𝕭𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊───
"Dance for me." The figure on the throne said.
Her throat felt dry. Even in the dark, she could sense his eyes on her, tracking her every move.
She couldn't place what it was, but something about his intimidating aura made...
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Ji-ah stood in the garden, holding out a basket for Seo-yeon to throw out the leaves and stems she had cut. She didn't have experience pruning roses, so Seo-yeon did it instead.
The roses began to go dormant, a sign that winter is coming.
"How did you learn to do this?" Ji-ah asked Seo-yeon. She seemed very experienced, her hands moving smoothly to prune the branches.
"I used to help my grandma with her garden. She planted many types of flowers and even had a vegetable patch." Seo-yeon smiled. "I guess I picked up a thing or two from her over the years."
Ji-ah admired the skill with which Seo-yeon worked. "It's like second nature to you," she said.
"Yeah, I guess so, but I'm not as good as her." She chuckled. "It takes some skill and talent to have a green thumb."
"Why don't the gardener do it instead, though?" Ji-ah asked, since it was unusual for them to do these. There were also other staff working on pruning around the garden.
"He took leave. I heard he's going on vacation," Seo-yeon said. "I want to go on vacation too." She sighed wistfully.
"Ah, I see." Ji-ah smiled at Seo-yeon's statement.
Seo-yeon continued on with the flowers, and the birds chirping filled the garden.
Ji-ah's smile faded as the girl from the supermarket popped into her mind. The encounter has been bugging her since yesterday.
She fiddled with the basket, contemplating whether to ask Seo-yeon about it. She has been nothing but helpful. Surely Ji-ah could trust her.
"Hey, Seo-yeon," Ji-ah began. "Remember when I asked you about the girl who quit?"
Seo-yeon paused and turned to Ji-ah. "Yeah?"
"You said that she quit because of a personal reason, right?" Ji-ah probed.
"Yeah, that's what I heard." Seo-yeon confirmed, snipping away at a stubborn branch.
Ji-ah hesitated for a moment, then decided to share. "I ran into her at the supermarket. She seemed really scared and told me not to trust anyone. She even suggested I should quit."
Seo-yeon's expression grew serious, her hands pausing mid-prune. "That's strange. Are you sure it's her?"
"Yeah, I know what she looked like." Ji-ah replied firmly.
Seo-yeon thought for a moment. "I remember her. She was always quiet and kept to herself."
"Yeah, it's been on my mind since then," Ji-ah admitted. "She seemed genuinely frightened."
"Did she say why she was so scared?"
"I tried to ask, but she ignored me." Ji-ah shook her head.
Seo-yeon sighed. "I guess I should tell you. There have been rumours about her. I'm not into gossiping, but I think she could be a thief."
