C3 Part1

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Even before her family fell from grace, MoonWon had never worn such long, drooping skirts like this.

She heard that the previous mistress, Consort Yu, had worn silk skirts even wider and more splendid than this. However, if she were to be honest, she felt that, while these clothes were beautiful, they were completely useless.

If it were up to her, she would wear something more comfortable, but after she had come to the bamboo grove, she tried to follow their rules as closely as she could.

“You’re going to tell me not to follow you again, aren’t you?”

Before MoonWon could say anything, Yeori spoke up first. MoonWon nodded.

“I won’t go far.”

“So you’re going to go off on your own again? You’ll be in big trouble if you get caught.”

As MoonWon made an attempt to leave, Yeori quickly brought her a long hooded cape. The cape was as long as her dress. MoonWon felt that if she wore this on top, she’d feel too suffocated.

“Mistress.”

When MoonWon tried to take off the cape, Yeori protested. As they started to quarrel, they heard an unfamiliar voice.

Completely flustered, Yeori quickly lowered her hands. MoonWon tidied her clothes.

“Enter.”

The servant entered the room and bowed. Although MoonWon didn’t know everyone here yet, she recognized this servant as the one who took care of the main residence where Heon lived.

“What is it?”

“You have a guest. I will escort you to them.”

MoonWon nodded, but she suddenly frowned at the thought that popped into her head. After glancing at Yeori for a moment, she called out to the servant.

“If this person is my guest, then you can just guide them here. Why must I be the one who goes out?”

The servant reflexively bowed when she heard MoonWon’s question. When she realized that she was bowing, she straightened back up. Yeori’s startled eyes were staring at her, but MoonWon’s eyes gazed at her as if she were expecting an answer.

“The guest’s status is too high to bring them here. They are not far away, so we have already made the arrangements for your travel. Please come out.”

The attendant knew that the Master shunned his wife. She knew that the wife had no power here. Her status as the mistress of the house could change according to Heon’s whims.

However, having watched her mother enjoy the benefits of power without thinking of the responsibilities that came with it, MoonWon was the one who took care of household matters while her parents were out enjoying themselves.

In her current situation, MoonWon knew from experience that a guest would do her more harm than good.

“The Master is not here, so I can guess that the guest does not wish to meet him. Why does the guest wish to meet me?”

“Mistress.”

“If you are not going to properly tell me who the guest is, then I will not go out.”

Having never seen this side of MoonWon, the servant was at a loss for words. The same went for Yeori. A few moments later, the attendant hesitated before uttering a familiar name.

Heon had grabbed her hand when there was no reason for him to do so. As he had told her, the path wasn’t an easy one, but she still wanted to do her best.

After letting out a silent sigh, MoonWon held out her hand to Yeori and asked for her hooded cape.

* * *

After getting out of the carriage, MoonWon’s breath caught as she took in the sight before her. It was a small pavilion, but it was surrounded by a small lake and a dense forest. It looked quite beautiful.

MoonWon felt like she could just stare at the scenery for hours on end, but, unfortunately, the thought of meeting the guest who was waiting for her made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.

“Greetings, Your Highness Consort Yu.”

The Consort had been gazing at the lake as she sat at the pavilion. When she heard MoonWon’s voice, she turned and gave her a soft smile.

“We’re now one family, so do not be like that. Come and sit.”

MoonWon followed the Consort’s gesture and sat down. Instead of meeting her eyes, MoonWon bowed. Seeing MoonWon lower herself before her, the Consort’s eyes narrowed into a smile.

“I’ve just received some delicious tea. I thought it would be nice to have some light refreshments from the Palace, so I brought them with me.”

“Thank you, Your Highness Consort.”

“No need to call me ‘Your Highness Consort’... Call me ‘Mother’. Heon is my son, and you are my son’s wife. Therefore, it is only natural, is it not?”

This was the first time MoonWon had ever met with the Consort in private.

MoonWon’s mother had tried to bring her when she met with the Consort a few times, but YongUn had protested, saying that she was too young. Because of this, MoonWon had never seen the Consort’s face before.

“After your mother left this world in such a terrible manner, my heart broke for her. I have not truly been myself ever since her passing. I feel that it is divine fate that I am able to see you like this now.”

“I am lacking, but I will do my best, Your Highness Consort.”

