Chapter 11: The Prince with the Smile of a Flower

“Forget about it.”

The Princess frowned immediately. Bi Yeon gave a thin smile and said, “Anyway, aren’t you procrastinating a bit too much? I’m worried the Minister of Rites might slander your precious Teacher Song while you’re away.”

Eun Su didn’t even bother responding to his frivolous joke and cut him off sharply.

“My etiquette lesson was canceled today regardless. I have to see Imperial Father because of the upcoming Hunting Competition.”

In an instant, the faint smile on Bi Yeon’s face vanished as if it had never existed.

“You mean His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yes. Now that the harvest is over, the hunting season is fast approaching. He likely called for me to discuss the preparations.”

“Aha…….”

Bi Yeon nodded. Mokju had a similar hunting festival. However, due to its small size, Mokju faced practical difficulties in holding a grand annual competition like Horyu. Above all, Mokju was famous for its peonies; its floriculture industry was its lifeblood. People whose livelihoods depended on horticulture were hardly fans of events where stampeding beasts and hunting parties trampled the land.

Horyu, however, was vast and prosperous, with volatile weather. Every winter, hungry predators prowled beneath the blizzards of the northern mountain ranges, threatening civilian settlements. Even if it was a formality, the Emperor personally venturing there to hunt was a perfect opportunity to secure public sentiment and loyalty.

“Then it must be a massive national event.”

“Besides the New Year Festival, it’s practically the largest annual event.”

Bi Yeon’s blue eyes sparkled.

“Do many people attend?”

“Unless something unexpected happens, everyone of the fourth rank and above attends.”

The moment he heard that, Bi Yeon’s mind began to spin rapidly. ‘This is it! If I play my cards right, this is a golden opportunity to shine in front of everyone!’

It was time to give the Emperor a “survival report.” The Emperor had appointed him as the Princess’s teacher but hadn’t even granted him a private residence, leaving him cooped up in the study.

The life of a bureaucrat is the same everywhere: for those who stay quiet, the only reward is to be forgotten. Even if you do the same work as others, you have to dress it up and claim credit to protect your own bowl.

“Sigh…….”

Bi Yeon let out an involuntary sigh. If he could just get there, he could handle the rest—but he had no justifiable reason to go. It was especially difficult since he hadn’t been officially invested with the title of Grand Preceptor. Though he was the Princess’s teacher, it was in name only. He was practically a commoner.

If he were a skilled archer, he could use a love for hunting as an excuse, but he was nothing of the sort. The moment he picked up a bow, his incompetence would be exposed. For a split second, he looked at the Princess with desperate eyes. Eun Su immediately looked annoyed.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“……Nothing.”

Before he could even think to ask her to take him along, Eun Su checked the time and stood up. Bi Yeon swallowed his disappointment. It was better to lie low for now rather than make a slip of the tongue and rouse suspicion. Bi Yeon stood up with her.

“As the person in charge of the competition, I hope for a successful result.”

Whether the Princess was the person in charge or just a decorative screen hadn’t been decided yet. However, Eun Su accepted his flattery with pleasure.

“You seem very interested, Teacher.”

“Yes. Very much so.”

Eun Su looked surprised by his unexpected honesty. But she quickly regained her usual chilly expression and said:

“Don’t harbor any useless expectations.”

The Princess left the room immediately. As soon as she stepped out, eight maids waiting in the hallway fell into two rows behind her. Once they were halfway down the hall and she was certain no one else was around, Dong Baek, following like a shadow, whispered to the Princess.

“Are you not taking him?”

“…He is already high-profile. I have no intention of putting him out there just to get him killed. He’s tall and pale—an easy target to hit, don’t you think?”

“…….”

It was a tone that made it hard to tell if she was worried or insulting him. However, Dong Baek bowed her head in silence, realizing her mistress was concerned about an ambush from the Prince. It was true that Eun Su had used Bi Yeon to needle the Prince’s faction. Since he was proving more useful than expected, it would be problematic if he died now.

