Chapter 59: An Unexpected Pledge

The enjoyable time with Changcheon was briefly interrupted by Han Suyong’s arrival.

Right as Suyong arrived, Iryeon brought out cinnamon punch and plum-shaped crackers.

The two sat facing each other, each with a small tea tray placed before them.

“I have arranged this as I felt you have been working hard lately for Chang-i’s training; please, do not hesitate to enjoy them.”

Suyong’s brows slanted down in a look of awkwardness before he bowed his head.

“I am simply overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness, Your Highness.”

Haeryeong nodded, quietly gazing at the two pine nuts floating in the cinnamon-scented punch.

He felt Suyong’s gaze fixed on him as the man took a sip of the punch and crunched on a cracker.

“However, Your Highness…”

Haeryeong lifted his downcast eyes to look at Suyong.

“Speak.”

Suyong hesitated, then brushed his hands off and placed them on his knees, his expression hardening.

“How long do you intend to treat me this way?”

“Treat you in what way?”

“I have asked you to treat me comfortably, yet you still seem uneasy around me; is it truly that difficult to treat me with the same ease you show Head Court Lady Yang?”

Haeryeong offered a quiet smile with a troubled expression.

“My answer is always the same: you are His Imperial Majesty’s person, so how could I treat you with the same familiarity as my own? That would be disrespectful to His Majesty as well.”

Suyong let out a blatant sigh.

He paid no mind to how Iryeon’s expression turned venomous at his insolence before the Empress.

Even as a warrior, it wasn’t that he failed to notice her reaction.

“The members of the Black Shadow Unit are not formal officials and hold no rank; most are commoners; I am truly sorry for acting like a ruffian without learning proper etiquette, but…”

Su-yong licked his lips briefly and continued.

“You may find this difficult to believe; of course you would; since I have sworn loyalty to His Imperial Majesty, my primary allegiance lies with him; however, Your Highness, I have observed you for quite a long time—long before you ever knew of me.”

Hearing directly that he had been under surveillance felt like a novel realization.

As Haeryeong offered a gentle smile, Suyong busily tapped his knees with his hands, looking bashful.

“I shall speak honestly: I have always believed Your Highness’s mild nature would be a benefit to His Majesty; since His Majesty assigned me to you, I have watched you closely and am now certain my judgment was correct; so, please call upon me whenever you have need; as long as it does not bring harm to His Majesty, I shall help you with anything.”

When Haeryeong didn’t respond, Suyong wetted his throat with punch and clicked his tongue.

“Before coming to the palace, I once thought the Imperial grounds might be a separate world, a paradise like Mureungdowon; yet, seeing it up close, I found it to be a place of endless turmoil; among those who frequent the palace, not a single one is not sinister, making a person as innocent as Your Highness truly precious.”

Haeryeong asked with a small laugh.

“I am not quite sure; what is the reason you say such things to me?”

Suyong stared at Haeryeong with focused eyes and then grinned.

“It has been three years; three years I have lingered around you by His Majesty’s command.”

Haeryeong blinked his wide eyes, feigning ignorance.

“Were you by my side even before I lost my memory?”

Suyong’s grinning expression was remarkably brazen.

He felt a bit like the Emperor; like master, like servant.

“The mission of the Black Shadow Unit fundamentally includes the collection of information within the palace.”

“Are you saying you were spying on me?”

Suyong did not deny it.

But he didn’t confirm it either.

He simply sat there with a slick smile.

Was there anyone who didn’t know the answer to that smile?

“But why tell me this now?”

“I want you to look upon me kindly; I cannot reveal top-secret matters, but I can assist you up to a certain point.”

Haeryeong was still suspicious of his words.

“I have heard your reasons, but I do not understand.”

“I like Your Highness more than I like the Noble Consort.”

Despite calling himself a commoner, he spoke so bluntly that Haeryeong was the one who was flustered, while Suyong remained beaming as if it were nothing.

