Chapter 30

Yunseo's Time Blossoms for Hongwi

"Kwon, why do you think Jeon Gyun was punished? Speak."

King Sejong asked again.

Yunseo, who had merely bowed her head thinking this was a warning for touching a royal taboo earlier, now realized that the King was expecting a specific answer.

And that he would not let her go until she gave it.

"With my foolish mind, I cannot possibly fathom the thoughts of Your Majesty, the greatest sage king and genius of Joseon. Please enlighten me."

She tried asking for his guidance first.

She did not expect much. The King was not someone so easily indulgent.

As expected—

"Ha! Just moments ago you spoke so cleverly, and now you claim your thoughts are lacking? Answer me!"

"…Because he failed in his duty as a palace attendant serving Your Majesty at close quarters."

"Next!"

"…Because he dared to damage the dignity of the Eastern Palace, where the Crown Prince resides."

"Next!"

"…Because he slandered me—who serves as a court lady of the Crown Prince and nursemaid to the royal grandson—and attempted to have me killed."

"Next!"

At this point, Yunseo's temper—one that grew sharp and impatient if she didn't regularly run to clear her mind—began to rise.

"I am but a mere court maid! How could I possibly understand the thoughts of Your Majesty, the greatest genius, scholar, and sage king of Joseon? Please just tell me!"

She would not die here today.

He had ordered her to begin writing a child-rearing treatise tomorrow, to attend the Hangul creation meetings with Prince Suyang soon, and most importantly, to teach the Queen the new script and care for her mind. There was no way he intended to kill her today!

"No matter how many times you ask, I cannot think of the answer with my dull mind. Please do not waste Your Majesty's precious time on a lowly maid!"

The faint sense of security she clung to became the spark that allowed her boldness to slip out unfiltered.

"Ha! Kwon—I was warning you!"

"!"

Without realizing it, Yunseo raised her head and looked at him.

Sejong spoke sharply, his expression severe.

"It is because you have bewitched the Crown Prince with that eloquent tongue of yours. The Crown Prince—who used to act with restraint and embrace both his full and half-brothers alike—you have swayed him with your words and are now putting my sons in danger!"

"Your Majesty!"

"Remember this, Kwon. The day the Crown Prince, bewitched by you, attempts to kill even one of my sons—you will be the first to die by my hand, just like Jeon Gyun!"

"!"

To be threatened with death like this—

She had already braced herself for death once during her first audience. There was nothing more to fear now.

The feelings she had suppressed out of fear burst out at last as her patience ran dry.

"Just as Your Majesty cherishes your sons with all your heart, I too, as a nursemaid, devote my entire heart and loyalty to our royal grandson! If anyone in this world dares to harm him, I will stake my life to stop them!"

"Ha! Good! That is the answer I was waiting for!"

"…Pardon?"

"Royal nursemaid Kwon Yunseo, kneel and receive my command."

"…Pardon?"

In utter confusion, Yunseo dropped to the floor, awaiting the royal decree.

"The resolve you just declared here in Cheonchujeon—the vow to protect Hongwi with your life—you must uphold it. You must. This is my command."

A chill ran down Yunseo's spine.

So this was all to draw out my true feelings…!

"Why do you not answer?"

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will protect our Hongwi with my life."

"Good. Even when you bear your own child in the future, you must not betray today's oath—to protect Hongwi with your life and raise him to the throne. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Dazed, Yunseo did not even realize that she had spoken the royal grandson's name directly.

Sejong raised his pale brows slightly with a quiet "Oh?" but let it pass—after all, she would one day belong to his son.

"And one more thing—do not push my Crown Prince away under the pretense of 'courtship.'"

"Pardon? Th-that is because His Highness wished to see whether I am suitable as a partner—"

"Ha! The entire palace already knows that Hyang has long since lost his heart to you. What nonsense!"

"..."

"If you loved my son Hyang even half—no, even a quarter—as much as you love Hongwi, you would not leave that exhausted child—burdened with affairs of the entire nation, even in his dreams—lying awake at night, separated from you by nothing more than a wooden floor."

"!"

Yunseo stared up at him in genuine shock, her mouth slightly open.

Sejong looked down at her, his eyes gleaming—half stern, half mischievous.

"Answer me, Kwon Yunseo."

"…I shall obey Your Majesty's command."

"Good. You may withdraw now. Hongwi grows anxious if you are not by his side even for a moment, so go—take care of 'your Hongwi.'"

"…Yes, Your Majesty."

Her mind in as much turmoil as on her first day, Yunseo left Cheonchujeon without even remembering how. She slipped on her shoes at the stone step and staggered across the courtyard of Sajungjeon.

How did this turn out like this…?
How did things end up this way…?

"Did something serious happen? I heard His Majesty's raised voice from time to time and worried I might have to go fetch the Crown Prince again."

