Episode 11
As promised, Danseol was reassigned to the royal pharmacy the very next day. No one came to see her off.
On the contrary, sideways glances and hushed whispers followed her departure.
> “She’s suddenly moving to the pharmacy? Do you know anything about that?”
> “Well, I heard someone from Hwayoungjeon came for her last night.”
> “Hwayoungjeon? You mean Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager summoned her personally? Why?”
> “Who knows. Maybe she pulled another sly trick while running an errand there.”
Every murmur was laced with scorn. From the day Danseol arrived at the laundry quarters, she had been disliked.
> “Look at that ghostly pale face. I bet she became a court lady just to seduce His Majesty.”
With her unpainted yet noble features, Danseol radiated the elegance of a high-born lady. Her porcelain-white skin, glossy black hair that shone like it had been combed with camellia oil, and her delicately balanced features made even the plain court attire look like celestial garments. Whether eunuchs or ladies, people couldn’t help but turn their heads when she passed.
> “Maybe she flirted with the eunuch from Hwayoungjeon, not the Grand Empress Dowager herself.”
> “No way…”
> “My roommate’s cousin said someone did that once—flirted with a eunuch—and got beaten to death.”
The court ladies giggled among themselves as if discussing a funny story, all while tearing Danseol apart with their words.
*Don’t mind them.*
Despite the blatant ridicule, Danseol kept her head high and her posture straight. There was no reason to be cowed by their malice.
Of course, she knew the pharmacy staff would likely treat her no better. But she had already made up her mind.
*Remember this: I didn’t come here to play.*
Danseol curled her hand into a fist.
Her purpose was revenge.
A task so dangerous it might cost her life—petty gossip couldn’t so much as touch her. Just thinking about what lay ahead was overwhelming enough.
Upon arrival, she was assigned to shadow a senior court lady who would train her. The pharmacy ladies wore narrow-sleeved clothing for easier movement and covered them with white aprons.
The royal pharmacy of Hwangseon was larger than Danseol had expected. Behind the official wing where court physicians worked was a bustling area where lower-ranked ladies and apprentice physicians handled various tasks.
> “This is where the decoctions are prepared. Since it involves fire, we must always remain alert.”
Peeking through a slightly ajar door, Danseol saw young men—likely physicians—fanning the fire beneath boiling cauldrons. In the back, two court ladies were organizing dried herbs.
> “Next, I’ll show you the storage chambers.”
Danseol followed the senior court lady closely.
> “This is where the royal medicinal herbs are stored.”
Inside the grand hall were countless varieties of herbs. Bundles of dried plants hung from the walls and beams, while endless rows of drawers held meticulously sorted ingredients. The pungent, earthy aroma was so strong that it made Danseol dizzy.
And this was only one of the three halls dedicated to storage.
> “Cover your mouth and nose before entering.”
Danseol wrapped the offered cloth around her face. It was likely for both hygiene and to block the overwhelming scent. A single misstep could easily lead to fainting.
> “The court ladies here are responsible for ventilating the space twice daily and ensuring new and old herbs don’t mix.”
The explanation sounded simple, but Danseol could tell just how grueling it would be to manage all this. On the shelves, she even spotted rare herbs she’d only ever read about in books.
*Perhaps… what I’m looking for is here.*
And that made this position all the more valuable.
Her true objective was to obtain poison. The kind that could kill an emperor.
That was why she had come to the pharmacy in the first place.
> “Excuse me, ma’am.”
> “What is it?”
> “Would it be possible for me to learn how to manage this storage room? I’ve always been interested in herbs and would like to learn if I may.”
Her voice was earnest, her eyes pleading. The senior lady turned away uncomfortably, avoiding Danseol’s gaze.
> “That… won’t be possible.”
> “Why not?”
> “His Majesty issued an order yesterday, following the incident at Hwayoungjeon. Only senior court ladies are permitted to manage the herbs.”
> “You mean…”
> “It used to be done jointly with lower-ranking ladies, but no longer.”
A faint crack appeared on Danseol’s otherwise composed brow.
