Chapter 429: The Fear Behind the Mask

The palace had changed.

Not visibly.

The same crimson walls stood beneath the afternoon sun.

The same guards patrolled the corridors.

The same servants carried trays through the endless palace halls.

The same bells rang at the appointed hours.

Yet something beneath that familiar calm had shifted.

Rumors had begun moving through the palace again.

Whispers of strange footsteps.

Whispers of shadows.

Whispers of a woman appearing where no woman should have been.

And at the center of all those whispers stood one person.

Shin Gu.

For three days, she had barely slept.

She had become frightened of empty rooms.

Frightened of mirrors.

Frightened of footsteps.

Frightened of the darkness beneath her bed.

But what confused everyone most was what she kept repeating.

"The Empress is taking revenge."

Prince Liang had heard those words more than once.

And he couldn’t understand them.

Not even slightly.

Because he knew something the others didn’t.

He knew Shin Gu was not innocent.

He had seen her.

With his own eyes.

And that memory had never left him.

---

The Prince Who Knew Too Much

Prince Liang stood beneath the covered corridor overlooking the lotus pond.

His hands were folded behind his back.

His expression was thoughtful.

Across the courtyard, several servants were carrying fresh flowers toward the imperial garden.

Everything appeared peaceful.

But Prince Liang wasn’t looking at them.

His mind was somewhere else.

Back in the past.

Back to the night he had discovered something he was never supposed to see.

He remembered the cold room.

The single lamp.

The strange symbols drawn across the floor.

The bowls filled with dark liquid.

The candles burning with unnatural flames.

And Shin Gu.

Standing in the middle of it all.

Calm.

Focused.

Not frightened.

Not confused.

Not forced.

She had known exactly what she was doing.

Prince Liang had never forgotten her expression.

At the time, he had wondered whether there was some explanation.

Perhaps she had been forced.

Perhaps someone had threatened her.

Perhaps there was something he didn’t understand.

But then he had seen enough.

He had watched her perform the ritual.

He had seen the strange object she held.

And he had heard her speaking words that no ordinary person should have known.

That was the moment his opinion of her changed.

Yet he had never confronted her.

Why?

Because knowing something and proving something were completely different matters.

If he accused her without evidence, she could deny everything.

Worse—

She could destroy the evidence.

She could turn the accusation against him.

So he had waited.

Watched.

Observed.

And tried to discover how to expose her without giving her a chance to escape.

But now—

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Because Shin Gu was frightened.

Genuinely frightened.

And she kept blaming the Empress.

Prince Liang narrowed his eyes.

"Why?"

He whispered the question to himself.

"Why would she say that?"

---

The Rumor Reaches the Prince

A palace attendant approached him and bowed.

"Your Highness."

Prince Liang turned.

"What is it?"

"The Imperial Physician was summoned to Lady Shin Gu’s residence again."

His eyes narrowed.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

The attendant hesitated.

"Lady Shin Gu has reportedly been unable to sleep. She keeps saying that someone is watching her."

Prince Liang remained silent.

"Anything else?"

The attendant lowered his voice.

"She apparently told the physician that the Empress is taking revenge against her."

Prince Liang’s expression changed.

"Again?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Did she explain why?"

"No."

The attendant bowed.

"I heard she said the Empress wants her to confess."

Prince Liang’s eyes sharpened.

"Confess to what?"

The attendant shook his head.

"She didn’t say."

Prince Liang dismissed him.

The attendant bowed and left.

Prince Liang remained beneath the corridor.

His gaze slowly moved toward the distant palace walls.

The Empress.

He knew the Empress had been falsely accused before.

He knew she had been connected to strange incidents only because someone had deliberately tried to frame her.

He also knew the palace had been searching for the true culprit behind the supernatural disturbances.

And he knew—

Shin Gu was hiding something.

But why was she now saying the Empress was taking revenge?

Prince Liang frowned.

"Is she frightened because she thinks the Empress knows?"

That possibility made sense.

But another thought troubled him.

What if Shin Gu believed someone else was the Empress?

What if someone was deliberately making her think the Empress was behind everything?

He didn’t know.

And that uncertainty irritated him.

---

Shin Gu’s Chamber

Inside her residence, Shin Gu sat beside the window.

A cup of untouched tea rested on the table.

It had gone cold.

Mei Lan stood nearby.

"Lady Shin Gu, you should eat something."

"No."

"You haven’t eaten properly since yesterday."

"I said no."

Mei Lan lowered her eyes.

"Yes, my lady."

Shin Gu stared at the window.

The curtains moved slightly in the breeze.

Her eyes immediately followed them.

Mei Lan noticed.

"My lady?"

"Close the window."

"Yes."

Mei Lan walked over.

She closed it.

Shin Gu continued staring.

"Check behind the curtain."

Mei Lan paused.

Then obeyed.

She checked behind the curtain.

"Nobody is there."

Shin Gu’s fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

"I know."

Mei Lan turned.

"You know?"

"I know nobody is there now."

She swallowed.

"But she was there earlier."

Mei Lan didn’t respond.

Shin Gu looked toward her.

"You don’t believe me."

"I wouldn’t dare question you."

"That’s not what I asked."

Mei Lan remained silent.

Shin Gu laughed bitterly.

"You think I’m losing my mind."

"No, my lady."

"Everyone does."

Her voice became quieter.

"Even he does."

Mei Lan looked at her.

"Who?"

Shin Gu didn’t answer.

Her eyes moved toward the door.

Then she whispered,

"Prince Liang."

---

Prince Liang’s Name

Mei Lan carefully lowered her gaze.

