Chapter 10
A small hand tightly gripped Hwiso’s. Warmth spread between their palms.
“Tonight, the secret gate. From the Hour of the Rat to the Hour of the Tiger. Right?”
Haena lifted her gaze, her eyes steady and resolute.
As if she had never trembled at all, her expression was firm.
Hwiso let out a small laugh, surprised by her answer.
“You’re braver than I thought. I figured you were just a crybaby coward.”
Haena clenched her mouth shut. Her tightly pressed lips trembled faintly.
“I am a coward.”
Her muttered voice carried a hint of tears.
Her wide eyes were already brimming with tears.
“I’m scared. If I get caught, I’ll be taken away again and….”
Haena stifled her sobs.
The child who usually sniffled loudly every day was now crying silently.
“But like you said… it’s too pitiful for you here. If you stay, you’ll just keep getting hurt, so….”
As if swallowing her tears, she mumbled incoherently before pressing her lips shut again.
Then she lifted her tear-soaked face.
“I’ll help you just once. I—I’m not confident either. But still….”
Huff.
She took a deep breath, quickly wiped her tears with determination, and stood up.
“I’ll definitely do it. I’ll try, no matter what.”
The way the small child rose to her feet somehow made her seem much larger than she was.
Hwiso stared up at Haena in a daze.
“So you have to get out too. Don’t ever come back.”
Her small hand squeezed his tightly once more before letting go.
Haena wiped her face completely with her sleeve and looked at Hwiso one last time.
Then, without hesitation, she turned and walked away.
Her tiny figure grew smaller and smaller.
Hwiso, who had half-risen from his seat, collapsed back down.
He had never expected her to truly help him.
Because she had seemed weak—always crying, always trembling.
And yet Haena had nodded. Even while crying in fear, she had still agreed to help.
She didn’t even know he was royalty. So why was she going this far for someone who was essentially a stranger?
Hwiso exhaled deeply and lowered his head.
He knew well enough what would happen if her assistance in an escape was discovered. She really was an incomprehensible child.
The more he thought of her, the more his chest ached.
It was already painful enough just being in this condition.
Hwiso slowly raised his head again.
This was a chance he had barely managed to obtain.
Neither this opportunity nor the debt he owed that child could be wasted lightly.
Hwiso escaped Yeonga with his life on the line and successfully reached the palace.
He had reported that something terrible was happening in Yeonga’s underground, but before he could finish his request to save the young maid there, he lost consciousness.
Upon waking, Hwiso immediately asked the palace attendants about Yeonga.
Whether any of the servants there were still alive.
When Lady Kwon tried to reassure him by saying they had all been dealt with, his heart dropped.
Fortunately, some loose-lipped attendants had been gossiping about a young maid from Yeonga taken by Prince Tamrang.
They said she was a child who worked in the underground cellar.
To Hwiso’s knowledge, only one child maid worked in Yeonga’s basement—Haena.
Hwiso immediately requested an audience with his father, asking for Prince Tamrang and the child to be brought to the palace. The king, relieved to see his son alive, granted the request without hesitation.
Even though Hwiso believed it must be Haena, fear still lingered in his heart.
What if it was a different child? What if Haena had already died that lonely day?
But fortunately, the girl who looked like a soaked, swollen dumpling was indeed Haena.
“It really is you.”
Hwiso spoke, steadying his rough voice.
He wished he could talk at ease with her, but his body was not yet fully recovered.
“There’s plenty of time later.”
For now, the priority was what mattered most.
Hwiso tore his gaze away from Haena’s tear-streaked face and spoke.
“Lady Kwon. Give this child the jade token of Nokyo Palace.”
Lady Kwon was startled.
Each palace’s jade token functioned as a pass, and only the palace lord could possess it.
Receiving such a token meant receiving immense trust and recognition from the palace master.
“Your Highness! How can you give something like that to a mere child…!”
“She is not merely a child. She is my benefactor. She saved my life and helped me return to the palace. Why would I hesitate over something like a jade token?”
