Stuck In My Drama Fantasy

Long ago, there existed a place unknown to maps or history books. This place was Yeongcheon.

***

Ginny's breath hitched as she immediately ducked, shielding her face behind her hands.

Eun-Jin scowled beside her. "What is the matter with you?"

Ginny peeked through her fingers, eyes darting to the entrance of the brothel. There he was.

Seung Woo.

Her heart hammered wildly. "How is he here?" she muttered to herself.

The universe really had it out for her. Not only had she been transported to this unfamiliar world, but now she was being haunted by the man who wanted her dead. And he wasn't alone. Two other men stood beside him, their expressions unreadable.

She observed them carefully. They weren't looking at her. They weren't even scanning the brothel. Did they not recognize her?

'Then what are they doing here?'

This was her chance. She wasn't about to wait around for their memories to jog. Without a second thought, she bolted, leaving a very confused Eun-Jin behind.

There was just one problem.

She was slow.

Painfully slow.

'What the hell?!'

Her legs refused to cooperate, her movements sluggish like she was running through knee-deep water. Frustration boiled inside her. Had this world cursed her with zero athletic ability too?

She groaned inwardly, her body wobbling. The next thing she knew, her foot caught on something—maybe the hem of her gown, maybe thin air—and before she could stop herself, she slammed face-first into the ground.

Pain shot up her nose. "Ow!"

Groaning, she scrambled to her feet and kept running, ignoring the way her body protested with each step. It felt like she had been running forever when she finally stopped in front of a random door, breathless and desperate.

Without thinking, she yanked it open and slipped inside.

And then—she smelled it.

Food.

Her head whipped toward a small table, where a steaming bowl of food sat, waiting, calling to her.

Without hesitation, she lunged.

Her fingers closed around a handful of rice, stuffing it into her mouth like a woman possessed. She didn't even care what it was. Food was food. A belch escaped her mid-bite, and she collapsed onto the floor, completely satisfied.

She stared at the ceiling, chewing. "Who does that handsome man think he is?" she muttered. "Maybe I should go and talk to him."

Her mind immediately rejected the idea.

"But he wanted to kill me."

Right. There was that tiny little detail.

She sighed. "No, that devil hates me."

Ginny wiped her mouth and tapped her lap absentmindedly. She had bigger things to worry about. Like escaping.

"I can just start a life here as So-Hee," she mused, "but first, I have to get out of this place."

Her fingers moved instinctively toward her lap.

Her phone.

She patted her legs, then her pockets.

Nothing.

Her heart sank.

"No, no, no, no," she whispered, frantically searching her clothes. It was gone.

She let out a chuckle. Then another. Before she knew it, she was laughing hysterically. The kind of laughter that came from pure, unfiltered disbelief.

It died down as quickly as it started.

"I don't need a phone," she said, inhaling deeply. "Our ancestors survived without one. I'll be fine."

She needed to find Eun-Jin.

If anyone knew how to escape, it would be her.

'I'm a private investigator,' she reminded herself. 'I can get information out of anyone.'

With renewed determination, she stormed out of the room and into the dimming light of evening. The sky had already begun its descent into darkness.

And there was Eun-Jin.

Ginny hurried to her side, grabbing her hands dramatically.

"Eun-Jin," she cried. "Since I came here, I have felt nothing but out of place! I know no one! I feel alone—" She squeezed her hands for emphasis. "But you—you feel like an older sister to me."

She made sure to inject just the right amount of emotion into her voice.

Eun-Jin hesitated, her gaze softening.

Good.

Ginny continued, voice thick with feigned gratitude. "I feel like I can rely on you. For everything. Thank you, my friend."

But before Eun-Jin could reply, she seemed distracted.

Ginny followed her gaze and frowned. Who was ruining her performance?

She turned her head—and immediately stiffened.

Him.

Not Seung Woo. But the other man who had been standing beside him.

"He's the one who was next to my archnemesis," she whispered, narrowing her eyes.

She looked at Eun-Jin expectantly. "Who is that?"

Eun-Jin barely spared her a glance. "Park Chan-Yeol."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. Who?

"You don't know him?" Eun-Jin asked, clearly surprised.

Ginny blinked. "Should I?"

Eun-Jin sighed. "There are four clans that control all of Yeongcheon. The Park Family, Lee Family, Choi Family, and Kang Family. Everyone knows that."

Ginny stared blankly. "Uh-huh. And I'm sure So-Hee knew that too. And for some reason, she decided to get on their bad side."

Park Chan-Yeol approached them, waving.

Ginny panicked. Did he recognize her?

No. He seemed indifferent. He barely even looked at her.

Still, she wasn't taking chances.

Her knees buckled, and she immediately dropped to the floor.

"My… my earrings!" she exclaimed, frantically patting the ground.

Chan-Yeol walked past her, not even sparing her a glance.

Ginny relaxed. Crisis averted.

Dusting off her gown, she straightened up.

"This is the new courtesan I was talking about," Eun-Jin said, gesturing toward her.

Ginny smiled. "Ginny. Nice to meet you." She extended a hand. "So-Hee, I mean. But you can call me Ginny. Only special people call me Ginny, but I'll let you."

She winked playfully.

'Since you're handsome. You're lucky I have a thing for handsome men.'

Chan-Yeol looked amused but didn't shake her hand.

Ginny pouted, withdrawing her hand. "It's okay. You don't have to shake me." She dramatically dusted off her palm before clearing her throat.

"You'll escort him to his chambers now," Eun-Jin suddenly announced.

Ginny's entire body froze.

"Wait, what?"

"Not me. A friend," Chan-Yeol clarified.

Ginny stared, dumbfounded.

Eun-Jin gestured for her to move. Ginny shook her head violently. Nope. Not happening.

Eun-Jin sighed and dragged her forward.

"Wait! I'm still new! You can't do this on my first day!"

Before she knew it, she was inside a chamber. The moment the door shut, she collapsed to her knees.

"Have mercy!" she wailed. "I... Have never done the you know, at twenty-four, and it is definitely not because men did not find me attractive!" Her voice cracked. "I made a choice! Do you understand?"

Tears pricked her eyes. She was about to plead for her life.

And then—she heard a voice.

Her breath caught.

She knew that voice.

She turned her head—and started coughing violently.