Chapter 11: The Reward of Silence

Even then, it wasn’t a proper apology. If Ahnok had followed his heart, he would never have accepted such a half-hearted gesture. However, he was equally loath to let the matter escalate any further.

Ahnok stared at Seol Ga-muk, who still seemed incapable of recognizing his own fault, before shifting his gaze toward Seol Ga-hyo.

“When I leave for the capital, I wish to take Han-wol with me as my attendant.”

Taken aback by the unexpected request, Ga-hyo did not answer immediately. In this vast estate, there were countless servants; Ga-hyo didn’t even know whose attendant Han-wol originally was.

Ahnok was deeply concerned that Seol Ga-muk would take his revenge out on the boy once he was gone. Moreover, seeing Han-wol cowering before Ga-muk felt like looking at a reflection of his own past self, and it weighed on his heart.

“You mean the boy currently serving you?”

“I do.”

The Queen of Baekya, Ga-hyo’s mother, who was overseeing the overall wedding preparations, had no intention of providing Ahnok with a retinue. Her reasoning was that any servant from their household would be incomparable to those of the Prince of Myeong’s residence and would only be looked down upon, so there was no need to waste labor.

However, Ga-hyo quickly realized that this was the price for Ahnok’s silence. Hadn’t Ahnok already kept the secret of being struck by Ga-muk from the King of Baekya? For now, it was better to accommodate Ahnok’s wishes.

“I shall speak to my Mother about it.”

“Thank you.”

If it were Seol Ga-muk, he would have run to their mother and reported only the part where he was hit, omitting his own wrongdoing. But Ga-hyo was different. He would not only silence his foolish younger brother but also ensure that no loose ends remained to cause future trouble.

Ga-hyo led Ga-muk—who continued to huff and puff, making no effort to hide his rage—out of the narrow courtyard.

Once the brothers vanished, the strength left Ahnok’s legs, and he nearly collapsed. As he stumbled, Han-wol rushed forward to support him.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m just a bit shaken. I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

Hearing Ahnok’s voice—warm and gentle, a stark contrast to the cold tone he used with the brothers—Han-wol’s brows slumped in concern.

In truth, Han-wol was more than a little surprised. To him, Ahnok was a beautiful and kind person, but so thin and pale that he seemed as if he might break at any moment. At times, it felt as though he were caring for a porcelain doll rather than a human being.

Because of this, Han-wol had never imagined Ahnok was strong enough to argue as an equal with a ferocious man like Seol Ga-muk. When Ahnok actually forced an apology out of him, Han-wol had been so shocked he nearly fell over, though he managed to hide it.

Declining further help, Ahnok walked slowly inside. Only after leaning against the back of his chair and closing his eyes did he begin to process what he had just done.

He knew that the best way to deal with a man like Seol Ga-muk was to avoid him entirely. Yet, he could no longer endure the man’s tyranny and preposterous harassment.

If I had done nothing, nothing would have happened. In the past, he would have told himself this, comforting his wounded ego by believing it was better not to cause a scene. He would have hidden his shame behind the relief of avoiding a public scandal.

But what had become of that past self who did nothing?

Even now, when he closed his eyes, he was often transported back to that season when the trumpet creepers bloomed. Back to that day when he reached out into the pouring rain and quietly counted down his final moments.

Did Yeo Jae Won move the child’s memorial tablet to the Royal Ancestral Shrine as he wished? Did that concubine take my place as Empress?

Most likely, Yeo Jae Won had handled his funeral with that same indifferent face, bestowed a posthumous title, and then forgotten him as if he had never existed. To the Prince, Ahnok was merely an unwanted, inadequate spouse. Forgetting someone to whom one never gave their heart couldn’t have been difficult.

The thought caused a sharp throb in his chest.

When he had known nothing, he had truly believed they had become a family. He had been wounded by a delusion he created himself.

Love was nothing more than the trajectory of a heart covered in jagged scars. Even though the other person had no intention of giving anything, all the directions his heart had dared to point led toward love.

Now, he couldn’t even remember what he had loved so much about Yeo Jae Won. His heart, which once raced uncontrollably at the mere mention of the Prince’s name, was now more accustomed to the resignation that came with it.

