The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 78

* * *

“…What?”

At those words, Mother’s expression changed. The shocked expression was still there, but the nature of it was different.

It’s not that different from before, but you can tell that what she’s thinking has completely changed. Amazing.

“Why…?”

While I was thinking that, Mother asked me. Well, that single ‘why’ seemed to convey her bewilderment and confusion.

“After Giyun’s punishment ends and I angrily go to find Your Majesty, rumors will spread that I appealed for his reinstatement.”

At my words, Mother seemed subtly disappointed. No, but saying ‘Mom’ in response to such serious words is a bit much. Ignoring it cleanly, I continued.

“It’s not time to turn against him yet. We don’t even know what he’s thinking.”

“So?”

“I think I need to meet him and talk, but since he’s legally dead and a criminal, we can’t give him permission to enter the imperial palace…”

“…”

“So I’m saying I’ll go find him.”

“Absolutely not!”

As expected, Mother opposed. Her stiffly hardened face looked serious.

“What are you thinking, trying to walk into their den with your own two feet? No, do you even know how dangerous it is outside the imperial palace for someone without abilities?”

The stern words admonishing me didn’t sound like something out of reach. It’s her own story too. I understand. But what can I do?

“Danger is everywhere, isn’t it?”

“I have no intention of pushing you into an even more dangerous place.”

Mother said firmly. That stubbornness seemed impossible to persuade.

“I’ll really just go for a short while and come back. Please?”

“No.”

Were you a pumpkin in your previous life? So resolute, this mother.

“It won’t be that dangerous.”

“What if someone recognizes you as a princess and tries to harm you!”

“Who would know it’s the black-haired girl spread out on the ground? I’ll make sure to take palace maids and guards with me.”

“Then the Yeoran family will…”

“Giyun won’t be able to harm me, so it’s okay.”

To Giyun, I was still a card he hadn’t used even once. And even in the imperial palace.

I thought he might try to threaten Mother using my safety as leverage, but it didn’t seem like he would give others a reason to tear him apart.

Anyway, since I’m safe for those reasons, I’m going to run away for a bit after informing you in advance.

As I looked at Mother with shining eyes, she eventually let out a sigh after keeping her mouth tightly shut.

“You’ll go even if I tell you not to, won’t you?”

How did you know? As I smiled sheepishly, Mother stroked my hair as if messing it up.

“You little troublemaker. Do you not listen to your mother at all?”

“I always listen attentively to your words. But as for human words, they can’t always be right…”

“How impudent, you brat.”

My cheeks were stretched out, making my pronunciation slur. Using that chance, I spoke informally, saying “Let go, you rascal.”

“…When will you go?”

In the end, Mother sighed and gave permission. Seeing me smile brightly, she let out another sigh.

“If I stop you, it’s obvious you’ll do it in an even more dangerous way, so it’s better to allow it and see how you move.”

Yup, that’s right. As expected, you’re wise.

“So I’m asking when you’re going to go.”

Mother asked me in a deliberately angry voice. I smiled brightly and hugged her tightly, then said,

“Right now.”

They say to strike while the iron is hot.

* * *

After returning from Flower Dragon Palace, I shut myself in my room in the Eastern Palace. No, to be precise, that’s how it seemed.

By now, Heesa, who had barged in boldly despite my silence, would have screamed, I thought as I strolled through the festival-filled streets.

The Yeoran family wasn’t very far from the imperial palace, but since it was my first time out, I was planning to take a look around the streets.

‘It’s my first time seeing things outside the imperial palace.’

Thanks to it being the Arun period, the streets were lively. Birds made of colorful silk patches flew in the sky, and straw dolls danced on their own.

Someone was fighting, someone was laughing. The smells of food, oil, and powder mixed together. The splendor was unfamiliar yet captivating.

Inside the imperial palace, abilities are rarely used. Thanks to that, the imperial palace was always quiet, and the palace people didn’t make unnecessary noise either.

