Camellia Permeates the Snow

Episode 13

On a Night Filled with Bitterness

At that moment, a cool evening breeze seeped into Taeyanggak. It seemed that Mu-heon, who had been sent out on an errand, had returned.

“Yang Taegam, please step outside for a moment.”

Yang Taegam complied and took the other court ladies with him. Soon, Mu-heon appeared in the space.

“Did you find anything?”

At the brief inquiry, Muheon lowered his head in apology.

“I have not yet found anyone who recognizes it.”

At those words, Kang-yoon’s dark eyebrows narrowed.

‘Was the place I was in truly not Ahwan-guk?’

Kang-Yoon had been searching for clues to his lost memories for several years. When he returned to Ahwan-guy, he had possessed an item that he suspected was related to his lost memories.

“It would be wise to widen the search radius a bit more.”

“Are you suggesting to go beyond the borders?”

“It’s not impossible.”

The area where he had wandered was the frozen land of Ahwan-guk. There was a possibility that the item had been swept away by the river into another country. For instance, to the now-destroyed Yeoguk.

“I will take your order.”

With his head bowed, Muheon once again disappeared into the darkness.

Kang-yoon straightened his gaze and swallowed the remaining tea. He was determined to recover his memories, no matter how long it took or what price he had to pay.

The truth hidden within those lost memories was something he would leave to the heavens.

***

The incident where Kang-yoon wrapped the sacrifice, Yeonhwa, in front of Heegyeonggung quickly spread throughout the palace.

The event turned into a rumor that the Crown Prince might use the sacrifice as a token for his coronation ceremony.

This was exactly what Kang-yoon had intended. Although it might complicate matters slightly, with so many eyes on the situation, no one would dare to intervene easily.

Moreover, it would justify hiding Yeonhwa even more closely. Consequently, an atmosphere akin to the calm before a storm began to swirl around Manhae-dang.

Bureaucrats unrelated to the altar construction began to visit, and some openly expressed their interest in the sacrifice, loitering around.

Everyone was trying to make an impression on Yeonhwa in some way. All power in the palace stemmed from the royal family.

Thus, the bureaucrats kept their eyes and ears wide open, day and night, to discern where the Emperor’s favor was directed, where the attention of the Empress Dowager and the Empress lay, and which consorts were spending time with the Crown Prince and which officials were by the side of the concubines.

Those favored by the royal family would visit repeatedly, while those who fell out of favor would be coldly turned away.

The Crown Prince was to become the esteemed ruler of the country after the Emperor.

So how could they simply watch Yeonhwa, who had been touched by the Crown Prince, potentially becoming more than just a sacrifice but a token of his coronation?

It was another opportunity to grasp immense power.

The sacrifice that would die on the altar and the sacrifice that might become a token were worlds apart.

A token sacrifice could eventually receive a title and become a living embodiment of the heavens’ will, receiving reverence.

Throughout history, there have been many instances where sacrifices were favored as tokens for coronation. Moreover, the Crown Prince was still young and unmarried.

He had left the inner palace empty for too long at an age when he should be welcoming a Crown Princess and having children, so it was natural for people to harbor subtle expectations for a woman who might become a token.

“Please leave. You cannot see the sacrifice without the Crown Prince’s permission.”

“It’s just a short visit…”

“Do you intend to send someone to the East Palace to make me leave?”

Today, Bosan was in the midst of chasing away an official who had come to visit Manhae-dang.

Although she was not unaware of the Crown Prince’s intentions, dealing with minor incidents was her responsibility, so she had to be vigilant.

“I’m sorry, Yeonhwa. I think it would be best if you didn’t go outside today.”

In the end, a ban on leaving the room was imposed on Yeonhwa.

A room where even the windows couldn’t be opened felt like a prison.

As curiosity about Yeonhwa grew day by day, even those peeking over the low walls began to appear.

With the frequent visits from officials due to the altar construction, it was impossible to impose a blanket ban on entry.

Thus, they had no choice but to confine Yeonhwa, who was easier to control. Seeing Ari in distress, Yeonhwa forced a smile.

“If that is the Crown Prince’s wish, then so be it.”

It would be a lie to say she was perfectly fine. Just thinking about being trapped in this room made her heart feel heavy.

‘But I can’t cause any more trouble for him.’

