The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 56

* * *

Yemyeon and I stared intently at each other across the round table.

The round table was laden with snacks, and in the center, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes were proudly on display.

“So these are the plants you spoke of, my lady.”

After my explanation, Yemyeon fell silent for a while. That was her first remark. I nodded.

“How can you be certain it’s true?”

“I had it confirmed by one who received the dragon’s blessing. His name is Noeul, you can verify it directly with him.”

Yemyeon looked back and forth between me and the table with eyes full of wonder and doubt.

“Even if it is true, how did you come to know about this, my lady?”

It was the question I had expected. I gently smiled and spoke.

“More important than the circumstances is whether it’s true or not. And what I say is the truth.”

At my nonchalant reply, Yemyeon’s brow furrowed slightly. It was the expression of someone suspecting my subtly changed attitude. I didn’t let it pass and asked her directly.

“You find something strange, don’t you?”

“……”

“About how I came to know this and why I’m acting this way.”

Yemyeon didn’t answer, nor did her expression ease. I let out a small sigh. Until now, I had hidden myself well. The palace staff thought I was precocious but still viewed me as just a child.

I actually liked that. Living an ordinary life, unnoticed by anyone. But recently, I felt just how dreadful it is to be powerless and weak.

If something had happened to me, it wouldn’t have been so frightening to be embraced by Yehwa and turn my back on Giyun in that moment. I’m not without a desire to retaliate against Giyun, but I lacked the ability to do so. However, I did want to have the strength to protect myself.

Yemyeon is intelligent. I couldn’t manipulate her subtly by acting childish. If I truly wanted to use her as a helpful ally, I had to reveal myself first.

“I have a proposal for you.”

So doubt me more. Ponder and think more, until you believe my displayed attitude is genuine.

“Please announce that it was you, Consort Hwa who discovered this plant.”

At my words, Yemyeon frowned. As if it was preposterous, she said,

“Do you not realize the value this plant holds, my lady?”

“Whether I know or not, I only ask that you keep one promise to me.”

It was an act that would end the nation’s famine. The rewards and honors that would follow would be tremendous.

Offering this so readily implied that what I would receive in return was of equal value.

“You said you would grant any wish of mine. Is that still valid?”

On my way to Yemyeon’s palace, I pondered for a long time.

What would be a good wish to make?

Until now, I had jokingly made trivial requests like “Do this” or “Do that,” but this was actually a rare opportunity.

It was a good chance to make good use of the valuable ally that Yemyeon could be. I wanted to ask for something minor yet tremendously helpful to me, but as an ordinary person, it wasn’t easy to think of such a request.

In the end, I chose the simplest and most certain thing.

Yemyeon’s ability was the befitting illusion. As a mental ability, the power she possessed was not physical force but information.

“Things not publicly known, especially those only you are aware of.”

I didn’t know how helpful it would be, but anything is better than nothing…

“Tell me all of it.”

Lay it all out.

As I smiled and spoke, Yemyeon’s face soured.

I maintained a calm expression, but truthfully, I was a bit nervous. This was the first time I fully revealed to Yemyeon the glimpse I had only briefly shown Noeul.

Yemyeon looked bewildered. She let out a forced laugh.

“You seem to have become a completely different person.”

“I’ve merely been hiding it until now.”

“My lady, please stop this act.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not an act.”

Even as I said that, I inwardly agreed with Yemyeon’s words. It was awkward, I admit. Even I think so.

I tried to act nonchalant, but if someone checked my pulse right now, it would probably be racing madly. I was truly tense, having never revealed myself so openly before.

I also harbored doubts that Yemyeon could exploit this. It was a doubt I had not just of her, but of everyone.

“However, my lady, I cannot trust you.”

“……”

“Why would you reveal this to me, who is neither Her Majesty nor the Head Consort?”

And she would surely know that too. Since it was an expected question, I didn’t falter. I grinned and replied,

“How can you be so sure that what I know poses a threat to you?”

I revealed it because it’s harmless. Even if you try to exploit it, it won’t affect me at all.

“You haven’t even grasped my character, yet you presume to know the extent of my abilities.”

At those words, Yemyeon bit her lip gently.

“I don’t intend to keep asking for things forever, whatever it may be.”

Having established an air of dignity, I began to gently persuade her.

“I won’t cause you any trouble, my lady. Nor do I intend to ask for anything else. Simply share with me what you already know.”

Honestly, isn’t this reasonable? I’m not asking her to obtain other difficult information, just to share what she already has.

As I looked at her with twinkling eyes, Yemyeon frowned. She had no grounds or reason to refuse.

Ah, perhaps that was the issue.

“I will ensure no harm comes to Her Majesty either.”

“……”

At my quick addition, Yemyeon let out another deep sigh.

“It seems I have a long way to go to earn your trust, my lady.”

Startled by her sudden remark, I tilted my head. Suddenly talking about earning my trust?

‘…I think I’ve given quite a lot of trust already?’

“I will announce that this unique plant was cultivated by the Yemyeon family.”

Yemyeon’s words cut off my thoughts. I immediately met her gaze.

Did she mean…?

“I shall accept your proposal, my lady.”

‘Yes!’

As I broke into a wide smile, Yemyeon also couldn’t help but smile wryly. Then, after staring at me for a while as if unable to comprehend, she calmly asked,

“What do you intend to do with it?”

I had been calmly sipping my tea but paused at her question.

What did I intend to do? Hmm.

After pondering deeply for a while, I grinned.

“That’s a secret.”

I gestured for her to come closer as if sharing a secret tidbit. As Yemyeon approached, I whispered in her ear.

“It’s a secret.”

Yemyeon’s face, which had been waiting for an answer, crumpled in annoyance.

Hmm.

I almost laughed at her vexed expression.

* * *

The night I returned from Yemyeon’s palace.

Seoyeon tucked me in and smiled faintly in the flickering candlelight.

“Sweet dreams, my lady.”

“You too, Seoyeon.”

Seoyeon smiled at my response. Ever since the near-drowning incident with the maidservant, she had always attended to my bedtime.

After Seoyeon left, the lone candlelight flickered softly. Due to the dim light, the shadows on the door appeared faint, and I quietly gazed at them.

Today, I had insisted that Gowun and Yeoryu stand guard. Usually, even if they were present, I would inevitably end up dismissing them to bed, which puzzled the staff, but they eventually acquiesced.

Even on the day the maidservant incident occurred, I had acted strangely, behaving in a way I normally didn’t. With Giyun’s recent visit and any other potential incidents, I wanted to take precautions in advance. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the reason this time.

The cozy bed made me feel drowsy. As my eyes drooped, I struggled to stay awake. And as I made that effort, the words I had spoken to Yemyeon came to mind.

Hidden abilities to the extent of posing no threat?

‘Of course not.’

At best, a shadow? And one who absolutely couldn’t kill Yemyeon at that. She would know that too. But with precedent, she would remain suspicious.

I had exploited that loophole, and fortunately, my little act seemed to have worked quite well.

And why didn’t I tell others?

The answer to that was obvious too.

‘Of course I wouldn’t.’

With the empress’s power or wealth, there was so much help I could receive, yet I didn’t speak up.

It wasn’t a complete lie. I ‘hadn’t’ spoken up ‘yet’, after all.

The timing was truly incredible. Just tonight, or rather, right now, was when I intended to go and speak up.

Before I knew it, my drowsiness had vanished, and laughter bubbled up.

‘I fooled her well!’