LCSB 20

Chapter 20

After that day, my status was upgraded from “the sickly little troublemaker” to “the little troublemaker favored by the king.”

It seemed the king had also ordered the court ladies to keep their mouths shut.

The maids who had witnessed my private meeting with King Sukjong kept giving me meaningful looks, but none of them dared ask questions.

Anyway, from that day on, I gained an important daily routine.

“Bong-bong, what’s that circle?”

At Seolhyang’s question, I looked up from the tiny circles I’d been drawing in the corner of my Korean primer.

“It means something!”

Three circles now.

That meant there were still several days left until the deadline Sukjong and I had agreed on.

“Our little lucky charm. I thought you were still just a baby, but now you already have secrets?”

“I’m not a baby!”

“Tsk. Now I’m getting sad. I wanted our Bong-bong to stay a four-year-old baby maid forever.”

Eek.

How could she say something so terrifying so casually?!

Still, I knew Seolhyang truly cared about me, so I answered with a bright smile.

“I’m gonna turn five and ten and twenty really soon! But even when I’m older, I’ll still be Hippo-nim’s baby maid!”

Seolhyang’s face bloomed with laughter.

“Oh, Hwang Bong-bong. I live because of you. I survive thanks to you!”

…Of course you do.

It was probably just a casual remark, but her words lingered in my mind.

‘Right. We have to live. We have to survive.’

Jang Hui-bin. Seolhyang.

And me too—Hwang Bong-bong.

Once my health recovered, I was assigned a new duty.

Running errands to the Crown Prince’s residence, Jeoseungjeon.

There was frequent exchange between Chwiseondang and Jeoseungjeon, so I ended up making deliveries once or twice every single day.

‘This is actually perfect.’

For me, it was welcome news.

It gave me an excuse to wander outside Chwiseondang.

“I’ll be going now.”

After bowing politely, I left Chwiseondang.

The bundle in my hands contained medicinal herbs personally prepared by Hui-bin.

‘She may be emotional, but when it comes to loving her son, Jang Hui-bin is sincere.’

A ridiculous rumor that spread after Hui-bin’s death suddenly came to mind.

The infamous story claiming that right before drinking poison, Jang Hui-bin clawed at the Crown Prince’s private parts and made him a eunuch.

‘Fake news really is a problem in every era… no, both now and later.’

Clicking my tongue, I entered Jeoseungjeon.

‘Now where’s my lifesaver, Court Lady Moon…?’

Just as I was glancing around—

Swish—

‘Whoa, you scared me.’

Someone was sitting in a pavilion off to one side of the courtyard.

The boy rose to his feet and stared directly at me.

Maybe six or seven years old?

For someone that young, he possessed remarkably sharp eyes.

‘Why does he look familiar…?’

I blankly stared at the richly dressed boy before—

‘Oh!’

That face…!

How did I not recognize him immediately?

After all, he was the only person in Joseon history whose official royal portrait survived intact!

Right then, a cold reprimand fell from the child’s lips.

“How insolent. No matter how young you are, you are still a palace maid. Surely you have already learned the laws and etiquette of the palace. How dare you stand there with your head raised before a royal prince?”

…Wow. Logic King.

“G-greetings, Prince.”

I hurriedly bowed, only to lose balance from the weight of my hair ornaments and flop forward onto the ground.

Since I’d already fallen, I figured I might as well rest there for a second… not really—I just stayed flat on the floor pretending to bow respectfully.

‘Of all places to run into him…’

There was a reason I felt tense despite him being just a child.

Because the identity of this absurdly strict seven-year-old was none other than—

‘The icon of the rice chest…’

Yi Geum, son of Sukbin Choi.

In other words, the future King Yeongjo.

“I-I deeply apologize. I failed to recognize Your Highness and committed a grave discourtesy.”

I apologized as logically and pathetically as possible in order to calm the Logic King’s anger.

First rule: kneel first. Survive later.

‘If he dislikes me, I’m dead.’

I swallowed dryly.

Yeongjo was that kind of person.

A man who once hated someone, hated even their children with ruthless consistency.

An extremely sensitive perfectionist.

‘Wasn’t there a story about him demanding water to wash his ears after Crown Prince Sado left?’

Carefully watching his expression, I raised my head just slightly.

After glaring at me for a long moment, he finally spoke.

“Stand. If anyone saw this, they might misunderstand and think I was throwing my weight around in my elder brother’s residence.”

…You literally were, though.

Honestly, even your dad hasn’t treated me like this.

The moment I stood, Yeoning-gun fired off another question.

“So then. Who are you, and how old are you?”

“My name is Hwang Bom-bong, and I’m four years old.”

