Chapter 33

“Uh, well…”

Suddenly, her wish had become incredibly grandiose. Just as she was about to stammer out an excuse, the King interrupted.

“Very well. If you pass through that door safely, I will honor your life as more valuable than the nation’s interests, just once.”

Wait, what exactly is behind that door?

Unease crept in, but there was no turning back now. Most importantly, wasn’t this a chance to earn an extra life?

Evelyn bowed respectfully to the King.

“Thank you for granting my request. I will do my best to pass.”

“Hmm, good attitude. Now go.”

“Yes!”

Evelyn turned to face the dark room. It was so obscured by shadows that she couldn’t see inside. Taking a deep breath, she leaped forward like Sim Cheong diving into Indangsu.

(T/N: ‘Sim Cheong diving into Indangsu’. This phrase references a famous Korean folktale, The Tale of Sim Cheong. Sim Cheong is a devoted daughter who sacrifices herself by jumping into the Indangsu, a mythical body of water, to restore her blind father’s sight.)

After hundreds of years, the one who awakened me was a boy. He had long silver hair and blue eyes. His hands were scarred.

As I healed his wounds, I whispered to him. From now on, victory and glory will be yours. I will grant everything you desire.

Wait! You’re heading into war. If you go like this, you might die.

Come back! Your father and your subordinates all want to kill you. You need my power!

But the boy never looked back and walked away. Furious, I shouted after him.

Hey! I’m a Holy Sword! Do you think abandoning me will lead you to success?

“Evelyn!”

Someone smacked Evelyn on the forehead.

She snapped out of her daze as if waking from a dream. Her senses returned, and her scattered consciousness came back into place.

“Uh, Your Majesty?”

“What were you doing, standing there blankly? I thought you were sleeping with your eyes open.”

The King teased with a playful expression. Reflexively, Evelyn glanced at her hands. All ten fingers were intact.

Yet just moments ago, she had thought she was a sword. Not just any sword, but a Holy Sword that had met its master after hundreds of years.

And the boy who had been the sword’s master was Seth. He had been younger and had longer hair, but his face was unmistakable.

‘That wasn’t just a dream or a hallucination.’

What she had seen was someone’s memory.

But it hadn’t been through her own power. Her ability allowed her to transfer a person’s thoughts onto paper or fabric, not to see their memories directly.

“Your Majesty, is there a Holy Sword here by any chance?”

The only plausible explanation was that she had been drawn into a powerful memory lingering in this place.

“…A Holy Sword? Are you referring to the Wailing Sword?”

Wailing Sword? 

That sounded bizarre—like a wolf howling, except it was a sword.

Hesitating, Evelyn didn’t answer immediately. The King, smirking, gestured ahead.

“I’m not sure if it qualifies as a Holy Sword, but if you mean the Wailing Sword, it’s hidden somewhere in there. After all, it’s one of the Five Sacred Relics.”

Instinctively, Evelyn looked in the direction the King indicated.

“Wow.”

Towering cabinets were lined up like a forest. The atmosphere felt more like the basement of a museum than a royal vault.

It wasn’t the golden, dazzling place she had imagined, but the sheer size of the cabinets was intimidating.

“Judging by your reaction, you seem to have regained your senses. Congratulations on passing through the Vault’s Door.”

The King spoke with satisfaction. Only then did Evelyn fully realize—she had made it through the entrance!

She swallowed nervously. She wanted to ask if she could now claim the reward of an extra life, but she held back, worried about upsetting the King.

The King, noticing her hesitation, chuckled.

“Hold out your left hand.”

“Huh?”

Evelyn hesitated briefly before cautiously extending her hand. The King pulled a simple silver ring from her pocket and slipped it onto the fourth finger of her left hand.

“This is your reward for passing through the door. When the time comes, and your life is needed, I will claim it. Until then, never take it off.”

“Th-thank you!”

Flustered, Evelyn stammered her gratitude.

‘Don’t they have a tradition of wearing wedding rings on the left hand here?’

The King had slipped the ring on so casually that she hadn’t even had time to ask. Still, she felt as if she could float with happiness—after all, she had earned an extra life.

As she grinned at the ring, a rough hand tousled her hair. Startled, Evelyn looked up to meet the King’s gaze. She smirked.

“Let’s head back. If we’re any later, Fiona will truly lose her temper.”

