Chapter – 99
In the End, the Ones Who Survive (2)
A silent, tranquil imperial palace.
With the changing of the seasons, flowers bloomed and fell.
No one could defy the natural order of the world.
In the palace garden, where petals scattered in the gentle breeze, intruders shattered the stillness with their shouts.
“A-mang!”
“Princess!”
“Princess A-mang!”
Ahong, Dancheong, and Geumjin raised their voices, calling desperately for A-mang.
Just moments ago, A-mang had suddenly dashed off from in front of the memorial hall and vanished in an instant.
“Where could she have gone in such a short time?”
“Elder Sister, if we search everywhere like this, it’ll be dawn before we know it!”
“In my humble opinion, she may be at the swing nearby. Her Highness and I often went there when she had worries.”
It truly hadn’t been long.
A-mang was so fast that she disappeared the moment they blinked.
Ahong had chased after her immediately, yet A-mang left behind not even the smallest trace.
Someone in their twenties couldn’t outmatch the stamina of someone in their teens.
Youth really was something.
“But would A-mang really go to ride the swing?”
“She once told me that when she has worries, riding the swing helps her think.”
“Really? Come to think of it, didn’t you say that once too?”
“T-that was because I was young!”
“No? That was during the lecture—barely a month ago.”
Geumjin’s face burned red all the way down to his neck.
He knew better than anyone how embarrassing his childish behavior must have been for A-mang.
Otherwise, would the princess really have grabbed him by the collar?
“Do you enjoy teasing children?”
“A-Ah! Elder Sister! That’s not fair!”
“This is punishment for mocking the princess’s attendant.”
“But I’m a prince!”
“Well, who knows? This little brat might become her consort someday.”
Consort.
The term used for a princess’s husband.
“T-that’s unthinkable! How could someone like me—!”
“Right. It’d be a waste to tie the princess to Geumjin! He’s the grandson of Grand Preceptor Geum, after all. Ah, that reminds me of how often I got scolded by him as a child.”
“You studied under my grandfather?”
“Of course. I wasn’t very good, so I got scolded all the time.”
“So even Prince Dancheong has things he’s bad at!”
“Hey now, that stings.”
“I always thought you were born brilliant since you show such keen insight!”
Dancheong laughed heartily.
Geumjin, eyes sparkling, looked at him with unconcealed admiration.
Watching the two with exasperation, Ahong finally spoke.
“Hey. You two.”
Since childhood, Ahong had dragged Dancheong around whenever he wore that careless grin.
It had been Consort Hwajeong’s order.
Your younger brother is too easygoing. He could be harmed. You must protect him.
“Are you laughing when we don’t know what danger A-mang might be in? You’re her brother and her attendants—what use are you being like this?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Geumjin snapped to attention and shook his head vigorously.
Ahong wasn’t wrong.
We need to find the princess!
“Come on, Elder Sister. She’s still inside the palace. She ran off on her own—she just went somewhere. And honestly, with A-mang’s survival instincts, she’d live even if she ran into a tiger. Haha!”
“That… is true…!”
“Right? See? I told you Geumjin and I are on the same wavelength!”
Ah, the burden of being the eldest daughter—how exhausting it was!
Grabbing her unserious younger brother by the collar, Ahong had survived countless crises this way.
When the Emperor tested the siblings’ worth, it had been Ahong who poured ice water over Dancheong when he tried to fall asleep.
Siblings must support one another.
And you, Ahong, are His Majesty’s eldest daughter. You must never disappoint him.
Sometimes, Ahong thought of the siblings who might have been born before her.
“What if someone takes A-mang away, like back then?”
“…Elder Sister.”
“Dancheong. Do you even understand how serious this is?”
“I’m worried too. But what’s already happened can’t be undone. All we can do is search with everything we have. Do you think I’m thoughtless?”
“Act like a prince. With dignity.”
That was always Ahong’s frustration.
Even if he died and came back to life, Dancheong would never know how much she had sacrificed.
She had used her power to place guards around Consort Hwajeong so the other concubines couldn’t touch her.
She had brought along a physician in case Dancheong was poisoned abroad.
She had fought on blood-soaked battlefields with nothing but victory in mind.
No one could lay a finger on Sujeong Palace.
“Prince Dancheong…”
“It’s fine, Geumjin. This happens all the time. My sister cherishes Mother and me dearly. To her, this is just passionate affection.”
The Ahong Dancheong saw was someone who took everything seriously.
