The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 76

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When I finished talking with Mirinae, it was already dark outside.

I hurriedly rushed to Sunyu, but he said he would just go back.

His response seemed to indicate he was truly okay and not just saying it out of frustration, making me feel unnecessarily sorry. I had intended to ask him about the wish-granting jewel, but how could I make him stay when he looks so miserable?

Sunyu reassured me that he was really okay and left the Eastern Palace. As I saw him off, I was a bit surprised.

‘Has His Majesty the Emperor left?’

When Mirinae, who had come looking for me again, asked that, I answered yes and he hesitated for a moment. For some reason, his eyes seemed to express an apology.

‘He doesn’t hate it that much?’

If he really hated it, he wouldn’t care at all no matter what happened to the other person. And it’s not like the two were just bickering like little kids…

Perhaps it’s a matter just between the two of them.

I’m a bit worried that it might be something I shouldn’t be curious about.

“Giyun Yeoran, raise your head.”

At that moment, I heard my mother’s voice sharp as an icicle.

Only then did I realize I had been having quite leisurely thoughts. Right. This was the court.

Of course, I’m not standing below as the criminal, but sitting to the right of the Empress as the princess.

‘It’s a beautiful day.’

Despite the rather solemn environment, I was still at leisure. Because it was a situation where I didn’t have to do anything.

There were two people standing in the court today. Giyun, who was dragged here under suspicion of a crime, and Yuri, who accused him.

I could see Yuri clenching his hands tightly from a distance. He looks composed, but he’s not really.

News of Giyun being interrogated quickly spread, and all the notable nobles gathered in the court. They must be curious about how a fox who played the role of a wolf in an empty wolf den was caught.

I was glad there were many watchful eyes, but Yuri seemed uncomfortable.

When our eyes met, I smiled very slightly at Yuri. Just in case, I even wrote a script, so as long as he recites what he memorized, it should be fine.

‘Cheer up. Mother will handle the difficult part.’

I glanced to the side. Mother had a stern expression without even sparing me a glance.

“Do you know the reason why you were dragged here?”

At those words, Giyun lightly lowered his head.

“I apologize, but regarding this subject I fail to comprehend Your Majesty’s intention.”

He was still a bold person. Asking the Empress’s intention at a place to determine his crime, it sounds like the Empress framed him.

“Is that so?”

Mother asked that in a languid voice, then turned her gaze to Yuri, who was already kneeling.

“That child came to me some time ago and reported to me.”

“…”

“He said he is a servant of Duke Flint, the envoy from Sylvanus, and that he knows the Duke and the head of the Yeoran family are colluding.”

Even at those words, the court was quiet. No one seemed very agitated.

Rather, they seemed puzzled as to why Giyun was brought to the court for such a matter. It probably meant that secretly trading with envoys to monopolize rare goods from the Western Continent was a common occurrence.

“As you all say, am I not a generous emperor? Even if he’s just a child, how could I ignore his earnest plea?”

Mother spoke softly. Then she addressed Yuri.

“Report in detail what you wish to report.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yuri replied in a frail voice while bowing his head. He really looked like an honest servant.

Not revealing that Yuri is a prince. That was the very first thing I urged both Mother and Yuri.

This is not Sylvanus. A servant who simply carried out orders from an equal position had a different meaning.

Moreover, Seora had very little information about the countries of the Western Continent. To those who don’t know the situation of the kingdom, suddenly revealing his identity now after not doing so upon entering the country would be viewed with suspicion, and there’s a high chance they wouldn’t believe it.

Rather than gambling by revealing he’s a prince, it was better to safely go with being a servant.

‘There are also excuses for how he came to know about it even as a servant.’

Yuri’s body trembled, but he continued speaking with composure.

“What His Grace the Duke handed over to the head of the Yeoran family is the medicine currently being sold by the Yeoran family.”

This time, the people were quite stirred up. As much as the Yeoran family was profiting greatly from that medicine, it must be upsetting to hear they monopolized it.

“My, my. I wondered where they obtained such a panacea, but it was a medicine brought from such a distant place.”

“It has completely cured chronic illnesses that couldn’t be cured until now, so it is a blessing for the nation.”

