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Chapter -45
Be Careful at Night
In the unused quarters of Meteor Palace, deep in its safest inner chamber, Lady So sat with an anxious expression.
“Did you say that girl took her own life?”
“Yes, my lady. I too only heard the news not long ago.”
“Where has Her Highness gone?”
“She rushed out in a hurry and hasn’t returned.”
Lady So picked at a hangnail. It had been only a few days since good news befell Meteor Palace, yet so many disturbances had followed.
“…All of this must be because I’ve failed in my duties.”
“Please don’t say such things! The other consorts have always looked down on this palace!”
“Misfortune keeps piling up.”
“That simply means only good things remain ahead. Please hold firm, my lady.”
Born to a humble family, she had entered the palace simply to survive.
She had diligently carried out her duties, and with some luck, was granted the Emperor’s favor and given a concubine’s title…
But the women who had already entrenched themselves in the palace never accepted her.
Myeong, who had witnessed every humiliation Lady So suffered since her time in Zayeom Palace until now, was burning with resentment.
“These are trials you must endure. I have faith in the princess.”
“I—I do as well!”
On the day Myeong first confided in A-mang, Lady So vaguely realized something.
That the one she served—A-mang—was someone who could never harm anyone.
That the worries she held were perhaps needless.
Had Lady So not been a former palace maid from Zayeom Palace, she might not have endured such scorn.
Had she entered the palace as a concubine before serving as a maid!
“When will the princess come?”
“Shall I send word to Yeonyeong Palace?”
“No. She must already be tired.”
Lady So looked utterly dispirited. When she first met A-mang, she had only pitied her—how could one not pity a princess who grew up alone without a mother’s touch?
But the rumors she later heard portrayed the princess as bold and unyielding—
so strong that her mother’s absence could not be felt.
Perhaps Lady So had envied A-mang, cherished by the Emperor, even if she didn’t realize it.
‘This is ridiculous.’
Meanwhile, outside Meteor Palace, A-mang stood frozen, unable to make herself enter.
She had completely missed the right timing.
Nan and Geumjin glanced at her.
“If we go in now, it’d be bad, right?”
“I believe people would call Your Highness tactless.”
“That bad?”
“To break that atmosphere would be discourteous. Though… that is merely this servant’s humble opinion!”
Fine. Thanks, Geumjin.
So that she wouldn’t appear tactless, the three of them obediently waited.
Until when?
Until a palace maid from Meteor Palace noticed them!
‘But seriously—why am I waiting?’
It wasn’t like she and Lady So were strangers.
In fact, A-mang was the closest person Lady So had in this entire palace.
…She was also Lady So’s number one fan.
‘Honestly—she’s gorgeous.’
Thinking of Lady So’s beauty, A-mang grinned foolishly.
If anyone saw her, they’d think she was weird.
And of course, that was exactly when she ran into a Meteor Palace maid.
“Oh my!”
It was Myeong.
“When did Your Highness arrive?”
“…Just now?”
A-mang smiled awkwardly.
“Your Highness has been here for quite a while!”
“No, Geumjin.”
“The atmosphere was too serious, so Her Highness couldn’t bring herself to enter!”
“Please stop.”
“What this servant said is true!”
Sometimes, Geumjin had too little tact.
Where was she supposed to begin fixing that?
In class, she seemed smarter!
‘And don’t stare at me with those “please praise me” eyes.’
A-mang must have gotten too comfortable with her subordinates.
She really needed to establish authority again soon.
“Please come inside! I shall bring refreshments at once!”
“The princess came to deliver urgent news—refreshments aren’t necessary.”
“O-of course!”
Myeong was flustered to a ridiculous degree.
If Nan hadn’t stepped in, she would’ve run to fetch a tea tray and tripped on the way.
‘Get it together.’
And yet she was supposed to be the maid Lady So trusted the most.
Acting carelessly before guests could cause people to look down on her mistress as well.
A-mang looked briefly at Myeong, then turned her eyes to Nan.
‘At least I have one competent person.’
Whether that was fortunate or not… well, raising a princess like A-mang must be a daily headache.
But Nan chose this life.
A-mang shrugged to herself.
“Your Highness! Are you feeling well?”
“I’m fine! How is the baby?”
“Growing well, thanks to Your Highness.”
Before Lady So, A-mang was every bit the ten-year-old princess—
the tension from Zayeom Palace earlier was gone.
Yes. This was healing!
‘I love it.’
Some people shine brighter the more sorrowful they look.
