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Chapter 18
“No, Your Majesty, how did you know to come?”
After Queen Dowager Jeong tidied up the room with the help of court ladies following Gyeongbin’s messy departure with the octopus soup, she grasped Queen Park Ji-hee’s hand warmly, speaking with delight.
“Your Majesty, were you not in any danger?”
“Of course not. Though I am an old woman from the back rooms, I still have enough skill to handle a single fox.”
The stern expression she had shown to Gyeongbin melted like snow in spring, replaced by the warm, parental gaze of Queen Dowager Jeong as she looked at the queen.
“Your Majesty, you must have been greatly distressed. Even this old woman felt a thousand tempers rising when I heard of it—how much more must you have suffered as the queen? I still feel upset just thinking about it.”
Queen Park Ji-hee gave a sad smile at the Dowager’s kind words.
“Your Majesty’s profound love will surely restore our princess to health.”
“Indeed, indeed. This old woman prays for it every day.”
Queen Dowager Jeong gently patted the hands of the queen she held.
“But tell me, Your Majesty, how did you know I had called for Gyeongbin?”
Queen Park Ji-hee smiled sweetly, answering the Dowager’s curious inquiry.
“I, too, have eyes and ears in the palace that rival even Gyeongbin’s.”
“Hahaha! Is that so? Did you rush here, fearing this old woman might get into trouble?”
Queen Park Ji-hee shook her head, as if to say it was not the case.
“Your Majesty is far too capable to be harmed. Actually, I wished to see the scene where Gyeongbin gets a scolding from Your Majesty.”
“Hahaha! Well done. You arrived at just the right moment and helped me finish what I had begun, Your Majesty. Hahaha.”
Recalling Gyeongbin’s earlier messy state, Queen Park Ji-hee could not help but laugh quietly.
That haughty woman had completely covered herself in food—the pieces of vegetables stuck in her hair and scattered across her skirt, and that huge octopus…
Thinking of Gyeongbin likely causing a scene back at her quarters, Queen Park Ji-hee’s smile faded as her thoughts turned to her young daughter.
How scared and terrified the little one must have been, facing Gyeongbin alone.
Forcing the child to look at a wriggling live octopus, to touch it against her will—truly a cruel woman.
Noticing that the queen’s thoughts lingered on the princess harmed by Gyeongbin, Queen Dowager Jeong’s expression softened, and she spoke with concern.
“Our princess has been found, hasn’t she?”
Shaking off her worries, Queen Park Ji-hee responded with a resolute smile.
“Yes, Your Majesty. The palace attendants have located her in the East Palace library and are bringing her safely to the princess’s quarters.”
“Oh, poor child. Truly, how pitiful… I am so sorry to you, Your Majesty.”
The sudden apology from the Dowager made Queen Park Ji-hee raise her eyebrows in surprise.
Why would Her Majesty apologize to me? Since the time the late king was still the prince, the Dowager has always been on my side.
“Not at all, Your Majesty. You have always been kind to me. Please do not speak so.”
Hearing the queen’s heartfelt words, the Dowager continued with even greater remorse.
“If the late king’s elder brother had not passed so tragically, none of this would have happened.”
Gazing into the distance as if recalling long-ago events, the Dowager let out a deep sigh.
“Hoo… I should not have joined hands with the Left State Councilor at that time.”
The current king, Gyeongbok Daegun, married Queen Park Ji-hee, the daughter of the Grand General, forming his family line. Yet, due to the late king’s chronic illness, he passed away suddenly.
At that time, the Crown Prince was nineteen, and Gyeongbok Daegun was seventeen.
As soon as the late king’s funeral ended, the Crown Prince ascended the throne, becoming king, and Gyeongbok Daegun, newlywed and barely able to dream of domestic bliss, had to serve the mourning period for the late king for three years.
Even before the mourning period was completed, the new king—the Crown Prince—also passed away without an heir.
Queen Dowager Jeong, then serving as Dowager, quickly elevated the new queen, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, to the position of Dowager, securing the imperial seal.
Together with Park Nam-il, the Grand General and father-in-law of Gyeongbok Daegun, she eliminated the political rivals aiming for the throne. However, since Park Nam-il, seasoned only in battlefield warfare, was inexperienced in court intrigue, Gyeongbok Daegun’s safety gradually became threatened.
At that moment, Left State Councilor Choi Nak-hyeon extended his hand.
He promised to assist in the affair if his daughter were taken as a selected concubine, elevated to Jeong 1st Rank Bin.
