Chapter 5
Danbi zoomed in on the photo with trembling fingers.
The face of the man holding hands affectionately with Harin.
Her heart plummeted through the blurry resolution.
It was Hyun.
Danbi dialed Hyun’s number with shaking hands. The longer the ringtone dragged on, the more her insides burned with anxiety.
She sprinted through the office hallway like a madwoman. Her breath was hitching in her throat, but she couldn't stop.
She didn't even have the luxury of waiting for the elevator; just as she was crossing the skybridge, a murmur and a small gasp erupted from the lobby below.
She saw Harin walking affectionately, arm-in-arm with Hyun.
Staring at Hyun’s retreating back, Danbi called him again. But he checked his phone and shoved it into his pocket without a moment’s hesitation.
[The person you are calling is unavailable, please leave a message after the beep...]
Leaving the automated voice ringing in her ears, Danbi slowly lowered her phone.
Soon, the two of them disappeared into the distance as they walked out the main entrance together.
***
"Ughhh."
Danbi let out a strange noise and collapsed onto the sofa. Empty beer cans lay scattered around, crushed and pathetic.
"You jerk. Was that the reason you wanted to break up? To trade me in for that knockoff?"
She immediately grabbed her phone and pressed the familiar number. But all she got in return was the call-rejection message she was now sick of hearing.
"Why do you keep ignoring my calls!"
In a fit of rage, she threw the phone, which rolled across the sofa and bumped into something tucked in the corner.
It was that game console she had left on the table last night.
Danbi reached out as if possessed. The memory of that mischievous face in the game flashed through her mind.
Perhaps because she had done it once before, the device felt familiar as it settled against her face. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed the right button.
*Zzzzt—*
Along with an unpleasant static noise, the sensation of her body floating upward engulfed her entire being.
*Whoosh!*
Even without opening her eyes, she knew she had entered the game. There was no way her quiet living room would become this chaotic in an instant.
Danbi slowly opened her eyes.
"Lady Yeo, Lady Yeo...!"
As soon as her vision cleared, a long table laden with a lavish feast came into view. Moreover, the place was packed with people... wait?
Once she regained her senses, she realized everyone was staring at her. Someone had just called out for "Lady Yeo."
Could that possibly be me?
"U-um, me?"
"Is there any other Lady Yeo here besides you?"
A woman dressed in pink robes across from her said in a patronizing tone. Below her, a caption appeared: "Lady Kim."
Lady Yeo? What is that?
"You must accept your rank as a royal concubine."
Only then did Som’s words from before brush past her ears.
'Could it be that "Lady" refers to a rank?'
Danbi’s eyes widened.
That couldn't be right; when she first logged into the game, she had already received the title of Sook-won, a fourth-rank concubine. So why, out of the blue, was she being called a Lady?
Furthermore, her last memory in the game was on the bed. She still couldn't forget the look in those eyes that had been smiling slyly down at her.
'That’s right. It definitely ended there. But why...'
"It was four days ago. I heard you spent the night in His Majesty the King's bedchamber?"
Danbi tilted her head at the follow-up question.
That was four days ago? That couldn't be.
Don't tell me, did time pass in the game while I wasn't logged in?
"To think you’d enter the King's bedchamber as soon as you entered the palace and even receive the rank of Lady."
"I heard you’ll soon be moving your quarters to Uncheonggak. I heard that was a place His Majesty cherished dearly..."
"At this rate, the position of Bin is practically yours, isn't it?"
"Lady Kim, you’ll have to step up your game, won't you?"
"Indeed."
Lady Kim glared sharply at Danbi.
"We cannot let a mere child who just entered the palace steal the King’s favor."
What is this, is that "mere child" talking about me?
'Wait.'
Danbi slowly looked around. Beautifully adorned women were sitting in a row at the table.
Starting from the left, the names "So-ui Yoon," "So-yong Eom," "Lady Kim," and "Lady Han" appeared as captions.
'Are all these people royal concubines?'
Danbi bit her lip. Even though she knew it was a game, anger boiled up inside her for some reason.
Lee Hyun, you playboy!
