At that moment, something caught Bu-yeong’s eye. It was a silver necklace hanging from the guard’s thick neck. Intricate patterns were engraved into it, and in between were embedded sapphires and rubies—something no mere guard could easily afford on his salary alone.

Noticing Bu-yeong’s gaze, the guard tucked the necklace into his collar. With that, Bu-yeong was certain. There was no doubt that this man had done such a thing to her father in exchange for that necklace.

“Who put you up to this?”

“W-What do you mean, who? A guard can rough up a prisoner a little, i-it happens sometimes!”

Bu-yeong let out a deep sigh. There was no need to think too hard about who it was. If not the former Chancellor, then the Imperial Consort. And if not them—then the Emperor himself.

“…I won’t press further about the past. Just call the royal physician at once.”

The guard snorted, as if the very idea was absurd.

“The royal physician? If you get His Majesty’s permission, I’ll call him as many times as you like.”

“A man is dying before your eyes!”

The guard shoved the same finger he’d been picking his nose with into his ear, pretending to dig out earwax.

“Is there a fly buzzing around? I keep hearing this annoying whining.”

As if he had no intention of listening any further, the guard abruptly turned his back. Bu-yeong’s eyes turned red, swelling with emotion, and pearl-like tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Father… Father!”

She reached her hand through the bars, but it was impossible to touch Seol Ik-jin from where she stood. Even with her father groaning in pain right before her eyes, there was nothing she could do. Bu-yeong could only tremble, her hands shaking violently.

Seol Ik-jin had been imprisoned by the Emperor’s direct order. Without another command from His Majesty, no royal physician could be summoned.

‘Would His Majesty even send a physician? No… He wouldn’t even bother listening. Then what am I supposed to do?’

Bu-yeong’s heart pounded furiously. Her vision blurred, and her throat felt painfully dry.

“I shall soon die, my body eaten alive by insects.”

“Please don’t say such things! …If you’re no longer in this world, what meaning would life have for me? I’ll save you. No matter what it takes.”

Perhaps not wanting to cry in front of his daughter, Seol Ik-jin held back his tears with great effort.

In that moment, a single person came to Bu-yeong’s mind, someone who could defy an imperial decree and not suffer the consequences. Someone untouchable, even if they went against the Emperor’s will.

The odds were slim. But now wasn’t the time to be picky. She had to try something—anything.

Bu-yeong sprang to her feet and tore out of the prison. One shoe flew off, and her bare foot scraped against the dirt, sharp stones cutting into her sole as blood spilled with every step. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, as if her lungs were full of ash—but still, she didn’t stop.

After running for a long time, she finally arrived at Seohwajeon, the residence of the Empress Dowager. It was the sunniest place in the palace and had been chosen because of the Empress Dowager’s fragile health.

Bu-yeong paused just before stepping into Seohwajeon. Right after she’d been cast into the Cold Palace, she had come here upon learning she wasn’t officially forbidden from entering.

She had come to plead her injustice. But the Empress Dowager hadn’t even spared her a glance.

‘Would today be any different?’

“…At worst, she’ll just throw me out again.”

Bu-yeong marched inside with determination. No one stopped her as she approached the chamber doors. Perhaps this was because, when the Empress Dowager was still in her prime, she had treated Bu-yeong as if she were her own daughter.

“Please inform Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

The palace maid standing guard wavered, unsure what to do. If word got out that she had obeyed the fallen consort, she wouldn’t be able to handle the consequences.

“Please wait just a moment. Chief Court Lady Hong will be here soon.”

The court lady chose to shift the responsibility elsewhere. Bu-yeong was in a race against time. Nevertheless, she couldn’t just barge in and throw open the doors just because the maid refused to announce her arrival.

Fortunately, it seemed that the maid hadn’t been lying. Not long after, Chief Court Lady Hong appeared.

The moment she spotted Bu-yeong, she recoiled in shock, as though she had seen a ghost.

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

Not only had the Empress, who was supposed to be confined to the Cold Palace, come to Seohwajeon, but… Bu-yeong’s condition was so terrible that it could not be viewed as anything else.

She was breathing in shallow gasps, her hair was stuck to her sweaty skin, and her bare feet were stained red with blood.

What on earth had happened to her?

“M-My lady… What is this? Why do you look like this?”

“Court Lady Hong, I must see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Please inform her.”

Court Lady Hong entered the palace at the age of twelve and served the Empress Dowager for more than thirty years. Although the Empress Dowager’s illness had diminished her influence, Court Lady Hong was still influential enough to avoid being overlooked in the palace.

This meant that she could inform the Empress Dowager of Bu-yeong’s presence without fearing the Imperial Consort’s disapproval.

However, she was now more concerned about the Empress Dowager’s condition.

