Chapter 7
The problem is that she’s a commoner woman. Judging by her temper, it’s obvious that if she realizes I’m not a mere guest, she’ll go berserk.
“It’s expensive medicine.”
Hearing her always mention that it’s expensive, it’s clear she likes money. That makes this easier to handle.
No, rather, she essentially saved my life, so it would be appropriate to summon her to the capital later and grant her a great reward. If I arrange meetings with court physicians or officials, she would be grateful and bow in respect.
Offering her a chance to work at the Hyeminseo (the royal medical office) could also be a good approach. Being praised as the female doctor who saved Lord Yeonwon single-handedly wouldn’t be bad either.
In any case, she’s fortunate. Out of that vast expanse of snow, the one person she found happened to be me, collapsed.
I’m hardly someone who falls easily. Wandering alone in these mountains without any aides or servants is already unusual, let alone collapsing here.
“Consider yourself lucky.”
With that thought, my mind felt fairly at ease.
As I imagined what reward to give her and how she might express her gratitude, the door opened, and Dancho appeared.
“Have you woken up?”
He greeted me politely for once. Perhaps he finally realized I wasn’t an ordinary person. After all, he must have noticed that I was different from the small, provincial gentry he’s used to seeing.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thanks to you, I slept well.”
Yeonwon, trying to be a little kind, reached out his hand. It was a gesture meant to help me turn over in bed.
But Dancho ignored the hand and sat beside me, placing the medicine case down. His hands were busy opening it, taking out the cloth, and separating the ointments.
“……”
Well, next time then.
“Ahem. When do you sleep?”
His expression looked rough, clearly from sleeping in short bursts while taking care of me. Layered in multiple clothes, he didn’t appear especially large, yet somehow he endured.
“You’re much better now; go rest.”
“I’m fine.”
“What if you collapse from overdoing it?”
For once, he seemed genuinely concerned, pausing his hand to look at me. Furrowing his brow, he appeared sincere. I was a little impressed and about to speak when he continued.
“If something happens to you, who will take care of me?”
“……Excuse me?”
“If you feel faint, at least call that broad commoner over. She’s clumsy, but she can manage my care.”
“……”
A sticky silence hung in the air, and I watched him. It seemed as if his fingers gripping the ointment case were tense—but perhaps that was just my imagination.
“I’ll give you one valuable piece of advice.”
Dancho made a clicking sound with his teeth.
“……What is it?”
“Don’t open your eyes so wide. I let it slide because it’s me, but others might misunderstand.”
“……”
“Come on, let me see. Open them nicely for me.”
I lifted my eyes gently as requested, and he scrutinized me. I silently agreed with him.
“Good, there’s no rush.”
That, too, could wait for another time.
“But when will I be able to turn over?”
“Not yet.”
“All the medicine has been applied.”
“No.”
“Don’t answer so bluntly.”
“No.”
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
“……”
My startled gaze avoided his. The momentary silence spoke volumes.
“Ha. I’m the one turning my body, not you. I don’t need your permission. I’ll do it.”
“Go ahead and try. I’ll tie you up tight.”
“You think you can tie me so I can’t move?”
“Do you think I’ll tie you so you can get free?”
The touch spreading the herbs on my shoulder was unusually rough. Even if it felt like smacking, that too was probably my imagination.
“It hurts.”
When I gritted my teeth to say so, his usual curt reply came.
“Expensive herbs. Stay still.”
“That ‘expensive medicine’ excuse again…”
“If the price rises too high, I’d have to argue with the head physician. That would be troublesome for me, so just stay still.”
He spoke politely, yet somehow it felt like I was being scolded.
“Why is a man like you so weak?”
“Weak? Me?”
“You’re complaining because you can’t even endure lying prone.”
“Ha. You don’t understand a man’s body. Lying prone is uncomfortable, especially for a man like me, with a large and sturdy organ.”
“……”
“It’s not weakness, it’s strength.”
My wide eyes blinked in surprise, and for once, my usually cheeky face flushed red. Only then did I realize what I had said.
My lips moved before my words came out.
