Kang Lee-Jae had often seen celebrities on TV in person since she was young. She had even seen influential figures from political and business worlds, who were rarely seen on TV.
It was thanks to her granny, Yeongsan, who raised her instead of her parents who abandoned her.
People didn’t know much about it, but people who were really hard to meet weren’t celebrities or influential figures in politics, but someone like Granny Yeongsan.
Because she was a renowned shaman who was difficult to book an appointment with due to her highly appreciated spiritual abilities.
Even if someone managed to make an appointment, if she thought she had nothing to tell them, she would refuse payment and send them away immediately. She was a sharp and demanding old woman.
As the saying went, “Even a dog at a private school can recite poetry after three years.”* Perhaps for Lee-Jae it was due to early education.
*TN: A proverb that suggests that with enough time and exposure, anyone (or even an animal) can learn something, even if it seems unlikely at first.
Or maybe she was born that way.
Lee-Jae’s spiritual senses, which began to manifest when she was seven, became even clearer with time as she lived with Granny Yeongsan.
And she knew all too well the fate of people like her.
Once your eyes are opened, the next step is the arrival of a spirit. If you do not accept the spirit, you become ill or, in severe cases, even die.
People called this ‘spirit sickness’.
Lee-Jae did not want the slightest chance to be sick or die, even though her eyes had only just opened.
So, she had to comply with her situation.
‘Grandma, please perform a ritual for me. I don’t want to be sick like that old man. I want to do it before I get sick.’
‘You silly girl, always talking nonsense after eating well. You’re not destined to receive a spirit. Just do the dishes and go sit down.’
What does it mean to be destined to receive a spirit? Why did Granny say that she wasn’t?
Lee-Jae finally understood the reason after twenty-five years of being alive.
She was destined to die young before she could receive a spirit!
Granny knew it all along.
The empty and complex feelings from the moment the bus overturned were still vivid to her.
“Tragic, truly how tragic this is…”
In the mirror was Hailey Duncan, with her peach colored hair and apple-like cheeks.
Her face still had that mark of youthful innocence, looking like a young girl. But to Lee-Jae, something else always stood out first.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head.
“I know you’re pretty, but you don’t have the best luck either.”
Hailey, like Lee-Jae, had no luck with her parents and died young. Feeling awkward with the unfamiliar face, she tried different expressions before turning away weakly.
Four days had passed since the wedding, but Lee-Jae hadn’t seen the King again. With no official schedule, she spent the whole day alone after brief meetings with the maids.
This is why they say you shouldn’t give a civilian a reading without getting paid.
She didn’t expect any greetings from the King, but she still felt a bit disappointed.
Even though it was an expected outcome, she felt this way because her life had been incredibly lonely.
But Lee-Jae shook it off and decided to start the task she had been planning to do for days.
The spirits whose existence had been revealed occasionally bothered Lee-Jae. Similarly, Lee-Jae, who had loudly announced her presence through the ‘slip incident’, could no longer ignore them.
It was strong evidence that this so-called second life was ruined too.
– Roderick is a drunkard!
– He will definitely cut off your head! That’s your destiny! You can’t escape it!
– You will die! You will definitely die! Die! Hahaha!
“Thanks for letting me know. But I’ve already died once, so dying right away seems too harsh. And I need to see his face first…Oh god, who am I talking to right now?”
At least this was a relatively safe place, and they were all just minor spirits. Lee-Jae clicked her tongue and rolled up the paper she had brought from the study.
She lit the paper with a candle from the silver candlestick stand and started tapping it against the walls.
It was a ritual to drive away evil spirits.
Since she didn’t have the ability or the intruding nature to make them all reach nirvana, she decided to send them away quietly, just like a few days ago.
Lee-Jae started writing talismans with much more effort than a few days ago. As she hid the talismans behind picture frames and under the bed, successfully completing the barrier, she finally scanned the room again.
But she saw a spirit that hadn’t left, shivering with its face buried in a chest.
Its head was hidden in the chest, but its round bottom was sticking out, unable to find a place to go.
Seeing something so creepily cute, it couldn’t be a vengeful spirit, right?
The Palace really had all sorts of things.
“Hey, who are you? Aren’t you going home?”
The spirit slowly turned its head towards Lee-Jae. Focusing and narrowing her eyes, she could read its expression a little.
Its round eyes were tearful.
– This is my home.
Lee-Jae couldn’t help but chuckle. Feeling no malice or resentment, she spoke as if soothing a child.
“Don’t cry, it’s just you and me. Since when have you been here?”
– …Who are you?
“Lee-Jae. Kang Lee-Jae, that’s my name.”
– Lee-Jae?
“Yes, I’m Lee-Jae.”
