・・・・・
“Insolent wench. You’re not even part of the palace, yet you dare to act so noble right in front of me?”
Returning to her chambers, Yuhwa let out a scoff as she recalled the woman she’d met earlier that day, someone called Yewon. Watching her, drenched in sweat yet still trying to hold a conversation, had honestly been quite laughable.
“The weather’s warming, and seeing her drenched in sweat is rather amusing.”
“Is that so, my lady?”
“Do you know how terribly I suffered from that fever? Considering all the trouble I endured because of that wench, this is nowhere near enough.”
Gnash.
Gritting her teeth behind her beautiful face, Yuhwa thought of that woman with a face and petite figure not even as pretty as her own. Frustration welled up as she wondered why the king would take an interest. Having met Yewon in person, that woman wasn’t particularly different from the rest of them in figure or manner, yet her unusual hair colour and exotic features set her apart.
When she first came face-to-face with that woman whose looks could hardly be called beautiful, she had a hard time maintaining her expression. But seeing her cautious demeanour and the obvious nervousness of a face less pretty than her own, a natural smile formed on her lips.
Compared to the other candidates she had competed against, this woman was hopelessly lacking, and the thought that it would be easier to drive her out of the palace only lifted her spirits further.
The king’s interest likely came from the peculiarity of her being completely different from the women he had met until now. In time, he would lose interest and turn his attention to her.
“Now that I’ve actually met her, it feels like a ten-year-old burden has been lifted.”
“There is no one more beautiful than my lady. That wicked woman who has troubled you will soon be driven out of the palace.”
“That’s right. It seems being by my side is making you smarter.”
“I humbly apologise, my lady. I will continue to do my best to learn.”
With her slender, pale hand, Lady Yuhwa grabbed a yugwa her maid had brought and took a bite. As the sweetness spread pleasantly in her mouth, her mood lifted, and she examined her reflection in the mirror from various angles.
Then, as if a thought had just occurred to her, she spoke to the maid.
“Prepare the rice and money to give to Unyeong.”
“Yes, my lady.”
・・・・・
“Um… General...”
Though it had only been a few days since she started going to the palace, Madam Gyeongin, troubled by something that wouldn’t leave her mind, went to see General Hunmu after returning late that night.
He was a good person who spoke politely and treated others with kindness, but even so, he was someone difficult to face alone.
Seeing Madam Gyeongin, who had overcome her hesitation to come, General Hunmu briefly closed the book he was reading and turned toward her.
"Is something the matter?"
“It has… only been a few days, so I wonder if it is right for me to say this…”
"Please speak."
“Lady Yewon is doing well in the palace without any problems… however…”
“...”
“I am concerned about the medicinal tonic that Sucheong brings.”
“Medicinal tonic?”
Madam Gyeongin carefully recounted to General Hunmu the events she had experienced in the palace over the past few days. Although Sucheong was taking good care of Yewon, the medicinal tonic she had been giving recently seemed unusual.
Though Sucheong had shown no particular resistance to her sudden arrival, she insisted on preparing the tonic alone, never letting anyone watch while doing so.
Madam Gyeongin didn’t know exactly when Yewon had started taking the tonic, but seeing her sweat unusually much, she secretly checked what it was.
Although Yewon didn't speak much yet, as she was still adjusting to this world, she was a kind-hearted person, and Madam Gyeongin was deeply concerned for her.
Not knowing much about the herbs, Madam Gyeongin secretly took a small amount and showed it to the royal physician, who told her it was an expensive medicine good for restoring vitality.
Even after double-checking, Madam Gyeongin tried to laugh it off and not suspect anything, since she had heard the tonic was good to brew and drink in summer. But seeing Yewon sweat excessively these past couple of days made her uneasy. No matter how good the herbs were, if they didn’t suit Yewon, it was better for her not to take them. Since she couldn’t find out who had given Yewon the medicine, she decided to tell General Hunmu.
"Did you ask the child called Sucheong who brought the medicine?"
“She would not even let me come near, so I could not ask. Lady Yewon has been taking it diligently herself… but I am worried because she is sweating excessively.”
“I understand. Besides that, was there anything else unusual?”
“Other than that… there was nothing in particular.”
“All right. Please go in and rest.”
“Yes… General.”
Worried she might have said something unnecessary, Madam Gyeongin bowed her head in farewell and left. Sucheong, who was always bright and kind, probably hadn’t made a mistake with brewing the herbs, but still, the reason General Hunmu had sent her to the palace was to take good care of Yewon. So if anything seemed unusual, it was her duty to report it.
Still feeling uneasy and scratching her head, Madam Gyeongin soon found Chohee asleep on the porch, as if she had been waiting despite the late hour.
Although Yewon only stayed at the residence briefly, Chohee, who often asked when the young lady with the unusual hair colour would return, had been staying up like this, waiting ever since she learned Yewon was going to the palace.
Having lost both her parents, she has been living here under General Hunmu’s care for already two years. Watching Chohee grow strong and healthy, she was bright and pretty, but it was also heartbreaking to see how deeply she seemed to feel the absence of her parents.
