Seulgi sit still on her chair, her eyes remain fixed on the grey wall of the castle. The notices were everywhere. Every single crook of the castle there would be at least two to three notices - even in the kitchen and the pantry where most servants could not even read, though word has spread and Seulgi remains in her cabinet room, trying hard not to tear apart the flimsy brown paper. The notice stated who was to be married, which was the apparent Princess and Ser Minho, and if anyone knew any reasons the two could not marry they were to come forward with the reason. If the reason was a valid one, the wedding would be prohibited. And Seulgi has so many reasons in mind, though it would be very foolish of her if she comes forward and tell. But she is very much sure that there is no one in the castle who would dare to be against the marriage, not when the King is more than happy to let her sole daughter finally getting wedded off, ending the malicious rumours about the Princess.   Seulgi winced, when someone rapped the wooden table. Looking up, Maester Junmyeon peculiarly stares, “You seem to be out of it again, Seulgi. You’ve been sporting the same frown for the past couple of days I’ve noticed. Is something bothering you?”   Seulgi shook her head, “Nothing, Maester Junmyeon. I’m just…a little tired, perhaps.”   Not quite believing what she spoke, Junmyeon heaves a sigh before staring at the door pointedly, where a familiar man was standing. “You said you’re tired, but I’m very sure you soon would not.”   Seulgi trails to look at what Maester Junmyeon was gazing at and she spun her body behind seeing Jongin, in his body armour and a gladius sword tucked on his right hip. “Thought you wanted to inspect the town once more today?”   The town? Seulgi inwardly questions herself because she definitely had made no plans to visit the town the past few days though Jongin was putting his far best of a straight face, Seulgi knew the man might have something up in his sleeve to show her.   “Oh yes,” Seulgi stood up from her chair, while scrolling the parchment on the table, “Seven hells! I’ve almost forgot about it.”   Maester Junmyeon eyes between them intently, probably trying to sniff the deceiving act, “The town? Isn’t it a bit dangerous for you to go there today, Seulgi? I’ve heard that there has been another abnormal killings?”   “Oh, there is?” Her pupils’ darts quickly to Jongin before looking back at the rolled parchment, “I know nothing of it.”   “Well you should.” Maester Junmyeon took the parchment from her grip and starts to arrange it at one of those dusty shelves, “Strange happenings are occurring lately. Not just in the castle, but also out in the common grounds. Which is why I personally think it would be better for Seulgi to stay in the castle would it not?”   Jongin then reasons out, “Worry not Maester Junmyeon. Lady Seulgi is in save hands if she roams the town. I will make sure she would always be in my sight.”   Seulgi scoffs, “It’s alright, Ser Jongin. I perfectly know how to take care of myself in case you’ve forgotten.” The both of them shared a mutual understanding as they lightly chuckle while Maester Junmyeon remains puzzled.   She faced one on one with Jongin a couple of days back. They had squires, a couple of knights and a worried Seungwan for audience. It was just another normal routine for squires to do their training and suddenly Ser Choi, The Master of Swords, proposed an idea for a friendly match between her and Jongin. Both of them were fast to decline but some knights were ignited by the idea and kept calling them wimpy titles, disregarding the fact that she is a lady – though she was more than fine to be seen as worthy as a knight– the both of them could not refused in the end. Fast forward, Jongin ended up landing on his bottom, earning jeers and laughter while they applause for Seulgi. And once the scene ended, Jongin exposes, “I was just being soft on you, thought you should know.”   “Well if you really are, then we must set another rematch don’t you think?”   “We should.”     “You look very much like one of us, the knights for the King’s banner.” Jongin mutters as he looks sideways to her with a smirk. The both of them were riding separate horses, towards the town. “I heard young babes in the castle have their knees buckled when they look at you. Your new haircut is doing things. Should I be threatened, My Lady?”   Seulgi choose to ignore the tease and puffs her armed chest forward, “Wouldn’t it be risky for us – taking these horses?”   “Not at the moment, no I do not think so.” Jongin answers, “The town hasn’t been lively as it always has. After these increasing killings, everyone has been very much hiding, though not everyone is the target of these murders.”   “What do you mean?”   “Later you shall know.”   Ser Jongin was right. The town lies under a blanket of silence. The rows of taverns and the bustling business under tents were mostly deserted and empty. There were only few men, selling cheap ornaments and jumbles whereas others tents like the fruit sellers, the butcher and the usual trade and sea of people are all lost from their view. They walk past a certain tavern where Seulgi had been the last time she was with Jongin but the sight was a contrast from before.   “What happened here?” Seulgi asked.   A gust of dry wind breezes through the half open door, creaking and groaning with every sway. Some of the windows were shattered and when Seulgi hopped down from her horse and peeked inside, half of the tables were turned over and split in two. The air occupying the space makes it evident that something is not right.   “Come on, there’s someone we need to meet at the brothel.” Jongin ushers, not before Seulgi noticed a slight shudder from the man as he stares at the empty space.   “A brothel you say?”   “There’s a few things I wanted to ask a certain someone.”   If the busy streets of Whiteridge were dead empty, the brothel was otherwise. Women and girls were everywhere – frolicking, entertaining and seducing men, some with shaggy beards and some who might probably be around Jaebum’s age. Seulgi averts her eyes elsewhere when a plump woman, probably in her late 20’s, walk pass them half as she led a drunken man into one of those secluded room in the brothel.   “You’re back. It’s been quite some time.”   A tall elegant woman, wearing a feathered gown over skin as white as snow, greeted them. Of all the girls she had ever spotted in brothels in the East and currently here at Whiteridge, this woman is by far the prettiest. The woman wasn’t just flawless in her bone structure, her skin was like skin over glass and she radiated something in which Seulgi could not pin-point. The woman flickers her eyes towards her momentarily before returning her gaze to Jongin.   “Soojung, it’s been a while.” Jongin nods, “I have something in mind though would it be alright if you spare a room for us?”   “Something in mind?” Her brows raises briefly, before she answers, “Alright then. It’ll cost more than usual you know…since I’m serving the two of you.”   Soojung winks and escorts them upstairs, where Seulgi could explicitly hear more grunts and . And she was more than glad when they arrived at their own secluded room, as the voices died down. When Soojung shuts the door behind and spun around, her gaze once again fell on her as she eyes her from head to toe.   “You must be the infamous daughter of the Chancellor.” Soojung alluringly walks towards her and Seulgi felt her breath hitch, when the woman touched her protected chest. “Some maiden from the castle said you were different from the Lady’s?”   “W-What do you mean by different?”   “Hmm, why I’m wondering the same thing.” Soojung leans to her reddening left ear, “Come by here some other time and we’ll find out together what that different meant.”   “Soojung!” Jongin warns.   The woman pulls back with a chuckle before sitting down on the creaking bed. Her legs crossed, revealing her smooth legs and both her arms spread at her side as she anticipated on what to be said. “Alright then, tell me what’s on your mind wolf boy?”   Seulgi turns to Jongin, eyeing him because she herself does not know the reason why he brought her here. The only news she was being told is more killings been happening around and it was just that, because Jongin did not explain further.   “There’s no whisperers here?” Jongin inquires, asking in a hush tone as he looks around the room.   “Not that I know of,” Soojung lazily observe her, “No.”   “Who were the two girls who got attack last night?”   “Murdered you mean?” Soojung shrugs, “One of them was a new member here. I think she came in around last week. Poor girl was fo