Bom-bo!
“Wh-what did you just say?”
The moment we returned to Chwiseondang, Seol-hyang whisked me straight to Royal Noble Consort Jang Hui-bin. When she heard that Suk-jeong had tried to murder me, the consort’s shock instantly curdled into volcanic fury.
“Court Lady Han!”
“Yes, Hui-bin-jaga.”
“Send word to my brother’s estate at once and command Suk-jeong to enter the palace! I will not tolerate that wench’s wicked insolence a moment longer!” Hui-bin bit down hard on her trembling lower lip. “Viperous creature…”
Her chronic chest disorder seemed to flare from the sheer outrage. Struggling to catch her breath, Hui-bin rasped another sharp order. “Court Lady Han. If she refuses and dares to dig her heels in, hire men to drag her here by her hair if you must!”
“It shall be done. Yet… how do you intend to deal with her afterward?”
“Deal with her? Cast her out of our clan, of course! There is a limit to how much I will stomach for my brother’s sake!”
“Understood, Jaga. I will dispatch someone immediately.”
Court Lady Han’s brisk footsteps receded down the corridor. Listening to Hui-bin’s ragged, furious breathing, I quietly recalled the last glimpse I had caught of Suk-jeong—bound tight with rope, gagged, and utterly helpless.
“I know not what warrior came to your rescue,” Hui-bin murmured after some time, her voice finally regaining a measure of composure, “but we owe him a tremendous debt. If only I knew his identity, I would reward him handsomely…”
I had simply told her that a passing warrior happened to intervene on my behalf. I intentionally left out any mention of Mister Bug-Eyes, or the fact that he was the one who had hog-tied Suk-jeong. Explaining his involvement would have required unraveling far too many delicate secrets.
“Suk-jeong… That wretched woman deserves divine retribution,” Hui-bin seethed, her hands trembling with indignation. “I will sever all ties with her forever! I’ll make certain she never dares show her face near my brother’s household again!”
Yet as the consort vented her wrath, an odd, quiet premonition settled over me.
I don’t think Suk-jeong is ever coming to the palace.
And my intuition proved entirely correct.
One day passed, then two, then three. Suk-jeong never arrived.
The report from Jang Hui-jae’s estate—where Suk-jeong had reigned as the de facto lady of the house after ousting the legal wife—remained identical day after day: she had slipped out of the residence several days prior, and all trace of her had vanished into thin air.
“Knowing her own crimes, she is likely cowering in some rat hole,” Hui-bin ground out through clenched teeth. “Just let her return. I will tear her limb from limb.”
Though the consort burned with vengeance, I couldn't shake the conviction that we would never lay eyes on Suk-jeong again. In all likelihood, not ever.
If my guess is right…
Suk-jeong was the primary instigator of the historical curse against Queen Inhyeon. If she had truly been eliminated, permanently swept off the board before she could act…
History has already begun to change.
I couldn't predict what new twists and turns this altered river of fate would carve out. But one thing was certain: we had just cleared a massive, deadly mountain.
After giving my report to Hui-bin, an unexpected reward came my way: she granted me private use of the royal bathhouse.
Submerging my tiny body into the steaming water worked wonders, gently untying the knots of terror that had gripped my nerves. Lord, how long has it been since I soaked in a proper hot bath? Used to splashing cold water over myself in a hurry, the soothing heat made me deliciously drowsy after such a harrowing day.
Seol-hyang laid out a thick, clean quilt for my limp, exhausted frame. As I fumbled out of my clothes to slide beneath the covers—
Flump.
A slip of folded paper slipped from the lining of my jacket, fluttering down to the floor mat. It was the note I had fished out from the gaps in my old family home's wooden veranda—the one with all the names inscribed upon it.
Once Seol-hyang stepped out and closed the sliding door, I propped myself up on my elbows and smoothed the paper flat. The brushstrokes were meticulous and elegant. I stared quietly at the phrase written at the top, a message clearly left behind for me to find: Never forget. Remember always.
Heavy sleep tugged at my eyelashes. I need to keep this safe.
Just as I moved to fold it back up and tuck it into my little trinket box, something caught my eye.
