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Chapter – 35
Even if the Road is Crooked, as Long as It Leads to Favor
I heard the news late.
“Your Majesty, this humble servant came looking for you.”
“Why?”
“The princess’s fever would not break.”
“Ah.”
So Aman had gotten angry at the father who helped her.
Great. I’m an unfilial daughter now.
Maybe I should cook him something tasty next time he comes.
Not that he’d necessarily eat it.
“You should have told me earlier!”
“I could not have predicted the princess would react that way.”
“What do I do now?”
“His Majesty dotes on the princess. He will surely overlook it!”
I’d rather not receive that affection.
But Nan’s words were… roughly accurate.
With that personality of his, anyone else would’ve been thrown straight into prison.
Yet he had let Aman off.
He hadn’t even put a sword to her throat like in the old days.
Guess counseling actually did something.
Aman recalled the emperor’s startled expression every time she hit too close to his sore spots.
At those moments, he looked less like an emperor and more like a boy.
The Emperor—yet still not fully grown.
Is the answer in his childhood?
Whenever she touched on the past, he wavered. That much was obvious.
What exactly did he want?
What do you do with someone who builds up every possible defense mechanism the moment a counseling session begins?
Does he even actually want counseling?
Probably. Otherwise he wouldn’t keep coming.
Aman buried her face in her hands.
Only sighs came out.
A few days later.
Aman, who had been stuck in bed, recovered spectacularly.
“I’m all better!”
Her body had been itching to move after being bedridden so long.
Her fever had gone down toward the end, but Nan had insisted she rest completely, so she hadn’t been allowed to move at all.
Well, thanks to that she healed fast.
“Princess, have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
“Prepare yourself! It is a most shocking announcement!”
“What is it?”
What news could possibly require this much suspense?
Aman waited, unimpressed.
It’s probably nothing.
Nan was always dramatic.
But the words that came out of her mouth were completely unexpected.
“Lady So, the Imperial Beauty, is with child!”
“What?”
“His Majesty has favored Lady So deeply and blessed her with new life!”
“What?!”
Aman almost fell over from shock.
So it actually worked?
She had just been preparing to help Lady So.
She had even made plans to follow the emperor around with her.
Yet the woman had succeeded effortlessly before Aman could even begin.
“This is wonderful news, is it not?”
“I guess so.”
“Princess?”
Something felt off.
This was clearly good news for Lady So—yet Aman felt uneasy.
Just thinking of the beauty’s gentle smile made the feeling worse.
“What got into Father, of all people?”
“I know not what stirs within the Meteor Palace, but favor is like a flame. No one can predict His Majesty’s heart.”
Hmm.
Aman had a suspicion.
That day—the day the emperor helped lower her fever—Aman had shouted something in anger.
This is all because of you!
The hazy memory sharpened.
If Father had cherished the concubines properly, none of this would’ve happened!
It had sounded exactly like a child throwing a tantrum.
So that’s why Lady So came to see me— Wait!
One thing was certain—she had crossed a line. A huge one.
Am I insane.
Of all things, she was now worrying about the safety of the concubines.
She herself was barely surviving without any backing.
While she was sick in bed, it was sheer luck the Empress or Lady Yeolbin hadn’t come to intimidate her.
Better to be ignored.
Standing out was never good. It was best to return to living like she barely existed in Yunyeong Palace.
“That’s right. It’s simply Father’s will.”
“But Princess… His Majesty may be awkward at expressing it, yet he cherishes you.”
“Huh?”
“When this humble servant visited, His Majesty did not scold me. He ran straight here.”
Did he?
He probably just thought a fun spectacle was happening.
“Please treat His Majesty kindly.”
“More than I already do?”
“He has no place to rest his heart, burdened as he is with all matters of state.”
Why place that heart in my palace?
“Really?”
“I have long observed His Majesty. He is a kind man.”
A kind tyrant?
A passing dog is probably kinder.
“…All right.”
“As expected of Your Highness! Ever wise!”
Aman made a decision.
I’m going to avoid him the moment I see him from afar.
For the time being, she’d minimize all contact with the emperor.
“Princess! Look at this!”
“These treasures were sent from the Meteor Palace!”
“So shiny! We could sell them and get a fortune!”
