Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 15

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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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Chapter 15. The Child and the Grandfather
I meticulously erased the character ‘Hwang’ to destroy the evidence, then casually opened a book as though resuming my studies in the vernacular script.
Naturally, the pretense of practicing calligraphy was merely an excuse.
Whenever Jang Hee-bin and Suk-jeong held private audiences, the Palace Maids of Chwisuondang were expected to withdraw.
Being New Year’s Day, even fewer people ventured near Jang Hee-bin’s quarters.
‘Seizing that opportunity, I eavesdropped on the conversation between Jang Hee-bin and Suk-jeong.’
Merely hearing the name ‘O-rye’ made the risk worthwhile.
O-rye was a shaman who would be executed for cursing Queen Inhyeon—one of the key figures in this conspiracy.
In other words….
‘Jang Hee-bin, Suk-jeong, and O-rye—all the pieces are in place.’
And this trinity of conspirators would lead to the creation of ‘Shin-dang’.
There was no more time to hesitate. The answer was clear.
Though I must admit, the repeated appearance of yellow in the divination rods was something I had not anticipated.
‘I am not one to believe in superstition…but there are things in this world that cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence.’
What mattered was that Suk-jeong had become fixated on the character ‘Hwang’.
‘And how perfectly it aligned that my surname is Hwang.’
Was this not the hand of fate itself?
I was lost in such thoughts when it happened.
Suk-jeong, clutching a bundle of cloth, hurried out of the chamber.
I glanced at her without particular thought. But then….
‘She’s avoiding my gaze?’
Suk-jeong hastily cast her eyes downward.
With her head bowed, she scurried toward the West Side of Chwisuondang, and what I discerned in her expression was….
‘She’s afraid of me…?’
Fear. Unmistakable, undeniable fear.
“Hmm.”
Why on earth would Suk-jeong react that way?
I quickly arrived at my conclusion.
‘If Suk-jeong fears me, then perhaps I should show her what true terror really is!’
Very well. Wait for me at the West Side of Chwisuondang, Suk-jeong.
***
West Side of Chwisuondang.
Dusk had settled in without warning.
Suk-jeong stood there, her anxious heart barely contained.
Yellow and black, warnings about the pupils of the eyes, even ominous omens—
For someone like Suk-jeong, who lived and died by superstition, it had been a day that made her flesh crawl.
‘I need to finish this quickly and leave….’
Suk-jeong, quickening her pace, came to an abrupt halt.
‘That…. What is it?’
An unexpected form.
Something strange, sitting alone in the darkness.
The shapeless mass—resembling a bundle or a small jar—began to writhe and shift.
‘…A child?’
Suk-jeong realized the presence was that of a small child.
“Mother goes to the island’s shade…. To gather oysters….”
A slow, eerie melody flowed from the child’s lips.
“…Is it…is it a cursed child?”
Suk-jeong asked in a trembling voice.
At that sound, Hwang Bong-bong turned around.
There was no focus in Hwang Bong-bong’s eyes.
With a swift motion, Hwang Bong-bong spread all five fingers wide.
Hwang Bong-bong, glaring sharply at Suk-jeong, dragged her outstretched fingers across one of her own cheeks.
Whatever she held in her hand, a dark, ink-like smear was left streaked across her cheek.
‘…Black!’
Before the horrified Suk-jeong, the child began to dance with grotesque, lurching movements. It resembled a sword dance, or the movements of shamans performing a ritual.
‘What in the world is that child holding…?’
Terror-stricken, Suk-jeong soon recognized the object in Hwang Bong-bong’s hand.
‘A…a curse doll…!’
Even as Hwang Bong-bong continued her writhing dance, she suddenly glared at Suk-jeong and shrieked.
“The one who stabs needles into Bong-bong, who makes Bong-bong suffer!”
For a moment, Hwang Bong-bong’s movements seemed to pause—
Then, Hwang Bong-bong came rushing toward Suk-jeong.
“You’ll be cursed to deathhhhh!”
“Ahhhhh!”
Suk-jeong, shrieking in terror and stumbling backward, fell hard on her backside.
Suk-jeong, forgetting even her pain, thrashed desperately to distance herself from Hwang Bong-bong.
Then it happened.
Hwang Bong-bong’s body trembled. The child blinked several times, and her face returned to its usual bright, innocent expression.
“Oh, Young Mistress. Hello. But why are you sitting on the ground? That’s dirty….”
As if nothing had happened, she greeted her casually, and Suk-jeong was on the verge of fainting.
“Huh? What are you saying?”
“S-sounds?”
“Yes. Young mistress, can’t you hear the voices? I can hear the baby’s cries and Grandfather General’s voice!”
“U-ugh….”
Suk-jeong’s teeth chattered violently as terror consumed her utterly.
“The baby and grandfather are so angry right now!”
Hwang Bong-bong planted her hands on her hips and shouted.
“Do not come here! Do not come to the west!”
Hwang Bong-bong’s eyes rolled back white in an instant. Then she pointed at Suk-jeong’s shoulder with her finger.
“Um…. But, baby?”
Staring at Suk-jeong’s shoulder as she held her breath, Hwang Bong-bong spoke.
“Baby, why are you hanging there?”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Suk-jeong twisted her shoulder frantically like a madwoman, shaking it off.
