1836 - autumn: the healthy cry of an infant sounds through the halls. the first born child of house song is born. duke song nodded approvingly.

1838 - summer: she learns about the existence of her little brother, song jihoo, for the first time. her mother tells her that she has a duty and that she will understand it more when she's older.

1842 - winter: she finds that the books in her father's study are very interesting. duchess song reminds her to only read poetry and proses. jinye continues to sneak into the study. she gets caught sneaking into the study one evening. the locks to the study are changed.

1852 - early autumn: she is betrothed to lord namgong. they write letters to reaffirm their mutual feelings.

1853 - late spring: half a year of courtship and exchanging of love letters, her betrothed passes away from a sudden illness. they don't get to keep their promise.

1854 - winter: her heart turns cold. she vows celibacy-to never marry.

1855 - summer: she leaves home on the disguise of "going south of the country to visit a sickly friend"; instead she secretly enlists in the military using her deceased betrothed's identity.

1860 - winter: she returns to the song estate after completion of five years military service.

1867 - spring: her father and brother were attacked, leaving her brother in a coma. jinye takes over her brother's duty. she busied herself with his affairs that she loses who she once was. but prioritizes her family above all else.

1868 - spring: song jihoo wakes from his year-long coma, however he has lost years of his memory. jinye vows to help him recover those lost years.

summer: jinye takes on a position in office as an inspector the for inspector-general. her life seems to have purpose once again.

mid-summer: a series of mysterious murders during the chuseok nakhwa nori festival unveils a horrifying ordeal that there is a serial killer in the capital. jinye joins the citizen task force to catch the cu;prit after a series of clues lead them on closer to detaining the evil do-er.

late summer: the borders are opened up for trades allowing other nationals entry to the country.

late summer: at the grand park estate’s hosting of the tanhua soiree, jinye meets a mysterious man by the name of im insoo at the gates.

late autumn: a mysterious plague spreads from the lands of hamgyeong leading to an investigation to find a cure for the zombie-like symptoms.

mid-winter: while investigating a lead on the plague, jinye is injured and falls into a slightly coma, she awakens to find the impairment of right arm

winter: investigation of the plague leads to a war with qing on the frontlines of hamgyeong leading to the draft of all abled-bodied men.

winter: jinye makes a promise with im insoo.

1869 - early winter: on the day before new years eve, the war is declared won and then men return from war back home.

early winter: jinye reunites at the hanseong border camp with an injured im insoo. staying by his side day and night until he fully recovered, the two reaffirm their mutual feelings for one another as they consider a future together.

early winter: release of society papers unveils their romantic involvement, leading to the involvement of their families.

winter: the songs and ims come together to discuss and agree to an engagement between insoo and jinye

winter: at the queen’s seollal gala, insoo and jinye appear together as a couple for the first time in public.

spring: the social season has arrived again, however during the planning of her impending wedding, jinye goes to qing with mama song

In the year 1836, within the tapestry of dreams, Duchess Song found herself immersed in a vision of unparalleled beauty. A magnificent bird, reminiscent of a white swan adorned with jewels, perched upon a nest woven from thorns. Drawn to the creature, Duchess Song approached and tenderly caressed its head. The bird did not withdraw from her, welcoming her gentle caress as if they had been familiar encounters. As the dream unfolded, a storm cloud gathered overhead, and the bird, with thorns embedded in its resplendent body, opened its giant wings and took flight to the sky above. Drops of blood fell from its wounds, painting a trail of vibrant flowers wherever the droplets touched the earth.

Come autumn, the dream found its earthly manifestation. The house of doves welcomed the firstborn, a daughter. Duke Song celebrated the arrival of a child who mirrored her mother's beauty. Holding his daughter for the first time, he felt a profound affection as he was mesmerized by her jade eyes. With love in their hearts, they named her Jinye, the hanja held the meaning “sincerity”, as the parents hoped she would grow and live her life with a genuine heart.

From her earliest days, Jinye was known for her tendency to daydream and having her head in the skies. As a daughter born into the highest social class, she grappled with societal expectations and the confinement spent within the walls of the Song estate. Despite lessons in virtue and etiquette, she found solace in tales of voyages, tragedies, and heroes, hidden away in her father's study. Forbidden by her mother to indulge in what was deemed "unladylike," she received secret support from her father, who secretly gifted her books. These forbidden treasures were tucked away in a chest beneath her bed, ensuring no one could ever take them away from her. These books became a lifeline, manifesting as a quiet rebellion against the stifling norms that sought to confine her spirit.

Though lonely and constrained, she discovered joy in her younger brother's stories and occasional supervised walks into the outside world. Experiencing horse riding, swordsmanship, and rare assembly meetings, she found a taste of freedom and happiness. The taste of freedom she savored contrasted sharply with the stifling constraints awaiting her within the Song estate. Yet, these stolen moments of joy fueled her determination to carve her own path, one that transcended the predetermined script society had penned for her.

But her entire world shifted when, at sixteen years of age, a proposal from the wealthy Namgong family strung her into a world of duty. Despite initial reservations, she accepted, and through exchanged letters with the young Lord Namgong Hyun, an innocent and sincere love blossomed between the two of them. Symbolized by a pale blue ribbon from her betrothed's jeogori, their connection deepened. She would carry this ribbon with her and some days even braid it into her dark hair, a symbolism of her deep infatuation.

