The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 29

***

Seeing his face, I reiterated my words.

“Not ugly at all. Your eyes, nose, and mouth are all pretty.”

Every child in the world deserves to be loved. It was unacceptable for a child, who could only be about twelve years old, to be ashamed of their appearance.

“Really. Everything is pretty.”

After saying this, I let go of the child’s face. Gowun covered his mouth and stepped back hesitantly, his face flushed red.

“…No, it’s not.”

“It’s not a lie. You really are pretty.”

Gowun’s lips quivered, then he firmly shut his mouth. Clearly embarrassed, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I planned to tell him every day until he believes it. Someday, he’ll accept it.

I smiled gently, folding my eyes, and brought up a topic he seemed to have forgotten.

“Flower Dragon Palace. It was you, wasn’t it?”

“…No, it wasn’t.”

Gowun visibly tensed.

Right. He thought I would just let it slide. But unfortunately for him, I’m not a child who forgets the previous topic just because the subject has slightly changed.

Upon silently observing Gowun fidgeting and wringing his hands, it seemed he was struggling with a serious internal conflict, mumbling to himself for a while.

“…Really, it’s not me.”

But what came out again was the same phrase, his voice trembling at the end. I made a slightly puzzled face.

What is he trying so hard to protect with such a guilt-ridden expression?

I waited a bit longer, but in the end, Gowun never confessed the truth. His reactions were too explicit for it not to be him.

Thinking quietly, I soon found something that seemed like a reason.

‘I did say I would grant a wish.’

Could it be that he has something he desperately wishes for? But still, lying isn’t right. It was a problem that he came despite being told not to, disobeying orders.

‘…I shouldn’t make an exception.’

Eventually, I let out a deep sigh. Being human, I can’t always live strictly by the rules.

‘Let’s overlook it this time.’

It might be a really important wish. In that case, it’s my fault for not giving him the proper assurance that he could tell me anything, just this once.

‘Really, just this time.’

I reaffirmed my decision and got up from the bed to sit on the rocking chair. The chair creaked and a chill rose up.

Naturally thinking I knew best, Gowun approached me with a curious look. Smiling at his reaction, I reached out and used the pin I was holding to push back one side of his hair.

“I can’t sleep.”

“…”

Hearing my words, Gowun appeared to ponder deeply. After a long deliberation, he said in a serious tone.

“Should I carry you?”

“…What?”

At that, I burst out laughing. What could this tiny thing possibly do?

Gowun, despite being small, possessed an extraordinary strength, and the fact that if he was a bean, then I was merely a sesame seed, was both amusing and endearing without my realization.

Unfortunately, after chuckling for a while, I realized why I hadn’t lain down on the bed but was sitting in the rocking chair.

“I wish tomorrow would never come.”

I muttered this without realizing it, prompting a puzzled look from Gowun.

With a troubled smile, I stood up from the chair and approached one side of the room. Standing in front of a vanity with a mirror and a table with various items on it, I lightly touched a long box.

As my warmth touched it, the box clicked open. It was a magical jewelry box from the Western Continent, among the gifts I had received.

Opening the box revealed a golden hairpin, its right end carved with a dragon’s head, clutching what appeared to be a pearl.

This was the hairpin Mirinae had handed to me when I cried.

Not everyone who married the emperor and entered the imperial palace could receive the imperial family’s surname ‘Aryun.’ Those who received the imperial surname were rare, and only they could use this dragon hairpin.

I had given up ‘Yeoran’ upon entering the palace but had not received ‘Aryun.’ Therefore, I couldn’t use this hairpin and had to return it to its original owner.

‘…I have to go to Mirinae.’

I somberly recalled the fact, and thus, stupidly hoped again that tomorrow, which comes as surely as turning a chicken’s neck doesn’t stop dawn, wouldn’t come.

* * *

Mirinae’s palace, Flower Spirit Palace, displayed its power starting from its name.

In the Kingdom of Seora, the dragon symbolizes the emperor. Supernatural abilities are blessings given by dragons to humans, sanctifying the dragon as most sacred and synonymous with the emperor. That’s why the emperor’s palace is named Flower Dragon Palace.

Originally, Flower Spirit Palace was the empress’s palace. The reason lies in the name, which sounds closest to dragon. (TL Note: The Korean names are similar and both can mean dragon.)

The palace of the person closest to, and just after, the emperor in terms of power. Mirinae ousted the empress and took her place.

