The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 77

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Giyun’s punishment was being boiled alive. Of course, they don’t literally boil him to death in a pot. But it was a punishment no different from death.

When the boiling punishment is carried out, the criminal becomes alive but unable to live. Although not actually dead, having officially received punishment and died, they are treated as if dead.

It was a punishment akin to being buried alive, having to attend their own funeral while very much alive.

It was a severe punishment for the head of the Yeoran family who had been so imposing until now. However, among the nobles present, not a single one tried to dissuade that punishment.

Until now, they had groveled before the overwhelming power of the Yeoran family, but now there was no need for that.

At the point where the Yeoran family had attacked all of them, they gained a rallying point. No matter how powerful their abilities were, they couldn’t turn the entire country’s nobles into enemies.

Giyun also knew that, which is why he deceptively sold opium, but now that it had been exposed for all to see.

He suffered quite a humiliating situation. In a situation where everyone was sitting one level higher than him, he had to receive the execution of being boiled alive.

A large pot big enough to fit a person was prepared, and he had to go inside, put the lid on, stay for a moment, and come out.

The sight of the noble head of the Yeoran family entering and exiting the pot in a fluster was quite amusing. Even his usually relaxed face cracked a bit in that moment, and I found that quite funny.

Giyun was evil, and real-life evil isn’t very cool. So it’s fitting that his punishment also doesn’t preserve his honor, receiving such a shameful punishment.

He left the imperial palace like that, becoming a transparent person to everyone. I gazed after him longingly, and as soon as the trial ended, I headed to Flower Dragon Palace.

Standing in the long corridor, I briefly caught my breath.

‘Now I’ll run.’

I have to hold my skirt well so I don’t trip and fall.

I ran off like that.

Mother’s office was the third door from the end. As I ran wildly, I heard the startled voices of the palace maids.

“Your Highness!”

“Your Highness, you mustn’t run!”

Ignoring them, I grabbed the door as I ran. Then a surprised palace maid grabbed me.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t do this!”

“Let go of me. How dare you lay a hand on me!”

When I shook off her hand in annoyance, the palace maid made a startled face.

“Y-Your Highness…”

…That was a bit much. I hesitated for a moment at that reaction.

What did I do to make her look like she got slapped in the face? While I was stunned in confusion, the other palace people were also frozen, looking at me with surprised eyes.

No, now’s not the time for this.

“Go tell Her Majesty that I’ve come!”

When I shouted again, the palace maid flinched, startled, trembling her shoulders.

“H-Her Highness the Princess has arr-”

“Come in.”

Before she could finish, a voice leaked out from inside the room. As the palace maids opened the door, I saw Mother looking down at me with cold eyes. I glared at her, huffing and puffing, and Mother let out a sigh.

“What is this commotion?”

“But Your Majesty!”

“Do you still have the face to raise your voice? Maintain your dignity in front of your subordinates.”

Mother, sighing as if in dismay, turned around and entered the room, and I followed her inside.

In the space quiet as a mouse, the sound of the door closing softly was heard. I immediately sighed and slumped my shoulders.

Oh dear…

‘Being angry is hard.’

The shocked face of the Flower Dragon Palace maid also comes to mind. I may have been on the nice side usually, but was it that shocking? Anyway, hurting others is really something I can’t do well.

Glancing up, I saw Mother looking down at me with a subtle gaze. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

Sigh.

I spread my arms obediently, and Mother promptly hugged me as if she had been waiting.

Ah, ack. You. I can’t breathe. When I patted her shoulders, the strength in her arms loosened a bit.

“What do I do with our baby being so cute…”

“Wasn’t it vicious?”

One of the palace maids was about to cry earlier. At my words, Mother burst into laughter as if she would cry.

The ending I had envisioned for this incident was me, angered by my beloved father’s terrible punishment, confronting the Empress.

Although Giyun received the boiling punishment, his abilities haven’t disappeared yet, so I couldn’t fall out of favor just yet. I hadn’t even figured out what he was thinking when he did such a thing.

I, who had intended to dissuade Mother, simply let out a sigh and obediently nestled in her arms.

