Chapter 1. The Half-Wit Princess
Morning sunlight filtered softly through a large window covered with fine hanji paper.
In front of a splendid silk folding screen embroidered with flowers and butterflies sat a little girl, her cheeks puffed out in frustration.
Her face looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment, but her clear, wide eyes, neat nose, and smooth round forehead gave her an elegant charm far beyond her young age.
Still, the tears welling in her eyes and her trembling lower lip made it obvious—she was just a five-year-old child.
After staring down at the desk for a while, sniffling, the girl finally threw down the tangram pieces she had been holding.
Then she raised her tearful eyes toward the middle-aged court lady who had been carefully watching her.
“Nanny…”
As soon as she spoke, tears like pearls began to fall.
“Oh, Princess!”
Startled, Court Lady Park quickly pulled out a silk handkerchief and rushed over.
“My lady, what is the matter?”
She gently wiped the child’s tear-soaked face and held her small, soft hands.
“Were you upset by Her Majesty the Queen’s command this morning?”
The girl shook her head slowly, her lips still trembling.
“No… I’m not upset. But… I don’t like myself.”
“W-What? My lady, how can you say such a thing?”
How could such words come from a child only five years old?
Court Lady Park widened her eyes in shock, flustered by the anger she saw in the child’s gaze.
“M-My lady, please don’t say such things. I wouldn’t know what to do.”
The little princess clenched her fists tightly, biting her lower lip before speaking again in a tearful voice.
“What’s the point of being a princess? Everyone in the palace calls me a half-wit.”
“Oh my goodness, my lady!”
Court Lady Park shook her head, almost in tears herself.
“That is not true! Who would dare say such a thing? Everyone in the palace knows how clever you are. Absolutely not, my lady!”
But the princess pulled her hand away and spoke angrily.
“That’s not true. I know everything. Even Mother doesn’t like me.”
“My lady, that is not so! I know better than anyone how much Her Majesty loves you. As for today’s command—”
“No! Mother is scared of me being strange… and ashamed that I see ghosts!”
Tears streamed down again as the princess squeezed her eyes shut.
“Oh, my poor lady… what should we do…”
Court Lady Park gently patted her face, heartbroken.
“My lady, please listen. I believe you’ve misunderstood Her Majesty’s intentions.”
She took the child’s hands again and looked into her eyes.
“You are still young, so instead of waking early and losing sleep, she wants you to rest well, eat well, and grow strong. Even the Crown Prince only began morning greetings after he turned six.”
“Really?”
“Yes, my lady. So I believe Her Majesty told you to stop morning greetings for your sake.”
“…Did Brother really start at six?”
“Of course. You are simply too clever and took it upon yourself early. From now on, it is enough if you greet Her Majesty Dowager after breakfast.”
“…But I still want to see Mother and Father…”
Court Lady Park sighed softly at the child’s quiet murmur.
“But Her Majesty also sent someone to the royal kitchen for you, did she not?”
“Who?”
The girl’s dark eyes lit up with curiosity.
“A court maid named Seon-mi from the Queen’s kitchen. She is very skilled, especially at making apple preserves and honey pastries—your favorites. Her Majesty personally selected her.”
The princess nodded quietly.
“So please don’t say such things again. You are loved not only by His Majesty and the Queen but also by all the people of this kingdom.”
Court Lady Park smiled gently, hoping to comfort her.
“But… why is there always a strange old ghost next to Mother?”
“My lady!”
Court Lady Park panicked and glanced toward the door.
“Please don’t say such things! Someone might hear. As the royal physician said, you are still recovering from the fever you had during smallpox. That’s why you think you see such things. You must never say this again.”
The princess reluctantly nodded.
“If you rest well and eat properly, as Her Majesty said, you will soon recover.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
“Then… I won’t see ghosts anymore?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Court Lady Park nodded with a sad smile.
***
From the moment she was born, my princess had been beautiful beyond words.
She was the first princess born in a palace that previously had only princes.
The King rejoiced greatly, calling her a blessed gift to the nation, and personally gave her the name Eunhye.
He even built a special residence for her within the inner palace—Hyewon Palace.
As she grew, her intelligence was astonishing.
As soon as she learned to speak, she memorized all the characters of the kingdom.
She even attended the Crown Prince’s lectures, reciting classics like the Xiaoxue and Analects, astonishing the ministers.
And with beauty inherited from the Queen, known as the greatest beauty in the land, she was adored by everyone in the palace.
She was truly the treasure of the entire palace.
But when she turned three, a terrible epidemic—smallpox—spread through the kingdom.
It was as feared as a tiger attack and soon reached the palace.
The youngest, the princess, was the first to fall ill.
For seven days, she hovered between life and death with a high fever, cared for tirelessly by the Queen.
At last, she survived.
But then, an unexpected condition appeared—
She began to see things others could not. And hear them.
An eerie ability no child could bear.
She fainted dozens of times. The royal physicians tried everything, but nothing worked.
Instead, as she recovered physically, she began avoiding people…
Because she could see the ghosts beside them.
The King, devastated, ordered silence.
Only Court Lady Park and one attendant were allowed to know the truth.
But over two years, rumors spread through the palace.
That she wandered alone at night, spoke to empty air, and ran screaming from others.
Looking into Eunhye’s dark eyes, Court Lady Park said gently,
“Everything will be alright. You overcame smallpox, something more terrifying than any beast.”
“…Really…?”
“Of course, my lady.”
At that moment, a voice came from outside the door.
“Princess, the maid sent by Her Majesty has arrived to pay her respects.”
Court Lady Park smiled.
“She has come already. Shall we receive her?”
Eunhye gave a small smile but lowered her gaze.
She feared strangers…
Or rather, what might be attached to them.
“If you are uncomfortable, we can send her away,” Court Lady Park said softly.
After a moment, Eunhye whispered,
“She was sent by Mother… It would be disrespectful to turn her away.”
Court Lady Park smiled sadly.
“I will handle it, so do not worry—”
“No. I will greet her. Let her come in.”
Though frightened, she spoke with quiet dignity.
Court Lady Park nodded and turned.
“Let her enter.”
The door slid open.
Eunhye swallowed hard and lowered her head.
The moment the door opened, a cold chill rushed over her body.
A ghost.
There was a ghost with the maid.
Her heart pounded.
Step, step.
The sound of a skirt dragging closer.
She slowly opened her eyes.
White socks.
A dark blue skirt spread as the maid bowed.
“Greetings to the Princess. I am Seon-mi, assigned from the Queen’s kitchen to serve at Hyewon Palace.”
“…”
No response.
The maid grew nervous.
“…I will serve you with utmost loyalty.”
“…”
Eunhye slowly raised her head, taking a deep breath.
And then—
She saw it.
A ghost.
A boy of about five or six.
Water dripping endlessly from his body.
Clinging to the maid’s back—
His face is dark blue.
