Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 65

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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 65
Sam-cheon opened her eyes slowly. Until a moment ago she’d been lying collapsed among weeds, but now a ceiling greeted her gaze.
She had been dreaming.
There was no time to rejoice that the Dream-Walking had succeeded. Sam-cheon sat up on the bed and first surveyed where she had awakened.
The ceramic vase and incense burner, and the silk hanging on the wall.
The candied jujubes placed on the table.
‘The annex of the Gaekgwan.’
Sam-cheon opened the window wide. Cold air flowed in, and the lamp nearby flickered in the draft.
This was the first time she had encountered Ja-myeong since that day when he told her that Byeolgung was where she would die. After that, whenever Wol-ya appeared, the bell sound would ring, but she had never appeared in a dream until now.
The sweat beaded on her forehead had cooled, and goosebumps rose on her skin.
She had succeeded in dreaming.
‘I nearly died.’
If Ja-myeong had not extended his hand, she would have met a meaningless death.
For Sam-cheon, death was both near and far. She had experienced many deaths through dreams, but those were not endings—they were chances to change course.
But what if that moment had been the last?
As faces precious to her came to mind, her chest tightened. Gye-san, Geum, and Buyeo Hui would not have known she was dead and would have searched for a long time. They would have carried that wound for years.
More than anything, Sam-cheon did not want to die.
So no more foolish chances.
Her stomach felt slightly queasy, so she took a deep breath.
She clenched and unclenched her fists, and gradually the trembling subsided. Her throat felt parched, so she reached for the water cup that had been left there.
From outside the door came Arang’s voice.
“My lady, are you all right? May I come in?”
Had she sensed the commotion?
Sam-cheon composed the emotion welling up inside her before answering.
“Come in.”
Arang opened the door and poked her head through, first checking on Sam-cheon’s condition. Once she confirmed nothing was amiss, she visibly relaxed, and tears sprang to Sam-cheon’s eyes at the sight.
“I saw the window was open, so I came to check on you.”
Arang’s eyes gleamed with life, and her voice carried strength.
Sam-cheon cleared her tight throat with a small sound before speaking.
“I had a bad dream. Did I keep you awake?”
“I was standing guard. You can’t be too careful, even in the Gaekgwan.”
Arang smiled brightly as she answered, but something in that smile felt heavy, and Sam-cheon spoke what had been on her mind.
“Why do you care for me so much?”
“Well, um. You never said you cared for me.”
“I do care for you. That’s what bothers me.”
The suddenness caught Arang off guard, and she turned stiffly. Her face was that of someone confronting an incomprehensible mystery.
After hesitating for some time, Arang ventured carefully, “You’ve always declined my offer to serve as your guard, though.”
“It seemed a waste to keep someone as skilled as you in that role.”
Arang visibly relaxed, and a smile played at the corners of her mouth.
“Because my skills are good, the princess chose me as your guard. Isn’t there anyone in our Gyeonhwon Army who doesn’t owe their life to you? If we hadn’t caught that spy last time, we might all have died.”
Many soldiers spoke this way, but Sam-cheon thought differently.
“We all owe each other our lives. I didn’t win through my skill alone.”
“Even so. To serve as your guard is my honor. Though I was chosen as a woman, which is unusual.”
“Why think that way? You are essential to the Gyeonhwon Army.”
Arang’s cheeks flushed pink.
“I always thought there was a wall between us. You’re kind, my lady, but there was a distance I could feel. I suppose it was my own insecurity.”
The wall Arang had felt was real.
Sam-cheon cared for and trusted her soldiers, yet she harbored suspicion toward them. She trusted completely only those few who had been with her since childhood.
Arang was the first to break through that solid wall.
“If you felt a wall, that’s my failing. I carry many secrets.”
Arang swallowed audibly.
“So sometimes I may give orders that are difficult to understand. There may be things I cannot explain, but I promise I will never lie to you.”
Arang was confused. It felt as though someone she had harbored unspoken feelings for had suddenly proposed without a word of preamble.
It was joyful, yet startling at the same time.
