“A strange woman showed up?”
The woman, who had been seated inside the lavish palace being attended by her maidservants, sprang to her feet with a sharp cry.
As a result, one of the maidservants who had been massaging her legs and arms was struck in the face by her hand and stumbled back, while the others bowed their heads, gauging her mood.
Cheon Yuhwa — a woman truly worthy of being called a peerless beauty — entered the palace a year ago as the king’s future bride and was now undergoing training to become queen.
In this country, a future queen was required to study everything from top to bottom — even the precise positioning of her hands in motion.
Yet thanks to her dazzling beauty, no one ever truly questioned that she would ascend to the role.
Though her father didn’t hold a high-ranking position, he was still a government official, which granted her eligibility to become queen.
Among the many daughters of prominent noble families, she stood out as the top candidate to enter the palace, thanks largely to her graceful figure and striking beauty.
In truth, many of the other families had hurried to marry off their daughters early, fearing their girls might suffer under the king’s cold and fearsome temperament.
And so, despite her father’s modest status, Yuhwa was able to seize the rare chance to pursue the position of queen.
Despite her beautiful face, Yuhwa was full of jealousy and envy, and with her sharp intellect, the other queen candidates who had entered the palace alongside her had long since returned home.
Due to her cunning sabotage and relentless torment, none of them could endure and had all given up. Yet, no one suspected that she was the one behind it.
“Is she pretty?”
“They say her outfit was strange, and even her hair colour was different.”
“I asked if she’s pretty or not!”
“Th-that… I’m not really sure about that…”
Smack.
“Ah!”
“You fool. If you’re going to speak to me, make sure you’ve fully gathered all the information before reporting!”
“I was wrong.”
Yuhwa, her face full of irritation, tapped her bent knee with her hand.
Just as she had barely sent all her rivals home and was about to receive the king’s full favour alone, a strange woman suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Though she hadn’t even seen the woman’s face yet, Yuhwa was already jealous, fearing that the king, who was usually indifferent even to her dazzling beauty, might show interest in this unknown woman.
When Yuhwa first met the king, despite her strong narcissism, she felt a sudden impulse to be loved by him.
His sharp eyes and a coldness that seemed devoid of emotion were so different from the men who responded to her and held feelings of affection. And so, for the first time, he came to her not as another admirer, but as a ‘man’ — as the opposite sex.
In fact, the rumours surrounding the king were so terrifying they were almost unspeakable, but even those only added to his allure in Yuhwa’s eyes.
“How did His Majesty react?”
“...Well…”
“What? Don’t tell me he actually called her to his bedchambers?”
“…That is what I have been told. But it was probably just to ask a simple question!”
Yuhwa’s room fell silent, as if doused with cold water. The maidservants all held their breath, unsure when her hysteria might erupt, watching her warily.
At the mention of being summoned to the bedchambers, Yuhwa clenched her teeth briefly.
But soon, as if worried a wrinkle might form, she gently stroked her cheek and resigned herself.
How many women had entered his chambers only to come out dead?
“Where on earth did such a thing appear? Like a mudfish trying to muddy a clear pond.”
“My lady, please do not worry too much."
“It’s fine. As long as I’m here, even His Majesty must get permission from the Head Court Lady before taking another woman to his bed. If that had happened, I would’ve heard about it already.”
“You’re absolutely right!”
“She arrived today, you say?”
“Yes, my lady. It is said that General Hunmu brought her.”
“General Hunmu… tsk.”
General Hunmu, the king’s right-hand man and favourite, was always a thorn in Yuhwa’s side.
While other men were so infatuated they practically drooled at the slightest lift of her lips, Hunmu not only disliked her but sometimes even seemed to hate her.
Yet, because he was so close to the king, Yuhwa had no way to deal with him.
At first, she tried to use her beauty to win over everyone around the king, but neither General Hunmu, the king’s right hand, nor Sahwa, his left hand, was easy to sway.
Still, Sahwa was relatively kinder to her than Hunmu. More precisely, Hunmu never openly showed either affection or dislike toward anyone.
“He’s someone I clash with over every little thing.”
Yuhwa kept a blank expression, careful not to let any wrinkles form on her face, as she lay her body back down.
At once, the maidservants rushed over and began massaging her arms and legs, doing their utmost to please her.
“Do you think His Majesty will allow that woman to stay in the palace?”
“What? That can’t be! That strange woman… they said her clothes and shoes were in a bizarre style no one had ever seen before.”
“Hmph… That’s for His Majesty to decide. How would someone as lowly as you possibly know?”
“You’re right, my lady… This girl knows nothing at all.”
