I Became My Ex-Boyfriend’s Concubine - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17

In a corner outside the palace walls, within Yuhhwa Hall.
“That’s absolute nonsense!”
Minister Kim slammed his fist against the table while the others looked on from their seats.
“A Rain Ceremony? Hadn’t we already settled this matter?”
“His Majesty issued a direct Royal Decree at midday, saying the Rain Ceremony will proceed eight days hence.”
Minister Yun answered with a troubled expression. Across from him, Minister Jeong surveyed the room with grave concern.
“I hear the Royal Seal has already been affixed to the decree.”
At those words, the ministers began to murmur in distress. Minister Park could barely contain his anger, biting his lip hard.
“Without so much as a word to us, such unilateral action! This is a blatant disregard for our authority!”
“Indeed. To strike us from behind while we hold empty titles—His Majesty has clearly grown arrogant under the Premier’s influence.”
“But the Premier did not oppose the Rain Ceremony, did he?”
At Minister Kim’s agreement, Minister Jeong looked puzzled. Then Minister Yun, his expression darkening, voiced his open disdain for the Premier.
“The Premier is a cunning man by nature. If you judge him by appearances alone, you’ll suffer grave consequences.”
“Then… you’re suggesting this too might be the Premier’s doing?”
“It’s quite possible.”
“Prime Minister! Surely you don’t mean to say—”
The Prime Minister, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
“Have you all forgotten? The King lost his father and brothers to poison and survived alone. Without the Park Clan’s strength, he would be nothing but a puppet already dead. Such a king would never dare betray his in-laws.”
“Then you mean to say—”
The Prime Minister raised his cup with an ambiguous smile.
“The Queen’s influence must be behind this.”

Meanwhile, within the Queen’s Palace.
“Is it truly so, Your Majesty?”
The Queen regarded Hyeon with disbelief written across her face.
“You intend to hold a Rain Ceremony?”
Hyeon set down his teacup quietly onto the table. A faint smile crossed his lips.
“It is decided. I apologize for not telling you sooner, my Queen.”
“Not a word to me beforehand—how could you? Do you not trust me?”
The Queen’s face fell with disappointment. Hyeon quickly seized her hand.
“How could that be? You are my only true ally. How could I not trust you, my Queen?”
Hyeon caressed her hand tenderly.
“I simply did not wish to burden you with my affairs. I trust that you understand the depth of my intentions.”
“But Your Majesty, the preparations for the Rain Ceremony are still—”
“No need to worry. I have already completed all the arrangements.”
Hyeon smiled gently, and the Queen’s lips curved upward awkwardly.
“Is that so, Your Majesty?”
“That you would worry so for me, my Queen—it gladdens my heart beyond measure. You truly are my only supporter.”
At those words, Hyeon drew the Queen into his embrace with both arms spread wide.
The Queen smiled and leaned against him slowly. But the light in her eyes faded.

At that same moment, within Yuhhwa Hall.
“There is no cause for such concern.”
Minister Yun smiled meaningfully as he glanced around the room.
“After all, the King doesn’t even know the Royal Seal is a forgery.”
The ministers’ laughter—shallow and careless—rippled through Yuhhwa Hall.

***

Late at night, Sol opened the Sleeping Chamber door wide, carrying a Refreshment Table.
“My lady! I’ve brought the refreshments—”
But the bed was empty.
“My lady?”

Elsewhere within the palace grounds.
Dan-bi moved swiftly through the alleys, wrapped in a long robe, her eyes gleaming with sharp vigilance as she scanned her surroundings without pause.
“She wouldn’t let go for even a moment. I’ve only just gotten away—and I’m sure she’s in absolute chaos by now.”
Dan-bi shook her head sharply, already imagining the servant’s endless complaints ringing in her ears.
“Let me just confirm things quickly and head back. Though I still can’t quite remember where this is…”
Dan-bi wandered through the palace grounds, searching her memory of the previous cycle. The inner chambers were so similar in structure that she kept losing her bearings.
But there was one detail she remembered distinctly. Unlike the other halls, that place had two or three low steps arranged in a line—wait.
“Found it!”
Dan-bi climbed the steps and slowly withdrew the wooden bolt that barred the door from inside. Fortunately there was no lock, so the door opened more easily than she’d expected.
She pulled with force, and the door creaked inward. Through the narrow gap, the hems of garments hanging from the ceiling came into view.
Dan-bi lit the lamp. A kaleidoscope of familiar colors bloomed before her eyes.
It was identical to what she’d seen in the last cycle. This had to be the Royal Wardrobe.
“This is definitely the right place…”
Dan-bi looked around carefully. Then a pristine white robe hanging in the center caught her eye.

