<Episode 2>
Deng—. Deng—.
The bell marking the hour of yushi rang out. Gahwa looked toward the distant bell tower.
Today, the sound seemed unusually loud. She quickened her pace in urgency.
In her arms, she carried a pouch—rice she had bought with the money earned from transcribing texts.
It would be enough to feed them well for at least seven days. But because of that, her return to the palace was delayed.
Mother will surely scold me for this.
She hurried on, crossing three gates before she finally saw her own quarters in the distance.
It was so old that it looked almost as if the building leaned to one side.
When she opened the closed door, the rusted hinges let out a loud, creaking scream.
“Lady!”
Under the nearly bare tree, Eundan, who had been pacing, immediately turned her head at the sound.
“Do you know how worried I was, with you being late like this!”
Eundan ran over and gripped Gahwa’s shoulders, looking her over from head to toe.
Ever since Gahwa lost the ability to speak, Eundan’s worries had doubled, and her face looked ready to cry.
Gahwa patted her shoulder to reassure her. Times like this, being unable to speak was truly inconvenient.
“Oh, right—your clothes! You must change right away. If Lady Soyong sees you like this, you’ll be scolded again!”
“You’re late.”
The stern voice came from behind them. Both Eundan and Gahwa turned their heads. Lady Soyong was standing there, perfectly straight.
“I told you not to go to the market.”
Gahwa knelt quietly on the floor, head bowed, for the length of one shigyeong (about 20 minutes), and still Lady Soyong’s scolding showed no sign of stopping.
“What if something happens to you out there? How many times have I told you the outside is dangerous for a woman? And you didn’t even take a guard with you!”
Gahwa felt wronged. She had even disguised herself as a man for safety, but she couldn’t say so.
If she told her, the scolding would only double.
Only after another quarter of an hour of reprimand did Soyong sigh.
“I understand. Life has been difficult, and you had no choice. Then I will personally go to the Queen and ask for more stipends.”
Gahwa quickly grabbed her sleeve in alarm.
Their impoverishment had been caused by the Queen’s scheming—diverting Yeonhwa Palace’s stipend into her own pocket.
If Soyong used that as her pretext, the Queen might once again turn her eyes toward Yeonhwa Palace.
Gahwa didn’t want that. More than anything, she didn’t want to lose Soyong. That was her greatest fear right now.
Seeing Gahwa shake her head vehemently, Soyong exhaled heavily.
“Very well. I won’t go to the Queen.”
Perhaps feeling sorry for her, Soyong drew Gahwa into an embrace.
She had lost the man she admired, but she wanted to protect his child.
Soyong pulled her in tightly, and Gahwa rested her head on her shoulder. In a small voice, she called out to her.
“Mother.”
Soyong flinched and quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.
Only after checking the doorway and finding no one there did she release her hand.
“How many times have I told you not to say that? Don’t use your head, and don’t use your mouth.”
Yeon Soyong always warned her.
Don’t think, don’t speak—live like a mute simpleton. That, she believed, was the only way to survive in this palace.
She said this because she had seen what happened to Gahwa’s real mother, Concubine Hwe, who had died young for being too sharp-witted.
Understanding this, Gahwa buried her forehead into Soyong’s shoulder without a word.
Above her head came the sound of a worried sigh.
“Did something happen outside?”
Gahwa shook her head. But suddenly—
Bang!
The door burst open.
“Lady! Lady, something terrible has happened!”
It was Eundan. Behind her sweat-soaked face, the sky glowed a deep red.
Strange—it was too early for sunset. Soyong must have sensed something was wrong as well, for she shot to her feet.
“What’s the commotion?”
“The palace! Armed men have broken in—they’ve killed His Majesty, and they’re slaughtering all the royal family! You must flee, my lady—please, you must run!!”
Soyong’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor. Gahwa, too, was so shocked that she froze.
A rebellion…?
This was entirely unexpected. She fell back with a thud, and that sound seemed to snap Soyong back to her senses.
“So, Lee Hyul has finally done it! Gahwa, get up—we must pack and leave this place immediately.”
She leapt up and began hastily gathering their belongings. There wasn’t much to take—just a few pieces of jewelry worth something.
From the very back of a drawer, she pulled out a small box containing an ornate hairpin—far too lavish for their means.
She fixed it into her hair, then helped Gahwa to her feet.
“Up, we have no time. Eundan!”
“Yes, my lady!”
“Fetch a flask of water, and then meet us at the bushes near the back gate!”
