Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 22

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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 22. Cherished Memories
“Bong-bong, someone’s here to see you.”
Oh! Is it His Majesty?
“Meow—”
…So it’s you, Geum-deok.
“Bong-bong, someone’s looking for you.”
At last, His Majesty!
“Yowwwl!”
…It’s you again.
Days stretched on where the king never came, yet Geum-deok visited without fail.
‘My arms are going to fall off from playing with Geum-deok.’
I was seriously considering filing a request for hazard pay when, at last, an invitation from the king arrived!
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“His Majesty has ordered that the child be brought at once. There is no time to waste—inform the Consort through Han Sang-gung.”
It was an abrupt announcement, yet Han Sang-gung could not utter a word of protest and sent me off.
‘So this is the power of authority.’
I followed Head Sang-gung cautiously, watching her every move.
“There is no need to be anxious, child.”
“Yes…, ma’am.”
It was unexpected. Despite her intimidating appearance, the Sang-gung was remarkably kind.
She even offered to carry me all the way to Changdeok Palace, but I politely declined.
‘By now, the Consort must have learned that I’ve been summoned by the king.’
Head Sang-gung’s visit would have stirred Chwisuondang into commotion, and upon my return, I would face an onslaught of questions.
Naturally, I was not without worry….
‘Wow!’
The moment I stepped into the inner reaches of Changdeok Palace, I forgot all about Chwisuondang entirely.
Pavilions so densely clustered they could not compare to Changgyeong Palace, with magnificent trees scattered throughout.
Hee-jeong Hall stood at the very heart of it all.
‘I’m actually walking inside Hee-jeong Hall.’
The ornately decorated corridors and painted beams were impressive, but what truly set this place apart was its atmosphere.
Accustomed to the warm, unpretentious daily life among the palace maids, I found the heavy, weighty air of this place oppressive.
The palace attendants of the Royal Chambers made no sound—not even their footsteps, nor their breath.
Despite the arrival of an unfamiliar young maid, not a single glance was cast my way.
The dim lighting and darkness amplified the sense of pressure to its peak.
“Your Majesty, the young maid Hwang Bong-bong has arrived.”
“Let her enter.”
The king sat upon his throne, waiting for me.
Meow.
Meow.
Geum-deok, who had been sprawled at the king’s feet, came scampering over with rapid pattering sounds.
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
After bowing respectfully to the king and taking my seat, Geum-deok scrambled up onto my lap.
‘Thank you, Geum-deok.’
I would never call her that dreadful name again.
Clutching Geum-deok as though she were a stuffed bear, I tried to calm my racing heart like a frightened child seeking comfort.
‘I never imagined I would be this nervous.’
I had been nothing but delighted at the prospect of visiting such a historically significant place.
Only upon stepping into Hee-jeong Hall did I realize how naive and reckless that sentiment had been.
The oppressive weight of the Royal Chambers itself, combined with the king’s gaze fixed upon me from its center.
My breath caught in my throat.
“Sit at ease.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Only after carefully adjusting my posture could I finally see the king’s face.
His face seemed unfamiliar. It was because of the spectacles he wore.
A historical record surfaced in my mind—that King Sukjong was ‘the first monarch to use spectacles.’
“Was the journey not too arduous?”
“No, Your Majesty. It did not feel particularly far.”
“Indeed. The place where I first saw you was also quite a distance from Chwisuondang, near that forest.”
“I still visit that forest from time to time.”
“What could possibly be in that forest?”
I answered, recalling the landscape from days before when I had been building the stone mound.
“There are butterflies, many flowers in bloom, and numerous squirrels and birds. Geum-deok appears there occasionally as well.”
“That creature often returns with fallen leaves buried in her fur, so I assumed she frequented the Back Garden. It seems she has made that forest her hunting ground instead.”
“If it pleases you, Your Majesty, would you like to see me play with Geum-deok?”
The king had summoned me to pose a ‘question.’
Though I was aware of this fact, I wished to lighten the heavy atmosphere first.
“Go ahead.”
The king’s permission was granted.
I retrieved my secret weapon—a silk ribbon I had obtained from Seol-hyang.
“Geum-deok! Bounce, bounce!”
With my dazzling hand movements, Geum-deok soon fell into a state of pure delight.
Each time Geum-deok assumed an amusing posture, I heard the king’s quiet laughter.
And yet…
‘He’s still watching me.’
What he primarily observed was not Geum-deok, but me.
Just then, Geum-deok panted heavily and flopped down with a thud.
“I believe we’ve played enough. Shall I give this ribbon to you, Your Majesty?”
“That will not be necessary. It would be unseemly for a king to be waving ribbons about.”