Sharp as a blade, she saw the world in black and white.
Like night and day.
When someone like Ahong existed, someone like Dancheong was necessary too.
She took on too much responsibility.
Whenever that happened, Dancheong lightened the mood with his nonsense.
She’ll never realize that, though. She’ll only remember her own sacrifices.
“No—wait! Over there!”
“Hm?”
“Princess A-mang!”
Geumjin’s eyes widened as he sprinted toward her.
Left alone, Dancheong awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“Princess! Are you unharmed?”
“A-mang, where did you go?”
“Oh my goodness—Princess, you’ve made so many people worry!”
The three of them rushed toward A-mang, who sat listlessly on the swing.
Startled, A-mang flinched.
What? When did you all get here?
Their gazes were overwhelming.
Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?
Geumjin’s eyes sparkled with worry.
Ahong looked ready to kill someone.
And Dancheong—still his smooth, carefree self.
Did they really worry because I disappeared?
It felt like a celebrity experience.
Oh?
Maybe I’m more important than I thought.
Honestly, having all three of them running around just to find her felt like a waste of manpower.
“Princess!”
Someone pushed through the crowd and grabbed A-mang’s shoulders, sobbing.
Ah. Nan was here too.
“Where on earth did you go…!”
A-mang rubbed her neck instinctively.
To hide the wound.
Well, it wasn’t deep.
I almost died back there.
If not for Iso’s help, her throat would have been slit.
About ten minutes earlier, when A-mang barged into the Emperor’s office, he had pressed a blade to her neck.
His eyes were filled with regret and tangled emotions.
A-mang clenched her lips and slowly raised her head.
Do you truly not value your life? Will you defy me?
She said nothing.
Words like I’m sorry, I’ll obey you, Please give me any command—none of them would come out, even if she died.
Why should I?
The Emperor was the worst possible father.
He always carried a sword at his waist to project authority, but in truth, it was because he was weak at heart.
Truly strong people didn’t assert power that way.
Your Majesty, Princess A-mang is still a child. Please do not stain your hands with a child’s blood.
Oh? Iso, are you daring to defy me now?
You are trapped in a long nightmare. If more resentment piles up, it will disturb even Your Majesty’s sleep.
Yes. You are the only one who truly cares for me.
Thanks, Iso.
You’re no longer “Uncle Iso.”
You’re officially Uncle.
If I tell them this, it’ll be chaos, right?
She decided to keep what happened a secret for the rest of her life.
After pondering, A-mang awkwardly spoke.
“I’m looking for a maid named Dora.”
“The maid who was in the laundry?”
“Yes. She knew about the past of Yeonyeong Palace.”
“…What?”
Why do they look like they just swallowed something foul?
A-mang blinked, glancing between Ahong and Dancheong.
“She told me about something that happened when I was very young. That a maid kidnapped the newborn princess of Yeonyeong Palace. Fortunately, she was found within half a day, and the child was returned safely.”
“How would that maid know?”
“She said the maid who was punished and sent to the laundry told her. That maid was from Jayeom Palace—and is now Lady So.”
“No. That can’t be.”
Even Dancheong, who never knew when to be serious, looked grim.
A-mang and Geumjin couldn’t grasp the situation.
“I heard it clearly! Dora told us everything!”
“Yes. But after hearing that story, I couldn’t find Dora anymore. She might know everything. She’s been in the laundry for a long time and said she knew most palace affairs.”
If they could just find Dora, everything would be solved.
She had helped them, after all, and chatted comfortably with them.
So comfortably that A-mang had accidentally spoken about her past.
Well, whatever. She probably forgot it all by now.
“A-mang. What are you talking about?”
“Lady So said that to a maid?”
“That’s impossible. Father ordered absolute silence.”
“Anyone who spoke lost their tongue.”
“Lady So told that person directly?”
“The only ones who knew were Yeonyeong Palace and Jayeom Palace.”
“If Lady So had spoken, her tongue would have been cut out.”
“Father even planted spies in the laundry.”
…Huh?
So that means—
Dora was lying?
Then how did Dora know?
“Never heard of a maid named Dora. Anyone who knew that incident would be quite old by now.”
“A maid from Jayeom Palace?”
What?
That’s bad.
I even told her I’m afraid of water!
If that reached the Empress, she didn’t know what would happen.
A chill ran down A-mang’s spine.
It seemed she wouldn’t be living long in this life either.
