FIB Ch 2 part 1

PR by neji

“I’ll take one for each. What do you think?”

When she heard the shop owner’s offer, the woman furrowed her brows and shook her head. Her hair was pulled up into a neat ponytail, and she was wearing clothes that would be comfortable for her to move in.

When the shop owner received a response he didn’t like, he continued speaking with a frustrated voice.

“Don’t I buy your leather and animal skins for more than ten whenever you’re selling them? Because of the business between us, I’ve already cut down the price especially for you.”

“The skins don’t have any cuts and have dried very well, so they deserve to be bought for my price. The price you just offered is half of what I can get anywhere else. I was being considerate of my business with you, Ahjussi, so I brought my wares to you first.”

The maiden did not seem intimidated or bewildered by the shop owner’s words. Instead, she gave him an aggravated look and gestured to her animal skins.

“You know very well that the noblewomen will start sewing clothes made out of animal skins around this time of year. Fox fur is the most sought-after right now, but rabbit fur isn’t inferior to it. You need to give me a little more than this. Or else I’ll just go somewhere else.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?! When did I say I wouldn’t give it to you?! Just wait a little. Just wait.”

When the maiden grabbed her skins and made a move to leave, the shop owner grabbed her and frantically shook his head.

A few years ago, she used to be above everyone else as a member of the nobility. However, when her household collapsed and all of their belongings were taken away, she lowered herself and began to mingle and interact with the commoners.

“Anyway, I haven’t seen you carrying any medicinal herbs lately. I was planning on buying some from you today, but I can see that you aren’t selling any.”

“The grandpa selling medicine near the South Gate gave me a better offer, so I’ve been selling them to him.”

“Are you telling me that the old fart got it first?!”

“He even told me you had some fun playing the middleman.”

Seeing the flustered man’s mouth open wide, the maiden took the money she received and placed it inside her inner pocket.

“Then I’ll be leaving for today.”

“Ah! Lady MoonWon! Wait.”

MoonWon turned around at the shop owner’s call and raised her head. The owner went back inside the shop and came out with a piece of paper in his hand. When he handed it to her, she read the words written there. It was a list that began with a number of fox furs among other things. 

“Not that long ago, a customer came here and took a liking to your furs and placed an order ahead of time. The faster you can get these for me, the more money you’ll receive. So can you do me this favor?”

The things on the list were always procurable as long as she put her mind to it. And the price at the bottom of the paper was a lot higher than she thought. Although she couldn’t do anything else when she went out to hunt, the money would compensate for it.

“Thank you for always taking care of me.”

“No need to thank me… But if you happen to find some really good medicinal herbs, make sure to give it to me. Do you think I’m always in it for the profit? The capital always takes all the harvested medicinal herbs, so people like us have a hard time even seeing one around here.”

MoonWon nodded at his grumbling.

After walking out of the shop, MoonWon stopped and let out a deep breath. The tax in this town continued to increase by the day. Based on what she made alone, it was difficult to pay the taxes and make a living for her family at the same time.

“Hey, you! Stop right there!”

MoonWon, who had been walking through a crowd of people, stopped in her tracks. A child who looked like they had just barely turned ten years of age was writhing in a man’s grasp.

People began to gather around them to see what was going on. MoonWon cut in between a few people to see what the commotion was about.

“Who do you think you’re trying to steal from?! Are you crazy?!”

As the continent was plunged into war and the aristocracy continued to enjoy their overindulgent lifestyles, the provincial towns grew more and more destitute.

Every time the man’s large hand struck the child, the child’s dirty skin began to grow red. People began to murmur that the man would end up killing the child at this rate, but the man was too terrifying, so no one stepped forward to stop him.

When MoonWon saw the apple in the child’s hand, her hesitation disappeared.

“Agh!”

The man lifted his hand up into the air for another strike, but MoonWon grabbed it. At the sudden interruption, the man froze.

“That’s enough.”

“And who are you?”

“The child will die at this rate.”

“If he stole, then he deserves to die!”

“This is still a young child.”

As MoonWon and the man quarreled, the squirming child picked himself up off the ground. MoonWon let go of the man’s hand and spoke to the child in a steady voice.

