Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 1

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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 One
Samcheon, eleven years old.
She was the sole attendant of Mokseo Palace.
One thousand seven hundred ninety-three days remaining.
Her father had sent her into the palace and received ten years’ worth of salary in advance. She had entered service at six and was now eleven—that left fifty-nine months.
Precisely one thousand seven hundred ninety-three days from now, she would receive her first salary.
Then this hunger would end.
‘I must make sure our princess eats three proper meals a day, every day.’
Samcheon steeled herself and hurled the bucket down into the well.
Splash.
The dark water swallowed the bucket whole.
Samcheon blew gently on her reddened fingertips as she hauled the wet rope back up.
With early spring approaching, the late-winter chill had grown fierce. The well water bit with an icy cold that made her shiver with every touch. Even the rim of the well, worn smooth by countless hands, felt like a sheet of ice against her skin.
Samcheon cinched her jade-green robe and set about filling a small bucket with methodical care. Once the water sloshed to the brim, she lifted the bucket as though cradling something precious.
Waddling back to Mokseo Palace, Samcheon poured the water into a large earthen jar. As she gauged the level, a flash of satisfaction crossed her face.
‘I won’t need to make another trip today.’
A large bucket would fill the jar in two trips, but with her small one, she needed five. Still, if she filled it this much, it would last two days.
“Hey, Samcheon.”
Someone called her name from beyond the wall. She looked up to see an attendant from the neighboring palace gesturing to her.
“Hello.”
Samcheon brightened and beamed back, and the attendant thrust a cloth-wrapped bundle toward her.
“I couldn’t manage much.”
Samcheon received it with both hands. Warmth radiated through the cloth.
“Thank you so much.”
Pity flickered in the attendant’s eyes as she looked down at Samcheon. The girl barely grew at all—likely from not eating enough.
“I’d like to share rice with you more often, but I’m wary of Yeonhwa Palace’s attention…”
“This is more than enough.”
Samcheon smiled and lifted the cloth slightly to show her.
If word got out that an attendant was sharing snacks with another attendant rather than a princess, there shouldn’t be too much trouble. Still, she might fall out of favor with Yeonhwa Palace, and for the attendant to show such kindness regardless filled Samcheon with gratitude.
“Oh, you poor thing. Now go on, hurry.”
“Thank you so much.”
The attendant from the neighboring palace cast one last pitying glance before disappearing beyond the wall.
Samcheon turned and opened the gate leading to the Yeonmu Training Ground.
In the center of the training ground stood Samcheon’s mistress.
Gyesan, the thirty-first princess, had just turned eleven.
Dressed in a canary-yellow martial robe and swinging a wooden sword with gusto, Gyesan spotted Samcheon and broke into a grin.
Samcheon approached and unfolded the cloth, offering it to Gyesan.
“Your Highness, I received these from the neighboring palace.”
“Thank you as always.”
Inside the cloth lay four flat, round cakes. Gyesan plucked one and popped it directly into her mouth.
“You eat some too.”
“I’ve already eaten.”
“The bean paste is sweet and delicious.”
“It really is.”
Samcheon giggled, but Gyesan’s expression shifted.
Gyesan picked up another cake and suddenly pushed it into Samcheon’s laughing mouth.
“This one’s honey rice cake.”
Samcheon flushed and chewed the cake that had landed in her mouth.
Gyesan’s clear eyes fixed on her.
“Do you like making me upset?”
“No, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”
“Then chew it well and swallow it, or you’ll get indigestion.”
Gyesan echoed a phrase her mother, Sobuin Jeong, often said, and ate another cake herself. She pressed the last remaining cake into Samcheon’s mouth.
As Samcheon chewed, Gyesan laughed—and then her stomach let out a sharp growl, as if demanding more food.
Samcheon’s face fell.
“Your Highness didn’t have to give me your share…”
Gyesan flopped onto a bench set to one side of the training ground and muttered.
“You’re hungry too.”
Samcheon perched on the edge of the bench and replied listlessly.