"So tell us, Lady Yeo. What on earth did you do to the King?"
"Pardon?"
"I’m asking what you did to rise to the rank of Lady overnight."
With all eyes on her, Danbi trailed off.
"O-oh, no, that’s..."
I don't even have the memory of it, so what am I supposed to say? But receiving a concubine's rank meant something must have happened that day.
Suddenly, the sound of the phone ringing just as their lips were about to meet seemed to echo in her ears again.
Danbi’s face turned pale.
'It couldn't be, could it?'
Just then, a Court Lady approached.
"Her Majesty the Queen has arrived."
At those words, the concubines rose from their seats in unison.
As she bowed her head along with them, someone who had entered late took the seat of honor.
The Queen? If it’s the Queen, then in other words, Lee Hyun’s legal wife?
"Everyone, raise your heads."
She had barely thought the voice sounded familiar when, upon lifting her head, she came face-to-face with a familiar visage.
"You...!"
That characteristic, haughty look in her eyes that always managed to get under Danbi’s skin whenever they met.
It was Harin.
Danbi pointed a finger at her without realizing it.
"You’re the Queen?"
"Lady Yeo, what on earth are you doing!"
Lady Kim grabbed her skirt with a horrified expression.
The Queen stared quietly at the finger pointed at her, then smiled faintly.
"Lady, do you have something urgent to say to me?"
"You bet I do."
The Queen’s brow furrowed for a moment. Lady Kim jumped up from her seat.
"Lady Yeo, have you truly lost your mind?"
"The one who’s lost her mind isn't me, it’s her. She insisted until the end that she didn't steal anything, but I guess she was all talk?"
"Lady. Are you perhaps speaking to me—"
"Then, is there any other thief here besides you?"
As Danbi and the Queen’s gazes clashed heavily, everyone looked back and forth between the two with bewildered expressions.
Just then, a Court Lady ran up to the Queen’s side.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! It’s a disaster."
"What is the matter?"
Still keeping her gaze fixed on Danbi, the Queen asked the Court Lady. The woman then hurriedly whispered something into the Queen’s ear.
The Queen’s face gradually hardened.
"Is that true?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The palace maids are trying to handle it somehow, but it’s impossible..."
The Queen suddenly stood up and bolted out of the inner court.
"Your Majesty!"
The flustered concubines called out to the Queen and chased after her. Danbi was swept along with them, having no idea what was going on.
***
A moment later, in front of the costume storage.
"Who on earth would do such a disgraceful thing...!"
"Will His Majesty be alright?"
The concubines and maids were all stomping their feet with worried expressions. Danbi, who had arrived late, poked her head into the crowd.
"What’s going on?"
"The ritual robes His Majesty is to wear for the rain-making ceremony have been damaged."
A rain-making ceremony?
If it’s a rain-making ceremony, is that the one where they pray for rain?
Danbi peeked inside the costume storage.
In front of the Queen, the center of the white robes held by the maids was ripped as if it had been slashed.
"Who could have done this?"
"It’s obvious. It must be the work of the villain who has been targeting His Majesty."
A villain?
"This is a disaster. There is only one week left until the rain-making ceremony. We cannot postpone the auspicious day His Majesty has set. What are we to do..."
"Why are you all so worried? Can't you just make new clothes?"
As Danbi said this lightly, the Queen turned her head. Lady Kim scolded her with an expression that said it was absurd.
"Lady Yeo. It is not that simple. The rain-making robes were crafted by skilled artisans over several days. With only a week left until the ceremony, to make new robes..."
"If you have the fabric, I think it’s perfectly possible?"
"Are you serious, Lady?"
The Queen, who had emerged from the costume storage, strode up to Danbi. The concubines standing next to Danbi stepped back from her.
"Then, Lady Yeo, you try it."
The Queen commanded, staring straight into Danbi’s eyes.
"I am saying you should try to complete the robes before the rain-making ceremony."
A heavy silence descended. The air was so still that the sound of someone swallowing dryly was exceptionally loud.
The one who shattered that taut tension in an instant was Danbi’s voice, light as a feather.
"I don't want to."
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