I must never become entangled with him again. To escape this cycle, he had to distance himself from Yeo Jae Won above all others.

The sound of the creaking door opening brought Ahnok back to the present. He saw Han-wol approaching, carrying a small tray.

“Please eat this, Master Ahnok.”

It was a bowl of clear rice gruel. It was strange, considering Ahnok had told them not to prepare lunch. Seeing the question on Ahnok’s face, Han-wol’s lips twitched before he spoke in a slightly mangled, nervous tone.

“I heard the kitchen staff saying you told them not to prepare the midday meal… but you must have something in your stomach to take your medicine. If you are feeling unwell, I will go and fetch a physician.”

It seemed Han-wol had prepared it himself, even though he knew the head of the small kitchen had been given different orders. His tone was extremely cautious, as if expecting a scolding. But since the act was born of concern for him, Ahnok had no intention of rebuking the boy.

Ahnok cleared away the stray thoughts of Yeo Jae Won that had branched out from his earlier actions. He picked up his spoon, unaware that a faint smile had touched his lips.

“You don’t need to fetch a physician. I only used a lack of appetite as an excuse. Thank you for thinking of me. And thank you for bringing Master Ga-hyo earlier. Thanks to you, it was resolved well.”

“It was nothing… I’m used to seeking out Master Ga-hyo to stop Master Ga-muk when he gets angry.”

Apparently, it was common for Seol Ga-hyo to intervene when Ga-muk’s violence became uncontrollable. It made sense, as the only people in this estate Ga-muk feared were the King and the eldest son.

“…But what about your meal?”

“Pardon?”

“You need to eat as well.”

“I-I can eat later. There will be rice left in the kitchen.”

“Don’t do that. Fetch a spoon and eat with me, or go and eat comfortably.”

Han-wol’s fears—that Ahnok might suddenly turn cold and scold him for acting out of turn, just as he had with Ga-muk—vanished.

When he served Seol Ga-muk, it was common to be cursed at for every little thing. Even among the other servants, the hierarchy was harsh; young Han-wol was often forced to do the dirty work everyone else avoided, only to be berated anyway.

Yet Ahnok had protected him from Ga-muk, helped him, and even thanked him without hesitation. Han-wol was overwhelmed. As if the sorrows accumulated during his hard life were finally bursting, the boy lowered his head.

“Han-wol?”

At Ahnok’s call, Han-wol wiped his eyes and tried to answer as if nothing were wrong. “Yes, Master Ahnok. Please speak.” But his voice was thick with tears.

Ahnok assumed the boy had been frozen with shock during the encounter with Ga-muk and was only now being overcome by emotion as he processed the situation.

“It wasn’t your fault. Seol Ga-muk is a man without reason, which is why he acts so wrongly without hesitation.”

At the touch of Ahnok’s hand—gently guiding him to a chair and stroking his back—Han-wol buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He seemed quite shaken. Ahnok continued to rub the boy’s back soothingly.

“But, Master Ahnok…”

“…?”

“Are you really going to take me to the capital?” Han-wol asked, looking up through tear-wet eyes.

The Capital.

The heart of Great Jin, and the place where he would have to face Yeo Jae Won once again.

In two days, they would depart for that place. Reminded of the reality he had briefly forgotten while comforting the boy, Ahnok stood up with a heavy expression. Han-wol’s gaze followed him.

It was a place where he would have no one on his side, but he had no intention of involving others anyway.

He had a plan. He would give Yeo Jae Won information, and in exchange, he would demand an annulment. It was information so vital the Prince would find it impossible to refuse.

Seeing the hardened resolve in Ahnok’s eyes, Han-wol grabbed his sleeve, fearing he might change his mind. “I will follow you wherever you go, Master.”

Ahnok looked down at Han-wol and let out a soft laugh.

“If you’re going to follow me all the way to the capital, you need to eat well. Go and have your meal.”

“Yes…!”

Han-wol wiped away his tear stains and left, closing the creaking wooden door with a cautious touch, though his stride was now noticeably more confident.

Left alone with the cooling rice gruel, Ahnok recalled his very first meeting with Yeo Jae Won.