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Chapter 5
“Princess… did you just call me you?”
Lady Hae’s face twisted into something demonic.
Gyesan glared back and stepped protectively in front of Samcheon.
“That’s right.”
“Who are you to lay a hand on Samcheon?”
Oh, Your Highness…
Samcheon squeezed her eyes shut.
This whole plan had begun with the belief that no one would dare directly harm a princess.
But now…
She could no longer predict what Lady Hae might do.
Just as she feared, Lady Hae’s already distorted face became even more vicious.
She had always found Gyesan an eyesore.
Ever since Gyesan was born, none of the King’s consorts had conceived another child.
That was likely because of the King’s failing health, but it still filled Lady Hae with resentment.
She enjoyed the King’s greatest favor…
Yet she alone had no heir.
Among all the royal consorts, she was the only one without children.
True, she had entered the palace last.
But Lady Jeong, who had entered around the same time, had given birth to Gyesan.
As if mocking her for that very fact, the Queen had placed Gyesan in Lady Hae’s care.
What use was raising a princess the King never even visited?
Still…
Once entrusted with the child, Lady Hae had intended to raise her so successfully that everyone would be forced to acknowledge it.
She planned to make Gyesan master musical instruments first.
Once her performances became impressive enough, she would bring her to tea gatherings to play before everyone.
Only then would the court see that she had succeeded where Gyesan’s own mother, Lady Jeong, had failed.
But Gyesan had refused to obey.
She insisted on learning the sword instead.
And in the end…
She had humiliated Lady Hae.
“It seems Your Highness requires proper discipline.”
Lady Hae spoke through gritted teeth.
Just then—
“I believe the one in need of discipline is you, Lady Hae.”
A dignified voice echoed through the courtyard.
An elderly woman stepped through the palace gate.
The instant the Queen Dowager entered Mokseo Palace—
the entire atmosphere changed.
Her snow-white hair shimmered beneath the sunlight.
Even the deep wrinkles upon her face carried an unmistakable dignity.
The maids accompanying Lady Hae immediately stepped aside and bowed deeply.
Lady Hae.
Gyesan.
Samcheon.
All three respectfully greeted the mistress of Baekje.
The Queen Dowager slowly walked forward until she stood directly before Lady Hae.
“I heard rumors that you have been abusing Princess Gyesan.”
“I came to see for myself.”
“I hoped they were false…”
“But it appears they were true.”
The fortunes of the two women reversed in an instant.
“Abuse?”
“Certainly not.”
“I’ve cared for the princess with the utmost devotion.”
“Hasn’t she even mastered flawless etiquette?”
Without answering, the Queen Dowager slowly surveyed Mokseo Palace.
Half-pulled weeds.
Dust-covered wooden floors.
The state of the palace was disgraceful.
She had entrusted Gyesan to Lady Hae precisely because she intended to use it as leverage someday.
Even so…
She had never imagined the princess would be neglected to this extent.
Following the Queen Dowager’s gaze, Lady Hae finally looked around the palace herself.
Her expression stiffened.
“So this is what you call devotion?”
“Look at the condition of those floors.”
The Queen Dowager’s sharp rebuke thundered through Mokseo Palace.
“I lacked… attention to detail.”
“Lacked?”
“You starved a princess.”
“And you call that merely lacking?”
“You misunderstand.”
“Her Highness has never missed a meal.”
“She devoted herself entirely to swordsmanship, so I merely wished to educate her in a manner befitting a princess.”
“It is my first time raising a child.”
“I was simply overzealous.”
“If Your Majesty teaches me, I shall gladly follow your guidance.”
Lady Hae lowered herself, trying to excuse her actions.
The Queen Dowager’s expression never changed.
“It seems I truly have grown old.”
“I made a mistake.”
Only after hearing that did Lady Hae finally kneel.
“I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
“I placed too much trust in you.”
“From this moment forward…”
“You are relieved of all responsibility for Princess Gyesan.”
“And every coin from the princess’s household allowance that has passed through your hands…”
“…will be returned.”
Lady Hae squeezed her eyes shut.
Everything had completely unraveled.
