Episode 4
“Mirang. My name is Yeomirang.”
“It’s a pretty name.”
“May I also… ask your name?”
It wasn’t a difficult question, but Seong-un shook his head. Some relationships are formed over the smallest of things. He didn’t want his name on the palace staff’s lips.
“I’ve been looking for you for a long time. I was worried because you weren’t there even though it was time to retire.”
Just then, Jun-won arrived. She followed her brother without hesitation. The area in front of Eoyeongjeon Hall was much quieter than before, as the banquet was winding down.
His father appeared among the small group of people chatting away.
“Father, I brought Un-i.”
“Oh, just wait a moment.”
While Jin-yeop exchanged a few more words with the officials, Seong-un turned his gaze and scanned the area. The painted tiles and the signboard reading “Eoyeongjeon Hall” were etched into his mind.
This place I’ve longed to reach. This place I’ve dared to covet and covet. Perhaps today will be my last.
‘I must let go of my greed to survive.’
Protect my life and my loved ones. Her eyes, replaying the intense and horrific memories, shone with determination.
“Let’s go back.”
Jinyeop’s face was tinged with fatigue, perhaps due to his official duties even on the day of the banquet. Seongwoon, concerned about his constant hectic schedule as a minister of the court, cautiously observed his father.
If I remember correctly, there had been a constant stream of incidents and mishaps before and after the selection of the crown prince.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“Huh?”
“You’re watching me closely. Did you get into some trouble again?”
“Father, do you really think I’m always causing trouble?”
“I wasn’t? I knew that.”
The playful reply caused all three to burst into laughter. When I first got back, it felt like a dream, but now that I was laughing and chatting like this, it finally felt real.
I’m truly back.
“Tell me quickly. I need to know what’s going on so I can help you.”
“Nothing happened. You’re just making assumptions.”
“Don’t worry, Father. Seong-un will grow up soon.”
“Well, he’s already that age. He’s already married.”
Marriage. It seemed like a distant dream for me in this life. I didn’t want to waste this opportunity, tied down to a family or someone else’s wife.
“Nak Si-rang, Nak Gong-ja. Are you leaving the palace?”
I was stopped by a group of eunuchs at the palace gate. Oh, I’d forgotten.
“Yes. What brings you here, Eunuch Seo?”
“I’m carrying out the orders of the Empress Dowager. The selection of the crown princess will be held soon, right? She has instructed me to distribute the tokens to the young ladies of each family.”
“Un-ah, come here.”
Jin-yeop called out to Seong-un, who was loitering in front of the carriage. She reluctantly walked forward, eager to go.
“Lady Nak, I heard you turned twenty this year. This is an invitation from the Empress Dowager. Please keep this jade tablet with you during the period of selecting a crown princess.”
The eunuch selected one from among the many jade tablets and held it out. A deep shadow fell over Seong-un’s heart upon seeing the flower-shaped tablet adorned with gold thread.
Given to the daughters of noble families and court officials, this tablet signified their right to participate in the selection of a crown princess.
“Once the marriage ban is issued, you must present this tablet to enter and exit the capital and the palace.”
“Hmm, I guess the Empress Dowager intends to have every young woman in the capital participate in the selection.”
“Isn’t this the first royal wedding? She intends to select the best woman as the crown princess. She has instructed me to prepare thoroughly.”
In my past life, I’d been overjoyed the moment I received this plaque. There were times I couldn’t sleep because of the excitement, and I wouldn’t let it go, even when I was sleeping.
I don’t know why I made such a fuss over something so trivial. Seong-un, dismissing his self-deprecating thoughts, accepted the jade plaque and hung it on his belt.
This time, it was a meaningless object, but it served as a passport, so he felt comfortable carrying it.
Several days had passed since his return, but Seong-un continued to have nightmares. He repeatedly watched himself die in his dreams and then woke up.
“Lady, I have an invitation from the palace.”
Sang-hwa held out a red invitation. It was a servant who had been with him since before he could remember.
“Sang-hwa, I should get ready to go.”
Seong-un, calculating the date, sat up. Today was the day of the Red Plum Blossom Festival, hosted by the Empress Dowager.
And…
“Are you going to the palace?”
“Since when did you start asking such things?”
“Huh? Miss…”
Sanghwa flinched in surprise at her sharp reaction. Seongwoon bit his lip, feeling a pang of remorse.
A habit from his past life, when he lived as a member of the royal family, had surfaced. Back then, he had absolutely hated it when subordinates challenged his words.
He hated making her repeat the same thing, and he would crush any hint of resistance. He believed that was the only way to ensure she wouldn’t try again.
“I’m sorry. I was overly sensitive.”
But not anymore.
“No, Miss. I was careless. I knew exactly what day it was, but I failed to understand your feelings.”
What day? It was certainly an important day for Nak Seongwoon in his past life. He had been delighted to be invited to the royal banquet, depressed by the humiliation, and even formed an unexpected connection with this prince.
But it means nothing to him now.
“So… you’re not going to the palace?”
“Why? You want me to go to the banquet?”
“No. That’s not it…”
Sanghwa looked at Seongwoon. When he pressed him, wondering why, he hesitated and opened his mouth.
“Well, some servants made a bet about you. Whether you’d go to the banquet at the palace today or not…”
He was certainly immature back then. He had no qualms about openly expressing his admiration for the imperial family.
So, making a bet like that wasn’t unusual.
“What did you bet on?”
“Huh? My lady, there’s no way I would do that!”
“You can be honest. I won’t scold you.”
He was a curious and nosy child. So he couldn’t let the bet slip. As she’d suspected, Sanghwa reluctantly answered.
“Of course, I bet on you not going. I know what day it is for you.”
You trusted me even then. Looking back, it was around this time in my past life that I started to drift apart from Sanghwa.
“Good. I’ll make you money.”
“Yes?”
Seong-un stroked the head of the wide-eyed maid and offered her a silver coin.
“Take this too and walk. Hurry up.”
[The Grave of Nak Jin-yeop’s Wife, Seok Yeo-jeong]
Seong-un sat in front of the overgrown grave and stroked the tombstone. It had been fifteen years since he lost his mother. She had passed away so young that he couldn’t even remember her face.
But even so, how could he have attended the palace banquet on her death anniversary? He felt resentful and foolish for his past choices, lost in vain dreams, and forgetting his roots.
“You’re not by my side in this life either.”
He was grateful for the opportunity in life, but perhaps he couldn’t help but miss the empty space.
She poured herself a drink with a bitter expression. All she could say was that she would live well in this life.
“The sun will set at this rate.”
Seeing the sun set over the mountainside, Seong-un hurriedly set off. He worried whether he would be able to descend before complete darkness fell.
How long had he walked along the steep mountain path? Beyond the thick undergrowth, a sound could be heard.
Bandits? Or wild beasts?
All sorts of ominous thoughts raced through her mind at the rustling sound. If it were bandits, she might at least try to talk them out of it, but if it were wild beasts…
“Should I run? No, they’ll definitely follow me.”
Whatever lay beyond the bushes, any unnecessary action would only provoke them. Seong-un, choosing to hide, hurriedly moved under a rock, but it was too late.
A figure covered in crimson liquid suddenly appeared before her eyes. I almost screamed.
“Haa…”
The man leaning against the tree, breathing heavily, was clearly not in a normal state. The moment he faced the man who had been shaking for a while and raised his head, Seong-un froze.
“Hwiwang… …!”
The man, covered in blood from head to toe, was definitely Heon. The man who had killed me, also known as Hwiwang.
“How… did you end up here…”
Did he come here to kill me again? How did he find me? Perhaps, like me, he retains memories from before his return?
