Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 52

The entire way to the imperial palace, I hesitated dozens of times, worried about my grandmother being home alone. Even though the path to the palace wasn’t that far since we lived within the capital city, it felt unusually long. But my steps were already irreversible. Hongyo, who had stopped walking to look back, faced forward once more.

Even if not now, I had to tell my grandmother the truth someday. That fact made my steps slow down again, but Hongyo pushed herself to walk with renewed strength. This was an opportunity hard-won even from Mohyun. Although he said he would drag her down from that position, it was still the first opportunity she had gained by her own choice. So, even if she might leave of her own accord someday, it was not now.

Hongyo finally arrived in front of the imperial palace. Beyond the massive Janginmun Gate, the tiled roof of the grand hall soared majestically.

˖°⛩️⋆˙️

“Whoa.”

Hongyo looked around the room. The room, consisting of a desk, a bed, and a wardrobe for organizing clothes, was simple but had everything it needed. Moreover, on one side of the room, there was a small but furnished bath in the bathroom; it was like a palace in itself. However, it seemed that even this palace was a source of complaint for someone.

“How am I supposed to sleep in a place like this?”

A grumbling voice came from outside the room. Hearing it, I went outside and a man emerged from the room next door. Dressed in what was clearly high-quality silk and adorned with all sorts of accessories a man could wear, he looked around the room with a dissatisfied face, then spotted Hongyo and acknowledged her.

“The room next door?”

Despite his grumbling, his attitude was quite boisterous. Hongyo nodded without thinking. The man then strode closer in one step and scrutinized Hongyo’s face from every angle.

“What a beauty. Ah, since you’re a man, a handsome man. But your features are really delicate. Can a man be this pretty?”

Hmm…. The man extended his hand to the bewildered Hongyo.

“Well, anyway, there’s nothing wrong with us handsome guys getting to know each other. It’s a fact that women notice handsome guys more when they hang out together. I am Gu Yeoryeong.”

He waved his hand as if to say ‘shake it quickly,’ so Hongyo took his hand in a fluster.

“Yeo Hongyo.”

At that, Yeoryeong muttered Hongyo’s name and then said,

“I know all the sons of prominent families who are good enough to enter Hwayoungkyung, but that’s a name I haven’t heard before.”

Yeoryeong tilted his head, seemingly lost in thought.

“Well, it’s not like I know everyone anyway. By the way, how old are you?”

He was a truly unreserved person. He had scrutinized my face as soon as he saw me, and now he was asking my age without hesitation. But there was something about him that made it impossible to refuse. Hongyo answered.

“Eighte… No, I’m past the age of majority now, so I’m twenty.”

Yeoryeong’s eyes widened.

“Oh, same as me. I thought I was the youngest here.”

Then he lowered his voice and said,

“Did you know? Rumor has it that the Hwayoungkyungjang is the same age as us. Well, considering his skills and lineage, there’s no one more suitable. I guess the imperial family, born with the power of the dragon even if it hasn’t manifested, really is different.”

I never thought I would hear about Gamyoung this way. Come to think of it, I had heard once that the imperial family was born with the power of the dragon. But I never imagined that would be Gamyoung. I didn’t even know he was royalty in the first place. But hearing someone else talk about Gamyoung like this felt truly strange.

“Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. It’s fate that we’ve met like this, and we’re the same age, so can we speak comfortably with each other?”

It was simply amazing how someone could be so casual with a person they’d just met today. Hongyo looked at Yeoryeong, who was suggesting they drop the formalities right away, and nodded. Since he was in the next room, they would be seeing each other often, and there was no reason to push away the first person to approach her in this place where she knew no one. Besides, this was the first time she was making a friend her age other than Gamyoung and the dojang family.

“Well, if you wish.”

At that answer, Yeoryeong laughed heartily.

“I like how refreshingly direct your answer is.”

Then he immediately put on a serious face.

“By the way, who do you think will win this Sikyung Competition?”

“Sikyung Competition? What’s that?”

At that, Yeoryeong stared at Hongyo as if he were dumbfounded.

“Man, where on earth did you come from that you know so little? It’s common knowledge for anyone who’s entered Hwayoungkyung.”

Yeoryeong, who had looked at Hongyo as if she were the strange one, saw that she genuinely seemed to have no idea and, after looking at her as if to say ‘what kind of person is this,’ answered.

“The Sikyung Competition is a contest among the new Gamhwi right after they enter Hwayoungkyung. Whether you passed the military exam, showed great skill in the martial competition, or have a strong backing, they need to see your skills, right? So they have us compete to see each person’s abilities.”

Hongyo nodded. It made sense, as even if they had studied martial arts together, their skill levels would be different. Lost in thought for a moment, Hongyo asked,

“What do you get if you win the Sikyung Competition?”

“Well, it varies from time to time, but they usually recommend you for a good position after your time in Hwayoungkyung is over, so it’s a good opportunity for those with less powerful backing.”

“……”

“But if it were me, I wouldn’t bother trying to win first place.”

“Why?”