“I’ll be quick!”
Eundan ran out first. Gahwa quickly grabbed Soyong’s arm.
In such a situation, fetching water made no sense.
“Are you… planning to leave Eundan behind…?”
“Hold your tongue. Especially now—there are too many watching eyes.”
When Gahwa refused to move without an answer, Soyong relented.
“Yes. It will be only you and I leaving. Beyond Jaan Gate, there’s a narrow path with a small hidden passage. We’ll use it to escape the palace.”
“But—!”
Gahwa stopped, refusing to budge, so Soyong shook her arm urgently.
“Eundan’s chances are better on her own than with us. Lee Hyul is a calculating, ruthless man. Even if he smiles kindly, his heart is sly, wicked, and utterly merciless. Now that he’s staged this coup, he’ll wipe out the royal bloodline completely.”
At that, Gahwa remembered Lee Hyul—the man known as Prince Haewon, younger brother of the King.
She had met him a few times before. He was one of the few who had spoken kindly to her.
Why would such a man start a rebellion?
Sensing her disbelief, Soyong spoke firmly.
“He has always coveted the throne. He will leave no seed of the royal line alive. We must go—now.”
She gripped Gahwa’s arm and ran. From the courtyard, they could see the palace burning in the distance.
“Kyaaaaaa!”
Screams filled the air, mingling with the clash of metal on metal.
Ignoring it all, Soyong led her through the rear garden toward Jaan Gate.
“Here. Once we pass through, we can take the side path into the forest.”
She reached the gate, checked for any sign of movement, and opened it.
Beyond lay darkness and silence—a stark contrast to the chaos behind them. They stepped cautiously outside.
That was when—
“Where are you hurrying off to without a light?”
The sudden voice startled Gahwa so much that she collapsed on the spot.
“Bring a torch. If I can’t see, I might mistake you for a wild beast and use my sword carelessly.”
“Yes, sir.”
At the quiet order, flames soon flared, lighting up the surroundings.
They had thought no one would be here, but dozens of soldiers stood guard at the entrance to the path.
At their center stood Lee Hyul.
What—?!
Avoiding his gaze out of sheer intimidation, Gahwa’s eyes caught something in his hand, and she almost gagged.
It was a severed head—one she recognized instantly. The Queen’s.
Urk.
She swallowed down the urge to retch and looked again. His face, body, hands, legs—everything was drenched in blood.
Thud. Roll.
He tossed the head toward Soyong’s feet. She flinched but stood her ground, glaring at him.
“I thought you’d be pleased with my gift.”
“Who could be pleased to receive such a thing?”
“Why not? Wasn’t she your mortal enemy?”
He smiled as he wiped the blood from his hands and smeared away the splatter on his face, making him look like a demon.
The sight was so terrifying that Gahwa trembled uncontrollably. She grabbed at Soyong’s robe, and Soyong stepped forward to shield her.
“How could you do this? Are you not afraid of Heaven’s wrath?”
“If I am to become Heaven, what is there to fear? I came personally to escort Lady Soyong and the Princess—”
He deliberately dragged out his words as his eyes swept over their appearance. In Soyong’s arms was the bundle she had hastily packed.
“It seems you were caught trying to flee.”
“Flee? I’ve done nothing wrong—why would I run?”
“Then what is that in your hands?”
“These… are medicinal herbs I obtained from the Royal Infirmary.”
“Then your bundle should contain these so-called herbs. Well, let’s see.”
At his signal, a soldier stepped forward, seized the bundle, and handed it to Lee Hyul.
He immediately overturned it, spilling its contents onto the ground—some even rolled to his feet.
“Did the Royal Infirmary prescribe you jewelry? I admit—gold is the finest medicine.”
He stepped on the hairpin and looked at her.
“How—!”
“Ah, did I mention? This person told me everything.”
Lee Hyul stepped aside, revealing Eundan standing there, staring at the ground, wringing her hands.
Seeing this, Soyong fell silent, lowering her head.
Only now did she realize she had been betrayed.
“Will you be dragged away for the crime of trying to flee, or will you walk there of your own will? Choose.”
Making her decision, Soyong stepped forward, dragging Gahwa with her.
The sudden movement brought Gahwa’s eyes level with Lee Hyul’s, and she quickly looked away. His gaze sent chills down her spine.
Above her, she heard a faint chuckle.
“Then both of you—let’s go to Taepyeong Hall. Escort them.”