“Your residence? There is no reason for the Crown Prince’s residence to employ a baby maid.”

“I’m… a maid of Chwiseondang…”

Ha.

Honestly, I really didn’t want to say it.

The relationship between Sukbin, Yeoning-gun’s mother, and Hui-bin was the definition of lifelong enemies.

Meaning—

‘Just being affiliated with Chwiseondang could make me his enemy.’

Ugh, I really didn’t want someone this picky to dislike me.

“Chwiseondang? Hmm…”

Yeoning-gun murmured quietly.

Yes… what about it? Want me to bring water so you can wash your ears?

“My mother often spoke of the hardships she endured while living as a court maid. Since you also became a palace maid at such a young age, I imagine your life must be difficult as well.”

“…?”

Wait. Did I hear that correctly?

I stared blankly at his completely unexpected empathy.

Trying to stay calm, I cautiously looked up.

Yeoning-gun’s expression had noticeably softened.

‘Huh?’

He had even smiled a little… barely, but still.

‘Well, he’s only seven. Maybe it’s too early to judge his personality completely.’

He was definitely no easy child, but perhaps I didn’t need to fear him quite that much.

That was when footsteps approached.

Soon, the Crown Prince appeared in deep blue dragon robes.

At the same time, an unbelievably gentle smile spread across Yeoning-gun’s face.

Watching his completely changed demeanor, a small suspicion arose in my mind.

‘Did he switch attitudes because he knew the Crown Prince would arrive soon?’

Knowing Yeoning-gun’s personality, it was a perfectly reasonable suspicion.

“Geum-ah. Forgive me for making you wait. My lecture ran long.”

“How could a younger brother resent his elder brother for studying diligently? Even the time spent waiting for you brings me joy.”

Wow… what eloquence.

‘How is this the speech of a seven-year-old child?’

I was sincerely impressed when the Crown Prince addressed me.

“So Bong-bong was here as well. It seems you’ve already greeted Yeoning. What were you two discussing so happily?”

Exactly! Your half-brother over here forced me onto my knees and scolded me—

I wanted to tattle about everything, but obviously that wasn’t possible.

So instead, I smiled serenely.

“Prince Yeoning said his mother used to be a palace maid too, and it was hard for her, so he said it must be hard for me too.”

Please interpret my toddler gibberish intelligently.

“Haha. Is that so? Geum, I’m impressed. To think you already possess the generosity to empathize with a child’s circumstances. You shame me as your elder brother.”

“You flatter me. I only strive in hopes of becoming even half the man you are, Hyungnim.”

Back and forth they went.

‘These royal kids really are something else.’

The conversation between the thirteen-year-old Crown Prince and seven-year-old Yeoning-gun was shockingly mature.

‘If I were an ordinary palace maid, I’d probably just smile warmly at the sight of such affectionate brothers.’

Just like the palace attendants standing behind the Crown Prince.

But…

I was someone who knew the future.

Those brothers who now looked so loving would later become the center of history’s great poisoning mystery.

One as the victim.

The other as the perpetrator.

“…Bong-bong.”

“……”

“Bong-bong?”

“Ah! Yes, Your Highness!”

I’d been so lost in thought that I hadn’t even heard the Crown Prince calling me.

Get it together, Hwang Bong-bong.

“By the way, what brings you here today?”

“Ah, I was told to deliver this. Hui-bin-jaga sent medicinal herbs. She said they’re good for restoring strength.”

“That looks heavy. You carried it all by yourself?”

At the Crown Prince’s gentle concern, I waved my short little arms proudly.

“It’s not heavy at all! Your Highness, Bong-bong is strong!”

The Crown Prince let out a low laugh.

I laughed along with him, but then—

my eyes met Yeoning-gun’s.

‘…He’s observing us.’

I could feel him carefully watching every expression and every exchange between me and the Crown Prince.

Suddenly, Yeoning-gun spoke.

“Hyungnim. I envy you a little.”

…Envy? Where did that come from?

“I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a younger sister. But it seems you have already found such a child.”

The Crown Prince treating me like a younger sister? Slow down there…

And sorry, but you’re never getting a sister, full-blooded or half-blooded.

“A younger sister, hm? Haha. I do adore Bong-bong. She is a remarkably mature child with a kind heart.”

…Me?

Suddenly, I became curious about how the Crown Prince saw me.

“Geum-ah. If I regard this child as a younger sister, then surely you, as my brother, may do the same.”

Huh?

That hit like a bolt from the blue.

“You and Bong-bong are close in age. I’m sure you would become good friends.”

Crown Prince…

I’d been thinking highly of you all this time.

So why are you doing this to me…?