Even when Head Court Lady Eom asked from beside her, the words did not register.

She herself had also been unable to sleep, separated by that wooden floor… but to have it turned into a royal command—

Truly… what a ruthless world this is.

With a sigh, she returned to the Eastern Palace—only to see Hongwi come running toward her with quick, eager little steps.

"Kwaga naingyaa!"

The child threw himself into her arms, and Yunseo instinctively lifted him up.

"My little prince! Were you waiting for me?"

"Mm! I waited, didn't even pway fishin'!"

Thinking of how he must have ignored even his favorite fishing game and stared only at the door, waiting for her, Yunseo's chest tightened painfully.

But her mind was still tangled from the royal command she had just received. Holding Hongwi tightly, she whispered into his ear,

"My prince, after dinner… shall we fly a kite again? There isn't much wind today, but if I carry you and run hard, it should rise a little."

"Wike flying, good! Do lot!"

"Yes, my prince. And after that, I'll wash you with a very nice fragrant soap. I made something wonderful."

At last, Yunseo had managed to make soap—filtering alkaline water from ash, mixing it with camellia oil infused with medicinal herbs, boiling it carefully, then adding brine until it formed soft, tofu-like lumps.

Even after shaping and drying it, though, it refused to harden like modern soap.

Still, after using the soft soap for bathing over the past two days with Court Lady Park's assistants, Jungbi and Sawol, their skin had felt soft and clean.

The two had loved it so much they begged to take some home, while even Court Lady Park had said, "Oh ho, this is quite a thing—but if we use camellia oil, we'll have to sell it at a high price or we won't even recover the cost."

After an early dinner, Yunseo held Hongwi and ran without rest for nearly half an hour.

Held in her arms, Hongwi gripped the kite string, laughing brightly.

"It's flying, Kwaga! Flying! Like a bird!"

Later, he hugged her tightly and whispered,

"Kwaga… tired. Put me down."

Even though the kite barely lifted in the windless air, Hongwi dragged it along with his short legs, running and laughing endlessly.

"Tail's stuck! Kwaga, my kite tail's long!"

What could be more fulfilling than the clear, ringing laughter of a child?

Though she had not come here by choice, Yunseo felt her time in this unfamiliar Joseon flowing into Hongwi—blossoming into this bright, lovely child. Her eyes grew hot.

If I have a child like this beside me… maybe I could live without running away.

Maybe I could find the strength… the courage… to live here, in this palace.

Running just a step beside him, ready to catch him if he fell, Yunseo kept asking herself over and over as her vision blurred.

At last, when Hongwi stopped from exhaustion, Yunseo's face was soaked with tears.

Only then did he notice.

Pulling at her skirt, he made her sit and meet his eyes, then wiped her tears with his tiny fingers.

"Kwaga… why cry?"

"…The wind got in my eyes."

The clever child did not believe such an excuse.

"…Grandfa scold you?"

"No, my prince. His Majesty is the greatest sage king—why would he scold me?"

But as she spoke, tears kept falling, and Yunseo finally pulled Hongwi into her arms and sobbed.

Hongwi burst into tears as well.

"Kwaga, I pwotect you. Don't cry, don't cry."

He patted her shoulder earnestly with his small hands.

After crying and running like that, Yunseo's mind felt clear.

She washed her face first, then sat Hongwi in warm water, gently pouring it over him before showing him the soap.

"My prince, this is called soap. It should be firmer, but I couldn't make it that way here. Still—how does it smell? Isn't it nice?"

It smelled less like fragrance and more like warm herbal medicine, but compared to the fishy mung bean powder or scentless rice bran, it was luxurious.

"Swippy."

Amused, Hongwi squished the soft soap, and when Yunseo lathered him up, he twisted and burst into laughter.

"Tickles! Tickles! Kwaga, tickles!"

With the help of Court Lady Choi, she washed him while he squirmed and laughed, then soothed him when soap got into his eyes and rinsed his face clean.

After drying him soft and warm with a towel—

Perhaps exhausted from all the laughter and play, Hongwi fell asleep the moment he was laid down, not even reaching for his clothes ties.

Earlier, through Head Court Lady Eom, Lee Hyang had sent word that he would be discussing matters of currency late into the night with Kim Jongseo and Jeong Inji at Bihyeongak, and that she should not wait up.

Yunseo briefly went to Eom's quarters and changed into the most beautiful garment gifted to her by the Queen.

A soft pink silk jeogori that suited her pale skin perfectly, and a flowing light-blue skirt that accentuated her slender figure.

After carefully combing her hair and tying it with her finest ribbon,

Yunseo returned to the heated room, spread white paper on the desk, and picked up a brush.

[A relationship built on lies cannot stand.]

That was the first sentence she wrote.

[Before asking for marriage, one must first fulfill the duty of revealing the secrets one has hidden.]

That was the second.