But outside the imperial palace was different. The bustling scene of the streets that I had occasionally seen in historical dramas. It was similar to that, but there were fascinating sights mixed in here and there.

I newly realized that I had truly been staying in a small world. A world with abilities was much more colorful than the world I knew. It’s just a pity that I can’t enjoy this for long.

‘I wonder if a funeral is being held at the Yeoran family.’

With that thought, I moved my feet. Finding the Yeoran family’s estate wasn’t very difficult. I just had to find the tile-roofed house among the magnificent ones where the sound of wailing leaked out.

After ordering Gowun and Yeoryu to hide, I stood in front of the Yeoran family’s gate and hesitated for a moment. The estate was large. And most of the people inside the estate wouldn’t like me.

I need to meet Giyun directly without getting entangled with anyone. As soon as I had that thought, I heard familiar footsteps.

“Sanya.”

When I turned my head following the warm voice tinged with laughter, I saw a man.

“…Father?”

I was so surprised that I momentarily forgot to call him father.

How are you out here? As I looked at him with surprised eyes, Giyun smiled gently and spread his arms.

“Aren’t you happy to see your father?”

Coming to my senses, I ran to him and hugged him. His cold and hard body received me.

“No! But I was so surprised. Why are you out here?”

“It would be better to talk about it inside. Your father is now a person who no longer exists in this world.”

When I made a shocked face at those words, Giyun laughed softly and put me down. Holding his hand, I opened the gate of the Yeoran family.

As I unknowingly tightened my grip, Giyun patted my hand.

Inside the Yeoran family, a funeral was in full swing, but everyone bowed their heads in greeting when they saw Giyun. On the way to Giyun’s office, passing through the courtyard, I encountered many people. One of them looked familiar. But I ignored him and passed by.

The office was very similar in structure to Mother’s office. As I sat on a chair, it wasn’t long before a maid brought in refreshments. Giyun, placing a clear green teacup in front of him, opened his mouth.

“I was waiting outside because I thought you would come looking for your father. Isn’t it amazing that we ran into each other like this?”

“Is that so? I hope you didn’t have to wait long for me, Father.”

I said that with a shy smile, then quickly made a worried face.

“Father. Are you okay?”

At those words, Giyun lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly.

“Do you know what punishment your father received?”

“Wasn’t it the boiling punishment? Boiling to death…”

I trailed off as if it was scary, then clenched my fists tightly and spoke with determination.

“It’s fortunate you survived.”

At that moment, I saw a chill pass over Giyun’s face.

‘He must be quite upset.’

He was already seething with the humiliation he received, and on top of that, saying it was fortunate. It was indeed words that could make him angry. As I inwardly snickered, Giyun spoke in a humorless voice.

“It’s not fortunate, Sanya.”

I made a startled face at those words, as if shocked. Like a child whose mood swings with each reaction of the parent. Giyun smiled faintly at my reaction.

“Your father now has to live as someone who is alive but unable to truly live.”

“B-but you’re alive.”

“The boiling punishment is that kind of punishment. By Her Majesty’s mercy, I was allowed to keep my life, but not be recognized as a living person. You must not have known because you’re still young.”

How could I not know? It was the punishment I proposed.

“How could this be…”

While thinking that, I muttered softly as if I couldn’t believe it and covered my mouth with my hand.

“T-then does this mean I can’t see Father again? Since you’re legally dead?”

When I asked, sniffling, Giyun awkwardly stroked my head as if at a loss.

“Unless you visit the estate like today, your father can no longer come to see you.”

Ah, this is where I should cry to match perfectly. I managed to sniffle somehow, but full-on crying was difficult. These days, there’s nothing disappointing enough to make me cry.

And fortunately, Giyun opened his mouth again without waiting for my reaction.

“I heard you ran to Her Majesty as soon as the trial ended.”

Since that seemed to be quite an important story, I held my breath for a moment. What does he intend to make me do now?

However, the words that followed were once again unexpected.

“From now on, don’t plead to Her Majesty on your father’s behalf.”