Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 68
>Chapter Title: Mirror Prince (3)
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Consort Ho.
The emperor had countless women.
Among them, one who received his particular favor was none other than Imperial Consort Seo.
However, the power structure within the inner palace, which had seemed unshakable for so long, shifted dramatically one day.
It was all because of the sudden appearance of Consort Ho.
‘A peerless beauty impossible to resist.’
Everyone who laid eyes on Consort Ho showered her with praise.
Having just entered the palace as a lowly maid, her stunning looks were rumored to rival those of Imperial Consort Seo in her youthful prime, when she was at the height of her allure.
That woman, who had risen from palace maid with no backing save her beauty alone, had enchanted the emperor and ascended to the rank of consort in a mere three years.
Because of her, even the four powers that dominated the imperial palace now viewed this woman—who had captured the emperor's heart—as their greatest threat.
So why had Consort Ho appeared in the Mirror Prince's private palace, his exclusive domain?
And without any attendants, guards, or maids at her side, no less.
Something was terribly off.
-Clack! Clack!
In her hand, she carried a rather large bundle wrapped in cloth, which only deepened the mystery.
But more pressing than her bizarre arrival was the need to warn the prince's quarters of the intruder. Thus, Eunuch Ho of the Western Hall hurriedly clasped his hands in salute and spoke.
“Consort Ho. I beg your forgiveness for failing to show proper respect amid this urgent crisis. An unidentified assailant has broken into His Highness's chambers...”
“Assailant?”
“Indeed. We must request aid, so I beseech Your Ladyship to return. As for me...”
“Wait.”
At that moment, she called out to Eunuch Ho.
Already in a frantic situation, he replied with a voice tinged with unintended irritation.
“Your Ladyship, we have no time for...”
-Swish!
In that instant, Consort Ho tossed the bundle she held toward Eunuch Ho.
It looked quite heavy, enough to make the cloth sag, yet she flung it effortlessly with one hand. Eunuch Ho caught it in bewilderment.
-Thud!
‘With one hand?’
It truly was quite heavy.
As a man trained in martial arts, he could catch it easily, but Consort Ho was supposed to be an ordinary woman who knew nothing of martial arts.
Eunuch Ho immediately asked,
“Your Ladyship, I know not what this is, but delivering it to His Highness right now will be diff...”
“See what's inside.”
Her arrogant tone, as if issuing a command, furrowed Eunuch Ho's brow.
She might bask in the emperor's favor, but as an eunuch of the Western Hall, he deserved a certain level of respect.
With that in mind, Eunuch Ho decided to ignore her and be on his way.
He had shown the bare minimum of courtesy, after all.
-Thump!
Eunuch Ho set the bundle she had thrown down on the ground.
The moment he kicked off to launch himself into motion,
-Thud!
The wrapping suddenly unraveled on its own, and something inside burst forth.
Catching sight of it instinctively, Eunuch Ho recoiled in shock, stumbling back half a step.
‘!?’
And for good reason—the bundle contained none other than a severed human head.
The head of a single woman, at that.
‘Th-this woman...’
Eunuch Ho recognized her instantly.
The owner of this head was none other than the maid assigned to Consort Ho's Ho Yang Palace.
[Just sprinkle a bit of this powder into soups or heavily seasoned dishes.]
[Will it truly be alright?]
[Fear not. This aphrodisiac is so subtle that even martial artists or physicians with keen tongues would struggle to detect it. Add it without fail, every single day.]
[Understood, Eunuch.]
She was the very maid he had met not long ago to receive a progress report.
The moment he saw her decapitated head, Eunuch Ho's face betrayed his horror without him realizing it.
How could it not?
The maid, killed by decapitation, did not wear an expression of agony in death.
Instead, she smiled broadly, as if in utter bliss.
It was utterly chilling.
His words caught in his throat as a voice drifted into his ear.
“Doesn't she look blissfully happy?”
-Swish!
With the voice came a hand resting on his shoulder.
And a fragrant scent tickling his nose—Eunuch Ho's eyes shook wildly.
When had this woman approached him?
He had been startled by the severed head, true, but his senses weren't so muddled that he missed someone's presence.
‘Could she know martial arts? No, but then...’
There wasn't the slightest trace of it.
Her footwork, her gait—nothing betrayed even basic training.
Even her physique showed no signs of cultivation.
Yet Consort Ho bore none of these marks.
As confusion swirled, Consort Ho's voice reached him.
“You know, I'm quite refined. Besides raw flesh, I adore cooking.”
“......”
“But lately, someone tampered with my food.”
“Your Ladyship... what do you mean by...”
-Swish!
Before he could finish, Consort Ho's soft, small hand touched Eunuch Ho's throat.
No particular inner energy stimulated his senses, yet the instant it made contact, a chill ran down his spine.
“I wasn't done speaking.”
“......”
Eunuch Ho swallowed dryly without realizing it.
What was this woman?
Her mere proximity exuded an inexplicable pressure that made even breathing difficult.
Was she some unimaginable supreme master?