The same feelings arose when she looked at Yewon.
Suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar world and entering the palace, she received the king’s attention, which other court ladies would envy, yet she always cast anxious glances around her.
She sincerely hoped that what she found strange was just her own mistaken thought.
・・・・・
"My lady, the weather is very hot today."
Just as Sucheong said, I could feel the unusual heat from the moment I opened my eyes. The mornings and evenings were still bearable, but after breakfast was cleared away, my mouth was already parched from all the sweating. After taking the medicinal tonic given to me after the meal, I kept fanning myself, unable even to put on my socks.
If I were desperately thinking of the waterfall that was so cold it almost hurt, then today’s heat must be the worst that I have felt since coming here.
Even while sitting still, sweat was pouring down, and I debated for a long time whether to take off my jeogori, but in the end, I left it on. Since today was the day the king would return, and I didn’t know when he might arrive, it would be easy enough to put on my socks quickly, but the jeogori was another matter.
“It really is hot today.”
“My lady, shall I bring you some cold water?”
“Yes, please.”
I didn’t know how the king would treat me when we met again, but maybe I should ask if I could stay outside, at least until the heat passed.
Even just a bamboo mat to sit on right beside the waterfall would be enough to make me want to run out there immediately.
“My lady, General Hunmu has arrived.”
“Huh?”
It was truly a relief that I hadn’t taken off my jeogori. Upon hearing the sudden news that General Hunmu had come early in the afternoon, I quickly slipped on the socks I had taken off and stood up.
Apparently, I was more sensitive to the heat than I thought. The moment he came in, he looked at my face first, and then frowned at the fan I had set down.
I was extremely careful, worried that I might smell of sweat.
“Why… did you come all of a sudden?”
General Hunmu sat in the space I had cleared and once again studied my face. I desperately wished that, at least for now, I wouldn't sweat, but in that brief moment, sweat streamed down my back.
“Is it very hot?”
“…The weather seems unusually hot today.”
“Sit down.”
I should have asked Sucheong to bring cold water earlier, but with my parched lips, I weakly swallowed saliva and sat down opposite General Hunmu.
Unable to fan myself with him right in front of me, a burning heat seemed to rise and dance inside me.
“I heard you’ve been taking medicinal tonics recently.”
“Yes?”
“Who brought you that medicine?”
“Ah... the medicinal herbs were sent by Buyeon Yuhwa.”
“Buyeon Yuhwa?”
“She said she sent it because of the heat, and a few days ago, she even came in person to see me.”
“What do you know about that woman to take the herbs she sent so recklessly?”
“Pardon?”
“There’s no one in this palace you can trust. So what are you putting your faith in?”
But why on earth was General Hunmu suddenly making such a fuss over the medicinal tonic Buyeon Yuhwa sent?
The day was hot, and sweat kept running down. When I frowned at him, he met my gaze with a stiff expression, as if displeased with me.
“How long have you been taking it?”
“…It’s been about four or five days.”
“You didn’t seem so troubled by the heat when you were with me. Could it have started after you began taking the tonic?”
What was this? General Hunmu seemed suspicious about the medicinal tonic Buyeon Yuhwa sent. Yet remembering her gentle tone and soft smile, I couldn’t imagine her as the kind of person who would send anything with strange medicinal herbs.
Even if the tonic was making me feel more sensitive to the heat, it must have been because it didn’t suit my constitution.
“That's not the case. It’s because this place is much hotter than where I used to live. There’s no air conditioning, either.”
“Air conditioning?”
“No… It’s just that there’s nothing cool at all. These clothes are suffocating in this heat, and I want to go somewhere like a waterfall."
As I spoke, my lips quickly dried further, leaving an uncomfortable stickiness in my mouth. On top of that, my clothes were damp with sweat, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.
Even as I answered General Hunmu’s questions, I was breathing heavily. Seeing this, his expression grew even sterner, and he stared at me with a piercing gaze.
“You suffer that much from the heat and still say it’s simply because this place is hot? How foolish.”
“Pardon…?”
“I’ve sensed it ever since you jumped into the waterfall — you’re fearless. Go call that girl, Sucheong.”
“…Why are you suddenly like this? I told you that Buyeon Yuhwa came and sent the tonic to help me take care of my health.”
“I told you to call for Sucheong.”
“...”
I let out a sigh at his voice, as stiff and rigid as his expression.
She must have gone to fetch water for me, so even if I called, there was no way she would be outside.
Not yet accustomed to being waited on or behaving like someone of high rank, I rose to my feet. I was planning to go bring her back myself, but then—!
“!”
As soon as I stood up, a dizzy spell hit me, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
It was the same as the blacking-out sensation I would get when suddenly rising under the scorching sun.
I could hear General Hunmu getting up immediately at the sight of me staggering, but the darkness in front of my eyes didn’t lift. To make matters worse, my legs gave out, and my body swayed backward.
Tuk!
General Hunmu grabbed me firmly, but I tried to steady myself by putting strength into my legs. However, the moment I did, it was as if my body had reached its limit — my mind went completely blank.
The dizziness was unbearable.
Thud.
“Yewon!”
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