Wait… what’s that?
In my frantic rush back at the old house, I hadn't thought to check the reverse side. There, scrawled along the bottom margin in tiny, hurried strokes, sat a line of script.
The drowsiness vanished in a split second.
It was a single sentence written in native Korean script. The moment my eyes swept over it, my heart began to hammer wildly against my ribs for reasons I couldn't explain.
“I will find you. No matter what, I will find you.”
A person who begged me to remember. A person who swore to search for me.
Who in the world could you be?
Hwang Ho. Cheok Yu-hwa. Hwang Jin-gi…
The unfamiliar yet haunting names echoed endlessly through my head until, at long last, exhaustion carried me into sleep.
For the next few days, I did nothing but rest. It was by royal decree from Hui-bin herself, who insisted I recover fully from the shock.
Even so, the brush with Suk-jeong left its marks on my psyche. The rolling whites of her bloodshot eyes. The spittle bubbling at the corners of her mouth. That eerie, bone-chilling shriek about the morning star of Taebaekseong… Every now and then, those vivid memories crept unbidden into my mind, making me shiver in solitary dread.
Still, time proved to be the finest medicine. The terror gradually dulled, and my ordinary palace routine resumed.
It was right around the time I began to feel restless from doing nothing that a summons arrived from Sunggyeongdang.
Whoa. Look at that.
Along the stone path leading to Sunggyeongdang, a riot of spring blossoms welcomed my steps. In the few short days I had remained cooped up inside Chwiseondang, spring had fully draped itself across the royal palace.
I was so wrapped up in staying alive I didn’t even realize spring had arrived.
White, crimson, and pale gold flowers burst forth across Changgyeonggung. It was a short stroll, but soaking in the breathtaking scenery allowed me to breathe easily for the first time in days.
Near the entrance of Sunggyeongdang, where snowy white plum blossoms and vibrant red flowering quinces mingled in dazzling harmony, Royal Consort Suk-ui Bak stood waiting for me, cradling infant Prince Lee Hwon in her arms.
“Have you been in good health, Suk-ui-mama-nim?” I greeted respectfully.
Though faint traces of her chronic frailty still lingered on her pale face, she had adorned herself in bright, elegant robes to receive me. The moment little Lee Hwon spotted me from within her embrace, he kicked his tiny legs, flailing his arms in a fit of bubbly giggles.
“Welcome. You are called Bong-bong, yes?”
“Yes. I am Hwang Bong-bong, Mama-nim.”
“I called you here today to offer my deepest thanks.” Suk-ui gently patted the squirming infant against her chest and smiled warmly. “The little prince… no longer weeps.”
It hit me then. The piercing wails that usually echoed past the walls of Sunggyeongdang were nowhere to be heard today. That was precisely why I had been able to take my sweet time admiring the blossoms on my way here.
“His Highness has become remarkably well-behaved,” she continued, her voice soft with relief. “He no longer fusses in distress, nor does he cry without cause.”
“That is wonderful news, Suk-ui-mama-nim.”
“It is entirely your doing. I am so deeply grateful, Bong-bong.”
“I… I merely spoke the truth because it tasted like honey, Mama-nim.”
“There are well over a dozen palace maids serving in Sunggyeongdang, yet not a single one among them noticed the taste of honey. Even I, his own mother, was completely blind to it. But you… only you caught it.” Suk-ui’s voice thickened with sudden emotion. “Had it not been for your sharp tongue, the young prince might have…”
She bowed her head, unable to finish the terrible thought. A single tear slipped down her cheek, landing softly on the silk of her robe.
“Look at me, showing such weakness before you again. Forgive me.” Hastily dabbing her eyes with a silk handkerchief, she reached into her sleeve. “This is a modest reward for saving the life of the royal prince. Please, accept it.”
She held out a lavish silk lucky pouch. When I reflexively cupped my hands beneath it, the sudden weight nearly dragged my wrists straight to the floor.
Whoa, this is heavy!
“If I had my way, I would give you a hundred, a thousand times this,” Suk-ui said earnestly. “Truly, I would gladly offer my very life to repay you.”