“I’m curious. If His Majesty grants her a place in the palace… I’ll make sure that strange woman meets an early end. Within the palace, I alone am enough as Neuru-nim’s [1] woman.”
・・・・・
“It’s a pity. Seeing you makes me slowly start craving the scent of blood.”
My heart dropped with a thud, and my eyes snapped wide open.
How could a person’s expression remain completely unchanged while watching someone’s eyes ripple with such fear?
Meeting General Hunmu filled me with sharp regret; I realised I should have done everything in my power, even raising a desperate fuss, to avoid ever coming face-to-face with the king.
To this man, was a human life worth even less than crushing an ant?
Of all the places to end up, why did the king of this strange land have to be someone so terrifying?
Swoosh.
Grip.
“Ah!”
The king's hand reached out and gently took hold of my chin, then suddenly tightened with force.
Seeing his face up close was like watching a horror film at the peak of suspense, just before the jump scare — my skin crawled with fear.
“What should I do with you?”
“...”
The words 'Please spare me' rose to my throat, but I couldn’t force them out.
I held my breath, my throat tight as if sealed shut — and on the king’s face, a flicker of subtle emotion stirred.
Knock knock.
“Your Majesty. General Hunmu requests a brief audience.”
Though the head court lady’s voice came from outside, his eyes never left mine.
The hand that had gripped my chin slowly moved down to encircle my neck.
His large hand covered almost half my throat, and I couldn’t help but fear he might break my windpipe.
Before I realised it, tears brimmed in my eyes as I looked at him.
Preparing for the civil service exam was tough, but I’d never felt my life was truly in danger until now. It was a terrifying feeling, beyond anything words could express.
“Shall I have him leave for today?”
Even as the head court lady spoke, the king’s gaze stayed locked on my tear-filled eyes. Believing it was truly the end, I closed my eyes — and the tears I’d been holding back slipped quietly down my cheeks.
“Let him in.”
Creak.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I’m sorry to visit at such a late hour, Your Majesty. I have located the tomb you previously instructed me to look into.”
Like a saviour appearing at the height of danger, General Hunmu’s words made the king slowly loosen his grip on me.
Finally, his gaze left me and rested on the man kneeling behind me.
“You found it?”
"Yes, I confirmed it multiple times. It is indeed the person Your Majesty has been searching for."
“Where is it?”
"It’s not far from the palace. If Your Majesty wishes, I can make preparations so we can depart as early as tomorrow."
“Hunmu.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but if the person in that tomb isn’t the woman I’m seeking, I will tear you, the woman you brought, and your entire unit to pieces.”
"You may tear me apart if you wish."
At Hunmu’s words, the king closed his eyes briefly, then, for some reason, glanced at the small sword lying beside him.
Because it was the very sword he’d shown me while asking if it smelled like blood, even that small gesture made my shoulders flinch instinctively.
Seeing my reaction, he shot me a glance, then silently motioned for Hunmu to leave.
“I’m tired today, so come back tomorrow.”
Come back tomorrow? Then, did that mean I had to be alone with the king again?
Please, if only I could leave with that man — Hunmu, was it? Please, God! Buddha! Please!
“What should we do with that woman?”
“Why are you interested in her?”
“Since it’s late and Your Majesty looks tired, I asked out of concern she might disturb you.”
“Hmm. What do you think I want to do with her?”
“I will keep her with me until Your Majesty is rested enough to see her again.”
Chuckle.
“You didn’t come here at this late hour just to check on this woman, did you?”
“No. If Your Majesty orders it, I will kill her immediately.”
“Since she’s a woman from a strange place, she might be of some use.”
“I gave Sahwa all the clothes, shoes, and accessories she was wearing. He will likely report to Your Majesty soon. According to Sahwa, what is certain is that this woman is from a future era, and this is not the first time. A long time ago, there was someone else who claimed to have come from another world, just like her.”
“You talk too much.”
“I humbly apologise.”
Even without them saying much, just hearing the voice of either one made my knees go weak.
Before I knew it, I found myself growing more and more reliant on the man named Hunmu.
Perhaps it was because when he gave me the sweet water called Dalbi — at a time when I was desperately thirsty — that moment etched itself deeply into my mind, and I hoped once again he might help me.
However, with the king cutting him off every time for speaking too long, it didn’t seem like there was much he could do.
The glaring master-servant dynamic made cold sweat pour down my back, soaking my clothes without me even realising.
“Sahwa may want to question this woman. Take her with you.”
Translator's Corner:
[1] The Korean honourific -님 (nim) was used, and since this is intentional, I've kept it. This suffix is normally used after a name as a sign of respect, politeness and honour.
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