Chapter 25: The Beckoning Path

“Are you planning to stitch all day, Princess? You even skipped lunch… even if you have no appetite, you should have a quick bite and stretch your legs with a walk.”

According to the physician’s orders, Choyong was supposed to be resting quietly in bed. However, following General Yuchang’s abrupt visit the previous day, she had completely abandoned her sickbed.

Four days of rest had done her wonders; color had returned to her cheeks, and though her leg ached if she walked too long, her limping was entirely gone. Yet, every silver lining has its cloud. Bursting with renewed energy, Choyong now hovered constantly, offering a non-stop stream of nagging.

Back in the Cold Palace of Taeseong, it was common for Huiyeon to skip meals entirely whenever she became absorbed in a task. Lady Go would offer a passing comment or two but generally left her to her own devices, choosing not to interfere unless her health was in jeopardy. Choyong, however, was fiercely protective of Huiyeon’s well-being.

‘Then again, she nearly died on the journey to Hoye…’

Weary of the gentle chiding—and feeling the dull ache in her neck and shoulders from hunching over her embroidery frame since morning—Huiyeon finally laid down her needle. She rubbed her stiff shoulder.

“Look at that. Your shoulders are sore because you’ve been stitching all day. Let me massage them for you.”

Before Huiyeon could object, Choyong stepped behind her and began kneading her shoulders. It was remarkably soothing, so Huiyeon quietly yielded, closing her eyes.

“By the way, how is Maeng-so doing?”

The young maid had fallen ill around the same time as Choyong, but unlike her, Maeng-so had not yet returned to the detached palace.

“The little thing was running around without a moment’s rest, so when the fatigue finally hit her, it hit hard. But I heard her fever has broken and she’s recovering her strength.”

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

Nodding softly, Huiyeon decided it was time to take Choyong’s advice. She had something she needed to verify, and this provided the perfect excuse.

“Get ready. We are going for a walk.”

“A wonderful idea, Princess! But first, you must eat something light.”

Huiyeon nodded in agreement, and Choyong scurried out of the room, promising to return quickly.

Left alone, Huiyeon picked up one of the three books resting on the table. Flustered by Yuchang’s unexpected visit yesterday, she hadn’t managed to read a single page. Even if she had found the time, she wouldn’t have read it casually.

‘Herbal Medicine ’

Unlike her previous selection of folk tales and myths, this time Huiyeon had deliberately chosen a text detailing medicinal herbs used to treat illnesses. She wanted to test her innate knowledge—to see if the instincts that had guided her the other night were actually correct.

“If my knowledge is accurate… I might be able to help Maeng-so.”

While she had framed it as a stroll to Choyong, her true objective was foraging. Of course, she would have to gather decorative flowers alongside the medicine to keep up appearances, just as she had done before.

Anxious that Huiyeon might change her mind, Choyong returned in record time. Though she lacked an appetite, Huiyeon forced herself to eat a few bites, knowing she would need the energy to forage. Her chopsticks stopped after only a fraction of the meal.

“Goodness, you eat like a bird! How will you have any energy? Please, have a bit more.”

“I’ve had enough.”

Choyong looked at the half-filled bowl and urged her to continue, but Huiyeon simply shook her head. Even during her exile, food had never held much appeal; she ate purely out of necessity.

“If I grow hungry after our walk, I will eat more then.”

Seeing that her mistress was resolute, Choyong reluctantly cleared the dishes.

“On your way back, fetch a small knife and a basket,” Huiyeon instructed.

“A knife and a basket?”

“Yes. I intend to pluck some flowers to make a sachet, and perhaps gather some herbs if I happen across any.”

“Herbs? Growing out here?” Choyong looked surprised. “I didn’t know there was anything like that nearby.”

“We are close to the mountains, so it’s highly likely, don’t you think?”

Huiyeon masked her certainty. Choyong was entirely loyal, but in an unfamiliar palace, it was best to keep some secrets close.

“Then I’ll fetch them straight away!”

“Take your time, and be careful.”

The image of Sorang’s scratched face from the night before lingered in her mind. Though the maid claimed a cat had startled her into falling, seeing anyone get hurt left an unpleasant taste in Huiyeon’s mouth. Choyong flashed a bright smile, nodded, and stepped out.

‘I should prepare something for Sorang as well,’ Huiyeon thought.

The previous night, lacking proper tools and time, she had merely crushed the leaves into a crude paste. This time, she intended to prepare a proper ointment.

‘If anyone asks, I can simply claim I learned it from this book…’

Casting a final glance at the text on the table, Huiyeon prepared herself to leave.

“Are you certain this is medicine, Princess?”

Choyong tilted her head in confusion as she dug up the root of a wild flower Huiyeon had pointed out. It featured delicate, tiny yellow petals—a common weed Choyong recognized instantly.

“It is called Bupleurum . The leaves can be blanched and eaten as greens, and the dried roots can be brewed into a tea to help break a fever.”

“My word! Even the leaves are edible?” Choyong murmured in awe, digging with renewed enthusiasm. “Princess, how do you know all of this?”

“I merely read about it in a book.”

“Even so, to recognize it instantly in the wild is truly incredible.”

