LCSB 35

Chapter 35

I Shall Not Forgive

The paper sliding doors slowly opened to either side.

Just as Orye was about to turn her gaze away, Sukjeong whispered:

“That child. That child is Hwang-ga. Take a good look.”

Here we go again.

Orye felt a flicker of irritation at Sukjeong’s anxious behavior.

Sukjeong was even more obsessed with superstition than Orye herself, a shaman. She was also excessively emotional about everything and the sort of weak-willed person who trembled at the smallest thing, calling it an “omen.”

Orye had long since learned how to exploit those weaknesses.

To Orye, Sukjeong was a lucrative source of money and a golden rope leading to the immense power of Heebin.

She’s only a four-year-old child. What’s all this fuss about?

Orye completely agreed with Heebin’s opinion.

Even when Sukjeong had frantically rambled on about the “little court maid with the surname Hwang,” Orye hadn’t taken it very seriously.

She assumed Sukjeong, who always overreacted to trivial matters, had simply frightened herself over some childish prank.

It was true that since the day Sukjeong entered the palace carrying the Five Direction Flags, yellow and black flags had continually appeared, and strange things had happened, as though divine sight itself had become blocked.

Even so, Orye did not think the child had anything to do with it.

And so, even now, as Sukjeong jabbed insistently at her side, she felt the same.

Hwang-ga… Let’s see, then.

She didn’t expect much, but at the very least she wanted to leave a strong impression on Heebin.

Deliberately widening her eyes fiercely, Orye slowly lifted her gaze.

Tiny socked feet.

A deep blue skirt with bright red ribbons draped over it, and above that, a jade-colored jeogori jacket.

Round chubby cheeks that were quite pretty…

And large, round eyes that did not avoid her piercing stare.

Gasp!

At that moment, Orye shuddered violently.

Her spiritual sight, which had been sealed shut in darkness—

Was suddenly flooded with an unbearable golden radiance.

At the same time, an enormous force crushed down upon her.

Soon, Orye found herself unable to even breathe.

An invisible power so overwhelming it felt as though her entire body would be flattened beneath it.

As she helplessly succumbed to it, Orye’s eyes widened like lanterns.

Within the dazzling golden light appeared countless books, and from those books poured tens of thousands of written characters.

Joseon.
Veritable Records.
Taejo.

Sukjong.
Gyeongjong.
Yeongjo.

And Daehan…

Some words she recognized, but most were incomprehensible to her.

The swirling letters spinning before her eyes soon merged into a single mass.

Then the pitch-black cluster slipped smoothly into the little girl’s tiny head.

Hehe.

At that moment, the child grinned.

As though she felt no fear whatsoever.

With a proud and confident face.

“Hhk…!”

Only then did Orye notice the enormous human silhouette standing behind the child.

And in that being’s hand was a thick book.

That book was the source of the storm of letters.

In an instant, realization struck Orye like lightning.

“A god!”

A mighty god.

Not some ordinary child spirit a mere shamaness could dare handle or approach.

That god possessed a powerful insight that pierced through everything—from centuries in the past to centuries yet to come.

The god’s eyes stared directly at Orye.

Barely managing to open her mouth, Orye whispered:

“That child… cannot… absolutely cannot be touched…”

Thud!

Orye’s body collapsed to the floor.

*

Why is she acting like that?

I was just standing there.

She glared at me so fiercely that I refused to lose and glared back just as fiercely. That was literally all I did.

When she started trembling and muttering nonsense about gods, I wondered if she’d gone into some kind of possession trance.

For a moment I even expected some grand prophecy.

But then Orye simply fainted.

Still, I clearly heard what she said.

That I was someone who “must never be touched.”

Can she really see something?

So she’s not a fake shaman?

For example… maybe she could see my real self inside Hwang Bongbong’s body…

But even so, was that enough to shock her that badly?

Aside from being slightly more athletic than average, I was just a pitiful graduate student with nothing special about me.

While I watched the scene unfold with fascinated eyes, a senior court lady rushed inside.

