Surviving as Jang Hee-bin's Child Court Lady - Chapter 90

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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 90. Tsk Tsk!
“How peculiar.”
Prince Yeonning’s expression was subtle.
While he seemed intrigued by Park Moon-soo, there was something about the situation that clearly didn’t sit right with him.
“Why are you the one showing visitors around, Bong-bong? You’re far too young for such duties.”
“Ah… I received permission from the Crown Prince. Besides, I happened to have the time.”
“From my brother? Hmm…”
Prince Yeonning closed his mouth with visible reluctance.
Since the Crown Prince had approved it, he hardly had grounds to object.
After glancing between me and Park Moon-soo, he spoke again.
“It’s true that Bong-bong is remarkably perceptive for her age, but she doesn’t actually know the Royal Palace all that well.”
Since Prince Yeonning’s words held truth, I couldn’t take offense.
What troubled me more was his subtly petulant attitude.
If he suddenly took offense at Park Moon-soo, my position caught between them would become terribly awkward.
“By the way… you and Bong-bong are meeting for the first time today, aren’t you?”
It was an unexpected question.
I quickly spoke before Park Moon-soo could open his mouth.
“Yes. We met for the first time today.”
Park Moon-soo looked at me with a bewildered expression.
I rolled my eyes slightly, signaling him to stay quiet.
I had a premonition.
A premonition that revealing Park Moon-soo and I already knew each other would place me in considerable difficulty.
“Ha. I thought as much.”
Prince Yeonning nodded with satisfaction.
His triumphant gaze turned toward Park Moon-soo.
“Bong-bong and I have been close for about half a year now.”
…Why is he saying such things? What’s he trying to do?
“We’re quite intimate, wouldn’t you say, Bong-bong?”
I felt an urge to say ‘Not really,’ but I couldn’t bring myself to deny it, so I gave a vague affirmation instead.
Compared to the sharp-witted Park Moon-soo, this royal mouth-breather seemed rather oblivious.
“Just how close are we? I personally gifted Bong-bong a slingshot.”
Park Moon-soo, who had been standing there slack-jawed, finally nodded in understanding.
“Oh. So that slingshot was a gift from Your Highness? It must be quite a precious item.”
“Indeed. It seems you’ve already seen Bong-bong’s slingshot.”
Prince Yeonning spoke with obvious pride.
“In fact, I’m the one who taught Bong-bong how to use the slingshot.”
“…”
Wait. This claim definitely warranted objection.
That was blatantly false information.
‘Surely… he’s not counting that pathetic demonstration as actually teaching me, is he?’
Given Prince Yeonning’s somewhat inflated sense of self, there was certainly a possibility he believed that… but regardless.
It was time for me to extract myself from his presence.
“Prince Yeonning, sir. I’m grateful for your kind words. However, I’m afraid we must take our leave now.”
“Where are you going?”
“We’ll stop by the Geumwi Military Guard Station briefly, then return to the Crown Prince’s Institute.”
“Ah, is that so? What a shame. If it weren’t for your study time, I could have shown you all the way inside the Guard Station.”
…Please, no more excessive kindness.
Prince Yeonning smacked his lips regretfully.
“Then we shall be on our way, sir.”
Park Moon-soo and I bowed simultaneously.
“Very well. Enjoy your tour of the Palace. However, Bong-bong.”
Prince Yeonning hesitated for a moment, as if considering what to say, before opening his mouth.
“There is a saying among the ancients: ‘Men and women should not sit together after the age of seven.’ No matter how young you may be, it’s best to refrain from wandering about alone with a young nobleman.”
…What did he just say?
Then what about the person who keeps summoning me to play with him all the time?
“Well, about that ‘men and women should not sit together after seven’—I’m still only four years old.”
“…There’s also a saying about ‘men and women should not sit together after four’… perhaps.”
Watching Prince Yeonning brazenly make something up, I couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
In any case, this conversation was over.
Having decided on a swift retreat, I nudged Park Moon-soo in the ribs and we quickly excused ourselves.
***
Park Moon-soo and I hurried toward the Geumwi Military Guard Station.
That’s when I realized my uncharacteristic oversight.
‘Was I too eager? I forgot that the Geumwi Military Guard Station isn’t a place just anyone can enter.’
Of course, that wouldn’t stop someone like me from trying.
I explained the situation to the Gold Guard standing at the entrance.
“I’m showing this young nobleman around the Palace on the Crown Prince’s orders. Would it be possible for us to go inside?”
“I don’t doubt your word, but without a letter of authorization from His Highness, I can’t simply let you in.”
“Ah, I see… Would it be alright if we just looked from a distance?”
I gazed at the Gold Guard with the most dejected expression I could muster.
The Gold Guard hummed thoughtfully before speaking.
