Chapter 35
Passing through the hall where the royal throne was situated, they entered further inside where a fairly large palace hall came into view. As they stepped into the courtyard, a priest in pure white attire approached and bowed politely.
“What brings you here today?”
Though pretending otherwise, Yun-seo could sense the priest observing Hwi. Hwi calmly looked around before speaking.
“I was thinking of making a donation.”
“Ah! Is that so?”
When Hwi expressed his intention to donate money, the priest’s face noticeably brightened. Money truly is supreme, it seems. Yun-seo felt bitter, thinking he wouldn’t have been allowed to enter if he had come alone.
The priest guided Hwi and Yun-seo inside the palace hall. With a proud tone, he showed them the space where priests prayed and practiced. There was nothing particularly suspicious, and Yun-seo was beginning to think they might have been mistaken to suspect this place when Hwi stopped while walking down a long corridor.
“Go out and pray for a while.”
“What? Ah… yes, I understand.”
Realizing that Hwi was giving him an opportunity to explore the place alone, Yun-seo quickly bowed as if seeing him off.
After Hwi and the priest moved away, everything became quiet. Despite the size of the palace hall, there didn’t seem to be many people around. Yun-seo carefully stepped forward and opened the door of a nearby room.
After confirming there was nothing special there, he was about to head to another room when he heard footsteps approaching from the opposite direction. Flustered, Yun-seo looked around frantically before quickly entering the room in front of him.
As he carefully closed the door and held his breath, he heard a rustling sound from behind and turned around in shock. The place appeared to be a library, filled with bookshelves. Someone holding a book was looking at him, perhaps in the middle of organizing the shelves.
The person wore a thin white cloth covering their head and half their face, so only their eyes were visible. Judging by their height and build, they seemed to be a child not yet in their teens. Seeing clear confusion in the eyes visible through the cloth, Yun-seo tried to put on a kind expression and placed his finger against his lips.
Footsteps were drawing closer outside the door. Yun-seo chewed his lip nervously, gestured to the child, and then hid behind a bookshelf. At that moment, the door opened and someone entered.
“Was it you?”
A man’s husky voice was heard. From Yun-seo’s view, he could only see the child’s profile. While frantically thinking about how to respond if the child revealed his presence, the child didn’t even glance in his direction and nodded.
“Yes. I was organizing the books.”
“Good. Handle them carefully.”
“Yes.”
After the man left and the door closed, silence settled. Yun-seo felt cold sweat forming on his nape and swallowed a sigh. He waited until it was completely quiet outside before emerging, at which point the child turned to look at him.
“Um… I’m not a suspicious person. I’m just looking for someone.”
“Who are you looking for that you had to sneak in like this?”
“Well…”
The child’s eyes, waiting for an answer, seemed somehow familiar. Yun-seo searched his memory for the features he had seen before.
“How long have you been here?”
“…May I ask why you want to know?”
“Did you come here willingly?”
The child hugged the book tightly and took a step back. The defensive attitude sparked a realization in Yun-seo’s mind. He raised both hands to emphasize that he meant no harm.
“Did you leave your family behind?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“There’s someone looking for you.”
“That’s impossible.”
It was a confusing answer—was the child truly believing no one would look for them, or were they lying? Yun-seo bit his lip firmly and sighed. If only he had learned that woman’s name!
“Ah! A red concentric knot! Do you know a teapot with a red concentric knot?”
“…”
“It’s true that someone is looking for you. That person doesn’t even know you were taken.”
A flicker of emotion rippled in the child’s eyes. The child, who had stepped back, now moved even closer to Yun-seo.
“But… I was sold here to repay a debt…”
“That can’t be! Why would your sister be going around everywhere with a drawing of your face?”
Feeling sorry for the child’s confused expression, Yun-seo gently stroked their head and lowered himself to meet their eye level.
“How many other children are there besides you?”
“Including me, three. I haven’t been here long, and there were two others, but I heard they went somewhere else.”
“Good. I’ll think of a way to get you back, but for now, don’t let on and just wait. Can you do that?”
The child clutched the book tightly and nodded vigorously. Though their eyes were brimming with tears, they were trying hard not to let them fall. Finding it both admirable and pitiful, Yun-seo patted the child’s shoulder.
