The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 64

* * *

Right. You should be sorry.

That was my first thought. And at the same time, I felt sorry too.

As my excitement subsided a bit, I could finally see Yehwa’s face properly. It was a mess of guilt and hurt, an expression that couldn’t laugh or cry.

‘…Were my words too harsh?’

She was someone who smiled at me unfazed even when I drew lines and treated her with near indifference multiple times.

Heavy silence fell in the room. We couldn’t meet each other’s eyes and bowed our heads. That atmosphere was uncomfortable. I felt sorry and also wanted to escape the situation.

In the uncomfortably settled air, I eventually quietly got up from my seat. But instead of opening the door and leaving, I approached her.

“…I’m sorry.”

“……”

“My words were too harsh.”

Right. Because it’s your first time too. Our mom who is sometimes too earnest, tactless, weak-hearted, and kind.

It was my first time having a family-like family too. So without realizing it, I must have been expecting the perfect image of parents. I naturally thought they would believe in me and support me.

I can’t say my disappointment at Yehwa’s attitude wasn’t mixed with my expectations being shattered, even if her attitude wasn’t right.

Parents can’t do everything well just because they’re parents, and they’re human just like me.

My anger was justified. But I reflect on the way I expressed it. This time, I wasn’t mature either. I could have spoken more wisely.

Her green eyes looking at me seemed to be on the verge of tears. She carefully opened her arms, and I fell into her embrace.

“I’m sorry for not believing in you.”

“……”

“I should have listened to you properly, I’m sorry I couldn’t do that.”

The arms holding me trembled slightly.

“I’m sorry for being a lacking mother.”

I let out a small sigh and reached my arms behind her neck to hug her back.

Pat, pat. I gently patted her back. Just like she had done for me once.

“It’s okay. Because I’m smarter than other kids.”

One side is lacking, one side is overflowing. It may not be ordinary, but either way, the balance is right, so it’s fine.

At those words, her body trembled slightly. Along with a small sound of laughter like a sigh.

Is it funny? I succeeded.

I sighed quietly and smiled.

* * *

The first thing we did after releasing each other from our koala-like embrace was to bring out a meal.

I was already starving after skipping two meals, and after fighting for a while and consuming energy, I was hungry, and Yehwa also seemed to have been unable to eat properly due to work. At my words that I would eat, the palace maids’ faces brightened, and thanks to that, a rather impressive meal was prepared.

Yehwa and I ate in silence for a while, and she often put side dishes on my bowl. After finishing the meal to the point of overeating, we finally faced each other again only after biting into the fruit for dessert.

Yehwa looking a bit tense was unfamiliar. At that, I suddenly recalled a new fact.

‘It’s our first fight.’

Not only was it the first time fighting with Yehwa, but it was also the first time fighting with someone in this world. Even though we were close, I had been treating people with a certain level of courtesy, so I had never lost my reason to this extent before.

It’s amazing that we made up so quickly, and it’s also startling to think about how we fought.

As I was thinking about this and that and raised my gaze, my eyes met Yehwa’s green eyes. She looked at me with a rather tense face and slowly opened her mouth.

“It may be too late already, but…”

“……”

“I know you’re different from other children. How should I ask…?”

I appreciate you thinking about it, but it’s a difficult question to answer. Still, I tried my best to choose my words, but in the end, I shook my head.

“It’s an unbelievable story.”

The fact that this world is inside a book and that I read that book in another world is stranger to believe than not.

It wasn’t self-deprecation but a very rational conclusion. There’s no need to feel sad about not being understood. It’s a story that’s perfectly fine to keep as a secret to myself.

But it seemed to be taken differently by Yehwa, and her complexion turned serious.

“Sanya, I know I may not seem trustworthy to you, but…”

“No, that’s not what I meant, so please calm down.”

I hurriedly dissuaded her, who was about to become gloomy again, and pondered deeply. How should I explain this so she can understand well?

“If I said I’m not human but a book, would you believe it?”

Yehwa flinched at my example. But she soon firmly nodded her head.

“Yes. I would believe you.”

I saw your pupils shaking, mother.

“If you say that, I wouldn’t believe it.”

At my resolute words, Yehwa looked shocked. Why are you even shocked? It’s obvious.

“It’s that kind of matter. It’s difficult to explain. It’s not a story that can be believed either.”

“But Sanya. Am I not your mother?”

Her voice, filled with kind concern, was warm. It probably means she’ll believe anything because she’s my mom and loves me.

I know that. But this was a different issue. That’s why I could say it nonchalantly. Quietly facing that sight, I calmly opened my mouth.

“Yes, I know. But in all worldly matters, love isn’t everything. Just like you can’t make the sun rise from the west even if you love me, Your Majesty.”

“I will do it!”

Ah, seriously. It’s an example, an example. Get the gist of it. It’s impossible.

