CHAPTER 15

Raon followed Eunuch Ma as he walked towards the Crown Prince's residence.

"Wow."

As soon as she entered the Crown Prince's residence, Raon automatically let out an exclamation. Even though she was a eunuch of the Crown Prince's residence, she had never stepped foot inside. Like this, another perfect world unfolded before her eyes.

The residence of the Crown Prince who was next in line for the throne, the nation's foundation. The clear, golden morning sunlight stretched across this place where the Palace's strict class and tradition were held to the highest standard. One could feel the danger by looking at the brightly lacquered columns. Every object one could see in every direction was neat and elegant. These lifeless objects exuded superiority. Raon's throat choked in wonder at the extraordinary sight. She felt as though she was stepping into a land that was not a part of this world. From the gatekeeper to the bowing young court ladies standing by the front post, each one of them had a characteristic of someone that proud of the noble master they were serving. Raon looked around in all directions as she followed behind Eunuch Ma.

As the two arrived at the Crown Prince's bedchamber, a middle-aged court lady appeared.

"Is it to be this child today?"

Court Lady Han of the Crown Prince's residence looked Raon up and down with doubt.

"This is the child that Eunuch Sung has specifically sent over."

"Is that so?"

At Ma JongJa's words, Court Lady Han had an understanding expression as she nodded. Her eyes as she looked at Raon became cold.

"You must finish cleaning before His Highness the Crown Prince ends his Confucian studies at jin-shi-cho (7AM)."

After giving Raon a short command, Court Lady Han disappeared into the corridor outside with Eunuch Ma. The other court maids followed behind them, leaving Raon all alone in the bedchamber.

What...Where am I supposed to start cleaning?

Raon was at a loss.

"Eunuch Hong!"

Eunuch Jang sprang up from behind Raon.

"Well, isn't this Eunuch Jang?"

Did she ever feel this happy to see Eunuch Jang? It was like seeing a familiar face in a place far away from home.

"What are you doing in a place like this, Eunuch Jang?"

"Did you forget in the short time we haven't seen each other? I am a eunuch of the Crown Prince's residence."

She had forgotten. She had forgotten the fact that Eunuch Jang was the unique eunuch that had survived five years of serving in the savage residence of the Crown Prince. He had said that he only had to do one thing to survive: don't catch anyone's eye. Now that she thought about it, she didn't remember seeing Eunuch Jang in this residence since she stepped foot in it. She didn't notice his presence even when they were in the same room together.

"Eunuch Hong, what are you doing here?"

"I received an order to clean His Highness' bedchamber."

"You did?"

Eunuch Jang tilted his head in confusion.

"There's no way that's possible..."

"What?"

"His Highness' bedchamber isn't a place just anybody can enter and clean. Ah, I'm not saying you're just anybody, but... this room isn't a place that somebody who recently entered the Palace can just enter."

Eunuch Jang mused for a bit before his expression changed as if he finally figured it out.

"Oh dear, oh dear... It seems that you have screwed up quite badly."

"..."

Yes, I made a mess of things with Eunuch Sung. Still...

"How is cleaning His Highness' bedchamber considered a punishment for someone who has made a big mistake?"

"Didn't I say so before? His Highness the Crown Prince is someone who can't stand it if everything isn't impeccable. So wouldn't cleaning his bedchamber be nothing but a huge punishment? It seems that there is no eunuch in the Palace that can clean to his satisfaction."

"It's that bad?"

I thought all I had to do was clean... so it wasn't that simple after all. No wonder everyone looked shocked when they heard my order to clean His Highness' bedchamber. What do I do now?"

While Raon was worrying over this, the wise Eunuch Jang stood up straight and let out a shout.

"Don't worry. Who am I? I am Eunuch Jang, the one who has survived this place for five years. Starting now, just do exactly as I say."

"Just say the word, and I'll follow."

Raon rolled up her sleeves with a determined expression.

"To begin, we must open the door and air out the room."

As she was opening a window, Raon asked Eunuch Jang a question.

"We should remember the locations of everything in the room, right?"

Since he was known for being a perfectionist in all things, he wouldn't like it if anything was moved even a little bit. However, for some reason, Eunuch Jang smiled widely and shook his head.

"I knew you'd say that. That's what all the eunuchs that got in trouble also thought. They also thought to remember the positions of everything in the room and only dust. They would pick it up then put it back where it was. They all simply thought like this."

"So that's not the way to do it?"

"Of course not. The important thing... is to make sure that the positions of everything makes sense and is harmonious with one another."

"Harmonious?"

Raon was confused. She thought she was just supposed to clean. Now she had to arrange everything to make sense and harmonize the room? She didn't understand what that meant.

"Don't worry too much about it. I'll explain the details as we clean. The thing to keep in mind is the time His Highness will return to his bedchamber."

"You're don't mean... the placement of the things in the room differs depending on the time, right?"

"Of course they differ. The things one uses in the morning is different from the things one uses in the evening, so isn't that obvious?"

Now that Raon thought about it, that was true.

"The time isn't the only thing you should keep in mind. You must also pay attention to the season and the weather."

Now Raon felt like she understood what Eunuch Jang had meant when he said it had to make sense and be harmonious. At his advice, Raon nodded her head. As she kept it in mind, Raon looked around the bedchamber and took notice of each and every object inside. The folding screen depicting the ten symbols of longevity behind the seat cushions was a given. Oddly, everything inside seemed to be harmonious with each other. However...