At the young sovereign’s firm words, Lady Kwon eventually brought out the box containing the jade token.
At Hwiso’s gesture, Haena approached hesitantly. He personally placed the jade token into her hands.
He had heard she was falsely accused as part of a traitor’s family and was in danger.
With this token, she would be protected from that accusation.
For a brief moment, their hands touched—rough, yet warm. He had intended to tell her not to cry, but instead a cough burst out.
“Cough, hack…!”
His sudden coughing fit made Haena stop crying in shock. Alarmed attendants rushed in.
The surrounding noise felt distant. Through the commotion, Hwiso saw Haena being led away.
Her round eyes were filled with tears.
Hwiso forced a faint smile and whispered,
‘Let’s meet again.’
Haena left Nokyo Palace in a daze.
Her eyes were still red, and in her hands she held a smooth jade-green token.
Passing palace attendants cast curious glances at them.
Most of their attention was fixed on the jade token in Haena’s hands.
The palace was a place where even the walls had eyes and ears.
The small incident inside Nokyo Palace had likely already spread widely.
Haena fidgeted under the overwhelming gazes.
Seowan, without stopping the curious attendants, simply lifted Haena onto a horse.
She was quiet, but not foolish. In time, Haena’s situation would resolve itself without her interference.
As expected, just six days later—
Servants from various noble households began knocking at the gates of the Yulga estate, each carrying expensive gifts for a child.
It was understandable.
The child once branded as a remnant of traitors had turned out to be the prince’s benefactor. Of course people would rush to curry favor.
Moreover, the current Tamrang Star Lord followed only the king’s command and belonged to no faction.
With the child favored by such a figure, some believed they might even win over Tamrang through her.
Seowan did not remember the names of those who sent gifts, but she did not refuse anything sent to Haena either.
It was expected, so no one in the estate was surprised.
Except for one person.
Haena.
“W-what is all this?”
Awakened by the noise, Haena opened the door beside her room and asked, pale-faced.
“Oh my, you woke up so early. Was it too noisy?”
Cheongyeon, who had been organizing items, approached her with a smile. Haena blinked, staring at the mountain of boxes.
The stacked boxes were taller than she was and clearly made of expensive wood.
From those boxes, luxurious items—clothes, accessories, shoes, and toys—were continuously being taken out.
“These are all gifts for you, young lady. Would you like to change first and then take a look?”
Cheongyeon said gently. Haena looked up at her, completely stunned.
“M-mine?”
“Yes.”
“W-why, why, why?”
Unlike the cheerful Cheongyeon, Haena was terrified and overwhelmed.
“This must be a mistake. Th-this is all….”
“A mistake? Not at all, young lady! They are definitely addressed to you, Haena.”
A lively voice cut off her stammering.
It was a plump maid with a friendly face.
“I knew it would turn out like this. How could such a tiny child be a traitor? People who knew nothing were just running their mouths, and now they’re all scrambling!”
Her freckled cheeks moved rapidly as she spoke.
While continuing to organize the items quickly, she smiled brightly at Haena.
“Oh right, I’m Yeongseo. My, my, young lady. You’re even cuter up close! Just like my youngest sibling!”
Yeongseo reached out as if to pat Haena’s head.
But another maid with a calm demeanor grabbed her hand.
“You’ll startle the young lady.”
“Oh please, you’ll scare her more with your tone!”
At the sharp remark, the woman’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. Then she looked at Haena.
“I am Huiwon. I will be serving you from now on.”
Her tone was blunt. But instead of being afraid, Haena simply stared at her.
‘She looks a little like my sister.’
Their appearances were completely different, but the feeling they gave off was similar.
Perhaps misreading Haena’s reaction, Huiwon looked uncomfortable.
Yeongseo laughed loudly and patted Huiwon’s shoulder.
“See? I told you she wouldn’t be scared. You’re in trouble now! The young lady will soon be formally under the Yulga household!”
Haena, carefully studying Huiwon’s face, slowly widened her eyes.
“Me?”