“The only reason this matter ends here is because His Majesty still favors you.”
“See to it that you never again set foot inside Mokseo Palace.”
“Do you understand?”
“I obey.”
“You may leave.”
Rather than argue, Lady Hae quietly withdrew with her attendants.
Samcheon swallowed hard.
What had seemed like an impossibly tangled situation…
…had resolved itself with astonishing ease.
Just as she was beginning to relax—
the Queen Dowager turned toward her.
“Raise your head.”
Heart pounding, Samcheon slowly looked up.
Thankfully…
Unlike Lady Hae…
No hand came flying toward her face.
The Queen Dowager silently studied Samcheon’s swollen left cheek.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Startled by the unusual tone, Samcheon quickly lowered her head again.
“I am deeply honored.”
It didn’t sound like simple praise for serving Gyesan well.
Could she have guessed…?
Could she know this was my plan?
But the Queen Dowager said nothing further.
She merely looked at Samcheon thoughtfully.
With a small gesture of her hand, one of the maids standing behind her hurried forward.
“Bring medicine to treat this child’s injuries.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After the maid departed, Gyesan bowed even more deeply.
“Thank you for looking after us, Your Majesty.”
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
Because she truly meant it.
That sincerity touched the Queen Dowager.
“I should have come much sooner.”
“I failed to look after you.”
“Come.”
“Let’s go inside.”
Gently patting Gyesan’s back, the Queen Dowager led her toward the inner chambers.
Unlike the cold gaze she had directed at Lady Hae…
The warmth in her eyes as she looked at Gyesan was unmistakable.
Walking side by side…
They looked almost like a grandmother and granddaughter.
Thank goodness.
Gyesan needed an adult to protect her.
Not another powerless child like Samcheon.
Someone with real authority.
Soon, hearty laughter drifted from the room where the two had gone.
It sounded as though their conversation was going well.
Still…
As the Queen Dowager kept laughing…
Samcheon began to worry.
It’ll be fine…
Probably… right?
The Queen Dowager remained for nearly two hours before finally departing.
Fortunately, the cheerful atmosphere never faded until the very end.
Once they were alone again, Gyesan grabbed Samcheon’s wrist and pulled her into the room.
Carefully examining her swollen cheek from every angle, Gyesan frowned.
“Does it hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
She had expected to be beaten far more than that.
In truth, she’d been fortunate.
Just as relief washed over her—
Gyesan narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t tell me…”
“You knew this might happen?”
“A little.”
Samcheon answered cautiously before adding,
“I expected Princess Sohwa’s mother to report everything to Lady Hae.”
“And Princess Hwaran’s mother to inform the Queen Dowager.”
“I just thought the Queen Dowager wouldn’t hear about it until tomorrow… or the day after.”
“Princess Hwaran and her mother are very cautious people.”
“Which means…”
“You would’ve suffered until tomorrow.”
“…Yes.”
Samcheon hesitated.
She looked as though she had accepted that outcome.
Seeing it made Gyesan furious.
Samcheon could read difficult books with ease.
She excelled at mathematics.
Sometimes she could be adorably innocent for her age…
But everyone always praised her intelligence.
Gyesan had believed it too.
She’s an idiot.
“A complete idiot.”
“Don’t ever do that again.”
“Never make a plan that involves you getting hurt.”
“Don’t even suggest one.”
“Understand?”
“…”
A palace maid was taught that she should willingly lay down her life for the master she served.
That was what Samcheon had always believed.
Unable to answer immediately, she simply blinked.
For one of the few times in her life, Gyesan spoke in an unusually stern voice.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“I will obey your command, Your Highness.”
“But don’t worry anymore.”
“Lady Hae won’t be coming to Mokseo Palace again.”
Even without that restriction, no one would dare mistreat a princess now that the Queen Dowager herself had taken an interest in her.
Just as Samcheon smiled in relief—
“I’ve been put in charge of managing Mokseo Palace from now on.”
“I did well, didn’t I?”
“…Pardon?”
“I think I must have misheard.”
“Your Highness is going to manage Mokseo Palace?”
“You heard correctly.”
Gyesan smiled brightly.
