Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 74

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

Chapter 74. A Bloody Battle!
“I’m back.”
*Chirp!*
Upon returning to Chwisuondang, I made straight for Heuk-mak.
In my hand was a single meatball I’d quietly pilfered from the Nae-so Kitchen.
“Sorry I’m late. You must be hungry, Heuk-mak.”
*Chirp chirp…!*
As soon as Heuk-mak saw me, it opened its beak wide. I fed it while catching my breath as well.
In just a few days, Heuk-mak had grown remarkably.
The fluffy down feathers had become quite dense, and its cries had grown considerably louder.
Fortunately, the sound still hadn’t escaped beyond these walls.
The plump meatball vanished in an instant.
I gently stroked Heuk-mak and sighed softly.
“Life isn’t easy, Heuk-mak.”
*Chirp?*
“Living… it’s just not easy at all.”
*Sigh.*
As I exhaled a long, weary breath, Heuk-mak suddenly hopped onto the back of my hand.
“*Caw caw.*”
“Oh… so you’re learning to sound like a proper raven now?”
“*Chirp. Caw caw.*”
“In my next life, I want to be born as a raven like you. Or maybe just a stone…”
That’s when I heard the strange sound.
*Scratch scratch.*
*Scratch scratch scratch!*
I froze instantly.
It was the sound of something clawing at the Storage Room door.
“Who… are you?”
Even as I asked, I realized how foolish the question was.
No person would scratch at a door like that.
If it wasn’t a person, then this uninvited visitor’s identity was…
“…Geum-deok?”
I cracked the door open, and a pink nose appeared through the gap—Geum-deok’s.
“Geum-deok, how did you know I was here…?”
At that very moment—*Crash!*
Geum-deok wedged through the opening and bolted into the Storage Room!
*Meow!*
*Chirp! Caw caw!*
“No, wait! Geum-deok, don’t!”
Don’t eat my Heuk-mak!
Absolutely not!
Panic-stricken, I stumbled into the storage room with a clatter.
“Geum-deok!”
My vision blurred as I struggled to regain my footing after stepping on a stone.
“Meow!”
“Caw!”
Had someone… bitten someone?
“Heuk-mak, no, Geum-deok!”
It wasn’t Geum-deok who had bitten Heuk-mak.
Heuk-mak was dangling in mid-air, clamping down hard on Geum-deok’s nose with that pitiful beak!
***
“Sigh… Life is already difficult enough without you two making it worse.”
Meow.
Caw.
“So from now on, no more fighting. Get along, understood?”
Purr, purr, purr…
Caw, caw, caw…
Thanks to my mediation, the bloodbath that nearly erupted between cat and crow was narrowly averted.
I stroked Geum-deok with one hand and Heuk-mak with the other, scolding them both sternly.
“Geum-deok, you should be grateful. You eat meat every single day and play as much as you want. How could you bully your little sibling like this?”
Meow…
“And Heuk-mak, you too. Even if you were frightened, that’s no excuse. Geum-deok is your… well, your older sister. She’s much more mature than you, so biting her on first meeting is simply unacceptable.”
Caw…
“Now make peace. No more fighting from here on out, agreed?”
Though the reconciliation was entirely of my own making, Geum-deok at least no longer seemed to view Heuk-mak as prey.
Though she did look somewhat annoyed about having her nose bitten.
After indulging in some petting and gentle pats, Geum-deok finally seemed to calm down and cautiously sniffed Heuk-mak.
And then…
Lick. Lick, lick.
Geum-deok began grooming Heuk-mak’s feathers.
Heuk-mak didn’t seem to mind, sitting contentedly with eyes half-closed.
But Geum-deok…
“You’re licking her because she’s cute, right?”
You’re not… tasting her, are you?
***
After patting Geum-deok’s bottom and sending him out of the storage room, I returned to the Inner Courtyard of Chwisuondang as though nothing had happened.
As if she had been looking for me, Sun-rye approached with a delighted expression.
“Bong-bong, take this to Jeoseungjeon for me. It’s plum syrup.”
What Sun-rye held out was a slender bottle that resembled a liquor vessel at first glance.
The mouth of the bottle was sealed tightly with a mixture of glue and flour paste.
“This is something Jang Hee-bin brought from her family home. It’s precious—aged ten years—so you mustn’t drop it and break it. Do you understand?”
“Yes. But why plum syrup?”
“Apparently the Crown Prince suffered from acute indigestion yesterday. He had a difficult night with stomach troubles. Plum is a sure remedy for such ailments.”
“Ah….”
Hearing that the Crown Prince was unwell filled me with concern.
Sun-rye patted my back reassuringly.
“So hurry and deliver it, and while you’re out, stop by Sung-gyeong Hall too. They were looking for you there.”
“Yes, Sister.”
Sun-rye, who had turned to leave, suddenly fixed me with wide eyes.
“Wait. Bong-bong. Say that again.”
“What?”
“You just said ‘Sister’….”
“Sister? Why…. Oh?”
Only then did I realize it myself.
I was no longer slurring my words, was I?
