The rumor spread like wildfire across Joseon.Lord Kang Jun-yeol had broken off his engagement with Lady Im Hwa-jin.
To the common people, it was just gossip.But among the nobles, it was a scandal — an unforgivable disgrace, a betrayal of an alliance that had been written in ink long before either of them was born.
Inside the main hall of the Kang residence, the air was thick and sharp.Lord Kang's father stood tall, his face flushed red with rage.
"Do you realize what you've done?"
Jun-yeol bowed respectfully. "I only spoke the truth, Father. I cannot marry someone I do not love."
"Love?!" his father's voice thundered through the hall."You think this world moves because of love?! You've dragged our family's name into the mud for a servant girl!"
The elders of the family whispered among themselves."The boy's lost his mind.""All because of that servant.""That woman will ruin the Kang name."
Jun-yeol stayed silent, eyes lowered — but unyielding.
His father stepped closer, his anger trembling through every word."From this day on, you are stripped of your inheritance. You will not leave this house without my permission."
Gasps filled the room.But Jun-yeol merely nodded once, calm and resolute.
"If honesty costs me my name," he said softly, "then let it be the price I pay."
A sharp slap cracked through the air.The blow stung, but Jun-yeol did not move.
His father's voice shook with fury and disappointment."You've humiliated me before the entire noble class, Jun-yeol."
Jun-yeol looked up, eyes steady. "Better to shame the world than to betray my own heart."
The news reached every corner of the household — and soon, to Eun-bi's ears.The moment she heard, the pen in her hand slipped to the floor.
"Stripped of his inheritance?" she whispered.
Mi-sun nodded sadly. "Lady Im has left the house in anger. The whole of Joseon is talking about it."
Eun-bi froze, her chest tight with guilt."It's all because of me," she murmured, her voice breaking.
She turned toward the wooden pen on her table, tears welling in her eyes."If I hadn't come here… if I hadn't met him…"
That night, she made a decision.Carrying a food tray, she went to the side hall — where Jun-yeol was being held under guard.
Two guards stood at the door."I was told to bring his meal," she said quickly, lowering her head.
They glanced at each other and let her through.
Inside, the room was dim.Jun-yeol sat quietly by the window, his face tired but calm.When he saw her, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"You came."
Eun-bi's eyes brimmed with tears. "Why, my lord? Why did you go this far?"
"Because staying silent would have hurt you more," he said softly.
"You've lost everything," she whispered.
Jun-yeol shook his head. "No. There's one thing no one can take from me."
"What's that?"
"My feelings for you."
Her breath caught.She looked down, trembling. "I tried to be quiet. I thought if I stayed away, it would be easier."
She took a shaky breath."But I was wrong. Every time I tried to stop thinking about you… I was more afraid of losing you."
Jun-yeol stepped closer, his gaze warm and steady.Her tears fell faster.
"I love you, Lord Kang Jun-yeol," she said, her voice breaking. "Even if the world calls it wrong, I can't stop."
The words hung in the air — fragile, trembling, and true.
Jun-yeol reached out, his voice low."Say it again."
Eun-bi smiled faintly through her tears. "I love you."
Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms — a quiet, desperate embrace.Strong enough to silence the world, soft enough to carry every wound they'd kept hidden.
"Thank you," he whispered, "for saying it at last. Now I know I'm not fighting alone."
Eun-bi buried her face in his chest, her voice barely audible."If the world writes our story in bitter ink, then let me rewrite it in tears."
Outside the room, two young servants peeked around the corner, whispering to each other."This feels like a royal drama.""A royal drama that could get us fired if we get caught!"
And behind the paper doors, beneath the quiet Joseon night,a forbidden love was finally spoken aloud —not with grandeur or glory,but with the courage of two hearts choosing each other,even when the world refused to.