Had Lady So been born in modern times, she would have received countless phone numbers since childhood.
Maybe she wasn’t idol-pretty, but that tragic, luminous beauty would’ve made her a star in drama or film.
‘Unnie, take me!’
In this world, A-mang was the only one winning.
“Your Highness.”
Nan whispered quietly in her ear.
Ah, right.
‘I didn’t come here to admire her face.’
Whenever she saw Lady So, time and space seemed to bend.
If not for Nan, she might have stared forever.
Though Geumjin might’ve beaten her to it first.
“I wish to see the corpse of the palace maid who died here.”
“Th-the corpse? It is not suitable for Your Highness to see.”
“I am under imperial orders. I cannot avoid it.”
“Still… that is something adults should handle.”
Well—she wasn’t wrong.
The issue was that there were barely any actual adults in this palace.
After meeting the Empress earlier—a woman who subtly threatened a ten-year-old—A-mang’s spine still felt cold.
Besides, Lady So was pregnant.
If she saw something gruesome, it might harm the baby.
‘I can’t trust anyone else’s eyes.’
She had to see the body herself.
Maybe the maid had been carrying a clue—or even the name of the one who ordered her death.
“Your Highness, it is dangerous. Though I care for you… as the mistress of Meteor Palace, I cannot allow it.”
“Even if it’s the Emperor’s command?”
“Unless His Majesty personally comes here—never.”
This was troublesome.
A-mang had expected Lady So to agree without hesitation.
‘So she does have principles.’
She had thought Lady So was weak and easily swayed, but this was unexpected.
She was asserting her authority as mistress of Meteor Palace.
Hmm.
There was no helping it.
“If that is your will, then I shall step back.”
Now she had to find another way to see the corpse.
A-mang bowed lightly and turned to leave—when…
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“…Are you truly alright?”
Suddenly—concern?
“My lady, what do you mean?”
“Thanks to Your Highness, good fortune has come to Meteor Palace… but lately, when I look at you, I feel uneasy.”
What was that supposed to mean?
Uneasy? After all the quests she’d been clearing?
“It’s as if something is chasing you.”
“……”
“There is no need for that.”
She hit the mark dead-on.
“…You asked me for help, my lady.”
“Yes, I did. But Your Highness—
you must not put others before yourself.”
Who did she think A-mang was suffering for?
A-mang bit her lip.
To be honest, that nightmare last night had shaken her more than she wanted to admit.
‘That chatroom family was so… warm.’
They had never been like that in real life.
The dream had been so vivid she had foolishly wished it were real.
Had she not noticed the strange details…
would she have gotten off that subway and enjoyed dinner with them?
What would that have felt like?
‘Who am I, really?’
Thrown into a strange world, she had narrowly escaped death multiple times.
Now she didn’t know where she was supposed to go.
Even the investigation into Meteor Palace had turned into imperial business.
‘Do you really have time for an identity crisis?’
Lady So’s kindness had shaken her momentarily—
her words were so gentle it was easy to crumble.
But A-mang had no luxury to complain.
She had to finish her task.
That was justice.
“I’m fine! Truly—I’m doing well!”
It was the most childlike answer—lively and bright, just like a ten-year-old princess.
The image A-mang had cultivated since the day she entered this body.
Her real self, Yeong-eun, was hidden deep inside where no one could see.
“The Emperor approaches!”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Thankfully, Yi-so had arrived with perfect timing.
Unfortunately, he had brought someone A-mang did not want to see.
The Emperor did not spare even a moment’s glance at Lady So.
He strode straight toward A-mang.
“You dare summon me? You must have grown bold.”
“And yet you came.”
“I’m curious what results you’ve produced.”
“I hope they prove meaningful.”
His red eyes gleamed like he might devour her.
A-mang lifted her chin, unafraid.
Life-or-death conversations were nothing new to her.
After answering, she turned to Lady So.
“Show us. As you agreed.”
Lady So, trembling, looked to Myeong.
Myeong could not even look at the Emperor, but she nodded.
“Y-Your Majesty, Your Highness… this concubine shall guide you.”
Lady So rose slowly and walked ahead—
though her fear of the Emperor was far from gone.
‘I’d be scared too.’
Who wouldn’t fear a tyrant who acted on whims?
Behind Meteor Palace, in a small room filled with the stench of decay, Myeong carefully opened the door.
Inside, the body of the maid who died from lacquer poisoning should have been lying.
It should have been.
“…Huh?”
Why… was there nothing there?