“The truth is… Her Majesty had another episode not long ago. She grabbed a handful of my hair, saying I must have poisoned her tea to steal the Empress’s throne… Ahem! I had only just gone to tidy myself up when I was called here.”

“How terrible! Is she all right now?”

“Oh, of course. Such things are nothing new for this humble servant. But if I may, Your Majesty’s injuries seem far more serious.”

Her gaze fell upon Bu-yeong’s feet. The toenail on her big toe was barely hanging on and looked as though it would fall off at the slightest touch.

Court Lady Hong could tell that something serious had happened, but, being a servant, she knew that she could not speak freely or ask questions that were none of her business. Above all, she wanted to avoid becoming embroiled in palace intrigue.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, could you please tell Her Majesty the Empress Dowager that Seol Ik-jin’s daughter has come?”

Bu-yeong decided to seize this last chance as her one and only opportunity. If the Empress Dowager could remember the time before Bu-yeong’s marriage, when she was known as Miss Seol, it would be easier to ask her to send a doctor to Bu-yeong’s father.

“Then I shall inform her as you wish.”

Chief Court Lady Hong took a deep breath before raising her voice.

“Your Majesty! Seol Bu-yeong, daughter of Chancellor Seol Ik-jin, humbly requests an audience!”

Before anyone could respond, the Empress Dowager burst through the doors and rushed out. Moments earlier, she had experienced another bout of madness, grabbing at those around her. As a result, her outer robe had slipped down past her shoulders, and the golden hairpin in her hair swung loosely.

But now, as if all that had been forgotten, she smiled warmly and took Bu-yeong’s hands in hers.

“My dear, why did you only come now? Do you know how long I’ve waited for you? Come in at once and read me the sutras. I’ll be able to fall asleep the moment I hear your voice.”

Finally at peace, it seemed, the Empress Dowager let out a sigh and gently patted her chest with her wrinkled hand. She then took Bu-yeong’s wrist and led her inside.

Court Lady Hong followed behind, whispering softly.

“Be careful.”

Bu-yeong answered with a silent nod. A childlike smile bloomed on the Empress Dowager’s lips, as if the chaos she had just caused belonged to someone else entirely.

“Bu-yeong, why are you just standing there? Sit down already.”

It was a gentle, tender voice — something that could never have been imagined coming from her under normal circumstances.

Lady Hong, the court lady, doubted her own ears, wondering if she had gone mad and was hearing things that weren’t there.

“Your Majesty is too gracious.”

Uncertain when the Empress Dowager might suddenly change, Bu-yeong remained tense as she slowly took her seat.

The Empress Dowager beamed, as if nothing could delight her more. She even poured tea for Bu-yeong herself.

“Drink slowly, my dear. There’s so much I want to talk to you about today.”

Bu-yeong forced a smile as she took a sip of the tea. But there was no time to savor its scent or flavor. Her mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of her father.

‘If it’s the Empress Dowager in this state… she might grant my request. She’s calling me Bu-yeong, after all.’

Before her mind deteriorated completely, the Empress Dowager started to distrust and dislike everyone in the palace, except for Bu-yeong. This was not due to any political alliance with Seol Ik-jin. Her health had long since deteriorated to the point where she could no longer concern herself with succession or power struggles.

She had once looked at Bu-yeong with deep affection and said:

“You look so much like your mother! You have her big eyes, pale skin and bright nature. She was such a kind person. When I’m with you, I feel as though I’ve gone back to the family home. Back to a time without worries or fear.”

Bu-yeong’s mother was a few years younger than the Empress Dowager, but the two women had attended the same academy in their youth and had been like sisters ever since. Whenever a handsome boy joined the school, they would sneak glances at him while he was studying.

When they came across rare treats, they shared them. Their only worry back then was how to finish their homework.

It was a time truly free of anxiety or fear. The Empress Dowager always longed to return to those days.

“Your Majesty, I have a request.”

“Has something happened? Don’t hesitate—speak freely.”

The Empress Dowager replied, furrowing her brow in concern. Without further delay, Bu-yeong spoke.

“Forgive my boldness, but my father is very ill. I beg you, please send a royal physician to treat him.”

“Lord Seol, you say? Just how ill must he be to need a physician from the Royal Medical Office? Worry not—I shall send one at once. Court Lady Hong, go now to the Royal Medical—urk!”

Suddenly, the Empress Dowager pressed her fingers to her temple, then turned a vicious glare on Bu-yeong.

“You wretched girl! Last night—you seduced His Majesty with that filthy body of yours, didn’t you?
You’re the one who petitioned that he no longer visit the Empress’s quarters, weren’t you?”

She raised her hand and seized Bu-yeong by the hair, shaking her violently.

“I will not let you go unpunished today!”

Court Lady Hong and several palace maids rushed forward and tried to restrain her, but the strength of a madwoman’s grip was far too much for an ordinary person to handle.