LOVED BY YOUR MEMORY

CHAPTER 12

THE KITCHEN DEPARTMENT

The palace kitchen was already busy by the time Hye-in arrived.

Servants moved between tables carrying trays of vegetables, bowls of rice, baskets of herbs, and freshly prepared dishes.

The smell of food filled the entire room.

Hye-in carefully made her way through the crowded kitchen.

“So-Hee?”

A familiar voice came from the far side.

“Hye-in!”

So-Hee immediately looked up from the table where she was sorting vegetables.

She smiled when she saw her.

“You finally came.”

Hye-in smiled back.

“I told you I would.”

So-Hee wiped her hands on her apron before walking over.

“You disappeared early this morning. Where were you?”

Hye-in hesitated.

“I went to Shadow's quarters.”

So-Hee's hands stopped.

“You went there?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I went to apologize.”

So-Hee stared at her.

“And?”

“And he taught me archery.”

So-Hee's eyebrows rose.

“Archery?”

Hye-in nodded.

“I was terrible at it.”

“I can imagine.”

“Hey!”

So-Hee laughed.

“I didn't mean it like that.”

Hye-in smiled before sitting beside her.

“So-Hee…”

“What?”

“There's something strange about Shadow and Lady Ju Young.”

So-Hee's smile disappeared.

“What do you mean?”

“Lady Ju Young came while I was there.”

So-Hee became quiet.

“And?”

“They argued.”

“About what?”

“I don't know.”

Hye-in lowered her voice.

“But the way they spoke to each other was strange.”

So-Hee looked around the kitchen before leaning closer.

“You mean the rumors?”

Hye-in blinked.

“What rumors?”

So-Hee hesitated.

“People have been talking.”

“About Shadow and Ju Young?”

So-Hee nodded.

Hye-in's eyes widened.

“What are they saying?”

So-Hee sighed.

“They think there's something going on between them.”

Hye-in stared at her.

“You mean… an affair?”

So-Hee nodded reluctantly.

“That's what some people are saying.”

Hye-in immediately frowned.

“But Lady Ju Young is betrothed to the Crown Prince.”

“I know.”

“They think she would actually betray him?”

“People in the palace will believe almost anything if they hear it often enough.”

Hye-in looked troubled.

“But Shadow wouldn't do that.”

So-Hee looked at her.

“You're sure?”

“Yes.”

Hye-in didn't hesitate.

“He doesn't seem like that kind of person.”

So-Hee was silent for a moment.

Then she nodded.

“He isn't.”

Hye-in looked at her.

“You think so too?”

“I know he wouldn't.”

The certainty in So-Hee's voice made Hye-in pause.

“You sound very sure.”

So-Hee quickly returned her attention to the vegetables.

“I've simply heard enough about him to know what kind of person he is.”

Hye-in studied her.

“You know him that well?”

So-Hee's hand paused for half a second.

“Not personally.”

Hye-in narrowed her eyes.

“Then how can you be so certain?”

So-Hee gave a small shrug.

“Sometimes you don't need to know someone personally to know what they're capable of.”

Hye-in considered her words.

“Still…”

She lowered her voice.

“Why would everyone believe they're having an affair?”

So-Hee sighed.

“Because they've been seen together more than once.”

“That doesn't mean anything.”

“I know.”

“So-Hee.”

“Yes?”

“Do you actually believe the rumor?”

So-Hee looked directly at her.

“No.”

Hye-in's expression softened.

“Neither do I.”

So-Hee nodded.

“Shadow wouldn't betray the Crown Prince.”

Hye-in smiled faintly.

“Exactly.”

She looked down at the table.

“Besides, I don't think Lady Ju Young would do something like that either.”

So-Hee's expression became more complicated.

“You're defending her too?”

“I'm not defending her.”

Hye-in shook her head.

“I'm just saying that rumors aren't proof.”

So-Hee smiled slightly.

“That's true.”

Hye-in suddenly remembered the argument she'd witnessed that morning.

“But something is definitely going on between them.”

So-Hee's smile faded.

“I agree.”

Hye-in looked at her.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Then what do you think it is?”

So-Hee hesitated.

“I don't know.”

Her fingers tightened around the vegetable in her hand.

“But whatever it is…”

She glanced toward the kitchen entrance.

“…I don't think it's what everyone believes.”

Hye-in nodded slowly.

“Me neither.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Hye-in smiled.

“Maybe they're just hiding something completely different.”

So-Hee looked at her carefully.

“Perhaps.”

Hye-in didn't notice the brief tension in So-Hee's expression.

Hye-in glanced toward the kitchen entrance.

“I should go.”

“So soon?” So-Hee asked.

Hye-in nodded.

“I have work to finish in the Crown Prince's quarters.”

So-Hee smiled.

“Then go before someone comes looking for you.”

Hye-in stood and dusted off her clothes.

“I'll see you later.”

“Be careful.”

Hye-in smiled.

“I will.”

She turned and walked out of the kitchen.

BACK AT THE CROWN PRINCE'S QUARTERS

Hye-in hurried through the palace corridors toward the Crown Prince's quarters.

She had spent longer than she intended talking with So-Hee, and now she suddenly remembered the assignment Seo Jun had given her that morning.

When she entered the courtyard, she immediately noticed Seo Jun standing beneath the corridor.

Several royal records were arranged neatly on the table before him.

His expression was cold.

The moment he saw her, his eyes lifted.

“You're late.”

Hye-in stopped.

“Your Highness…”

Seo Jun's gaze remained fixed on her.

“Come here.”

Hye-in slowly approached.

He glanced at the royal records on the table.

“Do you remember the assignment I gave you this morning?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And when was it supposed to be completed?”

Hye-in lowered her gaze.

“Before noon.”

“It is past noon.”

Silence.

Seo Jun's voice became colder.

“Why?”

Hye-in hesitated.

“I apologize, Your Highness. I went to see So-Hee and—”

“You left your assignment unfinished.”

Hye-in immediately knelt.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Seo Jun looked down at her.

“You were given one task.”

“I know.”

“And yet you delayed it.”

“I am sorry, Your Highness.”

“You should be.”

Hye-in kept her head lowered.

“I accept my punishment.”

Seo Jun's expression remained stern.

“Do you understand why you're being punished?”

“Because I neglected the Crown Prince's assignment.”

“Not merely neglected.”

His voice was firm.

“You delayed an order given directly by the Crown Prince.”

Hye-in swallowed.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Seo Jun allowed the silence to linger.

Then he spoke.

“Remain there.”

Hye-in straightened slightly.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Seo Jun returned his attention to the royal records.

For several moments, the only sound was the quiet movement of paper.

Hye-in remained on her knees, her head lowered.

Eventually, Seo Jun looked at her again.

“Have you learned your lesson?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Then finish the assignment.”

Hye-in immediately bowed her head.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

She stood carefully.

But before she could leave, Seo Jun spoke again.

“And Hye-in.”

She stopped.

“Next time you have been given an order, you will complete it before attending to anything else.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Good. Go.”

Hye-in bowed deeply before hurrying away.

Seo Jun watched her disappear down the corridor.

His expression remained stern.

He glanced at the unfinished royal records once more.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.