Chapter 36 …..
The scorching summer continued relentlessly. The king had specially sent ice for their mother, who could barely eat properly due to the heat and her approaching childbirth.
Although this special treatment was not extended to Hong Seunghwi, their mother avoided cold food entirely, worried it might harm the baby in her womb. Only Hong Ah and Hong Yeon, who got to enjoy the refreshing omija tea with floating ice, found life truly delightful.
“Your Highness, the baby!”
Now, whenever someone called out urgently, Hong Ah felt her heart sink.
Though the palace ladies were generally calm, following the composed demeanor of their young master since childhood, palace life wasn’t always peaceful. Sometimes, commotion like this would erupt.
“What is it?”
Hong Ah had been standing by the fully opened window, eyes closed, enjoying the summer breeze. She slowly opened her eyes as light gradually filled the previously dark room.
“The Crown Princess requests your presence urgently,” the maid said.
“The princess?”
A chill ran down her spine. It wasn’t unusual for their mother to call for Hong Ah, but with her due date near, it was impossible not to feel nervous.
“Could it be that the labor has started?”
“I am told she began experiencing labor pains about an hour ago,” Nani replied.
Even with Nani’s words, Hong Ah found it hard to truly believe. She didn’t want to admit that the moment to send her mother away was drawing near.
“And Hong Yeon?”
“She went to see the little prince as soon as the labor began. She has now moved to the residence of Yang Guiin,” Nani said.
“I see. That’s good.”
Hong Yeon had been prone to illness since childhood, so it was wise for her to stay away from the palace during times like this. At least she had a chance to say goodbye to their mother before moving.
Hong Ah straightened her crumpled crimson skirt, freshly made by her mother.
“I must hurry.”
Her steps quickened. She feared she might not get to see her mother properly one last time. Her unusually fast pace made the accompanying palace ladies anxious as well.
“Shall I help you, Your Highness?”
“And the princess?”
“She has a brief pause in her contractions, and the physician is checking her pulse. She said you should come immediately,” the maid replied.
As Hong Ah entered the inner palace, the physician who had just finished checking her pulse was standing. Hong Ah acknowledged the physician with her eyes, and as the door closed behind her, she ran to her mother.
“Mother!”
“Oh, my Hong Ah, acting like a little child,” her mother greeted her with a pale face but a smile. The contractions were coming and going. Doctors and palace attendants were fully prepared and waiting nearby. The urgency of the moment was undeniable.
“You must be strong,” Hong Ah said softly, though all she could offer was a semblance of courage, a tiny hope.
So much had already changed. Maybe her mother’s death could be prevented? Though instinct told her it would happen as foretold, she couldn’t give up hope.
“Hong Ah,” her mother said, briefly embracing her daughter. Her hands trembled as they patted Hong Ah’s back. Hong Ah could see her mother was just as afraid of the situation as she was.
“My dear child,” her mother swallowed her tears before speaking, her hands gripping Hong Ah’s shoulders tightly. Though trembling, her grip was firm.
“Listen to me carefully from now on.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Her mother slid a letter across to Hong Ah. Glancing at the sealed envelope, Hong Ah responded calmly,
“Please tell me what you wish to say.”
“You must keep this letter safe and show it to no one.”
Her mother spoke deliberately, ensuring every word was conveyed. She did not wipe away her tears, speaking with a clarity and authority unlike any other time.
“If anything happens to me, you and Hong Yeon will need to leave the palace temporarily to avoid misfortune. Before leaving, you must deliver this to Father. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“You must keep this letter safe until then. Show it to no one. Understand?”
“I will.”
“And when Father gives it to you and asks what I said, you must tell him that it was my final will and must be honored.”
“…Yes, Mother.”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, I will remember.”
Her mother pressed the slightly crumpled letter into Hong Ah’s hand. Its folds seemed to tear at her heart.
“I’m sorry for burdening you until the very end.”
“Do not say that,” Hong Ah replied.
“Take care of your younger siblings.”
“I will protect them, Mother. Do not worry.”
Hong Ah repeated her promise over and over. The only thing she could do to reassure her mother was to vow to protect her siblings, and she could repeat this promise dozens of times if needed.
