Chapter – 15.
A Transgression: Eating Tanghulu Instead of Rice
Such words existed.
[Desires suppressed in childhood settle as deficiencies. To prevent this, appropriate release is needed during childhood. One must be especially careful so that this does not develop into delinquency during adolescence.]
In short, people needed to commit a certain amount of transgression in their lives.
Haven’t you dreamed of it at least once?
Eating whatever you want without interference. Sleeping as much as you want without being bound by time. Staying up all night, even if you’ll regret it tomorrow!
‘You never know until you try.’
Of course, Amang had never done such things.
“Wh-what was that just now? Surely not…!”
Nan, who had been waiting eagerly in front of Yeonyeonggung Palace, couldn’t believe her eyes.
The two children who had just passed by like the wind.
After thinking for a moment, Nan let out a scream.
“Princess Amang!”
Amang was now running.
To be precise, she was holding tightly onto Geumjin’s wrist!
Cutting through the wind, how long had it been since she ran like this?
‘It’s so light!’
Goodbye to the past days of dragging her heavy body. The newly reborn Amang enjoyed her much lighter body. This refreshing feeling was like being back in elementary school!
“Pr-princess, you’re too fast!”
“Just trust me!”
Geumjin was panting. Throughout his upbringing, he had repeatedly heard the admonition: no matter what, he must not run. Maintain your dignity!
This current situation was clearly an act of defiance against Grand Tutor Geum’s words.
“Princess!”
Following behind, Nan chased after Amang.
No matter how fast she ran, she couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Amang.
Even in normal times, Amang’s body was agile enough to climb trees like a flying squirrel.
“Lately she hadn’t been like this, why suddenly now!”
Gasping for breath, Nan plopped down right there. She had a duty to assist Amang, but she simply couldn’t keep up with that speed.
Amang, who had no way of knowing this, was utterly excited.
‘This is the taste of transgression!’
When was the last time she had stopped at a crosswalk with barely any time left? It felt like just the other day when she used to run around all the time.
At some point, her knees would ache if she just ran, so she couldn’t do it anymore.
No one could stop Amang, running with her light movements.
Look at that beaming, smiling face! She was the very picture of an innocent child.
“Ah!”
Her body, which had been stepping only on the accelerator with no brakes, soon stumbled.
Amang, sprawled flat on the ground, couldn’t move an inch.
‘So embarrassing!’
It was because she got too excited, ran around, bumped into something, and fell.
Fortunately, she had let go of Geumjin’s hand, so she was the only one hurt.
“Are you alright?”
Geumjin’s urgent voice was heard.
She couldn’t bring herself to get up.
Because people were starting to gather around Amang!
‘What a thing to do at my age.’
She should have just calmed her excitement a little!
But the moment she was running was thrilling.
It was the first time she had run that fast since elementary school.
Still, it’s okay. Only Geumjin is by her side now, so she can just get up naturally and cover her face…!
“Princess! Princess Amang!”
Ha.
Go ahead and announce it to the whole neighborhood.
“Princess! Are you alright? You! Where are your eyes? Do you know who this person is?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
Amang pricked up her ears to assess the situation.
‘Ah, please, no.’
It’s embarrassing! Don’t act like you know me!
She wanted to shout loudly, but she held it in.
From what she could gather, it seemed Amang had bumped into a palace maid.
Judging by the quite youthful voice, it was highly likely she was a teenager.
“This one suddenly appeared, so I was startled too!”
“Talking back, even!”
Hmm.
It seemed she hadn’t yet learned the rules of the imperial palace.
Etiquette was similar to social life in the outside world.
When a superior tells you to jump, you ask how high!
‘Although I’m the one who benefited from it.’
The loyal palace maid Nan scolded the other party on Amang’s behalf.
Though she wondered if the other party was really listening to those words.
“This person is Princess Amang of Yeonyeonggung Palace!”
Amang tightly shut her eyes.
‘How am I supposed to show my face from now on.’
The princess, who ran around just because she felt like it, bumped into a palace maid.
She was sprawled flat on the ground, receiving everyone’s attention.
Was her face flushed because she had fallen, or because she was embarrassed?
The answer was both.
“Beg for forgiveness or accept your punishment!”
“I, I was just!”
“Hurry up!”
It seemed to be getting worse.
No, there’s no need to go that far.
‘I was the one who bumped into her.’
Is this the power of being a princess?
The power to receive an apology even when you shoulder-barged someone?
But she didn’t need that kind of power.
Well, time to slowly get up now.
“What is this commotion?”
“Your Highness!”
The surroundings fell silent.
Amang, who was in the process of getting up, froze solid.
She had a bad feeling.
‘Am I even allowed to get up now?’
If she gets up now, it feels like the mood will become terribly awkward.
Rolling her eyes around, Amang slowly raised her head.
“Princess, what are you doing on the ground?”
A Royal Consort!
Amang promptly pressed her forehead to the ground.
“I-I was in the middle of paying my respects.”
Her quick wit was impressive.
“Your Highness! That palace maid was harassing me!”
“That’s not true!”
A chill ran down her spine.