“No need to be so formal with me. Don’t be like that and try calling me ‘Mother’.”

Possibly because of the intense discomfort of the situation, MoonWon was unable to relax in the Consort’s presence.

It might just be her imagination, or it might be due to the fact that she felt like she was dragged out of her residence.

“It seems that I haven’t gotten used to the social life here. I apologize, Your Highness Consort.”

Despite MoonWon’s stiff reply, the Consort did not betray any feelings of frustration or annoyance. Instead, she gathered her hands around MoonWon’s and softly stroked them.

“It seems that I have been too forward. No need to worry about it. You may take your time in changing the way you address me.”

“I apologize, Your Highness Consort.”

The Consort chuckled when she heard MoonWon’s apology. Her laughter sounded as clear and as pleasant as the chirps of a bird.

Although the woman in front of MoonWon was a lot older than her, her behavior wasn’t any different from hers.

“I wanted to visit you because I feel that I will be asking you for a lot of favors from now on.”

“Please speak.”

“As you know, my relationship with Heon isn’t very good. Because I have neglected my duties as his mother, it seems that the child is carrying a lot of scars.”

As MoonWon continued to listen to the Consort, her heart gradually began to tremble. She wanted to take her hands out of the Consort’s, but she had an inkling that it would be a bad idea.

“I will do my best to have that child accept you. In return, please tell me what that child is doing from time to time. Who he’s meeting, what kind of things they talk about. Things like that.”

Her racing heart instantly froze.

The beautiful, motherly face suddenly looked so different to her.

“Your Highness Consort Yu.”

“At this rate, you will continue to be shunned and wither away. However, if you make the wise decision and accept my authority, we can help each other. Isn’t that a good idea?”

In other words, the Consort planned on making MoonWon her spy. No matter how much Heon despised her, MoonWon’s family was alive thanks to him.

MoonWon cautiously took her hands out of the Consort’s grasp.

“Your Highness Consort Yu, I cannot do that.”

The edges of the Consort’s eyes slightly trembled at MoonWon’s resolute answer. However, a few moments later, her eyes grew soft once again.

“It seems that I’ve brought up something too serious. I was just asking you to let me know how Heon is spending his days, that’s all.”

“I now belong to the Lee family. Of course, my husband is your one and only son, Your Highness. However, he is still the master of the Lee clan. Now that I belong to that family, how can I tell you about the master’s daily activities?”

Seeing the Consort’s startled eyes, MoonWon lowered her head. After staring at MoonWon in silence, Consort Yu picked up her cup of tea.

“Ohohoho.”

When MoonWon heard her laughter, she lifted her eyes and met the Consort’s for the very first time.

MoonWon tilted her head when she saw that the Consort was laughing as if she were truly enjoying this. After having laughed for a long while, Consort Yu gazed at MoonWon in satisfaction.

“I was a bit worried because this marriage was ordered by His Majesty. I was worried that this marriage would only serve to hurt my son, but it seems that I can be at ease.”

“......”

“I feel completely relieved now. Please continue to treasure my son with such confidence moving forward.”

MoonWon’s stiff face finally relaxed. The Consort’s lips stretched into a smile when she saw the relief on MoonWon’s face. After they finished talking, Consort Yu personally saw MoonWon off.

She continued smiling as she watched MoonWon’s carriage depart. When the carriage had completely disappeared, so did the smile.

“Now that things have turned out like this, it looks like I need to use my own people. How is it that she does not take after her parents at all?”

“Consort Yu, we need to return to the Palace now.”

The Consort shook her hand as if to tell the court lady to stop nagging her.

She thought that she’d be able to win her over with a few whispers, but the girl answered her in a determined manner and bowed. If she had been like her mother and merely told her what it was that she wanted, things would have gone a lot smoother.

However, instead of telling the Consort her conditions, MoonWon drew the line and told her that she could not do it.

“Court Lady Yeo.”

“Yes, Consort.”

“Send out an order to those inside. It’s time to remind them who their true master is, don’t you think?”

Court Lady Yeo lowered her head and walked backwards as she disappeared. A soft smile reappeared on the Consort’s lips as she stared off in the direction where MoonWon had gone.

“Mistress, have you returned?”

Yeori, who had tried to follow MoonWon, was blocked by the servant, so she fretted anxiously at home. When she saw MoonWon, she rushed over to her side.

