Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 66

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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 66. What I Don’t Want to Forget
“Heave-ho!”
Bounce!
“Hup and away!”
Leap!
It had been quite some time since Geum-deok visited Chwisuondang to play.
“But Geum-deok, haven’t you gotten a bit plumper?”
“Meow?”
“Your jumps don’t seem as spirited as they used to be.”
“Meow.”
Because Geum-deok’s responses seemed unusually listless today, our hunting game ended rather quickly.
“Wait just a moment. I’ll bring you something delicious.”
I dashed to the Nae-so Kitchen and returned with a few pieces of fish cake.
The Inner Courtyard was quiet, as the palace maids were busy with their duties.
Sitting side by side on the veranda, Geum-deok and I shared the fish cake while engaging in a serious conversation.
The topic of our discussion was my greatest concern these days: ‘the King’s health’!
“It’s true that His Majesty awakened thanks to the medicinal herbs, but we cannot afford to overuse them.”
“Meow.”
“The Royal Physician is there, so he’ll handle such matters properly, won’t he?”
“Meow.”
“You understand? The real problem is actually white rice. Eating only white rice every day is what causes diabetes.”
“Meow.”
“Carbohydrates are the enemy of diabetes.”
That was when it happened.
Swish—
A dark shadow fell over Geum-deok and me.
“What are you two discussing so intently with Geum-deok?”
The Crown Prince was looking at me with a bewildered expression.
“Hehe.”
Faced with this awkward situation, I deployed a harmless smile to win over the Crown Prince.
“I was just making idle conversation, Your Highness.”
“Why not call Bok-hee and play together instead? What could you possibly discuss with a creature that cannot speak….”
Again, again.
His eyes, which already seemed to carry some burden, were now filled with pity.
‘Poor Hwang Bong-bong, with no friends her own age.’
It was painfully obvious what he was thinking.
“But carbohydrates…? What do you mean rice is the problem?”
Ah. He heard that.
“Well, it’s something I heard from outside, Your Highness.”
Once I’d committed to lying, I had to be as shameless as possible about it.
I lifted my head with triumphant pride and began to speak eloquently.
“It’s quite a famous saying among common folk, Your Highness. They say that if you eat white rice and sweet foods every day, you develop wasting disease. Mixed grain rice is far better for your health. That’s what I heard from a skilled physician.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes. It was the physician who said I should be fed sweet things when my father collapsed. That physician told me.”
“But…. I heard your father had passed away. It seems you remember such things quite well despite your young age.”
Ugh.
I hadn’t expected the Crown Prince—not even the King—to catch such a slip.
“Actually, I didn’t see it myself. I heard about it. From my older brother….”
“Ah. From your brother…?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince nodded as if he understood.
He looked back and forth between me and Geum-deok, who was licking his fur, then asked again.
“Do you still think of your brother often?”
“Well…. I’m not sure.”
It was an honest answer.
And also a regretful one.
Of course, I didn’t feel sorry toward Hwang Bong-bong’s older brother.
It was remorse toward my own brother from my past life.
“In any case, he’s gone now.”
I spoke calmly.
“It’s sad, but…. I think my brother would be happy if I lived well.”
“Ha….”
The Crown Prince exhaled softly.
“How can a child’s heart be so profound?”
The Crown Prince stroked my hair.
Perhaps feeling neglected by the lost attention, Geum-deok leaped into the courtyard, his plump rear end wiggling as he departed Chwisuondang.
“It’s time to go to the Crown Prince’s Institute. Bong-bong, let’s see each other again.”
“Yes. Please take care, Your Highness.”
After the Crown Prince left and Geum-deok disappeared, the courtyard was empty.
Left alone, I rose from my seat.
‘That’s right…. I’ve completely forgotten about my brother for a while now.’
I had barely thought of my brother over the past few months.
It’s true I was preoccupied with all sorts of incidents, but I don’t want to make excuses.
Oblivion.
The single word that could describe my situation.
‘I’m becoming accustomed to living as Hwang Bong-bong, and my past life is fading away.’
It didn’t feel so sorrowful.
Even the disappearance of my former self felt natural.
Because I was here.
‘I’ existed undeniably in the body of a child named Hwang Bong-bong.
But…
‘I hope my brother doesn’t forget.’
Even as time passes.
Someday, even if I grow old safely and come to regard all my past-life memories as nothing but a dream, even then—
‘I don’t want to forget my memories with my brother.’
I sprang to my feet and hurried out of Chwisuondang.
For the first time in ages, my steps quickened as I made my way toward the ‘secret place’.
Beyond Jeoseungjeon, in the forest that lay to the north.
That was where I had buried my brother’s memories—my true destination.
***
It was just as I was passing Jeoseungjeon.
“Bong-bong!”
“…”
I pretended not to hear.
“Bong-bong!”
