Junho longed for even five minutes of rest—just a moment to breathe before helping the others again. Even as he leaned his back against a cold wall, a cold far worse than running in a storm, he knew he couldn't stay like this for long.
I'm scared to open my eyes…
He whispered it as he slowly opened them, revealing an older man—well into his sixties if his deep wrinkles and snow-white hair meant anything.
"What do you think you're doing, sitting here like this?"
"I apologize, Sir. I'll begin right away."
Junho straightened himself and reached for a knife—only for the entire kitchen to erupt into visible panic.
He blinked, confused by their reaction, until one of the workers rushed forward and snatched the knife from his hand.
Silence fell over the room. The only sound came from an older woman who stepped forward with a loud, sharp voice:
"Stupidity is a talent for you, Junho! How dare you hold a knife after what you did yesterday?"
He replied with a cluelessness that only made things worse:
"And what did I even do? It's not like I was going to throw it at someone."
Their horrified looks confirmed the worst—his careless remark was true.
A crease formed between his brows. He covered his mouth with his hand, a small gasp escaping him. With a lowered voice, he muttered:
"I'm… sorry. It was a moment of anger."
A muffled laugh echoed—not the friendly kind, but pure mockery.
The head servant scoffed:
"A moment of anger? You made everyone think they were going to die, you idiot. You swung it out of nowhere like it was a toy and threw it at one of the knights."
Junho bowed in apology as everyone ignored him and returned to their work.
He tapped his mouth lightly, unsure of what to say or do—especially when none of this body's memories existed in his mind. He remembered the major events… but the daily life? He couldn't recall a thing.
Not as Junho… nor as Seongmin, the one who had read the novel.
He began washing the vegetables, keeping silent—something he wasn't used to.
That feeling of loneliness, even while surrounded by people, was exhausting. He had always been the one the crowd adored, even without saying much.
Everyone hates me.
Can I even win one person over? Someone who could stand as my witness a month from now?
If I act kind, they'll grow suspicious. If I act dumb, they'll bully me.
But if I pretend to be stupid… maybe that could work.
"Hey!! Jinho, bring what you washed and cut the vegetables, hurry!"
A girl shouted with a bright smile and a cheerful voice,
leaving him confused.
It was the first time someone smiled at him without saying something sarcastic or hurtful—almost like a joke.
Could this be my chance?
No, I need to be careful. Tonight is important, and Jinho will probably ruin it with his stupidity. Let's avoid that somehow.
"Alright…"
He said it quietly and walked toward the chopping area, where a few girls worked together, whispering among themselves—surely about him.
"Such a pity… beauty with no manners."
"Don't say that. He's handsome, and he used to be a noble. Doesn't he deserve a chance?"
"A chance? My ass. He's a fallen servant."
He gave them a dull smile and said:
"I'm not deaf."
Silence filled the place again as he went back to his work,
but their words weighed down his mind.
If I was a noble and became a servant, where is the shame in that?
Aurora didn't want to marry the emperor.
She created this whole problem—so why were they exiled, and he left behind to carry the humiliation of her choices?
He didn't want to blame anyone,
but he didn't want to be blamed for something he didn't do.
His thoughts were logical for someone like him.
What he hated most was being held accountable for someone else's mistake.
Being blamed was something he couldn't stand,
especially if it was harsh criticism.
So how about when it was mockery… and ridicule?
These thoughts that could sink an ocean sank Jinho with them,
and he kept working for what felt like an eternity in the kitchen.
Between moments of mockery
and moments of being ignored,
he simply didn't care anymore.
They say the cure for foolish people is to ignore them—
and he really would ignore them.
"Ignore the reckless and you'll live like a prince,"
he whispered to himself to soften the sting of their words.
And he actually managed to form a smile.
He wasn't afraid of being alone,
though of course, he wouldn't like it.
The time had come to prepare dinner on the guests' table before they arrived.
All the guards' eyes were on him, worried he might do something reckless out of spite.
But he was strangely precise—
and calmer than they had ever seen him.
He even stole some glances away from the other maids,
igniting a spark of jealousy among them.
One of them stepped forward to bump into him,
making him stumble backward over a bread basket placed behind him.
He felt his wrist twist when he tried to support himself,
nearly falling completely.
Her malicious laugh
made his blood boil—
But he straightened himself,
holding back any reaction,
and she cleared her throat:
"Aren't you going to apologize to me?"
Jinho replied,
"I'm not obligated to apologize when you were the one who hit me."
She tried to start a fight, but everyone saw she had pushed him.
So she backed away with whatever dignity she had left.
Meanwhile, he tried lifting some pastries from the decorated plates.
His hand trembled from the pain,
but he endured it for a few seconds and placed the dish correctly.
He tried cooling his wrist with his other hand—
which was freezing because of the cold
and the thin clothes he wore.
Damn you. I swear I'll get you back.
He cursed the maid silently,
imagining her with broken ankles at his feet—
when suddenly, the sound of a horn echoed across the entire city
and shook the palace walls.
The lanterns hanging from the high pillars went out,
and he lifted his head toward them.
Looking around, he realized everyone had vanished.
Someone shouted firmly:
"The Crown Prince is entering the palace!"
He tried stepping back,
but the sudden darkness didn't help.
He stood aside—
or so he thought—
until a candle lit up at the palace entrance,
followed by others,
the last one lighting right beside his foot.
The prince entered,
wearing large winter robes whose color he couldn't even make out.
A few knights followed after him.
But Jinho didn't focus on the prince like everyone else.
His eyes went to the man behind him—
the one wearing silver clothing embroidered with black,
and on his broad chest, the emblem of the Knight Commander.
His wide, deep gaze,
and violet eyes
that glowed like a star in the darkness—
Jinho couldn't help but lock his sharp green eyes on him.
The prince approached him
and spoke with a few laughing words…
---