"I can't believe I'm lost."
Rein had been walking for hours but still couldn't find her way back. With no other choice, she wandered down the dimly lit hallway until she stopped.
Before her stood a strange, unfamiliar door.
"Finally, an exit."
Relieved to leave the corridor behind, she walked closer, only to notice odd markings etched into the door.
"Why does it look familiar?" she murmured, reaching out to trace the drawing with her fingertips. A strange feeling washed over her—something familiar—but the memory refused to surface.
Driven by curiosity, she was about to turn the knob when a faint thud echoed through the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.
"Who's there?" she called out, fear creeping into her voice.
She turned her head swiftly—and froze.
A middle-aged woman stood just a few feet away. Judging by the plain grey uniform and modest cap, she appeared to be a maid. Her posture was still, hands folded neatly in front of her apron. Calm—almost unnaturally so. Her eyes were soft, almost gentle, but the way she stared—unblinking and silent—sent chills down Rein's spine.
The woman did not flinch. Did not speak. She simply stood there like a statue come to life.
Rein had not expected to see anyone, especially not here. And the maid's eerie stillness made it feel like she had stepped into the heart of a ghost story.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously, her voice now quieter. "What are you doing in a place like this?"
The maid blinked slowly, but still said nothing.
Rein took a hesitant step toward her. "Did you not hear me? Who are you?"
The woman finally moved—just a slight tilt of her head, as though studying Rein.
Then, in a soft voice barely above a whisper, she said, "You should not be here."
Rein's brows furrowed. "Why not?"
The maid's gaze shifted past her, toward the shadowy end of the corridor. "This place… it does not welcome strangers. Some doors are better left unopened."
Her words were vague, but her tone held weight.
Rein stepped back, cautious. "Is that a threat?"
The maid smiled then—a strange, knowing smile. "No, my lady. A warning."
Before Rein could ask another question, the woman turned and disappeared into a side hallway, her footsteps eerily silent.
Rein stood frozen, heart pounding. Her instincts urged her to flee—but her curiosity urged her louder.
She turned the knob. There was a click—but not the kind a normal lock made. She frowned, shrugged, and pushed the door open.
"What are you doing here?"
A voice rang out behind her, halting her just before she could fully open the door.
"Ahh, who is this again?" Rein muttered, trying to recall the voice's owner.
She turned in the direction of the voice. At first, the figure was unclear, so she moved a little closer. But even from a distance, she could feel the intensity of his golden eyes fixed on her.
Finally, she could see him clearly.
He was... different from the others. Handsome—not necessarily in a conventional way—but there was something about him that made him stand out in any crowd. His skin was fair, almost pale. His golden-brown eyes stood in stark contrast to his light-toned face. Those eyes were deep and expressive—dangerously so. One could get lost in them, if they stared long enough.
"Men in this world are handsome," she whispered under her breath, unaware that the lord had heard her.
"I will ask again—what are you doing here? This place is forbidden to outsiders," he said fiercely.
"I was just… admiring the designs of the door," she said, looking innocent. "I'm also supposed to ask you, what were you doing walking in this hallway?"
But he wasn't amused by her. "Do not play games with me," he said coldly. "This door was closed and sealed for a reason. What were you trying to do? Steal something?"
Rein scoffed at what he said. "I'm not interested in your stupid secret." Though deep down, she was curious about what was behind the door.
Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "You really don't know who I am?"
Confused by his question, she tilted her head. "Should I? You just have a pretty face with a bad personality."
"You really do have a bad mouth."
"Yeah, I know, and I ain't changing it for anyone," Rein snapped. In her past life, because of love, she pretended to be meek and understanding, but that wasn't her true personality.
He stepped closer, his presence overpowering. "I'm Jake, the prince this family keeps on a leash like a dog, just like you. But I wasn't bought—I was taken in."
That caught her off guard. "So why don't you escape?" she asked. But instead of answering, she received a look.
It was a look that asked, Are you stupid?
"Woah, sorry for asking," Rein said, agreeing reluctantly.
Jake shifted back toward the door. "You touched the door, didn't you?"
Confused, Rein folded her arms. "What if I did? It's just an ordinary door with weird drawings."
"No," he said firmly, "it's a lock. One that keeps certain secrets from coming out."
"Then why does the drawing feel a little familiar to me?" Rein whispered a little out loud enough for Jake to hear.
Jake moved a little closer, his breath touching her skin. "What did you say? It felt familiar to you?"
Rein hesitated. "I don't know what you are talking about." Feeling a little guilty, she stepped backwards away from him.
Jake looked at her guilty movement for a few seconds.
"Liar."
He finally stepped aside. "Leave before I change my mind. You were lucky you didn't meet Fred here."
Rein raised an eyebrow at what he said. "I would have left if I knew my way back," she said sarcastically.
She muttered, "Guess I'll try to figure out my way back."
Jake arched a brow. "Then why were you wandering in circles for hours? " he said, his filled with sacarsm.
Rein's eyes widened. "You were following me?"
He gave a smug smirk. "No. You're just loud. I could hear your footsteps."
She glared at him. "Wow. Thanks."
Jake sighed, pushing off the wall. "Come on. You turn left at the next hallway, go up the spiral stairs, then the first door on the right. If you reach the armory, you've gone too far. And I won't be coming to save you again."
Rein blinked. "Wait... why help me?"
He turned his head slightly, golden eyes sharp. "Because if someone else finds you where you're not supposed to be, you won't get a second warning."
Then he walked away without waiting for her thanks.
Following his description, she reached the hallway. "So much for trying to escape," she mocked.
She was about to go forward when she heard some footsteps.
This time, it was one of the maids that were appointed to take her to the room. "Here you are! I've been looking for you. You shouldn't run off like that."
"Yeah, I know," Rein said with sarcasm.
"Let's go back to your room," she said, this time her eyes were fixed on Rein. She couldn't risk losing Rein again.
Without protest, Rein followed her, but her mind never left the strange door and the secret it held.
Who was that guy?
—
A soft knock could be heard.
A man could be seen in the room seated in his chair, no emotion in sight on his face, only taking a sip of his wine.
"Open," a deep and cold voice commanded, followed by the click of the door being opened.
"Good day, Mr. Fred," the person said. If Rein were here, she would have known it was the same maid she met.
"Yeah," he said nonchalantly. "What's brought you here?" he asked.
"The new girl you brought was seen in the forbidden territory." she said.
Fred's hand tightened around the glass.
"Did she touch it?"
"I warned her, but she refused to leave, and she also met him."
Hearing this, Fred's gaze darkened.