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Chapter 9
“Geuk-cheh-u p… (formal greeting)… Your Majesty.”
The king’s voice was heavy and deep.
The creature I had thought was just a stray cat… turned out to be the famous royal cat of King Sukjong—Geumdeok.
But I didn’t even have time to be shocked.
King Sukjong….
I was completely overwhelmed by his presence.
The monarch with absolute legitimacy that no one could dare challenge.
A powerful king who had swept through countless political storms was standing right in front of me.
It’s the 26th year of Sukjong’s reign… so he must be around forty.
He was a handsome man with a strong, mature aura.
What stood out most were his eyes.
Those eyes are intense… like a tiger.
Some dramas portrayed him as indecisive, but that was clearly nonsense.
Sukjong was, in short, an “unyielding” man.
He was like that in love—and like that when taking lives.
Stay sharp.
This man had the reputation of being “Joseon’s most temperamental king.”
I carefully watched his expression, extremely tense.
His gaze wasn’t on me, but on the cat—no, on Geumdeok.
That brat cat…
A strange irritation rose in me.
Because just moments ago, that same cat had been wildly thrashing around, biting a cursed doll…
But now it looked like a noble royal creature.
Which meant—
The cursed doll was still in my hands.
I’m doomed.
What kind of unlucky fate tied me to this cursed object?
Should I hide it? But the king was too close.
Sukjong slowly bent down and picked up Geumdeok.
Then his gaze turned to me.
“Raise your head.”
“Yes…”
I lifted my head carefully.
His eyes, sharp like a predator’s, fixed on me for a long time.
It felt like he was searching my face for something.
Then, suddenly—
“…You look like someone.”
His tiger-like eyes wavered slightly.
“But that cannot be.”
He muttered lowly.
…Me? I look like someone?
Who?
A person… right?
Not the cat, I hope.
Countless questions rose in my mind, but I couldn’t speak.
Then he said again:
“You are a child attendant.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How old are you?”
“Three years old.”
“Which department?”
“Chwiseondang.”
“Chwiseon… I see.”
For a moment, his expression subtly stiffened.
But it wasn’t anger. More like something unreadable.
Finally—
“What is that in your hand?”
His gaze landed on the cursed doll.
Should I say it’s Geumdeok’s? That I don’t know? That it fell from the sky?
No good answer came.
And I remembered something troubling.
Sukbin….
The words she had once said—
“His Majesty has entrusted me with an important task.”
That meant Sukbin was still close to the king.
If I said the wrong thing, I’d be in trouble.
So I decided to stay consistent.
“I found it near the main palace… The cat—Geumdeok—ran off with it.”
“Near the main palace?”
Sukjong narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He studied the doll closely, then looked at me, then at Geumdeok again.
“Geumdeok… you little rascal.”
“…Meow?”
For a moment, I almost collapsed in relief.
I’m safe. I survived.
The king scratched Geumdeok affectionately.
A terrifying monarch who supposedly purged officials mercilessly… now casually petting a cat.
It felt surreal.
Anyway, it seemed the doll was no longer suspicious.
Time to exit quickly.
I bowed deeply.
“Then, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave…”
“Where are you going?”
“To Chwiseondang.”
A brief pause.
Then—
“The palace is large. You won’t get lost alone, will you?”
“I won’t, Your Majesty.”
“Then I shall escort you.”
“…Pardon?”
I looked up at him, mouth slightly open.
The king… escorting me?
Why?
Huff… huff…
Sukjong did not slow down for me.
I had no choice but to run after him.
Help… the child attendant is dying…
When I was panting heavily, he glanced back.
“Am I walking too fast?”
“No… it’s… just that my legs are… too short…”
Sukjong’s lips twitched slightly.
He’s laughing.
A rare sight.
Then, surprisingly, he slowed down.
He’s cold and unreadable… but he does have consideration for children.
Sukjong actually liked children to some extent.
Though he was ruthless with his sons politically, he apparently doted on them when they were young.
What kind of person was Sukjong really?
Even I, someone who studied his era, couldn’t be sure.
He was complex.
A cold strategist who wielded power like a blade…
Yet also a man overflowing with intense emotions.
I want to know who you really are.
Then—
I tried something.
“Hi hi!”
Sukjong turned.
“…Why are you laughing?”
“Because Geumdeok is so cute, Your Majesty. I’ve never seen such a cute cat.”
“Hm.”
I saw it again.
His lips twitched.
Then he said:
“Geumdeok is indeed quite cute.”
Ding!
[You have successfully activated the “Spoiled Cat Owner” route!]
[Affection level is rising rapidly!]
It felt like a game interface appearing in front of my eyes.
I smiled brightly at him again.
As innocently as possible.
I mimicked the smile of Prince Yeonryeong I had seen earlier.
I wanted Sukjong to feel the same disarming warmth.
“I am harmless… I am just a weak, useless child…”
Sukjong silently stared at my smiling face.
Not hostile.
More like… nostalgic.
A faint loneliness crossed his expression.
He’s not suspicious of me.
At last, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.
A long-standing academic curiosity was about to be answered.
“Your Majesty.”
“Speak.”
“May I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
I swallowed hard.
“Your Majesty… I bought rice cakes because I was sad…”
Sukjong.
Are you a T or an F?