“Ah, yes!”

Following the King toward the exit, Evelyn glanced back. Somewhere in that vast space, the abandoned Holy Sword seemed to be yearning for its master.

‘It must have shown me those memories because I’m connected to Seth.’

But Evelyn had no way of retrieving the Holy Sword for Seth. It was only natural, yet the memory she had seen left her feeling strangely bitter.

“Sorry.”

She whispered an apology and turned away without hesitation. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but something seemed to glimmer faintly behind her.

***

“Your Majesty! There you are!”

As soon as they stepped outside, they ran into Fiona. Evelyn instinctively hid behind the King.

“Oh, Fiona.”

“Do you know how worried I was when I heard you had vanished from your chambers?”

“It’s not the first time.”

“Your Majesty!”

Judging by the King’s nonchalant attitude, this must have been a frequent occurrence. Ignoring Fiona’s scolding, the King pulled Evelyn forward.

“More importantly, there’s a pressing matter. Evelyn just passed the Vault’s test.”

“What?”

Fiona’s shocked gaze fell on Evelyn. Evelyn made a mental note to ask later what exactly the Vault’s test entailed.

“I had her try it on a whim, and she succeeded effortlessly. Now that it’s come to this, I’d like to call three witnesses to officially record it.”

“I’ll make the arrangements.”

Fiona replied, still looking bewildered. The King ruffled Evelyn’s hair as she stood there anxiously.

“Evelyn, you’ve done it once, so you can do it again, right?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The answer was obvious, and Evelyn had no choice but to comply.

Fortunately, the second test didn’t take long. Fiona, along with others who had rushed over to find the King, was roped in as witnesses.

Under their watchful eyes, Evelyn entered and exited the Vault. This time, there were no visions, allowing her to move more quickly than before.

Seeing everyone’s astonished reactions made her feel awkward. It was like watching people cheer for a baby taking its first steps.

The King placed a proud hand on her shoulder.

“As you all know, only those loyal to the Royal Family and free of greed can pass the Vault’s test. Until now, Fiona was the only one to succeed. Today, I am delighted to have discovered another loyal subject.”

Wait, was that what the Vault’s test was about? And you pushed me in there without explaining it?

As Evelyn stood frozen in shock, the King patted her shoulder and declared.

“Having confirmed it myself, there’s no room for objection. I appoint Evelyn Hynes as the Royal Vault’s caretaker.”

“Your Majesty! While she passed the test, this decision seems premature!”

“How long do you plan to overwork Fiona? She has many responsibilities, yet she’s always running around. Don’t you feel sorry for her?”

The objector fell silent, unable to counter the King’s argument.

“Fiona, you will train Evelyn in managing the Vault.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Fiona replied with a determined expression.

Evelyn, whose duties had suddenly changed, asked hesitantly.

“Your Majesty, does this mean I can no longer work in the Wardrobe Department?”

She had just made a friend, Diana, and now she was being reassigned again? It felt unfair.

“Evelyn!”

Fiona scolded her sternly. Evelyn lowered her head, disappointed. Thankfully, the King laughed and clarified.

“You’re still part of the Wardrobe Department. You’ll simply handle both your current duties and the Vault’s management.”

…Having more work didn’t benefit her at all. But the moment the King glanced at her ring, such thoughts vanished. She resolved to work hard, like a loyal dog. 

Loyalty, loyalty!

“Evelyn, I won’t forget the devotion you showed me today. I look forward to seeing more of your good work.”

The King spoke with a solemn expression, gripping her shoulder. Evelyn replied with a deeply moved look.

“Thank you. I will strive to be someone worthy of your trust, Your Majesty.”

Judging by the uneasy expressions of the witnesses, her performance must have been convincing.

As the impromptu ceremony ended, Evelyn was led by Fiona toward the King’s chambers.

There, the maids had finished preparing for the morning audience and were waiting for the King. When Evelyn, standing behind the King, was spotted by the Wardrobe Department maids, their eyes widened.

After inspecting the prepared clothing, Fiona and the Bedroom Maids helped the King change. While being dressed, the King glanced at Evelyn and said.

“Evelyn, come help.”

“Huh? Yes!”

Under the sharp glares of the others, Evelyn approached the King. All she did was hold the hem of her robe or the ends of ribbons, but the Bedroom Maids glared at her as if she had stolen their wallets.