The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 73

* * *

In the middle of the night.

I quietly stood by the window and closed my eyes. The moon was bright outside the window, and the wind was chilly, oh my…

“What are you doing?”

…What am I doing?

Having failed to set the mood, I glanced at Yeoryu who had spoken to me. Yeoryu awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“You’re not going to bed at this late hour and standing there like that…”

I intended to scold him, but his words weren’t wrong, so I shut my mouth. Still, there was a reason I had to be awake at this late hour.

After sending Jisu away like that, today marked the third night. Actually, I didn’t expect this situation, so it left a bitter aftertaste.

At that time, I thought he believed me because he was so scared, but was it all an act? I thought he would rush back to the imperial palace in less than a day.

Whether he noticed my lie or had some reason for being late, once today passes, Jisu will definitely realize my lie.

Perhaps it was a problem that I tried to hastily use someone. As I was thinking that, the room suddenly darkened.

I had deliberately kept the lights to a minimum and let the moonlight illuminate the room. So the room darkening meant someone had blocked the window.

Raising my head and confirming the face of the man sitting on the window, I smiled brightly.

I judged the person correctly.

‘I guess he was a coward.’

His entrance was flashy too. As I calmly thought that, something swiftly moved beside me.

“Oh my, what is this?”

The room instantly brightened again. And in front of my eyes, I saw Yeoryu stepping on something. And that something was, of course, Jisu who had hurriedly rushed over on time.

Instantly subdued with his neck stepped on, Jisu trembled without being able to struggle.

“Ack, ack―.”

What is he doing to my precious resource!

“Yeoryu, step back.”

Yeoryu, who had been putting weight on his foot, looked at me at my words. Even in a situation where he nearly killed someone, his eyes were the same as usual.

“Don’t kill him. He’s useful, so just tie his limbs.”

Pretending not to be flustered, I said that, and Yeoryu answered, “Yes.” Soon, he skillfully tied up Jisu and presented him in front of me, and he was offered to me kneeling.

“Jisu?”

“…Yes. It’s Jisu.”

Unlike his rather cool entrance, Jisu had become haggard in that short time. Still glancing at me, Jisu lowered his head.

“Were you perhaps startled? I didn’t do this to startle Your Highness…”

“That’s not it.”

“Yes. It’s not… Then at least this rope,”

“That’s not allowed either.”

What if you kneel to gain momentum and then point a dagger at me?

At my resolute answer, Jisu drooped. I looked down at him and asked,

“Why were you so late?”

“Late, you say! The time Your Highness gave me!”

“The time?”

Isn’t three days enough? The Yeoran family is in the capital, after all. As I asked, tilting my head, Jisu, who had been talking back defiantly, shut his mouth.

“…I apologize.”

No, I wasn’t asking you to apologize.

“What’s with you? Try explaining the reason.”

At my words, Jisu rolled his eyes and hesitantly opened his mouth.

“There were many eyes watching… And in my position, I couldn’t just openly have an audience with the princess. The barrier of the imperial palace became strong again, so I couldn’t use my ability either…”

At those words, I widened my eyes. The barrier became strong again?

‘What triggered it?’

I don’t know everything that happens inside the imperial palace, but nothing major has changed.

If I had to point out something, it would only be that the exiled emperor has returned.

While I was lost in thought, Jisu, who had been looking around, suddenly lowered his head.

“This lowly one has truly committed a crime worthy of death!”

Oh my goodness, you startled me. I was surprised and shrugged my shoulders. Fortunately, Jisu didn’t see it because he had lowered his head.

“The crime of threatening the princess, even if this body dies a hundred times, it’s not enough, but if the magnanimous princess could forgive me…”

He’s even shining while glancing up and saying those words.

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes. If you spare my life this time, I, Jisu, will pray for the princess’s safety and peace for the rest of my life.”

Your ability isn’t even wish-granting, so I wonder what use it would be for you to pray for my safety and peace.

Still, I felt a bit sorry for him. Come to think of it, he too was just doing a job he was paid for. His trembling appearance was desperate as if he would bring down the stars from the sky… As I quietly looked down at him, I opened my mouth.

“Do you truly think so?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you will repay the favor if I spare your life.”

“Yes, yes!”

Jisu’s face instantly brightened. His sly, swindler-like face became innocent in an instant. I smiled back at that face.

“Then carry out just one order of mine.”

I felt pity for him, but it was a bit much to release him without any price. Anyway, he did commit a crime.

