Night descended quicker than Eun-bi expected, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the capital. Music and voices of people, like cicadas in summer, chattered around her. The tantalising smell of food and spices hit her nose, baiting her to go closer, but those had to wait.

Because today, she didn't come out to play.

She was a woman on a mission.

Most of her guards followed her stealthily, concealing themselves among the crowd, while Officer Hyong accompanied her through the bustling streets.

For tonight's mission, her chosen ally was Tae Jin-hee.

She kept her hand firm on the arm she was holding onto, knowing Jin-hee might run away any moment. The poor girl looked more disgruntled than ever. Her feet trudged forward, heavy in reluctance.

"Your Highness," she groaned. "What is the meaning of this? Where are we going?"

"This?" Eun-bi said. "We're enjoying a night stroll together."

Jin-hee stared at her with a look of accusation. "By taking me away in front of my father while you're dressed like...this?"

She waved at Eun-bi's male clothes, looking appalled.

"Of course. How else was I going to leave the palace without a disguise? I barely showed my face, so I doubt your father recognised me." Eun-bi tossed a glance behind them. "He doesn't seem to be chasing after us."

A snort escaped Jin-hee's throat. "That's because your guards are keeping our retainers away," she said. "Father must be thinking that we're a couple and eloping! This isn't good, considering all that time and effort I've spent trying to stop him from marrying me off to another family. Now, he's going to think that it's because I've hidden a lover from him this entire time."

She buried her face in her hands, groaning out loud. "When I return home, he's going to ask questions and kill me. What kind of story am I supposed to make?"

"Well," Eun-bi thought hard. "The best way to stop elders from asking questions is to confuse them."

"Confuse them?"

"You could, perhaps, tell your father something along the lines like, 'he's just a friend of my friend's friend and he's my friend too, so our relationship is nothing more than that?'  While he tries to understand your words, that's your chance to run."

Jin-hee let out a dry, sarcastic laugh. "Ha-ha. That's hilarious, Your Highness. What about my servants? They'll catch me if my father doesn't."

"That all depends on how fast you can outrun. Knowing you..." Eun-bi mulled over in amusement, "that might be too difficult for you."

With a disbelieving snort, Jin-hee adjusted her gat and tugged at the strings tied beneath her chin to secure the hat in place, loosening it for better comfort.

She mumbled under her breath in annoyance. "What was I thinking when I went along with you?" Her gaze dropped, and she glared at the male clothes she was wearing, her voice edging towards hysteria. "And how did I let you persuade me to wear this bunch of ridiculous clothes just like yours? This is insane! You're insane!"

"Hey! You were the one who asked to be friends!"

"Ugh, so that makes me insane as well!"

"Precisely." Eun-bi patted her own outfit in a satisfying manner. "But it's not too bad, isn't it? It feels nice to stretch and walk around like this."

Jin-hee gave a whine of protest. "But we look like clowns!"

"But, " Eun-bi corrected her, "we get to enter a place such as this one."

Eyebrows raised, Jin-hee squinted at the lavish, brightly lit gate they've arrived at. "This is a...courtesan house?!"

She turned on her heels and ran away, but not before Eun-bi got a good grasp on the back of her collar. "Oh no, you don't."

"Release me!" Jin-hee cried helplessly as she got dragged backwards. "You haven't even told me what you're intending to do with me."

"If you had calmed down and listened to me, I would have told you long ago." Eun-bi sighed loudly. "Now, will you help me find a man?"

"A man? Who?" Jin-hee's eyes widened in astonishment. "You're about to betray the Crown Prince. Does he know–"

Eun-bi slapped a hand over the girl's mouth so that she wouldn't finish that sentence.

While she did send a message to Yul that she would be out of the palace on an investigation, she hadn't told him she was headed for the courtesan house.

If he knew what she planned to do, he would definitely forbid her from entering.

However, her men had already tracked down her target. If she waited for another opportunity, she felt like she would miss out on discovering something important.

