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Joy slowly walked back to her quarters. 

Today is a busy day for her. Fulfilling her duties as the Queen, she has to visit the different parts of the palace to supervise the naemyeongbu (Internal court) from time to time. Her duty is to oversee the division that consisted of women who lived most of their lives in the palace. Joy had learnt about her duties and what she needed to do during the Queen-to-be training in her first few days in the palace. And now, she has gotten the hang of it, to the point where she is used to it.

"I will visit them again in two days time," Joy instructed Little Choi. "But this time, I want my visit to be unannounced."

"Are you planning to do a sudden spot-check?" Little Choi asked, to which Joy nodded. She reasoned to herself that this is the only way to find out what they usually do. Every time she went to supervise them, everything is perfect. But Joy fears that what she sees may not be what it is.


Reaching her quarters, Joy passed through numerous doors before entering her main quarters. Little Choi came in shortly after Joy had settled down. "Agassi, there is an anonymous letter for you again. It is being sent two days ago."

"It seems like someone is desperately trying to reach you." She added. With an unsettled look, Joy took the letter from Little Choi and began reading it. 

**********


Joy stared at the letters that were scattered on the table. Since a few weeks ago, she has been receiving such letters from an anonymous. She has been looking through every single one of them for quite some time, reading through every single line carefully over and over again. Still, she could not make any sense out of it. Flipping through the letters, she read through them again:

 I have no choice but to do it. I do not want to do it too...


Joy sighed out loud before putting these letters away. These letters usually contain just a few simple sentences. It's as though the sender is trying to get help, yet is afraid to do.

Why do I keep getting these letters? Joy thought. 

Determined to find out what these letters are about, she had even examined the letters and the envelopes, checking to see if there is any hidden words or any possible stains. Yet, she couldn't find any. Little Choi had advised her to ignore these letters, commenting that it's probably from some pranksters but Joy thought otherwise. She felt like someone is trying to send some message across to her but somehow had to do it in a discreet way.



"PLEASE LET ME IN!" Someone suddenly shouted from the outside. Joy could hear the screams and shouting of a lady loud and clear.

"What's going on outside?" Joy looked up from the letters and asked. Little Choi walked out to check before returning back in to report the situation.

"There is a shaman who is looking for you desperately." Little Choi said. "She says she used to be the Queen Dowager's shaman."

Queen Dowager's shaman? Joy recalled her conversation with Prime Minister Heo. The one who killed the Queen Dowager under his orders? But what made Joy confused is why is the shaman looking for her? Isn't she on the Prime Minister Heo's side?

"Please! I have some words to say to Her Majesty!" The shaman continues shouting, not caring that she is making a nuisance outside a royalty's quarters. The other palace attendants struggled to stop her. Trying to control the situation, the Han sang-gung quickly instructed another palace attendant to call the guards in.

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