Chapter 04
“But the disadvantage is clear, so it seems insufficient to challenge the Queen.”
While walking down the corridor, Dongbaek mulled over the words the crow had casually dropped. After hearing the crow’s words, she became certain. Dongbaek only had one choice available.
If she wanted to confront this so-called ‘Queen,’ she first needed to get onto the board.
Dongbaek, an action-oriented 21st-century woman, firmed her resolve.
‘Since this is the only path available, they say to strike while the iron is hot… Alright. I’ll tell Madam Geum today.’
Dongbaek’s eyes were determined as she headed toward Geum Danyo’s quarters.
Geum Danyo’s residence was beautiful but modest. Even with her shortened legs, it didn’t take long to reach Geum Danyo’s quarters from Dongbaek’s room.
Dongbaek pulled back the glass curtain hanging in Geum Danyo’s room. The sound of beads clinking echoed in the room.
“I apologize for being late.”
“Oh, it’s fine. Waiting in tranquility has its own charm. How are you adjusting?”
“Thanks to your care, I’m adapting well.”
“Not at all. If you need anything, feel free to tell me. Though I’m not wealthy, I’m not poor either, so I’ll do my best to help.”
Geum Danyo’s words conveyed strong goodwill toward Dongbaek. This was evident even from the fact that she let a child who suddenly appeared stay in her house…
Geum Danyo handed Dongbaek some tea. After a moment of silence, feeling the warmth of the tea, Dongbaek cleared her throat and spoke resolutely.
“In that case, I have a request.”
Geum Danyo smiled as if encouraging her to speak freely.
Though they hadn’t known each other long, Geum Dan-yo and Dongbaek were already growing fond of each other. Dongbaek, who felt anxious about being alone in this world, and Geum Danyo, who carried the loneliness of living alone in the world, were grateful for each other’s existence.
Rather than starting with a new identity in a strange place where they didn’t know her gender, it was better to at least speak with Geum Danyo first. Dongbaek trusted her. She believed that this woman would keep her identity secret…
Having steeled herself, Dongbaek got straight to the point without hesitation.
“I was born a woman, but I don’t wish to live as one.”
“You don’t wish to live as a woman?”
“Yes. I’ve lived as a human until now, and I want to continue living as a human. However, I’ve found that to live as a human here, one must live as a man. Therefore, I want to become a man.”
Dongbaek’s calm yet firm words left Geum Danyo bewildered. The statement—that she needed to become a man to live as a human—was difficult for her to grasp. Geum Danyo tried to reason with her.
“A woman can live without difficulty. Finding happiness by meeting a good husband is also a woman’s joy. If you were to live as a man, you would have to give up all of that woman’s happiness, and that would be difficult. How could you have such a thought?”
Geum Danyo spoke gently, explaining her perspective, but Dongbaek remained steadfast.
“I have also thoroughly considered this. I am well aware of the difficulties and risks. However… I have something more important, something I must do even if it means overcoming these challenges.”
It is impossible for a woman, Dongbaek murmured softly.
“In this Central Plains, only Madam Geum and Housekeeper Wang know my gender. Could you please keep my gender a secret?”
Her pale eyes, as light as her soft hair, fixed on Geum Danyo like a hawk’s. Meeting Dongbaek’s gaze, Geum Danyo sighed deeply.
She’s made up her mind. She’s determined to see this through.
Geum Danyo soon realized that while Dongbaek’s thoughts were unusual, they were not entirely bad.
Though she was a woman confined to the inner quarters, she could roughly guess things from rumors. The smell of decaying corpses and blood carried on the breeze. If things continued like this, something significant might happen soon. It was not easy for a woman to survive alone in turbulent times.
There were historical examples of women who achieved success while living as men. Geum Danyo judged that Dongbaek must have solid reasoning behind her firm conviction. In the short time she had observed her, Dongbaek had shown behaviors and thoughts that seemed impossible for a ten-year-old. There was something beyond mere intelligence in Dongbaek.
Jingle, jingle.
Having made her decision, Geum Danyo rang a bell to summon Housekeeper Wang.
“My lady, you called?”
