Three Thousand Court Ladies - Chapter 87

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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 87
‘What on earth is happening here?’
Ha-bin, arriving at the scene, found herself unable to make sense of the unfolding situation, and frustration gnawed at her.
The presence of Princess Hwa-ran here was startling enough, but the sight of bandits and guards standing peacefully side by side seemed almost bizarre.
Ha-bin, concealing her wariness and confusion, offered a greeting to Hwa-ran.
“I am Ha-bin of the Ye Clan. I heard cries for help and came thinking you might be in need of assistance.”
“How kind of you. I am Hwa-ran.”
Sam-cheon, who had been watching the two exchange greetings, asked a question.
“I’m curious about something. Who fired that arrow?”
The carriage bearing Sam-cheon came to a halt before the Military Camp. As A-rang and San-cho waved their hands cheerfully, the soldier guarding the main gate flashed his teeth in a grin.
The soldier struck the small drum placed beside him with a rhythmic beat and shouted.
“The lady of the palace has returned!”
The spirited call rang out, and as it did, the gates slowly swung open, and Sam-cheon and her party stepped through.
A-rang and San-cho, dismounting first, entrusted their reins to the attending soldiers.
When the carriage came to a halt, Sam-cheon descended slowly and turned to face her escorts.
“Thank you for everything. You’ve earned leave—rest for four days.”
“Yes!”
“Much obliged.”
Leaving the delighted pair behind, Sam-cheon moved forward alongside Ju-hong, who had disembarked behind her. A-rang’s voice followed from their rear.
“Look at this.”
Glancing back, she saw A-rang drawing her sword and raising it high with pride. Nearby soldiers gathered, their voices rising in amazement.
“Wow!”
Not to be outdone, San-cho proudly drew her own blade.
“I have one too.”
“Excellent!”
So they’d been that pleased with themselves.
Sam-cheon turned her head forward again, and a smile played at the corners of her mouth. The soldiers clustered by the entrance greeted her warmly.
“Did you have a good rest during your leave, mistress?”
“My lady! I had my third child. A daughter!”
“That fool Bong-chun skipped training yesterday.”
Sam-cheon answered each soldier’s remark in turn, then stopped before the guest quarters. After peering inside by drawing back the canvas, she turned to Ju-hong.
“How long will you be staying?”
“I’m planning to depart when the sun rises tomorrow. Without anyone to keep her occupied, she’ll grow bored. And I confess I’m worried about her.”
“I’ll make sure it’s ready. I should go now and make my report to Her Highness. Please rest.”
Sam-cheon left that place and made her way to the Command Headquarters Tent, where Gye-san attended to her duties.
A journey she’d expected to take only about four days had stretched on for more than a fortnight, and now the month was drawing to a close. Thinking Gye-san would be deeply worried, Sam-cheon made her voice deliberately bright.
“Your Highness, it’s Sam-cheon.”
“Come in.”
Sam-cheon, who had been reaching for the flap to open it, froze.
‘A man?’
Startled by the unfamiliar male voice, she hesitated, but confirmed she was indeed at the Command Headquarters Tent. Bewildered, she stepped inside and a tall man came into view.
“Her Highness has stepped out for a moment.”
Sunlight slipped through a gap in the tent flap, illuminating his face as he slowly turned. The man who appeared through the floating dust possessed a beauty that seemed almost unreal.
Startled by the otherworldly quality of his presence, Sam-cheon instinctively took a step back and caught her hem beneath her heel. The man steadied her by grasping her wrist, supporting her until she regained her balance, only then releasing his grip.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
Their eyes met. Though his face was a stranger’s, she felt an odd sense of familiarity.
Why was such a man here in Her Highness’s tent?
The thought didn’t linger. Gye-san’s earlier words about needing to find a suitable match came to mind. Perhaps she’d selected him based on appearance alone.
Sam-cheon bowed deeply.
“I am Sam-cheon, a lady of the palace in service to Princess Gye-san.”
“It has been a long time since I’ve had a conversation. I am Wol-ya.”
Wol-ya?
Only then did she notice the Command Token hanging at his waist.
“…Wol-ya?”
“Yes. I was in conversation with Her Highness, but she has stepped out for a moment.”
A memory surfaced—a glimpse of him from childhood. Over the years, the image had faded until she’d doubted whether memory hadn’t embellished it, yet here he stood before her exactly as she remembered him, beautiful and unchanged.
