HBPEK C2

Chapter 2. Bring Me the Mirror

A dull ache throbbed through her head.

For a moment, it felt like something was slowly gnawing at her mind from within.

When she had been in the abyss, she couldn’t feel pain—at least that had been a relief…

But now, a constant ringing filled her ears, a sharp “whining” sound that refused to stop. She pressed her temples hard.

Something was wrong.

When her fingertips touched her temple, the sensation was soft—like cotton.

That shouldn’t be possible.

She had spent countless days wearing an artificial skin mask, applied with poisonous herbs. Because of that, her skin there had become rough and cracked like dried bark.

And yet now… it was smooth. Soft. Like silk or a freshly washed peach.

She stared at her own face, forgetting even her headache.

The physician, noticing her unusual behavior, looked awkward, and Eunryeong quickly spoke to cover for her.

“Physician, Her Highness seems to have a headache.”

“I see. I will prepare medicine and send it from the pharmacy.”

“Thank you.”

After the physician bowed respectfully and left in haste, the eunuchs also gradually withdrew from the room.

Soon, only Chaehee remained beside the bed and quickly leaned in.

“Your Highness! I thought I would never see you again… I was so sad!”

I don’t know about that.

This is the first time I’m seeing you. How would I know whether you were sad or happy?

Her brows instinctively furrowed.

“Could you help me sit up?”

She reached out her hand.

Chaehee startled and shouted in panic.

“Your Highness! Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

What is wrong with this girl? Did she swallow a broken flute or something? She’s too loud.

“…No, I just want to sit up. I still feel dizzy. Please help me.”

“Ah—ahhh!”

Chaehee screamed as if she had seen a ghost.

At that moment, Eunryeong, who had escorted the physician out, rushed back in.

“Chaehee, what’s wrong? Is Her Highness unwell again?”

“She… she… Her Highness…!”

“What about Her Highness?”

“She spoke politely to me!”

“…What?”

Eunryeong froze.

She had used honorifics.

To me.

Chaehee looked shaken, as if reality itself had broken.

“I told you, right?!” she cried. “She used polite speech to me!”

“…That’s impossible,” Eunryeong muttered.

No, it wasn’t impossible.

It was just unexpected.

And unfortunately, it had startled them both.

The woman in this body must have been quite strange before.

Realizing her mistake, she quickly corrected herself.

“Could you help me up, Eunryeong?”

Eunryeong exchanged a glance with Chaehee and carefully supported her.

As she sat up, Eunryeong placed a cushion behind her back.

Her body felt unfamiliar—like it didn’t belong to her.

Even though she had survived countless battles and bled many times, she had never felt this dizzy.

‘This body doesn’t feel like mine.’

After a long silence, the dizziness gradually subsided, and she felt an intense thirst.

“Bring me water. My throat is dry.”

Chaehee suddenly burst into tears again.

“…Why is she crying now?”

Before she could understand, Eunryeong quickly poured water and handed it to her.

“Your Highness, please drink slowly.”

“Thank you.”

When was the last time someone gave her water like this?

She took a sip.

The moment the liquid went down—

A sharp pain sliced through her throat.

She froze.

Poison?

But then—

Chaehee sobbed loudly.

“You… you were hanging yourself with a rope! You almost died! Please don’t do that again!”

Hanging?

Suicide?

So this body had tried to kill itself?

She looked down slowly.

A faint scar circled her neck.

Her expression darkened.

She remembered something.

A place called Subeom Fortress.

Training children as spies.

Children forced to walk on ropes above cliffs.

If they cried, they were strangled until they stopped.

Fear was their only education.

She had lived that life.

She had not chosen it.

And yet now…

She had survived death.

For the first time, tears slowly filled her eyes.

“I just… wanted to live like everyone else…”

Before she knew it, Chaehee and Eunryeong were hugging her and crying too.

Strangely, the warmth of it made her feel calm.

Not pain.

Relief.

After a while—

A deep voice echoed from the doorway.

“Crying like that will only worsen your throat.”

Everyone froze.

A man stood there.

Tall. Calm. Cold.

The Crown Prince, Ju-geon.

Chapter 3. The One Who Killed Me

Her gaze sharpened instantly.

The man she had died because of.

The Crown Prince who had killed her at Sangeomgwan.

Saljehyeolhu Ju-geon.

Why was he here?

Her voice trembled with restrained rage.

“Sa… Sal… Salje…”

The word—“Salje,” meaning one who kills indiscriminately—was the title he hated most.

His eyes turned icy.

“Everyone out.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The attendants quickly withdrew.

Soon, only the two of them remained.

A heavy silence filled the room.

He broke it first.

“So you know my title. Interesting.”

“….”

“Unexpected. I didn’t think you knew that much about me.”

She said nothing.

Her eyes burned.

Five steps.

That was the distance.

At this range, even a master couldn’t evade a thrown teacup.

She prepared herself.

One strike would be enough.

“Your Highness, Consort Yeongbi has arrived.”

At that moment, a voice from outside interrupted.

He hesitated for a split second.

That was all she needed.

She struck.

The teacup flew like a spinning blade—

But—

Clink.

It struck him.

And fell.

Not even close to his throat.

Impossible.

Her eyes widened.

Her internal energy… was gone?

“No more reckless behavior,” Ju-geon said coldly.

“…”

“Throwing things at me… You’re angry, I assume.”

“…”

“Then continue.”

But she couldn’t.

She was too embarrassed.

He misunderstood her silence.

“Say what you will,” he said flatly.

Then he turned and left.

Just like that.

No hesitation.

No emotion.

Only emptiness remained.

Strangely, that emptiness hurt more than anger.

Later—

“Consort Yeongbi has arrived.”

A new visitor entered.

A woman from the imperial consort faction, Yeongbi of the Jeong family.

She smiled warmly—but it was clearly fake.

“You survived. How fortunate.”

Her tone was sweet.

But her eyes were not.

Then she introduced a girl—Jin Seong-yeo.

A servant.

Or perhaps something else.

“A maid will stay here to assist you.”

A spy.

That was obvious.

But she accepted it anyway.

Because she understood something clearly:

This palace was full of traps.

And she was no longer the prey.

She was the hunter.

Later, when they were alone—

Jin Seong-yeo suddenly spoke differently.

“Your Highness, I have a question.”

Her tone had changed.

Cold.

Sharp.

A hidden blade had finally been revealed.