Episode 8
Along with her confusion, a sense of joy surged within Ga-heun. ‘The Sky Lantern Young Master was the Crown Prince! How could such a fate…’ For the past ten years, Ga-heun had failed to keep her promise to meet again on the day of the fire festival. It was only a single encounter, but the connection they shared had been so tender. Thus, without realizing it, she had spent those years yearning for him. To find the person she had pined for here in the palace was shocking enough, but to be bound to him in marriage felt like a miracle. Who could have known the young “Young Master” and “Bam-tol-i” would reunite as the Crown Prince and Princess? In a palace where she knew no one, the thought of having someone to lean on filled her with immense happiness.
Ga-heun eagerly awaited the moment she could speak with him alone. While she agonized over what to ask first, the wedding ceremony concluded. Trying to calm her racing heart, she went to the bridal chamber to wait for the Prince.
The chamber remained silent until deep darkness fell. Having prepared for the ceremony since dawn, drowsiness weighed heavily on her eyelids.
Blink. Beyond the flickering candlelight, a solid chest appeared.
“You must have been tired, Crown Princess.”
The heavy, low voice made the candle flame dance once more.
“Your Highness, when did you arrive?”
“You seem… quite comfortable in this palace.”
“Pardon…?”
Ga-heun’s eyes shook. The Hwi before her was so different from the gentle boy in her memories. She assumed it was because he hadn’t yet realized she was the “Bam-tol-i” from ten years ago. Eager to reveal the truth, she spoke up quickly.
“Your Highness, does looking at me remind you of anyone?”
“It does.”
Hwi’s fierce eyes stared at her without wavering. At his sudden use of informal speech (Hadae), Ga-heun broke into a joyful smile. She thought he had finally remembered her. But it was a tragic misunderstanding.
Thud. Hwi’s large, firm hand suddenly gripped Ga-heun’s jaw. His gaze was filled with nothing but irritation and rage. Half of her face was trapped in his grasp. As he increased his strength, the pain intensified.
“Ugh… Your… Your Highness.”
She swallowed a groan, looking up at him with eyes full of fear and confusion.
“You truly are Min Chi-hyung’s daughter. The resemblance is striking.”
“Especially the coldness held in these eyes—it is identical.”
The moment Ga-heun realized something was terribly wrong, he continued.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know what you’ve hidden beneath your robes with that innocent face? Your scheme to seduce me and conceive a child is transparent.”
Hwi’s hand thrust inside her robes. At the strange, violent touch, Ga-heun forgot how to breathe and her body turned to stone. His hand fumbled through her layers, grabbed something, and pulled it out abruptly. He dangled a pouch before her eyes. Because she had been wearing so many layers, Ga-heun hadn’t even known the pouch was there.
“What… is this?”
“Do not feign ignorance. I am told what lies in this pouch is used to lure men.”
Unlike Ga-heun, who was a mess of distress, Hwi was perfectly composed. Ga-heun began to suffocate, her face flushing deep red from his grip.
“Hnnng…”
A thin whimper escaped her. Hwi’s brow furrowed for a moment before he roughly released her jaw. Ga-heun collapsed to the floor.
“Endure this much pain, Crown Princess. Your father, Left State Councillor Min Chi-hyung, has inflicted far greater agony upon the Royal Family.”
“So, endure everything for the rest of your life. The innocent people who died by the sword he wielded suffered far worse.”
“…”
“Just live prostrate on the floor where you have fallen. Do not forget that is where the Crown Princess belongs.”
Hwi turned and walked out of the chamber. The candles flickered as if they might go out. Ga-heun remained slumped on the floor, unable to steady herself until his footsteps faded completely.
“How… how did you become such a cruel person?”
Hot tears traced a thin line down her cheek.
When Hwi returned to the Eastern Palace, Eunuch Hong approached him hurriedly.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
“I am fine.”
“I have ordered water to wash your hands; it will be brought in shortly.”
Hwi looked down at his hand. The hand that had grabbed the musk pouch was swollen and red. As he dipped his hand into the water brought by a court lady, his lips twisted.
“Musk on the very first night… the Left State Councillor is working hard.”
“I will strictly instruct the ladies serving the Crown Princess that you have a hypersensitivity to musk and must be careful,” the Eunuch said.
“There is no need,” Hwi replied firmly. Wiping his hand, which had calmed slightly, he let out a dry laugh.
“Do not instruct them on anything. That is an order.”
“If they learn the truth, they will simply try to seduce me with something else. I can detect musk instantly, so do not breathe a word to anyone.”
Eunuch Hong obeyed the order, but having served Hwi for a long time, his heart was heavy. When Hwi had entered the bridal chamber, the thick scent of musk had made it difficult to breathe. Enduring the suffocation and the itching sensation that felt like insects crawling over his skin, he had found the Princess dozing off with a peaceful face. His rage had boiled over at that sight.
When he looked into her clear eyes, he had felt nauseous. He realized the scent wasn’t just in the room but on her person. He found the pouch, but touching it caused a breakout. This wasn’t the first time women had tried to use musk to win his favor, but they were usually caught and expelled immediately. To Hwi, it wasn’t a seduction; it was torture.
“From now on, do not report a single word about me to her.”
“But Your Highness, what will you do about the scheduled nights of consummation (Hab-bang)?”
“Consummation? How laughable.” Hwi’s mouth twisted. “Her eyes…”
“Pardon?”
“I wondered where I had seen them… they are exactly like her father’s. Min Chi-hyung is the person I have faced most in this palace. It’s no wonder they look familiar.” Hwi clicked his tongue in disgust.
“Looking into the Crown Princess’s eyes made my blood boil. It wasn’t the desire of a man for a woman; it was murderous intent.”
“I will never embrace that woman. I am not a dog in heat.”
Hwi’s blatant hostility silenced Eunuch Hong. The Royal Family’s resentment toward Min Chi-hyung was reaching its limit, and now that fury was being directed at his daughter.
“Who would I be pleasing by fathering an heir with his daughter? That will never happen.”
Hwi closed his eyes, but the image of the Crown Princess’s reddening face lingered. He told himself it was only because her eyes reminded him of his enemy.
Half a month passed since the wedding. Ga-heun’s days were filled with nothing but formal greetings to the Queen and learning palace etiquette. She hadn’t seen even the hem of Hwi’s robe, but today was different. It was the day the Prince and Princess were to pay their respects to the royal elders together.
Ga-heun had been excited since the day before, but her body betrayed her. Menstrual cramps had set in, leaving her face pale. Her personal maid, Dan-ah, spoke with worry.
“Crown Princess, this won’t do. I must call the physician.”
“No. Today of all days, I am to pay respects with His Highness. I must go, no matter what.”
“Even back home, you would suffer for two days when this started. You look like a ghost.”
“It won’t take long. I can rest afterward. We must hurry; I cannot keep His Highness waiting.”
Ga-heun wasn’t listening. She desperate to have the conversation she couldn’t finish on their wedding night.
