The Five-Year-Old Baby Princess Rules the Palace - Chapter 25

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

#25. No! Don’t Cover the Well!

Seeing Eunhye’s eyes filled with terror, Gwangjo nodded his head.

[That’s right, you speak the truth a hundred times over. Besides, how could you possibly listen to the stories of all the countless ghosts in the Palace?]

Gwangjo smiled warmly at Eunhye, who was nodding her head while even pouting her lips.

[But now this old man is here, isn’t he?]

Then Eunhye, who had been smiling faintly as if agreeing, suddenly spoke in a dejected voice and cautiously raised her eyes.

“But… I do feel sorry for the spirits who cannot achieve Enlightenment. Grandfather, by any chance, is that child clinging to the Confectionery Department Nain also unable to achieve Enlightenment because he’s hungry?”

At the compassion filling those black eyes looking up at him, Gwangjo smiled as if pleased and answered.

[Well now. Perhaps that might be so.]

At the thought that perhaps that limping Boy might also be unable to achieve Enlightenment due to hunger, Eunhye’s expression darkened.

But by any chance, could Grandfather’s lingering attachment to this world also be related to food? If that were really the case, what would she do?

Eunhye recalled Gwangjo laughing heartily with great joy while eating the food she had offered just moments ago. Hadn’t he been so delighted, saying he hadn’t tasted anything for over five hundred years?

Eunhye barely suppressed her pounding heart and asked in a tearful voice.

“But by any chance, now that Grandfather has eaten food, will you achieve Enlightenment? Then…”

Gwangjo, who had been tilting his head at Eunhye’s face that looked ready to cry at any moment, suddenly began laughing loudly.

[What? Hahahaha! Surely this old man’s lingering attachment wasn’t about eating.]

At Gwangjo’s loud laughter, Eunhye, who had been biting her lips nervously, also gently closed her tear-filled eyes and smiled broadly as if relieved.

“It’s not that, is it? That’s truly fortunate. Then may this girl ask what has kept you from achieving Enlightenment for all those long years?”

Gwangjo, who had stopped laughing, looked at Eunhye with gentle eyes and asked.

[Of course you may. But you see, this old man didn’t remain because of some lingering attachment, but just remained. No, I was made to remain…]

“Yes? This girl doesn’t quite understand what you mean.”

[Hahaha, indeed. I don’t quite understand either. I haven’t clearly known the reason why I’ve been wandering this Palace for over five hundred years…]

Grandfather Gwangjo was saying increasingly incomprehensible things.

Eunhye tilted her head as if her rice cake-like cheeks might slide downward.

[But seeing today, perhaps I wandered for all that long time in order to meet you.]

Though she didn’t quite understand what he meant, at Gwangjo’s words that seemed to indicate he wouldn’t achieve Enlightenment soon, Eunhye’s anxious eyes gradually became calm.

[But child, that fellow who was clinging to the Nain’s back. When he died, he was five years old like you.]

“Yes?”

At the sudden mention of the Ghost Boy, Eunhye’s eyes widened.

[And before he died, he was terribly hungry…]

Gwangjo, who had been observing Eunhye’s surprised expression, continued in a careful tone.

[What do you think? This old man will be beside you, so would you call him and give him some food?]

At Gwangjo’s sudden suggestion, Eunhye, who had bitten and rolled her lower lip, hung her head low.

She recalled those frightening eyes of that child who had been staring at her.

Those two eyes, black and sunken as if holes had been punched through them! Moreover, why was his voice so chilling, making such eerie sounds as if echoing from within a cave?

It was a child who had approached her with a bizarre gait, wearing old and dirty clothes on his soaking wet, gaunt body.

Eunhye unconsciously hunched her shoulders in fear, as if that child might enter through that door at any moment.

Gwangjo, watching her with pitying eyes, called to Eunhye warmly.

[Child, don’t be afraid. This old man is here with you, isn’t he?]

