The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 48

* * *

When I returned to my palace, the sun had already set. I kept dozing off while changing clothes and even during my bath. I barely touched my food at dinner, and eventually, my maids decided to put me to bed early due to my lack of energy. As expected, I woke up early before dawn.

“…….”

What time is it now? I sighed deeply as I looked up at the dark blue dawn sky. It’s been a while since I woke up this early. Or is this the first time? Thanks to my carefree life of sleeping and eating whenever I wanted, the twilight sky before sunrise felt strange to me. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I dangled my feet, contemplating.

It would be nice to just lie back down and cover myself with a blanket. The dawn air is cool, and the blanket is warm. I could just sleep until my maids come to wake me up.

‘I’m tempted.’

Though I wanted to lie back down, I forced my heavy body up and stretched. I already nod off like a sick chicken as it is; I couldn’t miss this opportunity for diligence.

‘I have things to do.’

After shaking off my sleepiness, I rummaged through my drawer for my writing materials. I spread out some paper, selected a brush, and prepared the inkstone. However, grinding the ink turned out to be harder than I thought.

‘Heesa does it so smoothly.’

Somehow, I managed to get ready and sat down with the brush in hand. I boldly picked up the brush, but hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to start.

You see, I intended to organize the contents of the original story.

‘…I’m quite late, though.’

Since the original story exists only in my mind, it would be best to record it as soon as possible. But at the beginning of my transmigration, I didn’t feel the need to do so. My goal was to ‘not stand out’, planning to become a forgotten concubine quietly living in the back palace.

I truly intended to live without doing anything, but now the situation has changed…

‘I should have done this earlier.’

Honestly, it’s a bit painful. As I’ve gotten older, my memory of the past has started to fade.

I held onto the brush until dawn, struggling for a long time. Although I felt like giving up at times, I eventually succeeded.

‘Even though it looks a bit blurry.’

Because I struggled with grinding the ink, I ended up with this side effect. Anyway, as I looked at the writing blurred by the dim ink, it went like this:

In reality, the content of the original story begins one year before ‘Sanya’ dies. It’s good to know the future, but the problem is that it’s too far away.

‘Four years from now.’

It might be better than having nothing at all, but at the moment, nothing seemed immediately useful. I stared at the paper for a while, then carefully folded it and hid it under my bed.

‘What should I do?’

I had no intention of just sitting still, but I also had no intention of announcing to the world that I was more capable than my peers. I was merely an adult, not exceptionally intelligent, and above all, I was faint-hearted. Giyun or any number of powerful figures. The more power I held, the harder it was to ignore, the more they would try to check me in some way. The life of a power-holder visited by assassins every night was the last thing I wanted. I didn’t have the courage to confront scary people head-on. That’s why I needed people. People who could stand in for me.

‘That’s the hardest part.’

People are shallower than you think. If even one of them betrays me, the situation could quickly become precarious. How can I find someone who will keep my secret and remain loyal to me?

‘Well, there are a few loyalists mentioned in the original story.’

There were a few who received grace from the heroine Yehwa and pledged their loyalty to her. The problem was that they loved Yehwa. Since I don’t have the supernatural abilities that Yehwa had, there’s no reason for them to love me, and even if they did come to love an eight-year-old child, that would be a problem.

‘Isn’t there anyone whose interests align with mine?’

I wasn’t planning to suck them dry. Even if I ordered them around as subordinates, they would ultimately gain something from it. But the problem is, who would work under me, keeping secrets and working…

‘Should I save the life of someone from the original story?’

I’m not sure what variables there might be, but in the original story, that was the catalyst for their loyalty to Yehwa.

As I was deep in thought, I heard footsteps approaching from afar. I immediately got up and silently dove back into my bed.

“My lady, it’s time to get out of bed.”

I pretended to toss and turn, closing my eyes, when Heesa’s voice reached me.

‘Nice timing.’

It was good that I had already tidied up my writing materials.

* * *

On the second morning of the remaining four days left to me. The sun is shining brightly, the birds are chirping, and the breeze is refreshing.

“…The princess has arrived.”

“Stay ten steps away from the lady, you filthy things.”

“Someone bring some sweets!”

Why am I among these gloomy bears on such a beautiful day? Like a game of spot the difference, they had all been hiding, but as soon as I arrived, they emerged one after another.

Although I was upset at being observed so closely on our first meeting, I had taken advantage of their misunderstanding for quite a while, so I was planning to apologize.

However, my apologetic feelings vanished within five minutes of arriving at Floral West Palace.

‘I want to tell them all to leave.’