She had already received help from the Crown Prince several times. Having owed him her life, she should not create a situation that would burden him further. As a sacrifice, she shouldn’t ask for too much. That would be excessive greed.

‘The fact that I can live so comfortably, unlike other captives, is all thanks to his grace.’

But perhaps her disheartened feelings were showing. After a moment of contemplation, Ari lowered her voice and whispered.

“Still, when the gates open, all the palace doors will close, so at that time, you might be able to move around a bit more freely.”

“Isn’t that also prohibited?”

“Inside the palace, especially in Manhaedang, it’s fine because the High Priestess is present. During the time the gates are open, the High Priestess prays to the heavens.”

The time when the gates opened was from Chusi (the hour of the pig) to Insi (the hour of the tiger), during which all movement in the area was restricted.

However, inside the palace, it was relatively free from spirits due to the High Priestess’s prayers. Of course, since it was usually the time to sleep and for the sake of royal safety, one could not roam freely, but at least it was said to be fine within Manhae-dang.

“So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, please let me know. It may be less than during the day, but it will still be a bit more refreshing.”

Ari repeatedly urged her, probably having heard rumors of how Yeonhwa lived in Yeoguk.

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

Finding her kindness lovely, Yeonhwa didn’t insist on being stopped. In her heart, she vowed to endure as much as possible.

***

However, no matter how hard she tried, there was something she could not do: spend time doing nothing in a room with all four sides closed.

The first few days were bearable. The problem began when she started having nightmares. In her dreams, Yeonhwa found herself in the inner palace.

In the dark inner palace, where not a single ray of light entered, she heard the voices of many people.

‘It is forbidden. The spirit of the late queen has not yet left the palace, so the Crown Prince cannot rise.’

‘You wretched girl. How dare you contain the spirit of the lady?’

‘The late queen must come out and receive the talisman bestowed by His Highness.’

‘A woman who is useless unless she has a talisman…’

The voices of the King of Hell, the deputy court lady, and more voices of court ladies who had come to deliver talismans swirled around her, echoing like whispers in her ears.

When she lowered her head, she found herself once again bound in a red talisman robe-like shackles.

“I don’t want this… I don’t want this.”

She wanted to dash out of the inner palace immediately, but she couldn’t move as if bound by something. The echoing voices wrapped around her like endless vines, squeezing her body.

Those voices gradually took on form, color, and density, finally taking on bodies like Yeonhwa’s.

They reached out to grab her. As she struggled to distance herself from them, the next thing she saw was her family.

They said nothing. They only shed tears, expressionless, just like Yeonhwa when she was in the inner palace.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Songhwa. I wanted to save you, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything.”

As she cried endlessly with them, the world around her darkened again. This time, a boy appeared.

“…Nahan.”

Nahan stepped out of the darkness, approaching her step by step. He gently caressed Yeonhwa’s cheek for a moment.

“You said you would wait.”

“…!”

Yeonhwa sprang up from her place, gasping for breath.

The sound of her dry throat scraping against itself echoed in her ears.

Was this still a dream? Or was it a reality? Even as she looked around, her eyes, unaccustomed to the darkness, wandered as if still trapped in a dream. In her fear, she stumbled around the floor and accidentally knocked over a cup filled with night water. The clatter of the cup awakened Ari, who had been sleeping beside her.

“Yeonhwa, I’m here. It’s okay.”

“Ari… Ariya.”

“Yes, Yeonhwa. It’s me. It’s Ari.”

Yeonhwa’s breath, which had been erratic, gradually calmed down. The moonlight seeping through the paper windows slowly illuminated her vision.

“Yeonhwa, please stay still for a moment. The floor is wet.”

Ari skillfully found a dry cloth and wiped up the spilled night water. After several nights of this happening, she no longer seemed overly surprised.

“Did you have another bad dream?”

Ari asked worriedly, handing her the remaining night water. As she quenched her thirst, her frantic mind began to settle a bit. Yeonhwa conveyed her gratitude with her eyes and nodded slightly.

“I thought it would get better soon… but the nightmares are lasting longer than I expected.”

“Why don’t you go see the High Priestess? She might know the cause. Should I ask her for you?”

Yeonhwa smiled faintly and shook her head. She couldn’t take up the precious time of someone so busy for something like this.