> “Then… what will my duties be?”
Even as she asked, she assumed she’d at least get to handle the herbs indirectly.
> “You’ll be fetching water.”
The answer drained the color from her face.
> “I’m thinking of assigning her to the pharmacy,” she had once said.
> “Very well,” came the effortless reply.
*So that’s why the permission came so easily…*
Danseol could almost feel the smirk that had followed her request—sharp and bitter.
Gyeom had known all along. He’d seen through Danseol’s request to be stationed in the pharmacy and recognized her impure intentions.
To grant her hope only to drag her into despair—what a cruel man.
Then again, the Emperor of Hwangseon, no matter how small his nation, had ruthlessly slaughtered the royals of neighboring countries without hesitation.
What had she expected from such a man?
> “What are you doing? We have other places to see. Hurry.”
> “…Yes.”
As she followed the senior lady out, Danseol turned her head one last time to look at the towering walls filled with medicinal herbs.
*I will never give up.*
Even if she had to sacrifice her life, she would see her vengeance through—for her parents, and for the fallen Seolhwa.
That was the reason she lived.
—
> “What? The water’s already gone?”
A senior court lady inspecting the water jar waved Danseol over.
> “You there. Go fetch more water.”
> “Yes, ma’am.”
> “We’ll be using a lot today, so make sure to fill the jar in the back as well.”
The barked orders rang behind her as Danseol let out a weary sigh. The water pail felt heavier than ever today.
It had been ten days since she was assigned to the pharmacy.
And in those ten days, not a single opportunity had come her way. She had done nothing but fetch water and run menial errands. Her initial resolve seemed laughable now.
This slow suffocation was worse than hopelessness. When hope glimmered just out of reach, it became all the more agonizing. You couldn’t help but expect—only to be disappointed again and again.
When Danseol arrived at the well, two other court ladies were already drawing water and chatting.
She waited nearby, standing a respectful distance away.
> “Did you hear?”
> “What is it?”
> “His Majesty declared that anyone assigned night duty will get two full days off.”
> “Really? That’s amazing!”
Previously, night duty had earned them a single day of rest—barely even that. By the time they switched shifts at dawn and returned, it was well past the morning hour of *sishi*.
After sleeping off the exhaustion, their ‘day off’ would already be gone. And then it was back to work the next morning.
But now, two days off? That was extraordinary.
> “His Majesty is not only handsome but kind as well.”
> “A sage among kings.”
> “It’s such a shame that he doesn’t keep women close.”
> “What, hoping for a royal favor? Dream on.”
The two laughed as they carried off their filled water jars, leaving the well in silence.
Danseol approached the edge.
> “A sage? More like a tyrant.”
She scowled as she flung the bucket down the well.
Life as a court lady had shown her something strange: Gyeom was surprisingly well-regarded.
Even the most ruthless tyrants never received such widespread praise—not unless it was forced. But here, the palace women genuinely seemed to revere him.
> “…How bizarre.”
Danseol didn’t want to understand. She didn’t want to accept it.
She yanked the bucket back up, only to throw it down again in frustration.
By the time the endless tasks were done, dusk had fallen. As the night-shift ladies arrived, others began trickling out of the pharmacy.
Danseol followed in their wake—or she tried to.
> “You there.”
A man, clearly a physician, stopped her.
> “Me?”
> “Yes. I need a small favor…”
He gestured subtly, and another physician stepped forward, handing her a bowl of herbal decoction.
> “Could you deliver this to the place I specify?”
> “Shouldn’t you deliver it yourself, sir…?”
> “Are you refusing my request?”
> “N-no, of course not.”
Startled by the sudden scolding, Danseol quickly accepted the bowl. She couldn’t afford to make enemies—not over something so trivial. That would only make her movements more restricted.
She set off in the direction he indicated. The area was quiet—too quiet. Not even other palace staff could be seen.
> “This place…”
Danseol halted in her tracks, eyes wide as she looked up at the building before her.
It was the place where she had first met Gyeom.