Judging by the dense clink and sheer heft through the brocade, it had to be silver ingots. I briefly debated whether it was proper for a four-year-old child maid to accept such a fortune, but the raw sincerity shining in the consort’s eyes made refusal impossible.
Well… hoarding wealth never hurt anyone. I’m sure it’ll come in handy later.
When I thought about it, I was obscenely wealthy for a four-year-old toddler. I owned a prime piece of real estate in the capital, possessed heaps of silver, held a stable government job with royal backing…
“Bom-bo! Bom-bo-eu!”
From Suk-ui’s lap, Lee Hwon reached both chubby arms toward me, babbling furiously. Okay, he was definitely trying to say my name, wasn't he?
“It seems His Highness recognizes his savior as well,” Suk-ui said with an affectionate chuckle. “I am told he always ceases his crying and beams with joy whenever he sees you.”
“Yes, Mama-nim. Though I am not quite sure why.”
“It must be because our little prince is extraordinarily bright. He knew at first glance that you were the one who would protect him.”
Is that so?
Still, saving him from the honey porridge was the extent of what I could do. While avoiding infant botulism was a huge victory, I knew far too well that this alone wouldn't magically rewrite his historical fate of dying young…
“Bo-bo! Bom-bou!”
Lee Hwon arched his back and squirmed so adamantly that Suk-ui had no choice but to place him down onto the silk floor cushion. The moment his belly touched the fabric, he flipped over with surprising agility and began crawling toward me at top speed.
Well, yeah. He’s at that age where crawling everywhere is his whole life mission.
Watching the prince make a beeline straight for me, Suk-ui spoke in a wistful murmur. “Seeing how much he adores you, nothing would bring me greater joy than to bring you into Sunggyeongdang… but given how deeply Consort Hui-bin dotes upon you, I know that is an impossible wish. Even so, Bong-bong… would you be willing to visit Sunggyeongdang often to play with the prince?”
“Yes, Mama-nim. I would be hap—”
It happened right then.
As I reached out my hands to steady the crawling toddler, Lee Hwon planted his tiny palms squarely onto mine, using them as pillars of support. Then, his chubby little legs braced, and—
Heave!
“Huh?”
In one astonishing surge of toddler determination, his entire body pushed upward!
“Heavens above! Court Lady Yoon! Court Lady Yoon!”
At Suk-ui’s panicked cry, Court Lady Yoon barged into the chamber in a fluster.
“Oh! The young prince is standing! Suk-ui-mama-nim! What a magnificent blessing!” Court Lady Yoon began clapping her hands in sheer ecstasy. “Your Highness! How marvelous! How brave you are!”
Still clutching my fingers in a death grip, Lee Hwon wobbled on his two plump feet for a triumphant second before toppling forward, burying his face squarely into my chest.
“They call this child the lucky charm of Chwiseondang,” Court Lady Yoon whispered, wiping away happy tears, “and it seems the rumors did not lie!”
And just like that, I, Hwang Bong-bong—official lucky charm of Chwiseondang—miraculously earned the prestigious title of ‘Visiting Lucky Charm of Sunggyeongdang.’
On my way back to Chwiseondang, I ducked into the secluded shadow of a stone wall and carefully peeked inside the heavy silk pouch.
Shhhk—!
A dazzling, buttery luminescence practically slapped me across the face.
G-Gold…!
What sat inside the pouch wasn't silver. It was pure, glittering, radiant gold! Four solid gold nuggets gleamed up at me with breathtaking brilliance.
I… I am officially…!
Stinking rich!
Joseon’s very first four-year-old chaebol tycoon had just been born, and it was me!
“We have no such child here.”
“She is four years old this year. Her name is Hwang Bong—”
“I told you, our courtesan house doesn't keep little brats like that!”
SLAM!
The heavy wooden gate slammed shut with violent force, kicking up a gray cloud of dirt that showered directly over the boy’s face.
His eyes stung terribly. Surely, it was only because of the dust.
I will find you.
The boy drew in a long breath, pulling his slumped, broad shoulders back with unwavering resolve.
No matter what it takes, no matter what happens… I will come find you.