Morning light spilled through the tinted glass windows of Zarah's palace chamber, scattering golden flecks across the floor.
It was the first time since arriving in this world that she had a room of her own.
In her previous life, she had once enjoyed such privacy — but after years in the brothel dormitory, sharing space with Iris and the others, she had nearly forgotten the quiet luxury of having a chamber to herself.
The room assigned to her by the palace was slightly larger than the dormitory bedroom she had once shared. Its walls were painted a soft grey-white, and the tall windows were framed with delicate ridges of gold.
Zarah sat before the dressing table, the mirror nearly half her height. A maid stood behind her, gently brushing through her damp hair from the bath she had taken earlier. With careful hands, the maid wove it into a braid, leaving two soft strands to frame her face before fastening a delicate lotus hairpin into place.
When the maid finished, she stepped back and lowered her head respectfully.
"My Lady, are you satisfied with the result?" she asked softly.
Zarah blinked, pulled from her thoughts. She was still unaccustomed to the title Lady. Being a flower maiden came with certain privileges — one of them being addressed with respect.
She turned toward the mirror.
The light blue dress flowed elegantly over her frame, and the braided hairstyle softened her features, making her appear almost ethereal.
A small smile touched her lips.
"Yes. You've done well," Zarah said.
Then she paused, her gaze shifting back to the maid.
"What is your name?" she asked.
The maid tilted her head slightly as she replied, "My name is Penny, my Lady."
"Penny, may I take a stroll through the gardens before breakfast is served?" Zarah asked with a soft, composed smile.
In the original webcomic, Melody had used a love-infused perfume and sung near the hidden pond in the Imperial Garden while Empress Ines bathed nearby. Drawn by the melody, Ines had gone to investigate — only to be enveloped by the potion's scent, her thoughts clouded and her heart misled into believing she loved Melody.
It had happened on the very morning of the selection.
And Zarah intended to prevent it.
Penny nodded. "Yes, my Lady, of course." She hesitated briefly before asking, "Did you sleep well last night?"
Zarah lowered her gaze slightly. "Not particularly. I thought the fresh air might help settle my nerves. The selection is at noon, after all."
It was a lie.
She had slept better than she had in years, the soft mattress and feather-light pillows nearly lulling her into forgetting where she was.
But wandering the palace gardens the morning after arrival would invite questions. She needed a reasonable excuse.
Because today, she planned to stop Melody from carrying out her scheme.
"Being nervous is perfectly natural," Penny said with a warm smile. "But please do not worry, my Lady. Even if you are not chosen, your privileges and treatment will remain the same."
Penny had seen flower maidens from previous batches lose sleep over the selection. Thinking Zarah might share the same fear, she offered the reassurance gently.
Zarah nodded as though hearing this for the first time.
But she already knew.
The webcomic had made that detail very clear — the chosen maiden received favor, yes, but the others did not lose their status.
And truthfully, Zarah had no desire to be selected at all.
She rose from her seat, smoothing the folds of her dress.
Penny bowed lightly before leading her toward the palace gardens.
As they walked through the palace halls, Zarah found herself staring in quiet awe at her surroundings. She had glimpsed parts of the interior the day before, but truly seeing the inside of the Imperial Palace could never feel ordinary.
She had seen countless depictions of such palaces in webcomics, manhwas, mangas, and novels — detailed illustrations and poetic descriptions of grandeur.
But the real thing?
It was something else entirely.
She almost laughed to herself.
How had all those protagonists managed to carry themselves with perfect composure? How did they not simply stand there, staring dumbfounded at the intricate carvings and gilded ceilings the way she wanted to?
Pinching her wrist lightly, she forced herself to refocus.
She would have years to admire the palace with wide, dazzled eyes.
But not now.
Right now, she needed to stay sharp, get her act together… stop Melody — and, if possible, secure the love-perfumed potion before it could be used.
As Zarah, led by Penny, passed through the open corridors and finally stepped into the palace gardens, her breath caught for a moment.
Rows upon rows of flowers stretched before her — each bed more exquisite and meticulously groomed than the last.
She stepped onto the stone path, her gaze sweeping the grounds carefully.
Then—
She spotted a maid walking briskly toward the garden's exit.
As the girl drew closer, Penny called out, "Susan? Where are you coming from?"
Zarah's eyes settled on the other maid.
Susan.
A thought flickered through her mind.
Zarah remembered.
In the webcomic, the Grand Duke had quietly bribed several palace servants. They had aided Melody in her schemes without question.