Huiyeon had assumed citing a book would satisfy Choyong’s curiosity, but seeing the maid’s profound admiration, she realized she needed to be cautious. Displaying too much expertise might draw unwanted suspicion.

“Not at all… I simply memorized a few specific plants that help with fevers,” Huiyeon said, raising her voice slightly so it would carry to whichever guard was currently hidden in the shadows.

Before long, their basket was brimming not just with Bupleurum, but with various other wildflowers and wild roots.

“That should be plenty. Let us head back.”

“Oh, just a few more, Princess! There are so many growing right here, it feels like a waste to leave them behind.”

Though she had been skeptical at first, Choyong now seemed entirely enchanted by the task.

“Aren’t your legs tired?”

“When I pull weeds in the rear garden, the earth is so parched it breaks my back. But the soil here is moist and yielding; it’s actually quite fun. And I love the clean, earthy scent of the fresh roots.”

The mention of parched earth brought Huiyeon’s thoughts drifting back to Taeseong—a kingdom dying under a relentless drought. This was no time for leisure. She found herself recalling General Yuchang’s proposal.

‘But if he fails to inherit the Power of the Dragon…’

She could not gamble her entire future, and the survival of her people, on an uncertainty. Steeling her resolve, Huiyeon banished the hesitation from her heart.

“Oh, my aching back…” Choyong groaned, finally straightening up after squatting for so long.

“I told you we had gathered enough,” Huiyeon chided gently.

Choyong rubbed her lower back, offering a sheepish grin. Then, lowering her voice to a whisper, she glanced toward the looming peak nearby. “Princess… that mountain over there is Mount Mureung, right? The one where the Mountain Lord used to live?”

“Yes, so I’ve been told.”

“Ugh… it gives me the shivers. There’s a strange, icy chill coming from it. It makes me feel terribly uneasy.”

“An icy chill?”

Huiyeon blinked. It was the first time she had heard anyone describe it that way. Ever since they had veered off the main garden path and stepped onto this small side trail leading toward the mountain, she had felt profoundly at peace. The contrast was striking.

“It’s like… a heavy pressure? As if I’m standing right in front of something terrifying,” Choyong explained, rubbing her arms.

“Is that so?”

It was fascinating how two people could experience the exact same place so differently. Huiyeon stared quietly down the narrow trail winding into the thick trees. She felt no dread, no malice. If anything…

‘I want to go up there.’

Sorang had warned her that a barrier protected the mountain, forcing anyone who entered to walk right back out. Yet, the urge to explore it was incredibly strong. Being untouched by human hands, it likely held rare, powerful herbs.

And beyond that…

A faint, fleeting memory teased the edge of her mind, refusing to take shape. Frustrated by the elusive thought, she pinched her brows together.

“Princess?”

Hearing Choyong’s voice, Huiyeon snapped out of her daze and realized with a jolt that she hadn’t just been staring at the trail—she had actually taken several steps toward it.

‘It felt as though I were being pulled…’

Tearing her gaze away from the path that seemed to whisper her name, Huiyeon turned back toward the detached palace.

“Let us return.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Basket cradled in her arms, Choyong turned to follow, but froze after a few steps. “Oh! Look how darling!”

Intrigued by Choyong’s delighted gasp, Huiyeon stopped and followed her gaze. Peeking out from a dense patch of ferns was a small, round face.

“A cat.”

A small feline with striking, vivid orange and black stripes was staring intently at them, its unblinking eyes tracking their movements.

“That must be the cat Sorang encountered yesterday.”

“It seems so.”

“Here, kitty, kitty… come here,” Choyong called out, instantly inventing a nickname. She lamented not having any treats in her pockets, waving a long blade of grass from her basket in a clumsy attempt to lure it closer.

Despite her best efforts, the patterned cat remained completely still, observing them with an eerie, intelligent intensity before dissolving backward into the thick undergrowth.

“Ah… it ran away,” Choyong sighed, staring at the empty ferns.

Though she didn’t voice it, Huiyeon shared her disappointment.

“It must live on the mountain. I wonder if it will come back?” Choyong muttered, tucking the grass back into her basket, her energy deflating.

“I hope it does.”

“Next time, I’ll make sure to bring something delicious to win it over.”

“A good plan. Come to think of it, there is a specific herb that cats are incredibly fond of…”

“Really? What is it, Princess?” Choyong’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Regrettably, I haven’t seen any growing near the edge of the grounds. It likely grows further inside the forest…”

Choyong glanced at the dark, forbidding trees of Mount Mureung, her shoulders dropping. “In that case, I’ll stick to food. The forest is far too creepy.”

Watching Choyong pump her fist in a silent vow to succeed next time, Huiyeon quietly stole one last glance toward the mountain slopes.

‘Next time, I must find a way to step past the boundary…’

The forest cat’s vivid “orange and black stripes” sound suspiciously like a miniature tiger—could this creature be connected to the legendary Mountain Lord (Sanggun) who once ruled Mount Mureung, and why does the mountain’s barrier seem to welcome Huiyeon while terrifying Choyong?

📚 Also on NHV Novels

What Should I Do When Girls Keep Trying to Win Me Over After Rebirth?

CampusRomanceHaremlove

Read Now →
Not interested