LCSB 42

Chapter 42 – Life

A faint trace of displeasure crossed Sukbin’s face as she walked down the corridor of Tongmyeongjeon.

After her condition worsened while staying at Changdeokgung, Queen Min had moved her residence here to Tongmyeongjeon.

Sukbin visited the Queen frequently.

The Queen’s illness had already reached a stage beyond saving.

Sukbin had long known the information circulating within the Royal Infirmary, but something far more certain than any report was the scent of death hanging heavily over this place.

The corridors of Tongmyeongjeon were thick with the nauseating stench of pus and rotting flesh.

“Your Majesty the Queen, I humbly inquire after your health.”

Sukbin bowed respectfully.

The Queen, leaning weakly against her cushions with a pale face, offered a faint smile.

Several boils on her legs were festering horribly.

Even though they were hidden beneath blankets, there was no concealing that dreadful odor.

Remembering that a court maid had been sentenced to flogging simply for retching in front of the Queen, Sukbin suppressed the turmoil in her stomach.

“Tell me some news from outside. Being confined to my chambers all day leaves me curious about how the world turns.”

At the Queen’s words, Sukbin began speaking.

“Several days ago, His Majesty visited Jongmyo. Aside from that, there has been nothing particularly significant. However…”

“However?”

“It seems His Majesty has begun drawing close to Huibin once more.”

“Ha…!”

The Queen exhaled sharply in anger before breaking into a fit of coughing.

Sukbin quickly lifted a bowl of water and respectfully held it to the Queen’s lips.

“That wicked woman has finally managed it…”

Tears gathered in the Queen’s eyes.

“Because of that woman, countless people have died. Ever since she entered the palace, there has been no end to ominous disturbances. I told His Majesty time and again that she would be the ruin of this kingdom, yet how could he do this again?”

“Please calm yourself, Your Majesty. How could this be His Majesty’s fault? It all stems from the wickedness of Chwiseondang.”

“That woman has not visited me even once since I fell ill. She does not acknowledge me as Queen. She is still trapped in the delusion that she herself is the Queen!”

The agitated Queen struggled to catch her breath, but Sukbin made no effort to stop her.

“I know exactly what black thoughts hide in her heart. Even now, she is surely gazing at the moon and praying for my death.”

“Please do not say such frightening things. Your Majesty will recover soon.”

“Recover?”

Heh.

The Queen laughed weakly.

Her reddened eyes stared at Sukbin.

With a sudden motion, she threw off the blanket covering her legs.

“…”

Even Sukbin, who was normally composed in all situations, could not help but stop breathing for a moment.

This was far beyond a few infected boils.

The swollen, black-red boils were enormous. It looked as though her entire leg had become one giant boil.

Human flesh rotting away.

A stench powerful enough to cloud the mind.

Sukbin barely managed to suppress the nausea rising in her throat.

“Do you understand now, Sukbin?”

“Your Majesty…”

“I will die soon. Death is not far away.”

The Queen stared at her own legs before squeezing her eyes shut.

Then she pulled the blanket back over them.

“Huibin probably believes with absolute certainty that she will reclaim this position once I am gone.”

Tears streamed down her face as she ground her teeth.

“I cannot bear to see that happen. Even if I become a vengeful spirit, I will stop it.”

“…”

“I have already prepared my final wishes. No matter how great His Majesty may be, he cannot ignore the last request of a wife who spent her life suffering.”

Sukbin listened quietly.

She no longer noticed the dreadful smell.

All her attention was fixed on the Queen’s desperate vow.

The vow that she would stop Huibin from becoming Queen again at any cost.

The vow that even her dying words would be used to prevent it.

“The position of a nation’s Queen Mother is not something just anyone can approach. The woman who sits upon that seat must possess the proper qualifications. Indeed. Without question.”

Qualifications.

Sukbin found herself thinking about her own qualifications.

The mistress of Bogyeongdang.

The woman who had borne Yeoninggun and preserved the royal bloodline.

The woman who cared devotedly for the sick Queen.

The woman respected by palace servants for her benevolence and virtue.

Was there truly anyone more qualified than herself?

“…Therefore, the Queen must absolutely be Lady Kim.”

The flow of Sukbin’s thoughts abruptly halted.

“Only a woman of noble blood like Lady Kim possesses the qualifications to become Queen. Never again should someone of lowly blood rule as the nation’s mother.”

“…”

Sukbin hid her trembling fingertips within her sleeves.

It felt as though a long-buried rage was surging violently from deep within her chest.

It had been she herself who informed the King of the miserable condition of the deposed Queen Min.

It had been part of her scheme to gain the King’s favor, certainly.

But the fact remained that the King’s renewed interest in the deposed Queen had begun because of her.

If it hadn’t been for me, you would never have regained your position as Queen.

And yet.

Lady Kim?

