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Chapter 14
“Master’s son, your meal has arrived.”
Deoksan’s voice called from outside the door, surprisingly loud.
“I have no appetite!”
Jihoo had been sitting motionless on the sofa for about half an hour since leaving his father, Kim Gyo-hyun’s, room and returning to his own quarters, his forehead pressed against the cushion.
Am I truly insane?
How could I not only fail to recognize the little princess, but also behave in such a way?
Surely, I must have been possessed by something.
Even though she is a little girl, if she’s running through the palace in such colorful attire, I should have at least suspected she might be the princess!
“I want it… gyaa!”
“If you knew who I was, you could die!”
The clear, ringing voice of the little princess seemed to echo in his ears, real or imagined.
Ah… what have I done?
“How dare you behave so rudely! How dare you grab my hand? You’re out of your mind to think you can!”
Ah, Father! I could really die. And if my foolish actions cause the ruin of our family… what would happen?
Jihoo thought of the soft, tiny hand of the princess he had grabbed, pressing his head harder into the cushion as if to shake himself awake.
I must be insane… yet even now, I can’t stop picturing her soft, round cheeks and her tiny, delicate hands, like little puppy paws!
Her voice—so clear and ringing, like the chirping of birds in the morning… Morning chirping what? Ah… am I truly mad?
“It seems that she comes from a fairly powerful family, yet she has not learned proper manners. It is wrong to insult someone indiscriminately, using her father’s authority as an excuse!”
Madman, madman! How dare I speak such nonsense!
Not only did I offend the little princess, but I also insulted His Majesty—there’s no way I can die gracefully. And I didn’t even heed her warning about respecting parents!
Father! I shall go first.
If I confess before this reaches the ears of His Majesty, perhaps my death alone will be enough.
Jihoo thumped his head repeatedly against the sofa, his ears hearing Deoksan’s voice again outside the door.
“Even if you have no appetite, you must eat! Deoksan is coming in! Haven’t you heard that starving on your birthday is a lifetime curse?”
Deoksan, barging in with a mischievous grin, opened the door and saw his master banging his head against the sofa. He shook his head in disbelief.
“You’ve been visiting the nobleman and exploring the palace, and now this? What are you doing? Move aside so I can set your meal.”
“Oh, you!”
Jihoo resisted, but Deoksan insisted, pushing him aside to clear the sofa.
“The nobleman specifically ordered you to eat. Ah, and this as well.”
Deoksan pulled something out of Jihoo’s sleeve—a fine handkerchief that his master had brought.
“This too, you must deliver properly, yes?”
Before Deoksan could finish, Jihoo snatched the handkerchief and jumped up.
“Ah! You startled me! Master, what are you doing?”
Startled by Jihoo’s sudden movement, Deoksan stumbled back, hands behind his back, blinking with innocent eyes.
Yet Jihoo’s ears still heard the clear voice of the little princess:
“And I don’t know where you got it, but that handkerchief seems precious. Don’t misuse it as you did earlier. Keep it carefully, understand?”
Ah, the handkerchief! Yes, that’s right!
If she liked this handkerchief, perhaps offering it to the princess and asking for forgiveness will save me.
I don’t know why she paid so much attention to it, what she knew, or what she wanted, but the little princess clearly wished to have it.
And she even said she wanted to see it again.
Though it’s a precious keepsake from my mother, offering it in exchange for forgiveness is better than our family being ruined.
With his decision made, Jihoo dashed out of his room. He hurriedly slipped his feet into his shoes on the doorstep, glancing back at Deoksan, who was staring at him in stunned disbelief.
“Deoksan, you eat all that food. It’s the birthday person’s gift, so you must finish it. That’s the only way my fortune won’t leave me.”
“W-what? Master!”
Jihoo sprinted off, leaving Deoksan blinking blankly at the neatly arranged meal, unsure whether he should eat it or not.
“Mr. Park! Father—is he inside?”
Jihoo ran to the servant sweeping the courtyard.
“Huh? Nobleman? He went out a short while ago.”
The old servant bowed and replied.
“Ah… do you know where he went? I have an urgent matter to discuss with Father.”
“It seems, he said he had urgent business and ordered me to deliver your meal, then left.”
“Ah…!”
Hearing that his father was out, Jihoo sighed and looked at the handkerchief in his hand with disappointment.
He couldn’t go to the palace alone, and now what should he do?
He had hoped to deliver the handkerchief to the princess and beg her forgiveness before the king heard of the incident.
Ah… is heaven truly intent on destroying our family?
Jihoo collapsed to the ground, his legs giving way, and the servant panicked, quickly kneeling beside him.
“Master! What are you doing?”
“Mr. Park, all that remains for me is to die, just as the little princess said.”
Jihoo clutched the handkerchief from his mother and gazed up at the sky.
Thunder and lightning roared in his chest, yet the sky above was clear and bright, the sun shining brilliantly.
Mother, please help me!
Because of me, our family may face ruin!
At that moment, Mr. Park, who had been kneeling beside him, suddenly stood and bowed deeply.
“Master!”
Kim Gyo-hyun’s elder brother, Kim Dae-hyun, a scholar of the Hongmungwan, entered the courtyard.
Nobleman? Has Father returned?
Jihoo stood up, surprised and delighted, seeing his uncle crossing the gate into the yard.
“Ah, isn’t this Jihoo? What’s going on? Has something happened at home?”
Seeing his nephew collapsed in the yard, Kim Dae-hyun hurried toward him.
“Uncle, you’ve arrived!”
Jihoo bowed, still disheveled and full of worry.
“What happened? Is something wrong with your father?”
He nodded slightly, his expression dazed.
“You little fool! Will you ever get your wits about you?”
Jihoo shook his head again, and Kim Dae-hyun scolded him loudly.
“Ah… I apologize, Uncle.”
Seeing Jihoo look ready to cry, Kim Dae-hyun softened his tone and asked calmly.
“Tell me what happened. Where is your father, and why are you in this state?”
“Well…”
Jihoo hesitated, then gathered courage and looked up at his uncle.
“Uncle! Could you take me to the palace?”
“What? The palace?”
“Yes! I wanted to ask Father, but he suddenly went out…”
The desperation and resolve in the young boy’s eyes creased Kim Dae-hyun’s forehead.
“If you tell me the truth, I’ll consider it,” he said, studying Jihoo closely.
Jihoo raised his head with determination.
“Yes, I will tell everything truthfully. Uncle, the matter is extremely urgent. Please, accompany me to the palace.”
Kim Dae-hyun exhaled heavily, his gaze grave.
“If your father knows and you say it’s urgent, I will grant your request. But you must explain everything on the way, and if I find it unreasonable, we turn back immediately. Understand?”
“Yes, Uncle. May we depart immediately?”
Seeing Jihoo so uncharacteristically anxious, Kim Dae-hyun let out a small laugh.
“Ah, you are truly in a hurry. Since today is your birthday, I will allow it. Understand?”
“Thank you, Uncle. And I apologize for showing you such a state.”
Kim Dae-hyun exhaled, observing the desperate boy, then turned to Mr. Park.
“When Master Ji-pyeong returns, tell him I came and took Jihoo along.”
“Yes, Nobleman.”
“And before the meal, tell him we will eat together.”
“Yes, Nobleman.”
Jihoo, now cleaned of all dust and dirt, stood behind his uncle, bowing deeply.
“Thank you, Uncle.”
“Well then, let us go. I am curious and want to leave this gate quickly.”
With that, Kim Dae-hyun and Jihoo set off toward the palace, Jihoo’s heart pounding like a loud drum.
