Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 2

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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 Two
Samcheon was a Court Lady of noble birth among the palace staff. The primary duty of Court Ladies was to attend the royal family, while menial tasks like drawing water, mopping floors, and cleaning fell to the common palace workers.
When Honghwa abandoned her duties, the burden had shifted entirely onto Samcheon’s shoulders.
Honghwa entered with brazen composure, set a basket on the table, and pulled back the cloth covering. Samcheon’s face hardened at once when she saw what lay beneath.
Gyesan’s rice bowl was less than half full.
“Please increase the Young Master’s portion—just a little. I asked yesterday.”
“I said I understood. I never said I’d bring more.”
Honghwa looked down at Samcheon, whose head barely reached her waist, as she spoke. Her eyes gleamed with undisguised contempt.
Samcheon didn’t know all the intricacies of palace operations, but she knew that Gyesan’s Private Treasury Allowance was hardly meager.
Even if the Great King and Queen didn’t look in on her, she was still a princess.
Samcheon swallowed the words on her tongue and pressed again.
“She’s still in her growing years.”
“Lady Hae has her reasons for it. Besides, all the Young Master does is train with her Swordsmanship—constantly. If she builds muscle and becomes bulky, that won’t do. The diet must be managed carefully. You need to understand that this is all for the princess’s sake.”
This was the justification Lady Hae used for continually reducing Gyesan’s food. When Samcheon fell silent, Honghwa spoke again.
“Of course, a Court Lady knows nothing of discipline. Instead of begging me for food, you should convince the princess to abandon her sword.”
Samcheon gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.
“Ugh, stop getting in the way and move aside.”
Honghwa snorted and shoved Samcheon forcefully past. Losing her balance, Samcheon staggered and struck her right elbow hard against a pillar.
Light flashed before her eyes, and her arm tingled sharply.
Honghwa left the Inner Chamber with a small, satisfied laugh. There was a peculiar pleasure in humiliating someone of noble birth.
Honghwa, a commoner and palace worker, held the lowest rank in the palace. Without any particular skill, her main duties were menial tasks like cleaning and floor-scrubbing.
She had spent her whole life bowing and scraping, but since being assigned to Mokseo Palace, she had finally found people she could look down upon.
The princess Gyesan was untouchable, but Samcheon was not. And this Court Lady would not even report her, thinking only of her mistress.
‘How foolish she is.’
Perhaps she could torment her a little more. Just a bit longer.
At that moment, Honghwa noticed the spot where Samcheon had been mopping the floor.
Lady Hae had said it was fine as long as she didn’t lay hands directly on Gyesan.
In the palace, the Great King’s favor was power itself. With the most beloved consort as her master, Honghwa had nothing to fear.
Honghwa stopped in her tracks and spun around.
“All right, I’ll do you a real favor.”
“Really?”
Samcheon’s eyes widened, her palm still rubbing her elbow.
“For a week, I’ll bring the princess a full bowl of rice.”
“Thank you.”
Honghwa’s lips curved into a smirk as she watched Samcheon smile brightly.
“But there’s a condition. It’s not difficult.”
The light drained from Samcheon’s eyes in an instant.
“I won’t convince the princess to quit.”
“That’s not it. It’s much easier.”
“Then what?”
Honghwa’s eyes flashed with malice.
“Lick that dirty water.”
Samcheon stared blankly at the soiled water left on the mopped floor.
“What?”
“Are you deaf? I said lick it. Just once, and I’ll agree to bring her food.”
Humiliation washed over her—not from Honghwa’s vulgar demand, but from the horrible realization that she had hesitated, even for a moment.
Samcheon raised her head and met Honghwa’s gaze directly.
“I won’t do such a thing.”
“So it’s all right if the princess skips meals? If you won’t do as I say, there will be no dinner brought tonight.”
“Do only what you can answer for later.”
“And if I refuse?”
It was then that Honghwa smirked.
“Don’t bring anything.”
Honghwa’s head snapped around at the cold voice. She froze.