They promised to watch the first snowfall and she still remembers that fateful December day: the blushed sky, the soft wind, the snowflakes on his eyebrows, her hair on his sleeve and his ribbon on her cheek. It was as if time drew them into the scenery as immortal figures. Yet, just as quickly as the fresh fallen snow covered the landscape in a blanket of white, their plans for a happy union crumbled when he succumbed to sudden illness the following spring. Heartbroken, Jinye mourned the loss of their love and shattered dreams.

Haunted by grief, Jinye vowed celibacy and adamantly refused to ever marry. Clutching the blue ribbon, she convinced her parents to send her away for healing. Instead, Jinye disguised as a male and joined the military under her deceased betrothed's name with determination to live out his unfulfilled life and promises. Four years of challenges followed as she navigated the harsh terrains until she finally reached Namhae, his hometown. Her time in the military was a closure of their short lived romance, an ode to his short life and to attach honor to his name so his afterlife may be blessed. Although Jinye’s secret identity in the military remained guarded, the fear of exposure lingered and followed her at every moment.

Returning home, Jinye concealed her military experience from her family and assumed the role of the perfect daughter. However, the battlefield had left an indelible mark on her spirit. No longer the meek young girl from the past, she grappled with memories of the battlefield that haunted her. Experiencing symptoms of PTSD, she withdrew from the world and remained hidden behind the very estate walls of the Song estate—the very walls she had always yearned to escape as a child.

In 1867, danger found its way into the Song estate, targeting an unsuccessful attempt on her father’s life. However, the assailants left in their wake a horrifying injury that befell Jinye's beloved brother. Faced with the sudden circumstance, Jinye pushed herself into a leadership role, compelled by necessity to become the pillar holding her family together. The once serene existence of the Songs now echoed with the haunting whispers, and Jinye, with a heart heavy with responsibility, had to navigate the fragile threads of familial bonds and her greatest fears.

The burdens of duty weighed upon her shoulders, and the girl who once had her head in the clouds now stood resolute in the face of adversity, determined to protect those she held dear. In the midst of confronting her trauma and demons to move forward, she was determined to spread her wings and soar to the sky just to feel a sliver of warmth from the sun.

Life is full of surprises and with love even the worst scars can be overlooked. The secrets and silent battles she faced had found an unexpected remedy in the form of Im Insoo, a gentle soul who had quietly taken hold of her heart. Due to his warmth and unconditional love, he had unknowingly and gradually seeped into the solitude of her every thought. He never questioned her past, but instead embraced the complexities of her spirit. Insoo became the light in her darkest hours and his warmth danced with the ghosts of her past, erasing the haunting memories of the battlefield and every reason that had caused her to seek seclusion.

Slowly but surely, the walls she had carefully built around herself began to crumble. With Insoo by her side, Jinye could spread her wings anew, this time it was not to escape, but to embrace the sincerity of a love that mended her fragile soul. Insoo's selfless and beautiful love planted seeds of hope in the barren landscape of her heart and her once-forgotten dreams of soaring to the sky began to stir within her again.

Now, the world seems brighter all because of him. It feels as if, this is what she has been waiting for her entire life--a home, a safe haven, and comforting warm hands to hold onto.

cousin

Baek Junwoo

commander (land) for ministry of war & defense

heir to house iris

a distant gaze, a cold tongue, heavy shoulders

"don't mistake my concern for interference"

cousin

Baek Doah

marchioness

only daughter of house iris

high walls, clipped wings, the bravest soul

"my treasured baby peach is no longer a small child, she has she grown as brave as ever."

cousin

Baek Yejun

scholar & advisor

second son of house iris

more tba

childhood friend

Cheon Suryeon

falconer & educator

eldest daughter to house falcon

free-spirit, master of her craft, sincere heart

"that's important, isn't it, suryeon-eonnie? that we should at least like who we marry?"

confidante

Seo Eunjeong

governess

only daughter of house heliotrope

elegant eyes, words of wisdom, brave heart

"i carry my own regrets. but i have come to accept that life is not always kind. sometimes we must do what is necessary to protect ourselves."

coworker + future sister-in-law

Ryu Aera

royal historian

youngest daughter of house willow

song jihoo’s love interest

acquaintance

Seo Eun

kisaeng at sook’s

entertainer at house rose

owes her a drink + love interest of baek yejun

"help assist me tonight. i need you to observe the man i followed so i can figure out what he's up to. i promise i won't forget your help and will make sure to reward you for your services."

informant

Kim Hyunji

seamstress

only daughter of house camelia

ex-lover of baek junwoo

"i dropped by to see you. you look as lively as you always do. i’m glad.”

childhood friend

Byun Haeryeong

marchioness

only daughter of house artic fox

married to ahn hyunki

mother of ahn jihae, ahn jiyeon, and ahn jieun

childhood friend

Han Iseul

marchioness

only daughter of house orchid

engaged to ha jaesang

mother of ha seulong

military captain

Ryu Songmin

general (navy) for ministry of war & defense

heir to house willow

"battle scars can remain like birthmarks on flesh and some memories, too, cannot be erased. it’s strange, as if part of me hasn’t returned yet either no matter how fleeting time may seem."

capt ryu, swift mind, heavy sword

family rival

Jin Jaeha

right state councillor

duke of ganghwa ; house of haetae

indirectly ruined his marriage

family helped his rival escape death

lady-in-waiting

Muyeo (npc)

maidservant to house dove

most loyal & trusted personnel

"do you see the lanterns in the water? it's like the lights are calling me."

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