Eunhye’s lips, which had been trembling as if she might burst into tears at any moment, gradually began to calm at Gwangjo’s soothing.

Still, the fear didn’t easily subside, so Eunhye slowly shook her head and looked up at Gwangjo.

“But still, I’m scared.”

[Of course, of course you’re scared. It’s natural to be frightened. But that poor fellow who died pitifully says he has something he really wants to tell you.]

Eunhye swallowed her dry saliva and slowly raised her head.

“If this girl listens to that child’s words, will he achieve Enlightenment?”

At Eunhye’s question, Gwangjo smiled faintly.

[That might be so. This old man will be beside you, so would you listen to that child’s words once?]

Even at Gwangjo’s gentle voice, Eunhye’s fear didn’t easily subside. Recalling those black eyes that had been thrust toward her this morning and the water flowing from his entire body made her feel like she might even wet herself.

“But, Grandfather. This girl is truly scared. His eyes are scary, his voice too, and the way he walks – everything about him is scary.”

Gwangjo nodded as if understanding Eunhye’s words and spoke again in a soft voice.

[Of course, of course, how frightened you must have been. But that fellow must have been very glad to see you, someone who could hear his words. And the reason his walking looked strange was because he was born with disabled legs. That’s why he walked strangely.]

At Grandfather Gwangjo’s explanation, Eunhye’s eyes, with her head hung low, shook violently.

He was a sick child.

That’s why he walked like that.

What could that child have wanted to say to me? If I listen to those words, could he really achieve Enlightenment?

As if reading Eunhye’s heart, Gwangjo continued in a warm voice.

[What do you think? Will you listen to that child’s words once?]

“Grandfather will continue to stay with me, won’t you?”

Though she was terribly frightened, it was Eunhye’s voice as if she had made up her mind.

[This old man will stick right by your side.]

At Gwangjo’s promise, Eunhye slowly nodded as if having made a long-considered decision.

“Yes, Grandfather. Then this girl will meet that child once more.”

At Eunhye’s appearance, Gwangjo nodded as if pleased and pointed toward the door.

[Admirable. Then child, you call him first. That child is already there waiting for your call.]

Eunhye’s frightened gaze followed the tip of Gwangjo’s finger.

“Ah…!”

When had he come? The Ghost Boy with a frightened face was standing over there!

Though she had resolved not to be scared, seeing that dark bluish face standing at the door made Eunhye’s heart begin to beat violently.

Thump thump thump thump.

Even while breathing heavily enough to make her chest heave, Eunhye firmly clenched her hands at her sides.

The Ghost Boy, perhaps knowing the wrong he had committed this morning, couldn’t come close and stood with his head bowed at the door.

Eunhye, who had been watching such a Ghost Boy, squeezed her eyes shut then opened them with a flash, and commanded in a rather dignified voice.

“Come closer, apologize for your wrongdoing this morning, and tell me what you want to say.”

At that sight, Gwangjo nodded silently. Truly the blood of royalty!

The Ghost Boy began approaching hesitantly, limping with his head hung low. Then Eunhye, drawing in a sharp breath, whispered to Gwangjo.

“Grandfather, I’m scared.”

[It will be alright. This old man is beside you, isn’t he?]

Meanwhile, the Ghost Boy who had approached limping on one leg prostrated himself flat before Eunhye.

[Princess Eunhye! Please forgive me. I truly did wrong earlier. I was amazed that you could see me and acted that way without thinking.]

Eunhye’s nostrils flared as she breathed rapidly, trying to endure her fear.

Around the prostrated boy, water that had flowed out messily was pooling.

“I-is that so? Never do such a thing again.”

At the cute sight of her trying to hide her fear and pretending to be dignified by lifting her chin, the corners of Gwangjo’s mouth began to twitch.

[Yes. I truly did wrong.]

“But you, did you really die at five years old?”