“Apologize to the man. Quickly.”

“Hey!”

The hand that was about to strike the child changed its direction and moved towards MoonWon. MoonWon took a step back and evaded his attack before swiftly moving behind him and kicking the back of his knee. As the man staggered, he tried to grab her, but MoonWon grabbed his hand and bent it behind his back.

“Ugh!”

“It’s not a good habit to raise your hand before you assess the situation. I’ll pay for what that child has stolen.”

“Who… said… Aagh!”

As the man tried to stand up and attack, MoonWon tightened her hold on his arm in warning.

Despite her fragile appearance, the wench’s grip was surprisingly strong. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t wrench his hand out of her grasp.

“Hurry up and apologize.”

Unlike the man’s screams, MoonWon’s voice was calm and steady. The child had no desire to run away from her.

The child glanced up at MoonWon’s gaze before looking around. He put the stolen apple down and went on his knees.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“He said he’s sorry.”

“…Let go!”

“Promise me that you’ll let them go.”

As she listed out her conditions, MoonWon did not move from her spot. No matter how much the man squirmed and struggled, she didn’t back down. Finally, the man lifted his other hand.

“Alright! Fine!”

MoonWon finally let go. As if he’d been waiting for this moment, the man turned around and raised his hand and swung it down towards her. The hand that had been a hair’s breadth away from her cheek only met the air. MoonWon crouched down and kicked his leg with all her might.

“Ugh!”

As the man’s balance wavered, MoonWon turned around and placed another forceful kick on the man’s other leg. With his balance completely lost, the man crashed to the ground.

Completely shocked to find himself on the ground, the man squirmed. MoonWon picked up the apple and placed it in front of the man.

“The child was in the wrong, but it isn’t right to start swinging your hands like that.”

“Hey! You damned wench!”

“I don’t think I’ve done so much wrong to be called a ‘damned wench’. Excuse me.”

She lowered her head to the man and looked around. The people who had once gathered around her were now nowhere to be seen. Once everything had settled down, MoonWon gestured to the child.

Still on their knees, the child quickly lowered his head when their eyes met.

“I-I’m sorry.”

After hearing his apology, MoonWon let out a sigh.

Because of the war, many homes were broken, and the number of orphans grew.

She barely managed to earn some money with her talent alone, but it would be hard for a child like this to find any work.

“Here. Take this.”

The child’s eyes widened when MoonWon held out a money pouch. She wasn’t able to give him all of her money, but she could afford to give him enough to buy a meal or two.

When the child stretched out his hand to grasp the pouch, MoonWon quickly grabbed it back.

“If you’re in a situation where you have no choice but to steal, don’t get caught, okay?”

Instead of telling him not to steal, she ended up telling him not to get caught. After taking MoonWon’s pouch, the child disappeared into the throng of people.

After staring at the street that had now returned to normal, MoonWon began to brush the dust off of her clothes.

Even though her family had been wiped out and all of their possessions had been taken away, their lives continued on.

Right now, there were more people that needed her than people who could help her. MoonWon was now learning how to do her best to survive.

* * *

By the time MoonWon returned home, the sun had gone down, and the sky was filled with the colors of the sunset.

“Yuhwa, I’m home.”

“Lady MoonWon!”

Yuhwa had been worriedly waiting for MoonWon in front of the shabby house. When she saw her, she quickly rushed over to her. When Yuhwa’s voice rang in the air, the door opened and a young girl burst out.

“Unnie!”

MoonWon gently stroked the girl’s hair and gave Yuhwa a smile.

“You said you’d only go out to sell the animal skins, so when you didn’t return, I was so worried something had happened to you. You said you’d cut back on your work, but what is all this that you’re bringing with you?! Didn’t I tell you that I can just sew more?”

“I only brought back things that I can do slowly. Yuhwa, if you overwork yourself in your condition, you’ll get sick. You must not do more than what you have right now.”

“How can I just remain like this when my Lady is working so hard? I’m merely my Lord’s concubine…”

“What is so amazing about a fallen noble’s daughter? There’s no need for you to wait for me like this.”

“My Lady!”

