"Really?!"
"Yes! I heard they sleep in the same room almost every night! But they manage to hide it because the bodyguard leaves before dawn!"
"I heard they even did it in the reading room!"
"A reading room rendezvous? That's scandalous!"
Laughter and giggles filled the fabric house as Myung Yu passed by. The princess paused, standing still for a moment, trying to catch the details of the conversation among her court maids.
Court maids loved to gossip. If there was any bizarre news, they would be the first to know, especially something scandalous like palace romances. They had a delusional imagination—how a small matter could grow into something much bigger.
"Court maids, have you finished dyeing the new fabric from the north?" The head maid's voice startled them.
"We're on it, head maid..."
"Make it quick! The princess expects it to be done by this evening!" The head maid's stern voice sent them scurrying to their tasks.
As the head maid turned around, she almost dropped the steel basin she was holding when she noticed Myung Yu standing silently behind her. Myung Yu's quick reflexes saved the basin from smashing onto the ground.
Even the contents stayed still, safe and sound.
"Gongju jaga..." the head maid bowed deeply.
"How is the fabric from the north, head maid?" Myung Yu asked with a composed yet polite tone.
"It's in progress, gongju jaga..."
"That's fine. Once it's done, have your maid deliver it directly to me," the princess replied with poise and elegance. "Ah, one more thing... I want the one who dyed the fabric to bring it. I need to understand the process so I can instruct the northerners on how to do it," she added.
"Certainly, gongju jaga..." The head maid bowed again with care. As Myung Yu left the fabric house, a deep-seated anger simmered within her.
"I'll teach you a lesson!" she muttered under her breath, striding purposefully towards her quarters.
***
"They claim it's due to the bad weather, but Abeonim isn't entirely convinced, cousin..."
Myung Yu refilled her tea, her gaze met the lady seated across from her. The woman was dressed in a pink and yellow hanbok, her makeup simple and sweet. Her hair was neatly tied, adorned with a yellow jade ornament.
"How long has it been since Dan Orabeonim left?" Myung Yu inquired.
"It's been a full seven days, gongju jaga..."
Myung Yu picked up a small book from her table, flipping through the pages until she found what she was looking for. She studied the information intently.
"The blizzard isn't due for another 14 days. Even if the weather's been bad, there shouldn't have been any real obstacles to traveling..."
"That's why abeonim couldn't believe the letter sent by daegun jaga. It's cold and snowy, yes, but Dan orabeonim should have returned by now. Something must have happened to him!" the lady cried out, worry etched across her furrowed brow.
"What would you like me to do, Ran agassi? Do you want me to send someone to check on Dan orabeonim?" Myung Yu asked. Ran looked at her and nodded faintly.
"At least it would ease our worries. We're afraid Dan Orabeonim might have had an accident, and Daegum is keeping it from us to avoid causing distress. But still, gongju jaga... we're so worried about his safety!" Ran looked even more troubled.
"Fine... I'll send someone to check on him. In the meantime, get some rest and go home tomorrow. It's late, and it's dangerous to travel in this cold weather. Bandits are everywhere. Min Jun Orabeonim was just attacked by them a few weeks ago," Myung Yu said, waving a hand to summon one of her court maids.
"Prepare a room for Ran agassi. Make sure it's warm enough," she ordered. The lady bowed before leaving the room.
"I heard everything turned out fine, thanks to Daegum's new bodyguard. They say he's good and very protective," Ran's words made Myung Yu uneasy. Her mind drifted back to the gossip she overheard from the court maids at the fabric house.
"Protective?" Myung Yu asked deliberately, fishing for more information from Ran.
"Yes. I heard they stick together like sticky rice cakes. It's a bit odd but understandable," Ran replied, unaware of Myung Yu's true intent.
"How so?" Myung Yu tried to maintain her composure as she probed further.
"They're always together, looking almost... domestic. Like a couple. But it's understandable—bodyguards need to stay close to do their job properly," Ran said with a smile.
"Have you ever seen them together?" Myung Yu asked again.
"Oh no, I only heard it from somewhere..."
Just as she suspected, Ran had never seen Min Jun and Uk together. Yet the gossip had spread far and wide. Even Ran, who lived quite a distance from the palace, knew about it.
This is getting out of hand! Myung Yu thought to herself.
"I believe it's only temporary. Uk ssi might have to leave his job soon. He's old enough to marry, and once he finds a suitor, he'll likely resign for good," Myung Yu said calmly. "Nothing in this world is permanent, is it?" She gave Ran a sweet, composed smile, masking the turmoil inside her.
"Yes, certainly. I even heard he's quite handsome! Mature, reliable, and soft-spoken. It's impossible for him to stay alone for a long time, isn't it?" Ran praised Uk, unaware of the change in Myung Yu's demeanor.
"The room is ready, gongju jaga..." Their conversation was interrupted by a court maid presenting herself with a room key.
"Go and rest, agassi. You have a long journey tomorrow," Myung Yu said, leading the way with graceful hand gestures. Ran bowed slightly before leaving for her room.
"Gongju, there's a maid from the fabric house waiting outside for you," the court maid informed Myung Yu.
"Let her in," Myung Yu commanded. She set everything on the table before turning to face the maid, who held a roll of fabric from the north.
"This is the fabric you requested, gongju," the maid said, bowing as she presented the delicate material.
"Can you help me try it on?" Myung Yu asked in a soft tone.
"But I'm not trained in tailoring. You should ask the seamstress or a dressmaker for that," the maid replied, hesitantly.
"Yes, but this is a simple task. Just wrap the fabric around me and pin it where I instruct you," Myung Yu said. She stood still, waiting as the maid began to wrap the fabric around her.
As the maid worked, Myung Yu observed her closely, deciding when to begin the lesson she had in mind.
The maid pinned the fabric as directed, but Myung Yu deliberately shifted her body, causing the maid to prick her own finger. The maid yelped in pain.
"What's wrong, hmm?" Myung Yu asked with feigned innocence. The maid shook her head quickly, returning to her task. But when Myung Yu shifted again, the pin pierced the maid's finger even deeper.
"Gongju!" the maid cried out in pain.
"Oh, does it hurt?" Myung Yu asked with a subtle expression. She crouched down, taking the maid's finger in her hand. Then, without warning, she yanked the pin out, causing the maid to yelp again.
"It's just a finger. You don't mind a little pain, do you? Because it would be far worse if I pierced... let's say... your tongue?" Myung Yu growled softly, her eyes dark and menacing. The maid whimpered in fear.
"This time, it's just your finger. If you keep talking about Du Beonjjae Wangja, next time it'll be your tongue!" The princess's stern warning brought tears to the maid's eyes.
"Do you understand?!" Myung Yu asked one last time, her tone soft yet sharp. The maid nodded vigorously, pulling her hand away and bowing deeply in terror.
"I'm sorry, gongju jaga!"
"Leave!" Myung Yu commanded harshly. The maid quickly gathered her things and fled the room.
Myung Yu watched her go with a sharp glare, hoping the girl had learned a lesson about spreading rumors. Yet, despite her actions, Myung Yu felt a gnawing unease.
If it's true, then I have to see it for myself. And I'll put an end to their relationship. I can't lose to Orabeonim! I'll make sure it never happens!
Determined, Myung Yu began packing her belongings, preparing for a long journey.