Chapter : 14
“Huh?”
Jeonghae’s eyes widened into perfect circles. Her face filled with astonishment. It was the kind of appearance one could never forget after seeing it even once.
“Seonbi-nim?”
Surprise and delight overflowed in the man’s eyes.
“Lady?”
After confirming each other’s faces, the two fell speechless for a moment—then let out a breathy laugh at the same time.
The one who had saved Jeonghae from Maljin was the man she had met in front of the Ministry of Rites when Daeyong had taken the small state examination.
“You remember me?”
Jeonghae nodded. Though several months had passed, the memory was vivid.
‘With a face that could make the whole world fall for him, how could I possibly forget?’
“I remember you as well, my lady.”
The memory of that day must have been quite strong; a faint smile spread across Gyeom’s face as he recalled it.
In front of the Ministry of Rites, he had taken a liking to Jeonghae’s bold attitude.
He had thought they would never meet again, so seeing her once more brought him genuine pleasure.
Jeonghae, on the other hand, was troubled.
They had seen each other twice now, which meant he would surely remember her clearly. If an investigation regarding the posted notice were to begin and the man gave testimony, her identity might be exposed.
‘First, run.’
Jeonghae covered her face with her veil hat and hurriedly spoke.
“It was nice meeting you. I’ll be on my way.”
While Gyeom was briefly lost in recollection, Jeonghae gave a small bow.
“Wait.”
Gyeom caught hold of her.
Jeonghae hesitated, then opened her mouth. She had a feeling she knew why he stopped her.
“You stopped me to receive thanks, didn’t you? I’m truly grateful for what you just did.”
When Jeonghae suddenly bowed politely, Gyeom blinked, clearly not expecting it.
‘That should suffice for manners. I need to hurry and finish posting the notice. The entrance to Ban Village is no good anymore, so I’ll have to post it at the Chief Royal Secretary’s residence instead.’
Since Maljin had managed to find her, her movements must have been tracked. He might chase after her again, so she needed to move quickly.
Jeonghae’s heart grew anxious.
“You’ve received your thanks, and I’ve said what I needed to say, so I’ll take my leave. The road is dark at night, so be careful.”
“My lady, isn’t that something I should be saying?”
“What do you mean?”
“‘Be careful, the night road is dark.’ That’s something a man should say to a woman.”
“The night road is dark for everyone. What does it matter whether a man says it or a woman does?”
“That may be true, but…”
“If it bothers you so much, then I’ll consider that I heard it from you.”
Like someone being chased, Jeonghae turned on her heel.
Talking to a handsome man was certainly pleasing to the eyes, but there were too many concerns weighing on her mind to enjoy it carefree.
‘They say three coincidences make a destiny.’
She felt burdened forming ties with a man who was too exceptional.
Especially because this world was the setting of a novel!
‘A peerless beauty like him can’t possibly be some minor extra like me. At the very least, he’s a supporting character on the level of a protagonist.’
She had no desire to get entangled with a major character in the novel and be dragged into trouble. Having reached that conclusion, Jeonghae quickened her pace.
‘Still, I can’t believe I got caught by that Maljin bastard.’
Drowsy from days of staying up all night, she had been nodding off and failed to watch her surroundings properly.
If not for the scholar now following behind her, she might have faced serious trouble.
‘Huh? But why is that scholar following me?’
Jeonghae abruptly stopped and turned around.
“My lord, are you following me?”
The man nodded without hesitation.
“Why?”
The question slipped out naturally.
“You seem in danger.”
“How long do you plan to follow me?”
“Until I see you safely inside your home.”
He looked somewhat lighthearted on the outside, but perhaps he possessed a strong sense of chivalry after all.
From Jeonghae’s perspective, however, the kindness was unwelcome.
“My house is straight down this road.”
“Is your house Sungkyunkwan?”
“Pardon?”
“If you go straight this way, you’ll reach Sungkyunkwan.”
“Oh! Then it’s straight that way.”
Jeonghae pointed in the opposite direction.
“Oh-ho, are you a palace maid? If you go straight that way, you’ll reach the palace.”
The man openly teased her. Jeonghae narrowed her eyes and stared at him.
“We’ve met twice now. Let’s at least exchange names.”
“We’re merely passing connections. What’s the point of sharing names? Besides, I’ve only embarrassed myself each time. I’d be too ashamed to tell you my name, Seonbi-nim.”
“They say even brushing sleeves is fate, yet ours did more than brush—they practically rubbed together. You’ve never done anything to be ashamed of, so tell me comfortably. As for me—”
Ahem, ahem.