“Yes, Housekeeper Wang. Please, come in.”
Expecting to be asked to prepare refreshments, Housekeeper Wang was puzzled by the unusual summons. Geum Danyo spoke heavily to Housekeeper Wang who had entered the room.
“I have an important request for you, Housekeeper Wang.”
“A request? My lady, you need only tell this nanny. Whose orders would I not follow?”
Housekeeper Wang joked in response to Geum Danyo’s serious tone. Geum Danyo smiled, seeming to trust Housekeeper Wang’s reaction.
Then she looked at Dongbaek, who was sitting blankly beside her. Not knowing how the situation would unfold, Dongbaek wore a somewhat dazed expression unlike her usual self, finally looking like someone her age.
“Yes, Housekeeper Wang. From today, I intend to take Dongbaek as my adopted son. Please treat him as if he were my own son.”
“Wait, My lady. Adopted… adopted son? Isn’t that child a girl?”
Housekeeper Wang asked in confusion at Geum Danyo’s words.
She wasn’t the only one surprised. Dongbaek, too, was startled by the mention of becoming an adopted son. She would have been grateful enough just to have someone vouch for her identity, but to be taken as a child—her heart was pounding.
She even wondered why Madam Geum was going to such lengths to help her.
Receiving bewildered looks from both of them, Geum Danyo calmly continued.
“That’s why I’m making this request. You haven’t mentioned anywhere that this child is a girl, have you?”
“No, My Lady. I haven’t breathed a word of it outside. I only said that the child was taken in to live here…”
“That’s fortunate.”
For a moment, Geum Danyo’s eyes flashed sharply. Housekeeper Wang flinched at her expression.
One wrong word could have caused unnecessary deaths. Housekeeper Wang inwardly sighed with relief.
‘Still, who would have thought the lady would take such a liking to that child? Even if she had claimed the girl as her adopted daughter, it would have been hard to believe. But an adopted son!’
It was truly strange. Though Housekeeper Wang didn’t approve, she had no choice but to agree since it was her lady’s word.
Geum Danyo’s expression remained firm as she turned to Dongbaek.
“Since your resolve is so firm, I’ll support your decision. But remember this. Living as a man is no easy task. Living your entire life this way will be even more challenging.”
“Thank you for accepting my unreasonable request.”
Dongbaek expressed her gratitude seriously. Her expression was so grave, it was as if Geum Danyo had saved her life. Geum Danyo waved her hands dismissively and smiled awkwardly.
“Unreasonable? Not at all. Though I know well how to raise a noble lady… I don’t know much about raising a young man, so there will be many shortcomings.”
“No, Madam Geum. Just you vouching for my identity is already a great help.”
Dongbaek’s words were sincere. Just having Geum Danyo introduce her as an adopted son would help her navigate through many suspicious situations. For Dongbaek, this was crossing the biggest hurdle.
While Geum Danyo and Dongbaek were chatting pleasantly, Housekeeper Wang’s expression was incredibly subtle.
Though Geum Danyo wasn’t wealthy enough for three generations to live in luxury, she had financial comfort thanks to an elder who looked after her.
There had been several orphans with obvious ulterior motives who tried to escape their vagrant life by winning her favor. They approached with fake stories trying to deceive both Geum Danyo and Housekeeper Wang by arousing sympathy.
But Geum Danyo wasn’t fooled by such shallow tricks, nor was she kind enough to pretend to be fooled. After all, all her wealth was obtained in exchange for her ‘youth.’
Mada Wang had thought Dongbaek was one of those children. Though for a beggar child, her appearance was too good and clean—she might have been from a fallen noble family—but whether orphan or fallen noble, someone trying to take advantage of Geum Danyo couldn’t be viewed favorably.
Even now, that suspicion remained somewhere in the nanny’s heart.
‘I’ll treat the child as a young master, as the lady commands. But if I see so much as a hint of problem, I’ll…!’
Once again, Housekeeper Wang sighed inwardly. To think the lady would take such a male-like girl as an adopted son—what an unpredictable twist of fate. Indeed, the ways of the world were beyond anyone’s understanding.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
