Chapter 117: The One Who Stays Behind

Heamyung, who had been watching the two of them, pulled Haeryeong’s hand tight and whispered quietly.

“Why not come with us instead? We shall wait outside the palace and come to fetch you once we are ready.”

“That would be impossible with the Emperor’s surveillance. And how could I handle the Emperor’s rage if I returned to Yeonseo? Brother, do not worry about me; please, just look after the rest of the family and our people.”

Heamyung cried out in a low voice, gritting his teeth.

“How could we not worry? The image of you weeping because you did not want to marry is still vivid. Do not do this; let us go together. We shall come for you at night…”

Haeryeong shook his head vigorously.

“It cannot be. I am already a person of Yeoran, so I must remain here.”

Heamyung wiped Haeryeong’s now-wet cheeks.

Even in his eyes, glistening dewdrops were forming.

“Who says you are a person of Yeoran? Even if the world turns upside down, you are my younger brother. You are Mother’s son and our family. So let us go together. Haeryeong-ah, how can I leave you here alone?”

Heasu also wept, clinging to Haeryeong’s arm.

“If war is inevitable anyway, what use is there in you staying here like this? Haeryeong-ah, our brother is right. Let us be with family instead. Mother loses sleep at night worrying about you, and it is the same for the rest of the family. No one will call you a person of Yeoran. My brothers and I carried you on our backs and raised you. How could we leave such a child behind and go just to save ourselves?”

Haeryeong wept in their arms before finally lifting his head.

He had to send them back before this conversation reached the Emperor.

“The surveillance in this palace is strict; this conversation will surely reach the Emperor soon. Brother, Sister—this brother is truly alright. So please, hurry and leave the palace.”

“Haeryeong-ah.”

Haeryeong let out a sigh of displeasure.

Must he use the same method he used on the Emperor?

He had wanted to send them back gently because he didn’t want to wound them.

Haeryeong released their hands and wiped his wet face with his sleeve.

After finally steadying his heart, he spoke sternly in a raspy voice.

“If you two continue to hesitate, I shall bite my tongue and take my own life right this instant. Will you only be satisfied once you have witnessed that sight?”

Seeing the two of them frozen in silence, unable to speak, Haeryeong stepped back quietly.

“If things go well, nothing will happen to Yeonseo. Then I too shall be safe. So do not worry too much and please, hurry.”

“Given the Emperor’s nature, is that even possible? Rumors have spread far and wide in Yeonseo. I did not mention it because Your Highness was smiling… but even the dogs in the marketplace know you have fallen out of favor.”

Haeryeong let out a heavy sigh at Heasu’s trembling words.

Indeed, even if it were a distant land, he had lived like that for three years; there was no way rumors wouldn’t spread.

He felt his face burn with shame.

How must they have viewed him, seeing him laugh and chat as if he were on good terms with the Emperor in front of those who knew the truth?

‘I wish you had just pretended not to know until the very end.’

Haeryeong looked at Heasu with an instinctively dejected expression.

“You are too much, Sister. If you were going to ignore it, you should have just done so to the end.”

“Is it not because my heart is bursting? It infuriates me to see that you were so gentle as a child, yet even fully grown, you cannot even claim what is rightfully yours.”

As Haeryeong pouted, Heamyung scolded Heasu.

Watching the two of them bicker about their frustration, Haeryeong gave a command to Iryeon, who would be waiting outside.

“Iryeon-ah. Go and bring the norigae I prepared as a gift for Mother.”

A moment later, when Iryeon entered with a mother-of-pearl box bearing the phoenix—the symbol of the Empress—both siblings let out a simultaneous sigh.

Haeryeong let out a small laugh at the sight of them.

“I am only now able to send the gift I prepared for her birthday. Please deliver this to Mother and tell her that Haeryeong misses her dearly.”

This worked better than the threat of death.

Neither of them could reject his request and they obediently accepted the box.

Haeryeong ordered Iryeon to escort them to their quarters and offered his final farewell.

“I do not know when I might see you again. If a day comes when we can meet once more, I hope we can share a drink in comfort.”

“There will be a day we meet again. So please, remain safe and robust.”

Haeryeong saw them off and then returned to the inner chamber alone.

The body that had been holding itself up suddenly collapsed.

