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Chapter 13
Recalling Kim Jihoo, the son of her teacher who had spoken harshly without recognizing her, Eunhye puffed out her cheeks in a vexed expression.
“Ah, that rascal… today…!”
The sight was so cute that a slight smile threatened to break through the lips of the attendant nearby, who lightly rolled her eyes and spoke.
“Has something happened? Which scoundrel inside the palace didn’t recognize our little princess? Tell me, and I shall find him immediately and give him his comeuppance!”
Seeing the attendant so ready to rush off, Eunhye quickly shook her head.
“It’s alright. I already know who that rascal is. The next time we meet, I’ll make sure he gets a proper scolding.”
“Huh? That rascal? You said ‘that rascal’? Besides meeting Lady Gyeongbin, did something else happen to our little princess?”
The attendant’s large eyes filled with worry as she watched the princess, whose lower lip was curled inward in frustration.
“Please tell me who it is. It must be a newly arrived apprentice court official, and I shall give him a good scolding.”
Eunhye shook her head vigorously in response, raising her chubby little fist.
“He’s not an apprentice court official. Also… I have something important I need to do with him. I need to ask him about something, and the thing he has… never mind. I’ll handle it myself, so don’t worry about it.”
Eunhye thought of the mysterious face-covering mask that Jihoo possessed and resolved to make sure she could get it from him.
Since he had been so bold with the princess of the realm, if she demanded that he hand over the mask in exchange for his life, he would surely comply.
The attendant, still observing Eunhye’s unusually different demeanor from her usual playful self, noticed the remnants of tears in the princess’s eyes.
“Even your precious body has been hurt. How painful it must have been for you.”
Eunhye clenched her tiny fist and answered in a surprisingly firm voice.
“No. I’m not that weak!”
Her serious yet adorable posture, raising her round chin as if unaffected, made the attendant smile gently as she leaned back slightly while sitting.
“Yes… yes, understood. Even if you are so strong, when returning to Hyesin Palace, I shall carry you myself.”
“Really, it’s okay?”
“Yes, please get carried.”
“Well, if it’s okay… but my skirt is all dirty now, so your clothes might get dirty too.”
Eunhye looked down at her crimson skirt, ruined from earlier with Lady Gyeongbin, and took a step back. The attendant, moved by her little mistress, gently drew her closer.
“What do you mean? Clothes can be washed. Please, get carried. You must be hungry since you skipped lunch.”
Oh… lunch time has already passed? No wonder I’m hungry.
Eunhye rubbed her stomach subtly, hearing the attendant’s scolding again.
“And the lessons you missed today will be made up tomorrow by Master Ji-pyeong.”
Ah, I really don’t want to make up lessons!
At the mention of Master Ji-pyeong Kim Gyo-hyun, Jihoo immediately came to mind.
I must get that rascal… no, perhaps I need to coax him well to get the mask?
“Why aren’t you getting carried, little princess?”
The attendant pressed closer as Eunhye tilted her head and wriggled her mouth.
“All right, then. Don’t worry about me. Thank you, attendant.”
“Little princess, you needn’t thank me. What are you talking about?”
Saying it was unnecessary, Eunhye glanced quietly at Gwangjo beside her, murmuring with her lips.
You’ll really come to my quarters, won’t you?
Gwangjo smiled and nodded toward the attendant.
[What are you waiting for? Get carried. This grandpa will follow shortly, so don’t worry and go ahead.]
Eunhye, finally relieved, nodded and fluttered her little hand toward Gwangjo before climbing onto the attendant’s back.
“Thank you, attendant.”
“Truly, thank you?”
“Yes!”
The attendant stood lightly, carrying the tiny princess, and stepped forward, her voice filled with gentle warning.
“From now on, do not wander alone like this again. Do you know how my heart shrinks whenever you disappear?”
“I’m sorry.”
The warm cheek of Eunhye pressed against her back made the attendant unconsciously smile.
“You needn’t apologize. You are a precious princess. Don’t say sorry to just anyone; simply say ‘understood,’ okay?”
“All right, understood. But do you know when the Haer-long time is?”
“Huh? Haer-long time? What is that?”
Eunhye frowned, finding the name strange.
“Who told you it was Haer-long time?”
“Hahaha! What time is it? Or are you asking me to give something up?”
“No, no, not that. Ha. Eol. Long. Time.”
“Hahaha! What on earth is Haer-long time?”
The attendant had heard of terms like “light woman” and “strong woman,” but never such a bizarre nickname, and she blinked in confusion.
“Perhaps the attendant is so pretty that it’s a ridiculous thing to say?”
