The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 34

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“Consort!”

I looked at the man before me with stunned eyes.

Mirinae’s response was swift. Less than an hour after I sent the letter, I received a reply, and the reply stated that they would send him to me from the next day.

Did I make a mistake in my explanation?

Confused, I recalled the letter I wrote yesterday. I had clearly stated that. Yesterday, at Floral West Palace, I saw the handymen, and among them, I requested the most oppressed and lowest in status to be sent to me.

Just in case there was any confusion, I even subtly included that his name was two characters long.

Yes. All those circumstances pointed to one person. That’s why I was even more baffled.

“To think that the Consort remembers me, this Yeoryu…! Sob. Truly, I could die without regrets!”

Why are you here…?

‘Could it be that he was killed?’

A sinister premonition slithered up my spine. I looked at Yeoryu, who was rambling on with a moved expression, with a sick feeling and quietly turned my head to Dawn.

Even if it was impossible to deal with all the shadows, it might be possible to find out about the fate of a mere errand runner.

“Dawn.”

At my call, Gowun, who had quietly bowed, took out his notebook and quickly started writing something. I waited quietly and then took the notebook he offered to me. It read:

[Should I eliminate him?]

My mind went blank for a moment.

What… Who…?

Through the disheveled gray hair, I caught a glimpse of eyes I hadn’t properly seen until now. Cold, damp, gray-blue eyes.

When that inorganic gaze turned towards Yeoryu, I was startled and without realizing it, stretched out my hand to cover Gowun’s eyes.

“…”

Right. I know it’s ridiculous, so stop looking only at me.

As I slowly lowered my hand, Gowun turned his gaze back to me. He looked puzzled, and I quickly shook my head in denial.

His clear eyes twinkled as if asking for permission, but I couldn’t possibly give it. Not to kill, not to beat, but to erase. What does it even mean to erase someone, anyway?

Gowun nodded as if he understood my response, but I saw his shoulders slump. More precisely, his shoulders drooped as he glared at Yeoryu as if he could kill.

Because the gaze was so blatant, it didn’t take long for people in the room to start glancing at Gowun.

This included Heesa and the other palace maids, and even Yeoryu, who had been happily chattering with a flushed face.

“Ah, looks like he’s about to get hit.”

The voice that flowed out from him, erasing the smile from his bright face, carried a tone of disbelief. That familiar feeling made me clench my teeth and smile.

Ah, I really hate this. This feeling that the atmosphere can change so suddenly.

I immediately turned my gaze to Heesa, but when she caught my look, she just tilted her head with a blank expression, offering no solution.

…I miss Seoyeon.

“Dawn. Just a moment.”

Eventually, I bit my lip and grabbed Gowun’s hand. Fortunately, Gowun obediently bowed his head.

It was a relief that Gowun calmed down quickly, but whether Yeoryu would do the same…

I tried not to hold my aching head and turned my gaze to Yeoryu.

I was about to ask for his forgiveness for the rudeness committed by my escort when I paused upon seeing his expression.

What kind of face is that? The face of an overbearing mother-in-law who lost her son to her daughter-in-law?

The face of hearing my own child say they prefer their friend over me?

“You, you!”

Yeoryu, pale-faced, pointed at Gowun. His vulgar appearance made me frown, intending to say something, but Yeoryu was quicker, crying out as if wronged.

“Why has he become so docile! To me, he was always like a cat with its claws out, hissing!”

At those words, Gowun moved his lips as if he was about to inadvertently say something.

Yeoryu’s statement left me confused about whether to regard him as a complete lunatic or just as a truly aggrieved and foolish person.

Soon, Yeoryu, with tears welling up, tousled his hair a couple of times before suddenly raising his head and saying,

“Uh, Consort. How have you got it all? Cute and lovely, and even receiving the favor of the terrifying Empress Consort, I’m not jealous at all, but could you not give me his favor?”

Who’s receiving whose favor? And what would you do with Gowun’s favor?

“What do you mean—”

As I spoke, unable to hide my puzzled expression, a voice asked if they could come in from the doorway. I knew who it was without having to look.

‘Seoyeon!’

My face brightened uncontrollably. I quickly nodded, and one of the palace maids opened the door, and Seoyeon walked in.

“…Consort?”

Seoyeon paused at my gaze but then made a knowing face upon seeing Yeoryu still clinging and whining at me.

“Ayeon, Juwha, Haeryun. From today, you will go to Floral Glory Palace. They said they were short on hands.” (TL Note: I am really freestyling these palace name translations at this point, they might not be completely correct in meaning but I am doing my best to differentiate them.)

I blinked at Seoyeon’s following words. Naturally, I thought she would help resolve the situation, but the first thing she did was reassign people.

The palace maids whose names were called immediately left the room, and once the door closed, Seoyeon, after a glance around at those who remained, spoke in a voice tinged with amusement.

“Now you can speak, Dawn.”

“…Is that so?”

