The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 74

* * *

And, exactly one week later.

“I couldn’t obtain it.”

I quietly looked at Jisu. This time, without even being tied up, he was voluntarily kneeling. My brows naturally furrowed. I needed that.

But I soon relaxed my expression. His trembling appearance seemed quite sincere.

‘It was indeed too much.’

It was understandable. Even I thought it was an impossible task. Still, judging by his attitude, it doesn’t seem like he didn’t try his best.

No matter how much I press him, nothing more will come out…

It would be great to have it, but since I didn’t have much expectation from the start, I had thought of other methods too.

“Everyone makes mistakes in life. You may leave now.”

You worked hard being played by my lie too. I approached him and placed my hand on his shoulder. Then I patted Jisu’s flinching shoulder.

I thought he would gratefully hurry out at the lenient treatment, but he remained there.

“I, I really tried my best, but unavoidably…”

“Yes. Didn’t I say it can’t be helped? How could I kill you for not being able to obtain it?”

I joked and laughed, but he still had a stiff face. What? Why is he like that?

“I told you to leave?”

Thinking he might not have heard, I repeated myself, and only then did he start moving his body with creaking sounds.

‘Are his joints not good…?’

* * *

Jisu barely laid his trembling body on the bed. The servant’s quarters of the Yeoran family were not very comfortable, but he needed a place to rest his body right now.

After spending a hellish week and receiving the judgment today, Jisu was truly on the verge of tears.

A week ago, the story he heard from the princess, who seemed like she would release him, was shocking.

The medicine Giyun Yeoran is selling actually turns people into idiots? And it was a scheme in collusion with the merchants of the Western Continent, and she told him to find proof of it?

‘What is that?!’

Jisu, who didn’t even know such a thing was happening, let alone having proof, was astonished.

The panacea.

It was an intuitive name, but it was a medicine being sold by the Yeoran family, and many had experienced its effects, causing its price to skyrocket.

Not long ago, he clicked his tongue seeing his close friend sell even his land deed to buy that expensive medicine with his saved money, while secretly envying him, but it was something he should be grateful for his poor financial state.

No, of course, that’s not the important thing.

Remembering Sanya’s smiling face again, Jisu’s body trembled.

‘The child may be cunning, but still a child, so it won’t be difficult.’

Those were the words Giyun said to him while assigning the task of brainwashing Sanya. Jisu wanted to smack him hard on the head if he could.

Still a child?

The one smiling and playing with him on the palm of her hand, not knowing if she had a snake or a fox inside her, a child?

Yes, it really was like that. Jisu couldn’t figure out what the princess was thinking.

The princess spoke of something even Jisu, who was well-aware of the circulating rumors, had never heard of as if it was obvious.

Still, Jisu struggled to survive.

If it was a secret the head of the Yeoran family was hiding, it must be in the Yeoran family.

Jisu was currently staying in the Yeoran family with the identity of a servant temporarily created by Giyun. However, like father, like daughter, as thorough and inscrutable as Giyun was.

He seduced the maidservants and walked around until his feet blistered to see if anyone was coming and going. Thinking he would die either way, he even snuck into Giyun’s office, but still, nothing was found.

He thought he was dead, but he still went to the palace thinking he would at least beg for his life.

‘Everyone makes mistakes in life. You may leave now.’

This was the response he got.

Jisu couldn’t believe those words at all. Not just him, but anyone would have been the same. Everyone makes mistakes in life. That’s what the princess said.

Yes, ‘in life’.

You can make mistakes in life. But you were about to die soon, so you shouldn’t have made a mistake.

Jisu hastily made excuses, but the answer he received was also devastating.

‘Yes. Didn’t I say it can’t be helped? How could I kill you for not being able to obtain it?’

That smiling face as she said that seemed brutal. No one in Seora who knows the princess would know how inscrutable she is.

But Jisu saw her true colors, and he even failed the task she gave him. She should kill him to silence him and as punishment. That thought seemed to be floating on the innocent princess’s face.

