RED STRING || 1

Chapter five.

SEULGI FOUND VARIOUS ways to occupy her time in the mansion, but none of it helped the gnawing sense of discomfort that seemed to follow her wherever she went. The one thing that did bring her some relief, however, was hearing her mother's voice. It was one of the few things that could make her feel like everything might be okay, even for a brief moment.

"Hey, Mom," Seulgi said with a warm smile as she dialed her mother's number. She knew her mom must be missing her terribly, especially since it had only been a few hours since they parted ways. The thought of her mother being alone made Seulgi's heart ache.

"Hi, Princess. How is it there, do they treat you well?" her mother's voice came through the line, soft and filled with genuine concern. Seulgi could almost hear the quiet sadness in her tone, knowing how much her mother worried for her.

"Yeah, Mom. Everyone is really nice to me," Seulgi replied, her words comforting even though she didn't entirely believe them herself. She had been raised to always look for the good in people, and in this moment, she wanted to reassure her mother. She didn't want her to worry about her, not when her entire life had been filled with her mother's constant care and concern for her well-being.

"That's wonderful, Princess. You make some time someday and visit me here. It's really sad without you here," her mother said, the sadness in her voice growing more apparent with each word. Seulgi could feel her heart tightening, the guilt creeping in as her mother's words washed over her. She could picture her mother sitting alone in their home, waiting for Seulgi's return.

"Aw, Mom. It only has been a few hours," Seulgi said, trying to lighten the mood. She didn't want her mother to dwell on her absence for too long.

"I know, Princess," her mother replied, her voice filled with a bittersweet affection. "I wonder how lonely I'd feel the next few days..." Seulgi's heart broke at her mother's words. There was something about her mother's vulnerability, her quiet longing, that always made Seulgi weak. She couldn't bear the thought of her mother being sad, especially when Seulgi knew she was the only one her mother had left, aside from her father who was often away.

"I'll always make time for you, Mom," Seulgi said softly, her voice steady despite the rush of emotions flooding her heart. She meant every word. Her mother had always been there for her, and Seulgi promised herself she would never make her feel abandoned.

"I have to go, Mom. I just wanted to talk to you and let you know I'm fine here," Seulgi added, knowing her mother would only worry more if she stayed on the phone too long.

"I love you, Princess. Take care of yourself," her mother said before the call ended, and Seulgi let out a long sigh, feeling the weight of the conversation settle over her.

In all honesty, Seulgi wasn't fine. The room she was staying in was tiny, a far cry from the comfort and space she was used to. She had tried to push aside the claustrophobia she felt, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. And yet, she knew there was no way around it. This was what Irene wanted, and she had no choice but to endure.

Seulgi had come to learn that in this house, everyone-including her parents-seemed to follow Irene's every command. Irene's superiority was clear in the way she carried herself, the way the staff and even Seulgi's own parents seemed to bend to her will. It was as though Irene ruled this home with an iron fist, and Seulgi was just another pawn in her game.

~~

Irene, on the other hand, had begun to grow increasingly more insufferable. Her mind was always plotting, looking for new ways to humiliate Seulgi and assert her dominance. It was almost as if she couldn't help herself. Today, she had decided to visit the storage room to search for something valuable-something she could use to assert her power over Seulgi. But when she found nothing of worth, her frustration turned to mischief.