Chapter 05
“Ah…”
The moment she realized it, tears fell.
Drop… drop…
“S-Soya?”
Startled, I-rim looked at her, unsure of what to do.
“I’m sorry. The tears just came out… I’m just really happy.”
Soya smiled brightly and wiped her eyes.
Because she was happy.
And because it felt so unfamiliar.
Since that day three years ago, no one had spoken to her so kindly.
It was also the first time anyone had wished her a happy birthday.
Then she suddenly realized something else—
That day, three years ago, when she was abandoned by her family…
It was her sixth birthday.
Soya swallowed the bitterness.
“Thank you… for coming to keep your promise.”
She held the ornament I-rim had given her tightly in her hand.
I-rim looked at her quietly, then held out his hand.
“Let me see that for a moment.”
He gently attached the ruby ornament to her jeogori.
Then he said simply,
“It suits you.”
“……”
“It finally found its rightful owner.”
At his soft praise, Soya’s face turned red.
Honestly, she felt the keepsake didn’t suit her shabby appearance at all, but…
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
She smiled happily.
I-rim smiled faintly back.
“Just call me ‘oppa’ like before.”
The two of them sat side by side on a flat rock, chatting quietly.
“More importantly… what happened to you?”
He asked carefully.
“You look very different from how I remember. Can you tell me what’s happened to you all this time?”
Soya hesitated.
She felt ashamed to reveal her ugly secret to someone from her past—
But she didn’t want to lie.
“I…”
She confessed that she was a sinner who had taken the young lady’s place.
As Tae I-rim listened silently, his brows furrowed.
Something felt wrong.
“But… that doesn’t make sense…”
He muttered, then suddenly stood up.
“Oppa?”
“Soya.”
He grabbed both her hands.
Her small hands were rough, as if she had done too much hard work.
That made his heart ache.
The soy in front of him—
was no longer the bright child he remembered.
She had a shadow now.
And he knew—
It must be because of her family.
Thinking of how withdrawn she had looked earlier, and how her family treated her like she didn’t exist—
He grew angry.
Even if she really took the real daughter’s place… that was never her fault.
And yet—
despite being treated with hostility by those she once called family—
Her gentle smile had not changed.
Irim wanted to protect that smile.
Even if he might already be too late.
“I need to return to the imperial palace. There’s something I must look into.”
“Ah…”
A trace of disappointment appeared on Soya’s face.
Seeing that, I-rim hesitated.
But perhaps—
if he searched the imperial archives—
He could uncover the truth behind the strange feeling that had been bothering him.
And maybe—
just maybe—
He could take Soya away from here.
“Don’t be too sad. I’ll come back soon. And when I do…”
He smiled.
“I want to take you to the imperial palace—if you agree.”
“……”
Soya simply stared at him, unable to respond.
With a grin, I-rim hooked his pinky finger around hers.
just like she had done three years ago.
But—
from afar,
A pair of eyes watched everything.
* * *
That night, the prince left in a hurry.
The next morning—
“Tell the truth. You stole this, didn’t you?”
Lili shouted sharply at Soya.
In her hand was the ornament Soya had received from I-rim.
“N-no, Miss.”
Though trembling, Soya spoke firmly.
“I didn’t steal it. P-please give it back.”
Seeing Soya speak up instead of quietly submitting, Lili’s face twisted.
“How dare you lie!”
Lili hated Soya.
From the very first moment she saw her.
She didn’t like that there was another girl her age in the mansion.
She didn’t like that a mere servant had a prettier face than her.
And she didn’t like how their father and brother seemed to pay subtle attention to Soya.
So Lili deliberately kept Soya as her personal maid—
to constantly remind her of their difference in status.
Sometimes, she even encouraged the other maids to bully her.
Of course, she did it carefully—
so she could still appear kind and gentle.
Yesterday, Lili had planned to humiliate Soya.
She wanted to show her shabby appearance in front of the prince.
This will teach her her place.
But things didn’t go as planned.
From the moment the prince stepped out of the carriage and looked at Soya—
She had a bad feeling.
And then—
She saw them talking together that night.
She couldn’t hear what they said.
but when she saw the prince pat Soya’s head and give her the ornament—
Rage burned inside her.
I don’t know what tricks she used, but I’ll get rid of her before the prince comes back.
So Lili accused Soya of theft—
using the ornament as evidence.
The prince had already left, so there were no witnesses.
She planned to get rid of Soya before he returned.
“I didn’t steal it… It’s really true…”
Soya pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.
“If you didn’t steal it, then where did you get it?”
“That’s…”
Soya couldn’t answer.
Even if I say the prince gave it to me… no one will believe me.
Just then—
“Isn’t that… the late madam’s ornament?”
One of the maids muttered.
“What?”
Lili snapped her head toward her.
The maid froze—but it was too late.
“The late madam… then that means it’s my mother’s?”
Lili’s voice trembled.
“Why… why do you have my mother’s belonging?”
At her sharp question, the color drained from Soya’s face.
“Make sure Lili never learns who you are. If she is hurt because of you, I will not forgive it.”
Her father’s warning echoed in her mind.
“I-it’s… that’s…”
“Answer me!”
Lili dropped her kind facade and shoved Soya.
Soya’s small body hit the ground hard.
At that moment—
Jeok A-yun and Hwa-yu arrived and saw everything.
“Lili…!”
The fragile peace shattered.
* * *
Lili learned the truth—
that Soya was the “fake” daughter who had taken her place.
Shocked, Lili fell ill, and the entire mansion was thrown into chaos.
The servants whispered about Soya.
Shameless girl. She stole the young lady’s place and still hasn’t apologized.
Poor Lady Lili…
Their words pierced Soya like needles.
“I-I have to apologize… I have to say I was wrong… I’m sorry for taking your place…”
Soya went to Lili’s room.
She had to apologize.
Even if her sin was unforgivable—
if her apology could ease Lili’s pain even a little—
Standing in front of the closed door,
She took a deep breath.
Then—
“Get rid of her.”
Soya froze.
“I can’t live under the same sky as her. If you don’t want to see me die, get rid of her before the prince comes back for her.”
“Alright.”
The answer came immediately.
It was Hwa-yu’s voice.
