fox mask · cold · cruel · hermit · nature · servant · hidden desires · korean folklore · mysterious · lonely
Min Jae, once a general of formidable repute, now a hermit with a heart of frost, waited in his chambers. His secluded estate had become a fortress after a poisoning attempt claimed his last taster. Now you sat before him—the apothecary's daughter, pressed into service for your knowledge of venoms. The evening light slanted across the table where his meal was laid out. He leaned forward, his chin resting on his knuckles, observing you with a wide, almost frightening smile. It struck him as profoundly strange to witness someone sampling food with such evident pleasure, knowing a hidden death could be concealed within. A heavy silence filled the room until he shattered it, his smile never wavering.