who followed like shadows. I had to make my move now before I lost my chance.

  As soon as the last servant left the room, I hurried toward the corridor and caught the one I had my eye on—Seo-yeon, the one who looked so much like Nara. I grabbed her wrist firmly, pulling her into the corner, away from any prying eyes.

  “Seo-yeon, right?” I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm.

  She nodded, her wide eyes glancing nervously up at me.

  “I need your help,” I said quickly. “I need a set of clothing like yours—a servant’s uniform.”

  Seo-yeon blinked, her surprise evident. “A servant’s uniform?” she repeated, her voice hushed.

  “Yes,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my pulse was racing. “I’m working on… a project.” I forced a sly smile. “The king, well, let’s just say he has a preference for certain… role-playing scenarios. You catch my drift?”

  Seo-yeon’s eyes widened for a second before she nodded, a blush creeping into her cheeks. “I see,” she murmured, glancing around the room as if expecting someone to overhear. “I’ll get you a set.”

  “Good,” I said with a wink, hoping to sell the lie. “And keep it quiet, alright? The king loves surprises.”

  She smiled, nodding quickly before slipping out of the room, leaving me alone to wait.

  The moments stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity. I paced back and forth, my mind racing with every possible scenario that could go wrong. Milo would be waiting for me, but I couldn’t leave without this disguise. I needed Seo-yeon to come through.

  Finally, after what felt like an agonizing wait, the door creaked open, and Seo-yeon stepped back into the room, carrying a clean set of servant’s clothing. She held them out to me with a nervous smile.

  “Here,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I found a clean set.”

  Relief flooded through me as I took the clothing from her. “Thank you, Seo-yeon. I’ll need your help getting into them.”

  Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she nodded. I started to undress quickly, my fingers fumbling with the intricate folds of the gown, my movements hurried and anxious.

  As Seo-yeon helped adjust the uniform, her voice wavered with curiosity. “Is this for tonight?” she asked cautiously.

  I nodded, biting my lip. “Yes, it is. But I need your help with one more thing.”

  Her face paled, and I could see the hesitation in her eyes. “What is it?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

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  “I need an escort,” I said, meeting her gaze. “Just past the king’s courtyard. That’s all.”

  Seo-yeon froze, her eyes widening with fear. “I can’t,” she whispered, shaking her head. “It’s not my place. I’m not supposed to be seen with you without Gyeong, or outside my assigned quarters. If anyone notices, it’ll look suspicious.”

  I grabbed her hand, forcing a reassuring smile onto my face. “It’s a surprise for the king,” I whispered conspiratorially. “You know how much he loves surprises. And once he knows it was part of this… game, he’ll be delighted. You’ll be helping me make him happy.”

  Seo-yeon hesitated, her eyes flicking nervously to the door, but my words seemed to calm her. Slowly, she nodded, though I could still see the uncertainty in her expression.

  “Alright,” she whispered, glancing around nervously. “I’ll take you just past the courtyard. But that’s as far as I can go. If anyone sees us—“ She swallowed hard. “We have to be quick.”

  “Thank you,” I breathed, relief flooding through me.

  With her help, I could pull this off.

  Once I was fully dressed in the plain servant’s uniform, the fabric hanging loosely on my frame, I barely recognized myself in the mirror. I wasn’t the powerless woman I’d been in San Francisco, so naive and trapped by circumstances. Now, I was someone else—someone ready to make a change, someone who would find and fight her way out of this nightmare and get back home. Somehow.

  “Let’s go,” I whispered, more to myself than to Seo-yeon.

  She nodded and led the way, the two of us moving swiftly and silently through the dimly lit corridors. My heart raced with each step, but I kept my head down, blending in with the quiet shuffle of servants who moved through the palace at night. Seo-yeon’s presence was reassuring, though her pace quickened as we neared the courtyard.

  As we approached, I could see the faint glow of lanterns lighting the courtyard. My pulse quickened, and I prayed that everything would go smoothly—that the king would be none the wiser, that Milo and Haruto were ready.

  Seo-yeon stopped just before we reached the edge of the courtyard, her face pale with nerves. “This is as far as I can go,” she whispered. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

  I nodded, squeezing her hand in thanks. “You’ve done more than enough, Seo-yeon. I’ll take it from here.”

  She hesitated, glancing toward the courtyard. “But if something happens—“

  “I’ll be fine,” I reassured her, though my pulse was hammering in my ears.

  “I don’t know...”

  I took her hands again, holding them gently. “I’m in a servant’s uniform. I’ll blend in. Trust me.”

  She studied me for a long moment before finally sighing. “Okay, but be careful,” she whispered.

  With one last glance over her shoulder, she slipped away, vanishing into the dim courtyard lighting.

  Getting rid of Seo-yeon was the easy part. Now, I had to make it past the south-east entrance. Haruto and Milo had agreed it was the least guarded due to its position near the mountains. The only problem? A guard named Tae-shik.

  I approached cautiously, scanning the area. It was eerily quiet. Too quiet.

  I crept forward and spotted a lone guard by the stables, scolding a stable boy over a stolen horse. That had to be Tae-shik—the one Milo had warned me about. Perfect. If he was ranting about Raven, that meant Milo had gotten him out. With the guard distracted, this was my chance.

  I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves, and picked up my pace, aiming for the gate. Just a few more steps and—

  “Oi. You there.”

  Damn it.

  I turned slowly, forcing a polite smile. “Yes, sir?”

  Tae-shik narrowed his eyes. “Where are you headed? Do you have your ID?”

  ID? My stomach dropped. I hadn’t thought of that. Officials and palace workers had badges, but did servants? I hesitated, searching for an excuse when, out of nowhere, a food cart rolled past, the vendor loudly advertising fried dough for sale.

  Instinct kicked in. I bolted, clipping the cart as I ran, sending it crashing over.

  “He’ll pay for the damages! He’s my husband!” I shouted, pointing at the stunned guard.

  The vendor gasped, rounding on Tae-shik. “Tae-shik! You have a wife?!”

  Their argument erupted behind me as I sprinted toward the forest, my heart pounding with every step.

  I was free.

  ?Sky Mincharo