As he staggered out of the palace after being ordered to leave again, Jisu thought.

She’s going to kill me. She definitely intends to kill me…!

He thought today would be the day of liberation from this agony, but life continued and the pain persisted. Jisu, who was shivering on the bed, widened his eyes.

I can’t die like this. How have I lived so far?

First of all, Jisu’s life had not been cut short. Even after the seven days the princess mentioned had passed.

‘…This is the last chance.’

Jisu’s eyes shone with determination.

* * *

And a few days later.

“I brought it.”

Looking down at Jisu, who was kneeling again without me saying anything, I thought.

What’s with this guy?

I spared him out of goodwill, so why did he come back? Why is he kneeling?

It was puzzling, but I first picked up what he respectfully handed to me.

[Things are going as planned. As you said, soon there will be people falling into addiction symptoms.]

What he handed me was a letter. A letter exchanged between Giyun and the envoys from the Western Continent.

This can indeed serve as definite proof. The recipient and sender of the letter are both specified, and there is a description of the drug.

How did he really obtain this? Even if they exchanged letters, he would have definitely burned them all as soon as he received them.

I read it carefully and turned my gaze to Jisu.

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t?”

“N-now I really can’t. I can’t even if I die.”

I quietly looked at him trembling and chuckled.

“You forged it, didn’t you?”

“…!”

I took out one of Giyun’s letters from the drawer and spread it out next to it.

Wow, nice work. It’s identical. Not only the handwriting but even the small habits like slightly raising the end of words and using ink mixed with gold foil were exactly the same.

Forging letters was a method I had also considered. I had a few letters Giyun wrote to me, and if I asked Mom to give me a memorial, it wouldn’t be difficult to figure out his handwriting.

But the problem was copying it exactly the same. Everyone around me, including myself, had failed. They were skilled writers, but their own personalities were revealed when trying to imitate someone.

Having no choice, I was going to accuse him even if it meant falling out of Giyun’s favor, but…

‘If it turns out like this, I’m grateful.’

Jisu presented a much easier path.

Before I knew it, I had forgotten that he had even tried to brainwash me with just that, and I wanted to pat his head.

He’s clever too. Yes, I told him to bring me evidence, not to find it. It’s fine as long as he brought something useful, whether it’s fake or not.

“Why couldn’t you do this when you have the ability?”

I said it in a sense of admiration, but Jisu’s eyes shook relentlessly.

Did he catch a cold? Why is he shivering like that in the middle of summer…

“Now go back and rest well.”

Seeing the evident signs of illness, I considerately said those words, but Jisu resolutely gulped. For some reason, when I got nervous at the solemn atmosphere, Jisu abruptly stood up and raised his arms.

“…?”

“N-no! Put your arms down!”

He’s the one raising his arms right now, so who is he talking to?

Thinking that, I turned around and saw Yeoryu taking a step forward. His face was frighteningly stiff, unlike his usual self. Ah, he was trying to subdue him.

Jisu, perhaps afraid of being crushed on the floor like a tiger skin again, quickly knelt on one knee. At that sudden action, I widened my eyes.

If the meaning is the same in the Western Continent and the Eastern Continent, this is…

‘Isn’t this a pledge of loyalty?’

“I, Jisu, now that the princess has forgiven my sins…”

It sounded exactly like something said to a cult leader. I didn’t feel very good about it.

“I will serve and be loyal to Your Highness!”

Suddenly?

‘What is this guy doing?’

I have no idea in what context he came back and why he’s pledging loyalty to me.

“Why are you doing this?”

“If Your Highness does not accept me! I! Will remain in this position for the rest of my life!”

Why is he really like this?

I had thought about leaving him for about three days, but I changed my mind. It seemed like there was no harm in accepting him.

“Raise your head.”

At my words, Jisu raised his head. Desperation and fear pooled in his eyes.

Did Mom threaten him? It was suspicious, but I nodded my head glumly.

Uh, well, okay then…