Suk-jeong fled with a single piercing scream, desperate to save her own life.
***
“Ha….”
The moment Suk-jeong vanished from sight, my strength drained away.
I knew there were risks involved, but great deeds require gambling.
“I did it.”
I could already envision Suk-jeong’s terror whenever she heard the words “West Side of Chwisuondang.”
“Well done, Hwang Bong-bong…!”
Today’s operation was a complete success!
‘Hm?’
It was the moment I lifted my head after washing my face.
A long shadow stretching between the pavilions…. What on earth was that?
“Who… are you?”
My heart plummeted to the depths.
‘Who is it? A palace maid? Has Suk-jeong returned? Or is it Jang Hee-bin?’
Whoever it was, the mere fact that someone was there was a problem.
‘How long have they been standing there?’
This is maddening.
I was spinning my mind desperately for an escape route, biting my lip hard, when—
“…Hwang Bong-bong, are you alright? What was all that about having succeeded?”
“Ah…. Your Highness.”
It was the Crown Prince.
Even knowing the situation was precarious, my heart eased in that instant.
…Yes. Being caught by the Crown Prince was infinitely better than anyone else.
“But…. Your Highness. Did you not see the person who was here?”
“A person? I saw no one at all. Hwang Bong-bong, are you truly alright?”
The Crown Prince’s expression grew even more grave, but I exhaled in relief.
‘The Crown Prince was just here a moment ago. I didn’t see him dancing with the corpse, nor did I see Suk-jeong.’
Since I’d only overheard a few muttered words, I could simply brush it off as nonsense.
“I’m fine, Your Highness.”
Somehow, night had fallen in the meantime.
Beneath the pavilion where I stood, darkness had settled like thick ink.
“But Your Highness, what brings you to Chwisuondang….”
I was rambling on about nothing in particular, stepping out from the shadows, when it happened.
“Ahhh!”
The Crown Prince let out a sharp cry.
‘Oh. I have ink smeared all over my face.’
…Only then did I realize it.
“Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry, Your Highness. There’s quite a bit of something on my face, isn’t there?”
“What on earth were you doing to get something so dark smeared across your face?”
The Crown Prince sniffed the air.
“Don’t tell me that’s ink?”
“Yes….”
What excuse could I make?
“Well, you see…. There’s this saying about having your face blackened. I was just curious about how it’s actually done….”
I blurted out whatever came to mind.
“Ha….”
A helpless laugh escaped the Crown Prince’s lips, as though he’d surrendered completely.
‘I probably look quite mad, but there’s nothing I can do about it.’
I was genuinely grateful that the Crown Prince was being so lenient with me.
“Actually…. You see.”
I slumped my shoulders and made the most pitiful expression I could muster.
“I have no friends, and the Palace Maids aren’t here today, so I was terribly bored and playing by myself.”
“Ah. I see….”
Moved by the sight of my wide, blinking eyes, the Crown Prince patted my shoulder gently.
In that moment, footsteps suddenly echoed nearby.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. Are you here? Jang Hee-bin says you should come inside…. Eek!”
…Ah, this is rather problematic.
It was Seol-hyang who had appeared.
Upon seeing my face covered in dark ink, Seol-hyang’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Hwang Bong-bong! I was wondering where you’d disappeared to! And what’s that on your face—is that ink? Do you have any idea how precious ink is? Have you lost your mind?”
“Ahem.”
At the Crown Prince’s low cough, Seol-hyang fell silent, her expression flustered.
But I heard it clearly. The words Seol-hyang was muttering as she glared at me.
“That girl, she’s completely mad. She’ll be the death of us all.”
Am I going to die like this?
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
That was when it happened.
“Kim Na-in.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Hwang Bong-bong’s face got like that because of me. I was just playing around with ink, and it got out of hand….”
“…Your Highness made the child’s face like that?”
“Well, it just happened.”
The Crown Prince, who was unusually composed for his age and often worried those around him, had played such a prank?
Seol-hyang’s expression screamed disbelief.
“So don’t scold Hwang Bong-bong too harshly. I feel terrible about it.”
But when the Crown Prince spoke like this, what could a mere Palace Maid do?
“Since Your Highness says so, how could I dare to scold her? I understand, Your Highness.”
…Your Highness the Crown Prince. Aren’t you truly a blessing sent from heaven itself?
Behind the Crown Prince’s dragon robe, I could almost see the phantom of enormous white wings fluttering.
“Phew….”
A sigh of relief escaped me unbidden.
The Crown Prince, whose eyes met mine, winked at me with one eye.
I quickly flashed a thumbs up where Seol-hyang couldn’t see.
Our Crown Prince is the best.
Truly the best!
…But it wasn’t entirely peaceful as if nothing had happened.
“Ow, it’s cold! It’s freezing! Help! Save me!”
That night’s ‘grave-opening incident’ ended in tragedy when a child was forcibly dragged away by an adult woman to the Well and subjected to water torture disguised as face-washing, scrubbing away at my face.
‘Goodness. I thought my facial skin would peel right off.’
Well, in any case, I survived thanks to the Crown Prince.
Your Highness the Crown Prince. I’ll repay your kindness like the magpie in the tale. I promise!

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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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