Yuhwa cried out with a ghastly pale face, but MoonWon didn’t show any discomfort. She could no longer call herself a noble, and she held no foolish, lingering attachment to the past.

Her large family was no longer filled with members, and the shed that used to overflow with wealth was no longer here. The customers that used to come every single day had now turned their backs on them.

“Is Father inside?”

“He just got up.”

“I’ll give him my greetings.”

“Um… my Lady.”

Yuhwa grabbed MoonWon and shook her head. Seeing her gesture, MoonWon let out a sigh.

Her household no longer had servants.

The only thing they had left was her collapsed father, his concubine with a bad leg, and the concubine’s young daughter.

As misfortune rocked their house, they had nowhere to turn.

“It’s fine, so just go inside with SoYoon. And don’t touch the things I brought with me or you may get hurt.”

Yuhwa didn’t seem to know what to do. Seeing this, MoonWon stretched out her hand to the young girl next to Yuhwa and gently stroked the girl’s hair.

Two years had already passed since their clan had collapsed. The pain of being abandoned by the Crown Prince as well as the aftereffects of her family’s ruin continued to torment her.

* * *

“MoonWon, I’ve been thinking.”

Her father looked worse for wear, but his eyes held a cold gleam. At first, those eyes terrified her so much that she had been afraid to approach him.

However, when she realized that YongUn’s eyes were those of a man who had everything taken away from him by force and was only holding on by one strand of hope, her fear transformed into pity.

“What did you think about?”

Because she had basically walked around the whole city today, her muscles were sore and heavy, but she didn’t betray any discomfort and sat down opposite her father.

“Doesn’t Her Highness the Consort visit the hot spring at the Yi River once a year? Let’s try going there. If Her Highness knows about our situation, she will definitely show mercy on us.”

MoonWon lowered her eyes when she heard YongUn’s idea. She didn’t know much about politics, but she knew just what kind of woman the Consort was. The Consort that her mother and father had trusted so much…

As the Consort’s friend, her mother had begun to act arrogant. Ultimately, unable to withstand their new situation, her mother took her own life.

Amidst all the confusion and chaos, YongUn’s health had deteriorated.

They were barely able to maintain their lives. When he was faced with his ruined clan, YongUn’s sense of loss had transformed into an obsession with the Consort. He was certain that if he met with the Consort, they would be able to return to the way things were. He continued to nag MoonWon about her.

“Do you know how far the Yi River is from here? And even if we get there, it is not guaranteed that we’ll be able to meet with her.”

“We only need to meet with her! You just think of how we can get there. I’ll do the talking.”

Her mother, who had trusted in the Consort, had been branded as a terrible wife, and YongUn had become a man who would do anything to protect his power.

Although their peers wagged their fingers at them, they wanted to be parents who would do everything for their child, MoonWon.

Although she was a girl, they claimed that she could do everything the boys could do and let her learn many things.

“Cough, cough.”

Wracked by violent coughs, YongUn could no longer continue talking. MoonWon went to his side. She wiped the blood trickling down his lips with the hem of her sleeve and carefully laid him down on his bedding.

“Let me get your medicine. Please rest.”

“We must quickly make our way to the Yi River…”

“Please rest.”

When YongUn began to flay his arms, MoonWon grabbed them and waited. A few moments later, YongUn murmured that they must leave and gradually fell asleep. After watching over the sleeping YongUn for a little while longer, MoonWon went back to her seat and sat down.

She had planned to go to the mountain before the sun had completely set, but she couldn’t get herself to stand.

‘How can lingering attachments bring back the past?!’

She would only have the strength to hate someone when her family’s situation was more secure.

The people she needed to give all her attention to at this moment was YongUn, who was currently losing his mind, Yuhwa, the concubine whose leg had been hurt by MoonWon’s own mother, and her little sister SoYoon. She didn’t have time to care about the Crown Prince or the Consort.

“My Lady, a guest has arrived.”

The word ‘guest’ sounded so strange to her. After the fall of their family, the only ones who’d come to see them were people who had been wronged by her mother or people who wondered if they had any money stored away.