“Do you know how happy I am to be your mother?”
Her mother’s voice choked with emotion, yet she held Hong Ah’s hand tightly, speaking with a melancholic smile.
“When you were a baby, this hand was so tiny. Look at how much you’ve grown.”
Outside, preparations for the birth of a new life were underway.
Inside the room, however, the atmosphere was heavier than ever, filled with the despair of a mother facing death and a daughter preparing to send her off. Breaths felt stuck, as if submerged in dark water. Words failed them both.
“I wanted to live to see you married. I wanted to prepare everything, your dowry, all the little things,” her mother said.
“Do not worry, Mother. This may be just a nightmare. Perhaps it isn’t real,” Hong Ah replied, intentionally offering hope.
If even this hope were lost, neither mother nor daughter could endure. Understanding Hong Ah’s efforts, her mother no longer voiced regrets. Together, they silently prepared for parting.
It was a difficult birth. Though Hong Yeon’s premature birth had been tough, this labor was even more excruciating.
The king had sent the royal physician, and the palace doctors brought dozens of clean cloths. Every time a bloodstained cloth was carried from the inner palace, everyone anticipated the severity of the Crown Princess’s condition.
It was like walking on thin ice. Hong Ah did not move from the Yeonggyeong Hall, waiting anxiously for news.
Even when she heard that Hong Yeon had cried herself to sleep while seeking her mother, she refused to give up hope. Any faint glimmer of hope was her lifeline, her anchor in the unbearable hours.
Yet, she did not rely solely on hope. She spent time reviewing the lists Isan had brought, eliminating names of those who might pose danger, endlessly occupying herself.
“Your Highness!”
Nani, who had gone to check on the situation in the inner palace, ran in, drenched from the morning rain. Whether it was from tears or the rain, Hong Ah could not tell.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“What is it?”
“The heir, the first son, has been born!”
It was truly joyous news. The rain-soaked palace suddenly seemed filled with the heat of celebration.
The first son. Those who had worried about the lack of an heir in the Crown Prince’s residence could finally breathe easy. The king, overjoyed, announced the birth and issued a formal proclamation, hoping the heir would grow under blessings.
Though the Crown Princess lost consciousness after giving birth and developed a high fever, everyone assumed it would be a passing aftereffect.
Only Hong Ah, learning of her mother’s fever, anxiously urged the physicians. They concentrated fully on the Crown Princess’s recovery.
“Throughout history, no monarch has ignored the importance of heirs. The Crown Prince, nearing thirty, still had no successor, causing much concern. Now, the Crown Princess has finally given birth to a legitimate grandson. My joy cannot be fully expressed. This is truly an auspicious occasion.”
Meanwhile, a palace maid reported the king’s proclamation of the heir’s birth to the Yeonggyeong Hall attendants, adding:
“However, while the king was issuing the decree, a candle suddenly fell. It did not ignite a larger fire, but everyone was startled by the unexpected event.”
“How could that happen…”
The nurse muttered, covering her mouth. It was an ominous sign, no explanation needed.
That night, Hong Ah could not sleep. She closed off everyone around her and opened the window facing the charity hall, watching silently.
Though her mother was nearby, Hong Ah, as the Crown Prince’s daughter, could not rush to her mother’s side to witness her final moments. That was the law of the royal family.
For the first time, she resented being born as the Crown Prince’s daughter.
She recalled the last face of the Crown Princess she had seen a few days earlier—her mother, crying yet resolute, conveying her will. Even trying not to cling to hope, Hong Ah could not help it when it came to family.
Hong Ah spent the night sleepless. At dawn, she finally heard the unmistakable wail of grief through her clouded hearing.
Ah… it is over.
It did not take long for the nurse to rush into the inner quarters. Hong Ah humbly accepted the inevitable news.
If this was her mother’s wish, she would comply willingly.
Soon after, the official bulletin and decree announced the Crown Princess’s death.
Crown Princess Kwon had passed away. Kwon was the daughter of Jungchuwonsa Kwon Jeon, named Seon-ui. She bore two daughters and, though she had given birth to the first son, tragically fell ill and died.
