Queen Man-hee's Past 

As Ji-won watched the black limousine disappear into the distance, carrying Seo Hye-jin to her finally resting place, she felt a profound sense of fulfillment. That night, as she lay in her room at the hotel, she couldn't shake the feeling that the hotel itself was alive, pulsing with stories and secrets far older than she could imagine.

Man-hee stood by the window in her own quarters, gazing at the moonlit garden below. Memories and regrets often visited her in the stillness of the night, but this time, she felt a familiar heaviness pull her into sleep.

In her dream, Man-hee was back in the blood-soaked plains of the Goryeo Dynasty, where the stench of decay clung to the air, mingling with the metallic tang of fresh blood. As General Jang Man-hee, she was no longer human but a relentless harbinger of death. Her blade carved through flesh like it sought vengeance of its own, severing limbs and cleaving torsos in brutal efficiency. Blood sprayed in thick arcs, splattering her armor and face, while her boots crushed shattered bones and the remnants of fallen soldiers beneath them. The cries of the wounded were drowned by her battle cries, commanding unwavering loyalty from her troops and striking terror into those who dared to oppose her.

The ground was a sodden mass of gore, slick with the entrails of enemies who dared cross her path. Her strikes were unrelenting—heads rolled, torsos split, and shields splintered under her wrath. She skewered one soldier through the chest and used his dying body as a battering ram to knock down another, her actions devoid of hesitation or remorse. The battlefield was her domain, a crimson hellscape she ruled with ruthless precision, and the remnants of her enemies lay scattered in grotesque heaps as a testament to her unyielding brutality.

They had just returned from a decisive victory, a battle that secured the borders of Goryeo and brought peace to the land. Man-hee and her soldiers marched back to the capital, expecting a hero's welcome. The streets were lined with people, their cheers and praises echoing through the air. Man-hee, clad in her battle-worn armor, felt a rare moment of pride and satisfaction. She had given everything for her country, and now she looked forward to a moment of recognition and gratitude.

But within the palace walls, envy and fear festered. Queen Seon-hwa, the ruler of Goryeo, watched with growing resentment as her general's legend eclipsed her own. Whispers filled the air, and the eunuch, a man of sly ambitions, saw an opportunity. He approached the queen with a poisonous suggestion.

"Your Majesty," he whispered, bowing low, "the people call General Jang a goddess. They speak her name with more reverence than yours. She is a threat to your throne."

Queen Seon-hwa's eyes narrowed, the seed of jealousy taking root. She could not allow her authority to be overshadowed by anyone, not even the savior of her kingdom. In a cold, calculated move, she decided that Man-hee must be eliminated.

On a crisp autumn morning, General Jang Man-hee was summoned to the palace. Clad in her battle-worn armor, she strode through the grand hall with her head held high, unaware of the treachery that awaited her. Queen Seon-hwa sat on her throne, her expression unreadable.

"General Jang," the queen began, her voice icy, "you have served this kingdom well. However, it seems your power and influence have grown too great. It is said that the people worship you as a goddess. This cannot stand."

Before Man-hee could protest, the guards seized her with merciless hands, yanking her to the ground with the force of a wild animal subduing prey. Betrayed and outnumbered, she struggled against them, but their cruelty knew no bounds. They dragged her through the palace halls like a trophy of their treachery, their mocking laughter echoing off the walls. She was thrown into the dirt, her hands bound tightly with rough ropes that bit into her skin.

Their assault began with the sharp snap of a whip, tearing through her flesh and leaving streaks of blood in its wake. Blunt weapons crashed into her ribs, each strike sending a sickening crack through the air. A heated blade was pressed against her shoulder, searing her flesh with the smell of burning skin as her cries echoed into the desolate fields. 

They spat on her, kicked her, and smashed her face into the dirt, grinding her pride and strength into the earth. Bloodied, broken, and humiliated, she was left for dead, her body battered beyond recognition, as the cold wind and darkened skies bore witness to her suffering.

Her death was brutal and agonizing. She lay in the dirt, her body ravaged by pain, and her mind clouded with the betrayal of those she had served so faithfully. Her thoughts turned to the queen, the ungrateful monarch who had sentenced her to this fate out of petty jealousy. Anguish and rage filled her heart as she took her final breaths, the once-mighty general reduced to a tragic figure of suffering.

                                                 ***

     A year passed, and the fields where she was left had grown wild. One fateful day, a mysterious old woman, her presence radiating a divine aura, appeared. She was no ordinary mortal; she was the real goddess, a being of immense power and wisdom. She knelt beside the lifeless body of Man-hee and whispered ancient words that reverberated through the heavens.

Man-hee's eyes fluttered open, her body rejuvenated. The goddess looked upon her with a mixture of pity and sternness.

