The throne hall was nothing like I imagined. It wasn't just grand…it was out of this world.
Golden pillars lined the room like silent sentinels, stretching so high they seemed to pierce the heavens. Murals of dragons and phoenixes coiled across the ceiling, watching us with painted eyes. The floor beneath our feet was polished jade, so smooth I could see my reflection tremble beneath me.
We were twenty in total…twenty newly chosen maidens in matching white silk robes, each bearing the royal seal stitched in silver thread at our shoulders. We stood in two neat rows, heads bowed, hearts thunderous.
The air was thick with perfume and expectation.
Then came the sound.
A low gong. Followed by footsteps. Dozens of them.
We dared not raise our heads.
"His Majesty, King Hyunsu, Son of Heaven, Voice of the Stars," announced the chief eunuch, his voice sharp as a blade.
Silence fell like a sword.
I peeked.
He was young. Younger than I expected. No older than thirty, with a sharp jawline and a gaze that commanded submission. His robe shimmered with crimson and gold, and his black hair was bound in a jade clasp. He didn't walk…he glided, each step deliberate, measured.
He sat on the throne like he had been born on it.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then his voice cut through the silence.
"Raise your heads."
We obeyed.
His eyes swept over us. Slowly. Like he was memorizing every face.
"You are here because you were chosen," he began. "Chosen not merely for beauty, but for possibility. You are no longer daughters of potters or bakers or fishermen. You are maidens of the Inner Court. My court."
He stood. The robe cascaded around him like fire.
"Here, you will be trained. Schooled in language, etiquette, poetry, and dance. You will serve, and you will learn. But above all…"
He stepped forward. We held our breath.
"…you will please me."
The hall was silent.
Not of surprise…we knew. But to hear it spoken so plainly, so unapologetically, was different.
King Hyunsu's gaze landed on one girl. She nearly fainted.
"I will not force what is not given," he said calmly. "But understand, I will not reward pretense. If you wish to catch my attention, you will. If you wish to fade, you will. But do not think fading protects you. This court is not kind to shadows."
He turned.
"Lady Hyerin, explain the rules."
She stepped forward with grace sharpened into steel.
"There will be no direct requests to the king. You will speak only when addressed. Training begins at sunrise, and ends at dusk. Meals will be shared in rotation. A maiden summoned to the king's quarters must attend...refusal will be considered disgrace. No visitors. No letters. No lies."
"Any questions?" the king asked.
One girl raised her hand. Brave… Or stupid.
"Yes?"
She swallowed. "What… what becomes of a maiden who displeases Your Majesty?"
He smiled.
It was not a kind smile.
"She is replaced."
Silence.
Then he stepped down from the dais, walking between us.
My breath caught when he neared me. His gaze met mine for a heartbeat too long.
"Name?" he asked.
"Yeonhwa, Your majesty" I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
His eyes searched mine. "You fought the scouts."
I blinked. "Yes, Your Majesty," I said shyly.
He tilted his head. "And yet you are here."
"I had no choice."
"You always have a choice," he said, low enough that only I heard. "But some choices cost more than others."
He moved on.
I stood frozen.
When he reached the end of the line, he turned to face us all.
"In seven days," he said, "a banquet will be held. The court will attend. I will observe you again then. Make yourselves worthy of my gaze."
With that, he left.
The chief eunuch clapped his hands. "Back to your quarters."
But the damage had been done.
As we filed out, whispers bloomed like wildfire.
"He spoke to you," one girl hissed, grabbing my sleeve. "What did he say?"
"Did you see how he looked at her?" another murmured.
"She's already marked."
"No. She's already doomed."
I kept walking, but my heart raced.
Already, the game had begun.
And I was playing whether I wanted to or not