Gyesan stood in the courtyard, glaring at her, a Wooden Sword gripped in her hand. She had leveled it at Honghwa with such ferocity that she would have swung it without hesitation had she been any closer.
Honghwa, realizing that a beating was imminent, stumbled backward as she cried out.
“I really won’t bring it!”
As Honghwa crossed the threshold of Mokseo Palace, Gyesan’s voice followed her.
“Do you think I’ll stay this age forever?”
Honghwa jumped at the words.
The glance that flickered between Gyesan and Samcheon held an intensity that was far too mature for children. Flustered, she shut the gate behind her. Only after escaping their gaze did she realize she had been holding her breath.
‘Did I just get frightened? By those little girls?’
The fact that she’d felt intimidated, even briefly, was absurd. Honghwa let out an exaggerated snort and quickened her pace.
There was an unpleasant itching at the back of her neck, but she ignored it.
What did being royal and noble matter? They were just children with nothing to rely on.
Alone in Mokseo Palace, an awkward silence fell between them. Countless words hung in the air before scattering. It was Gyesan who moved first.
She set down the Wooden Sword and stood before Samcheon.
“How long has Honghwa been like this?”
“……I’m sorry.”
Samcheon’s voice came out hollow.
“What did you do wrong to apologize for?”
Seeing Samcheon’s slumped shoulders, Gyesan’s heart ached. She went into the Inner Chamber and examined the meager meal.
A rice bowl with empty space, a bowl of soup, and a small dish of soy sauce.
This was the meal Honghwa had brought.
Even Samcheon’s portion was nothing but thin broth without a single vegetable and a small handful of rice mixed in—a meal that made clear the intent to break her will to practice Swordsmanship.
Three seasons she had endured. She couldn’t even remember how she’d survived the summer when her mother died. When she finally came to her senses, only Samcheon remained at her side.
Autumn and winter had been harsh. Hae wanted Gyesan to put down her sword—to play music like the other princesses, to embroider lotus blossoms on silk, to paint.
But Gyesan had no intention of living as Hae wished. She had a talent for Swordsmanship and had worked hard. She could not let the first woman she had ever known control and shake her entire life.
Samcheon supported Gyesan’s resolve. She’d said they should endure together, that she was fine. Once Gyesan reclaimed the rights to Mokseo Palace, everything would be solved.
That determination had scattered on the wind that blew through their hearts.
When had the sunlight become so warm? Their isolated life in Mokseo Palace had already reached the threshold of spring.
Four years left until she came of age. Four years….
Would Lady Hae truly surrender the rights to Mokseo Palace? There was a real possibility she would delay endlessly with endless excuses.
Gyesan turned to look at Samcheon. The plump, pinchable cheeks she once knew had become so hollow—when had that happened?
Was enduring in this state the right answer?
No. It could not be. They would grow ever crueler. Gyesan’s patience had reached its limit with what had just happened.
Before that glittering gaze fixed so wholly upon her lost its light.
“I need to find a way out. Is there any method?”
Whenever Gyesan created trouble, Samcheon had always found a clever solution. So this time too, Gyesan decided to place her hope in her Court Lady.
“A method?”
“This can’t go on. I’ve endured enough already. I need to turn things around.”
Samcheon felt anxious, seeing how ready Gyesan seemed to act.
Did Samcheon have no troubles of her own? She had spent countless nights swallowing hunger, turning over one scheme after another in her mind. Among them were several methods worth trying.
But if things went wrong, their situation would become far more dire.
The worst outcome would be Samcheon being transferred to another palace.
Samcheon was confident she could manage well even if sent elsewhere. Honestly, anywhere would be better than Mokseo Palace.
But Gyesan would be left alone.
Her heart felt heavy and constricted, leaving her hesitant.
As Samcheon pressed her lips shut, Gyesan made her declaration.
“If you have no clever solution, I’ll climb onto the Yeonhwa Palace roof and scream at the top of my lungs that this woman is trying to starve me to death.”
Gyesan’s lips trembled with rage.
“You’ve decided?”
“Yes.”
Once Gyesan’s mind was set, Samcheon had only one task: to find an answer.
And there was only one person who could resolve this situation.

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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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