“I’m afraid to report this, but…”

Yuri’s anxious voice cut through the cheerful words. His voice trembled but was clearly heard throughout the court. Enough for all the gathered people to hear.

Yuri hesitated for a moment. During that silence, everyone’s attention focused on Yuri.

“The medicine sold by the head of the Yeoran family is not a panacea.”

At those concise words, a small murmur erupted from the nobles’ seats. They were probably people who took the medicine or their relatives.

“That medicine is called opium, and while it has excellent pain-relieving and sedative effects, the withdrawal symptoms are very severe when the use of the medicine is discontinued.”

The reactions to those words were divided. Some made serious faces as if believing it, some looked confused, and some had flushed faces while glancing at Giyun.

The last case would be those who were already addicted to the drug or wanted to share the sales rights of the drug.

“I wondered what it was about when I heard you recklessly accused the head of the Yeoran family without knowing your place, but it was such nonsense!”

And the one who stood up shouting like this was one of the last cases. When I turned my head with a startled face at the heavy, cracking roar, an elderly noble was trembling his beard in anger.

“After taking that medicine, my whole body that was aching feels as refreshed as if I’ve rejuvenated. Has a lowly thing like you even seen this precious panacea!”

Oh dear. I quietly frowned. He seemed to love the drug so much that he almost looked like a fanatic. He’s that old but his back is straight and his face has vigor, how could he do drugs…

While I was feeling sorry for him, Yuri opened his mouth with determination despite shrinking his shoulders.

“But how can falsehood be called truth? Since it was made in the Western Continent, I would know more about that medicine than people of Seora.”

At the blunt retort, the elderly minister tried to grab the back of his neck.

In the court that briefly fell silent, Mother, who had been quietly keeping her mouth shut, spoke softly.

“If what you say is true, it means the culprit is getting others addicted to such a dangerous drug.”

At the remark that seemed to lend strength to Yuri’s words, the elderly minister’s face reddened.

“Your Majesty! How can you forsake a loyal subject and lend your ear to the words of a barbarian? It’s a preposterous story, so get rid of him at once!”

That old man must be so high on drugs that he can’t see straight. I inadvertently felt my temper flaring up. Ordering the empress around. What is he doing?

“Calm down. I also have no intention of punishing without evidence.”

Mother brushed off those words as if she was used to it this time too.

“How did you come to know about that?”

It was a rather sharp question, as an ordinary servant wouldn’t know such a thing. At those words, Yuri lowered his head.

“It’s an embarrassing thing to say, but His Grace the Duke is not proficient in the Seoran language.”

Surprisingly, this was the truth. I was amazed that he came as an envoy to someone else’s country without properly learning the language of that country, and it was quite a sight to see such a person as the regent of the Sylvanus kingdom.

While I was having such leisurely thoughts, Yuri’s words continued.

“So he highly valued my cleverness and brought me as an interpreter, and I ghostwrote those letters.”

Finishing his words, Yuri took a step forward.

“The letters exchanged are the evidence. I saw him keeping those letters in the drawer of Hwanhui Hall.”

At those words, the Empress sent palace people to Hwanhui Hall. Conveniently, the court and Hwanhui Hall were close by.

Before long, they returned. The eunuch climbed the stairs with a grim expression and held out two letters to the Empress.

She unfolded the letters and chuckled. Naturally, those letters were the two I had forged. Since they were letters exchanged in secret, there was no family seal, but just by verifying the handwriting, one could tell who wrote them.

“What do you all think?”

Her tone sounded almost mocking.

Due to the Yeoran family’s power being strong, other noble families were relatively unable to expand their influence. But that was only because they bowed their heads to save their necks. If a blade is truly brought to their throats, anyone would struggle.

Among the nobles gathered here today, how many would not have purchased that drug? And even knowing that Giyun intended to use that drug to control them, who would be a great person to stay still?

Thinking that the plan I had orchestrated was going very well, I slowly started to shed tears.

I also showed sincerity by clenching my fists restlessly whenever I made eye contact with Giyun.

Ah, what to do. I’m really sorry, Father.

That in itself was genuine. Of course, the nuance would be a bit different from feeling sorry for him.