Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 3

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

Chapter Three
“There might be something worth trying.”
The moment Samcheon finished speaking, Gyesan reacted.
“Of course—my attendant! Excellent. Let’s do it.”
“Wait, I haven’t even explained yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. We’ll do it.”
Gyesan approved without so much as hearing the plan—readily, cheerfully. Unlike Gyesan, who had no gift for thinking things through, Samcheon was sharp. When Gyesan was uncertain, listening to Samcheon was always the right choice.
“Well, you’ll need to do some acting, Your Highness.”
“You know I’m good at that.”
Gyesan preened.
She was an undisputed master of causing trouble and then standing there wearing an expression of perfect innocence. Samcheon, who acknowledged Gyesan’s gift, continued.
“You’ll need practice, too.”
“How much do I have to memorize?”
“It’s less about memorizing and more about controlling your movements.”
“I’m confident with my body. I’m strong, too.”
“Lady Hae will lose face and fly into a rage. A tremendous one.”
“Even better.”
Gyesan laughed like a mischievous child, crossing her arms. It had been so long since she’d worn that impish expression.
‘So this is how she truly smiles.’
Gyesan had been born into privilege and had never known hardship. For someone like her, the past six months must have been brutal. Before seventeen hundred and ninety-three days had passed, Gyesan might wither away entirely.
Samcheon spoke with sudden resolve.
“Starting today, intensive training. You need to gain sympathy, but your dignity as the Crown Prince must not suffer greatly.”
“That’s difficult. Understood. Just tell me what to do.”
“Etiquette first.”
Samcheon smiled sweetly.
On Ipchun, the Queen Consort, who held the rank of royal consort, would preside over the Spring Gathering. It was an occasion where all the royal children residing in Sabeseong would assemble to hear the Queen Consort’s words of blessing.
At Nakhwajung, small tables of refreshments were arranged at regular intervals. The royal children naturally found their places. The Crown Prince’s seat was on the left in the front row, with the second and third princes sitting behind him.
The royal children chatted softly with those nearby, enjoying the refreshments. The atmosphere was relaxed yet not chaotic.
Gyesan, who had risen before dawn and dressed in new clothes, also entered Nakhwajung.
The angle of her neck, waist, arms, wrists, the points of her feet, the direction of her gaze, her breathing—everything.
Gyesan moved her body exactly as she had practiced, without the slightest deviation.
Samcheon’s advice to treat etiquette as if it were Swordsmanship training proved remarkably useful. When she thought of it as a sword form, maintaining her posture became a discipline itself.
‘Good. I can do this.’
Several princesses who saw Gyesan make her way to her seat expressed admiration. The youngest, who had previously been invisible, now displayed flawless Etiquette—it was gratifying to see.
Some of them felt pity for the youngest, who had lost her mother and suddenly grown up. But it was only a fleeting sentiment.
As Gyesan walked with perfect posture, her eyes met Sohwa’s. The Twenty-ninth Princess, Sohwa, always sat nearby, so they were acquainted.
Gyesan nodded lightly and took her seat, then moved only her eyes to check the adjacent chair.
The Twenty-sixth Princess, Hwaran.
‘Currently staying in Sabeseong are twenty-one royal princes and princesses in total. As always, the seat directly ahead will be Princess Sohwa. If the Twenty-sixth Princess Hwaran, who returned to Sabeseong last month, takes the adjacent seat, we’re halfway there.’
It was Gyesan’s first time seeing Hwaran. She was beautiful and had a gentle nature; the rumors said the Queen Consort favored her greatly. And indeed, she was breathtakingly lovely.
Sohwa, in the front seat, turned her head.
“How have you been? You must have been through a lot.”
When Lady Jeong was alive, they used to go flower-viewing together. But after Lady Hae took control of Mokseo Palace, their contact had ceased entirely.
Gyesan smiled wistfully as she answered.
“It’s my own shortcoming.”
“What?”
Sohwa, who knew Gyesan’s naturally lively and affectionate temperament, felt something was off.