This is my palace, after all.

I understand that I am a curiosity, but the constant sneaky glances make me feel like a monkey in a zoo, which is not very pleasant.

‘I know their intentions aren’t bad.’

I get that they see me as some cute chick, but I’m not a chick; I’m a human.

Watching their quietly bustling forms, I smiled. Anyway, seeing me smile seemed to make the other shadows’ faces split into grins.

Only Gowun remained restless, not understanding the meaning behind my laughter, and suddenly kicked the shin of a shadow in front of him.

Thunk—!

Oh, listen to that sound.

“Why did you hit me!”

“Shut up.”

Gowun spoke as if spitting out the words while continuing to watch me. I gestured that it was okay and then called Gowun over.

“I have a favor to ask of you today.”

The murmuring shadows quieted down at my words. I opened my mouth with a slightly eased heart.

“I’d like you to teach me some simple martial arts.”

The reason I came here, splitting my precious holiday, was because of a letter that arrived this morning.

As usual, I had crawled back into my blanket, refusing to wake up, and it was when Heesa went out to fetch water for washing. Something tapped, tapped on the window.

Since we released birds in the garden, it was common for them to come up occasionally. Thinking it was one of them again, I opened the window, but what was placed there was a folded piece of paper.

The paper unfolded itself before I even touched it.

[My daughter. I will come to see you soon.]

Reading that brief content, I froze on the spot. I was incredibly surprised, but at the same time, I thought it was about time. Since a declaration of war had been made, he would come in the next few days. Although he would not mean harm to me, intending to show goodwill, I was still anxious.

I knew his supernatural abilities were great, but where in the Eastern Palace was Giyun, to accurately find my room among the many, and precisely when Heesa was away?

Everyone knew how to use supernatural abilities, so there was no Royal Guard in the palace. That’s why I had no choice but to seek out the shadows.

I tried to speak seriously, but the shadows’ faces became even more serious. Looking alternately at Gowun and me with faces full of things to say, they split into two groups. Those who seemed smarter came to me, while the others dragged Yeoryu to the backyard.

“Ma, My lady, please spare me. Just a moment. My lady!”

“Don’t worry, Princess. It’s not worth spending your precious time on, My lady.”

Well, okay then.

I waved my hand leisurely. It seemed my request to be taught martial arts, despite being guarded, was interpreted as dissatisfaction with the guards.

‘I’m not going to kill them, am I?’

As I shifted my gaze away from Yeoryu, the man standing in front of me knelt down. A familiar face. It was Noel.

“I apologize, but may I ask the reason, my lady?”

“There’s no particular reason. Just…”

Hmm, how should I put this?

“I thought it would be good to have some strength.”

My casually chosen words seemed to shock Noel, as he widened his eyes.

“If you need strength for a task, please order us to do it. It would be too much for you to wield a sword, my lady.”

His soothing words made me frown.

“Aren’t you all Her Majesty’s swords?”

“…The shadows are for the royal family.”

Noel was flustered by my decisive words.

“When you were part of the harem, there was nothing we could do for you, but now that you are a princess, your command is second only to Her Majesty’s.”

I listened quietly and pondered. In the original story, the shadows worked solely for the emperor. However, upon reflection, there were no direct royal descendants other than the emperor in the original story. The Aryun imperial family rarely had emperors or empress dowagers, and heirs were precious.

Above all, there was no need for them to lie to me about such a matter, so their words must be true.

“But, Noel. People change.”

In the end, my command can’t always be the top priority. Even if I had ordered something as simple as renovating Floral West Palace, I would have happily accepted their words.

“How can I believe that you will remain loyal to me?”

Because of the emperor. Because of the royal family. Because they’re the lord, they naturally owe loyalty. How can I believe such shallow reasoning?

Noel’s eyes widened at my calm response. It seemed to be quite shocking. In a world where loyalty is valued, it was natural for those who took it for granted to be shaken by such a question.

But at the same time, it was also a thoughtless remark for me. It wasn’t just about not being able to trust my guards.

In matters of life and death, how can one blindly trust others?

Yet, the reason I brought it up was to see Noel’s expression.

Confusion, surprise, and even a hint of desperation showed on his troubled face.

“It seems you’re disturbed by not being trusted.”

“…Yes. That is correct.”

Noel responded with a flat voice, looking disheartened. There was no need for me to intervene further.

“Please, do not doubt us. We are your swords. How could a sword in hand betray its owner?”

Ah, there it is. The answer I was hoping for. I pondered for a moment in silence, then lowered my voice to whisper softly.

“Then, Noel.”