SMHER 02

2. The Woman Who Is Different by Day and Night

During curfew hours, when no one could be seen except the patrol guards making their rounds, a figure leapt gracefully over a wall.

“You’re a gak late.”

Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Juhyeon, who had arrived earlier, spoke curtly.

“Ah, sorry. Something came up.”

Ja-in laughed awkwardly as she recalled the earlier ordeal of breaking into a cold sweat while trying to avoid the watchful eyes of her household.

“I’d appreciate it if you kept the agreed time.”

Juhyeon spoke coldly and then strode ahead.

Ugh, that temper!

Clenching her fist tightly, Ja-in swung it toward the back of his head.

They had been working together for a year now, yet there was still no sign that his blunt personality would change.

Well, his personality may be trash, but his skills are good. Someone with a heart as vast as the ocean—namely Lady Ja-in here—has to endure it. Who else would? she muttered inwardly.

“Why are you not coming?”

Juhyeon suddenly tilted his head back.

Ja-in, who had been pouting and clenching her fist to herself, hurriedly raised and lowered it in confusion the moment he turned around, stretching her lips into an even more awkward smile.

“Ahaha… just warming up. I skipped training today, so my body feels a little stiff. One, two! One, two!”

A deep sigh escaped from Juhyeon’s lips.

Shaking his head, he turned and walked ahead again. Watching his back, Ja-in grumbled inwardly, Yeah, yeah, you’re so great.

Five years ago, Ja-in had begun robbing corrupt officials at night and distributing their wealth to poor commoners.

One year ago, she had met Juhyeon by chance.

Meeting someone dressed the same and doing the same work was a surprisingly unusual experience.

After all, strictly speaking, what they did was theft.

Perhaps that was why they had felt such immediate familiarity and grown close so quickly.

But that was not the only reason.

Ja-in wanted to rise above petty theft and do something greater, while Juhyeon had his own goal—finding a golden Buddha statue.

Their only condition for working together was simple: neither would ask about the other’s identity or personal life.

Even when Ja-in was late like this, Juhyeon never interrogated her—never demanded to know why she was late.

His personality might be prickly and sharp, but deep down he was not a bad person.

By the time Ja-in reached that conclusion, she had forgotten her earlier grumbling and quietly followed Juhyeon into the shadow of a dark corner of the building.

Tonight’s target was the residence of Kim Gyoseok, a Jangnyeong of the Office of the Inspector-General—a fourth-rank official responsible for investigating corruption among officials and resolving the grievances of the people.

Rumor had it that the very man tasked with punishing corruption was accepting bribes and selling government posts.

Even though what she did was theft, Ja-in had principles.

She only targeted corrupt officials—those who exploited the people and committed vile abuses.

Because of that, she had earned a nickname.

The Great Thief Hongmaehwa.

The name came from the red plum blossom engraved on the hilt of the sword she used.

With practiced hand signals, the two assessed the armed guards protecting the storehouse.

Six in total.

Perhaps because of his guilty conscience, Kim Gyoseok had hired private soldiers to guard his treasury.

When Ja-in raised six fingers, Juhyeon expressionlessly gestured for her to handle them.

So that’s the price for being late.

Pouting slightly, Ja-in cracked her knuckles before drawing her sword and slipping into the middle of the guards in an instant.

“W-Who are you?!”

“It’s Hongmaehwa! Hongmaehwa has appea—ugh!”

Moving like the wind between them, Ja-in swung her blade.

Her technique was simple: strike vital points with the flat of the blade, knocking opponents unconscious instantly.

Ja-in had rarely been outmatched by men in combat.

Confident, she subdued the group quickly. The private soldiers in the capital were rarely exceptional.

When the last guard’s heavy body collapsed, Juhyeon casually stepped forward, removed the key from the guard’s belt, and leisurely opened the storehouse door.

Honestly…

Catching her breath, Ja-in felt irritation rise at his relaxed demeanor and once again raised her clenched fist toward the back of his head.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

As he turned sharply, she was caught red-handed.

“Ah… well… I think I twisted my arm earlier? My shoulder kind of hurts.”

Ja-in awkwardly unclenched her fist and rotated her arm.

“Here?”

Juhyeon stepped closer and touched her shoulder.

It had been a casual lie, but his serious response left Ja-in flustered.

He was a man, after all. Any contact that might reveal her identity was something she had to avoid.

“Ah, it’s fine now.”

Shaking off his hand with forced nonchalance, Ja-in strode into the storehouse.

Watching her, a faint smile tugged at Juhyeon’s lips.

Inside, Ja-in first surveyed the scale and types of wealth stored there.

In the past, she used to steal slave contracts and burn them. But after that happened a few times, the rumors must have spread—those documents now seemed to be stored elsewhere.

She began filling a sack with coins, prioritizing what would be easiest to carry.

Meanwhile, Juhyeon searched through areas filled with porcelain and valuables.

For years, he had been searching for a golden Buddha statue.

A suspicious box sat in the far corner of the storehouse.

Breaking the lock with his scabbard, Juhyeon opened it.

Inside lay a Buddha statue about a foot long.

“Did you find it?”

Seeing his unusual expression, Ja-in asked with wide eyes.