"What about His Highness?"

Shin Gu’s expression changed.

"He keeps watching me."

Mei Lan said nothing.

"He thinks I’m hiding something."

There was fear in Shin Gu’s voice now.

Mei Lan asked carefully,

"Have you done something that would make His Highness suspicious?"

Shin Gu’s head snapped toward her.

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Mei Lan remained expressionless.

Shin Gu looked away.

"I haven’t done anything."

Mei Lan bowed.

"Of course."

But inside, she remembered every word.

Prince Liang suspects her.

Shin Gu knows he suspects her.

And now—

Shin Gu is afraid of him.

This information had to reach the Dowager.

But Mei Lan could not leave immediately.

Shin Gu was watching her.

Instead, she poured fresh tea.

"Please drink, my lady."

Shin Gu stared at the cup.

Then suddenly pushed it away.

"What if something is inside?"

Mei Lan’s heart skipped.

"The tea?"

"Yes."

"I prepared it myself."

"That’s what someone would say."

Mei Lan lowered her head.

Shin Gu stared at the cup for a long time.

Then finally whispered,

"I don’t trust anyone."

---

The Prince Visits

Later that afternoon, Prince Liang went to Shin Gu’s residence.

The guards announced his arrival.

Shin Gu immediately stood.

"Prince Liang?"

He entered.

His expression was calm.

"Lady Shin Gu."

She bowed.

"Your Highness."

Prince Liang looked around.

The room appeared ordinary.

Nothing suspicious.

No strange objects.

No ritual markings.

No unusual incense.

Everything had been cleaned thoroughly.

Too thoroughly.

His eyes briefly rested on the small cabinet near the wall.

Shin Gu noticed.

"What is Your Highness looking at?"

"Nothing."

He looked back at her.

"I heard you have not been feeling well."

"I’m fine."

"You don’t look fine."

Her fingers tightened.

"I simply haven’t been sleeping."

"Why?"

Shin Gu looked away.

"I’ve been having nightmares."

"About the Empress?"

Her face went pale.

Prince Liang noticed.

That reaction told him more than her answer would have.

Shin Gu whispered,

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because you have repeatedly mentioned Her Majesty."

"I..."

She stopped.

Prince Liang took one step closer.

"Lady Shin Gu."

She looked at him.

"Tell me what you are afraid of."

"I’m not afraid."

"You are."

"No."

"Then why have you doubled your guards?"

Shin Gu froze.

"Why have you stopped sleeping?"

Silence.

"Why do you check every room before entering it?"

Her lips parted.

"And why do you believe the Empress is responsible?"

Shin Gu stared at him.

Then—

Her expression changed.

Fear.

Real fear.

"She knows."

Prince Liang’s eyes narrowed.

"Knows what?"

Shin Gu immediately covered her mouth.

Prince Liang remained completely still.

"Lady Shin Gu."

She shook her head.

"I shouldn’t have said that."

"What does the Empress know?"

"Nothing."

"Then why did you say she knows?"

"I don’t know."

Her breathing became faster.

Prince Liang studied her carefully.

He had expected lies.

He had expected manipulation.

But this—

This looked like panic.

He softened his voice.

"Did the Empress threaten you?"

Shin Gu shook her head.

"No."

"Did someone tell you she would harm you?"

"No."

"Then why do you keep saying she is taking revenge?"

Shin Gu looked toward the corner of the room.

Her face drained of color.

"Because she wants me to confess."

Prince Liang followed her gaze.

There was nothing there.

He turned back.

"Confess to what?"

Shin Gu whispered,

"You know."

"I don’t."

"You saw."

Prince Liang froze.

For one brief moment, his heart stopped.

"What did I see?"

Shin Gu realized her mistake.

Her eyes widened.

Then she stepped backward.

"I don’t know."

"Lady Shin Gu."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Prince Liang’s voice remained calm.

"You just said I saw something."

"I was confused."

"About what?"

"I don’t remember."

She turned away.

Prince Liang stared at her.

He knew she was hiding something.

But he still didn’t have enough.

Not enough to accuse her.

Not enough to reveal what he knew.

And if he pushed too hard—

She would become more careful.

So he deliberately changed his tone.

"Perhaps you should rest."

Shin Gu looked at him suspiciously.

"You believe me?"

Prince Liang paused.

"I believe that you are frightened."

Her eyes trembled.

"Why?"

"Because you’re behaving like someone who believes danger is approaching."

He turned toward the door.

Shin Gu suddenly spoke.

"Your Highness."

He stopped.

"If you discover something..."

She swallowed.

"Will you protect me?"

Prince Liang slowly turned around.

"From whom?"

Shin Gu couldn’t answer.

Her eyes filled with fear.

"Just promise me."

Prince Liang looked at her for several seconds.

Then he said quietly,

"I cannot promise to protect someone from a danger I don’t understand."

He left.

The door closed behind him.

Shin Gu stood frozen.

---

What Prince Liang Didn’t Say

Prince Liang walked through the corridor alone.

His expression had become cold.

She had said—

"You saw."

That was not a random statement.

She remembered.

She knew he had seen something.

Which meant she had not forgotten that night.

But why was she frightened now?

Prince Liang stopped beneath an archway.

His mind returned to the ritual chamber.

Shin Gu’s face.

The black symbols.

The strange smoke.

The object in her hand.

He had seen her.

There was no doubt.

But if he accused her now, she would deny everything.

He needed proof.

Real proof.

Something that couldn’t disappear.

Something that couldn’t be explained away.

He looked toward the imperial palace.

"I need to know what she’s hiding now."