Maybe…
Maybe Susan was one of them.
And maybe she had just guided Melody toward the Empress's hidden pond.
Susan stumbled over her words before finally answering Penny's question.
"I—I was serving one of the flower maidens," she said hurriedly. "She went for a stroll and… injured her foot. I am going to fetch medicine."
A smirk threatened to tug at Zarah's lips, but she kept her expression carefully neutral.
Celine would never take a stroll before the selection.
And if Iris had gone anywhere, she would have dragged Zarah along.
Which left only one possibility.
Melody.
And the way Susan had stammered — like a thief caught mid-act — was confirmation enough.
Before Penny could question further, Zarah stepped in smoothly.
"If I may… what is her name?" she asked, her voice dipping with gentle concern.
Susan turned toward her, visibly flustered. "Lady Melody," she said quickly. "I am serving Lady Melody. Please do not worry, my Lady, I will—"
Zarah offered her a reassuring smile.
"Then you must hurry and fetch the medicine," she said softly. "Melody must be in pain."
Relief washed over Susan's face. She bowed hastily before hurrying back toward the palace.
The moment she disappeared from sight, Zarah turned to Penny.
"Please take me to where Susan came from," she said, her tone now threaded with urgency. "I am worried about my friend."
She felt neither worry nor concern.
She knew exactly what Melody was attempting.
And what better way to reach her than to follow the lie — and pretend to believe it?
Penny nodded at once and led the way toward the path Susan had come from.
As they walked deeper into the gardens, the air grew quieter.
When no sign of Melody appeared, Penny slowed slightly, hesitation flickering across her face.
But Zarah pressed on.
"She must be in pain," she insisted softly. "She shouldn't be alone."
After what felt like ten long minutes, they finally saw her.
Melody stood near a cluster of towering willow trees, their drooping branches forming a natural curtain that concealed whatever lay beyond.
And in her hand—
A small glass bottle.
Zarah's eyes widened.
She quickened her pace.
"Melody!"
Melody's head snapped toward the sound, shock flashing across her face.
What was Zarah doing here?
In a swift motion, she slipped the small vial into the sleeve of her dress.
"Zarah?" Melody asked, shock evident in her voice.
Zarah stopped before her, composed.
"Yes," she said lightly. "I was taking a stroll and heard you injured your foot during yours. Are you alright?"
Her smile revealed nothing.
Melody's fingers tightened around the sleeve concealing the vial.
Damn it.
Why now? Why did Zarah have to appear at this exact moment?
Was this coincidence… or something else?
When Melody failed to respond, Zarah stepped closer and gently grasped her arms.
The movement was subtle—
—but the small glass bottle slipped from Melody's sleeve.
It hit the stone path with a soft clink.
Zarah's gaze flickered downward for the briefest second.
Then she pretended not to notice.
"Melody?" she pressed, voice laced with concern. "What happened to your leg?"
As she stepped forward, her heel came down squarely on the fallen vial.
A sharp crack split the air.
The cap snapped loose, and the liquid spilled across the stone, its sweet scent rising faintly before dispersing into the breeze.
Melody's composure shattered.
"No!" she cried, shoving Zarah back as she dropped to her knees. "No, no, no— this can't be!"
"Oh my… I didn't even notice…" Zarah said softly, feigning distress. "What was in that vial? It smells sweet. I'm sorry, Melody. I truly didn't see it."
Melody slowly lifted her gaze.
Her eyes had darkened.
She rose abruptly and grabbed the collar of Zarah's dress.
"You did that on purpose," she hissed. "Don't lie to me. Why did you do it?"
"Do what?" Zarah replied, widening her eyes in confusion. "I don't know what you're talking about. Why would I break your perfume?"
"Why—"
"Lady Melody…"
Penny's voice cut through the tension.
"Why are you acting in such a frantic manner?"
Melody froze.
She had lost her composure.
And that was dangerous.
In a swift attempt to recover, she released Zarah and suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed dramatically. "I shouldn't have reacted like that. The perfume… it was a gift for Celine. I was working on it."
Zarah's body stiffened in discomfort.
Liar.
But she played along.
Soon enough, Melody clutched her ankle and winced, claiming she had sprained it — though moments ago she had moved without issue.
"Penny," Zarah said gently as she stepped back, "you should take Melody to her chamber and see what ails her."
Melody had not intended for things to escalate this far.
But desperate times required desperate measures.
There was no point staying here now. The potion was gone. The plan had been ruined.
So she leaned on Penny and allowed herself to be escorted away.
