The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 38

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“Even if you went out to the marketplace and shouted how much you adore me, it couldn’t be more obvious.”

Garam’s mouth dropped open at my conclusive statement.

“I, I thought I was being quite discreet in showing my affection for you.”

His flustered voice made me narrow my eyes. I remembered the day when Garam, having learned how to playfully toss someone into the air, flung me sky-high. That was the first time I gritted my teeth and said something that resembled a curse at Garam, and that evening, I found him kneeling in the courtyard of the Floral Virtue Palace with his hands up. It was also the first day I laughed heartily at Garam.

The gist of this memory is that Garam was never discreet.

“Like a grandfather doting on his granddaughter, dignified and majestic…”

Garam made a claim that wouldn’t even bite into a boiled pumpkin. I didn’t even offer a courtesy smile.

“No.”

“But still.”

“No.”

My firm response made Garam’s shoulders deflate. He looked like a child who had lost his balloon.

So why do you like me? In the end, not getting an answer, I just pouted.

Objectively speaking, I was a child with no particularly cute aspects. I didn’t smile brightly nor did I act adorably. My actions were more akin to those of an old soul.

Although I was pretty, it was only just that…

“—Just because?”

“Huh?”

“Just because.”

Garam interjected, cutting off my thoughts. I tilted my head at his words, spoken with a clear face.

“You asked me why I like you.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I thought about it, and there’s no reason.”

“What?”

I frowned. Saying “what, what, what” made me feel like an idiot, especially since I couldn’t understand Garam’s words. Pouting, I muttered quietly,

“…That doesn’t make sense.”

“Why doesn’t it make sense?”

Garam, catching my words like a ghost, asked. I bit my lip hard then hesitantly opened my mouth.

“That’s because I, I don’t have any qualities worth loving.”

Garam’s mouth opened wide again, his face showing shock, but he remained silent, prompting me to continue.

“For a child, you don’t smile much, nor do you act cutesy. Doesn’t your serious face look a bit gloomy?”

Garam looked so serious that I shrugged my shoulders and commented, perhaps a bit self-deprecatingly.

But it was the truth. Even Garam himself had clicked his tongue as if disgusted when he first met me. If I were to see a child as quiet as me, I would think they either had a mental issue or were possessed.

How could he like someone like me so much?

Garam’s face, initially lightly shocked, slowly relaxed. He gave a sly smile.

Just when I wondered what was happening, Garam reached out and grabbed my cheeks. Caught between his thumb and forefinger, I was startled and my eyes widened.

“That’s right, you little one.”

Without giving me a chance to react, Garam pulled on my cheeks.

“A child who doesn’t smile or run around this wide yard. When I was your age, I had turned every pond in my family’s home inside out. You know?”

“Oww!”

Let go, you jerk!

I yelled out, rare in my outrage. It wasn’t painful, but it was a matter of dignity. I flailed my arms, but they were still too short and weak to push Garam away.

Finally, when a flash of anger appeared in my eyes, Garam reluctantly let go. Huffing beside me, Garam sneakily glanced at me and then suddenly smiled.

“You’re still cute, like a little sister.”

Garam messed up my hair thoroughly. I was about to scream but then clamped my mouth shut.

Very rarely, just occasionally, Garam, who usually acted like a child, would show a mature side.

Quietly observing that reliable-looking face, I turned my gaze away.

It was unexpected. But not incomprehensible, after all.

Caring for someone without any particular reason, even if they seem annoying and lack any cute aspects.

Perhaps that’s what family is.

‘Family.’

If Mirinae, Yehwa, and Garam thought the same, did they consider me family?

‘But could that really be…?’

As I tilted my head in doubt, Garam’s grumpy voice was heard.

“So, instead of calling me by that formal title, why not just use my name?”

No, I don’t like that.

Despite Garam’s sparkling eyes in front of me, I quickly shook my head.

No matter what, coming from a country that values etiquette, I couldn’t possibly call an older man by his name directly.

To my response, Garam unexpectedly smiled. Now, Garam’s smile made me nervous.

“If using my name feels strange, then just Sanya.”

Garam gently poked my arm.

“And you call me ‘older brother,’ or ‘father’…”

This time too, I didn’t hide my incredulous expression. Someone not related by blood to me sure had big dreams. Yet, Garam didn’t stop.

“Or, how about ‘uncle’?”

His sudden suggestion made me pause. Then, Garam started to ramble excitedly.

“How about ‘uncle’? Uncle Garam. Kyah. It rolls off the tongue. Right?”

I was greatly taken aback by his words. He wanted to be my uncle…?

“My father, that is, the Prime Minister, Giyun Yeoran, do you wish to become sworn brothers with him?”

“Ew.”

The answer to my awkward question came immediately. Of course. Garam, who disliked Giyun even more than Mirinae, would never.

