SMHER 03

Chapter 3. What on Earth Is That Woman?

The next morning, from early on, Bong-hee kept repeating the same thing over and over again, bustling around excitedly.

“Just watch, miss. Among all the young ladies entering the palace, our lady will surely be the most beautiful.”

Jae-in simply listened with a lukewarm expression, letting Bong-hee chatter on.

“Oh my! But what if you catch the eye of someone important? Should we keep things a bit more modest then?”

Bong-hee tilted her head, holding up two different hair ornaments—one ornate and one simple—making a great fuss over the choice.

Someone important, my foot. I’ll be lucky if I don’t cause some kind of trouble.

While thinking something entirely different from Bong-hee, Jae-in sighed softly and took the simple hairpin from her hand, placing it in her hair herself.

Then she suddenly stood up. The anxiety she had been suppressing all day surged back up.

The palace… the palace!

Her life was already overwhelming enough with her nightly activities. But now she had to enter the palace—a place bound by endless rules and etiquette. Just thinking about it made her chest feel tight.

And then there was Princess Jeonghye.

The only princess born among five princes. Rumor had it that the current king adored her so much that he granted nearly any request she made. She was widely known as a willful, unruly royal who feared nothing.

Ah, I don’t want to go. I really don’t want to go.

Dragging along her reluctant body, she stepped outside—and found a palanquin already prepared.

“Go and come back safely.”

Jae-in quickly wiped away any sign of reluctance when she saw her father, who had personally come out to see her off.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m going there to die. I’ll just keep quiet and come back.”

“Yes. I’m sure you’ll do well.”

Hee-bo gave his daughter a faint smile.

His heart ached. He could already imagine the hardships his beloved daughter would face once inside the palace.

Some high officials had eagerly pushed their daughters into Princess Jeonghye’s retinue in hopes of strengthening their political standing. But Hee-bo’s situation was different.

Among the children of the Soron faction he belonged to, Jae-in happened to be the only one around the princess’s age. Because of that, he had no choice but to accept the order.

Jae-in had grown up learning martial arts and had always thought and acted differently from other noble ladies. His worries about her only continued to grow.

Receiving an unexpected send-off from her father, Jae-in sat alone in the palanquin on the way to the palace, repeating a firm resolve in her mind.

See nothing, even if I see it.
Know nothing, even if I know it.
Never step forward in matters I shouldn’t.

Her goal was simple: remain unnoticed—like a mouse hiding quietly—finish what she had to do, and return home.

I can do it. Be as proper and modest as possible.

Nodding to herself with a resolute smile, she steeled her determination.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

After the court lady guiding her briefly stepped away, Jae-in finally exhaled the breath she had been holding and looked around.

Endless palace halls stretched before her, while palace servants hurried back and forth. Only then did it truly sink in that she had entered the royal palace.

She stared blankly at the blue dancheong patterns on the buildings shimmering under the sunlight.

“It seems this is your first time in the palace.”

At the voice filled with amusement, Jae-in turned her head.

A beautiful young lady stood there, adorned with jewelry so expensive it was obvious at a glance.

“Ah… I suppose you are familiar with the palace, miss.”

Realizing she must have looked like a country bumpkin gawking at everything, Jae-in blushed.

The young lady smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Are you the daughter of the Minister of War?”

“Pardon? H-how did you—?”

For a moment, Jae-in thought she saw a hint of mockery flash behind the girl’s bright smile, and she unconsciously stiffened.

“Oh, I was merely guessing. And it seems I guessed correctly? Hoho.”

Her behavior reminded Jae-in of a fox hiding nine tails.

Jae-in introduced herself first, somewhat stiffly.

“I am Min Jae-in, daughter of Minister of War Min Hee-bo.”

“I am Gwak Joo-ae, granddaughter of Left State Councilor Gwak Ji-un, and daughter of Royal Lecturer Gwak Hwi-jeong. A pleasure to meet you.”

The granddaughter of the Left State Councilor…

The moment Jae-in realized who she was, her thoughts became complicated.

The granddaughter of the most powerful political figure in the kingdom—the very man said to be able to knock down a flying bird with his influence—was standing right in front of her.

Already, exhaustion began to creep in.

All she wanted was to survive the day quietly without causing trouble, but the greatest obstacle to that plan was smiling at her right now.

“Then the young lady approaching there must be the daughter of the Deputy Royal Secretary.”

As if proving her status, Joo-ae seemed to know the identities of all the noble ladies gathered today.

The newcomer approached gracefully and introduced herself.

“It seems I’m the last to arrive. I am Jang Mi-young, daughter of Deputy Royal Secretary Jang Jeon-ho. I look forward to meeting you.”

Their gazes quietly examined one another.

Joo-ae and Mi-young had clearly adorned themselves with the finest ornaments gathered from everywhere for today. Compared to them, Jae-in’s modest attire immediately put them at ease.

In their eyes, she was no longer competition.

Jae-in quickly grasped the situation.

But she had no intention of changing anything.

Ah… how tiring.

Her lips were already trembling from forcing polite smiles.

How much longer would she have to endure this?

A headache began creeping in.

Just then, a court lady hurried over.

“The Princess wishes to meet you outside since the weather is so lovely. Please follow me.”

Since these were daughters of prestigious families, the court lady bowed politely.

They followed her toward a nearby royal garden.

The place felt almost like a land of spring itself—colorful flowers and carefully tended trees shimmered under the sunlight.