With all the trouble caused by her, how could she complain about having a bad dream? That was unacceptable.

However, having not slept properly for several days due to the nightmares, Yeonhwa’s face was growing worse by the day, causing concern for Ari.

Then, as if she suddenly thought of something, Ari clapped her hands.

“Yeonhwa, should we go outside now?”

“Now?”

“Yes. It’s still Chusi!”

Ari pointed toward the direction where the moonlight was seeping in. Even though Yeonhwa didn’t understand what it meant, Ari, as a priestess of Manhaedang, seemed to know the approximate time just by looking at the position of the moon.

“Come on, Yeonhwa. If you get some fresh air, you’ll feel much better.”

Ari, with an excited expression, pulled the bewildered Yeonhwa up.

Then she tightly wrapped her in a thick fur coat and took her hand, leading her out of the room. Yeonhwa hesitated with every step, wondering if this was all right.

But the moment she was drenched in the moonlight pouring down from above, she forgot her worries and opened her mouth slightly.

The full moon, illuminating the world like the sun, and countless stars seemed to create a magnificent sight. It felt as if she could reach out and touch the moon and stars.

Had she ever seen such a scene? At least in her remembered life, she hadn’t. Perhaps she had forgotten it for a very long time, making it feel even more poignant. It was indescribably beautiful.

“Yeonhwa, come here.”

Fearing that other priestesses might hear, Ari whispered, and Yeonhwa cautiously moved her feet. Being outside for the first time in a while made her feel light as if she were flying.

The heavy remnants of the nightmares that had clung to her like mud seemed to wash away cleanly. Thus, Yeonhwa walked freely with Ari along the path marked by the traces of people during the day.

They strolled for a while, and as they entered the backyard, far from the room, Yeonhwa’s gaze fell upon some objects.

‘Bigamgo?’

Recognizing the familiar shape of the instrument, Yeonhwa approached it as if entranced. Indeed, as expected, the Bigamgo she used to enjoy playing as a child was there.

The long resonating body made of black wood had ten strands of fine silk tightly stretched across it. Listening to its music could bring tears to one’s eyes with its sorrowful emotions, yet it ultimately enveloped one in a blissful joy, which is why it was named Bigamgo.

She never expected to see an instrument from her homeland in Ahwan-guk, which was even more surprising. Ari, who also saw the instrument, murmured.

“I heard they were sorting out old instruments from recently, so I guess these are the ones they decided to discard.”

“Seoneumwon?”

“Yes. It’s the instrument storage next to Manhae-dang.”

Now that she thought about it, she had occasionally heard unfamiliar melodies. She had vaguely thought that someone in the palace was enjoying music, but now knowing it was right next to the instrument storage felt strange.

“Do you play any instruments, Yeonhwa?”

“I’ve never seen the others, but I can play the Bigamgo a little.”

“Wow? I’ve heard that the Bigamgo is the most difficult instrument to play! Could you play just a little for me?”

“What if the other priestesses wake up…?”

“Just a tiny bit. Please?”

Ari’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at Yeonhwa. It was hard for Yeonhwa to refuse, as she too had been longing for the feel of the Bigamgo.

“Well… just a little.”

“Yay!”

Yeonhwa let out a trembling breath and sat in front of the Bigamgo.

Fortunately, aside from a few minor scratches on the resonance body, it seemed there would be no major issues with playing it. After calming her breath, Yeonhwa placed her hands on the strings.

Soon, a mournful melody began to flow from her white fingertips. She had thought she would have forgotten everything after such a long time, but her hands remembered all the melodies.

Thus, Yeonhwa played smoothly as if she had played the instrument just yesterday. With her right hand plucking the strings and her left hand pressing down, she created a new melody as if riding the waves.

Was it sorrow, longing, or affection? She couldn’t tell, but it only made the listener’s heartache endlessly. As the melody reached its climax, the depth of the emotions contained within it deepened. Just as her hands were about to play the final note… Twang!

“Ah…!”

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist, causing the string of the Bigamgo to snap. Startled, Yeonhwa looked up, unable to close her mouth at the unexpected sight.

“Crown Prince… Your Highness…”

The person who had grabbed her wrist was none other than Kang-Yoon, and he looked furious.