“My goodness, our little blessing speaks so clearly now! You’re getting so clever, so very clever!”
“Hehe. That’s right, Sister Sun-rye!”
Though it was a small thing, I felt quite proud of myself.
Until now, whenever my slurred speech slipped out, I had felt a subtle sense of shame.
‘Excellent. Now I am a complete child who has conquered all final consonants and double consonants!’
Straightening my shoulders with dignity, I set off toward Jeoseungjeon, bottle in hand.
***
As the entrance to Jeoseungjeon came into view in the distance,
the Crown Prince’s azure dragon robe appeared at just that moment.
Upon spotting me, the Crown Prince’s face brightened with a warm smile.
“Ah, Bong-bong. Have you come on an errand?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I heard you had indigestion yesterday—are you feeling better?”
“I ate rice cakes too late at night, and they sat heavy in my stomach. But it’s all settled now. What are you carrying?”
“It’s a preserved plum syrup that came from Jang Hee-bin’s household. They said it’s a precious one that’s been aged for ten years.”
“I see. How thoughtful of them. Moon, take this to the Sojubang and deliver it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Moon the Eunuch, who always attended the Crown Prince—my life’s benefactor and the object of Seol-hyang’s affection—
accepted the bottle and tucked it away.
‘Phew. I completed the task without dropping it.’
Only after releasing a sigh of relief did I notice the person standing beside the Crown Prince.
A man in official court robes, appearing to be around thirty.
He carried a heavy bundle in his hands.
The corner of a book protruded slightly from the edge of the bundle.
“Bong-bong, pay your respects. This is my teacher from the Crown Prince’s Institute.”
“Greetings, um… Teacher.”
Not knowing quite what else to call him, I settled on “Teacher.”
The man let out a small laugh.
“Heh heh. It’s embarrassing to be called a teacher when I’ve taught you nothing yet. From now on, call me Librarian. I am Lee Tae-jwa, Librarian of the Crown Prince’s Institute.”
Lee Tae-jwa…?
The name sounded strangely familiar.
The librarian who had introduced himself as Lee Tae-jwa spoke to the Crown Prince.
“So this is the child Your Highness mentioned. The one His Majesty regards with such fondness…”
“Yes, that’s correct, Teacher.”
“Just as you described—quite sharp and clever. The child speaks with remarkable composure and has a keen, intelligent gaze.”
To receive such praise from the Crown Prince’s own teacher was certainly cause for my shoulders to lift with pride.
But in truth, his words barely registered in my ears.
My mind was too preoccupied with other thoughts.
‘Lee Tae-jwa. Librarian Lee Tae-jwa… I’ve definitely heard that name before. Where was it?’
I turned the name over and over in my mind.
It was on the tip of my tongue, yet just out of reach…
“Ah!”
I remembered!
‘Go to Librarian Lee Tae-jwa’s residence and say you’ve come to meet your maternal cousin. You understand?’
Those words had come from the Hot-tempered Young Master, Park Moon-soo.
Which meant the Lee Tae-jwa standing before me was Park Moon-soo’s maternal uncle.
The memory that had been circling in my mind finally crystallized, bringing immense relief…
“Bong-bong, what’s the matter?”
My voice had apparently been quite loud.
The Crown Prince stared at me with a bewildered expression.
“Ah, no, Your Highness. I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten….”
“What is it?”
“It is nothing of importance. I fear I simply spoke too loudly. My apologies.”
I brushed it off vaguely.
It was certainly a curious coincidence.
Meeting Park Moon-soo, hearing the name of his maternal uncle from him, and that uncle being none other than the Crown Prince’s tutor—it was all remarkably improbable.
And to encounter him here, of all places….
Yet how could I, a mere nursemaid, possibly detain the Crown Prince’s tutor and prattle on about “I met your maternal nephew the other day and he said such-and-such”?
“Your Highness, Master Lee. I shall take my leave now.”
“You are not going to Chwisuondang—where are you headed?”
“To Sung-gyeong Hall. It seems the young princess is looking for me.”
“I see. I wish I could accompany you, if not for the lecture ahead. We shall have another opportunity. Go well.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Do take care of yourself and the preserved plums.”
I bowed once to the Crown Prince and again to Master Lee Tae-jwa before turning my steps toward Sung-gyeong Hall.
Eager at the thought of seeing Yi Hwon, my pace quickened without my noticing.
I had completely forgotten all about the Hot-tempered Young Master and his affairs.
For upon arriving at Sung-gyeong Hall, I encountered circumstances so suspicious they set my mind spinning.

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