"I'll stay a little longer," Zarah added calmly. "I want to look at the flowers."
Penny hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. But return soon. Breakfast will be served shortly."
Zarah smiled faintly.
Alone at last.
Once they were out of sight, the pleasant expression on Zarah's face faded.
Then—
she smiled.
Her gaze drifted to the shattered glass and the sweet-smelling liquid soaking into the stone.
'One to zero, Melody.'
The breeze carried the faint fragrance away.
Just as she turned to leave, something flashed in the corner of her vision.
A streak of iridescent blue and green.
Zarah paused.
Was that… a peacock?
She had heard stories — seen them in period dramas — that royal families kept peacocks within palace gardens.
But she had never actually believed it.
Slowly, the magnificent bird stepped into clearer view, its long train glimmering beneath the sunlight.
It was real.
A small spark of childlike curiosity flickered within her.
She had always wanted to see one up close.
Almost without thinking, she followed the direction it had gone, slipping quietly behind the willow trees.
She never found where the peacock had disappeared.
Instead, she had wandered deeper into the secluded part of the garden.
The air felt different here.
Heavier.
A strong scent of bathing incense drifted through the trees, thick and warm against her senses.
Zarah slowed.
Her brows furrowed.
Why would incense be burning this far from the main paths?
She stepped forward carefully—
—and froze.
Beyond the veil of willow branches lay a hidden pond.
Candles flickered along its edges. Petals floated upon the surface of the water.
And within it—
sat none other than Empress Ines.
Zarah's breath caught in her throat.
The Empress was partially submerged, her dark hair trailing in the water as steam curled faintly around her.
Even from this distance, the sight was unmistakable.
She had intruded somewhere she absolutely should not have.
Heat rushed to Zarah's face.
She felt like a criminal.
She took a step back—
—and a twig snapped beneath her foot.
The sound echoed far louder than it should have.
Ines's head turned sharply.
Her gaze locked directly onto Zarah's hiding place.
Their eyes met.
For one suspended second—
time stopped.
Panic surged through Zarah.
She stumbled backward and turned to flee—
—but her hair snagged painfully against a low-hanging branch.
Her heart hammered.
Not now.
Frantically, she yanked herself free, strands catching and tearing slightly, before bolting from behind the willow trees.
She didn't look back.
She ran toward the path she had taken with Penny, her pulse roaring in her ears.
Ines sat within the secluded pond, concealed behind cascading willow branches and dense forest shrubs.
Though the pond lay beneath open sky, its location was known only to a select few.
The waters were said to possess calming properties — soothing the nerves, steadying the mind.
She wore a simple black robe, its fabric clinging lightly to her form as her dark hair spread across the water like spilled ink.
For a moment, she allowed herself silence.
Then—
a twig snapped.
Her eyes shifted toward the sound.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
She did not rise.
She did not call out.
Through the curtain of branches, she caught only a fleeting glimpse—
blonde hair.
Disappearing.
Her gaze sharpened.
Brazen.
To spy upon the Empress in such a private moment…
Her expression did not change, but something colder settled behind her eyes.
An assassin?
Whoever it was would be found.
And they would learn the cost of overstepping.
Ines rose from the pond without haste.
Water streamed down her skin as she stepped onto the stone edge, her movements unhurried, controlled.
From the grass nearby, she retrieved a dagger she had laid aside before entering the water.
An empress was never truly unguarded.
Not even in solitude.
Blade in hand, she walked toward the source of the disturbance.
The snapped twig lay exactly where she had heard it.
Her gaze sharpened.
No animal would flee at the mere turn of her head.
Someone had been watching.
She stepped further beneath the willow canopy.
That was when she saw it—
a lotus hairpin, caught against a low branch.
She stilled.
Carefully, she removed it and examined the delicate ornament in her palm.
Recognition flickered across her face.
This design…
It had been among the jewelry prepared for the newest batch of flower maidens who had recently arrived at the palace.
Her mother had once presented the selection to her.
She had barely spared it a glance at the time.
"Choose as you wish," she had said.
Ines closed her fingers slowly around the pin.
"So… one of the new flower maidens," she murmured.
Had the girl merely lost her way?
Or had she wandered here deliberately?
Her eyes narrowed.
The selection ceremony was approaching.
Good.
She would not need to search long.
Whoever this girl was—
she would present herself soon enough.
And when she did—
Ines would learn exactly how she had found her way to this pond.
With that, she turned and walked back toward her chambers, the lotus hairpin concealed within her grasp.