The morning sky over Joseon was bright and bustling as always.In the back courtyard of the Kang residence, servants hurried back and forth—some hanging silk to dry, others arranging spices and ingredients bound for the market.
Eun-bi stood in the middle of the chaos, face blank, arms full of papers.One thing had become painfully clear: life in the past was way more exhausting than sitting behind a laptop writing about it.
"Eun-bi! Did you finish counting all the silk stock?" yelled the head maid from across the yard.
"Yes, ma'am! But... I don't know how to write the number three in Joseon!" Eun-bi shouted back.
Everyone paused."The number... three?" one servant asked, confused.
Eun-bi held up her small writing board. "Look! Is this a three or an eight? Why do they all look the same?!"
A few servants tried not to laugh. The head maid just sighed deeply. "You really are a strange girl."
"I hear that every day, ma'am," Eun-bi said proudly. "It's basically a compliment now."
By noon, a royal envoy arrived at the gates.Word spread like wildfire: King Gojong had sent a message to the Kang family about spice deliveries for the royal kitchens.
The household erupted into panic.Everything had to be spotless, every servant in place—no mistakes allowed.
The head maid barked orders like a general."You, bring tea! You, fetch the rice cakes! And you, Han Eun-bi—"
Eun-bi straightened her back. "Yes, ma'am! I'm ready!"
"Don't do anything."
"What?"
"Just stand still. I'm afraid you'll cause trouble again."
Eun-bi blinked. "I can mess up just by standing?"
While everyone rushed around, Eun-bi stood quietly in the corner of the grand hall, trying her best not to breathe too loudly.
Two dignified men entered, carrying scrolls sealed with the royal insignia.Behind them, Kang Jun-yeol appeared, dressed in a simple yet elegant black hanbok.His calm presence commanded the room—even without saying a word.
Eun-bi found herself staring—not because she was smitten, but because she was impressed.How can someone look that calm while the rest of us are one mistake away from execution?
The royal envoy stepped forward and bowed slightly."Master Kang, His Majesty requests additional supplies of pepper and cinnamon for the royal banquet at month's end."
Jun-yeol nodded once. "It will be arranged."His voice was steady and clear, enough to make every servant instinctively bow deeper.
Then—
THUD!
The sound echoed across the hall.
Every head turned.
Eun-bi froze in horror. The tray of rice cakes she'd accidentally brushed against was now on the floor—its contents scattered, one piece sticking to the envoy's boot.
The head maid looked ready to faint."Oh no… Eun-bi…"
Eun-bi turned pale. "I—I can explain…"
Jun-yeol glanced over, his expression unreadable."It's fine," he said calmly. "Just clean it up. Next time, watch your step."
The envoy nodded, brushing it off. But the room stayed tense until the very end of the meeting.
When the guests finally left, the head maid approached, rubbing her temples."Han Eun-bi… you are a disaster in human form."
"I know," Eun-bi sighed. "But at least I'm a well-meaning disaster."
Later that afternoon, Eun-bi sat by the koi pond in the garden, staring at her reflection rippling in the water."I think I deserve an award for the number of problems I've caused this week," she muttered.
Seo Mi-sun, another maid, walked up carrying food and chuckled."You're different, Eun-bi. But sometimes, that difference makes this house less rigid."
Eun-bi smiled faintly. "Do you think I can actually survive here, ma'am?"
Mi-sun grinned. "If you stop dropping things, maybe."
From the window of the main hall, Oh Hwa-jin watched them quietly.Her eyes narrowed, and a faint smile curved her lips.
"That girl… she really does draw attention," Hwa-jin murmured. "Even from people who shouldn't be looking at her."
She sipped her tea slowly."Well then, Han Eun-bi… if you plan to stay here, let's see how long you last."
That night, peace settled over the Kang household.Eun-bi had already fallen into deep sleep, unaware that from this day on, her name had begun to whisper through the halls—among the servants, the guards, and even the upper rooms of the mansion.
A tiny rumor had started to spread…and soon, it would grow into a storm.