The night inside Lady Chen’s chamber had become quieter.

The earlier panic had faded slightly after the healer confirmed that her condition was stable.

Soft incense drifted through the room while candlelight flickered gently against the carved walls.

The atmosphere should have felt calm.

But instead—

There was unease lingering beneath every breath.

—

Lady Chen sat near the window now, wrapped in a pale shawl.

Her complexion had regained some color, though traces of exhaustion still remained.

Beside her sat her parents.

Minister Chen looked troubled.

His wife looked even worse.

Her fingers remained tightly clasped together, eyes filled with worry she tried to hide.

And standing nearby—

The Emperor watched silently.

Observing.

Listening.

Thinking.

—

Lady Chen, however, seemed strangely relaxed compared to everyone else.

Almost...

Too normal.

—

"I’ve been thinking," she suddenly said softly.

—

The room turned toward her.

—

Her eyes brightened slightly.

"When I recover fully..."

She smiled faintly.

"...I want to host a flower banquet."

—

Silence.

—

Minister Chen blinked.

His wife froze.

Even the Emperor’s gaze sharpened slightly.

—

"A flower banquet?" her mother repeated carefully.

—

Lady Chen nodded gently.

"Yes."

"I miss gatherings."

"And my friends."

Her expression softened.

"It’s been such a long time."

—

The silence in the room deepened.

Because everyone there—

Knew something she apparently did not.

—

Years ago—

When Lady Chen first entered the palace—

She had hosted a grand flower banquet.

A celebration filled with noble ladies, music, poetry, and performances.

But that same night—

One of her closest friends had died unexpectedly.

After that incident—

Lady Chen never held another flower banquet again.

Never spoke of it.

Never even allowed flowers from that season inside her chamber.

—

Yet now—

She spoke about it casually.

As if none of it had ever happened.

—

The Emperor noticed the way Minister Chen’s expression changed.

Shock.

Confusion.

Fear.

—

Lady Chen continued softly,

"It would be nice."

"We can invite everyone."

"The palace has felt too quiet lately."

—

Her mother’s eyes trembled slightly.

"...Yes."

Her voice was forced calm.

"That... sounds nice."

—

Minister Chen slowly nodded as well.

"...If that is what you want."

—

Lady Chen smiled faintly.

Clearly unaware of the heaviness spreading through the room.

—

The Emperor watched her carefully.

Every expression.

Every movement.

Searching for something unusual.

But all he saw—

Was sincerity.

—

Which made it worse.

—

Because if this was memory loss—

It was selective.

Precise.

Certain events remained.

Others—

Gone.

—

Lady Chen suddenly stood up.

"I feel a little restless."

She looked toward the Emperor.

"May I walk outside for a while?"

—

The Emperor answered calmly,

"You should not go alone."

—

She smiled softly.

"I’ll take maids with me."

"Staying here makes me feel trapped."

—

Her mother quickly nodded.

"Yes, go."

"Fresh air may help."

—

Minister Chen forced a smile as well.

"Do not stay out too long."

—

Lady Chen nodded happily.

Then turned and walked toward the door with two maids following behind her.

—

The moment the chamber doors closed—

The atmosphere changed instantly.

—

The calm mask shattered.

—

Minister Chen slowly lowered his head into his hands.

His wife’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

—

"She forgot..."

Her voice broke softly.

"She forgot so many things..."

—

The Emperor remained silent.

—

Minister Chen looked up again, deeply disturbed.

"Your Majesty..."

"She doesn’t even remember how she collapsed."

"She doesn’t remember where she was found."

"And now..."

He swallowed heavily.

"...even that banquet."

—

His wife finally began crying quietly.

"She cried for months after that incident..."

"She blamed herself for so long..."

"But now..."

Her voice trembled harder.

"She speaks about it as if nothing happened..."

—

The Emperor’s gaze darkened slightly.

—

This confirmed it further.

Something was interfering with memory.

Not randomly.

Carefully.

Specific pieces removed.

Specific emotions altered.

—

Minister Chen looked exhausted suddenly.

Older.

Weaker.

"...What happened to my daughter..."

—

No one answered.

Because no one knew.

—

The Emperor finally spoke calmly,

"She will recover."

—

Both parents looked at him.

—

His tone remained steady.

"...I am already investigating this matter."

"And while she is in the palace..."

"She will be protected."

—

Minister Chen slowly lowered his head.

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

—

But Lady Chen’s mother continued crying softly.

"She was never like this..."

"She remembered everything..."

"Even the smallest things..."

—

The Emperor’s expression remained unreadable.

Yet inside—

His thoughts were turbulent.

—

Because now—

This was no longer suspicion.

No longer coincidence.

—

Someone truly had the ability to influence the mind.

—

And worse—

They were becoming bolder.

—

His gaze shifted toward the closed chamber doors.

Toward the direction Lady Chen had gone.

—

A strange unease settled inside him.

—

Because if memories could disappear—

Then what else could be changed?

Thoughts?

Emotions?

Loyalty?

—

And suddenly—

A terrifying possibility entered his mind.

—

What if this had already happened before?

What if someone inside the palace—

Was no longer truly themselves?

—

The candle flame beside him flickered violently.

The room darkened briefly.

—

Minister Chen’s wife wiped her tears weakly.

"Will she truly be alright...?"

—

The Emperor looked at her.

His voice calm.

Firm.

"...She will."

Then he added quietly,

"As long as I am here..."

"There is no need to worry."

—

The words sounded reassuring.

But deep inside—

Even he no longer knew how much control he truly had over the palace.

Because something unseen—

Was already moving within it.

