Chapter 2: A Stranger in Silk

The morning bells chimed through the mansion, soft yet commanding. Haein stirred awake beneath layers of embroidered blankets. For a moment, she almost expected her phone alarm to buzz. But when her eyes opened, she was greeted not by the familiar beige walls of her Seoul apartment, but by carved beams, silk curtains, and a maid waiting silently by her bed.

“Milady, it is time for the morning meal.”

Haein rubbed her temples. Right. I’m not Bae Haein anymore… I’m Xiu Ying.

Still, she nodded with forced composure, rising as the maid guided her to the ornate vanity. As pins and combs clattered around her, Haein studied her reflection in the bronze mirror. The hairstyle was elegant, elaborate, but entirely foreign to her.

“I must ask,” she said carefully, “what am I expected to do today?”

The maid blinked, startled by the question. “You… you will visit the palace, milady. His Majesty has summoned you.”

The words sent a chill down Haein’s spine. The king. She hadn’t even adjusted to her supposed new identity, and now she was being dragged straight to the heart of danger.

---

By midmorning, a carriage carried her through the capital. The streets bustled with life—vendors shouting, children darting between stalls, guards marching in perfect formation. Haein kept peeking through the carriage window, wide-eyed, like a tourist gawking at a living museum.

Her maid leaned in. “Milady, please… today, try not to speak strangely in front of the king.”

Haein forced a smile. “I’ll try. But I make no promises.”

---

The palace loomed ahead, magnificent and intimidating. Tall red gates opened to reveal sweeping courtyards and towering pavilions. Servants bowed low as the carriage stopped, and Haein’s pulse quickened.

She was escorted inside, past intricate murals and silent guards, until she entered the throne hall. There he sat—Zhao Tian.

The king’s presence was overwhelming. Draped in golden robes, his sharp eyes locked onto hers the moment she stepped in. For a heartbeat, Haein forgot how to breathe.

“Xiu Ying,” his voice resonated, low and steady. “I hear you are… different.”

Haein’s throat tightened. She forced a polite bow, hoping she wasn’t doing it wrong. “Your Majesty, I… I had an accident. Things feel… confusing.”

The corner of his mouth curved into the faintest smirk. “Confusing? Or convenient?”

Her brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

He rose from the throne, descending the steps with calm, measured strides until he stood a breath away from her. “The Xiu Ying I knew was sharp-tongued, demanding, spoiled. Yet now, you look at me as though I were a stranger. That is… interesting.”

Haein swallowed, her heart racing. He’s too close. Too perceptive.

But before she could speak, Zhao Chen entered, breaking the moment. “Your Majesty, forgive the interruption. General reports are ready.” His eyes flicked curiously toward Haein, noticing the unfamiliar softness in her expression.

Zhao Tian dismissed him with a nod, though his gaze lingered on her. “You may return home. But remember, Xiu Ying—whatever game you are playing, I will discover the truth.”

---

That evening, Haein sat in her chamber, replaying the encounter in her mind. The way his eyes seemed to pierce straight into her—had he guessed something already?

Her maid entered with a tray. “Milady, are you unwell? You’ve barely touched your food.”

Haein let out a sigh. “I just… don’t belong here.”

The maid tilted her head, confused. “But this is your home, milady.”

Haein whispered to herself, “Not my home. Not my time.”

---

Meanwhile, in another wing of the palace, Concubine Yan Bai sat before her mirror, brushing her long dark hair. Her maid whispered, “It seems Xiu Ying has changed, my lady. Even the king noticed.”

Yan Bai’s lips curled. “Changed? No… she is pretending. And I will prove it.”

---

Back at the Xiu mansion, Haein finally lay down, staring at the candlelight flickering against the walls. For the first time since she arrived, the weight of reality pressed in fully.

She didn’t know how to return to her world. She didn’t know how long she could keep pretending. But one thing was certain—Zhao Tian’s eyes would not leave her easily.

And neither would this strange, inescapable fate.

End of Chapter 2.

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