Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 62

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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 62. Yi Hwon’s Secret
“Please save me!”
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
“Your Highness! Help me!”
Patter-patter-patter.
Inside Sung-gyeong Hall.
A frantic game of tag was in full swing—pursuer and pursued locked in relentless chase.
“Squeal!”
“No! Please, just this once!”
“Bong-bong! Ba-ba-ba!”
Hwang Bong-bong fled while Yi Hwon gave chase in a desperate game of tag.
Ever since the honey incident that spring, I had been coming and going from Sung-gyeong Hall as though it were my own home.
This was only possible because Jang Hee-bin had granted me permission.
I even had a proper temporary position.
I was the Crown Prince’s “nursemaid attendant.”
The primary duties of a nursemaid attendant were these:
Shrieking and squealing while playing tag.
Carefully tasting the porridge to ensure it held no trace of honey.
Sleeping soundly beside the young prince during his afternoon naps.
These were tasks only I could perform—vitally important work indeed.
As spring melted into summer, Yi Hwon had grown remarkably and begun taking his first steps.
Contrary to my worries, he was developing into an exceptionally healthy child.
To exaggerate somewhat, he was sprouting up like a bean sprout.
He had a sturdier build than children his age, and he mastered walking with impressive speed.
Though he tumbled often, requiring my constant vigilance.
“Bong-bong! Save me!”
‘Is he mimicking what I just said?’
I, who had been executing a desperate escape within the cramped room, deliberately allowed Yi Hwon to catch me.
“Bong-bong!”
Yi Hwon burst into radiant laughter.
Though I bore the grand title of “nursemaid attendant,” I was ultimately just a four-year-old child myself.
Of course, Yi Hwon always had a proper nursemaid attending to him as well.
But at this moment, the nursemaid had stepped out to the outhouse.
I patted Yi Hwon’s back as he nestled into my arms, then whispered softly to him.
“Yi Hwon.”
“Hmm?”
“You must stay healthy like this, always.”
“Always?”
“Eat good food well. Take your tonics without complaint.”
“Okay?”
“A prince can’t just study all day. He needs to play and exercise plenty.”
“Ba-ba-ba?”
“That’s right. He absolutely must stay healthy, Yi Hwon.”
“Ha-uu. Bom-bo.”
Yi Hwon grasped my finger tightly.
Our secret conversation—just the two of us.
This was something I could only say when we were alone together.
If anyone caught me speaking informally to the young prince, I’d be cast out of the Royal Palace on the spot.
And yet, knowing full well the consequences…
I sometimes found myself wanting to speak to Yi Hwon this way.
To lay my heart bare without pretense.
As I would to a friend, not to a precious prince.
‘It must be because I see him so often.’
Though I tried not to let my heart grow attached, the truth was I had grown quite fond of Yi Hwon.
Yi Hwon and I had become very familiar with each other.
I could understand what he wanted simply by reading his eyes, his gestures, his expressions.
“Bba-ba-ba!”
Yi Hwon suddenly sprang up from my embrace.
He toddled toward the doorway, grabbed the frame, and wiggled his little bottom as if dancing.
At the sight of the young prince’s irresistibly adorable antics, laughter burst from me unbidden.
In any case, I knew exactly what he was trying to tell me with that gesture.
“You want to go outside?”
“Uu-uu!”
“Let’s go then!”
“Kya-uu-uu!”
Just then, the nursemaid returned.
The three of us—Yi Hwon, myself, and the nursemaid—headed together toward the world beyond Sung-gyeong Hall, bathed in the golden light of summer.
***
The summer Royal Palace was awash in verdant green.
The landscape embroidered with spring blossoms had been beautiful, but the Royal Palace steeped in fresh foliage overflowed with refreshing clarity and vitality.
“The warmth suits you well, doesn’t it?”
“Da-da-ah!”
“Young Prince, it’s a butterfly, a butterfly! Do you see it?”
“But-ter-fly-fly!”
“Shall we venture a bit further today?”
“Buh-fly-ba-ah!”
At the nursemaid’s words, Yi Hwon clapped his hands in delight.
‘That child seems quite intelligent.’
Though his speech hadn’t fully developed yet, his actions made it clear he understood what was being said.
The birdsong drifting through the lush green trees, Yi Hwon’s laughter….
As I strolled through the peaceful summer, my thoughts grew distant.
I had begun living as Hwang Bong-bong in the late winter around Ipchun.
After an extraordinarily tumultuous spring, I now stood in the midst of summer.
Between spring and summer, several events had unfolded within the Royal Palace.
Gwi-in Kim had been confined to Geonggeuk Hall for a hundred days as punishment for the incident involving me.
Queen Min, who had teetered on the brink of death several times, had miraculously recovered and her condition had improved somewhat.
But the person who made me most uneasy was Suk-bin.
For nearly a hundred days, I had not seen her even once.
Rumors circulated among the Palace Maids that Suk-bin had secluded herself without apparent reason.
At least I heard updates about Suk-bin’s circumstances through Prince Yeonning from time to time.
Prince Yeonning had been lingering around me excessively lately.
Though he brought no particularly useful information.
And….
‘Suk-jeong remains missing.’
Nearly a hundred days had passed since Suk-jeong’s trail went cold.
Could there be anything more important to me than that?
That Jang Hee-bin’s daily life had become peaceful.
That no shrine had been established in Chwisuondang.
