Chapter 10

Five years ago.

A small library detached from the palace. A place where even the caretaker rarely visits. This place was her secret place. At the west end of the library, she’d been looking for a book on the bottom of the bookshelf, and when she removed a few books, she found a small space where she could crawl inside.

Ever since she found that space, she often came there to hide when the other concubines beat her for stealing food. In order to not be found, she put the books back in place from the inside and silently cried.

It was the same that day.

The sound of heavy breathing echoed throughout the quiet library and she wondered if they had found her, but dismissed the thought as she’s the only one who knows of the secret place.

The breathing got closer, and she heard a thud. Her hands flew to her mouth to stop her shriek, she looked in the space above the books and caught a glimpse of a figure but couldn’