The afternoon started quietly, like any normal royal hunt. Princess Hae-rin rode at the front of her group, her back straight and steady. Her bow rested easily on her shoulder, something she was used to carrying. The only sound around her was the steady rhythm of horse hooves hitting the forest ground.
Behind her, the guards followed at a careful distance, their armor making soft sounds as they moved. Her maid was even farther behind, clearly struggling to keep up with Hae-rin's fast pace.
Then everything changed.
Without warning, the sky darkened. The bright green leaves above turned dull and grey as thick clouds covered the sun. A loud crack of thunder echoed through the forest, making the horses uneasy.
Rain began to fall almost immediately. Not light rain, but heavy, pounding sheets that made it hard to see. The forest quickly became a blur of shadows and movement.
"Turn back, Your Highness!" her maid shouted, her voice shaking as she pulled her hood over her head.
Hae-rin didn't stop. She didn't even hesitate. She let out a small scoff, though the wind almost carried it away.
"It's just rain," she muttered. "I know these woods."
But the forest no longer felt familiar.
The ground became soft and slippery under the rain. The paths she usually followed disappeared, replaced by streams of muddy water. Trees that once guided her now all looked the same in the darkness.
A sharp flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed instantly by thunder. The horses panicked. Some reared, others pulled away. The calm order of the hunt broke apart in seconds.
"Your Highness!" one of the guards shouted, but the storm swallowed his voice.
In the confusion, everyone scattered. Hae-rin's horse reared, but she forced it forward, holding the reins tightly. Her jaw clenched.
She wasn't afraid. She was annoyed.
She was used to control—to knowing where she was and what was happening. She hated the chaos of the storm. More than that, she hated not being in charge of the situation.
By the time the rain slowed to a drizzle, everything was quiet again.
Too quiet.
The shouting had stopped. The guards were gone. Even the sound of movement had disappeared.
Hae-rin pulled her horse to a stop and looked around.
She was alone.
No guards. No maid. No path.
She let out an irritated breath and climbed down from her horse. Her boots sank into the wet mud immediately.
"Unbelievable," she muttered, pushing her wet hair away from her face.
She knew she should go back and look for her people. But turning back felt like giving up—and that wasn't something she was used to doing.
As she stood there, trying to decide what to do, she noticed something unusual.
Smoke.
It didn't belong in the middle of the wet forest.
She followed it, moving through the trees until they began to thin out. Soon, she saw it—a small village.
Ji-hoon was finishing his usual routine, checking the traps he had set near his farmland. The storm had been stronger than expected, even for him. He was about to head home when he noticed movement near the edge of the forest.
A woman stepped out.
She was completely soaked. Her clothes, though clearly expensive, were covered in mud. She held a bow like she knew how to use it. Even like this, her eyes were sharp, carefully observing everything around her.
She didn't look scared.
She looked angry.
Before Ji-hoon could say anything, she spoke.
"Where am I?"
Her voice was cold and direct, without any politeness.
Ji-hoon raised an eyebrow and leaned slightly on his staff.
"Most people start with hello," he said calmly.
Her expression tightened. "I am not most people."
He almost smiled. There was something strange about her confidence, especially in her current state.
"You're in Haneul Village," he replied. "And from how you look, I'd say you're lost."
"I am not lost," she said quickly, lifting her chin. "My guards will find me."
"Guards," Ji-hoon repeated, now paying closer attention to her. Her clothes, even covered in mud, were clearly of high quality. The way she stood made it seem like she owned everything around her.
Interesting, he thought.
"Then I hope they find you soon," he said, turning away. "It gets dark quickly here, and night doesn't care who you are."
Hae-rin watched him walk away, surprised.
He didn't bow. He didn't look afraid. He didn't treat her any differently.
For the first time in her life, her title meant nothing.
As she stood there watching him leave, something unfamiliar mixed with her anger.
Curiosity.
Far behind her, deep in the forest, her maid's voice called out her name.
But the wind carried it away.
Hae-rin never heard it.
To be continued….