Camellia Permeates the Snow

EPISODE 11

My Possession That Only I Can Handle Casually

The sudden arrival of the Crown Prince left the maidens of Manhae-dang even more astonished.

Under normal circumstances, it might have been different, but right now, Manhae-dang had the sacrificial offerings for the Crown Prince’s coronation ceremony, and Heeg yeong gung was nitpicking at those offerings.

It was like being hit by a storm while trying to cover the sun.

The management of the offerings was entirely the responsibility of Manhae-dang, and a shared fear seeped into the faces of the maidens.

Soon, Kang-yoon entered Manhae-dang, accompanied by numerous palace attendants. While everyone bowed deeply and lay on the floor, only Heegyeonggung stood gracefully with her head lowered.

“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The maidens of Manhae-dang echoed Heeg yeong gung’s lead. The low melody surged toward Kang-yoon-like waves blocking his path.

However, he did not stop and walked through the maidens. Finally, he stopped in front of Heeg yeong gung, precisely in front of Yeonhwa, who was lying beside her. Kang-yoon’s gaze passed over the bowed Heeg yeong gung and settled on Yeonhwa’s back. His eyes caught the red, swollen wrist of Yeon-hwa.

“High Priestess.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

“Who dared to handle my offering so carelessly?”

“…Your Highness.”

Despite Bosan’s attempts to dissuade him, Kang-yoon did not back down.

“Speak, quickly.”

“…”

“Before this is seen as defiance against the royal family.”

If there were a cold fire, it would be like his voice, and if there were hot ice, it would be like his eyes.

Yeon-hwa realized for the first time that even without a loud voice, one could feel like being struck by lightning.

Kang-yoon was quietly revealing his anger.

The Crown Prince’s coronation had been personally authorized by the Emperor. It was only natural to deal heavily with the negligence of managing the offerings for such an important event.

At this point, resolving it within Bosan’s limits was impossible.

“Please kill me, Your Highness. As the High Priestess, I have failed in my responsibilities.”

With Bosan stepping forward like this, the one who caused the trouble could not escape responsibility either.

Heeg yeong gung, who glared at Bosan asking for death, ultimately had no choice but to confess her guilt.

“There was a misunderstanding while I briefly inquired about the new maiden. If you wish to punish someone, please punish me, Your Highness.”

Yet, her expression revealed that she did not take this situation seriously. It seemed she never thought the Crown Prince would scold her so harshly.

“A misunderstanding.”

Kang-yoon echoed Heeg  yeong gung’s words. It felt like mocking a clever child who was hiding their face.

“Given your usual keen interest in Manhae-dang, you couldn’t distinguish between a maiden and an offering.”

“…”

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

Heeg yeong gung’s brows furrowed at the blatant sarcasm.

She had openly shown interest in the offerings before Kang-yoon, so in a way, it was self-inflicted. Kang-yoon looked at Heegyeonggung with disdain and commanded Yeonhwa.

“Get up.”

Yeonhwa, not realizing he was speaking to her, remained motionless.

It was only natural since she was lying with her forehead touching the ground. Kang-Yoon lowered his voice further and commanded again.

“Are you trying to make the Crown Prince bow?”

Only then did Yeonhwa feel something was off and cautiously raise her head.

The gazes of the maidens urging her to get up were upon her. She did not know how the situation had come to this, but there was no time to hesitate. So, she slowly stood up, but it seemed that even this displeased the Crown Prince.

“Ah…!”

Suddenly, she was pulled by her shoulder, leaving Yeon-hwa no choice but to be dragged along helplessly. She stiffened at the familiar warmth and scent.

Kang-yoon had pulled her into his embrace. Heeg yeong gung’s face twisted beautifully at the Crown Prince’s sudden action.

“Your Highness…”

Flustered, Yeon-hwa tried to escape his embrace, but she couldn’t get away at all.

Instead, the hand gripping her nape only made her body tense. Kang-yoon’s other hand slid down Yeonhwa’s arm, grabbing her wrist and lifting it.

