SHYL 07

Chapter 7

I was trying to slink back, but Hee-bin grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me forward. Even as she did so, her gaze remained fixed on Suk-bin.

“The world has certainly changed,” Hee-bin spat out.

“A lowly water-drawing maid receives the king’s favor, puts on the robes of a concubine, struts around as the mother of a prince, and now she’s even forgotten how to greet a senior consort.”

Hee-bin’s tone was cold and commanding. It was an overbearing attitude that made you forget the two women held the same bin rank of Senior First Grade.

“…Are you well, Hee-bin jaga?” Suk-bin finally lowered her head.

It might have been invisible to others, but I was much shorter, so I could see Suk-bin’s expression perfectly.

Now, let me give you a quiz.

Question: What was Suk-bin’s expression when she was insulted by Jang Hee-bin?

1. Grinding her teeth in fury.
2. Tearing up under the pressure.
3. Sighing as if she had given up on everything.

The answer is none of the above.

Suk-bin…
‘Is she smiling?’

Suk-bin was smiling. I clearly saw her twist the corner of her mouth in a mocking, scornful smile. Honestly, seeing that smile gave me a bigger chill than when Hee-bin first appeared.

“I am always well, unlike what you desire. But how dare you try to take my palace maid to your quarters?”

“It was a misunderstanding. Had I known she was a child from Chwiseondang, I wouldn’t have even thought of touching her.”

Her eyes had gone dry, all the warmth from moments ago completely vanished. And her tone—as if she were talking about an object. As if I were some filthy piece of trash.

“But why are you alone at Changgyeonggung, Suk-bin jaga?” Hee-bin asked.

Chwiseondang was located in Changgyeonggung, while Suk-bin’s residence, Bogyeongdang, was in Changdeokgung. Hee-bin’s question essentially meant, ‘Why are you loitering in someone else’s territory?’

“His Majesty entrusted me with a confidential matter.”

…

An unexpected finishing blow. With just a single word from Suk-bin, the air instantly froze cold. I cautiously stole a glance at Hee-bin. I could see the tip of her red lips trembling.

…Jang Hee-bin loses.

‘So this is the legendary court intrigue I’ve only heard about. Brutal. Truly brutal.’

Just standing beside them made my knees feel weak.

That’s when I noticed the woman standing behind Hee-bin.

‘Who is she?’

She wasn’t a palace maid. Judging by her silk attire, the kind noble ladies wore, and her long outer jacket (jang-ot), she was clearly a visitor from outside.

She stepped forward.

“Hee-bin jaga. Stop wasting time on useless matters and let us return to your quarters.”

Her voice was remarkably low for a woman. Only then did Hee-bin speak.

“Fine. Let’s go, Suk-jeong.”

…Suk-jeong? The very Suk-jeong who masterminded the curse against Queen Inhyeon?

In that moment—

Thump.

Something fell from the sleeve of Suk-jeong as she turned. The small object rolled deogureureu and stopped right at my feet.

‘Th-this is…!’

How should I describe the shock of that moment?

It was a small doll made of straw, shaped like a human figure. It looked like a shabby toy at first glance, but…

‘It’s a curse doll.’

The very doll mentioned in the Annals—the one used to curse Queen Inhyeon by writing her name on it and sticking needles into it.

‘What should I do?’

Fear flooded me instinctively. Should I kick it away? Sit on top of it? Fortunately, Suk-bin didn’t seem to have seen it yet…

Then it happened.

“Oh my. Dear child. You must not have had many toys to play with.”

Suk-jeong lowered herself to meet my eyes. She picked up the straw doll lying in front of me and held it out to me.

“You’re a good girl, aren’t you? You dropped this. Do you understand?”

A whisper that only I could hear. Her voice sounded almost kind, but the hand that forced the doll into mine was strong enough to crush my fingers.

“Hee-bin jaga. The little one must have been bored alone. Carrying around a piece of straw as a plaything.”

Suk-jeong smiled at me. But her eyes glinted murderously.
“Little one. Next time I come, I’ll buy you a pretty bride doll.”

…Bride doll, my foot.

I was nearly in a panic. When I tremblingly lifted my head, what met my eyes was—

Suk-bin’s meaningful gaze, staring intently at me and the curse doll in my hand.

‘Why on earth am I holding this?’

This… this was the legendary…
Death flag?

“However,” Suk-bin spoke. “That doll looks rather strange for a child’s toy. Child. Where did you get that doll?”

A fastball question with no chance to dodge. What should I say? Was Suk-jeong going to help me?

…No, she wasn’t. I was sure of it as I saw Suk-jeong turn her gaze away as if she had no further business with me. Looking at Suk-bin, who was silently staring at me, I spoke. I had no certainty, but I decided to throw it out there.

