“That was actually… great.”
“I could see why they said he’s a good actor.”
[+2. Job and Income. Acknowledge by the crew]
[Fame meter: 22%]
Yuan smirked and turned to some of the staff. “He’s good, right? He’s just a little bit nervous. It’s his first time with a main role. Nobody is an expert at that point. I think he is even better than the rest of us on our first days!”
Daniel clicked his tongue, standing from his seat. “No fun,” he muttered. “I’m getting dressed.”
Oska, on the other hand, felt like he was being stabbed with all the compliments Zeno was getting. He finished that particular scene in six takes! Oska could have easily done so in only one take. With that, he also stood and went to his personal hut with a bitter expression.
“That was great, Zeno!” Daeshim PD exclaimed, enthusiastically patting his back.
Zeno flinched, causing the director to chuckle and hit him even harder. Zeno wasn’t exactly pleased.
“You haven’t broken out of character yet, huh? That’s dangerous! Take this advice—don’t get too attached to the character, alright?”
Zeno nodded and stepped back. He wasn’t attached. He was just in pain.
“Let’s continue tomorrow.”
Zeno nodded once more and made his way to his hut, too, wanting nothing but to bathe. He heard the compliments of those who once badmouthed him, but he didn’t feel too flattered.
He needed only one person’s approval—Ryeo Wang.
He arrived at his hut, which he was going to be sharing with Moby.
“Amazing,” Moby said, tears brimming in his eyes. “I nearly cried watching you get beaten. Did it hurt that much?”
“It did,” Zeno honestly said, causing Moby to sniff. “I need a warm bath.”
“Oh, it’s a good thing I heated up some water,” Moby said. “You don’t mind using a basin for showering, right?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Zeno muttered. That was the least of his worries.
“Oh, and the bathroom is outside. It’s how it is in these huts. The women got the huts with the private bathroom.”
“It’s alright,” Zeno said once again. He wasn’t a stranger to hardships. “Thanks for heating up the water.”
Moby smiled widely and gave him a towel. With that, he brought the hot water outside and began taking a bath.
Meanwhile, Oska who was only a few huts away, sneered as his manager heated up some water. “Seriously? They don’t have any showers here?” he exclaimed.
“It’s an isolated property, sir,” his manager muttered. “They don’t make such renovations. The water system does not reach here, too. So, I took some water from the well. I have prepared the basin outside—”
“Outside?” he exclaimed. “What the heck are you talking about? Who would take a bath outside?”
The manager pursed his lips. “The women have the private bathrooms. We only have a toilet here, but it’s too small to take bathe in.”
“I don’t care,” Oska said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I’m not taking a shower outside. Tell Risa I’m going to be using her bathroom.”
“But—”
Oska glared at him.
“No buts!”
***
The palanquin swayed gently, its embroidered curtains fluttering in the soft wind. Inside, the princess sat, cheeks red, while glancing at the person in front of her from time to time. The scent of jasmine filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of incense from the lanterns lining the path.
The eunuch’s eyes remained trained on the winding road ahead, his back turned to her. His duty was clear, as it had always been. He was her shadow, her silent protector, the one who ensured her safety without her knowing.
For years, his life had been one of silent vigilance, watching from the corners, guarding from afar. He was never meant to be noticed, only an invisible presence in the princess’s life.
But it had been his first mission to keep her alive until she turned twenty, a task no one could understand. A task that seemed almost impossible to achieve, given the whispers of enemies lurking in the shadows. Yet, here he was, one step away from completing that mission.
The ceremony would mark her coming-of-age and, with it, the binding of her fate to another.
It was supposed to be a time of celebration, but all the eunuch could feel was the danger growing closer with every passing second. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a red glow over the horizon, and the countdown to her twentieth year loomed.
His breath quickened, his senses sharpening. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones. A chill crawled up his spine. His hand tightened around the hilt of the sword at his side, and his heart beat faster, pounding like the drums of war. He had to remain calm.
His task wasn’t over yet. Not until she was safe, not until the ceremony began, and he could finish this mission.
But as the palanquin rocked slightly, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Yi Sun.”
He froze. It wasn’t often she spoke to him, much less in such a familiar manner. He turned slightly. She was looking at him with wide eyes.
“I… I know you’ve been protecting me all these years,” she whispered. “I want to thank you.”
Before he could respond, she leaned forward, her lips brushing against his lips in a soft kiss.
‘What in the heavens?’ he thought.
Suddenly, the doors to the palanquin were suddenly flung open, and the world came crashing down.
“Traitor!”
He was pulled out of the palanquin, his limbs shaking as his body was dragged to the center of the square. His heart hammered as he looked up, meeting the eyes of those who he had served through these years.
They accused him of the worst betrayal, the unthinkable crime of laying hands on the princess. His heart shattered as the ropes were tied tighter around his wrists, and the first lash of the whip sliced through the air.
However, he had done it. He had protected her. Even in his final moments, he knew he had succeeded.
Zeno’s eyes fluttered open as his memory of his first mission resurfaced. It seemed that he truly was getting more flashbacks in this particular life as Zeno Han.
He shook his head. What a first life he had. It was there where he saw how corrupted the royal scene truly was, and he began to disdain even the thought of them back then. Such lowlifes.
“Oh, you’re awake,” Moby smiled. “Are you ready for the scene for today?”
“Yeah,” Zeno said without any hesitation.
‘I guess the dream was a good reminder,’ he thought.
With the detestation he felt for the royal family in his first mission, he was prepared to give his all for this take.
He wanted to get it done once and impress Ryeo Wang at the same time.
A small smile appeared on his lips. “Let’s show those royal bastards.”