Modern flashback only: Cha Joon-Ho stands packed among commuters on a Seoul subway platform, face fully visible to camera in three-quarter view, cheap charcoal suit wrinkled, loose tie, paper coffee cup crushed slightly in his hand. Overhea

Panel 1: a crowd surge shoves Joon-Ho from behind, his face tense in profile. Panel 2: the paper coffee cup spins in the air, brown coffee scattering against the platform edge. Panel 3: lights cut out, only the white line of the rail and Jo

Period manor interior: a grand but fading four-poster bed with heavy old curtains, cracked plaster, extinguished candles, no modern objects. Joon-Ho in noble body sits upright gasping, face fully visible to camera, long black hair tied at t

Top panel: ghostly period imagery layered over the bedchamber—wine bottles, unpaid ledgers, creditors at a wrought-iron gate, the Renatus crest on a cracked wall. Bottom panel: Joon-Ho grips his temples at the bedside, face half-shadowed by

Top panel: polished bronze standing mirror in the bedchamber reflects Joon-Ho's noble face and crescent mole under the left eye; his long black hair is tied with a dark ribbon. Bottom panel: tight close-up of his face in the mirror, narrow

Top panel: Sera enters the bedchamber carrying a plain wooden breakfast tray, 3/4 face visible to camera, low black bun with one loose strand at her right temple, grey-blue maid dress and white apron; Joon-Ho sits on the bed watching. Botto

Top panel: Sera lowers her eyes and bows politely, tray held steady, posture domestic and composed; door and stone corridor behind her. Bottom panel: the door closes, leaving Joon-Ho alone in the fading bedchamber, one eyebrow lifted as if

Period manor doorway: Aldric stands stiffly in a dark green steward's coat, face fully visible to camera, iron-grey beard, scar bisecting right eyebrow, brass key ring at belt. Joon-Ho sits near a small writing table, robe straightened and

Top panel: Joon-Ho stands beside a candlelit desk, pointing toward stacks of household papers with theatrical confidence. Bottom panel: close-up of Aldric's narrow eyes and eyebrow scar; his gaze fixes on Joon-Ho a little too intently while

Top panel: night in a period study nook, papered window casting black bars over ledgers, wax drips near an oil lamp, hand-folded papers and sealed notes spread across the desk. Bottom panel: close-up of Joon-Ho's hand writing a plan in ink:

Panel 1: red wax blob melts beside a candle on the desk. Panel 2: debt names and household expenses are crossed out in Joon-Ho's fresh ink. Panel 3: Joon-Ho leans back in the chair, face lit from below by the oil lamp, smiling with dry sati

Top panel: anonymous footman's gloved hand extends a folded cream letter with a red wax Renatus seal into the study doorway; the footman remains cropped and unnamed. Bottom panel: Joon-Ho takes the letter, candlelight reflecting on the seal

Tight close-up: Joon-Ho's face in hard candle shadow, long black hair tied back, narrow eyes amused; he holds the red wax seal between his fingers in front of the flame. The study behind him is all ledgers, papered window bars, and darkness