“My father, or to be precise, that medicine being sold by the Yeoran family.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I know it well too. Is it fine if I bring that?”

He’s impatient. You should listen till the end.

“But that medicine is a very dangerous one that turns people into idiots.”

“…Pardon?”

At my explanation, Jisu’s bright face momentarily faltered. I carefully explained further.

“Bring me the proof that my father knows that fact and that the medicine came from the envoys of the Western Continent.”

If you made a face like you could bring down the stars from the sky, you should live up to that expectation.

Jisu didn’t even look shocked. He stared at me with wide eyes as if he couldn’t even understand. Facing that face, I smiled and tapped his shoulder, putting the prepared dasik into his mouth.

Jisu, who realized my intention, struggled, but Yeoryu swiftly grabbed his jaw.

Now, chew properly. Good. Gulp.

“This time, I’ll specially consider your words and wait for you for seven days.”

Do your best. Fight on!

* * *

Yeoryu truly couldn’t understand his master. Although most of the imperial family members were like that, Sanya was particularly more so.

Who on earth is that unknown man, how does our lady know him, and what was that conversation about?

As a shadow loyal to the imperial family, he would defend whoever he served among them with his life. That would result in the same whether the other party slapped his cheek or kissed his mouth.

But Sanya… is really…

‘She’s not a bad master.’

Even at the scolding of the palace maids that could be called rude, Sanya would only glance at them once, not reprimanding them. That was the same for Yeoryu, and Sanya would ignore Yeoryu’s presumptuous actions but never punished him.

So she is truly benevolent, adorable, and anyway, a good master.

At that moment, the tied-up man suddenly struggled.

Yeoryu grabbed him without a second thought. An unexpected situation was unwelcome for Yeoryu, who had to prioritize his master’s safety above all else. But Sanya went a step further. When she tried to bring her hand to his mouth, Yeoryu panicked and blocked it, and Sanya stared at him.

Following Sanya’s hand, the man’s jaw moved up and down, and eventually, it ended up covering his mouth.

Then, the man’s Adam’s apple made a gulping sound, and Yeoryu finally realized that Sanya had been trying to feed him something.

“This time, I’ll specially consider your words and wait for you for seven days.”

What is that again?

Thinking that without knowing, Yeoryu smiled bitterly.

Right. Sanya was truly a good master. But now, Yeoryu felt a slight sense of crisis.

Sanya was a peculiar child. That was objectively true as well. That quiet and indifferent child very slowly changed the palace.

All the palace people wanted to be assigned to the Eastern Palace. The princess’s personal palace maids had been serving her since she entered the palace, so they weren’t recruiting anymore, but they still wanted to go to the Sedapbang to do chores.

Even Yeoryu himself received glares from the stoic shadows when he was assigned to guard the princess.

The imperial family members were mostly kind, but Sanya was slightly different. Everyone cherished their subordinates, but Sanya didn’t simply treat them like ordering around underlings.

When seeing those familiar to her, Sanya’s attitude itself changed. The indifferent eyes that showed no interest in others would gently curve.

Sanya cherished her people as if seeing something truly precious. Anyone who witnessed that blatant change up close couldn’t help but covet that kindness.

Nevertheless, it was evident that she cherished Gowun more specially.

Yeoryu’s gaze turned to Gowun. A child raised in the arena since a young age. His outstanding skills made the child’s reputation spread here and there, and the Empress made him her shadow.

At that time, Gowun had no light in his eyes and was like a doll that moved as he was led.

That’s why he became a shadow at a young age and could even be assigned as the princess’s guard, but…

Before long, Yeoryu’s eyes met Gowun’s. Gowun cruelly ignored him and turned his gaze to Sanya. Those eyes looked human.

Yeoryu quite cherished Gowun and felt sorry that Gowun had gone through terrible things at a young age. So he couldn’t simply be happy seeing Gowun gradually regaining the appearance of his age.

Gowun was a shadow and an assassin. A sword that had to cut someone down to protect his master. Could that still immature child really distinguish that?

It had to be that way. If not, when Gowun could no longer perform his role, the Empress would have no reason to keep him in that position anymore.

She wouldn’t place a sword that couldn’t do its job next to the princess she cherished like gold and jade.

After that, for some reason, Sanya gave the order to untie the unknown man. The man ran away without looking back, and Sanya didn’t feel regretful about it either.

The indifferent violet eyes curved as they turned to Gowun.

Gowun was the same. Yeoryu gloomily watched Gowun looking like a puppy that had received his master’s attention.