“Can you tell me your name?”
“Hyeongso.”
“All right, Hyeongso. I’ll come back for you before it’s too late, so please wait just a little longer.”
There was no time to waste, so they had to part ways here. Yun-seo gave the child a reassuring smile, checked for any movement outside, and then left the library.
The corridor was quiet. His heart felt heavy, unable to forget the tearful face of the child. Yun-seo hurried his steps, deeply considering how to resolve this situation.
Just as he was leaving the palace hall, before he could feel relief, he encountered a priest approaching from the other direction. The priest looked Yun-seo up and down and asked with suspicious eyes.
“Who are you?”
“Ah, my lord said he would make a donation, so I’m waiting.”
“Here?”
“Is that not allowed?”
Yun-seo asked innocently with a guileless expression. Confident that he didn’t appear suspicious, he feigned composure, but his heart was beating roughly. He couldn’t tell if it was from fear of being caught in a lie or anger toward these people.
The priest alternately looked at Yun-seo’s face and attire, then tilted his head as if something seemed off. Yun-seo grew anxious, wondering why the priest wouldn’t just let him pass. Just as the priest was about to speak with a furrowed brow—
“What are you doing there?”
Hwi’s voice from behind felt like a lifeline from heaven. Yun-seo couldn’t hide his relief as he turned around.
“You’ve come out, my lord!”
“I told you to pray, but it seems you’ve been idling.”
“I’m embarrassed to say this in a shrine, but I get antsy when I sit still…”
Scratching his head and smiling mischievously, Yun-seo saw Hwi click his tongue before walking ahead. The priest followed behind, escorting Hwi and bidding him farewell respectfully. The suspicious look that had clouded the priest’s face was now completely gone.
“Your lying has improved.”
At Hwi’s remark as soon as they were away from the shrine, Yun-seo checked behind them and exhaled in relief. But when did I lie again? As he tried to recall, another thought occurred to him and he quickly asked.
“Did you really make a donation?”
“Yes.”
“Not too much, I hope?”
“Compared to your standard, it would be a lot.”
By now, Yun-seo could clearly tell when Hwi was teasing him. Easily ignoring Hwi’s words, Yun-seo pressed his lips together, eager to share what he had discovered, and quickened his pace.
As soon as they arrived at the inn, Yun-seo sat on a chair and waited for Hwi to sit across from him. Despite Yun-seo’s urgency, Hwi didn’t sit down immediately but leisurely called for an attendant.
“Is there anything particular you’d like to eat?”
“What? This is no time for a meal.”
“Must even eating be done at the right time? No wonder you’re so thin.”
“What… You’re just exceptionally sturdy, my lord.”
Taken aback by the sudden criticism, Yun-seo unconsciously rubbed his arm. He was certain that he wasn’t thin but rather fit into the normal category. Besides, he had been thinking he’d gained weight from eating well while traveling with Hwi.
While Yun-seo was examining himself, Hwi ordered a five-dish meal from the attendant. After the attendant left and Hwi sat down across from him, Yun-seo immediately began speaking.
“I met a child at the shrine.”
Hwi remained silent as Yun-seo explained everything that had happened when he was left alone, thanks to Hwi buying him time. When Yun-seo finished, Hwi asked.
“So what do you want to do?”
“For now… I think it’s best to entrust this matter to the Hwasicheong.”
“Hwasicheong?”
Hwi frowned sharply. Seeing this different reaction from his previously indifferent listening, Yun-seo hesitated momentarily before nodding.
“Didn’t you see how the military rations that should have been given to the poor during the drought were diverted? Since we don’t know what connections this shrine might have, I think it’s better to seek help from the Hwasicheong. It’s not too far from here anyway.”
“Can you guarantee that the Hwasicheong is trustworthy?”
“Of course! Aren’t all the Yongrim directly under the Emperor’s command?”
“What does being under direct command matter? Being distant, they could line their own pockets without anyone knowing.”
“The Hwasicheong has not only Yongrim but also Yeong Chunhwa and imperial guards. It’s impossible for all of them to be corrupted in the same way. And since His Majesty cares for the weak, his influence would surely reach them, and they wouldn’t turn a blind eye.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