After exiting the room, MoonWon’s brows furrowed when she saw who was standing there. She was suddenly filled with an ominous feeling.

She did her best to swallow the bitter taste in her mouth and lowered her head.

“It has been a while, Deputy Secretary General.”

As MoonWon bowed to him in greeting, Deputy Secretary General Kong WonJoon stroked his beard.

* * *

“You’ve grown up a lot.”

After placing a cup of water in front of WonJoon, MoonWon sat across from him.

“I apologize that we don’t have much to serve you in terms of refreshments.”

“I can clearly see how your household situation is, so why would I ask for more? There’s no need to worry about me.”

WonJoon had personally come to visit their house, but instead of asking to speak with YongUn, he asked to speak with MoonWon privately.

“I hope your father recovers soon. It’s been hard on you.”

“I know that you’re not here because of Father. May I ask what this is about?”

WonJoon burst into laughter at her boldness.

Her father had lost his reason after having become drunk with power, and her mother had become a bully. However, MoonWon was different from her parents.

While her parents had gone out to wreak havoc with their authority, the one who had weathered her family through the storm was their eldest daughter MoonWon. Everyone in the higher circles knew this very well.

If everything had gone according to plan, she would have become the Crown Princess. However, the emperor abandoned the Ju family.

“It has been decided that Jiah will become the Crown Princess.”

When she heard the word ‘Crown Princess’, MoonWon’s fingertips began to tremble almost imperceptibly. WonJoon glanced at her to see if he could gauge her thoughts.

However, the wave of emotions only appeared for a second. In the next moment, her expression returned to normal and she replied in a firm voice.

“Congratulations. It looks like you will become the future emperor’s father-in-law.”

“You’re a lot calmer than I expected. Wasn’t that supposed to be your seat?”

He was gazing at her casually, but the aura oozing out of WonJoon was too dangerous to overlook. MoonWon had learned things she didn’t want to know as she attended to her father and cleaned up the mess her mother had left behind. 

“It was an engagement that His Highness the Crown Prince had pushed for, and it ended without coming to fruition. Two years have already passed. There is no reason for me to be disappointed. I have no need for any lingering attachments to that title.”

“It has not ended for His Highness.”

MoonWon’s eyes narrowed at WonJoon’s statement. After gazing into her eyes, WonJoon picked up the cup of water and took a sip.

“Help His Highness let you go.”

“I’ve already let go of him. There is nothing I can do.”

“Get married.”

MoonWon’s eyes widened as she was at a loss for words. Before she could open her mouth and ask him what he meant, WonJoon cut her off.

“I’ll find you a good marriage partner, so we should hurry and…”

“What are you going to do if I refuse?”

“MoonWon, do you think I came all the way here to ask you for a favor?”

The anxiety that had appeared with WonJoon began to tighten around her throat once again. She didn’t want to speak with WonJoon anymore, but his eyes were still glued to her.

“This is an order.”

Her heart sank inside her chest.

The events that had taken place two years ago had returned to shackled her once more.

She needed to refuse, but the words remained stuck inside her throat and would not come out.

* * *

Sleep evaded her. MoonWon picked up her heavy body and sat up.

Three days had passed since she had been notified of her marriage.

“Huu.”

Before the Deputy Secretary General’s visit, strange things had begun to happen.

The terrible stench of blood, the decapitated corpses, and the bloody man standing in the middle of this scene. Recalling his cold gaze and terrifying voice, MoonWon’s body began to tremble.

Before she could forget the events of that day, the Deputy Secretary General had visited to urge her to marry.

It could have been a coincidence, but for some reason, she couldn’t help but feel that the two events were somehow connected.

“Do we need to run away?”

Either way, all she had left was her father, Yuhwa, and SoYoon. The small amount of money she had managed to bring from their ruined house was almost gone. She was making some money using whatever skills she had, but the money required to buy YongUn and Yuhwa’s medicine was formidable.

“Not marriage.”

She had decided long ago that she would not refuse any help, but it depended on the situation. If she stepped foot in an uncertain situation, things could backfire and she could lose everything.

When the thoughts did not stop, MoonWon shook her head.