“…”
Still feigning deafness, I quickened my pace, but…
Soon, rapid footsteps echoed behind me.
“Bong-bong. Have you gone deaf? It’s me. Stop right there.”
Yes. I know you’re a prince.
That’s exactly why I’m running away.
In any case, there were limits to how far short legs could carry me in flight, and it was hardly proper to ignore a royal summons.
Eventually, I stopped and turned around.
“It’s been a while.”
It hasn’t. It’s only been four days.
“I trust Your Highness Prince Yeonning has been well.”
“I’ve been fine. Your face has grown gaunt in the meantime.”
That couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve been eating late-night snacks every day for four days straight until my belly was full.
“Mother has recovered without incident. Your contribution was truly great.”
That’s true enough, but…
I wish you’d just let me go.
“I merely did what was natural, Your Highness.”
“I never imagined a child like you would possess medical knowledge. So I inquired of the director of the Royal Medical Bureau, and he said that giving something sweet to someone who has lost consciousness is sometimes a most excellent remedy…”
And so on.
And so forth.
While Prince Yeonning expounded upon his medical knowledge, I stood there offering appropriate interjections—”Yes, yes,” “Indeed,” “Really?”—at intervals.
In other words, I was letting it go in one ear and out the other.
In any case, Prince Yeonning had taken to following me around lately.
If Gwi-in Kim heard about it, she’d be furious, but it was the noble prince who lingered at my side, not the other way around.
Prince Yeonning visited Jeoseungjeon frequently.
And whenever I came to Jeoseungjeon, I would always loiter around Chwisuondang.
Perhaps mindful of the awkward relationship between our mothers, he never ventured too close to Chwisuondang itself.
Since I mostly ran errands between Jeoseungjeon and Sung-gyeong Hall, I found myself running into him time and again.
“Hwang Bong-bong. Let’s play.”
True to a seven-year-old boy’s nature, Prince Yeonning’s requests were always the same.
Given my position, I couldn’t refuse when a prince asked to play with me.
So I often found myself doing things together with Prince Yeonning.
By “things,” I usually meant something like this.
Marveling at Prince Yeonning’s vast knowledge of books at Hongseogak.
Marveling at Prince Yeonning’s encyclopedic knowledge of Royal Palace history as we walked.
Marveling at Prince Yeonning’s knowledge of animals whenever birds or small creatures appeared, and so on.
“Look, there’s a squirrel. Squirrels hibernate in winter. Did you know that?”
“No.”
“There’s a wasp! If that thing stings you, it could cost you your life! Run!”
“Yes…”
“That tree is a dogwood. When late summer comes, it bears fruit. Since ancient times, dogwood has been said to be good for hernias…”
“…”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
Fearing my ears might actually bleed, I quietly pulled out my slingshot.
“…Why are you suddenly pulling out a slingshot?”
There was no reason.
I simply couldn’t bring myself to say that I wanted to shoot him with it.
“Your Highness. Do you remember the day you gave me this slingshot?”
“Of course I remember.”
“And you remember how I hit that persimmon in one shot that day, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“Then, there’s a plum over there. Would you like to try shooting it?”
“No. I have no interest in such trivial skills as slingshots.”
Before Prince Yeonning, who somehow seemed to shrink whenever he saw a slingshot, I boasted and hit the distant plum with precision.
Splat!
Hearing the plum burst, my irritation finally subsided.
…Was my character really okay like this?
As I pondered this seriously, Prince Yeonning asked me a question.
“So, where are you rushing off to so urgently?”
“Oh.”
What should I say?
If it were the Crown Prince, I could have brushed him off, but my opponent was a master of logic.
Yet I didn’t want to reveal that I had a secret place where I remembered my brother.
Because that place was mine alone.
“I was looking for Geum-deok.”
I sold out the most defenseless Geum-deok.
“Is that so? I saw Geum-deok running off in that direction.”
Prince Yeonning pointed toward the Northern Forest—precisely where I’d hoped he wouldn’t.
“Ah, I see. Then I shall go search for him at once.”
…Please, just let me go alone.
But as always, my wishes went unfulfilled.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No, Your Highness. That won’t be necessary.”
“The forest is dangerous. There might be leopards that have crossed over from Bukak Mountain.”
“I have a slingshot, so I’ll be fine.”
“A slingshot? That’s absurd.”
Prince Yeonning let out a scoff.
Feeling a spark of irritation at his dismissal, I decided to respond with the most logical argument a child could muster.
“Then, Your Highness, how exactly would you protect me if a leopard appeared?”
“Well, that is… I’m fast on my feet. I could carry you and escape.”
“Faster than a leopard, Your Highness? Are you certain?”
“That’s not quite… but in any case, it’s dangerous for a child to go alone.”
I wanted to retort that two children wouldn’t make any difference whatsoever…
But what could I do?
I am a palace maid.
You are a prince.
Fine. Have it your way.

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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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