Yul-hye was hiding in an underground shelter.

At first, she had planned to escape from Gangseo and flee to Myeongbuk, but she soon realised that it was impossible. The way was blocked and she knew it.

Earlier that morning, after returning home from the Governor’s residence, she had hastily packed her belongings, ready to make her escape. However, it didn’t take long to discover that every route out of the city was blocked.

That fool, Jung Do-yoon, had ordered the gates locked, ensuring that no one could leave. Despite his general incompetence, he had been shrewd enough to suspect she might try to run.

But Yul-hye wasn’t the type to sit idly by and wait to be caught. Determined to resist, she even refused to touch the meals or water brought to her by her maidservant.

After what had happened yesterday, Yul-hye couldn’t risk it happening again. Instead of relying on anything brought to her, she grabbed a handful of snow from the windowsill, letting it melt in her mouth to quench her thirst.

The maidservant assigned to watch her had been vigilant, but even she couldn’t monitor Yul-hye every moment—not when nature called, forcing her to step away briefly. That brief absence was all the opportunity Yul-hye needed. Seizing the moment, she climbed over the wall and escaped.

The late Jung Dae-in had always valued peace and quiet, which was why he had deliberately built his house at the foot of a mountain, in a secluded, tranquil location. That same isolation now served as the perfect cover for Yul-hye’s escape.

Having grown up playing around the house, Yul-hye knew the surrounding terrain as well as the back of her hand—she could have navigated it blindfolded.

Until the age of ten, she had been raised as the daughter of a warrior. During those years, she had learned to wield a sword and ride a horse with skill.

Even after moving to Gangseo, Jung Dae-in had encouraged her not to forget the lessons her father had taught her. As a gesture of support, he had gifted her a wooden practice sword. However, aware of how others might perceive her training, Yul-hye rarely used it and kept it stored away most of the time.

The area around their home was scattered with underground pits, dug for various purposes. Gangseo, being a border region, often faced invasions from foreign forces and raids by bandits. These pits were strategically created near houses as hiding places, offering residents a means to conceal themselves during times of danger.

Over the years, some of these pits were forgotten as their creators either passed away or moved on. One such abandoned pit now served as Yul-hye’s refuge, hidden away from prying eyes and the dangers pursuing her.

Traveling far without preparation, especially within a single day, was impossible. Attempting to flee during the day would have been even more reckless. For now, Yul-hye decided to stay hidden in the pit, waiting for the area to calm down and for the cover of night to provide a safer chance to escape.

By now, they were surely in an uproar, frantically searching for her. Under such circumstances, remaining concealed was the smartest choice. Any impulsive attempt to flee would only heighten the risk of being caught.

‘I’ll stay here for three days.’

Jung Do-yoon and the Governor likely believed she had already fled beyond the city walls and were probably scouring the routes toward Myeongbuk or Unhan in pursuit.

Yul-hye intended to use that assumption to her advantage. By staying hidden in the pit for three days and waiting for the chaos to subside, she could slip away unnoticed—heading in the opposite direction, toward the capital.

Her plan relied on the winter season and potential snowstorms, which would help her stay concealed as she moved and found hiding spots along the way.

To endure three days in the pit, Yul-hye had prepared a small stash: a piece of dried rice cake and a single bottle of water. It wasn’t much, but it would have to suffice.

She had also packed a fur-lined garment to help her endure the biting cold. Now, all that remained was to wait—a battle against time and her own nerves.

‘It’s fine. I can escape.’

Yul-hye whispered to herself, pulling the fur coat tighter around her as she closed her eyes.

Her hands were frozen stiff, and her nose felt numb from the chill, but she ignored the discomfort. This was nothing compared to what she had already survived.

“That man is a monster.” 

The Governor wasn’t human—he was a monster wearing a human mask. How else could anyone explain his boundless endurance and relentless determination? There was no other word for a creature like him.

‘It still stings…’

Her lower body throbbed painfully, the soreness flaring even with the slightest movement. It wasn’t surprising, given the relentless torment she had endured.

Her lower abdomen churned uncomfortably, a wave of nausea rising within her. She knew the cause only too well – it was the result of the Governor forcing himself upon her, filling her to the point of overpowering her.

“Whether his head gets chopped off or not, I don’t care anymore.”

She had escaped, leaving Doyoon to face the Governor’s wrath, possibly at the cost of his life. But what did it matter? Living as a burden to others was no better than dying, and Doyoon was a man who contributed nothing to the world anyway.

‘It’s not because of me. He brought this upon himself.’

Sympathy? Guilt? She felt none. Despite her warnings, Do-yoon had foolishly carried firewood into the flames. Who could save a man so determined to destroy himself?

“I will not go all the way to the capital. Instead, I’ll look for a small village along the way. Maybe there’s an abandoned house in the mountains, or a hut at the foot of the hills. If I look hard enough, I’ll find something.

“Haa… mmm…”

Yul-hye yawned, exhaustion catching up with her. Whether from the tension of the day or the sleepless night before, fatigue began to set in. In the darkness of the pit, her body relaxed and her head began to bob as drowsiness pulled her into sleep.