She continued,
“It's fascinating. Humans, no matter the era, act the same. Decades ago, centuries, millennia—whenever they're displeased, they tamper with food first.”
“......Your Ladyship, forgive me, but I truly don't underst...”
“Always the same feigned ignorance.”
“I really...”
“Enough.”
“Yes?”
“It's been a while. Time for some raw flesh.”
‘!?’
-Pierce!
In that instant, something burst through Eunuch Ho's chest.
It was none other than,
“Gack... gack...”
A hand clutching his heart.
Eunuch Ho's eyes bulged as if to tear.
His blood-soaked heart throbbed visibly in the grip—he felt like he was going mad.
Consort Ho whispered softly into his ear.
“A freshly plucked human heart is a rare delicacy. Want a bite of yours?”
‘!!!!!!’
His face drained of color as he gagged; soon, Eunuch Ho's head slumped.
Regretfully, Consort Ho withdrew her hand from the corpse.
“Should've tormented him a bit more before killing?”
It felt too merciful now.
She shook her head, brought the heart to her mouth,
-Crunch!
And bit into it like a crisp apple.
-Munch, munch!
Chewing it thoroughly and swallowing, Consort Ho murmured in savoring delight, eyes half-closed.
“Aaah, this is why I can't quit raw food.”
Cooked, grilled, fried—they were treats, not staples.
Only flesh brimming with blood and juices satisfied.
Thus, Consort Ho devoured the faintly pulsing heart.
It didn't take long to finish.
“Delicious.”
She elegantly dabbed the blood from her lips with a cloth, the picture of refinement.
Wiping her mouth, Consort Ho turned toward the Mirror Prince's quarters.
Her lips curled in intrigued amusement as she seized the dead Eunuch Ho's hair by the topknot.
* * *
Around the same time, in the Mirror Prince's quarters.
-Swish! Thud!
Mok Kyung-un released his grip on the Mirror Prince's throat.
His legs gave out, and the prince dropped to his knees.
Though Mok Kyung-un had held back as much as possible, the chokehold had cut off his air; the prince coughed, steadying his breath.
“Cough, cough.”
Looking down at him, Mok Kyung-un shrugged and said,
“An unexpected outcome.”
“Cough, cough... What?”
“I figured someone who served Your Highness would have at least a shred of loyalty. Even so, they'd choose to protect Your Highness and themselves over anything.”
He had pushed emotionally to a breaking point, but the result differed slightly from expectations.
Mok Kyung-un chuckled.
“Martial artists truly value their dantian above loyalty or life, it seems.”
At those words, the prince—finally catching his breath—clenched his fists.
Deep down, he felt betrayed by Eunuch Ho's actions.
Having served him for so long, he had believed the eunuch would act as he intended.
Yet he chose to preserve his martial arts instead.
‘Eunuch Ho, how could you...’
Utterly disappointing.
To him, Mok Kyung-un said with a smile,
“How tragic. A trusted subordinate choosing Your Highness's death.”
Rage filled the prince's eyes as he spat,
“Will you kill Us?”
“Since Eunuch Ho made his choice, shouldn't we?”
-Thud!
The prince prostrated himself before Mok Kyung-un, pleading desperately.
“Spare me.”
His royal dignity and pride were gone.
Mok Kyung-un smirked, leaning down to whisper in the prone prince's ear.
“You know sparing you gains me nothing.”
“Please, spare me. I don't want to die like this.”
“How honest.”
“......”
A sliver of pride kept the prince silent.
Then, steeling himself, he said,
“Spare my life, and I'll pin all your crimes on Eunuch Ho.”
“Oh?”
“......I cannot forgive Eunuch Ho for defying my will like this.”
“You'll frame him for everything.”
“Yes.”
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly.
“For once, Your Highness and I agree.”
Hope lit the prince's face.
He hadn't expected much—just a desperate last gamble.
Yet it worked, unexpectedly.
From this man's perspective, killing him would escalate things uncontrollably, so it made sense.
“Then let us align our stories.”
“No need.”
“What?”
To the puzzled prince, Mok Kyung-un whispered meaningfully.
“Your Highness need only provide that body.”
‘!?’
No sooner had the words left his mouth.
-A chill!
“Hngh!”
The prostrated prince's eyes rolled back, his body convulsing violently.
Gradually, it subsided, his gaze returning—not to normal, but altered.
The prince rose, speaking.
“To think you'd even possess a prince's body. Mortal.”
The one inhabiting the flesh was none other than Qingling.
Pleased with possessing another after so long, she clenched and unclenched her fists, satisfied.
To her, Mok Kyung-un shrugged.
“It's been a while since a possession. Not bad, right?”
“Well, entering such a noble vessel isn't...”
-Flinch!
Qingling cut off mid-sentence, turning toward the door.
Not just her—Mok Kyung-un's perpetual smile sharpened into a piercing gaze at the door.
-Thud!
The door burst open, revealing a stunning woman in resplendent reddish-gold robes.
The sudden intruder flashed a radiant smile, hoisting the mangled head of Western Hall's Eunuch Ho.
“Mind if I join, kids?”
[68화 Mirror Prince (3)] End