Forever It's You (It's You Series #2)

29 ✽ Confronting the Enemy

Whenever Eun-bi stepped onto the grounds of the Queen Dowager's residence, she would sweat in nervousness.

It wasn't because she was afraid of receiving punishment. The older a woman became, the scarier they were in their endless nagging; that meant when daylight was over, they still would not have finished. Their decades of experience and wisdom would turn themselves into the lawmakers in the room. And often, people would yield to them, hoping to get them to stop talking and be on their way.

But it was different with grandchildren.

Eun-bi's late grandmother was a great example.

When she was five years old and creating chaos in the house, her grandmother turned into her ally, giving her more treats than her own parents would. She would, often, rave to neighbours about putting her grandchildren to sleep was her favourite task, because they looked adorable and that was also the time when Eun-bi was the quietest.

After years of her passing, Eun-bi still missed her dearly.

This was why she was determined to have the Queen Dowager acknowledge her. To have one more ally in the palace would mean one less problem in her life.

She made her way to the pavilion surrounded by trees at the peak of the autumn, where they informed her that the Queen Dowager and Yul were enjoying tea. Taking a deep inhale, she mentally prepared herself for another round of scolding, but a high-pitched giggle coming from that direction forced her to a stop.

With a lift of her hand, she stopped a servant from announcing her arrival and listened hard.

The voice neither belonged to the Queen Dowager nor the Crown Prince. A young and beautiful noblewoman sat with the Queen Dowager, dressed in pure white. Like a painting of innocence. She spoke a few words, giggled, and hid her smile behind her sleeve shyly.

She looked like a rabbit, but she could also be a fox.

This was what people in the palace had been talking about behind Eun-bi's back. Even though the Selection was over, it didn't stop many from wanting to ascend their status; several noblewomen had set their sight on the seats of the concubines. They would put on pretentious acts and request an audience with the Queen Dowager and the Crown Prince.

Watching them, Eun-bi lingered by a tree, feeling strangely calm. If she were to intervene in this meeting now, people might see her as a jealous and petty Crown Princess.

But she didn't want that. She didn't have the luxury of time to partake in such a senseless rivalry before the Queen Dowager. There were far more important matters to tend to.

Like punching a criminal's face.

Yul was nowhere to be seen. According to an attendant, he had already left the pavilion. Eun-bi could imagine his stony expression, knowing that their new guest had irked him of their presence and so he extracted himself from the situation.

He was that kind of man, after all. No one—not even the King or the Queen Dowager—could force him to do what he disliked.

Smiling to herself, Eun-bi knew he kept his promise to her.

As an apology for missing her morning greeting, she picked a bunch of flowers from the gardens and sent them to the Queen Dowager. Next, she made her way to the Department of Taxation with her court ladies and guards in tow.

Her smile faded. With every step she took, her anger flared with fresh intensity.

After living in the palace for a while, she learned she shouldn't let anyone predict her next move.

In the Office of Taxation, Eun-bi occupied Accountant Cha's seat and propped her feet up on his table. She held an important ledger in her hands, leafing through the pages and checking the numbers again while she waited for the man to return from his meeting.