Eun Su walked toward the Maple Pavilion, the meeting place, with a hardened face. Just then, a familiar face turned the corner from the opposite side. Dong Baek whispered instantly.

“Your Highness.”

“I see him.”

A group was approaching from a distance.

At the front of the pack stood a man draped in a light green robe. He was tall and striking, with eyes that drooped slightly at the corners, giving him a gentle impression. Even from afar, he was a handsome youth with a smile that made Eun Su’s face reflexively stiffen—though she quickly forced a pleasant, welcoming smile.

“Are you on your way to the pavilion?”

The handsome man, now a step away, smiled softly. He possessed a delicate, clean aura that sat right on the boundary between boy and man. With hair and eyes that glowed dark brown under the sun, his smile seemed to make flowers bloom throughout the world. Several of the maids standing behind Eun Su let out a short, audible gasp.

His hair was a soft, warm color, fundamentally different from Eun Su’s hair, which fell like a cold, black waterfall even in the light. Even their clothes contrasted—his green against her red—making it feel as if an invisible wall stood between them even as they walked side by side.

“Yes, Sister.”

Prince Young Eun Hwi of Horyu smiled. He naturally joined Eun Su’s side.

Under the clear blue sky, the noble pair walking slowly with their servants against the backdrop of red maples and yellow gingko trees looked like a scene from a painting. At least, that’s how it looked from a distance. In reality, while they walked together for the sake of appearances, they never once looked at each other, keeping their gazes fixed on the distant mountains as they spoke in low, monologue-like tones.

“Imperial Father might be a bit late. I heard his audience is running long.”

“I suppose so. He is always busy.”

“By the way, time truly flies, doesn’t it? The hunting season is already here.”

“It is.”

The notable thing was that every time Eun Hwi spoke, Eun Su cut off the conversation with short, clipped answers. It was a cold attitude, but Eun Hwi seemed used to it, smiling as he continued effortlessly.

“It must be taxing for Imperial Father to prepare alone. Although I am lacking, I want to help him with all my heart. As I’m sure you do, Sister.”

Eun Su’s eyebrow arched. She glared at a falling gingko leaf and spoke.

“Alone? The court officials manage it well every year. But for someone who hasn’t even reached twenty to show such interest in a grand event like the competition… Imperial Father will be very pleased.”

In short: Stop getting ahead of yourself. But Eun Hwi replied with a bright smile.

“But you excel in every field, Sister. I truly admire you. You would handle such a big event well on your own, but if Imperial Father happens to entrust it to me, I suppose I would have no choice but to rely on Maternal Uncle’s help.”

Eun Hwi’s voice was warm and modest, but Eun Su clenched her fist so hard her nails nearly bit into her palm. To a casual listener, it sounded like he truly envied and admired her, but not a single person hearing this—including Dong Baek and the other maids—thought so.

It was frustrating, but her lack of political power within the palace was Eun Su’s greatest weakness. Seeing Eun Hwi openly mention his maternal uncle, Ju Il Gon, and the strength of his faction made her feel like she was going mad. Furthermore, it sounded like an omen that the competition would fall into his hands.

Eun Su snorted, pretending to be unbothered. When she didn’t reply, Eun Hwi gave a faint smile and continued in a voice as smooth as a flowing stream.

“I hope there are many beasts in this year’s competition.”

“……Wouldn’t it be better if there weren’t many?”

—That way, you won’t be as embarrassed when you fail to catch anything.

Eun Su, provoked, almost let the sarcasm slip out of habit. But just then, a memory surfaced.

‘Your Highness, as much as you are curious, you are not good at managing your facial expressions. You reveal your inner thoughts too quickly.’

She didn’t know why Bi Yeon’s words suddenly came to mind. Flustered, Eun Su faltered for a second, then coughed naturally and softened her expression.

“If there are too many beasts, it only means the commoners will suffer damage. As a member of the Imperial family, it is only natural to look after the people.”

Eun Su surprised herself. Even to her own ears, it sounded like a remarkably statesman-like remark. Eun Hwi, walking beside her, suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.