HSM 4

Chapter 4

The daily routine of the palace maids always began with the morning assembly.

Though we called it morning, it was actually early dawn before daybreak.

To ensure the distinguished ones could start their day smoothly, maids like myself had to move diligently from the very beginning.

“Seolha!”

As I entered the courtyard, Sook waved her hand as if she had been waiting for me.

Word had already spread that I’d been assigned as Prince Lee’s personal maid, and unlike usual, there were quite a few sidelong glances.

Some even glared at me with resentful looks.

Anyone watching would think I’d stolen someone’s man.

I deliberately ignored my colleagues’ stares and approached Sook to greet her.

“Did you sleep well yesterday? Weren’t you scared sleeping alone?”

Sook, who shared a room with me, became particularly timid once the sun went down.

“No, I slept with the girls from the next room.”

Sook whispered in my ear as if only I should hear.

“You went to see your grandmother, right?”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ll have time for a while.”

“Still, I’m jealous. Being able to see that face every day. If it were me, I’d feel full even without eating.”

The probability of that was zero, but I just smiled silently.

In truth, I was in a state of tremendous tension right now.

They say you can survive being dragged off by a tiger if you keep your wits about you, but the problem was whether my mind could remain intact.

Eok I-geon in the original novel was nothing short of terror itself.

Those gruesome scenes of slaughter that I’d only read about as a reader might unfold before my very eyes.

The image of myself crying and bleeding profusely in the middle of it all had been tormenting me since last night.

“Is everyone gathered?”

Just as I was shaking my head vigorously to dispel the horrific thoughts, Lady Gwak finally emerged from her quarters.

The assembly always took place in the front courtyard of her residence.

“Today there will be a slight change in work assignments. Seolha has been designated as Prince Lee’s personal maid, so everyone should be aware of this and ensure there are no disruptions to the work.”

The murmuring grew louder for a moment, then quickly died down at Lady Gwak’s continued words.

She added a few instructions before concluding the brief assembly.

“Now then, let’s move energetically today as well!”

As soon as Lady Gwak’s order was given, the maids swiftly scattered to find their respective tasks.

These were scenes I’d always witnessed. I had always been part of that group.

But today, my feet wouldn’t move easily.

The thought of facing Eok I-geon made everything go dark before my eyes.

“Seolha, do well and come back!”

Sook’s voice reached my ears.

Right, I didn’t have time to stand here in a daze.

I’d heard that Eok I-geon wasn’t one to sleep in. I needed to hurry if I wanted to arrive before he woke up.

I deliberately ignored my pounding heart and headed toward Prince Lee’s quarters, Geonyeong-gak, a place I had never once visited.

“I knew it was far, but it’s really damn far.”

Maegyo Castle was not only massive in scale, but its paths were almost like a maze.

The first thing I did after getting hired as a maid was memorizing these confoundedly complex routes.

Only then could I arrive on time and handle my assigned tasks.

Fortunately, I wasn’t directionally challenged. Rather, I had learned the palace layout faster than anyone else, almost like a genius.

It was close to survival instinct. My determination never to go near Geonyeong-gak had played a big part in that.

Thanks to that, even though this was my first visit, I arrived at Geonyeong-gak without any mistakes and on time.

“Wow, I never thought I’d actually come here!”

As I passed through the main gate, a sigh escaped my lips involuntarily.

I still couldn’t shake the wish that someone would tell me this was all just a dream.

“Oh my, look at this girl talking. She’s absolutely beside herself with joy.”

That’s when the sudden verbal assault came.

“Seolha, I didn’t think you were like that, but you have quite a bold side, don’t you?”

“Just how much did you offer Lady Gwak anyway?”

Suddenly appearing from nowhere, three pairs of eyes filled with hostility were glaring at me.

One of them looked familiar – it was the owner of that murderous glare from the assembly.

Was her name Doe? She was my senior by two years.

“Living with just your grandmother and no parents, you must really want to get ahead in the world?”

“She may not have much else, but she’s got quite the face. Daring to set her sights on Prince Lee!”

“Do you really think someone like you has any chance?”

What? So I’m being treated like some kind of gold digger right now?

Listening to this was so absurd that I didn’t know where to begin my defense.

I was already pissed off about this shitty situation, and now these airheaded girls were saying what?

‘Me, targeting someone?’

For 4 years and 10 months, I hadn’t caused a single incident, yet today I was swept by distinctly violent impulses.

“You’re not actually aiming to become the lady of Geonyeong-gak, are you?”