“Her Majesty’s Rain Ceremony Robes have been damaged, they say.”

“Yes, this must be it.”
Dan-bi held the lamp close to the robes. Fortunately, there didn’t appear to be any damage yet.

“The King has commanded that the Rain Ceremony be held. Eight days from now, it will be…”

“So the Rain Ceremony was eight days away then, wasn’t it? And the robes were damaged a week before that…”
Dan-bi finished her calculations and nodded to herself.
“If he comes as planned, it has to be today.”
She drew the Short Sword from her sleeve. Her grip trembled visibly.
Now that the moment had come, she couldn’t control the tension flooding through her.
No—she couldn’t afford to shake like this. If she missed this chance, the game would reset all over again. There was no doubt about it.
Dan-bi gripped the Short Sword tightly.
“This time, I’ll catch him for sure and move on to the next mission.”
Then came a faint rustling sound from somewhere nearby.
Dan-bi’s head snapped toward the source. The lamplight wavered, and shadows danced with it.
But there was no one there.
“What was that? I could’ve sworn…”
Dan-bi peered forward and took a cautious step. Just then—
Thwack.
Something hurled from behind her lodged itself in the pillar ahead with a sharp whistle. Dan-bi’s eyes went wide.
A Short Sword was now embedded in the column.
Dan-bi spun around. In that instant, something flashed past her vision.
Without thinking, she deflected it with her blade. The lamp fell and shattered against the floor with a ringing crash.
In the sudden darkness, Dan-bi stared hard beyond the locked blades before her.
It was him.
He was the one who’d damaged the Rain Ceremony Robes.
If she just caught this one person…!
Then a blue window materialized in mid-air.

「You have gained an audience with the King.
You have completed the Sub Quest.」

…What?
Dan-bi remained frozen in her stance, staring blankly ahead. An audience with the King? That couldn’t mean…
“Hyun?”
“So it was you after all.”
“What? What does that even—!”
Dan-bi stumbled backward, her face draining of color. That voice alone was enough to tell her.
It couldn’t be anyone else. The person standing before her was Hyun.
Then came a sharp whistle as a blade sliced through the air toward her face.
Dan-bi spun on her heel. The wind of the strike grazed past the hem of her skirt.
As the blade curved back toward her, she released her Short Sword with a burst of force.
The two blades met with a doleful ring. Dan-bi couldn’t make sense of what was happening.
The culprit had damaged the robes. But why now, at this moment?
That Hyeon happened to be in the Royal Wardrobe, that she attacked him the moment she saw him—all of it too much of a coincidence.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“And what are *you* doing here right now?”
Dan-bi stared at Hyeon directly. No matter how she turned it over in her mind, there was only one conclusion.
“Don’t tell me—you’re the one who damaged the robes?”
At that, Hyeon let out a derisive snort. Dan-bi’s face went pale as she raised her Short Sword in front of her eyes.
“There’s… there’s no other reason you’d be here…”
“So it wasn’t a dream after all.”
“What?”
As Hyeon took a step toward Dan-bi, she retreated two steps back.
“A few days ago, I had a dream. So vivid it stayed with me even after waking—a dream that felt like no dream at all.”
A dream?
What was this bastard suddenly talking about?
As Dan-bi’s brow twitched at this sudden mention of a dream, Hyeon advanced another step, her blade leveled at Dan-bi’s chest.
“In that place, I called you the Sixth Consort, and… I killed you.”
“…!!”
Goosebumps erupted across her skin. Dan-bi stumbled backward.
She couldn’t believe it.
If she hadn’t misheard, Hyeon was speaking of what had happened in the previous cycle.

“You don’t remember anything, do you?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”

That game—already reset, forgotten by everyone else.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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