And it was becoming stronger.

The Girl Who Made Her Tremble

The palace was unusually quiet that afternoon.

A pale golden sunlight stretched across the stone pathways, and the soft sound of wind brushing through the trees created an almost peaceful atmosphere.

But inside the inner palace—

Someone’s heart was anything but peaceful.

—

Lady Chen walked slowly through the corridor with two maids following behind her.

Her expression was calm as usual.

Elegant.

Graceful.

Perfect.

—

But lately—

Her mood had become unstable.

Ever since the Empress survived.

Ever since the Emperor slowly began changing.

Nothing felt secure anymore.

—

Beside her walked Shin Gu.

Head lowered.

Silent.

Her plain white dress swayed lightly with each step.

To outsiders—

She looked harmless.

Almost invisible.

—

But the moment Lady Chen’s eyes landed on her properly—

Something happened.

—

Her steps stopped abruptly.

—

A strange coldness spread through her body.

Not ordinary fear.

Not discomfort.

—

Something deeper.

Instinctive.

Primal.

—

Her breathing became uneven.

—

"...M-Miss?"

One maid looked confused.

—

Lady Chen stared at Shin Gu.

Her face slowly losing color.

—

Her heartbeat—

Fast.

Too fast.

—

Then suddenly—

Her hands began shaking.

—

"No..."

She whispered faintly.

—

The maids panicked immediately.

"Miss!"

"What happened?!"

—

Lady Chen stepped back instinctively.

Her entire body trembling.

—

For a moment—

When she looked at Shin Gu—

She felt like she was staring into darkness.

Endless darkness.

—

Her chest tightened painfully.

—

"...Who..."

—

Shin Gu slowly raised her head.

Her expression calm.

Respectful.

But her eyes—

Cold.

Too cold.

—

"Lady Chen?"

Her voice was gentle.

"Are you alright?"

—

That voice—

Made Lady Chen tremble harder.

—

"Miss!"

One maid screamed loudly.

"Someone call His Majesty!"

—

The commotion echoed through the corridor.

Servants turned.

Guards rushed closer.

—

And within moments—

Fast footsteps approached.

—

The Emperor arrived.

—

The moment he saw Lady Chen shaking violently—

His expression changed immediately.

"Chen’er?"

—

He walked forward quickly.

"What happened?"

—

Lady Chen instinctively grabbed his sleeve tightly.

Her fingers cold.

Still trembling.

—

The Emperor frowned deeply.

"You’re pale."

—

His gaze shifted toward Shin Gu briefly.

Then back to Lady Chen.

"What happened?"

—

Lady Chen looked confused herself.

Her voice weak.

"...I... I don’t know..."

—

She looked again at Shin Gu—

And her body stiffened once more.

—

"...I suddenly felt..."

She swallowed slowly.

"...threatened."

—

Silence.

—

The Emperor frowned slightly.

"Threatened?"

—

Lady Chen nodded weakly.

"...By her."

—

Everyone’s gaze shifted toward Shin Gu.

—

But Shin Gu simply lowered her head respectfully.

This humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Her tone calm.

Steady.

Perfectly controlled.

—

The Emperor studied her briefly.

Then asked,

"Who are you?"

—

Before Shin Gu could answer—

One of the maids spoke quickly.

"Your Majesty, she is Prince Liang’s second wife."

—

The Emperor’s brows lifted slightly.

"...Prince Liang’s?"

—

Shin Gu bowed again.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

—

The Emperor looked back at Lady Chen.

Then sighed softly.

"You are probably unwell."

—

Lady Chen blinked slightly.

"...Unwell?"

—

"You’ve been under stress recently."

His tone gentler now.

"You need rest."

—

But Lady Chen still couldn’t look away from Shin Gu.

That strange feeling—

Wouldn’t disappear.

—

"...I..."

She gripped the Emperor’s sleeve tighter.

"...I don’t know why..."

"...but she scares me."

—

The Emperor glanced at Shin Gu again.

But honestly—

He saw nothing unusual.

Just a quiet noblewoman.

—

"She’s Prince Liang’s wife."

He spoke calmly.

"There is nothing threatening about her."

—

Lady Chen looked uncertain.

"...But..."

—

The Emperor interrupted softly,

"You rarely leave your courtyard lately."

"That’s why you’ve never seen her before."

—

Lady Chen fell silent.

That... was true.

Ever since the palace incidents—

She had isolated herself more.

—

The Emperor gently held her wrist.

"You’re probably exhausted."

—

Then he turned toward Shin Gu.

"You may leave for now."

—

Shin Gu bowed deeply.

"As Your Majesty commands."

—

Her expression remained calm.

Perfectly composed.

—

But as she turned—

A faint smile appeared briefly on her lips.

One so small—

No one noticed.

—

Except—

For a single second—

Lady Chen.

—

And her body trembled again.

—

The Emperor noticed immediately.

"...Enough."

His voice softened slightly.

"You need rest."

—

Lady Chen slowly nodded.

But her eyes remained fixed on Shin Gu’s disappearing figure.

—

"...Why..."

She whispered faintly.

"...Why do I feel like..."

"...she’s dangerous..."

—

The Emperor sighed quietly.

"You’re overthinking."

—

Then he placed his hand gently over hers.

"Go rest."

"I’ll stay with you for a while."

—

Lady Chen finally nodded.

But deep inside—

The unease remained.

—

Because she knew one thing clearly.

—

That fear—

Had not been ordinary.

—

It felt like—

Her instincts were warning her.

—

And somewhere ahead—

Something terrible was waiting.