[Yes, Princess Eunhye.]

Good, you’re doing well.

As if knowing Gwangjo’s encouragement, Eunhye questioned the kneeling Ghost Boy with an even more dignified manner.

“Then how long have you been a spirit?”

[I died six years ago in winter when I was five years old. But I remain as I was at that time.]

At the Ghost Boy’s words, Eunhye nodded as if understanding and immediately began asking other things.

“I see. Then… are you unable to achieve Enlightenment because you’re hungry? Or do you have something you really want to tell me?”

That’s right, teach one thing and she does ten – such a clever one!

Gwangjo’s eyes shone with satisfaction.

At Eunhye’s question, the boy silently hung his head and began to sob.

[Sob, sob, yes, there is something I desperately want to ask of Princess Eunhye.]

“Tell me what request it is.”

It was a voice that seemed to have regained considerable composure. Unlike Gwangjo who was pleased with Eunhye’s appearance, the boy ghost continued speaking with even more sorrowful crying sounds.

[Sob sob sob, I have something I must tell my sister.]

“By sister, you mean This Servant from the Royal Kitchen, don’t you?”

At Eunhye’s question, the Ghost Boy nodded while crying, then continued speaking with sobs that echoed as if from within a cave.

[I… that night… at the well at night… *sob sob*, sister saw me… *sob sob*.]

At the sight of him only crying miserably while speaking incomprehensibly, Eunhye pursed her small lips and muttered.

“What good does it do to just cry? I can’t understand anything… You need to speak properly for me to understand.”

Perhaps hearing Eunhye’s words, the child who had been lying face down sobbing slowly raised his head.

But then!

Bright red tears of blood were flowing from his two pitch-black eyes that seemed completely hollow.

“Hieup!”

The boy’s reddened eyes stared directly at Eunhye’s eyes, which had grown wide with shock as if she might faint. The Ghost Boy’s crimson eyes began to draw closer as if being sucked into Eunhye’s wide-open pupils!

Oh no, Grandfather!

As her entire body stiffened and she fell backward, Gwangjo’s booming angry voice reached Eunhye’s ears from afar.

[You wretch!]

“Ah…!”

The vengeful spirit’s red eyes instantly filled Eunhye’s pitch-black pupils as she fell backward with her eyes wide open.

[You bastard! How dare you reveal your evil thoughts! Stop this instant! You wretch!]

It happened in an instant.

Feeling the terror and chill of being thrown into the depths of a well, Eunhye looked up at the night sky visible before her eyes.

‘Grandfather, something is wrong!’

A scream that couldn’t become sound completely blocked Eunhye’s throat, and the boy’s resentful voice rang out loudly!

Sister! Sister!

And Eunhye’s body was falling into the cold, dark well.

As she was hurled into the deep, deep darkness, Eunhye’s scream that couldn’t become sound was drowned out by the loud cry calling for sister.

The moment she felt the small, round black sky and silver-gleaming stars filling the space above her head, an immediate chill that seemed to freeze her to the bone…

Splash!

Terrible pain as if her chest was being torn apart surged through her as she gulped down the cold water.

‘Save me! Please save me!’

Eunhye thrashed her entire body and flailed her arms, looking upward to survive. But all Eunhye could see were her worn sleeves wrapped around her struggling arms and large bubbles rising toward the water’s surface.

But then! She saw the youthful face of Seonmi, a Nain from the Royal Kitchen, with sad eyes!

Seeing the Nain’s face crying sadly while looking down at her in this burning chest pain, Eunhye flailed her arms even more fiercely.

What are you doing! Hurry and save me!

Don’t just stand there watching, hurry and pull me out!

But This Servant was looking at her with a sad face while slowly pushing the well cover closed!

The stars that had been twinkling brightly in the night sky were changing to pitch-black darkness, and the round well opening was gradually being covered by the large lid!

No! No! I’m here.

Open it! Don’t close the cover!

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