Noble blood?

No more women of lowly lineage becoming the nation’s mother?

Ha.

Sukbin had to struggle not to laugh aloud.

“Sukbin. You agree, do you not?”

“…Your words are most correct, Your Majesty.”

Grinding her teeth so hard it hurt, Sukbin offered her farewell greetings and left Tongmyeongjeon.

The foul stench of pus seemed to follow behind her, causing her pace to quicken.

The doll.

She recalled the cursed doll Yonghui had brought as evidence.

Originally, she had intended to corner Huibin the moment she obtained the evidence.

But she had changed her plan.

Queen Min was not a particularly rational woman.

Yet there was one thing she understood perfectly.

That her death was near.

The Queen would die.

Soon.

And very painfully.

I should save this evidence until then.

The Queen’s death would never be treated as an ordinary death from illness.

It would become—

A death caused by Huibin’s evil curse.

And when the palace was thrown into chaos by that horrifying rumor…

That’s when I’ll present the evidence before His Majesty.

A faint smirk appeared on Sukbin’s lips.

We’ll see who wins in the end.

The Queen would soon be dead.

And Lady Kim was nothing more than a woman who had a prestigious family and little else.

So if Huibin could simply be removed…

Sukbin’s grand ambition would surely come true.

“Bongbong, dinner time.”

“Uwaaah?!”

I jolted awake in surprise.

Seolhyang was setting down the evening meal.

Outside the door, blue darkness had already fallen.

Hwang Bongbong. Get yourself together.

Boomboom had disappeared, and Yonghui was the prime suspect.

No matter how exhausting the day had been, how could I have fallen asleep at a time like this?

And why was my heart pounding so hard?

I couldn’t even remember what I had dreamed, yet I was drenched in cold sweat.

“Why are you sweating so much? You’re not sick, are you?”

“No. I’m fine. Really.”

Seolhyang’s face was full of concern.

“Really! Ah, that was a good nap!”

I stretched dramatically and flashed a bright smile.

Only then did her expression finally relax.

“Hurry and eat so we can head out. We’re going to play Jwibulnori and make wishes under the moon. Bongbong, did you ever play Jwibulnori when you lived outside?”

“Nope. Never.”

“Some of the younger court maids burst into tears because they’re scared of it. But our Bongbong is brave. You won’t even blink, right?”

True.

I thought so too.

“Sunrye has been amazing at Jwibulnori since she was little. You can watch her forever without getting bored.”

Seolhyang chattered excitedly, but honestly, I had no interest in Jwibulnori.

It was basically just playing with fire.

Of course, precautions had been taken.

The event would be held in an open field far from the palace buildings, and water buckets had been prepared in case of accidents.

Even so, do we really have to do something this dangerous? If a fire breaks out, it’ll be a disaster…

It was a traditional game meant to ward off misfortune for the coming year.

And in an era with few forms of entertainment, playing with fire was probably incredibly thrilling.

Though I couldn’t care less.

…Yet once it actually began, I changed my mind a little.

Sunrye, Chwiseondang’s official glutton, strutted forward and put on an astonishingly dazzling fire performance.

“Wow…!”

I found myself clapping like a seal in amazement.

For a moment, I felt genuinely guilty for ever wondering whether Sunrye earned her keep considering how much she ate.

“Bongbong. You try.”

Sunrye handed me a mugwort torch made from bundled dried mugwort.

“Just swing it around. When it burns out, throw it into the water bucket over there.”

“Okay, I’ll try.”

At first, I simply drew circles in the air.

I had only intended to participate halfheartedly, but watching the sparks bloom from my fingertips was unexpectedly fun.

I drew circles.

Swung it here and there.

Then suddenly—

I traced a single character through the air.

生.

Life.

Life.

To everyone else, it probably looked like a meaningless pattern scribbled by a child waving a torch around.

But before my eyes, the character for “Life” blazed clearly before fading away.

Live.

Let’s survive.

Let’s not die.

Not just me. All of us together…

No matter what—

Let’s survive.

“That’s enough for now.”

One of the court ladies spoke.

“Before we go inside, look at the moon and make your wishes. His Majesty is expected to visit tonight, so hurry.”

As if they had been waiting for the moment, everyone clasped their hands and closed their eyes.

I could hear Head Court Lady Han quietly praying for Huibin’s restoration.

Sunrye, true to form, wished for meat soup every day.

And beside me, I heard Seolhyang’s voice.

“May my family stay healthy, may everyone in Chwiseondang remain safe, may our Bongbong grow up healthy and never get sick…”

“…”

It felt strange.

Our people.

Our Bongbong.

Our little blessing…

When had so many people started calling me “ours”?

I quietly closed my eyes as well.

So naturally, my wish was—

“May everyone in Chwiseondang…”

Just then—

A sharp smell of smoke brushed against the tip of my nose.