“You’ve changed quite a bit, haven’t you? You’ve learned a lot of Etiquette, it seems.”
“I still have much to learn, and I’m ashamed.”
She had meant to lower her voice delicately, but it came out louder than intended. When she hurriedly tried to diminish it, her voice trembled.
“Still lacking? But your posture is straighter than mine. Is Lady Hae drilling you?”
“She does everything for my sake. I’m grateful for it.”
Gyesan endured the feeling of her insides twisting and finished her words in a calm, delicate tone.
“…You’ve become dull.”
Sohwa answered listlessly and turned back to face forward, seeming to have lost interest in Gyesan.
Gyesan didn’t take naturally to this kind of pretense. It would have suited her better to leap up from her seat and shout that Lady Hae was starving her.
But she couldn’t ruin the plan Samcheon had so carefully constructed. There weren’t many occasions available to a princess who hadn’t yet come of age, so today was the crucial test.
Gyesan picked up her chopsticks and reached for a Hwajeon from the neatly arranged refreshments. Her graceful movement caught Hwaran’s eye.
Gyesan looked as though she had stepped straight out of an Etiquette manual as she put the Hwajeon into her mouth.
‘Delicious.’
She hadn’t tasted good food in so long that her eyes widened and she nearly gulped it down, but she restrained herself.
Slowly. Without violating Etiquette.
Gyesan ate the refreshments while controlling even the flutter of her eyelashes. After eating until nothing remained on the plate, she turned back and her eyes met Hwaran’s.
Hwaran, who had been watching without quite realizing it, spoke to her awkwardly.
“…It seems to suit your taste.”
“I’m embarrassed. It’s been so long since I’ve had refreshments that I couldn’t restrain myself.”
“You don’t normally enjoy them?”
“I do Swordsmanship training, so I have to manage my diet to keep my body lean. I divide about half a bowl per day to maintain control.”
“I see.”
A question flickered across Hwaran’s face.
If she was doing Swordsmanship training, she should have been eating more. Even setting that aside, such a meager amount was excessive. Wasn’t she still at an age when she should be growing?
Gyesan blushed as if embarrassed and asked in a small voice.
“If you won’t be eating it, would it be all right if I had some?”
“Of course.”
Hwaran handed over her plate and took Gyesan’s empty one.
Gyesan, radiant with a bright smile, began eating the refreshments again. After eating about half, she set down her chopsticks, and Hwaran laughed with widened eyes.
“You’ve had your fill.”
“Yes.”
Gyesan answered as though embarrassed, then pulled out a handkerchief and began wrapping the remaining Hwajeon and rice cakes on her plate. Packing away leftover food was not something a princess would normally do, and this strange behavior drew Hwaran’s attention further.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m bringing it to one of the attendants. She said yesterday she went hungry and couldn’t sleep.”
Hwaran realized something was wrong. Before she could say anything, Sohwa, turning her head again, interjected.
“Your attendant—is that Samcheon? That tiny little thing?”
Gyesan marveled inwardly.
Sohwa was reacting exactly as Samcheon had predicted. Now it was time for the next line.
“Since Samcheon is my only attendant, she has a hard time. Her hands are cracked from scrubbing floors, and yesterday she fell while carrying a water bucket. I think she’s been weak because we’ve been managing our diet together.”
Sohwa looked disgusted.
“Isn’t there a lower attendant? Why is she doing such work?”
“Honghwa only brings meals. That’s why Samcheon has to handle everything else.”
“The palace is running completely backwards. The world’s in decline. Decline.”
Sohwa sighed.
“I wish every day were Ipchun. Then I wouldn’t go hungry, and I could wear such soft clothes.”
At Gyesan’s words, which implied her circumstances, Sohwa and Hwaran’s eyes met simultaneously.
Hwaran, judging that something had to be done, stepped forward.
“Doesn’t the diet management or Etiquette practice feel difficult?”
When the question Samcheon had emphasized as crucial came out, Gyesan looked downward.
“I understand it’s unavoidable. My mother has passed, and my maternal family isn’t well-off, so I must cultivate my appearance and learn Etiquette to have any value.”

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