Gowun’s voice, having not spoken for a long time, was gravelly. It was entirely different from the clear voice I was used to hearing when he visited me at dawn.

Yes, all that’s fine, but give me some time to accept the situation. So, are Gowun and Yeoryu on good terms, or bad? And what about the maids who just left? Was I in a life-threatening situation until just before?

“Why are you here.”

The tangled thoughts in my head were abruptly cut through by Gowun’s icy voice. Yeoryu’s eyes widened at the hostility in his voice.

“You, why are you speaking?”

“I never said I couldn’t speak, just that I chose to remain silent.”

“You brat! That’s the same thing!”

“So, why are you here?”

Yeoryu, looking quite aggrieved, gruffly responded.

“Well, because the Consort called for me?”

“…That can’t be.”

“Really!”

At that, Gowun, with eyes as sly as a booted cat, looked up at me, and I was plagued by an inexplicable sense of guilt. Because. It was true that I had called for him.

“Gowun, just a moment.”

At the moment, the most important thing was Gowun’s well-being. Never having seen him this agitated, I wondered if they really were on bad terms, or if it was just their usual banter, requiring a clear understanding of the situation.

However, it wasn’t something I could blurt out loudly with the involved parties present, so I gently grabbed Gowun’s ear and whispered.

“…Did Yeoryu abuse you?”

If that were true, it was a rather blunt question. But given the difficult nature of the subject, there was no helping it.

At my question, Gowun flinched. That reaction made me think it might be true, but soon Gowun shook his head slightly, indicating no.

“Really?”

“…Yes, Consort.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. It’s just… his pranks are a bit much.”

Gowun answered with his ears turning bright red, his fingertips twitching as if the wind tickling his ears was making him squirm. I chuckled and released Gowun’s ear that I had been holding between two fingers.

Gowun’s tone didn’t seem deceitful, and considering what I had seen earlier, it wasn’t an unbelievable fact. Especially since both shadows have been together without one ending up dead.

Of course, it seemed Gowun might slightly wish for Yeoryu’s demise…

When my gaze softened towards Yeoryu, Seoyeon, who had been quietly observing, asked softly,

“Yeoryu. Have you greeted the Consort properly?”

“Yes, Consort! Of course…”

Yeoryu’s confident start faded into quietness.

I sighed, watching his pupils flit madly, knowing he hadn’t made a proper greeting after bouncing around like a puppy in snow upon entering.

“Are you a shadow?”

I showed mercy. Not for abusing Gowun, and from his speech, he seemed more like a fool with a head full of flowers than anything else.

“Yes! I am a shadow! Just like Dawn!”

Yeoryu brightly declared, laughing as if he had been longing to say it, claiming he was scolded for wanting to speak. I briefly wondered if all shadows were like this or if Yeoryu was exceptionally cheerful.

“It seems the one who sent that letter wasn’t you.”

I muttered this to Gowun, thinking that someone as foolish as Yeoryu couldn’t possibly have sent such a chilling letter, even as a joke. However, no affirmation came in response.

“…?”

Turning my head in confusion, I saw Gowun moving his lips. It definitely didn’t look like he was about to confirm with a yes.

My astonished gaze finally settled on Yeoryu, who sheepishly smiled.

“I’m quite shy and not very good with words.”

Huh?

“People often misunderstand me as being cold.”

No, that doesn’t seem like a shyness issue.

“But don’t worry! Noel trained me very strictly after hearing I would be coming to you, Consort. Oh, it was as if he was ready to skin me alive…”

“Yeoryu.”

“…down to the bone and flesh.”

“Yeoryu.”

“Ah, yes, very strictly! He trained me very strictly. You need not worry, Consort!”

Even as he said that, being corrected twice by Seoyeon seemed to have left no impression on him.

Well, that certainly makes it easy to stop worrying. I sighed again.

From the way he spoke, it didn’t seem intentional, but it still felt like he had a long way to go.

“So, about Gowun—”

“Excuse me, Consort. I’m sorry to interrupt, but who is Gowun…?”

Let me speak. Wait until I finish before asking questions.

Interrupted, I closed my mouth and just looked at him. I did not enjoy being cut off.

I had no intention of punishing him severely according to the law, but it did sour my mood.

Yeoryu, realizing his mistake under my cool gaze, pulled out a knife.

A knife?

Hmm?

“My apologies, Consort. Where would you like me to start?”

Upon hearing Yeoryu’s words, I had to take a moment to interpret them. Fortunately, before I could interpret and react with shock, Seoyeon snatched the knife away in surprise.

“How dare you present such a dreadful thing before the Consort!”

“Ah, that… So I took out a small knife, but is this also not allowed?”

“Of course not! If you keep up this behavior, I’ll have you sent back!”

“Ma, Madam Consort! Please, anything but that!”

I frowned. This reminded me of the time Gowun thought he had to cut off his pinky finger if he made a promise.

So you were the main culprit.