The distant estate stood in the middle of a secluded valley, surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests.
It was a beautiful place.
Too beautiful for a prison.
White walls enclosed the sprawling residence, while delicate pavilions stood beside a winding stream. Beyond the stream lay an enormous garden filled with chrysanthemums, peonies, and roses. Stone pathways connected the gardens to the main residence, and servants moved quietly between the buildings.
From the outside, the estate looked like the private residence of a wealthy noblewoman.
There were no chains.
No guards standing openly at the doors.
No visible signs of imprisonment.
Yet the woman standing beside the window had not stepped beyond its gates for many days.
Perhaps it had been months.
She had stopped counting.
Shin Gu stood motionless, gazing at the garden below.