Thinking some fresh air would do her good, MoonWon changed her clothes and went outside. The cold night air blew around her.

Her body trembled at the unexpectedly cold breeze, but it helped settle her chaotic heart.

“Hm?”

The relief only lasted a moment. When she felt a strange presence, MoonWon stood up.

“MoonWon.”

Just as she turned around to go back into her room, MoonWon froze.

She heard a voice she had no reason to hear. The man who had embraced her as he asked to live their lives together had brushed off her hand in her time of need as if it were dirty.

“MoonWon, it’s me.”

When she screamed until her throat was sore as she was being taken away by soldiers, he had never turned around.

“Your Highness.”

The wound that raged against her difficult reality slowly began to open once again.

“Your Highness, please save me.”

Too tired to walk, MoonWon crawled to JaeHoon’s feet and slumped down. Her vision was blurry and her body was trembling, but Crown Prince JaeHoon was the only one she could hold onto right now.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please show mercy.”

She never wanted to be the Crown Princess. She never wanted power. She merely followed her family’s orders and accepted JaeHoon’s outstretched hand.

“I didn’t come here to save you.”

“Your Highness! Please!”

“Soldiers! Why aren’t you dragging the criminal away?!”

She felt that she’d be fine if she never married. And if she had to marry, she hoped to live quietly as the wife of a common man.

Because she didn’t have anything, she had nothing to covet.

That’s what she thought. However, the moment she saw JaeHoon, it all collapsed.

* * *

“If you have something to say, say it quickly and let me go back.”

This was the first time he’d seen her in two years, and she had changed so much. The eyes that would sparkle when she was in a good mood were now sunken and heavy. The smiling face that was as bright as the new moon was now stiff and dark.

She didn’t want to speak with him, but he forcibly grabbed her and brought her to an inn on the outskirts of the city. He had so many things he wanted and needed to say to her, but MoonWon remained cold.

“MoonWon.”

But she was still so lovely. The feelings that didn’t arise for any other woman in the Palace, no, for any woman among the nobility, began to bubble over when he saw her.

The only one who could move his heart. How could he leave this kind of woman and marry another?!

“I heard that you are to be married to the Chief Commander.”

Had her marriage partner already been chosen? She had resolved herself to the fact that she was getting married, but she never imagined that her future husband had already been decided on. And it was the Chief Commander no less… Wasn’t he the son that the Consort had given birth to before she had entered the Palace?

“Who told you that?”

“Just hold on a little longer.”

MoonWon’s eyes narrowed at JaeHoon’s words. However, because he continued to speak, he didn’t notice the way she was looking at him.

“It’s difficult right now, but if you endure and wait a little longer, I will come get you no matter what. I will convince Father Emperor no matter what and…”

“How am I to endure?”

JaeHoon’s mouth closed shut at MoonWon’s reply. However, MoonWon had reached her limit.

She was already at a loss for how to survive right now, so how could she endure more than this? And even if she were to grit her teeth and endure it even more, there was no guarantee that JaeHoon would stretch out his hand to help her in the end.

“I’m already having such a hard time, but are you telling me to put my trust in you and endure even more, Your Highness?”

“MoonWon!”

“You are someone who has already let go of my hand, Your Highness. How am I to know that you won’t do it again?”

A guard standing behind them stepped forward at MoonWon’s harsh words. JaeHoon stopped him from coming any closer.

JaeHoon was incredibly confused by MoonWon’s reaction. In the past, she was a maiden who had followed everything he said.

“If you would like to show me your truth, then don’t wait and take me with you right now.”

JaeHoon flinched at MoonWon’s words. Seeing his bewildered reaction, MoonWon lowered her head.

She didn’t have a family that could protect her anymore. And the MoonWon that would yield to every one of her family’s wishes was no longer here as well.

“You cannot do anything, Your Highness.”

After finishing what she had to say, MoonWon let out a sigh. She had been helplessly dragged here, but if Yuhwa found out that she went missing in the middle of the night, she’d be worried.

She didn’t want to dwell on the Palace or JaeHoon anymore.

“I’ll take my leave…”

“Aigoo! You were here! Aigoo!”

A foreboding feeling washed over her.