A sense of unease washed over her, a feeling that she was about to get entangled with people she absolutely did not want to be involved with.
‘I shouldn’t get involved with a Royal Consort.’
After dealing with the Empress and Yeol-bin!
Amang sneakily raised her head to identify the Royal Consort.
It was a face familiar from somewhere.
Of course, she had encountered all the Royal Consorts during the lectures, but still.
Among them, one woman looked particularly familiar.
‘Where have I seen her?’
Vague memories weren’t reliable.
But what was certain was that she was a Royal Consort of a fairly high rank.
The luster of her silk was luxurious, and the accessories she wore were splendid.
The intricate embroidery densely packed on her cuffs symbolized wealth.
A scent wafted from her flowing hair.
“Your Highness, that is not the case!”
The woman, who had been standing impassively, bowed.
She paid no mind to whatever the palace maids were arguing.
Her footsteps led her right in front of Amang.
“Rise.”
The woman reached out her hand to Amang.
A familiar floral scent tickled her nose.
It was the same Royal Consort who had been the only one to take Amang’s side during the lectures.
‘Consort Hwajeong!’
That was a relief.
If it had been a petty consort like Yeol-bin, there would have been a huge scene.
The young palace maid standing behind Consort Hwajeong glared at Amang.
It was clearly the palace maid Amang had bumped into.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Consort Hwajeong personally stroked Amang’s face.
She wiped Amang’s dirty cheek and forehead with a handkerchief she pulled from her sleeve.
Her touch was like that of a mother caring for her child.
‘Not bad at all.’
It was the complete opposite of an adult’s life, where you dust yourself off and get up no matter how many times you fall.
Of course, if she weren’t a princess, she could only dream of such attentive treatment.
“Ask for forgiveness.”
“Pardon? Your Highness! But the Princess bumped into me first!”
“Now!”
The atmosphere was like walking on thin ice.
According to etiquette, a palace maid could not disobey her master’s words.
Especially if she was a maid serving Consort Hwajeong.
The other party was a Royal Consort of the highest rank, second only to the Empress.
She was also the only remaining ‘Bi’ since the death of Hwanyeong-bi.
It took more than just guts to defy such a person’s words.
‘She must feel wronged.’
But that palace maid was also young.
Judging by her behavior, it seemed she had never experienced such unfairness before.
‘Is there no other way?’
She recalled a last-resort weapon to defuse this situation.
She really didn’t want to do this.
Amang stared blankly at her own palm.
It had been scraped in several places from friction with the ground when she fell.
Blood was oozing from the wounds.
“Waaah!”
The princess, who had been quiet, suddenly burst into tears.
Tears like chicken droppings streamed down Amang’s cheeks.
“Princess, please. Don’t cry. If we go to the Royal Pharmacy, you’ll be better in no time!”
Nan held Amang in her arms, soothing and comforting her.
The previously cold atmosphere instantly softened.
Amang buried her face in Nan’s chest.
Yeah, in situations like this, nothing works better than a tear attack!
‘Of course, you have to know your audience.’
If she had shed tears in front of the Emperor, he would have lost interest.
Similarly, tears shed in front of the Empress or Yeol-bin would become a weakness.
But the person before her was Consort Hwajeong, Myo-hee.
She was weak to tears.
At least, to Amang’s tears.
‘She took the bait.’
Her impassive eyes wavered.
Her face looked on the verge of tears, her features filled with pity.
Consort Hwajeong’s fingers hovered in the air.
‘If we make our exit around now, it would be perfect.’
The scenario she planned in her head was this:
The crying princess, Nan, and Geumjin would naturally disappear.
Now, Nan would go to the Royal Pharmacy holding Amang.
Geumjin would go along too.
But things never go according to plan.
“Amang. Are you alright? Come with me. Someone, call the Royal Physician at once!”
Huh?
No, wait a minute.
Consort Hwajeong examined Amang’s palm and urgently ordered a maid.
The palace maids, who had been standing still, hurriedly rushed to the Royal Pharmacy.
‘Is this… a high-level form of torment?’
How could a child’s body, which is so sturdy, be in serious trouble just from a fall?
Moreover, Amang wasn’t even Consort Hwajeong’s daughter.
Wait.
Perhaps a secret about her birth?
Amang sniffled while making eye contact with Consort Hwajeong.
“N-no, Your Highness… Please help me.”
“Of course. What is it?”
“B-buy me Tanghulu.”
The princess with the scraped palm spoke, her shoulders shaking.
Instead of a physician, she asked for Tanghulu.
Consort Hwajeong blinked her eyes.
‘No matter which path you take, just head to the dessert cafe!’
The reason she dragged Geumjin along in the first place was precisely for that.
Adults bond over drinks, but children are the opposite.
It’s the Tanghulu team-building!
“Tanghulu?”
“H-he’s coming too…?”
Amang’s tiny finger pointed into the air.
Consort Hwajeong followed the direction of Amang’s fingertip.
There stood a young boy.
“Geumjin?”
“I greet Her Highness Consort Hwajeong.”
And it was that Geumjin, the grandson of Grand Tutor Geum!
Geumjin, observing proper etiquette, smiled awkwardly.