That Jang Hee-bin had not cursed anyone.
Most of all….
‘That the King and Jang Hee-bin’s relationship was improving day by day!’
It was while I harbored such hopeful thoughts.
Two women approaching from the opposite direction came into view.
The silk gauze caught in the summer sunlight gleamed brilliantly.
Jang Hee-bin in crimson robes and Park Suk-ui adorned in pale green silk walked side by side toward us.
Upon spotting Yi Hwon and me, the two women approached us.
“Uh-mya-mya-mya!”
Yi Hwon, who would stop crying the moment he saw me and would beam endlessly whenever I appeared.
“Kyaaaa!”
At Jang Hee-bin’s arrival, Yi Hwon burst into laughter.
Whenever Yi Hwon encountered Jang Hee-bin, he became unusually cheerful.
Just as he did with me, he clapped his hands at her.
It was time to finally reveal Yi Hwon’s secret that I had discovered.
Yi Hwon.
He was a face-lover!
‘Come to think of it, doesn’t that mean my own beauty is equally exceptional?’
They say children can’t lie, after all.
Of course, there was a strong obsession with me that couldn’t be explained by ‘looks’ alone.
In any case, Yi Hwon was clearly a child with an excellent eye for beautiful women.
“The young prince has come out for a stroll with Bong-bong, I see.”
Jang Hee-bin spoke to Suk-ui.
The two of them got along better than I had expected.
‘Perhaps it’s because Jang Hee-bin has gained peace of mind.’
It was true that Jang Hee-bin had become considerably more generous since her relationship with the King had been restored.
“Jang Hee-bin, thanks to your gracious permission for Bong-bong to visit Sung-gyeong Hall, I have received great kindness. The young prince truly adores Bong-bong.”
Suk-ui expressed her gratitude respectfully.
A satisfied smile bloomed across Jang Hee-bin’s face.
“Everyone loves our Bong-bong. Why would it be only the young prince? The Crown Prince cherishes her like a true younger sibling, and His Majesty treasures her as if she were his own daughter.”
…Jang Hee-bin had been showing a tendency to become quite boastful lately.
“By the way, the young prince’s features are truly exquisite. Though still young, he will surely grow into a most handsome man.”
“It must be because he resembles His Majesty. I am grateful for such kind words, Jang Hee-bin.”
While Jang Hee-bin and Suk-ui exchanged pleasant conversation.
I inwardly scoffed.
‘That’s not true. Yi Hwon doesn’t really resemble King Sukjong at all.’
While the King possessed an intense impression like a tiger, Yi Hwon resembled his mother more—she had softer, more delicate features.
‘Well, the princes generally do tend to take after their mothers.’
The Crown Prince was the same.
Especially Prince Yeonning bore almost no resemblance to the King.
“This may be sudden, but Bong-bong. I’m truly grateful to you.”
Suk-ui’s face was radiant as she spoke to me.
Over the summer, Suk-ui’s health had improved considerably.
Though she still suffered from minor ailments, her complexion had brightened, and vitality had returned to her face.
“No, Your Highness. I truly enjoy playing with the young prince.”
“That’s fortunate. In the future, the young prince will not forget your service. She will cherish you like an older sister.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
It was kind of her to say….
‘I wish she wouldn’t mention “the future” in front of Yi Hwon.’
Even when I’m in a good mood, hearing those words makes me melancholy.
The conversation between Jang Hee-bin and Suk-ui continued on.
Standing in the summer sunlight, the heat had become quite oppressive.
I rolled up my sleeves a little.
It was forbidden for palace maids to expose bare skin, but for a child like me, this much was permitted.
“Bong-bong!”
At that moment, Yi Hwon raised his hand and tapped the red mole on my arm.
“My, what a pretty mole Bong-bong has.”
It was Suk-ui speaking.
“Hehe, it’s just a mole, really.”
Though I said that, I had long since known it was no ordinary mole.
The King would make a peculiar expression whenever he saw my mole these days.
That was when it happened.
A familiar face hurrying toward us from a distance.
It was Seol-hyang.
“My lady, a moment for your ear….”
Seeing that Suk-ui was present, Seol-hyang whispered into Jang Hee-bin’s ear.
“His Majesty is heading to Chwisuondang. You should hurry there, my lady.”
Color bloomed across Jang Hee-bin’s face.
“Suk-ui, our conversation has been most pleasant. I must return to Chwisuondang now.”
“Please do, my lady. I shall visit you again soon.”
“Yes. And Bong-bong….”
Jang Hee-bin seized my hand.
“Come. There is work at Chwisuondang.”
Whether the King was visiting Chwisuondang for Jang Hee-bin herself or for me was unclear, so she was preparing for all possibilities.
It was indeed a shrewd move, befitting Jang Hee-bin.
“Waaaah!”
Yi Hwon, suddenly separated from his beloved without warning, burst into tears.
“I’ll come again, young master. I’ll be back soon! I promise!”
“Bong-bong! Waaaah!”
There was no time for further farewells.
Held by Jang Hee-bin’s hand, I began moving my short legs as fast as I could.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter—I ran alongside Jang Hee-bin.
A question rose in my mind.
‘Why at this hour?’
The King usually came at night.
When he had business with me, he would typically send someone to summon me to Hee-jeong Hall.
‘What is this about?’
Thanks to the swelling curiosity, my pace quickened more and more.

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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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