It was eight o'clock in the morning.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Who's at the door?"
"It's me, Chul, Miss."
"Come in."
Saya was sitting in front of the mirror, brushing her hair.
Chul entered, accompanied by the maid Mina, who was pushing a large cart filled with beautiful clothes, dresses, and shoes.
Chul spoke:
"Miss Saya, these clothes are from Mr. Nathan."
Saya's face lit up with a bright, happy smile.
"Really? Are all these clothes just for me?"
"Yes, they are."
Saya was overjoyed, gazing at each piece one after another, astonished by the elegance of the outfits.
"Miss Saya, there's one more thing. Mr. Nathan told me to inform you that he wants to meet you today at nine o'clock on the palace balcony to begin the treatment."
Saya, still distracted by the dresses and trying some on, replied:
"Oh, okay, okay. I'll get ready and come on time, don't worry."
"Mina will stay here to help you choose and wear your clothes."
Saya slightly bowed to Chul out of respect.
"Thank you very much for your kindness."
Chul, with a cold expression, replied:
"No need to thank me. I'm just following Mr. Nathan's orders."
Chul left the room while Saya continued examining the clothes, unable to choose, saying:
"Each one is more beautiful than the other… I don't know which to pick!"
Moments later, her eyes caught a simple light pink dress, and she smiled brightly:
"This is the one! I'll wear this — it's so lovely."
Saya got dressed, brushed her hair, and put on small silver earrings shaped like tiny butterflies.
Looking into the mirror, she smiled and said:
"I'm ready now for Mr. Nathan's first treatment session."
She turned to Mina and said:
"Let's go to the balcony. Oh, and did you bring the notebook and pens?"
"Yes, Miss. They're already on the table at the balcony, as you asked."
"Perfect. Let's go, then."
Saya left the room with Mina, heading toward the palace balcony.
Saya thought to herself:
"I'm so nervous and excited at the same time. I feel like there's a magnet pulling me here. When did I become this reckless? I must remember — there's a big chance I'm dealing with a dangerous mafia man, not just a rich gentleman."
She was lost in thought the whole way.
Mina looked at her and said:
"Miss, are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, yes, I'm fine."
"Look, we've arrived. Please sit here until Mr. Nathan comes. I'll go now."
"Alright."
Saya sat on the chair, looking around the enclosed balcony, speaking to herself:
"This is so strange… The whole mansion never sees sunlight — it's covered with long curtains. Even this balcony, which should have a view of the garden, the sun, the moon, and the sky, is completely shut. Is it because of his severe depression? Could it really be that bad?"
Moments later, Nathan arrived at the balcony. He noticed Saya staring at the curtains, deep in thought, and said:
"I see you're thinking a lot today."
Saya jumped, startled by his sudden voice. She turned to him and said:
"Finally! You're here — I've been waiting."
"Yes, I noticed. You came a few minutes before nine. That means you're quite excited for what you're about to do."
"You're right. Getting a job is something sacred to me."
Nathan noticed she was wearing a pink dress — the same color as cherry blossoms. For a moment, he was struck with shock, reminded of his late wife, but quickly composed himself so Saya wouldn't notice.
He sat on the chair opposite her, crossing one leg over the other, with only a large wooden table between them.
"I've instructed everyone not to disturb us unless I call for them," he said.
"Good. Are you ready to start the therapy sessions?"
"Yes, I am."
Saya leaned forward, took the notebook and pen from the table, then sat upright with perfect posture — her confidence impressed Nathan greatly.
She began speaking:
"Mr. Nathan, today I'll be using a technique called Free Association. This technique involves you telling me about all the events that caused your psychological decline. Don't feel ashamed of anything — I'm here to help you find the solution and become your true self again. I'll write down only the important details in this notebook, and I won't record anything during the sessions to make you feel more comfortable."
(Free Association is a method used in psychoanalysis where the patient is encouraged to talk freely about their thoughts, beliefs, desires, and conflicts without restriction, expressing any idea that comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing.)
It was clear that Nathan was anxious and hesitant — he had never told anyone about what truly happened or how he felt.
He finally replied:
"Alright… it started when my wife died before my eyes. I couldn't save her. I tried so hard to help, but I failed. She took her last breath and died in my arms. It all happened right in front of me."
"I lived in a distant village, and everyone there was killed by murderers — my wife among the victims."
"That memory haunts me; it never leaves. The thoughts and nightmares are eating me alive. I feel like I can't breathe whenever I remember. I still see every detail as if it happened yesterday. She was everything to me, and when she died, I lost everything."
"You must be wondering what my wife gave me that made me love her this much even after her death. Let me tell you why."
"She and I were each other's only family. We had no one else. And yes, you're probably thinking it — you're right. We both grew up in an orphanage, but the staff there were cruel. So, a group of us children decided to run away, find work, and live with dignity away from that place. Among those children was my love — my wife, Soul. When we escaped, she and I stayed together through all the hardships of life. We grew up and eventually got married. To me, she wasn't just my wife — she was my mother, sister, and family. Everything soft and warm in my life was her."
"I can't live without feeling like my mind is burning from guilt. I've started taking antidepressants without a doctor's advice, hoping they would ease the pain or stop the thoughts. When I take them, I feel my mind go numb… and honestly, that's a relief."
Nathan's eyes glimmered with sadness and longing as he spoke about his wife — something that deeply caught Saya's attention.
He began to break down, crying softly, then asked Saya to stop for the day and return to her room.
"We've talked enough for today. We'll continue another time."
"When will that be? Tomorrow?"
"No… when I tell you."
Nathan quickly left, heading to his room so no one would see him in tears.
He entered his room, took off his mask, and went to the bathroom sink. After washing his face, he looked into his reflection and said:
"I can't tell her the truth… She'd be scared and leave me. She'd think I'm a monster — not even human. Maybe she'd think I'm the one who killed my wife. And besides, I can't even remember my real name anymore."
"I'll postpone the next session for a long time — until I'm sure she deserves to know the truth. If she doesn't… I'll make her leave the palace quietly. I don't want her to get hurt."
"What am I even saying? Why am I acting like this with that girl? I don't know what's happening to me…"
Next...