She was able to say her name aloud for the first time here.
“What’s your name?”
– Name? I don’t have one. I didn’t have anyone to call me… You’re the first human to see me.
“Really?”
– Yes, Lee-Jae. I’m actually very scared.
“What are you afraid of? Me?”
Is it because of this? It doesn’t seem like a vengeful spirit at all.
Just in case, Lee-Jae blew out the flame on the paper. She soon realized the reason.
Ah… the chest was cracked.
The chest, which looked like a jewelry box, was clearly not an ordinary object. It looked as if it was at least a hundred years old.
Wasn’t something like this almost a national treasure?
Why would they leave something like this in a room I’m using?
That being with an ambiguous gender seemed like a thought-form that dwells in very old and antique objects.
It must have been sleeping inside the chest, but as the chest started to break, it couldn’t hide itself properly or use its power freely.
And touching such an object carelessly can lead to big trouble.
The adults’ advice not to pick up other people’s belongings wasn’t for nothing.
A moment of respect should be observed for the wisdom of our ancestors.
“Sorry, I can’t do this. I can’t help you.”
Lee-Jae, who valued her own safety above all else, said firmly.
– …
“…”
Its big eyes just stared at Lee-Jae. It had eyes that seemed to be aware that it was cute and made use of it efficiently.
“No, I can’t help you even if you look at me like that.”
– …
“If I touch it wrong, I’ll get possessed, and you’ll disappear too.”
Nevertheless, its big eyes kept looking at Lee-Jae. Now she could see it pouting its pale lips.
“Instead, I’ll make sure no evil spirits can enter this room. I’m doing that right now. That way, you won’t be scared either. Is that okay?”
– Yes! That’s good! And…
“And?”
– Can you put one of those things you’re holding in your hand into my home too?
Lee-Jae could guess that the chest, which looked about a hundred years old, must be at least several hundred years old.
She had no choice but to do so if the being wanted it that much.
Lee-Jae carefully opened the box and put a talisman in it.
Seeing the happy expression of it feeling safe, she couldn’t help but smile. It was the first bright smile she had shown since coming here.
* * *
Early in the morning the King received a visit from the First Knight Commander.
“Glory to Cayenne.”
As Jade gave a solemn salute, Roderick nodded slightly.
The King’s friend could gauge the King’s mood and condition relatively well.
Despite having the troublesome Duncan family as in-laws, the King’s condition seemed quite good these past few days.
“There was a smell of something burning in Her Majesty’s bedroom.”
“A burning smell?”
Roderick furrowed his brow as if he had heard something completely unexpected.
“Yes, some ashes were found in the room.”
“After the puddle, is she planning to jump into a fire pit?”
Roderick said, alluding to Hailey’s suicide attempt. The King’s gaze made Jade hesitate.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it.
“And the day before yesterday, she asked for a carving knife.”
“A carving knife?”
“Yes, and she’s been carving something in her room every day since.”
“Carving …What?”
When the King asked him as if he didn’t understand him at all, Jade’s complexion also darkened.
“I’m not sure about that.”
“Aren’t you the 1st Knight Commander of Cayenne?”
“…”
“And you’re saying you don’t know what’s happening?”
“It’s not that I don’t know, but no one can figure out what it is.”
Roderick laughed as if he truly couldn’t believe it.
“I will investigate further and report back in detail, Your Majesty.”
“Retrieve the knife.”
The original agreement they had was for Hailey to wear the crown.
Hailey, who had wanted to die just a day before the wedding, carried out that agreement rather calmly.
But from the royal family’s perspective, Hailey Duncan was someone who needed to live a little longer, given the unfortunate rumors and troublesome Duncan in-laws.
“Tell them to keep a close eye on what she’s doing.”
“Yes.”
“Before that strange woman burns down the entire palace.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
When Roderick spoke rather curtly, Jade sighed softly.
It seemed like things were going to be difficult to smooth over.
But when the King, who had been frowning, suddenly clutched his forehead, Jade quickly approached.
Knowing that the King frequently had these episodes, Jade asked quietly.
“Is something wrong again?”
“No.”
Roderick gestured for him to leave and thought about Hailey.
He remembered her startled look when she jumped up at the sight of him.
‘She said that she must have felt uncomfortable and hot in her sleep…’
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
Despite saying that, Roderick chuckled.
In truth, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had done something unusual that night.
Hailey Duncan denied that anything happened, but the likelihood that he had done it was high. However, he couldn’t remember clearly.
There were times when he found himself holding a sword without realizing it, and such incidents were becoming more frequent.
Therefore, Roderick knew he had a frightening madness within him.
He also knew it was progressively getting worse.
But the King himself couldn’t announce to the entire nation that he was mad, so he simply remained silent.