Unable to even reach the bed, he slumped onto the floor, gasping hot breaths as he barely managed to call Su-yong’s name.

“Han Su-yong, are you there?”

Su-yong glided into view and knelt on one knee before Haeryeong, bowing his head.

When he lifted his face again, his expression was incredibly troubled.

Haeryeong managed a clumsy smile through his flickering consciousness.

“I have a request. Please delay your report for just a moment.”

Since it was the man’s job, he couldn’t tell him not to do it at all.

So he asked him to delay it for just one hour—no, even half an hour.

To buy enough time for the Yeonseo delegation to leave the palace.

“Ah, this is driving me mad.”

Su-yong ran a hand through his hair and exhaled a heavy sigh.

“If you have the presence of mind to worry about such things, please, worry about your own body. I am going to touch you, Your Highness. Forgive my insolence.”

Reading the unspoken promise not to worry in his grumbled words, Haeryeong finally felt at ease and closed his eyes.

The sensation of his body being swept up was not unfamiliar.

‘Had I already grown used to it from being carried by the Emperor so many times?’

Su-yong, holding Haeryeong carefully, moved toward the bed while muttering to himself.

“If His Majesty finds out about this, my head will be the first to roll, so this must be an absolute secret. Do you understand?”

Haeryeong, unable to even hold up his head properly, mumbled back to him.

“Why worry, when my head will likely roll before yours?”

He heard Su-yong click his tongue from nearby.

The man seemed to be saying something, but his ears were ringing so loudly he could no longer understand.

‘I must stay conscious. I must watch to see if my brother and sister leave the capital safely.’

His body, consumed by heat, felt as heavy as if it were sinking into the earth.

****

When Haeryeong regained his senses, Iryeon was by his side.

Su-yong was nowhere to be seen, having likely returned to his post.

Noticing Haeryeong had opened his eyes, she leaned toward the bed.

“Your Highness… have you awakened?”

Her voice sounded choked with emotion.

Haeryeong stared at her and whispered like a sigh.

“I have caused you to worry yet again.”

Iryeon shook her head and offered a weak smile.

“Do not say such things, Your Highness. It wounds my heart.”

“How much time has passed?”

“You have been asleep for about two hours.”

When Haeryeong applied strength to sit up, Iryeon hurried to support his back.

Once Haeryeong was upright, she held the bedside water to his lips and continued.

“I heard the gist of how you were injured from Officer Han Su-yong. The Imperial Physician has also paid a visit. He says he will monitor the situation for metal poisoning. He mentioned he would visit frequently to provide treatment.”

“I see.”

When Haeryeong finished drinking and pulled away, she took the bowl and finally let out a frustrated sigh.

“How could a person so injured walk all the way from the Great Hall by himself? If not a palanquin, you should have at least demanded a sedan chair. And even so, those people at the Great Hall must have lost their minds to send someone injured back alone. I shall lodge a formal protest with the Head Court Lady of the Bedchamber.”

Haeryeong replied hurriedly, fearing Head Court Lady Hwang might get in trouble because of him.

“His Majesty offered a palanquin, but I chose to walk. I was also the one who refused the Head Court Lady’s offer to send court ladies with me.”

At Haeryeong’s answer, her expression shifted to one of complete despair.

Haeryeong offered Iryeon a bitter smile.

“I needed time to think alone. I needed time to settle my heart. So do not be so frustrated. If even you wear such an expression, where am I to find rest?”

“Did… something happen with His Majesty?”

Iryeon asked cautiously.

Haeryeong pondered how much to reveal and where to begin before finally starting the story chronologically from the beginning.

“There is much to tell, and it is a long tale. Where should I start? Yes, I should tell you about my memory first.”

When Haeryeong stated that his memory was intact, Iryeon’s expression turned complex.

“Your servant had already guessed as much. I suspect most of the other court ladies did as well.”

Haeryeong burst into a hollow laugh at her words.

“So I was merely playing a game of hide-and-seek by myself. You all are too much. If you had noticed, you should have at least given me a hint.”

“But His Majesty kept visiting afterward and seemed to show an interest in Your Highness… we feared it might reach his ears, so we could not speak a word.”

‘Because I had finally started to receive attention from the Emperor, they had stayed silent for fear of ruining it.’

Haeryeong felt a complicated mix of emotions at her words.

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