Juhyeon turned the statue over, inspecting it carefully.

Then he shook his head.

It was not the one he was looking for.

Ja-in sighed softly and glanced at him.

She was curious about the golden Buddha he sought, but their rules prevented her from asking.

It seemed he wasn’t simply searching for any golden Buddha—he appeared to be checking for some sort of marking carved into it.

Forget it. Even if you’re curious, just endure it. Mind your own business.

Ja-in bit her lip, forcing the question back down.

“I’ll contact you later about the next location.”

With a hardened expression, Juhyeon disappeared into the darkness.

Ja-in quickly hoisted her sack and left the residence.

Later, she entrusted the sack of coins to Changsu’s father, who handled such matters for her, and hurried home.

After carefully checking to ensure no one had awakened, Ja-in slipped into her room and swiftly changed clothes.

In moments, the thief Hongmaehwa vanished.

In her place lay a noble young lady resting upon her bedding.

Why is he searching for that golden Buddha statue?

The lingering curiosity kept sleep from coming easily tonight.

Bright moonlight spilled through the window.

Who could possibly imagine that a noble lady lived her life with day and night completely reversed?

A bitter smile touched Ja-in’s lips as she gazed at the moonlight.

The reason she had learned martial arts stemmed from her mother’s death.

When Ja-in was three years old, a band of thieves had broken into their home.

While stealing valuables, they encountered Ja-in’s mother—and killed her.

Ja-in’s father, Min Heebo, the Minister of Military Affairs, was devastated.

After that tragedy, he had his young daughter trained in martial arts so she could protect herself.

Thinking back on it now, Ja-in still found it strange.

What kind of thieves would dare break into the home of the Minister of Military Affairs?

Whatever the truth, Ja-in had lost her mother—and gained martial arts.

Lost in thought, she tossed and turned in bed.

For some reason tonight, her heart felt strangely cold, and memories of the past stirred her emotions.

* * *

“Miss! Miss! Please wake up! Hurry!”

“Mmm… just… just a little longer…”

When Ja-in refused to wake up properly, her maid Bonghee was nearly beside herself with panic.

“Ah, really! This isn’t the time! The Master is coming!”

“Hmm? The Master…?”

“Yes! The Master!”

“Father? My father?!”

Ja-in shot upright in shock.

“Hurry! Hurry! He’ll arrive any moment!”

She hurriedly began putting on her clothes.

“Miss, you put your jacket on backwards.”

Bonghee broke into a cold sweat while helping.

“Here—your socks!”

“Oh my goodness, you can’t put the hairpin there!”

“No matter how rushed you are, please tie your ribbons properly!”

After a chaotic flurry of dressing that resembled the aftermath of a summer typhoon, Ja-in suddenly appeared perfectly composed.

Smiling gracefully, she greeted her father.

“Father, what brings you here personally? If you had something to say, you could have simply summoned me.”

Bonghee shook her head in disbelief at the sight of Ja-in speaking with such elegance, as if she were a completely different person.

“You two may speak.”

Since disaster had been avoided, Bonghee quickly slipped out of the room.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, Father.”

Looking at his daughter after so long, Heebo felt complicated emotions stirring within him.

The matter he had come to discuss was too serious for casual conversation.

As Ja-in sat down, she suddenly felt something strange.

One of her feet felt… bare.

Sure enough, her left foot had no sock.

Afraid her father would notice, she tucked her foot under her skirt and scanned the room.

The missing sock lay crumpled behind Heebo.

“The reason I came today is to discuss your future.”

“Ah… I see.”

Ja-in replied politely, though she was barely listening.

Her entire focus was on figuring out how to retrieve the sock without being caught.

“You may not like it, but starting tomorrow, you must begin entering the palace.”

“Ah… the palace.”

“You don’t seem very surprised. I was worried you might be startled.”

Heebo tilted his head.

Only then did Ja-in process his words.

“What? The palace? Did you just say the palace?!”

She jumped to her feet in shock.

Her bare left foot was instantly exposed.

Heebo’s brow furrowed.

But Ja-in was still too stunned by the word palace to realize.

“Tsk. Just the same as ever.”

“W-What do you mean?”

Looking around the room once, Heebo easily spotted the missing sock, picked it up, and handed it to her.

“Gah!”

Ja-in let out a strange sound as she hastily shoved her foot into it.

“This was not my decision. The court has already determined it. I’m worried whether you will manage your duties as Princess Jeonghye’s companion.”

“Did you just say Princess Jeonghye’s companion?”

“Yes. That is what I said.”

“Is there any way to refuse?”

“For now… there is not.”

Father and daughter fell silent.

Both wore troubled expressions.

Heebo knew well how absent-minded his daughter could be.

And Ja-in herself didn’t fully trust her own abilities.

“Please don’t worry. I’m not the same person I used to be. I’ve learned etiquette and scholarship just as well as any other noble lady. I will do my best not to disgrace our family.”

After reassuring her father at length, Ja-in saw him off.

If she couldn’t avoid it, then she would simply have to face it.

Still, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

This was the greatest crisis of her double life.

Ja-in shivered slightly.

It felt as though she were walking straight into the eye of a storm.