The fatigue that had been weighing down on her joints disappeared in an instant. Brushing past JaeHoon, MoonWon rushed down the stairs.

“What’s going on at this time of night?”

“I heard that a suspicious person entered your house, but SoYoon… That small child SoYoon said that she’d protect the Lord and… Oh, no.”

MoonWon didn’t finish listening to the man. Without so much as a goodbye to JaeHoon, she began to run back to her house. Seeing her disappear, JaeHoon stood up to follow after her. Before he could take a step, his guard grabbed him.

“Your Highness, we cannot stay any longer.”

He needed to catch MoonWon. However, if he did that, he would have to give up everything.

Could he do it?

“…Let’s return to the Palace.”

He didn’t have any power right now.

* * *

By the time she returned home, it was already plunged into chaos.

After squeezing through the crowd of onlookers, the first person she saw was a pale Yuhwa whose clothes were drenched in red blood.

“My Lady, SoYoon has…”

When she heard Yuhwa’s words, MoonWon entered inside. YongUn was slumped over as if he’d lost his soul. In front of him lay SoYoon, who looked like she was in critical condition and would die at any moment.

When she saw that SoYoon’s stomach was drenched in blood, MoonWon caught her breath. Judging from SoYoon’s strained breathing, it looked like she was at death’s door.

“What did the doctor say?”

Now wasn’t the time to wonder what had happened. Right now, saving SoYoon’s life was the most important objective. Yuhwa followed MoonWon inside, and her eyes grew dark when she heard her question.

“They said there isn’t a doctor in this neighborhood. At this rate…”

Collapsing to the ground, Yuhwa burst into tears. MoonWon staggered at the sudden change in fortune. 

‘There wasn’t a choice from the very beginning.’

Her head went blank, and the words began to click together.

The Crown Prince who refused his royal marriage.

The Deputy Secretary General’s family who needed this royal marriage.

And the assassin who had threatened her family.

“Yuhwa, stay here.”

“My Lady.”

“SoYoon is going to be alright.”

Although SoYoon was the one who was dangling on the precipice between life and death, for some reason, it felt as if MoonWon was the one who would disappear. Yuhwa found herself grabbing onto MoonWon’s hand.

“Don’t worry.”

If one decision would make everything better, then there was only one thing she could do. Although she hated to do it, now that she’d made up her mind, she felt a sense of relief.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“My Lady, what are you trying to do?”

MoonWon slipped her hand out of Yuhwa’s grasp, but Yuhwa quickly grabbed it again. She felt that if she let go now, MoonWon would disappear. In a situation where SoYoon was in critical condition, she couldn’t afford to lose MoonWon.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking of doing, but… don’t do it.”

“I apologize that your leg was ruined because of my mother. If I had only interfered a little earlier, your leg would have been fine, Yuhwa.”

The words that had always gathered on the tip of her tongue had finally escaped.

Although this was a terrifying situation, she was as calm, cool, and collected as always.

Just like when she had carried the world on her shoulders on the day her family had collapsed, MoonWon decided to do her best with what she had.

“Nothing will happen to SoYoon.”

It would be foolish to continue to brood over what to do. Everything had already been decided from the moment the Deputy Secretary General had come to visit their home.

After taking Yuhwa’s hand off of hers, MoonWon stepped outside. She glanced at a group of people surrounded by soldiers. A man in the group saw MoonWon as she approached them and lowered his head.

“A doctor must be called first.”

The man nodded at MoonWon’s request and gestured to someone behind him with his chin. A doctor suddenly appeared and slipped through the soldiers and went inside.

A few moments later, MoonWon could hear Yuhwa’s voice giving thanks.

“Our master is waiting.”

“May I ask you one thing? Is the Deputy Secretary General the one who sent the assassins?”

“The Deputy Secretary General was the one who stopped it. We’ve captured a few of them alive, so we will find out who sent them very soon.”

MoonWon’s eyes closed at the man’s answer.

She’d hear the details from the Deputy Secretary General when she met him. Now that SoYoon was saved, it was time to rescue the family.

MoonWon gazed at her house for a long time before she turned around and began to follow the man.