Murmuring this while burying herself deeper into the attendant’s back, Eunhye made the attendant laugh heartily.
“Hahaha! Little princess, what is that you say? And how can I be called pretty? You are a hundred, a thousand times more beautiful!”
“No, attendant, you’re pretty too.”
Her voice drowsy, fading with sleep.
As they walked toward the study door, the attendant glanced at her little mistress, whose plump, soft cheeks were buried in her back, eyes closed in a sleep like a tiny angel.
Even though she had said she was fine, the princess must have endured a very tiring and harsh time alone.
Creak.
The attendant carried the little princess through the study door, startling the guards outside.
“What… what…! When…?”
The attendant glared at the stunned guards.
“See? I told you, our little princess was inside. Pay attention to your duties!”
The guards, unaware of the secret side door the crown prince had provided, were utterly bewildered.
The attendant, not wanting to seem harsh, led the way toward Hyesin Palace.
The warm spring sunlight and the gentle heat from the attendant’s back made Eunhye’s eyelids heavier.
“How did you know I was here?” she mumbled drowsily.
The attendant smiled faintly.
“You didn’t know? I have a magic wand that allows me to find you wherever you go.”
“Pfft, lie!”
Eunhye giggled as the wind tickled her.
The gentle steps of the attendant brought soft sounds of leaves rustling, and a long yawn escaped Eunhye.
“Haahhh…”
“If you are very tired, sleep a little while we walk.”
“Yes.”
But what if that boy ghost comes again while we’re going back?
Behind the creeping unease, Eunhye thought of Gwangjo, dressed in his white outer robe.
He must be much stronger than even her grandfather, the great general of Taeshin Kingdom, or her father, the king. He promised to follow shortly, so he surely will.
Eunhye, drifting in sleep, smiled faintly and yawned again, burying herself deeper into the attendant’s back.
“But attendant, what was today’s lunch?”
The attendant pressed her lips together to hide her laugh and replied carefully.
“I couldn’t see it while searching for you, so I don’t know either.”
“Ah, I see.”
Nodding lightly, Eunhye’s small face relaxed.
The attendant, cautiously walking with her little mistress, asked gently.
“You said you met Lady Gyeongbin on your way to the Donggung study. Was nothing wrong?”
She remembered how the attendant had rushed to find her when Eunhye encountered Lady Gyeongbin near the soju room. She had been worried sick.
But the princess gave no answer.
The attendant glanced back at the sleeping princess and smiled faintly, feeling pity.
She had gone outside through the study window and wandered the vast palace alone. How exhausting it must have been.
Her cherry-like lips half-opened in deep sleep, letting out soft breaths.
The princess, who could see terrifying things invisible to others, had always had to flee from them. Today, yet another evil thing must have startled her.
The attendant, carrying the tiny, feather-light princess like a little puppy, looked up to the sky with a sad expression.
“I will protect you! I don’t know why the heavens have brought such trials upon you, my little princess, but even if it costs my life, I will protect you! And our clever little princess will endure it all. Let’s see whether you overcome it or not!”
Cursing quietly to the heavens, the attendant’s tears poured down her cheeks.
Meanwhile, Jihoo, returning from the palace, reported everything to his father, Master Kim Gyo-hyun, from meeting the little princess to all that had happened.
Master Kim listened silently, occasionally sighing, before finally closing his eyes.
What am I to do now?
I should have kept Jihoo with me. Even though he is mature, leaving my eleven-year-old son alone to run errands in the palace was reckless.
Even if she wandered alone, daring to treat the princess so rudely… If the king or the queen dowager hears of this…
Opening his eyes, Kim Gyo-hyun saw his son silently weeping, tears falling like chicken droppings.
Exhaling a heavy, wordless sigh, Kim Gyo-hyun spoke sternly.
“The palace is a solemn place. How could you act so rashly? Did I not repeatedly tell you that no matter who you meet, you must first show respect and listen before speaking?”
“Father… I… I am so sorry. I was too careless, and caused such trouble…”
Though mature, Jihoo was still a child. Seeing him cry, Kim Gyo-hyun softened his tone.
“This matter will be handled by me. Go to your room and reflect for a while. Understood?”
“Yes, Father, but… how can you—”
“Hah! This is a matter for an adult. Go to your quarters and reflect immediately.”
Jihoo, still unable to wipe his tears, bowed and left.
Kim Gyo-hyun’s gaze fell on the face-covering mask lying on the floor.
How could his son think to wipe another’s tears and nose with such a treasured keepsake left by his mother?
Sigh… my wife…
Kim Gyo-hyun picked up the heirloom with a heavy heart.