"You were betrayed, Man-hee, but your soul is strong. For your sins and for the lives you took, you are to serve as the queen of the Hotel of New Beginnings. Here, you will guide lost souls and help them find peace. Only when your penance is complete will you be free."

In the present, Man-hee jolted awake abruptly, the remnants of her dream lingering like a shadow. The hotel was quiet, the only sound the distant hum of life beyond its walls. She rose and walked to the window, her mind heavy with the weight of her past and the burden of her eternal duty. As she looked outside, the moonlight cast a silver glow over the hotel's grounds, a stark contrast to the darkness within her thoughts.

Ji-won, meanwhile, began her day unaware of the haunting dreams of her enigmatic companion. As she walked through the hallways, preparing for the day ahead, she couldn't help but feel that there was so much more to Jang Man-hee's story—stories that the Hotel of New Beginnings held within its timeless walls.

Ji-won's curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to explore the depths of the hotel, areas that even the staff seldom ventured into. While inspecting a particularly dusty and ancient part of the hotel, she discovered a hidden door behind an old tapestry. Pushing it open, she found herself in a small, dimly lit room filled with old relics and documents.

Among the artifacts, she found a tattered journal, its pages yellowed with age. As she flipped through it, Ji-won realized it was a detailed account of Man-hee's past—her rise as a formidable general, the respect and fear she commanded, and the eventual betrayal by her own queen. The words painted a vivid picture of Man-hee's brutal death, her family's tragic end, and the curse that bound her to the hotel.

The more Ji-won read, the more she understood the depth of Man-hee's pain and the heavy burden she carried. She carefully placed the journal back and left the hidden room, her mind racing with the newfound knowledge.

Elsewhere in the hotel, Choi Seo-hee , Kim Min-seo, Kang Hye-rin, and Noh Joon-suk gathered in a quiet corner of the staff quarters. The air was thick with tension as they discussed their growing concerns.

"We can't let Man-hee leave the hotel," Choi Seo-hee began, her voice filled with worry. "Not until we've fulfilled our own wishes. We're all bound here because of her, and if she leaves..."

"We'll be stuck," Min-seo finished, her eyes narrowing. "We need her to stay until we're ready."

Hye-rin nodded in agreement. "But what if she finds a way to break free? We have to be prepared for anything, even if it means..."

"Betrayal?" Joon-suk interjected, his tone heavy. "We owe her everything. But if it comes to that, we must protect our own chances of redemption."

Seo-hee sighed deeply. "I never thought it would come to this, but we have to think about our futures. We'll do whatever it takes to keep her here."

The four of them shared a solemn look, their minds made up. They would do whatever was necessary to ensure Man-hee remained at the hotel, even if it meant betraying the very person who had given them a second chance.

That evening, Ji-won found Man-hee alone in the grand hall, lost in thought. Taking a deep breath, she approached her.

"Man-hee," Ji-won began hesitantly, "I found something today. About your past."

Man-hee's eyes widened slightly, but she remained silent, allowing Ji-won to continue.

"I found a journal... It told me everything. About your life as a general, the betrayal, and the curse. Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Man-hee sighed deeply, her gaze distant. "Because it's a past filled with pain and regret. I didn't want to burden anyone with it, especially not you."

Ji-won stepped closer, her voice softening. "You don't have to carry it alone. I can't imagine what you've been through, but I want to understand. I want to help."

Man-hee looked at Ji-won, her cold exterior momentarily melting to reveal a flicker of vulnerability. "You're the first to know. Not even the staff is aware. It's a part of me I've tried to bury."

Ji-won reached out, gently taking Man-hee's hand. "You've been carrying this for a thousand years. You deserve to be free, too."

Man-hee's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and for the first time, Ji-won saw the depths of her sorrow. Overcome with emotion, Ji-won leaned in and pressed her lips against Man-hee's in a tender, unexpected kiss.

Man-hee froze, momentarily stunned, before she slowly responded. The kiss was brief but filled with unspoken promises and a spark of hope. As they pulled away, Ji-won's heart raced, and she whispered, "We'll get through this together."

Man-hee nodded, a rare smile gracing her lips. "Together."

As the two stood in the quiet hall, a distant figure watched from afar. On top of a nearby tower, the same old woman who had once resurrected Man-hee now revealed to be a true goddess gazed at the giant hotel. Her eyes shone with an ancient wisdom and a touch of sorrow.

"She is finally here to free you, but hearts will be broken because it's fate," she murmured to herself, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. "The paths we take are not always kind, but they are necessary."

Her cold but true words echoed in the night as she continued, "In the end, only those with the strength to endure will find peace. Destiny is not always merciful, but it is just."

The goddess turned away, her silhouette blending into the darkness as she disappeared, leaving the hotel and its inhabitants to face the trials that lay ahead.

- 1872 words.

characters: 9835

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