After handing Yeori her hooded cape, MoonWon finally let out a silent sigh.

“Did your meeting with the Consort go well?”

“Mm.”

“She’s a bit difficult, but isn’t she such a nice person? She often sends the Master gifts in secret.”

MoonWon smiled silently at Yeori’s words. She tried her best to smile, but she couldn’t hide the exhaustion on her face.

“Mistress, was the Consort not to your liking?”

Although MoonWon had tried to hide it, Yeori was able to see the changes in MoonWon’s face in an instant after having served her for the past month.

MoonWon had been shaking her head when she paused. Then she silently nodded.

“It’s not that she isn’t a good person. It’s just that she’s a bit difficult.”

“Sorry?”

Although the Consort had approached her with a soft smile, MoonWon could still feel the hostility oozing out of her.

She had finally seemed a bit friendlier when she asked MoonWon for a favor, but when MoonWon refused, staying near her was as painful as sitting on a cushion of thorns.

“If there is someone who pushed for this marriage, then there are people who are against it. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Mistress, what are you talking about?”

The family responsible for almost killing SoYoon had nothing to do with Consort Yu. However, as she spoke with Consort Yu, MoonWon couldn’t shake off the feeling that they were still connected somehow.

Seeing Yeori tilt her head in confusion, MoonWon shook her head and said it was nothing.

She had made this decision and was determined to see it through from the start. MoonWon had barely begun, and it was too early to show weakness and collapse now.

Things she must do and things she must not.

If she forgot how to discern between the two, she would be responsible and pay the price.

MoonWon endured the sinking feeling in her heart and entered her room.

* * *

Change came quicker than she’d thought, but it came from a place she hadn’t expected.

“Mistress, th-this is…”

They told her that the young servant girl who had been doing the laundry had made a mistake while washing her silk clothing. The young girl apologized, and MoonWon told her it was alright and sent her back. She looked down at the silk clothing in her hands that had been turned into rags.

At first, MoonWon felt that it could have been a mistake. However, this was already the third time.

She didn’t really care about herself, but she was a bit upset that such expensive clothing had gone to waste.

“We mustn’t let them get away with this! We need to catch them!”

“Let it go. Didn’t they say it was all a mistake?”

“Are you telling me that they ripped these clothes up like this due to a mistake? They’re obviously lying, so how can you just let it go?”

“It’s not like we have evidence, do we?”

“Mistress!”

Yeori raised her voice and told her that they couldn't leave things like this, but MoonWon pushed the silk clothing away and closed her eyes. Over ten years had passed since Consort Yu had left this place, but traces of her influence still remained.

Ever since she had refused to take up the Consort’s offer, the servants’ behaviors had changed. They’d break vases as they cleaned, rip her clothes, or forget to bring MoonWon her things.

“This isn’t a mistake! It was all done on purpose! How can mere servants act this way towards the mistress?!”

“But who am I supposed to tell this to?”

Yeori let out an aggravated breath at MoonWon’s reply.

MoonWon was angry as well, but there was no one she could complain to in a place like this.

In the end, this was something she had to cope with. Although she knew this, she still found enduring the hostility to be very difficult.

“In the end, this is something I must endure.”

“What if we tell Yusun-nim?!”

“Don’t do it.”

Because he had married her according to her wishes, Heon’s responsibilities ended there. Her life after their wedding was all up to her and her alone.

“Mistress! I have brought your supper.”

The door opened and the servant placed the table in front of MoonWon. The servant quickly exited the room as if she were running away after she was done. Seeing this, MoonWon picked up her spoon.

A few moments later, MoonWon brought the rice to her mouth. After chewing it, she frowned.

Seeing MoonWon’s reaction, Yeori took her chopsticks and ate some of MoonWon’s rice. The first thing she tasted was sand and spoiled rice. Fire raged within Yeori’s eyes.

“I’m going to get these brats!”

“I think it would be best to send the supper back.”

“Mistress!”

“I was the one who refused her favor, so I must accept the consequences.”

Hearing this, Yeori shut her mouth. For a moment, she wondered if this was truly Consort Yu’s doing. Consort Yu, the one who had often sent gifts to all the servants. Seeing such a drastic change in MoonWon’s situation, Yeori couldn’t help but feel helpless.