Sukjeong was practically out of her mind, shaking Orye violently.

“Move aside.”

After instantly grasping the situation, the court lady grabbed a bowl of water and dumped it straight onto Orye’s face.

…That court lady was refreshingly decisive.

At the same time, Orye regained consciousness.

“I-I was wrong! Please forgive this lowly and foolish servant!”

Pressing her forehead against the floor, Orye cried out while trembling violently.

But something felt oddly strange…

Why does it sound like she’s talking to me instead of Heebin?

Suspicious.

The court lady shoved me, still standing by the doorway, into the room and slammed the door shut.

“Silence that mouth. How dare you let such loud nonsense be heard outside?”

The court lady threatened Orye in a terrifying voice.

I secretly glanced at Heebin’s face.

Heebin was glaring at Sukjeong. Her elegant brows were tightly furrowed; she looked deeply displeased.

Then Heebin spoke.

“Sukjeong.”

“Y-yes, Your Ladyship…”

“Did you not say you would prove it to me?”

“……”

“And yet instead of proof, what is all this chaos?”

“Th-that is… Your Ladyship! Orye must simply be feeling unwell for a moment…”

In desperation, Sukjeong poked and pinched Orye repeatedly.

That looks painful…

But Orye did not utter a single word.

Only her tightly shut lips trembled.

Watching the sight, Heebin turned her gaze back to Sukjeong.

“I trusted you because you are my brother’s concubine. And because of that, I overlooked your insolence time and again.”

At those words, Sukjeong’s eyes widened in panic.

Half-rising to her feet while waving both arms wildly, she shrieked:

“Your Ladyship! That child is a monst—”

Smack!

Sukjeong’s face snapped sideways.

Heebin had slapped her.

“I endured your vulgarity out of affection for my brother, despite knowing exactly what kind of woman you were. That was my mistake.”

Then Heebin’s icy command rang out.

“Court Lady Han.”

“Yes, Your Ladyship!”

“Throw Sukjeong and that woman Orye out of the palace immediately.”

“Yes. Your command shall be obeyed.”

“One more thing.”

Heebin continued coldly.

“Confiscate Sukjeong’s entry pass. Until I summon her again, she is never to enter the palace of her own accord.”

“Your Ladyship, please! Just once, have mercy—!”

Sukjeong clasped her hands together and begged desperately.

But Heebin was merciless.

“Court Lady Han. Did you not hear me tell you to throw them out?”

“Yes!”

Orye quietly left on her own feet, but Sukjeong struggled and screamed Heebin’s name.

“Bring Sunrye here!”

At Court Lady Han’s command, Sunrye stormed in with thunderous footsteps that matched her massive build.

In an instant, Sunrye dragged Sukjeong away.

Her shrieks faded down the hallway.

“……”

Slowly, I slipped out of Heebin’s residence amid the chaos.

Because there was something I wanted to confirm.

Orye.

She was trembling violently as she walked down the corridor.

Without making a sound, I approached her side.

The moment she noticed me, Orye collapsed onto the floor again.

Good. If she was reacting like this…

Then maybe it wouldn’t hurt to test something.

I swallowed dryly before speaking.

“Can you see it?”

Using the eeriest tone possible, speaking not like a child but like an adult.

Orye nodded frantically, terror written all over her face.

I was curious what exactly she had seen, but I didn’t feel the need to ask.

Now came the important part.

“Do not come near the palace again. This means you are not to interfere in the Queen’s affairs.”

“……”

“If you carry out that deed…”

I leaned close and whispered one final sentence into Orye’s ear.

“Heaven shall not forgive you.”

“Yes! Yes! I understand!”

Orye slammed her head repeatedly against the floor as she shouted.

Now all that remained was to return to being little court maid Hwang Bongbong.

By then, the courtyard of Chwiseondang was crowded with palace maids startled by the commotion Sukjeong had caused.

Putting on the innocent yet frightened expression appropriate for a four-year-old child, I scampered over and hid behind Seolhyang’s skirts.

Phew…

Today, I really pulled off something huge.