Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 17

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

Chapter Seventeen
‘My first outing with His Highness.’
Samcheon lay in bed beneath the covers, grinning to herself.
She had made long journeys when first entering the palace—cramped in a supply cart with no air and nothing to see, her lower back and hips aching until the moment she stepped down and found herself at the palace gates.
The memory surfaced, and unbidden, her father’s face flickered before her—then she brushed it away.
Only good thoughts from now on.
The outing itself thrilled her, but going with Gyesan made it infinitely better. She breathed in the warm, comforting scent rising from her blankets and sank into deep sleep.
Samcheon dreamed.
In the dream, she sat on a hillside, gazing down at an unfamiliar palace.
‘Where is this place?’
Elegant and ornate, the palace was ringed with fragrant silverwood trees. The inner courtyard bloomed with every kind of flower, and tiger-shaped stone lanterns with playful expressions caught her eye.
As she surveyed the palace grounds, a clear, bell-like sound reached her ears.
Drawn by the sound—as if it resonated with her very soul—she turned to find a girl of perhaps five years old standing there.
The child wore a silken robe with a lustrous sheen, Patterned Leather Shoes that were charmingly small, and Jade Beads at her waist. Everything about her screamed nobility.
The girl fixed her gaze on Samcheon and broke into a radiant smile.
“Hello. I’m Jamyeong. You can call me Jamyeong. What’s your name?”
Her voice was bright and clear, like a lark’s song.
“I’m Samcheon, a palace maid.”
Jamyeong’s eyes gleamed with a mystical light, like stars.
“Fate is wretchedly tangled. Perhaps it’s worked out well for you, though.”
For a moment, an expression of worn, ancient knowledge crossed the child’s face. Samcheon felt a strange dissonance in that look.
“That’s only natural. I’m a Divine Spirit, after all.”
“What?”
Jamyeong toddled toward her on small feet and seized her hand, then smiled and drew Samcheon close, rubbing her tiny face against the palm.
“I’ve missed this feeling so much.”
The child seemed to be confusing her for someone else, but Samcheon hadn’t the heart to pull away harshly. She wanted to preserve the contentment blooming across that small face.
After rubbing against her hand for some time, Jamyeong looked up and slowly released her grip. The way she smiled—so tender, so knowing—was like watching a grandmother gaze upon her granddaughter.
Strange. And now something worse than strange—something deeply wrong.
“That’s not fair. What about me looks like a grandmother?”
She’d only meant to think it.
Caught off guard, Samcheon averted her gaze and spoke. “Come on. Let me take you home. You live in that palace?”

“Look closely. That’s where you’ll die.”
The sweet-voiced words sent chills racing down her spine.
“You shouldn’t say such things.”
Jamyeong’s eyes shone like stars once more.
“I haven’t encountered death often enough to see beyond the location. When you reach that place, run. Your Antagonist has found you—they seem willing to help, but be careful. Even they’re not whole.”
What nonsense was this?
The child seemed to be troubled in mind. Samcheon extended her hand. “Come. Let’s go to your home together.”

“You don’t believe me.”
The child, who had been watching her intently, took the offered hand.
“Well, you’re saying strange things, so what do you expect?”
Talk of dying was too horrifying.
Besides, Divine Spirits were the stuff of old stories. And the whole business about an Antagonist who would somehow help—it made no sense at all.
“It’s Karma from Past Life. Because of you, his sister sold the nation for scraps.”
So in my past life, I was a beauty to topple nations?
What was it like to possess such beauty that kingdoms could fall? Samcheon let her mind wander idly before noticing Jamyeong’s expression had turned sorrowful.
Such sadness was wrong on a child’s face.
“For now, I ask only that you have compassion. He needs your help desperately.”
So much emotion shone in those eyes that Samcheon found herself at a loss for words.
“Are you really a Divine Spirit?”
“I am.”
“Then… how old are you?”
“Age? I’ve had consciousness for about seven hundred years.”
Samcheon gasped in shock. Before her eyes, Jamyeong’s form wavered and shifted. Hair turned white, her face filled with deep wrinkles.
Now ancient, Jamyeong smiled kindly.
“This is what seven hundred years looks like in your mind.”
Seeing Samcheon’s bewilderment, Jamyeong kindly explained further.
“I have no true form. The child, this aged one—both are merely your conception. We’ll meet again.”
The white-haired Jamyeong vanished before her eyes.
Wait—?
Samcheon opened her eyes slowly. The familiar ceiling of her room came into focus.
‘Just a strange dream.’
Samcheon pulled the blanket up again without much concern.
As she tried to fall back asleep, she noticed something odd stirring outside.
‘What is it?’
She stepped out to find the Inner Chamber door standing wide open. Whether from lingering unease in the dream or some instinct, her heart began to race dangerously.
A terrible feeling drew her inside—and there was that familiar back of the head.
“…Your Highness?”
“You’re not sleeping?”
The unexpected nighttime visitor turned with a look of mild surprise.
“How did you come at this hour?”
“Climbed the wall. I won’t be able to come for a while—Mother is furious.”
Was that surprising? He’d postponed a formal meeting simply because he wanted to take an outing. If anything, it was strange he hadn’t been scolded before.
Gyesan spoke through the fog of sleep still clinging to her.
“Leave before the others wake and see you.”
“I will. Enjoy your outing.”
Weolya raised his hand and ruffled Gyesan’s hair. It was already thoroughly mussed, so the gesture caused little damage.
Startled by the sudden visit, Samcheon asked with narrowed eyes.
“Did you come just to say goodbye?”
“I had something to tell you. I’m going.”
As Weolya showed signs of leaving, Juhong—who had been dancing about nervously at a distance—suddenly brightened.
After quietly seeing the two off, Samcheon felt her racing heart finally settle.
“Your Highness, should we hire a guard for ourselves?”
Gyesan, who had been standing in a daze, asked.
“Could a guard stop your brother?”
“Not at all.”
“Then let’s skip it.”
Convinced by the logic, Samcheon nodded.
Weolya set down his brush. Wind drifted low through the open window.
The temporary lodging was clean and spacious—enough to house ten people—and he sat alone in it. As footsteps approached, he slowly turned his head.
The door opened with a bang, and Yongyong bounded in with a bright, cheerful face.
Her buoyant gait suggested she was pleased with what she’d found regarding Samcheon.
“My lord! I’ve received the information you requested. Should I report immediately?”
Weolya gave a light nod of assent.
“Samcheon is eleven years old. Her mother passed away when she was six, and her father had her sent into the palace right after. Since he took his salary ten years in advance, we’d need to pay approximately five years’ worth to secure her release.”
As Weolya listened, his brow furrowed slightly.
Money was not the issue. He was prepared to pay fifty years’ salary if necessary to have her brought out safely. Samcheon needed an environment where she could grow secure, and the palace held too many uncertainties.
The real question was whether Samcheon herself wanted that.
“The best course would be to find her father, arrange payment, and have him take custody of her. But first, investigate his character carefully. Not every father is a good parent.”
“Yes, understood.”
Yongyong answered brightly and continued her report.
“There’s one unusual matter, however.”
“Tell me.”
With permission granted, Yongyong spoke at once.
“Ever since Lady Hae took charge of managing Mokseo Palace, Samcheon appears to have been subjected to abuse.”

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