“This is Bombomi’s friend. Her name is Boomboomi. I found Boomboomi near Seonjeongjeon Hall…”

At that moment, Suk-bin’s expression stiffened slightly.

“Enough.” Suk-bin cut me off.

‘Phew… Thank goodness.’

Saying I found “Boomboomi” near Seonjeongjeon was a spur-of-the-moment idea. North of Seonjeongjeon stood Bogyeongdang, Suk-bin’s residence. So my words essentially meant, ‘I found it near your place.’

“Hee-bin jaga! Then I’ll go play with Boomboomi now!”

I shouted as bravely and brightly as I could, hoping the ‘I don’t know anything, I just want to play’ concept would work.

“Go ahead,” Hee-bin gave her permission.

I began to run away dudadada with quick steps, holding the hideous doll as if it were a precious treasure. My spine felt damp, my hands were shaking. The wind brushing my cheeks was as cool as Suk-bin’s gaze.

“Ha…”

I chose a deserted path and took a moment to catch my breath. I’d managed to survive the crisis with quick wit, but thinking back on Suk-bin’s chilling eyes and Suk-jeong’s strong grip only deepened my anxiety.

“This is hard… really hard.”

For the first time, I realized the truth. That this world I’d fallen into was not a fascinating historical reenactment or a novel with a guaranteed happy ending—it was a brutal reality.

The biggest problem of all was this:
‘Too many dangerous elements.’

Suk-jeong’s appearance was powerful proof that a time bomb was ticking. Not to mention I’d already gotten on Suk-bin’s bad side the moment we met, been branded as the owner of a grotesque doll, and made an enemy of the court ladies who suspected me of being a spy…

‘Will I survive unharmed?’

I sighed deeply, as if the ground would cave in, and looked at the curse doll in my hand. What to do with this right now—that alone was a huge problem.

While walking lost in thought—

Wooae-aeeng-

Suddenly, the loud cry of a baby.

“Oh, my little prince, there there! Don’t cry! When you cry, my heart aches too! Ttuk! Ttuuk!”

From around the corner appeared a court lady holding a baby. There was no particular reason to hide, but I ducked out of sight. I didn’t want her to see my face—too somber and unlike a child’s, weighed down with heavy emotions. Fortunately, the court lady didn’t see me.

‘But that baby… she called him Prince.’

The little body was dressed in fine silk, and the ear-covering winter cap (ieom) was lined with fur. A young prince who would exist in the palace at this time…

‘Ah. King Sukjong’s youngest son, Prince Yeollyeong, Lee Hwon. He must be around two years old now.’

I finally realized the baby’s identity. Despite the nursemaid’s desperate efforts, Lee Hwon would not stop crying.

Then it happened.

Lee Hwon’s clear, round eyes turned exactly toward me.

‘…’

At the same time, his crying stopped abruptly.

“Oh dear, my prince! Have you finally brightened up?”

As the court lady bounced him and soothed him, Lee Hwon kept staring intently at me, hiding around the corner.

‘Why does he keep staring?’

I was curious, but I didn’t feel comfortable. Lee Hwon was a strikingly beautiful boy. Seeing a cute baby would normally make you smile, but I couldn’t because…

‘Prince Yeollyeong Lee Hwon dies young at twenty-one.’

The truth of history swirled in my mind.

…So many people in this palace were fated to die.

In that moment—

Kkareureureu!

A clear laugh rang out. Lee Hwon, who had been crying so pitifully just moments ago, now burst into a spring-sunshine smile looking at me.

“Kkyauuu!”

His childish laughter floated brightly above the sun-drenched walls of Changgyeonggung.

It felt strange. I had been thinking about his death, yet here he was, laughing so radiantly. Lee Hwon kept smiling at me for a long time.

“…Heh.”

In the end, I laughed too, without meaning to. Forgetting for a moment all my worries—my own fate, Lee Hwon’s death, Jang Hee-bin’s future.

…It was a moment when, after an exhausting day, the only light seemed to shine through.

“Goodbye, Hwon.”

Feeling a little comforted, I was about to turn away after mouthing a silent farewell—

“Oh? Who’s there?”

She must have noticed because Lee Hwon kept looking in my direction. Still holding the giggling Lee Hwon, the court lady hurried over.

There was no real need to run, but feeling “caught,” I started to flee anyway.

“Hey! Wait just a moment!”

Ignoring the court lady’s voice calling after me, I dashed away udadada.

‘Ha… What a turbulent day.’

Only when Chwiseondang came into view did I slow down and catch my breath. Still holding the curse doll, which felt heavy as a burden in my hand