“I can’t let you inside, but you should be able to see the training grounds well enough from the entrance. As it happens, they’re training the military horses right now. Would you like to watch from here?”
“Yes! Thank you so much!”
Though it wasn’t a close distance, watching the mounted cavalry was quite fascinating.
They jumped over obstacles, practiced wielding spears from horseback….
As I became absorbed in watching the military horses galloping and kicking up clouds of dust, time slipped away.
Before long, the sound of the water clock chiming announced that it was the Hour of the Rooster—between five and seven in the evening.
I poked Park Moon-soo’s shoulder repeatedly as he stood mesmerized by the spectacle.
“We need to go now. It’s time.”
“Huh… Already?”
A deep sense of regret was etched across Park Moon-soo’s face.
“Yes, sir.”
“I wish I could hold onto time. When might I visit the Royal Palace again…?”
Well, Park Moon-soo would become a renowned statesman of his era, so he’d eventually find himself coming and going from the Royal Palace with tedious regularity.
But for now, today was a precious day—his first true experience of the Royal Palace.
‘He must have been so excited to see the Royal Palace.’
Instead, because of me, he’d gotten nothing but chores.
“Young Nobleman, this way, please.”
So when we returned to the Crown Prince’s Institute, I chose a different route.
Even if it meant taking a longer path, I wanted to show him at least a glimpse of the palace attendants.
“This way leads to the quarters of the royal concubines. Please refrain from looking inside.”
“I shall remember. I will follow quietly, solemnly, and respectfully.”
“Yes. That is Sung-gyeong Hall. And beside it is…”
It was just as we approached near Sung-gyeong Hall.
“Oh my. It’s Bong-bong.”
“Bom-bo!”
The Nurse Attendant holding Yi Hwon acknowledged us.
“Greetings, young prince. Greetings, ma’am.”
I bowed politely to Yi Hwon and the Nurse Attendant.
Following the aftermath of the Sung-gyeong Hall incident, all the attendants there had been completely replaced.
The Nurse Attendant was new, but fortunately she was gentle and good-natured.
Seeing how Yi Hwon, who had been quite shy for some time, now rested contentedly in her arms, it seemed he had already grown accustomed to his new caregiver.
“Bom-bo! Ba-ba-ba… oo?”
Yi Hwon’s bright smile suddenly turned peculiarly bewildered.
He was staring intently at Park Moon-soo.
It was the sort of expression that said, ‘What is that?’
Yi Hwon’s face was like he was looking at something fascinating and strange.
“Young Nobleman, please greet him. This is the youngest son of His Majesty the King.”
At my words, Park Moon-soo bowed respectfully.
“Your Highness, it is truly an honor to meet you. I am Park Moon-soo of the Park Family…”
“Eeeek!”
Suddenly Yi Hwon let out a strange shriek.
…What? I’d never heard Yi Hwon make a sound like that before.
“D-did I perhaps commit some offense? I am an only child with no siblings, so I have never encountered a young one before…”
“Eeeek!”
It was then that strange sounds burst from Yi Hwon’s mouth as he expressed his rejection with his whole body, waving his hands frantically.
“Evi!”
…Wait. Did he just say ‘evi’?
But Yi Hwon’s assault was far from over.
“Jiji!”
I heard it clearly with both my own ears.
Yi Hwon glaring at Park Moon-soo, calling out “Jiji!”
‘Isn’t that basically a double curse?’
I wasn’t sure what the problem was, but it was abundantly clear that Yi Hwon was deeply displeased with Park Moon-soo.
“Bom-bo! Ebi! Jiji!”
Was he directing this at me now?
Yi Hwon, his cheeks puffed out in a fit of pique, continued shouting the same words over and over.
“Young Prince. Why are you being so difficult? Are you perhaps hungry?”
The Nurse Attendant, who had been soothing Yi Hwon as he repeated “Ebi! Jiji!”, turned to me and spoke.
“I should take the young lady inside now. Hwang Bong-bong, we’ll see each other again.”
“Yes, Attendant.”
I grasped Yi Hwon’s hand.
“Young Prince. Enjoy your meal. I don’t know why, but please don’t be angry.”
“Uu. Bom-bo.”
He smiled brightly at me once.
“Jiji!”
Yi Hwon let out a loud, sharp cry directed at Park Moon-soo.
Even as we made our way back to Sung-gyeong Hall, Yi Hwon continued to glare intently at Park Moon-soo.
‘Sigh….’
My body and mind suddenly felt utterly drained.
The Crown Prince harbored strange misunderstandings, Prince Yeonning displayed needless rivalry.
And now Yi Hwon had unleashed the shocking declaration of “Jiji!”
‘Sigh…. These royal grandsons. Not a single one will leave me in peace.’
This life of mine is nothing new.
I’m exhausted, truly exhausted.

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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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