“I can bear it.”
The words had barely left her mouth when her own stomach rumbled loudly.
The two of them looked up at the sky as one.
Gyesan lay on her back; Samcheon sat upright.
The sky they beheld was piercingly, almost cruelly blue.
“Still, the weather is lovely today.”
“It really is. That cloud looks like a peach. …I wish I could taste a peach.”
Gyesan sniffled and spoke, so Samcheon reached into her inner pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, offering it. Gyesan hastily wiped her nose and handed it back.
Samcheon tucked the handkerchief away and replied.
“Once one thousand seven hundred ninety-three days have passed, I can buy one.”
“One more day gone. What do you want to eat?”
“I want chicken roasted over birch charcoal.”
“I prefer pork.”
“Pork…”
Samcheon’s mouth fell open. The image of meat charred over coals danced before her eyes, and her mouth flooded with saliva.
Honey cookies, candied dates, steamed rice cake, plain rice.
She let her mind run wild through the foods she craved before finally catching herself.
“Honghwa will bring lunch soon.”
“…I suppose. At least we won’t starve.”
“Since I asked yesterday, perhaps there will be a little more today.”
A wistful smile flickered across Gyesan’s lips, then vanished. Just as suddenly, she sprang to her feet with renewed vigor.
“This morning I did a thousand Horizontal Slashes.”
Samcheon immediately clapped her hands together twice.
“Impressive, Your Highness. You will become the greatest.”
“That’s right. I’ll be the greatest. When I become the Greatest Swordmaster of Baekje, I’ll kick Hae right in the backside!”
“Your Highness, that would violate propriety.”
Tiresome propriety.
“Then what about smashing one of the pillars in Yeonhwa Palace?”
“Hmm, that might work as long as no one finds out.”
“Excellent! I’ll smash the pillars!”
“Please smash two for my share.”
“Consider it done!”
Gyesan grinned and stood in the center of the training ground, gripping the wooden sword with both hands.
Her dream was to work hard and become a strong adult. If Samcheon kept saying she could be the greatest, then truly she might become the Greatest Swordmaster of Baekje.
As Gyesan resumed her training, Samcheon moved to the inner courtyard.
Though Mokseo Palace was classified as a minor palace, Samcheon alone maintained it, so she had to move constantly.
She drew water, wrung out a cloth, and twisted it dry. As she mopped the wooden floor, grime stuck to every spot her cloth had passed.
The more she wiped, the dirtier it seemed. She had hoped for a spotless gleam, but instead got streaks and smudges. She hadn’t wrung out the cloth hard enough.
She rinsed the cloth and wrung it again, but water remained. It was the limit of what her thin strength could manage. Still, if she kept wiping and wiping, the moment would come when it was clean.
“…Would it be improper to ask Her Highness to wring it for me?”
No, that wouldn’t be improper.
Samcheon resumed mopping.
Until a year ago, the happiest place in the eastern quarter where the royal wives dwelt was, without question, Mokseo Palace.
Sobuin Jeong, the master of Mokseo Palace, had been a wise and gentle woman. All the attendants in her service had held her in genuine respect. Princess Gyesan too possessed a kind heart, and so Mokseo Palace had always overflowed with laughter.
That was the case until Jeong breathed her last.
Much changed after Jeong’s death. Specifically, when Sobuin Hae took over the management of Mokseo Palace on Gyesan’s behalf.
She was a concubine favored by the king and childless, so she was deemed suitable.
And that’s how things came to this.
Most of the attendants who had worked in Mokseo Palace were either dismissed or reassigned. Hae left only Samcheon, who had been like a playmate to Gyesan, because she judged the girl too young to accomplish anything.
Samcheon’s fists clenched tight.
‘I’ll persevere.’
As she worked diligently, the main gate of Mokseo Palace swung open. Honghwa strode in, carrying a basket.
Honghwa saw Samcheon mopping and let out a mocking laugh.
“You look perfectly suited to it. Mopping must be your natural calling. I’m almost impressed you found your aptitude so early.”

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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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