To me, who had read the original story, there was no one more suited to the Flower Dragon Palace than dragon-human Mirinae, and no one less suited to Flower Spirit Palace than the empress loved by the dragon, but…

‘Now, I dislike them both.’

It was always the case.

In front of Flower Spirit Palace, where Mirinae was undoubtedly waiting, I let out a sigh without making a sound.

Today, behind me were the maids of my palace, following in a line and bowing their heads.

For some reason, Mirinae had insisted that my maids attend to me. And within this imperial palace, only the emperor was accompanied by maids.

I tried my best to express that it was okay, but Mirinae was adamant. Thus, walking here, receiving every possible gaze, I was in a half-enlightened state.

Among the servants, maids, and various workers who glanced at me, how many were serving the consorts, and how many would rush off to spread the word?

Now, it seemed pointless to try to avoid their stares. What could I do if my refusal was ignored? I was powerless.

“Announce my arrival.”

I spoke to the maid guarding the door, and she bowed to me before informing Mirinae of my presence.

Shortly after, the door opened, and I found Mirinae sitting at the table in a very similar manner to yesterday, without his eye patch.

‘I don’t want to go in.’

Really, I wanted to turn around and run away.

Why? Why isn’t he wearing the eye patch?

“Lady.”

Frozen in place, one of Mirinae’s maids gently urged me. Once the door was opened, there was no running away.

“I greet the Noble Consort.”

With the feeling of walking into the mouth of a snake, I approached Mirinae and paid my respects. At my greeting, Mirinae opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“There’s no need to greet so formally, Sanya.”

How is my formally conducted, simplified courtesy considered stiff? My tone of voice?

I cleared my throat silently, trying to smooth out my voice. It seems my blunt and indifferent manner of speaking sounded to the Noble Consort’s ears like scratching on a brass tray.

“Yes, Noble Consort.”

A laugh-tinged, melodious voice came out, so unlike me that it was hard to believe it was my own. Even I found that voice grating, but I tensed my shoulders and managed to suppress a shudder.

“So, what brings you here?”

As I took a seat, Mirinae leaned towards me with his chin resting on one hand. His half-lidded, light sky-blue eyes sparkled. I was momentarily taken aback by the pale color of his pupils. (TL Note: This is the second time his eye color has been described as light blue colored when every other mention was “Red colored”. The manhwa also has his eyes as red so I am unsure why the Korean text describes it as blue on occasion, I am just translating as it is.)

What was he expecting that he looked at me with the eyes of a snake eyeing a mouse?

“I came to apologize for my rudeness last time. Also, about the gift you gave me—”

“Ah. Yeryeong is bringing in the refreshments. Is there any snack you’d like to try?”

Mirinae cut off my words very smoothly. Because of that, I forgot what I was about to say and widened my eyes, and Mirinae smiled at my expression.

“…The sweets, they suited my taste. So, about the gift you gave—”

“Sweet treats. Which ones do you like? Apple? Feel free to tell me if there’s something specific you want to eat. Ah, but you probably shouldn’t eat pear sweets. They make Sanya’s body go ‘ouch, no! I dislike it!'”

Is he insane?

I couldn’t hide my bewildered expression for a moment. It was an instinctive reaction.

What… what is he doing?

Having been interrupted for the second time, I merely gaped. Mirinae chuckled at my expression and then told the maid to bring in the refreshments.

“The cook has been eagerly waiting. You don’t know how much she’s been looking forward to Sanya’s return.”

Mirinae said this with a smile, completely ignoring the topic I was trying to bring up. I barely managed to compose my face again.

I had seen this tactic a few times. It was a method Mirinae used during silence and verbal disputes. Preventing the other party from even starting to speak.

…Though there was no such bizarre fairy-tale narration in that method, I decided to think he was trying to match my level.

I quickly discarded that thought from my mind and brought up a different topic. Mirinae resorted to this method when he had something he wanted to say.

What was he trying to talk about? Was last night the issue?

No, wait. But think about it logically. It wasn’t my fault.

Many thoughts briefly flashed and tangled in my mind as I bit my lip, trying to organize them.

Just then, the door opened, and a maid came in carrying the tray.

“Ah, have you arrived?”

Mirinae unnecessarily stood up at the sight of the maid. Even though as the superior, he didn’t need to receive what the maid was bringing, he did so anyway. Because of that, something fell from Mirinae’s lap as he half-rose.

The square object was dazzling, and I easily recognized what it was. It was the splendid fairy tale book I had seen yesterday.