Today, Mother did very well as I asked. Even the gaze she looked down at me with just now was truly full of dismay and contempt.

I was actually a bit scared even though I knew it all. Since she did so well, I should endure it just this once…

Ah, right.

“Can our voices be heard outside?”

At my softly whispered words, Mother bit her lips tightly. She seemed to be holding back laughter that was about to burst out. At that, I frowned deeply.

Hey, you. I’m being serious.

I also raised my voice a lot and fought with Mother last time, but that was in the bedroom, not the office. The bedroom, being a space where the emperor sleeps, had even stricter security and was literally a palace within a palace.

But the office was a relatively open space. There are quite a few palace people right outside.

I kicked out that young servant child who was in the Eastern Palace early on, but who knows how many more like that there are?

“The atmosphere was heavy, so the palace people will have withdrawn on their own. And if there is anyone eavesdropping by chance, we will catch them all, so don’t worry.”

Mother said that while tidying my disheveled hair. After pondering for a moment, I nodded. Yeah, well. If you say it’s okay, it must be.

“Giyun will be quiet for a while.”

Mother muttered leisurely while sitting on a chair. It was closer to talking to herself than to me. I don’t know if it was really to herself or if she wanted me to feel reassured hearing those words.

It’s a bit of a shame that both were wrong.

“I don’t think so.”

I said with a self-deprecating smile. Mother made a puzzled face at my words that were meant for her to hear.

“Why do you think that?”

“Is he the type to stay still with that personality?”

Giyun never loses his composure and gets angry in front of people. Whether it’s his illegitimate child or a servant.

That’s how strictly he crafted his image. Unfazed by anything and a strong person who has everything in the palm of his hand.

Such a guy was not only called to the court but also suffered the humiliation of entering and exiting a pot. There’s no way his lofty pride would be intact.

As much as all the nobles turned their backs on him, it must be quite a big crisis for Giyun. But don’t people with nothing to lose become even more fearsome…?

“Sanya?”

Lost in thought without realizing it, I quickly raised my head at those words. Mother was looking at me with worry.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment…”

“What were you thinking about that you couldn’t even hear your mother calling you?”

Mother chuckled and lightly pinched and released my nose. I quietly looked at that face and suddenly asked,

“Is the imperial family’s ability really the Peach Blossom?”

At that question, Mother made a surprised face for a moment, then nodded.

“I don’t know where you heard that but. Yes. That’s right.”

“The ability to receive attention and affection from everyone, you mean?”

“You know it exactly.”

Yes. As I thought, this was the correct imperial family’s ability.

Then, wouldn’t what Giyun Yeoran is trying to do not have a bad effect on Mother?

After pondering for a bit, I quickly erased that assumption from my mind. Relying only on that and letting my guard down was too much considering the things Giyun had done so far weren’t very ordinary.

Something that requires maintaining a connection with me even though he doesn’t ask anything of me.

Something that’s only possible by pushing aside all the nobles who hold power.

I need to find out what that is first.

“Mom.”

“Huh?”

When I called Mother, she answered with a startle. At that strange answer, I raised my head and was surprised by her face in turn.

Mother’s eyes were as wide as lanterns. She must have been really surprised, as she only parted her lips without a sound.

“Mom, you said.”

I soon realized the reason for Mother’s muttering.

Ah, right. I just called her Mom.

Mother’s face, which had looked absent-minded, slowly began to regain its liveliness. Her eyes reddened and she bit her trembling lips tightly. It meant she was about to cry.

“…Yes, baby.”

Actually, I didn’t feel much about that title. I had been calling her Mom inwardly all along, so it just felt like what was inside came out naturally. But it seemed Mother wasn’t like that.

“It’s not the first time I’ve called you this…”

“I didn’t know you would call me this again.”

Mother replied with a choked-up face and a smile. It’s true I haven’t called her Mom since that day…

“I have something to tell you.”

I felt a twinge of conscience about what I was going to say when she was so happy like that.

“Hm?”

Mother asked me with a bright smile, and I slyly avoided her gaze as I answered.

“I’m going to run away from home.”