TLSSBTD CHAPTER 4

Episode 4

“It can’t be done. Right now, it’s impossible to escape without drawing Yi Hyul’s attention.”
“But—!”

Gahwa shook her head.
The only reason she had been able to enter this place was because Yi Hyul had deliberately allowed it, wanting to keep watch over her movements.

That’s why I could get in so easily.

Even though the palace was in chaos, Yi Hyul ruled it through fear.
To consolidate his power, he had purged all royal family members and opposition forces, and punished any court ladies found to be spies.

Every day, people died in droves within the palace—meaning he had hundreds, even thousands, of eyes and ears everywhere.

Escaping from such a palace would not be an easy task.

As he had said—if you wish to gain something, you must give up something in return.

To repay her debt, Gahwa had chosen to save Soyong’s life instead of her own.
But Soyong would never easily accept that.
Calmly, Gahwa spoke.

“Mother, how much do you know?”
“Eundan came to me separately. She must have felt guilty—she told me briefly that you went to the rain ritual. But the rain ritual? Why on earth would a princess go to such a place?”

It seemed Soyong had not been told exactly what kind of rite the rain ritual was.

Well, it was something the king passed down only to the crown prince, so of course it wouldn’t be announced to mere court ladies.

While Gahwa was silently thinking, Soyong ground her teeth at Eundan’s betrayal.

“How could Eundan… How…?”

Eundan had been her maid since the moment Soyong became a royal consort.

Soyong grasped Gahwa’s hand tightly.

“Gahwa, you must never, never trust anyone again. Back when Queen Hoe died… and even then…”
“I know, Mother. I won’t trust anyone anymore. I even left a token as proof of my deal with Yi Hyul.”

Eight years ago, when Queen Hoe died, Gahwa had resolved never to trust people easily again.

I couldn’t bear to let the same thing happen again.

“A deal? Don’t tell me you made a deal with Yi Hyul?”
“The matter is settled, so don’t worry. He said if I simply go to the rain ritual, he will forgive me.”
“Why does the king’s rain ritual need you?”

Yeon Soyong’s expression was one of sheer horror. Gahwa soothed her.

“Too much blood was shed during the rebellion. To honor those lost souls, he decided to gather the remaining royals to offer the rite together. He promised that if I carried it out properly, he would spare my life.”
“No. No, it’s not that simple. If he said he’d spare your life, he’ll take something of equal value in return. That’s the kind of man he is.”

Seeing her mother react so sharply, Gahwa felt something strange—her mother seemed to know far too much about Yi Hyul.

But as a prince, he wouldn’t have had many chances to meet Mother…

“Are you listening to me?”

Gahwa quickly came back to herself and answered—truth mixed with lies.

“Yes. I thought the same. That’s why I’ll use the morning of the rain ritual to slip away. I’ve already bribed a maid, just like when I came here, so don’t worry.”

She gripped her mother’s hand firmly.

“When the maid draws their attention, I’ll secretly change clothes and hide among the court ladies to escape. You must flee the capital first, Mother. I’ll follow shortly after. You once said you wanted to return to your hometown, Naju, didn’t you? Let’s meet there. Yes—Naju.”

As Gahwa spoke clearly and firmly, Soyong’s face softened slightly.
But still suspicious, she asked again, as if to confirm:

“…Is that the truth?”
“Yes, it’s the truth. So please, leave the capital first without worrying about me.”

Gahwa smiled brightly, then rose and went straight to the desk.

She wrote on paper, then burned it, leaving only the charred edges. She repeated the process several times, scattering the half-burned scraps near the brazier.

She knew Yi Hyul would want to know what was discussed here, so she left traces on purpose.
For some reason, he liked the fact that she could not speak.

Turning back to Soyong, Gahwa gave a final warning.

“Whatever we spoke about here must never reach Yi Hyul’s ears. Today, it must look as though I only informed you of my plans. Act angry, act grief-stricken—that will be enough.”
“I understand. If Yi Hyul comes, I’ll grab his robes and beg for your life. Still… why do I feel so uneasy?”

Soyong placed her hand over her chest.

“Everything will be fine. Trust me.”

When Gahwa smiled again, Soyong approached and took out a hairpin she had hidden in her robe.

It was the one she had worn while fleeing long ago.

“This is your mother’s keepsake. I kept it aside for you. I think it’s time you had it.”

The hairpin was plain, except for scale-like patterns along the shaft and a single red gem set at the end.
It was slightly thicker than most, suggesting another purpose.

“Take it.”

Gahwa examined the shaft. At the point where it connected to the head, there was a thin line.

“Ah!”

When she twisted it apart, a small blade slid out from inside.

“This is—”
“A jangdo (ornamental dagger). Use it if something happens.”
“But Mother, you should—”
“It’s fine. It’s yours by right.”
“…Understood.”

Reluctantly, Gahwa nodded. She hid the hairpin in her robe, then quietly studied her mother’s face one last time.
She thought it would feel unbearably sorrowful—but strangely, she felt calm.
As if this were not truly the last time.

“Princess, it’s time.”

At the sound of someone calling her, Gahwa turned her head. She was lavishly dressed.

