×××
"Haesoo?" he asked, tilting his head. He couldn't just walk in like that.
"Hey, Rice Cake, Haesoo's well-known at the clinic. See you later, Rice Cake," the little girl said, walking away.
Left to himself, he wondered how he should ask her to perform at the banquet. Not after their embarrassing encounter—and he didn't want her to discover his true identity just yet. He hoped to surprise her when she saw him seated with the prince.
A small smile crept across his face as he stroked his chin, making him look almost childish lost in thought.
Still caught in his daydream, he heard a scream from the clinic. He rushed to the fence to see what the commotion was about.
He snorted, smiling. Speak of the devil… she's really trouble, he thought, watching Haesoo throw a lady into the water.
×××
Haesoo spun around swiftly, grabbing the hand of the woman who had tried to pull her hair, sending her into the river. She smiled as the other two women charged at her. With a quick move, she tangled their legs together, sending them crashing to the floor with bruised knees.
×××
"Your Highness, Queen," the physician called gently.
The Queen tilted her head, her gaze fixed on the guard.
"I should head back to the palace. Do not follow the minister's guards for now, but secretly continue your search for the midwife."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness, Queen," he replied.
Queen Jiyeon stood and allowed the physician to escort her out.
"Please continue with his treatment," she added.
The physician nodded and curtseyed briefly.
As the Queen turned to leave, her eyes caught the scene: a palace guard flying through the air as Haesoo threw another lady. The physician and head court lady followed her gaze. Queen Jiyeon strode toward the commotion, the others trailing behind.
"What is going on?" the Queen yelled.
Haesoo watched as the three palace girls scrambled to their feet.
"I asked, what is going on?" the Queen repeated sharply.
"My apologies, Your Highness, Queen," the head court lady stammered.
The Queen's gaze landed on Haesoo.
Haesoo quickly went down on her knees, bowing low. So the brat is a palace maid… she thought.
"Who are you?" the Queen demanded, her eyes fixed on her.
Haesoo hesitated, unsure how to answer.
"My apologies, Your Highness. She is someone who often cares for the sick at the clinic," the physician said, coming to her rescue.
"My apologies for failing to train them properly," the physician added.
"The Queen should not be seen with ill-mannered people," Queen Jiyeon said coldly.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness, Queen," the head court lady replied, bowing slightly.
The Queen stormed off with the physician.
Haesoo twitched her lips, feeling no pity for the girls—they deserved everything coming their way.
×××
Soo Hyuk watched in amusement as Haesoo threw the two ladies to the ground. Then, he saw the Queen.
Quickly, he ducked, covering his mouth to muffle a scream. The Queen? His mother? Why is she at the clinic?
He bit his lip, terrified of being caught.
Still on his knees, he slinked away from the fence, smiling sheepishly at the villagers who gave him strange looks.
Wait… why am I walking like this? he thought. The Queen was still inside!
He cleared his throat, smiled at the passersby, wiped dirt from his robe, and started walking faster—hoping to escape before the Queen saw him and gave him a scolding of his life.