Eun-bi licked her dry lips nervously. "I'm not betraying the Crown Prince. I'm helping him. Now, if you speak another word and waste another second of our precious time, I will have Officer Hyong escort you to Hyun-jun while you wear that male outfit. Would you want that?"

Jin-hee, now ashen-faced, gulped and shook her head wildly.

It went without saying that she wouldn't want to embarrass herself in front of the man she liked.

"Good." Eun-bi grinned. "Now, we look for Accountant Cha."

She gasped. "Accountant Cha? That handsome teacher? Here?"

"You got it half-correct. I disagree with the part where you described his looks."

"What? How am I wrong–"

"Your Highness." Officer Hyong's voice startled both girls when they realised they had forgotten about him. Poor man. He had heard their ludicrous banter and yet remained as indifferent as ever. "It's this way."

They trailed after him quietly. All donned in their casual noblemen's outfits, they easily fitted in with the rest of the customers who filed into the courtesan house in search of wine and entertainment. The rowdy music and drunken cheers frightened Jin-hee, who huddled closer to Eun-bi.

Eun-bi whispered under her breath. "Let's keep our heads down and try not to talk."

"Honestly, I would much rather prefer we head back to the entrance that we just went through." Jin-hee sighed. "So, what crime did Accountant Cha commit that made you leave the palace? And why this place?"

"He is under suspicion of embezzlement. My men tracked his whereabouts, and an informant mentioned that he frequently visited this courtesan house in late night hours. I'm here to find out why."

The girls exchanged nervous looks, but kept marching forward. A beautiful courtesan, donned in an elaborated flowery dress, came forward to greet them. There was an outdoor musical performance happening soon, and Officer Hyong requested for a booth with the best view. Her eyes shimmered at the silver coins in his hand that he was offering her.

She nodded before ushering them to their seats. Trays of wine, snacks, and little candles were prepared. Eun-bi lowered her head, partially concealing her face, just in case there were officials from the palace visiting this place as well. She wouldn't want any of them to recognise her face and cause her trouble.

Jin-hee shifted closer to her. "I finally remember there is something I need to tell you about Accountant Cha, Your Highness."

Eun-bi knew she made the right choice to meet Jin-hee tonight. The Tae family's daughter had highly inquisitive ears, knowing most gossip that ran through this capital. "What is it?"

"First, how much do you know about him?"

"He's a commoner and one of the top scorers for last year's national exams before getting employed at the Office of Taxation."

"That's true, but there's more. He's adopted by the first son of the Cha family, known for giving birth to generations of brilliant scholars. But...doesn't their family name sound familiar?"

Eun-bi frowned in confusion. It did, but she couldn't put a finger on where she had last heard of their family. An ominous feeling crawled across her skin and set off little goosebumps. "How am I supposed to know? I meet officials in the palace every day and have far too many names to remember."

Jin-hee gave her a pointed look. "At least try it."

She tried again, but failed terribly. "Ugh, I can't remember. Tell me."

Jin-hee shook her head. "Have you already forgotten about the candidates who died during the Selection process? There were two of them and one belonged to the Cha family. She was a daughter of a scholar—the first son of the Cha family."

Hearing this, Eun-bi's stomach sank with dreaded realisation. Memories of the past flocked into her mind—the unpleasant ones—and left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She may have forgotten names, but never the faces.

Cha Ji-eun, the innocent girl who got murdered during the Selection by another candidate.

The King had once confessed his plan to Eun-bi; when he first made her bait, he began by having Minister Park search for a volunteer in his department to work under her.

And the first one to step forward was none other than Accountant Cha.

He had approached her on purpose. Flirted with her. Helped her to achieve her goal, before taking advantage of her ignorance and trust.

Was he only acting out of greed? Or was this in any relation to his deceased family member?

While she had more information on her hands now, she, too, had more questions. Confusion distracted her mind until Jin-hee nudged her side and pointed to the far corner of the palatial outdoor garden.

"Over there, Your Highness. We've found our target."