Just as the man was about to say his name, a cough sounded from the darkness.
Startled, Jeonghae looked around. A red warning light flashed in her mind.
‘I thought he was alone, but he’s traveling with a bodyguard? Judging by that expensive silk robe and the amber-beaded gat string, he’s clearly from a wealthy family… Definitely not someone I should get entangled with.’
“Gaeddong.”
Jeonghae hastily invented a false name.
“Hmm?”
“Gaeddong is my name.”
“Ah! Gaeddong… ha, well, that’s quite… a name.”
“My grandfather gave it to me, saying that an ugly name ensures a long and healthy life.”
“Th-that is indeed a fine and admirable name. Lady Gaeddong, as for my name—”
“It’s late. Please watch your step.”
Having thrown out an absurd name, Jeonghae hurried away as if fleeing.
She had the odd feeling she’d missed something very important, but she was exhausted and still had things to do, so she left the spot first.
Thus, she never heard the man’s name. In truth, she had deliberately avoided hearing it, not wishing to continue the connection.
And so Jeonghae did not see the expression on the man’s face as he stared at the place where she had vanished.
The curiosity spreading across Gyeom’s once-stiff expression. The smile. And the firm resolve that he must learn everything about her.
“Gaeddong, huh? She’s truly an interesting woman.”
So bold, even while clearly giving a fake name.
“Uwon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The owner of the cough stepped out from the shadows.
“Find out everything about that woman who calls herself Gaeddong.”
The woman had fled as if she wanted no connection with him whatsoever, but Gyeom felt the opposite.
“Has she piqued your interest?”
“Very much so. Isn’t she amusing? And besides.”
Gyeom pulled out a notice from his sleeve. It was something he had quietly taken while rescuing Jeonghae from Maljin.
“That lady is the owner of this notice.”
The paper, neatly listing Choi Maljin’s misdeeds, fluttered in the wind.
In the Queen Dowager’s palace, as Queen Dowager Hong set down her teacup, the back of the kneeling Hyeongik trembled.
“I have not been sleeping well these days.”
“Shall I have a decoction prepared for you?”
Crushed beneath her presence, Hyeongik barely forced the question out. The Queen Dowager’s eyes turned cold in an instant.
“If the reason I cannot sleep lies elsewhere, what use is a decoction? If I wish to sleep peacefully, I must remove my worries. Will you take care of it?”
“Your Majesty…”
Hyeongik lifted his head in distress, only to meet her icy gaze. He immediately slammed his forehead to the floor.
Thud.
Despite the loud sound, no one spared him a glance.
“Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.”
The Queen Dowager’s indifferent remark pierced Hyeongik.
“How can a man who cannot properly manage even his own child handle affairs of the court?”
At the pointed mention of Maljin, Hyeongik’s face turned pale.
“Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed. I had that child late in life and raised him with nothing but indulgence—this is my sin.”
“A sin, you say? And do you intend to accept punishment?”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
Hyeongik knew all too well what happened to those who fell out of Queen Dowager Hong’s favor.
Everyone in the palace knew the story of the court lady who, for failing to warm the Queen Dowager’s bedchamber properly, had been stripped naked in the dead of winter and forced to endure cold water poured over her all night. The tale of the man who refused her request and was accused of treason and executed had spread even beyond the palace walls.
There were countless other anecdotes proving her cruelty.
It was said she had even sent poison to her own virtuous daughter-in-law.
Those who knew, knew: Deposed Queen Yun had fallen out of Queen Dowager Hong’s favor and met her death because of it.
On the other hand, to gain the Queen Dowager’s favor guaranteed a smooth and prosperous career.
Hyeongik himself was living proof—born to an unremarkable family, barely scraping through the state examination, yet now seated in a high position.
He did not want to fall from her grace. Not yet.
‘There’s still so much money to recover.’
He had to earn back at least as much as he had offered her. To do so, he needed to remain under her shadow at all costs.
“I particularly dislike those who ask others to clean up their filth. One should clean up one’s own faults, not cowardly borrow another’s hands.”
“Yes, Your Majesty is correct. I shall clean it up myself. Of course.”
“So when will you clean it up?”
“Pardon?”
Hyeongik raised his head. The Queen Dowager was smiling at him. It was the first smile he had seen in the half-hour since entering her palace—and it sent a chill down his spine.
Queen Dowager Hong was telling him to clean up Maljin with his own hands.
To deal with his own son personally…
“It is fortunate that our thoughts align so well.”
“Th-that is…”