Inside the pavilion waited Princess Jeonghye, her face bright with excitement.

“Welcome, everyone!”

Her expression clearly showed how eagerly she had been anticipating this gathering.

“Please sit. I’m so glad we could meet on such a beautiful day.”

Princess Jeonghye had bright, sparkling eyes and the lively energy of a cheerful young girl. Dimples appeared in her cheeks when she smiled.

“I begged Father for days and days. The palace can be terribly suffocating. Since I cannot go out, I ended up summoning you ladies here.”

“It is an honor to be invited as your attendants, Your Highness.”

Joo-ae immediately replied as if she had been waiting for the chance.

Not wanting to fall behind, Mi-young spoke even more carefully.

“To behold Your Highness’s beauty fills my heart with joy. Merely seeing Your Highness is already a great honor, yet you even worry about the inconvenience of our coming and going… your kindness is as vast as the sea.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Clearly pleased, Princess Jeonghye smiled.

Her gaze then naturally shifted to Jae-in.

Feeling the pressure to say something, Jae-in grumbled inwardly.

Did they grease their tongues with sesame oil before coming here? How can they say such embarrassing things so easily?

“My feelings are the same.”

Even with a blade to her throat, she couldn’t bring herself to say something that cringe-worthy.

At Jae-in’s blunt response, Princess Jeonghye burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha! What an unusual young lady.”

Seeing the princess’s attention turn to Jae-in, Joo-ae and Mi-young struggled to maintain their smiles.

“Shall we have some tea first?”

At the princess’s signal, the court maids quickly served refreshments.

Colorful traditional sweets were placed before them, and pale tea filled the cups.

Watching the clear tea being poured, Jae-in blinked.

No matter how much she thought about it, she still couldn’t get used to this place. It all felt unreal.

Conversation soon flowed about rumors circulating in society and trivial daily matters.

While Joo-ae and Mi-young animatedly spoke, trying to impress the princess, Jae-in quietly sipped her tea.

“Lady Min, were you always this quiet?”

Princess Jeonghye tilted her head curiously.

“Ah… I’m simply not very good with words.”

Jae-in smiled awkwardly.

Better to speak little than make a mistake.

Yet once again the princess’s gaze lingered on her, making Joo-ae and Mi-young bite their lips in irritation.

Why couldn’t the princess understand the feelings of someone who just wanted to quietly disappear?

As Jae-in forced another awkward smile, Princess Jeonghye suddenly sprang to her feet.

“Why don’t we go look around the palace?”

There was no reason to refuse, though Joo-ae and Mi-young couldn’t shake the feeling that the princess had suggested it for Jae-in’s sake.

Under the warm sunlight, Princess Jeonghye skipped along through the palace grounds like a fluttering flower petal.

She felt delighted to guide the young ladies she had just met. Today, the palace—usually strict and suffocating—felt strangely spacious and forgiving.

Watching the princess chatter animatedly, Jae-in found herself smiling as well.

Contrary to the rumors that she was arrogant and tyrannical, the princess seemed innocent and pure.

Perhaps that was why no one could refuse her requests.

While lost in thought, their group suddenly stopped.

Startled by the noise, Jae-in looked ahead.

A group of men stood there, sweating heavily, their bare chests exposed as they moved vigorously.

“Oh my!”

Joo-ae blushed and covered her eyes.

Mi-young, however, stared openly, captivated by the men’s athletic movements.

“It seems the Royal Guards are holding a game of chukguk today.”

Princess Jeonghye sounded as if she had just discovered this by chance.

But Jae-in wasn’t convinced.

Did she really not know?

The sparkle in the princess’s eyes made her suspicious.

Royal Guards? Then the Crown Prince must be somewhere over there…

For a moment, Joo-ae and Mi-young exchanged glances.

Then they immediately began searching among the men for the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, forgive me, but you should look over there for a moment.”

Wan frowned as he followed the direction indicated by his guard, Hyeon-seok.

The princess had arrived unexpectedly.

And in a place where a bunch of half-naked men were gathered, no less.

Worse, she had brought a group of young ladies with her.

Letting out a short laugh, Wan strode toward Princess Jeonghye.

“Ah, Crown Prince!”

Unaware of his displeasure, Princess Jeonghye greeted him with a bright smile and waved.

“What are you doing here?”

Without even returning her greeting, Wan immediately scolded her.

“That’s rather harsh. I merely passed by. And to embarrass me like this in front of my attendants…”

Princess Jeonghye puffed out her cheeks.

Noticing the women’s gazes now fixed on him, Wan’s eyebrow twitched.

Clever girl.

Did she think he wouldn’t realize she had deliberately entered a place forbidden to women?

Still, with so many watching, he swallowed the words he wanted to say.

“Return at once.”

His cold voice made Princess Jeonghye pout.

Honestly! What kind of brother treats his only sister like that?

Just then—

“Watch out! It’s dangerous!”

A loud shout erupted.

A ball, struck off course, flew straight toward the group of women.

“Ahhh!”

Sharp screams rang out.

Wan quickly turned his head.

If these women were attendants to the princess, they must all be daughters of powerful families. Even a minor accident could turn into a major political incident.

“Huh?!”

A strange gasp spread through the crowd.

Wan’s eyes widened.

Something unbelievable had just happened.

One of the women hadn’t dodged the incoming ball—

She had caught it.

With her bare hand.

Who… on earth is that woman?

Wan stared at Jae-in with newfound interest.