…Yet he had wielded one quite readily when it came to Bom-bomi last time.
“Instead, Bong-bong, you should visit Hee-jeong Hall from time to time and play with Geum-deok.”
Me, Your Majesty?
“…Yes. I shall do as you command.”
As I’ve said before, when the king orders it, you obey.
Thanks to Geum-deok, the atmosphere had grown considerably lighter.
So I ventured to ask a question carefully.
“But…Your Majesty. Why do you gaze at me so intently?”
“You noticed?”
“Yes.”
How could I not notice when he was staring so openly?
“There are two reasons I look at you. One is that old memories come to mind, and the other is that you resemble someone.”
“Old memories? What memories might those be?”
“Memories of On-hee.”
On-hee? It was a name I had never heard before.
The king’s expression as he spoke that name was gentle and tender.
“As a mere palace maid, you could not possibly know the name of a royal. On-hee was my younger sister. She was called Princess Myeong-an.”
Princess Myeong-an….
The king had summoned forth a memory that hovered at the edge of my recollection, vague and elusive.
“She was the only one of my younger sisters to reach adulthood. On-hee too eventually left this world at twenty-one, but….”
He continued quietly.
“On-hee also loved cats as you do. She would go in and out of the Royal Kitchen all day long, saying she was feeding the cats, and received much scolding from Queen Myeongseong for it. When I see you and Geum-deok together, I often think of On-hee.”
So the person I supposedly resemble was Princess Myeong-an…?
“I am honored and humbled that I should resemble the princess, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
A faint smile played at the corners of the king’s mouth.
“You have misunderstood my words. I am reminded of On-hee by your actions and demeanor, not your appearance. You and On-hee bear no resemblance in looks. On-hee took after me.”
I lifted my head slightly to gaze at the king.
His bearing, his demeanor, his gaze—all carried the proud majesty of a predator.
‘If Princess Myeong-an resembled King Sukjong, then the princess must have been a formidable creature as well.’
I fell into confusion.
Hwang Bong-bong’s appearance was closer to the weakest among small animals….
‘A hamster, a squirrel, a white squirrel….’
Anyone could see that was what I was.
I gathered my courage and opened my mouth.
“Your Majesty. You have said before that I resemble someone. If not the princess, then whom were you referring to?”
It was then that he slowly rose to his feet.
Step, step.
The king approached me.
I instinctively prostrated myself flat.
He lowered his body as he came to stand before my face.
The rustle of silk robes brushing against each other.
In the next moment, he seized my arm.
‘What on earth…?’
My body went rigid in an instant.
I could not move, suffocated by the crushing tension.
Then the king rolled up my sleeve to the elbow with a swift motion.
‘The red mark…!’
Now I understood.
The plum blossom-shaped birthmark on my arm.
That was what the king had been trying to confirm.
“You have not forgotten your promise to answer my questions truthfully, have you?”
“No, Your Majesty. I have not forgotten.”
“I searched your palace maid registry. Beyond the name Hwang Bong-bong and your origin in Nam-chon, there was no other information whatsoever.”
He had even looked into my palace maid records?
A chill ran down my spine.
“Tell me, child. What are your parents’ names?”
“…”
Naturally, my words caught in my throat.
I do not know my parents’ names. I had only just learned that I was from Nam-chon moments ago.
My body trembled without reason.
“…I see.”
The hand holding my arm released me.
“I am not interrogating you. I merely wished to confirm something, so compose yourself.”
As I hesitantly lifted my head, he spoke with considerably gentler tone.
“Tell me—is your mother’s family name perhaps Cheok?”
Cheok…?
‘Could it be the Cheok clan of General Cheok Jun-gyeong of Goryeo?’
I believed the Cheok family line had been severed in the early Joseon Dynasty.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I do not remember my late parents’ names.”
“…They have passed? Both of your parents?”
“Yes. I am an orphan.”
A heavy silence descended.
A subtle wave of emotion rippled across the king’s face.
Pain. Or perhaps… sorrow?
“Then you know nothing of your family.”
“No. I do not even remember my brother’s name.”
“You have a brother?”
“Yes… but he is also deceased.”
The king exhaled softly.
A distant sigh escaped from him.
“I posed too harsh a question to my young one. Are you unwell?”
“I am fine, Your Majesty. It seems to be an important matter, and I apologize for knowing nothing of it.”
“An important matter, you say.”
A soft rustle.
King Sukjong suddenly reached out and stroked my hair.
It was a gesture of tenderness so unexpected it left me bewildered.
“Whether it can truly be called important, I cannot say. Yet… it is a matter that weighs upon my heart.”
After a quiet sigh, he continued.
“It is also something I have come to regret.”

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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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