The red marks contrasting with her white skin were revealed above her fallen sleeve. There were several small scratches on the fingers. The other court ladies, seeing the exposed skin of the woman, all turned their heads away. Only Heeg yeong gung did not turn away.

“If you treated her carelessly knowing she is a sacrificial offering, it will be hard for me to overlook this.”

His low voice made the frozen air even chillier.

“What crime did she commit to receive such injuries?”

If one only listened to his voice, it could be mistaken for a lover’s wounds.

“When the day comes that you must kneel before me, what will you do?”

The weight of his words was indeed significant. Right now, Kang-yoon was issuing a warning. He could consider this woman not just an ordinary offering but an eternal symbol of his ascension.

Kang-yoon slowly rubbed the scratch made by Heeg yeong gung’s fingernail. Though his touch was not painful, an oddly uncomfortable feeling crept in, making Yeon-hwa involuntarily shrink her shoulders.

Completely leaning against Kang-yoon’s chest, she could hardly breathe freely. It felt strange.

It was as if a beast trying to devour her had bitten her nape, yet she felt no sharpness at all. It was as if she were being completely protected. Seeing their interaction, Heegyeonggung no longer concealed her anger.

“Do you think you can decide on the offering’s successor all by yourself?”

“Of course, I must discuss this with the Emperor, the Empress, and the Dowager Empress. They are the elders of the royal family.”

“But how…!”

“Therefore.”

Kang-yoon’s gaze turned cold.

“I am telling you that this is not something you need to worry about.”

Heeg yeong gung’s face turned red instantly. She was the Emperor’s consort. No matter how she held the rank of the first consort, she could not be higher than the Crown Prince, Kang-yoon.

However, in her extreme emotions, she had asserted herself as an elder of the royal family in front of the Crown Prince.

It was a humiliation like no other. She had come seeking to vent the humiliation she had received from the Crown Prince earlier on that girl. If she insisted on her position, she might face even greater humiliation.

‘That cunning little fox…’

Heeg yeong gung hid her rising irritation in her fist. It was now time to reluctantly take a step back.

“I… have grown old and have been filled with unnecessary worries, which sometimes leads to foolish behavior.”

“…”

“I hope Your Highness will be gracious and overlook this.”

Thanks to that, the advantage completely shifted to Kang-yoon.

“Since you are worrying so much, I feel an even greater responsibility to ensure the coronation ceremony is a success.”

“Is there any doubt?”

Heeg yeong gung, bowing her head in humiliation until the end, was the first to leave Manhaedang. The heavy tension lingered in Manhae-dang after the storm had passed.

Kang-yoon, who had maintained silence while reproaching the maidens, finally suppressed his emotions and called for Bosan.

“High Priestess.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Clear the area.”

His voice was firm, as if he would not allow even a moment’s hesitation.

Bosan quickly stood the maidens up and moved the cart brought in by Heegyeonggung to the west side of Manhattan.

Those dishes would likely end up discarded in the backwaters of Manhaedang without entering anyone’s mouth. Kang-yoon did not move until all the maidens had disappeared.

The palace attendants of the East Palace also retreated at his gesture, clearing the area. Any significant conversation would not reach their ears. Finally, when it was just the two of them left, Kang-yoon released Yeonhwa from his embrace.

A step away, her face was filled with confusion and turmoil. She probably felt guilty, thinking everything was happening because of her.

While it was not incorrect, it was not entirely right either. If Kang-yoon had not cast his gaze upon her, this would not have happened.

“Do you know what you did today?”

Yet Kang-yoon was angry at the innocent Yeonhwa. He had received a full report on what Heegyeonggung had done to Yeonhwa from Taeyanggak. He also knew better than anyone that there was nothing Yeonhwa could do in that situation. It was only natural that he had placed her in that position himself.

However, Kang-yoon was extremely dissatisfied that someone had tried to wield what belonged to him. Yeonhwa’s actions, which had only endured, were also enough to provoke his irritation.