“No, I mean. It’s not that I was trying to disrespect your father. It’s just that I…”

While I quietly agreed to myself, Garam struggled to continue speaking. I watched him intently, and he avoided my gaze.

“I… I like my own family…”

Of course, you do. The Yeoran family is hardly commendable. Garam deflated even though I had merely nodded in agreement. Still, it was a relief.

I sighed deeply. Just a brief conversation had drained me.

I don’t understand anything anymore. I just want to go to my room and sleep.

“So, who is it?”

While I was deeply contemplating whether to nap or not, Garam asked me.

Suddenly, who? As I looked puzzled, Garam smiled brightly.

“Who told you that you don’t have any charm or loveliness, and not even a speck of adorableness?”

At that moment, fire blazed from Garam’s hand. It reminded me of a past friend’s thuggish behavior.

A friend of mine, who was a fan of a certain idol, saw someone had written insults about that idol on her desk during a moving class. Though a bit aggressive, she was a really good friend, but that day I witnessed a human turning into a beast.

Her eyes then were similar to Garam’s now.

Uh, well. You see…

I subtly averted my gaze, but Garam persisted in looking at me.

“Who is it, huh?”

Um. Hmm. Well.

“Sanya. Just the name. Or a description. I’ll give you candy.”

I don’t need it, you jerk.

I pushed Garam’s face away with my hand. Even though my maple leaf-like hand couldn’t fully cover his face, Garam staggered back with an ‘ugh’ sound.

“Who is it? Ah, who!”

A grown adult throwing a tantrum, what a sight. I wanted to scold him, but the intensity Garam had shown earlier was no joke.

As I rolled my eyes, I saw a rustling bush in the distance and then spotted a gray head popping out from above it, quickly turning my face away.

Welcome, my perfect excuse. I swiftly got up from my spot and bowed deeply.

“I must be going now. My guards seem restless from afar.”

“Hey, Sanya, wait—”

“Take care!”

Garam’s eyes widened as he reached out to me, but I didn’t look back and dashed off. I ignored his shout, “Don’t run. You’ll fall!” as if I hadn’t heard it at all.

Approaching the bush where Gowun and Yeoru were clearly hiding, they popped out as if they had been waiting for me.

“Gowun. Come here—”

As I reached out my hand with a smile at his meerkat-like appearance, Gowun darted out of the bush, fidgeting and fumbling with his lips.

“…?”

The child, who had been searching through his sleeves and pockets, seemed unable to find his brush and paper and waved his hands frantically. I couldn’t understand a thing. First, I tried to calm the excited Gowun.

“Wait a moment, slowly. Take it one step at a time.”

I’ll try to read it somehow. Hearing that, Gowun hesitated for a moment then poked his cheek with his index finger.

“…?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, he tapped his cheek twice more with his finger. After pondering for a moment, I hesitantly opened my mouth.

“Uh, …cute?”

Gowun’s mouth clamped shut. Seeing his ears turn bright red, he seemed quite embarrassed.

Once again, Gowun moved his hands swiftly and then stretched them out towards me with his palms showing.

Cheek. And me.

Hmm.

Still don’t get it.

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to do, but do you want to try it on me? I can’t understand.”

Gowun hesitated for a moment at my quick surrender but then nodded. He then reached out and grabbed my cheeks.

“…”

Does everyone have a grudge against my cheeks? With a sour expression, wondering what he was going to do next, Gowun quietly looked at my face then turned it sideways. Just as I was about to ask, curious if he was examining me, his head swiftly turned to the other side.

“Gowun, what is this—”

As I was about to ask, unable to understand, I stopped when our eyes met. There was a desperate look in the child’s eyes.

Ah, that reminds me, Garam had pulled on my cheeks earlier. Thinking back, it seemed like the small bush had rustled violently at that time too.

Oh, my goodness. Really.

‘Adorable.’

Saying it once wasn’t enough. I internally wept.

‘So adorable!’

As always, Gowun was truly. Truly adorable. There wasn’t a single thing he did that wasn’t cute.

If he were my younger brother, I would’ve carried him around.

I smiled warmly and brushed his bangs aside. His hair was naturally curly and often got tangled. Parting it like curtains on both sides, I smiled at his gentle gray eyes.

Now I remembered what I had planned to do after visiting the Flower Spirit Palace today.

“Gowun.”

“…”

“Let’s cut your hair.”

This is not it. I’ve thought it over about five times before, but this is not it.

I swallowed, anticipating a vigorous reaction. If Gowun freaked out saying it’s absolutely not happening, I was ready to ramble for thirty minutes on how cute his face would look and the benefits of cutting his bangs.

However, Gowun showed no particular reaction. He just blinked a few times and then bowed his head towards me.

I tilted my head in confusion, not understanding his actions, but when Gowun brushed the hair hanging over his neck away, I gasped, realizing what he meant.

Not that hair!