If they’ll grant any wish, isn’t it better to win? But Yeoryeong just smiled slyly. It was then. Suddenly, it became noisy outside, and several strongmen burst in. Then, before they could do anything, the two of them were swiftly hoisted onto the men’s shoulders.

“Wh-what is the meaning of this!”

Hongyo looked at Yeoryeong in a panic, but Yeoryeong, who also seemed to have never heard of such a thing, was just as panicked, being helplessly carried away. Subsequently, the strongmen who went outside the dormitories headed for the front courtyard of Hwayoungkyung. There, new Gamhwi who had been dragged out just like them were watching the scene with anxious faces.

In an instant, the strongmen herded all the new Gamhwi into the courtyard and lit the torches on the stands, making the courtyard as bright as day. The Gamhwi, who were looking at each other with anxious eyes, finally turned their gazes to one spot upon hearing a loud voice from the platform at the front of the courtyard.

“Everyone, quiet!”

On the platform stood men dressed in the Hwayoungkyung uniform. Unlike them, who were in casual clothes, seeing the men in Hwayoungkyung uniforms made it obvious who they were, even without looking at the pattern on the identification tags on their waists.

“You rookies, skipping out without even greeting your seniors.”

At those words, the ones standing dumbfounded in the courtyard glanced around before bowing in unison. Hongyo, who was standing there just as bewildered as them, quickly bent her waist after seeing a nearby rookie get kicked in the butt by a senior who had carried them in. But despite the exceedingly polite bows, the seniors, for whatever reason, were not pleased and raised their voices, making the atmosphere hostile.

“You should be greeting your seniors first, and you’re just standing there staring blankly? No matter how new you are, can you be called a military official of Hwayoungkyung if you’re this lax?”

The senior, who even clicked his tongue, continued.

“Therefore, today I shall set your discipline straight.”

He then gestured with his chin to the strongmen beside him. They then took out small pouches, like fragrance sachets, from their pockets and handed one to each of them.

“Now, this is your lifeline.”

What did that mean now? As Hongyo stared, the senior shouted.

“From now until Haesi (亥時: 9 PM~11 PM), you will have time. During this period, you must not only protect the pouch you have now but also take your opponent’s pouch. If you have only one pouch or none at all, you are not qualified to wear the Hwayoungkyung uniform, so you will have to take off your clothes and crawl between our legs.”

The smirking faces looked truly delighted.

“Oh, and keep this in mind, there will be a prize for the one who brings the most pouches. Hey! Is this any time to be standing around blankly? Hurry up and take them, by any means necessary, quickly!”

So this was a hazing ritual. Hongyo quickly scanned her surroundings. Yeoryeong had disappeared somewhere and was nowhere to be seen. At that moment, a man on the opposite side from her suddenly stood up and started beating up those around him with brute force, snatching their pouches. Taking, being taken. It was sheer pandemonium. The scene resembled beasts in front of their prey, and without thinking, Hongyo got up and ran. And when she stopped after running frantically, the beastly roars she had heard from behind her were no longer audible.

Hongyo hid behind a wall and looked at the front courtyard. The man who had been the first to get up and snatch people’s pouches was still snatching pouches like a demon. Her wildly beating heart told her how far she had run.

Sitting down at the base of the wall, Hongyo took out the pouch she had tucked into her clothes. The terrifying thing that would happen if she failed to protect this, and failed to get one more pouch, was already frightening. Even for a hazing ritual, it was truly cruel. No matter what, she had to protect her own pouch while taking another’s, which meant more than half of them would end up taking off their clothes and crawling between the seniors’ legs. If she were a man, her pride would be deeply wounded, but she might crawl between their legs as a last resort, but she absolutely could not take off her top.

As Hongyo caught her breath for a moment, she shot up from her spot at the sound of approaching people. There might be others like her who had fled the courtyard hiding in various places here. How could she snatch a pouch while avoiding their eyes?

Hongyo moved farther and farther away from the direction of the sound. In doing so, she didn’t realize she was getting farther and farther away from Hwayoungkyung. It was then. Hongyo, who was walking while keeping an eye behind her, turned her head at the presence she felt in front of her.

“See? I told you this was the only way to escape from there, didn’t I? Caught another one.”

A nasty, cackling laugh came from right in front of her. Hongyo assumed a defensive stance and looked at the man in front of her. The man standing there like a wall was the same guy who had been rampaging like a demon in the front courtyard. But the voice wasn’t his. A man who emerged from behind that massive physique pointed a finger at Hongyo and then spoke.

“I caught one, so as promised, give me my pouch back now.”

But the man who had despicably sold out Hongyo did not get his pouch back. With a sickeningly dull thud, the man who was knocked backwards without even a scream rolled on the ground before scrambling to his feet and running away. Hongyo also tried to escape in that moment. But as if they had expected it, about three or four men blocked her from behind. Hongyo glared at the man in front of her. The man, who was enormously tall and large, took another step closer to Hongyo.

“Where is your lifeline?”

It was a dilemma with no way out.