…Had it even been three minutes since she decided to keep a low profile?
“Stop making a fuss!”
“How can we stay calm seeing all this?”
“Indeed, indeed!”
The noisy triplet maids were thrilled with the gifts from the Meteor Palace.
Ear-splitting.
Thankfully, Nan noticed Aman’s irritation and chased them out.
“Um… Is the princess here?”
“Lady So has arrived!”
Oh please. Could everyone just stop coming?!
Yunyeong Palace was not a public plaza—yet visitors never stopped.
Lady So and Aman sat across from each other.
Lady So’s attendant, Myeong, stood proudly at her side—no longer the timid girl she used to be.
She looks like she’s thriving.
Well, she was now the emperor’s favored concubine.
It made sense.
But in the future I saw, the emperor always visited Lady Hwa-nyeong…
This was probably a dream. Aman shivered, remembering the surreal dream of her foot getting stuck in the subway escalator not long ago.
“Thank you. I do not know how to repay you…”
“Oh no, all this is due to your own fortune!”
“I didn’t do anything.”
Neither did I?
Aman smiled awkwardly.
“Your virtue has been accumulating since the day you entered the palace!”
“Do you think so?”
“You even shared tanghulu with us! You’re a good person!”
Translation: Give me tanghulu.
Lady So whispered something to Myeong, who immediately fetched a wrapped bundle.
“Tanghulu!”
Ten whole skewers.
The glossy candied fruits sparkled brilliantly.
Oh, sweet tanghulu, how beautiful you are.
“It is small, but please accept this token of gratitude.”
Aman happily devoured the tanghulu, barely noticing Lady So slowly rising to prepare something.
“All of this is thanks to you, Princess.”
“Huh?”
Something was wrong.
She suddenly stood up… and bowed deeply?
Why are you doing this?!
Aman panicked, threw the tanghulu onto the table, and rushed to bow back.
It ended up looking like an awkward mutual bow, but still—
Whew.
At least she stopped her.
Concubines outranked a princess.
Receiving a bow from someone above her? Absolutely disastrous for the future.
Is it because she used to be a palace maid? She doesn’t realize the mistake.
Even though she’d been a concubine for quite some time now.
Ah, wait.
Did no one treat her like one?
The Empress’s “concern” had likely only been superficial—a gesture others would interpret as kindness.
No one knew how Lady So had actually been treated afterward.
Well, if she’s happy now, that’s all that matters.
Whatever her past, what did it matter?
Lady So was now the only concubine carrying a child.
His Majesty’s child.
Does that mean I’m getting a sibling?
Aman almost hummed with joy.
Finally, she wouldn’t be the youngest.
She hoped the baby would be like little Jae—cute enough to spoil endlessly.
“You need not bow. You are like a mother to me!”
“Princess…!”
Okay, she was moved.
“Please visit often. I’ll also visit the Meteor Palace!”
“Of course. You will always be welcome.”
“I’m so curious about the baby!”
The mood was warm and gentle.
Aman gazed at Lady So’s still-flat belly.
I hope the child is born safely.
Without being shaken by the storms of palace life.
Aman recalled countless palace dramas—the schemes, the attempts to kill royal heirs.
And Lady Hwa-nyeong crying in the rain at Yunyeong Palace.
Not now. I’ll think about it later.
Today was full of good news.
Aman had recovered, and Lady So was expecting.
What could be happier?
“Princess, may I tell the other consorts you helped me?”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“I’m… afraid of them.”
A lie.
Aman simply wanted Yunyeong Palace to stay quiet for once.
Lady So fell into thought, then nodded solemnly.
“That makes sense. You are His Majesty’s treasured princess.”
…How was that related to being scared?
Lady So clearly misunderstood something.
It’s not danger I’m afraid of…
Explaining would be annoying, so Aman let her keep the misunderstanding.
Standing out was never good.
“Princess Aman.”
“Yes?”
“What do you like?”
“Tanghulu?”
Lady So shook her head frantically.
“Not food…”
“I’ve never really thought about it.”
“I see…”
She suddenly looked deflated.
Is she going to give me something again?
The palace was already overflowing with Lady So’s gifts.
Aman didn’t understand what she meant—
not until two days later, when Lady So delivered a small handmade doll.
Ah. This was getting complicated.