Her small face was weighed down by an elaborate coiffure. The hair ornaments alone were worth enough to buy an entire house.

Only now, right before my death, do I enjoy such luxuries.

Time passed quickly—it was the day of the rain ritual. The day Gahwa would be offered as a sacrifice.

Before the mirror, she removed one ornament and replaced it with the hairpin her mother had given her.

After checking it was secure, she called for the person outside.
A waiting court lady entered and bowed.

“His Highness summons you.”

It was the call from Yi Hyul she had been expecting. Gahwa rose.

Walking briskly, she arrived at Taepyeongjeon Hall, where Yi Hyul was receiving the final touches to his attire.
He too was dressed in splendid ceremonial robes for the rain ritual.

Gahwa bent her knees to bow.

“No need—you’ll ruin all that careful work, Princess.”

Having finished, he stepped forward and led her to a tea table.

On it sat a teapot and a single teacup.

“Doesn’t it smell wonderful?”

He poured from the pot, and a faint fragrance rose from the cup.

“It’s lotus tea from Gyeju.”

Gahwa flinched and looked up.

He’s giving me that rare tea…?

“It’s so difficult to cultivate that the entire year’s harvest barely fills a palm. In the capital, its price is whatever one dares to ask. I thought nothing could be more fitting for your final tea.”

Gahwa bit her lip and lowered her gaze.

Lotus tea induced drowsiness—strongly, even in small amounts. If she drank it, her plan to escape would vanish.

She glanced at Yi Hyul’s insufferable smile.
He was meticulous.

Her hands clenched her skirts. There was no excuse to refuse.

“Here—take it.”

With no choice, she accepted the cup. But she couldn’t bring herself to drink immediately.

When she only held it, Yi Hyul raised an eyebrow.

“Are you rejecting my generosity, Princess?”

She quickly shook her head. If there was no way out, she had to at least confirm her mother’s safety.

Setting down the cup, she bowed low.

“Ah—you mean you’re asking about your mother’s condition? Attend me!”

At his call, a eunuch entered and presented a piece of paper.
Gahwa took it—it was the palace entry-and-exit register. At the bottom, it showed Yeon Soyong had left the palace that morning.

“Will that suffice? Don’t worry—I even stamped it with my royal seal.”

Indeed, the seal was there. Gahwa returned the register and bowed in thanks.

Yi Hyul waved her on impatiently. She brought the cup to her lips.

This will do.

She drank.
Drowsiness came swiftly. Her body went limp, and a waiting court lady caught her.

Clatter. Roll.

The cup slipped from her hand, rolling to a stop at Yi Hyul’s feet.

She looked up along the folds of his dragon robe to see his amused smile.

“There is one thing I forgot to mention, Princess. Do you know—?”

She fought the sleep to hear his words.

“That ‘royal fortress’ can mean not only the palace itself, but also the district where the king resides. Which means—Soyong left the palace, but never crossed the capital gates.”

…What!

She tried to rise in shock, but Yi Hyul only smiled.

“I kept my promise to let her go. I simply didn’t promise to let her live.”
“—!”

It was a bolt from the blue.

But you stamped your seal on the agreement…!

With the last of her strength, Gahwa reached for his robe—

—but he easily stepped back.

Her hand cut through the air, and she collapsed.

He clicked his tongue.

“Such a waste—your beautiful appearance is ruined.”

Falling forward had undone her hair, the ornaments scattering across the floor.

Her pent-up rage boiled over.
She could not understand what she had done to deserve this.

As she clawed at the floor, Yi Hyul clicked his tongue again.

“Do you think this is unfair? Without power, you don’t even have the right to think so.”

Gahwa shook her head. It wasn’t unfairness she felt—it was fury at her own powerlessness.
This was the price for living so complacently until now.

She wanted power. The power to survive.
The power to take revenge.
The power to stand again before the man in front of her and destroy him.

Her bloodshot eyes fixed on Yi Hyul’s face.
No tears fell from her closing eyes—only an unbroken vow.

She would survive. She would stand before him again.

“…Haaah.”

Gahwa opened her eyes to pitch darkness. She could see nothing.

Only the cold wind brushing her cheek greeted her.
This was not Taepyeongjeon Hall—she knew instinctively.
The unfamiliar scent on the wind confirmed it.

At last, the tears she had held back spilled forth.
Grief for her mother surged in belated waves, shredding her heart into pieces.

“Hhhk.”

She swallowed her sobs.
While she had been asleep, the rain ritual must have taken place—she had been offered to the dragon.
She had to be careful.

Covering her mouth, she looked around.
The darkness made her wonder if she was already dead.

If I had died with Mother… maybe I could rest.
But the pain in her chest was far too vivid—she was still alive.

That realization cooled her head. There was only one thing to do—

Find a way to survive this place.

When her sobbing ceased, she lowered her hand and stared upward.
She held her breath, staring for several minutes.
Once her eyes adjusted, she looked around—

From the layout of objects, it seemed she was in some sort of room.
Though the darkness hid the details, the structure felt oddly similar to the palace.

The chill wind came from just above her head. As she turned quietly toward the window—

A voice spoke.

“Sit up.”