“Did meeting your father give you much to think about?”
“Perhaps. The moon is beautiful tonight, and maybe that’s all it is. Keep watching over me from now on. But to do that, you must also protect yourself. I want you to cherish your own life.”
“Of course.”
Arang laughed without reservation.
For now, that would suffice.
“I need to wake Sancho. I’ve made a promise, and it seems I’ll need to change our plans.”
“My lady, are you really sure about this?”
Arang asked with eyes full of doubt.
“Yes. I’m sure.”
A resolute answer.
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
Sam-cheon answered without a moment’s hesitation. Yet Arang sought confirmation once more.
“You’ll really do as I say? You can’t blame me later.”
“I asked you to do this. I have nothing to blame you for.”
Arang donned a dark tunic and wrapped a face covering around her head, the kind an assassin might wear. With only her eyes visible and her lean, willowy frame, she appeared to be a man.
“I’m really going now. I’ll be back before sunrise.”
“Be careful.”
“Yes.”
Arang scaled the wall of the Gaekgwan and disappeared into the night.
Sam-cheon returned to the annex and sealed the letter she had written in advance. Just then, Sancho emerged with a bundle prepared.
“Everything is ready.”
“Thank you.”
As Sam-cheon handed over the letter, Sancho accepted it with steady resolve and spoke. “I understand we are to meet the day after tomorrow at that location.”
“If you find yourself being followed, prioritize your own safety over the mission.”
“Understood.”
Sancho, looking somewhat shy, smoothed the back of her hair before departing through the main gate of the Gaekgwan.
After seeing Sancho off, Sam-cheon, now alone, caught her breath. As she mentally reviewed the situation, Irae spoke to her.
[You dreamed?]
Sam-cheon’s nose twitched.
“Is it that obvious?”
[You wake up spouting strange words, then giving odd orders out of nowhere. How could I not notice?]
“Death came close again. Irae, the Curse you placed on my father—it’s still active, isn’t it?”
[Huh?! You knew about that too?]
“I’d like you to maintain the Curse for a while longer. I’m planning to prevent him from doing reckless things going forward, but just in case.”
[So that’s what your father did.]
“We were ambushed at my Hometown House. My father sold me.”
She spoke only a brief account of what had happened in the dream, but Irae fell silent.
“Irae?”
[Sometimes I wish I were comfort instead of a Curse.]
“What?”
[I can only convey negative emotions. That’s all a Curse can do.]
That was not true. Irae’s kindness always warmed Sam-cheon’s heart.
“You’re a very comforting Curse, Irae. A good one.”
[What does that even mean? That sounds wrong.]
Sam-cheon laughed with genuine feeling.
“It’s the truth.”
[Wait. Someone’s coming.]
The moment Irae spoke, Sam-cheon glanced around, but no one was visible approaching the annex.
[On the roof.]
On the roof?
Sam-cheon’s head snapped up.
In that instant, a man descended onto the roof of the annex. Under his feet, the Blue Tile trembled and crackled with sound.
Sam-cheon’s lips parted slightly. Was he an immortal? Could a man really fall from the sky like that?
Narrowing her eyes, she could see the main building’s window on this level beyond his shoulder.
‘He jumped from there?’
She hastily drew Irae from her breast and leveled it at him, but the man laughed softly.
“Your hands are quick.”
It sounded like mockery.
“Who are you?”
“I came to meet the guest staying in the annex. I heard you were someone of importance?”
There was not a shred of goodwill in his smile.
He seemed to be the person who had rented the entire Gaekgwan.
Wait a moment.
It made no sense to break into another person’s quarters in the dead of night out of mere curiosity. It was far more likely he had come to investigate once he learned who was staying here.
“I am Sam-cheon, palace attendant. I am serving Prince Buyeo Hui.”
Since Buyeo Hui had said she could use his name, she offered it without hesitation.
“It seems you’re alone at the moment.”
“I have my sword with me.”
Sam-cheon shifted her grip on Irae.
“I thought I might pay my respects to my brother, but it seems his sword has come to greet me instead.”

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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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