He felt utterly incompetent for not being able to prevent that situation beforehand. When he heard that Heeg yeong gung was determined to punish Yeonhwa, he could no longer hold back. Ultimately, Kang-yoon left his administrative duties behind and stormed out.

This was something he could not simply stand by and watch.

Heeg yeong gung’s attempt to lay hands on the sacrificial offering was akin to a provocation against the Crown Prince’s authority.

Setting aside his interest in Yeonhwa, he had to act for his position. Unable to find the words, Yeonhwa remained silent, and Kang-yoon spoke again.

“I do not like to repeat myself.”

It was a quiet voice, neither scolding nor shouting. Rather, it was a flat tone devoid of any emotion. Yet Yeonhwa could feel his anger.

Unlike the arm he had released, the hand gripping her wrist conveyed his twisted emotions. Yeonhwa, unsure of what to do, soon bowed to Kang-yoon.

“I sincerely apologize for causing trouble to Your Highness.”

Seeing her slender back made Kang-yoon’s brows furrow.

The image of her lying trampled beside Heegyeonggung resurfaced in his mind. It was simply the natural order of things for someone in such a low position to bow to someone vastly superior.

“Your arm.”

Yet, why was he so furious? It felt as if he was forcibly suppressing something that should not be suppressed.

“It’s fine. It’s just that Ari has suffered for my sake… Ugh.”

Yeon-hwa’s voice cut off as Kang-yoon lifted her arm high again.

The injuries that had been so blatantly revealed in front of Heegyeonggung were once again exposed. Although it was just a small area of her wrist, Yeonhwa felt oddly exposed all over.

The heated gaze of Kang-yoon pierced through her, making her feel as if he could see right through her. Did gazes have a sense? As his gaze swept over her wounds, Yeon-hwa felt the same sensation as before, as if her wrist were being gently stroked.

“I must have clearly stated.”

That gaze turned toward Yeonhwa’s eyes.

“You are my possession.”

His voice was like a low growl of a beast, resonating painfully in her chest. The teeth that had been precariously gripping her nape were now targeting her throat.

“Do not consider yourself a beast just because you are labeled as an offering.”

Kang-yoon’s words flowed away without being etched in her mind. How could an offering expect to be treated like a person? It was an absurd statement. Did he sense the confusion in her eyes?

“It seems you don’t fully understand, so let me say it again.”

Kang-yoon brought his lips close to her ear. As her sensitive senses were stimulated, the fine hairs on her body stood on end.

“You are my possession.”

The grip around her wrist tightened further, as if he were a child desperately trying to keep hold of a beloved toy. Kang-yoon imprinted his warmth deeply onto Yeon-hwa’s skin.

“Only I can handle you carelessly, my possession.”

It was a warning. A warning that offered no escape or solution, merely pushing her to a dead end. It was the oppressive warning of someone who had everything.

“I do not like my things to be ruined by others without permission.”

But… why did it sound so desperate? A tingling sensation spread through her chest as if seawater had rushed in. She sensed something twisted in Kang-yoon’s voice. It was as if she were hearing the wail of someone who had lost too much. Yes, a wail. This person, who was loved and revered by many after the Emperor in Ahwan-guk, harbored an unspoken tragedy within.

“Protect yourself.”

The horrifying truth reflected in his eyes was identical to the one she possessed.

“I do not wish to see someone else die because of you.”

However, that sorrowful light vanished in the blink of an eye as if it had never existed. Unable to look any deeper, Yeonhwa could only utter the predetermined response.

“I will remember.”

After a while, Kang-yoon finally released her hand, which he had been holding. Her tightly closed lips were not silent because she had nothing more to say, but rather a result of her will not to reveal any further emotions. The urge to immediately take this woman to the East Palace burned within him. Soon, Kang-yoon turned away, stirring up a cold breeze. Only after he disappeared did Yeonhwa finally straighten her back and slowly wipe her arms. Her gaze, looking at her wrist, swayed chaotically.

Despite Kang-yoon’s strong grip, the place where he had touched her bore no marks, unlike the red marks left by Heeg yeong gung. It was as if he had never treated her carelessly for even a moment.