“What I meant was…”
“Shut up.”
With a polite command, I closed my mouth. Dancho tied a knot tightly on my shoulder, grabbed the medicine case, and briskly left.
The door’s thud echoed like thunder, making my shoulder flinch.
I idly swept my hand across the floor.
⋆★⋆
After dinner, I had apparently dozed off. When I woke, the room was dark.
As I loosened my stiff shoulders, I noticed the water bowl nearby. I wet my lips and gazed at the moonlight flooding the room.
The room was warm—no, hot—and outside was silent. The quiet night stretched as if nothing was happening.
“Will I be able to turn over tomorrow?”
I chuckled. I had gotten used to thinking about whether I could turn over after waking up.
Perhaps mentioning my private parts wasn’t entirely pointless—somehow, a soft extra blanket had been brought and laid on the floor, giving me more comfort.
I moved gently and turned over. Turning toward my uninjured shoulder, the pain was minimal, and I could lie flat.
“Ah, this feels good.”
It did feel good. My hips were a little sore, though.
It felt like hitting a rock after falling off a horse. Snow covered everything, making hazards hard to see.
No wonder the commoner thought the bruises hadn’t fully healed. The ointment applied with a spoon did reduce pain and fade bruises effectively.
“At this rate, ten days to two weeks should be enough.”
Fortunately, because eating and sleeping were routine, my strength was returning quickly.
If I hadn’t used poison, I’d already have stood up by now.
“……”
I hadn’t expected poison. Poison could be traced easily. That she risked it meant she had invested everything in this plan.
It meant I was a difficult opponent and that she was genuinely committed to eliminating me.
Human desire drives people to bold and reckless acts.
“Who could it be…”
The king had five sons: one with the current queen, four with consorts.
Crown Prince Iyong, the only legitimate heir and eldest son, had a secure position. The next throne would naturally go to him—at least until his illness worsened.
When rumors spread that the crown prince would die without an heir, the previously peaceful court began to stir. People quietly discussed succession, and one strong candidate was Lord Yeonhwa.
It made sense—Yeonhwa was the king’s second son, raised by his sister and the queen after losing his mother early. He was close to the crown prince and intimate with the queen. His mother, Lady Kyungbin Kang, had been dearly loved by the king.
Yeonhwa grew more like a prince than a mere lord, and his sister was treated like a princess. In every regard, he was the most suitable candidate.
But… somewhere, something went wrong. Who dared target him?
The remaining three princes? Someone with another motive? Perhaps all of them.
No one sought the throne for themselves—they wouldn’t covet a life trapped in the palace. But if the crown prince died without an heir, anyone not king would become a rival doomed to die.
The path was clear: eliminate all rivals and become king, or…
“Sir, have you seen Sophie?”
Or, see Sophie… sigh.
I furrowed my brows in patience and clenched my teeth.
“Why suddenly talk about Sophie in the middle of the night?”
The door opened slightly, and round eyes peered inside.
“What are you looking for, in the middle of sleep?”
“The chamber pot. Have you filled it?”
“No.”
“Then fill it now. We need to check the progress of the antidote.”
“Don’t you sleep?”
“Of course not.”
How could someone speak so steadily without changing expression?
Groaning, I tried to sit up, but Dancho quickly brought the chamber pot.
Seeing this, I gasped. Left alone, he might have insisted on holding it himself.
“Do I really need it?”
“Yes, must I give it to you?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Don’t expect me to watch you use it. I will never do that.”
What? Why would I want him to watch… sigh.
It was an utterly crude and disgusting conversation. Yet somehow, I didn’t want to lose.
“If you keep this up, I’ll go outside to do it, so you won’t be able to check.”
“Then Sophie can melt the snow, and we can check with it.”
“I’ll do it on the floor.”
“It will freeze anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
I can say for certain that I’ve never had a more childish, messy conversation in my life.
“By the way, sir, don’t let your… big part freeze. Cover it with your hand when using the chamber pot. Of course, if you cover it with your hand.”
The added comment felt like charity.
How dare anyone toy with the royal seed in me?
“Ha.”