As I looked at her with annoyed eyes, Yehwa immediately shrank back.

“It’s impossible. Right?”

“That’s right…”

Good, well done.

“It’s just that. It’s not a sad story I couldn’t tell for fear of being ignored either.”

I answered indifferently and reached out to pat Yehwa’s hand.

“I heard you would believe me even if I say something absurd, so it’s fine.”

“Sanya…”

“Anyway, what I can tell you now is that my way of thinking is different from that of ordinary children.”

I cut off her moved words and answered. And then I hesitated for a moment.

Will she believe this? It’s equally absurd.

But I quickly erased that concern. If she says she’ll believe me even if I say I’m not human but a book, she’ll believe this much.

“I know a bit about the future.”

At my nonchalant answer, Yehwa’s eyes widened.

* * *

When I returned to the palace, the sun was high in the sky, but after Yehwa left, darkness had already fallen.

In the room lit by lanterns, I sprawled out on the bed. Swinging my feet, I let out a deep sigh.

‘…I got scolded.’

So, somehow again.

Well, it was fine up to the point of saying I know a bit about the future. Because it was true that I knew the futures that appeared in the original story.

‘Then what do you plan to do now?’

The problem was after that. To that question, I answered quite smartly.

I plan to find out what the panacea is, and since I don’t intend to reveal that I’m smart, I will use others.

Of course, I won’t make it dangerous. What I want is just the strength to protect myself, so I won’t do anything reckless either.

Up to this point, Yehwa listened to me with a delighted smile. My slip of the tongue came after that.

‘I hope that man I met today does a good job.’

‘That man?’

Yehwa made a puzzled face right away. Likewise, I immediately realized I had misspoken.

There was a huge difference in safety between meeting Giyun and meeting someone who might be an assassin. Anyway, since Sunyu is also a man, I hoped she would be fooled and let it slide, but…

‘The Empress isn’t someone who will simply follow your wishes.’

‘….’

‘Did you perhaps meet someone other than your father?’

‘….’

‘I’ll ask the Empress too, so don’t even think about lying.’

Yehwa firmly blocked the escape route I was trying to slip through. No matter how much she tried, she was good at making a stern expression. I eventually nodded slightly.

‘Sanya Aryun!’

Yehwa shouted in great surprise, and I had to hear my name with the surname attached for the second time today.

‘You said you’re so clever, but you don’t know how dangerous it is to do that!’

‘No, I knew. But how was I supposed to know someone else would show up at the promised location…?’

‘Still, kid. If I hadn’t asked, you were going to gloss over it, weren’t you?’

‘Well…’

‘….’

‘But.’

Ugh.

My recollection ended there. I didn’t really want to think about what happened after that. But it was quite fruitful. I became a bit closer with Yehwa… I mean, mom, and the confinement order was lifted.

‘When I think about it slowly, I can roughly guess what that panacea is.’

I leaned my arm on the window frame and recalled the letter I mixed in with dozens of letters of well-wishes. What I asked Choeun in today’s letter was about the symptoms of the nobles who had taken that medicine.

Frequent meetings with envoys from the Western continent, a medicinal effect that improves mood and makes you forget pain.

I think they said Sylvanus. I thought it would be equivalent to America on Earth, but it seems to be Europe. Or maybe there’s already active exchange in the Western continent.

If my prediction is correct, the distribution of that drug had to be stopped by any means necessary.

‘How do I stop that again…?’

I was lost in thought when a small commotion arose downstairs. Looking down, the main gate was bustling. Among them, I spotted a particularly eye-catching golden hair.

‘There are no blondes among the Eastern Palace servants.’

Blonde hair. The physique was a little smaller than an adult male. Come to think of it, that envoy child I saw on the first day of Arun also had blonde hair.

It was the first time a night visitor—not an assassin—had come to the Eastern Palace.

Is it really that child from the Western continent? After pondering for a moment, I got up from my seat.

“Gowun. Let’s go down for a bit.”

As I went downstairs, the child’s appearance became much clearer. The main gate, which had been in a long standoff, quieted down with my appearance. And I made eye contact with that boy.

The child, who had been fidgeting like a puppy in need, widened his golden eyes as soon as our eyes met.

‘I think it’s him.’

The child was wearing Western continent clothing. Quite luxurious too.

As I took a step forward, the child took a step forward with an anxious face. The faces of the palace maids who had been confronting him hardened.

I stopped the palace maids who were trying to drive the child away. I was going to at least listen to the reason why he had secretly come at this late hour.

But the moment I took another step closer, an awkward smile appeared on the child’s innocent face.

“It’s a beautiful night.”

“……”

What is this again?

“It seems the gentleman has lost his way. Kindly send him back.”

I nodded my head once and turned around. Behind my back, I heard a dumbfounded sound of “uh-oh” but ignored it.

Why are there so many nutjobs in the Western continent?