Chapter 22 …
Grand Prince Anpyeong, who had gone into the palace early in the morning, had yet to send word, and the Lady had gone out, saying she had business at a temple. She wasn’t sure whether things were going smoothly for them, but since they weren’t immediately in front of her, she finally felt her tension ease.
Hong-ah had woken up early but hadn’t moved a single step from her chamber. After keeping her nerves strung tight for so long, what she needed most was rest.
“Miss, shall I bring your lunch tray to your room?”
“I don’t need to eat.”
“The Grand Prince Anpyeong’s household sent over side dishes. Madam said she set some aside for you.”
“In that case, set them out in the sarangchae. I’ll come out slowly once I’m ready.”
Hong-ah lowered the blanket she had pulled up to her chin down to her stomach. She simply didn’t want to get up. It was a leisure she could never have enjoyed inside the palace.
“Phew.”
Still, lying around too long made her feel restless. Idling about was only easy for those who had experience with it.
Moving sluggishly, she finally sat up. Her nurse appeared at once, carrying a basin of water. She had already been living here for seven years; having someone wash her face for her now felt quite natural.
The sensation of a warm towel on her skin was always pleasant. It felt as though the warmth seeped into her perpetually tangled heart.
“Um, Young Miss.”
Just as Hong-ah was changing out of her sleepwear, Nani’s cautious voice came from outside.
At Hong-ah’s signal, the nurse raised her voice to allow Nani in. Judging by her slightly tousled hair, she had been in the middle of setting the table when she was called. She glanced awkwardly at the nurse before bowing her head politely.
“A guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
A sudden visitor? With both Grand Prince Anpyeong and his wife away, there should have been no one who would come looking for her at this house. Hong-ah tilted her head in puzzlement.
“Well… it seems they slipped out secretly.”
Only then did Hong-ah realize why Nani was speaking so hesitantly. She scowled and let out a sigh.
“Bring them quietly to the sarangchae, without drawing attention. Is it both of them?”
“Not just two… but three.”
“Hm?”
Was there another idle uncle who had nothing better to do than join those two troublemakers in sneaking out of the palace? No. More likely, they had dragged along a companion to share in their scolding.
But seeing Nani’s troubled expression, Hong-ah no longer had the energy to question it. She simply waved her hand.
“Whether it’s two or three, just keep them quietly in the sarangchae. No doubt my uncles found themselves a pitiful scapegoat. If they say they haven’t eaten, then prepare an extra setting for them.”
“Yes?”
Only much later did Hong-ah realize there had been a reason Nani had looked so alarmed at the idea of dining together.
Once she finished preparing, Hong-ah hurried toward the sarangchae.
The thought of her two shameless uncles waiting for her there made her crave cold water. Hearing their all-too-familiar voices drifting out of what had been her private, comfortable space until yesterday only made it worse.
“You couldn’t even wait that little while…!”
Without sparing a thought for decorum, Hong-ah flung the door open. The murmuring voices cut off abruptly.
Inside, one lay sprawled about as if it were his own chamber, another had already started eating despite the host not having arrived yet. And then—
“Hong-ah, you’re here?”
Prince Ikhyeon, practically lying flat on the floor, waved his hand.
But Hong-ah couldn’t even glance his way. She couldn’t tear her eyes from the third person—the one she had thought was a naive scapegoat.
It was a face she knew. A boy she had believed she would never see again.
At Ikhyeon’s words, the boy softly repeated her name, “Hong-ah.” Why on earth was that boy here in her house, sitting with them? The utterly unexpected sight made her head ache.
“Ah, this one here is our convenient excuse,” Ikhyeon added, perhaps noticing her dismay. Hardly a proper introduction, but accurate enough.
The boy rose with composure, clasped his hands before his stomach, and bowed.
“I am Han-gyeom of the Choi family, grandson of the former Sungkyunkwan scholar Choi Seunghong and second son of Choi Haepyeong, inspector of the Office of Censors.”
When he raised his head, his gaze met Hong-ah’s directly. It was steady, sharp, as though piercing straight through her. It was clear Han-gyeom remembered that day with her.
“I am Lady of Danyang,” Hong-ah answered quickly, worried that if she said more, her uncles might catch on.
Her uncles might laugh at any mischief she got into, but the royal household had rules. If it became known that the Crown Princess had spent a whole meal’s worth of time speaking with an unrelated boy, that was unacceptable.