A radiant smile bloomed across Sam-cheon’s face like flowers in full bloom.
“I, Sam-cheon, greet my benefactor with deepest respect.”
Sam-cheon offered a proper bow, then broke into a broad smile once more.
“Thank you for watching over me all this time. I’ve wanted so much to express my gratitude.”
Through her eyes and smile, a brilliant kindness radiated forth.
It was a far warmer welcome than Wol-ya had anticipated. Taken aback, he deliberately composed his expression.
“It was an action taken for a reason.”
“That may be so, but my gratitude doesn’t diminish. I’m truly grateful. May I ask why you’ve been protecting me?”
Wol-ya did not answer at once. He knew that his response could shake the very foundation of this woman’s life.
Yet he also knew the time for delay had passed.
“You are a Celestial Maiden.”
Sam-cheon’s eyes blinked.
She hadn’t expected him to dive straight into the matter without preamble.
“When we first met at Cheol-gwang Mountain, you recognized what I was, didn’t you?”
Wol-ya’s lips moved slowly.
“That’s correct. …It seems you were already aware of what a Celestial Maiden is.”
Thanks to information Buyeo Hui had provided from the Special Archive, she’d had her suspicions. But she had simply wished to live as the palace lady Sam-cheon rather than as Sam-cheon the Celestial Maiden.
As the sole lady of the palace at Mokseo-gung.
“I knew. And I’m grateful regardless.”
Wol-ya’s gaze as he regarded Sam-cheon was remarkably composed, betraying little emotional fluctuation. Yet Sam-cheon perceived in that restrained regard a faint warmth and awkwardness.
That he had finally appeared after remaining hidden all this time surely meant he had something he needed to say or something he desired. Sam-cheon opened the door for him to speak more freely.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d like to.”
Wol-ya’s gaze wavered ever so slightly.
“…There is indeed something I wish to ask of you. Would you hear my request?”
It was a courteous and formal petition. He saved her life, yet took no credit for it.
“As long as it will not bring harm to Princess Gye-san.”
What could she do if she betrayed him? Given the accumulated debt of life he had spared, she would have to offer even her back without protest.
“When the time comes, there is a favor I must ask. It is nothing that should cause you hardship. Until then, I ask that you allow me to remain close to you, so that we might nurture this connection.”
Though his voice carried no discernible intention, Sam-cheon felt her heart stir.
In repayment for saving her life, he asked only to stay close and cultivate their bond. It was a request that seemed almost excessively favorable to her. Perhaps the favor he mentioned would carry weight proportional to what he was offering.
Even if it did.
“I understand. But where has Her Highness gone?”
“Someone reported seeing the training master, so she left in haste.”
Sam-cheon tilted her head, unable to grasp the situation. Was she saying that Gye-san had left her benefactor alone because of Yong-yong?
Wol-ya, recalling that she had been absent from the unit, offered further explanation.
“In other words, the training master has skipped training for several days now. She’s not even been in her quarters.”
Yong-yong, who never missed training whether it rained or snowed.
“Is she ill?”
“It’s not that…”
Wol-ya chose his words carefully, as if struggling with how to explain.
‘Has something serious happened?’
As Sam-cheon awaited his answer, the tent flap burst open. Gye-san strode in with a gust of cold air and, spotting Sam-cheon, broke into a wide smile.
“Sam-cheon!”
Gye-san opened her arms wide.
“Your Highness.”
Sam-cheon embraced her without hesitation. Gye-san held her in a tight embrace before releasing her.
The brilliant smile faded from Gye-san’s face. Her gaze fixed on Sam-cheon’s bandaged hand.
“You’re hurt again.”
“…But it’s almost healed now.”
Gye-san shook her head. Looking down at the white cloth, her brows drooped.
“Thank you for saving my brother.”
“Everything turned out well, fortunately.”
Sam-cheon answered lightly and smiled past it. Gye-san, becoming aware of Wol-ya’s presence, changed the subject.
“Have you met Wol-ya? He came to take the recruitment test this time. I was quite surprised.”
“I’ve made his acquaintance. But what do you mean Yong-yong hasn’t been coming to training?”
“Well, you see…”
Gye-san scratched the tip of her nose with her finger before speaking.
“Yong-yong deserted.”
“What?”
Sam-cheon’s eyes widened in surprise.

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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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