6 The Feast (2)

The queen signaled her court lady to pour water on her cup as she spoke, "Concubine Eun might be refusing His Majesty but the new head of the Du Clan has started helping the kingdom under a matter that we cannot discuss further here. The issue is far too sensitive to talk during the feast and His Majesty also forbids his men to speak about it outside the court."

"Not only the new head is young, he most excels in military intelligence just like his father. Soon, His Majesty will reward him with his great intelligence and cooperation." She brought the cup near her lips and took a sip. "If I'm allowed to ask, how are your father and his first son, Grand Concubine Jin?"

Without anything to rebate back to the queen, the grand concubine simply muttered, "Hmph. Such skills are a waste if they do not share any noble blood."

However, even how low this mutter was, it could not escape the ears of the queen.

"Grand Concubine Jin, having an ounce drop of nobility in your veins is not something to be proud of." She dropped the bomb that silenced the grand concubine temporary for the feast. "Well, I assume there's nothing to expect from a son of a drunkard who is addicted to gambling and having fun with prostitutes."

"Y-Your Majesty, you're being rude!" she bolted.

And by the time the grand concubine slammed her hands on the table, a eunuch announced the king's arrival. "His Majesty, the King has arrived!"

The one they called king, marched his way to the table where he saw his queen awaits. He wore the similar clothing of the queen. His hair was tied up in a knot and dressed with an accessory that was passed through the generations, the silver coronet for the ruler of Hwangmok.

Immediately, after the king entered the banquet, the musicians swarmed from the entrance through the stage and started playing their instruments.

The maidservants joined in the place along with the silver trays on their hands containing meals and beverages, placing the plates on the tables as they slowly crowded the area.

The banquet had started. Joyful music filled the place while the soft giggles of the women and their talking were mixing in.

On the other side of the banquet, to be more specific, the silent ones, there sat Sungho on the soft cushion, still trying his greatest to remain silent after the grand concubine pinned the owner of the body he was possessing.

How could Hyeon Ju allow such a thing to happen to her?

Yet here I am, letting it happen too.

Sungho badly wanted to scratch his head from annoyance. However, he could not do so since he did not want to waste the efforts of his court lady from arranging his hair.

I don't want to rush in. Everything is simply not sinking inside my head.

Was this scene a thing in writings about history? Did he find himself stuck in the past?

He might not have enrolled himself in a school, he was lucky enough to be taught how to read and write from the same person who lent his little brother some books. Still, Sungho may not have seen any history books that much about this.

"Concubine Eun, don't think of her too much. Ignore her as usual." A pat on his shoulder broke him from his thoughts.

Sungho shifted his attention from the table to his side and the woman sitting next to him approached him. With his lips turning into a smile, he softly answered back, "... I will. I got used to it." 

However, although he could not see the expression painted on her face, the woman stood still as if his words seemed to surprise her. Sungho could feel his sweat on his forehead starting to form as he spoke, "Is there... something wrong?"

No way, perhaps Hyeon Ju is actually not speaking to anyone? How lonely is this girl?

The idea rushed in his head while he was attempting to compose himself from the thought.

"Oh, nothing. It's just... I'm glad to know that Concubine Eun is not affected," the woman replied.