“It is an honor to meet you, my lady,” Han-gyeom said.
Thankfully, he wasn’t entirely lacking in tact. Though his eyes seemed to recall their encounter in the library, his voice and demeanor were perfectly polite, leaving no room for reproach.
Apart from Prince Suchun sneaking a curious glance at the two, it was a flawless cover.
“So, what brings you all the way here? Surely the palace isn’t lacking in meals.”
Fearing her quick-witted uncles would pry further, Hong-ah hurried to change the subject. Growing up with them had its uses—she knew exactly how to handle them.
“Isn’t this your first time outside the palace? We were so worried for you, your uncles couldn’t sleep a wink last night,” Ikhyeon declared.
“Ah, I see.”
“As elders of the family, we thought it our duty to look in on you, make sure you were well.”
Ikhyeon’s excuses flowed as smoothly as water. Suchun nodded solemnly in agreement. Hong-ah smiled thinly.
“Ah, so sneaking out secretly is the duty of uncles, then. Should we send a letter of thanks to your mothers, letting them know what dutiful sons they’ve raised?”
“Doesn’t the proverb say, let not the left hand know what the right hand is doing?”
“How very admirable.”
Hong-ah sighed deeply. If their mothers found out, there would be an uproar, yet they were perfectly calm. But then, the two of them had been slipping in and out of the palace ever since they received their princely titles last year; they had long since stopped fearing their mothers’ scoldings.
“We slipped out quietly and happened to meet this one near the palace gates,” Ikhyeon explained.
“A fortunate coincidence. He happens to be exactly the kind of friend my mother wants for me. Makes for a convenient excuse, don’t you think?”
So that was it. They had sneaked out, and by chance run into Han-gyeom, using him as a shield all the way here. Even if they were caught, spending time with their teacher’s grandson would silence any reproach.
With a weary tone, Hong-ah said, “Well, you’ve confirmed I’m safe, so that’s enough. I’ll stay in the inner quarters, so please finish eating and return to the palace.”
“Why not eat with us?”
“It isn’t just my uncles here.”
She gave a meaningful glance.
Her uncles, having grown up around her, sometimes forgot their manners. But ever since she was seven and formally granted a title, it was unthinkable for her to dine in the same room as an unrelated man.
At last, her uncles seemed to realize, and their expressions turned apologetic.
“Did we trouble you?” Suchun’s voice wavered in that way she could never resist. Hong-ah forced a smile and shook her head.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t hungry anyway.”
“I’ll excuse myself,” Han-gyeom said quickly.
In truth, if he left, the issue would be resolved. But Hong-ah didn’t want to drive away someone who had likely been dragged here against his will. She scratched her chin thoughtfully.
“Uncles, you came here in the capacity of family elders, correct?”
“Hm? Oh—yes.”
“If the elders of the family permit it, then is dining with an unrelated man really such a fault?”
“Of course not!” Ikhyeon answered instantly.
Though it had only been two days, he was in no hurry to part ways with Hong-ah again.
Thanks to their quick agreement, Hong-ah finally sat down at the table. Of course, her nurse insisted she sit properly upright, but the meal proceeded peacefully.
“These side dishes were sent by Lady Anpyeong,” Hong-ah remarked.
“Ah, really? It seems she manages the household very well,” Ikhyeon replied with dignity.
Hong-ah poked idly at the food with her chopsticks.
Ikhyeon always kept a careful distance from the Crown Prince and the other legitimate royal sons. He never called them ‘brother.’ It was a matter of etiquette, but also of drawing lines.
In time, he would become one of the most powerful officials of the Left. He was someone to watch carefully. If such a man grew close with Grand Prince Anpyeong, it could mean a shift in power. That thought weighed on Hong-ah’s mind.
“In any case, Hong-ah, while you’re outside the palace, if there’s anything you wish to do, just tell us. We know this city inside and out,” Ikhyeon said.
“That’s right. If there’s anywhere you’d like to go, just say so,” Suchun added brightly.
Whether they understood her worries or not, the two spoke cheerfully.
Hong-ah fell silent, lost in thought.
She did want to accomplish as much as possible, since opportunities to leave the palace were rare. But if she stirred up too much in the short time she had, dealing with the aftermath would be more trouble than it was worth.
She needed to focus on the most important task. But could she really rely on these troublemakers to help her?
As it happened, there was something she had been worrying over even before leaving the palace. After some hesitation, she spoke in a doubtful voice—
