Song of the Black Dragon

FOURTEEN

Sun-ha began with the Treasury Bureau. The sectioned-off quarters were overseen by the palace's eunuchs and the Magistrate of Treasury, Chun Sung-hyun, who was equal in power to the Magistrate of War in the King's Council. Clothing, jewelry, and all else worn in the palace were managed through the eunuchs' hands first to meet the palace's standards. With her wedding on the horizon, Sun-ha knew she could approach the Treasury Bureau with her attendant that afternoon unannounced without suspicion.

The sun glared overhead, but the moving clouds offered a reprieve to the two women standing outside the arched entrance.

A eunuch rushed over to greet Sun-ha. He bowed in recognition of her, his olive green robe shining along the wrinkles.

"Ma-nim, how can I be of service?"

Sun-ha paused, settling her eyes on the air over his shoulder. She needed to appear calm, noble, and exemplary of a woman in her status. "I'd like to see the progression of my gown." She glanced at Minyoung for support at the repeated the rehearsed line. "I requested a specific embellishment and would like to see it now."

"We were not made aware of any specifics," the eunuch said with a frown. "When did you send the request for it? And what is that in your hands?" He addressed Minyoung.

"It is a hanbok," the young woman answered—the dress was to be used as a decoy to think Sun-ha and Minyoung were in a single location while the real Sun-ha was elsewhere.

Sun-ha inhaled through her nostrils sharply when the eunuch reached for it, but Minyoung was faster. She turned to the side to keep it out of his reach.

"You will let me see it!" the eunuch demanded. His angered eyes flicked to Sun-ha. "Have your attendant show it to me, otherwise I will not let you inside."

Sun-ha pursed her lips. Ideally, the eunuch should have trusted her and let them through. But there was no way out of this. Remaining passive-faced, Sun-ha nodded, and Minyoung relinquished the paper box.

The eunuch snatched it and rifled through the folded silk inside. After several tense moments, he returned it to Minyoung.

"Now, step aside and allow me inside now," Sun-ha pressed. Although she lifted her chin to add effect to the order, she balled her hand into a fist beneath her jacket as she continued, "Or would you disobey a jingol?"

It was enough. The eunuch bowed and motioned with his hand for them to follow him. Sun-ha's shoulders relaxed, and she shared a victorious look with Minyoung. Invoking the jingol class means I am stepping on someone of a lower rank to get what I wanted. So very like my mother.

But every part of this mission was difficult, requiring more cunning than the last. I cannot afford to doubt myself now that I have entered prohibited territory.

Sun-ha's gaze moved from building to building in search of where Her Majesty's clothes would be tailored. Sun-ha noted that the pathway was rather devoid of people—eunuch or guard. It made this heist all the more easier.

A table of colored cloth sat in front of a building. Beyond it, she caught sight of a passing eunuch with a tray that held a dragon-shaped hairpin. Only the Royal Family is allowed to wear dragon jewelry. I need to follow him.

"That, over there," Sun-ha's voice broke the silence. I need to distract this eunuch. Minyoung and the eunuch looked over to the table she pointed. "I would like to look at those fabrics."

Sun-ha walked over to the low table and pretended to sift through the options on its surface.

"One more thing, eunuch," Minyoung played along. "Ma-ma-nim would like you to find out when the latest silk from the last silkworm ceremony will be available for clothing."