Thus, Gyeongbok Daegun ascended as the 16th king of Taeshin, and Choi Hye-ryeong, the councilor’s daughter, entered the palace as promised, becoming the concubine of the highest rank just after the queen.
She even gave birth to a son before the queen did.
Yet, fortunately, her first son, Prince Chungin, was not gifted with royal talent, which explained Gyeongbin’s more malevolent behavior.
Having finished her recollection, Queen Dowager Jeong looked warmly at Queen Park Ji-hee, nodding reassuringly.
“Do not worry, Your Majesty. While I live, no one like Gyeongbin will threaten your position. And our clever princess will soon recover, so do not be concerned.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I have no doubt that things will unfold exactly as you say.”
The two women exchanged quiet smiles and held hands, sharing a moment of calm resolve.
“Milady!”
Court Lady Park stumbled to a halt in front of Eunhye, almost falling.
She clutched the child’s small, plump hand, scanning her over in panic, her face full of concern.
“Oh, milady! What are all these wounds? How did this happen? If you were going somewhere, you should have told me. How could you wander alone? My heart nearly turned to ashes from worry!”
Eunhye gently removed her hand from Court Lady Park, smoothing the hair plastered with sweat across her forehead.
“You’ve had a hard time because of me. I’m sorry, nanny.”
“Because of you? Not at all. Any fault lies in us for failing to serve you properly.”
Touched by Eunhye’s soft hand, Park’s throat tightened, her eyes moist.
“Now, quickly go to your quarters. I have prepared meat noodles for you to eat immediately.”
“Yes! I’m hungrier than before.”
Eunhye nodded enthusiastically, her eyes curving like a crescent moon.
“Shh! She’s asleep now.”
At the whisper of a maid, Park nodded.
Having changed out of her soiled skirt and jeogori, Eunhye sat to enjoy the meat noodles, barely tasting the accompanying sweets before dozing off.
She had been so exhausted that she nodded off mid-bite, apple confection in hand.
Court Lady Park and another maid exchanged a quiet, smiling glance, gently tending to Eunhye’s sleeping form.
They carefully laid her down on the soft bedding, her tiny frame curled like a puppy, letting out a faint sound as she turned to her side.
The sight of the cute yet pitiful child brought tears to their eyes.
From dawn until now, how exhausted must our young lady have been?
Knowing she had been alone, fleeing from something visible only to her, wandering the palace by herself, the two attendants’ hearts ached more than anyone else’s.
After tucking the blanket up to her chest and patting her gently, Park rose quietly.
Eunhye, lips parted like raspberries in sleep, her chubby white cheeks and round chin marked with scratches, must have received them when she fell into the garden from the open window.
How painful that soft flesh must have felt.
Quickly wiping away the tears that had welled up from worry, Park and the other maid quietly left Eunhye’s chamber.
May she see no evil things in her dreams. May she have only sweet dreams.
Perhaps even hearing their whispers, the sleeping child’s lips curved in a faint smile.
As Park and the maid exited, the door closed silently, leaving the room peaceful, with only the young princess’s even breathing.
And then, after a while…
From the shadowed corners of the dark room, something began to stir.
Shadows, invisible to ordinary people, slowly crept forward.
Neither fully human nor wholly monstrous, they were truly vile and grotesque.
Making strange noises, they gathered around Eunhye, lusting to claim her small, precious body for themselves.
The shadows extended long, thin tendrils toward her.
Eunhye twitched as if startled in a game, her plump cheeks and lips quivering.
Tiny whimpers escaped her small, red lips, drawing the shadows closer.
If only they could touch her… if only they could claim her…
The dark, writhing tendrils of desire grew thicker, enclosing the defenseless child.
The room, filled with evil, unheard by ordinary people, thickened with a sticky darkness, even in broad daylight.
Then, from somewhere, a clear and noble wind suddenly blew!
It surged through the room, sweeping away all the vile energies!
The black shadows surrounding the five-year-old princess screamed.
“Kyaaah! Eeeeek!”
The divine wind (Shinpung) blew so fiercely that the demons lusting after the child could neither escape nor resist and vanished on the spot.
Gradually, Eunhye’s labored whimpers subsided, and the crumpled frown on her brow slowly relaxed.
In the center of the room, where the sinister aura had filled the space, stood the spirit of King Gwangjo I-hyeol, the 6th ruler of Taeshin, towering like a great mountain.
