Nemesis Embrace

Beginning

The moon cast an eerie glow over the sprawling estate of the Lee family as Lady Hye-jin, the scion of one of the most influential noble houses in Hanyang strode through the dimly lit corridors of her ancestral home. Her steps were purposeful, each one echoing off the walls like a whispered command. Behind her, two of her most trusted servants trailed silently, their faces betraying no emotion as they followed their mistress on her nightly escapade.

"Bring me someone interesting tonight," Lady Hye-jin demanded, her tone tinged with venom. "Someone weak, someone innocent."

The servants exchanged anxious looks but dared not question their mistress' orders. In 1120 Goryeo Dynasty, known as korea today the Lee family wielded unrivaled authority, with their influence spreading far beyond their land. Lady Hye-jin, the patriarch's daughter, wielded power over all those who lived in her territory.

The air became heavy with expectation as they moved deeper into the estate. Lady Hye-jin's reign was absolute; her wishes were law. Those who ventured to challenge her were swiftly dealt with, their deaths serving as a warning to anybody who dared to question her power.
 
Lady Hye-jin sat on a silk and velvet throne in a secret chamber, her eyes ablaze with a frantic passion as her newest victim was escorted before her. The young woman shivered at the sight of her captor, her eyes wide with terror as she waited for her fate.

"Do you know why you're here?" Lady Hye-jin asked, her tone dripping with menace.

The girl, bound and helpless before her, shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "N-no, please... I beg of you..."

But Lady Hye-jin paid her pleas no heed. With a flick of her wrist, she signaled to her servants, who bound the girl's hands and feet, rendering her completely at the mercy of her captor.

"Let the games begin," Lady Hye-jin announced, her voice a mournful melody that rang around the chamber like a death knell.
 
Lady Hye-jin spent hours on end reveling in her victim's agony, relishing the sound of her screams and the taste of her tears. Lady Hye-jin regarded pain as a symphony, with her conducting the deepest songs.

As morning dawned over the horizon, Lady Hye-jin found herself staring into the depths of her own soul, confronted by the nothingness that lay within. In that moment of reckoning, she grasped the actual scope of her power.

Lady Hye-jin turned to her servants with a delighted smirk, her words a mere whisper in the early morning hush. "Dispose of her," she demanded, her words a chilling reminder of her depravity.

Lady Hye-jin, her desire for power still unquenched, worked on the yearly Gosa ceremony, a traditional Korean ritual done to honor ancestors and seek their blessings. Lady Hye-jin meticulously planned every aspect in the magnificent hanok pavilion, which was decked with colorful banners and flickering lights. From the placement of ceremonial offerings to the careful folding of silk cloth, she went to great lengths to ensure that the celebration reflected her family's grandeur.
 
As the sun began to set, casting a golden tint over the estate, Lady Hye-jin dressed in her finest hanbok, a spectacular creation of crimson silk embroidered with delicate gold thread patterns. The silk shimmered in the fading light, representing her family's wealth and influence.

However, as Lady Hye-jin made her grand entrance inside the pavilion, her heart leapt in terror at the scene that confronted her. Ji-hoon, a 15-year-old boy with a panicked expression, slipped and brushed against her gorgeous hanbok, leaving a slight scratch on the delicate cloth.

Lady Hye-jin's calm demeanor vanished in an instant, giving way to a mask of wrath. "You fool!" she yelled, hardly holding her rage. "Look what you've done!"