Though she was speaking to Hayeon…

The person she was truly watching was someone else.

“It’s… all right.”

Hayeon had begged the maid countless times to stop speaking to her so formally.

However, as Hayeon was the master’s guest, Yuyeo was probably afraid of being accused of showing disrespect.

“It really is all right…”

Hayeon answered while cautiously glancing at Muhyeon.

Yet Yuyeo continued trembling where she knelt.

Seeing the maid so distressed made Hayeon increasingly uncomfortable.

Only then did Muhyeon speak, his voice as gentle as ever.

“Since she says it’s fine, bring the washbasin over and prepare breakfast.”

“Y-Yes, my lord! Right away!”

Yuyeo carefully carried the basin towards Hayeon.

Having someone bring her water so that she could wash while seated was a luxury that Hayeon had never experienced before.

It was a luxury she had never experienced before.

Being treated like a mere guest made her feel terribly burdened.

She hesitated, nervously pressing her lips together, before finally speaking.

“Um…”

Muhyeon looked at her with smiling eyes, silently asking what she wanted to say.

Even though they were both seated, he was so much taller that she still had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.

“I think… I should be leaving soon.”

Splash!

The instant the words left her mouth…

The basin tipped over.

Fortunately, Yuyeo had still been several steps away, so the water didn’t splash onto Hayeon.

“Are you all right?”

Hayeon hurried to her feet and rushed toward the fallen maid.

But Yuyeo’s face had gone deathly pale.

“I-I’m so sorry… B-But… you’re leaving…?”

Even though those words hadn’t been directed at her…

Yuyeo was shaking as though she had just been struck by lightning.

‘Why is she reacting like this?’

“Where… where are you going? Where are you going to go?”

“Hm? Well…”

Yuyeon’s face had turned ashen.

She was even struggling to catch her breath.

She kept clutching at Hayeon’s sleeve, repeating the same words over and over.

“Where are you going? Where are you planning to go? You can’t… please don’t go…”

“I think something’s wrong with her…”

“It does seem that way.”

Muhyeon strode over in a few long steps.

Hayeon assumed he was coming to check on the maid…

Or perhaps to calm her down.

She was completely wrong.

“So… where are you planning to go?”

Muhyeon smiled brightly.

But his gaze…

Never once left Hayeon.

***

In the end…

Things unfolded just as Hayeon had intended.

After breakfast, she prepared to leave the estate.

Her destination was the village ferry dock.

She had promised Muhyeon that she would repay his kindness one day.

But he had simply refused.

Even now, she could still see the look on his face.

It was difficult to describe.

There was disappointment…

And something else, something deeper, that she couldn’t quite put into words.

Even so…

What choice did she have?

She couldn’t stay here forever.

As they made their way towards the front gate, Hayeon finally allowed herself to take a discreet look around the estate.

Until now, she had deliberately avoided staring in case it was considered impolite.

The only thing she had ever noticed from the outside was the towering crimson pagoda.

She hadn’t realized there was a separate tiled manor where the household actually lived.

There were even additional quarters for the servants, making the estate far grander than she had initially imagined.

As Hayeon crossed the courtyard, Yuyeo hurried after her with quick, light steps.

Most of the servants had kept their distance during her stay.

Only Yuyeo had shown her genuine kindness.

For that, Hayeon was deeply grateful.

“I wish you could stay a few more days… You’re leaving by boat, aren’t you?”

Hayeon nodded.

She had been told that no one who ventured into the mountains ever came back.

They became prey for the wild beasts that roamed its depths.

The fact that she had made it down alive was nothing short of a miracle.

Besides…

The closer she got to Yeogwon, where she had been offered as a sacrifice, the greater the danger to her life would become.

But unless she crossed the mountain…

Her only way out was by boat.

The village was surrounded by mountains on one side…. and a wide river on the other.

“I’ll truly miss you once you’re gone.”

When Hayeon had first mentioned leaving, Yuyeo had looked as though she might faint.

Now, however, she seemed to have finally calmed down.

Touched by the maid’s kindness, Hayeon offered her a gentle smile.

“Thank you.”

“As I told you before… please be careful.”

This village lay at the foot of Mount Wolmu.

She had been told that the people here hated outsiders.

‘So that’s why the other servants sometimes looked at me so coldly.’

Even so, Hayeon didn’t think it was something she needed to fear too much.

After all…

Neither Yuyeo nor Lord Muhyeon had treated her poorly.

Surely, there weren’t many people here who wished her harm.

“By the way… my lord must be busy, isn’t he?”

“Yes… He went out earlier and hasn’t returned yet…”

They had already reached the front gate, yet Muhyeon was nowhere to be seen.

‘Perhaps he’s upset with me.’

Hayeon had wondered more than once if Muhyeon harbored feelings for her.

Having grown up in a farming family, she was no stranger to the attention of noblemen.

She was all too familiar with that kind of attention.

After all…

That was how her relationship with her former fiancé, Lord Ukgyeong, had begun.

Hayeon tightened her grip on the bundle in her arms.

Even so…

Lord Muhyeon had shown her nothing but extraordinary generosity.

He had given her food.

Clothes to wear.

He had even given her a warm vest and an overcoat to wear over her jacket.

Overwhelmed by his kindness, she bowed repeatedly, touching the floor with her forehead each time in heartfelt gratitude.

‘Even if I can’t say goodbye to him…’

‘I suppose it can’t be helped.’

Thinking that, she stepped through the front gate.

“…Ah.”

Lord Muhyeon was standing outside, waiting for her.

“We’ll miss the ferry if we don’t leave before sunset. What kept you?”

Muhyeon asked with a teasing smile.

Both grateful and a little embarrassed, Hayeon hurried over to him.

“I thought I was going to leave without seeing you.”

“So… were you disappointed?”

‘There he goes again.’

But…

Since this would be their last meeting…

Hayeon decided it would be kinder to give him the answer he wanted.

“Of course.”

Muhyeon’s eyes widened at her answer.

Seeing his reaction somehow made Hayeon feel oddly pleased.

“Really?”

“Really. Where else would I ever meet someone as kind as you, my lord?”

“Kind…”

For once, he actually looked embarrassed.

He absentmindedly rubbed the back of his neck before asking in a quieter voice,

“So… you like kindness?”

She gave him a bittersweet smile.

“What a strange question. Of course I do.”

‘What would a man as kind as he is do… if he learned I was the sacrifice who escaped?’

‘I’d be lucky if all he did was throw water at me and call me an ill-fated woman.’

“My lord… I think it’s time for me to go.”

“Then let’s go.”

He insisted on escorting her himself.

Hayeon refused once.

Then twice more.

But Muhyeon was equally determined.

In the end, after saying a brief farewell to Yuyeo, Hayeon left the estate with him.

Muhyeon walked half a step ahead, naturally taking the lead.

Hayeon quietly followed behind.

The silence soon began to feel awkward.

Glancing around as they walked, Hayeon decided to ask the question that had been on her mind.

“Why isn’t there a shrine anywhere in this village? I thought even the smallest villages would have at least one, but I still haven’t seen any.”

“A shrine?”

Muhyeon echoed the word as though she had asked something entirely unexpected.

“Yes… a shrine dedicated to the gods. There isn’t one here, is there?”

“Oh, that…”

It seemed the very idea barely registered with him.

Without giving it much thought, he answered matter-of-factly.

“Because there’s no need for one here.”

‘No need…?’

Hayeon looked up at him in surprise.

Hadn’t Yuyeo told her that the surrounding villages were full of superstitions about Mount Wolmu?

That was certainly what she had understood.

Superstitions shouldn’t be believed unless you are deeply devout.