“If that’s the case, you’d better wake up from that dream.”

“Do you think Prince Lee would even pay attention to someone like you?”

“Did you suddenly become mute? Your senior is talking to you, so why aren’t you responding!”

“Ah, were you waiting for my answer?”

When they were chattering non-stop among themselves, that was fine, but now they’re throwing a fit about me ignoring them.

You have to fight crazy with crazy.

“But what can I do? I can only respond when what you say actually sounds like words.”

“What?”

“You’re taking turns spouting nonsense, and I simply can’t understand it.”

“Non-nonsense?”

“Yeah. As you can see, I’m human, right? Unfortunately, those three over there don’t seem to be. I’m good at many things, but I haven’t mastered nonsense yet. I’ll try to learn it when I have time.”

The three of them looked somewhat stunned by my counterattack. I had been the type who got along well with everyone and was considered quiet and gentle.

They naturally thought I’d be easy prey when they picked a fight, but my sharp tongue was no joke.

In truth, I was fearless right now.

When I might die today at the hands of Eok I-geon, how could I let myself be pushed around by mere maids?

My survival instinct was stronger than ever.

“Do you think that’s something a person should say! Do you want to die today?”

“Are you planning to hit me?”

“The three of us destroying you would be nothing!”

“Three against one. How incredibly petty of you.”

When I kept being defiant to the end, their eyes rolled back in anger.

Unable to contain her rage, Doe, who had been shrieking, rushed at me to grab my hair.

Her whole body was full of openings.

Her movements showed no trace of martial arts training.

I wasn’t exactly a great master myself, but I wasn’t completely ignorant of martial arts either.

Thanks to Shin Geum giving this body early education from childhood, saying one must know how to protect oneself.

I lightly struck the right shoulder area of the charging Doe with the edge of my hand.

“Ahhh!”

Doe screamed and collapsed to the ground.

Since I’d hit the Geogol pressure point, the pain in her right arm would be considerable. She probably wouldn’t be able to lift her arm today.

Now, who’s next?

Without even a moment to catch my breath, another one charged at me trying to grab my collar. It was the Burly Senior.

In fights, quick decisive action is always advantageous.

I struck upward at her lower jaw with the palm of my hand with all my strength.

With a thud, my opponent collapsed unconscious.

“You, you…!”

Once could be dismissed as coincidence, but twice was not.

The woman who had lost two allies in the blink of an eye stared at me in terror.

Her expression was still angry, but having seen what happened, she didn’t dare attack recklessly.

“What shall we do? Will you fight me as well, or shall we call a truce here?”

“Wh-what about them?”

“They’ll wake up soon. We still have to clean Geonyeong-gak, after all.”

I didn’t want to get in trouble for poor cleaning on my first day of assignment. The seniors would feel the same way.

“I’ll let this slide quietly just this once. But there won’t be a next time. From now on, everything that happens inside Geonyeong-gak is my responsibility. That means I’m your superior, not the other way around. You know I have the authority to give demerits based on work performance, right?”

She looked flustered, as if she hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Did she act first and think later?

Geez, what’s so special about Eok I-geon anyway.

“Let me say one last thing. You seem to have a huge misunderstanding about me, but I’m the one who’s most upset about being assigned here, you know?”

I pounded my chest with my fist in frustration.

“Of course I didn’t pay any bribes. I may be bold, but I have no ambition for advancement. Become a lady? I don’t want to be one, nor do I plan to. I have unique tastes – I really hate handsome men. I’m probably the only maid in the palace who doesn’t like Prince Lee. He’s like a disaster to me. Would anyone in the world want a disaster’s attention? Oh, of course our popular Prince Lee wouldn’t have the slightest interest in someone like me either.”

It had to be that way. And this was very likely to be true.

“Anyway, that’s how it is, so I hope you won’t bother me with the same issue again. Do you understand, all three of you?”

At my question, the two lying on the ground flinched.

Understanding my hint to stop pretending to be unconscious, they began to sheepishly get up.

“Let’s please get along well until the rotation day.”

As long as I was the dedicated maid, Geonyeong-gak would always be maintained in perfect condition. I couldn’t let them find even the smallest fault.

For two months, I would do my absolute best!

Thinking of Eok I-geon made my heart shrink again, but I tried not to show it as I strode boldly into Geonyeong-gak.

A moment later, a black shadow dropped from a tree near where the scuffle between Seolha and the maids had taken place.

“A disaster…”