“Your Highness, I pride myself on having a good eye for people; is that not how I survived that war to become His Majesty’s right hand? There is never a truly decent person among those who speak only with flowery words.”

Haeryeong furrowed his brow slightly.

“Mind your words; he is also His Majesty’s person, so how can you speak so recklessly?”

Even as Haeryeong showed his anger, the man before him was not particularly shaken.

He merely nodded as if he had expected it.

Had he smirked again, Haeryeong might have grown more furious, but since he looked down in thought, Haeryeong somehow lost the will to stay angry.

‘Indeed, taking the Consort’s side makes one a fool.’

‘If he looks lacking to me, how must he look to others?’

Still, the Consort was his superior, and Haeryeong could not allow him to wag his tongue so freely.

Especially since the Consort had received the Emperor’s favor for much longer than the “lacking” Empress.

“Speaking of another’s faults is the act of a petty man; how can I trust the words of such a person? If you wish to give weight to your own words, you must not speak a single phrase carelessly; do you understand?”

“I shall keep it in mind.”

Haeryeong thought he had nagged too much, yet Suyong’s expression looked even brighter.

‘Is he the type who enjoys being scolded?’

He had heard such people existed, but he couldn’t understand the reaction.

“I shall never let my tongue slip so lightly again.”

Seeing Suyong pledge this with sparkling eyes, Haeryeong felt things were becoming strangely skewed.

‘Why is he so excited after being reprimanded?’

While Haeryeong managed his bewilderment with a sip of punch, Suyong pushed his tray aside.

He shifted his body into the empty space and naturally knelt.

Haeryeong blinked and watched in silence as the man kowtowed in a deep bow.

“Your words just now proved my eyes did not fail me; whenever you need help, please call for me.”

At the sound of the teacup being set down, he lifted his head and stared intently at Haeryeong.

“My loyalty is already pledged to His Majesty, but my life I shall use for Your Highness; so please, give me any command.”

Haeryeong was simply bewildered by his reaction.

‘Why is he doing this?’

Even though the man’s eyes shone as if he were making a grand vow, Haeryeong’s heart was not moved in the slightest.

‘So what of it? If I ask for help to escape, would you really help? If I ask you to stop the Emperor from coming, can you do that?’

Haeryeong knew that was impossible.

‘Then what could you possibly do for me that you speak so solemnly?’

It was obvious he couldn’t provide anything Haeryeong actually wanted.

Furthermore, in his previous life, he had known this man for seven years, not three, yet he had never spoken such words.

‘Or is this change also a result of the Emperor’s behavior shifting?’

When that thought struck him as plausible, Haeryeong lifted his downcast eyes to meet Suyong’s.

Sensing Haeryeong’s skepticism, Suyong sighed and straightened his upper body.

While remaining properly on his knees, he whispered quietly.

“I will surely be of use.”

Haeryeong let out a short, airy laugh despite himself.

“Utility depends on the one using it; I have no talent for employing people; since you claim to have watched me for so long, you must already know this.”

Haeryeong continued speaking quietly to the man staring back.

“I shall accept your sentiment with gratitude; however, I still do not know what I must do; therefore, I cannot guarantee the day will come when I have use for you; this answer may not satisfy your heart, but give me a little more time; even if your mind changes in the meantime, I shall not blame you.”

Su-yong nodded readily, as if that too were fine.

“I am satisfied that you did not cast me out immediately; I shall be following you constantly anyway, so call my name quietly whenever you have need.”

‘How can he be so proud of clinging to me and spying?’

Haeryeong swallowed the sigh that threatened to burst out and nodded.

“Moving on, I have arranged this because there is something I am curious about.”

“Please, ask.”

“What became of His Majesty’s birth mother? Looking at the records from the Bureau of Food, it seems no separate rites are performed for her.”

“I believe she has passed away, but I also know little of His Majesty’s life before he arrived at the border; would it not be better to ask the officials of the Bureau of Food, or perhaps the Head Court Lady there would know more?”

Suddenly becoming the target of both their gazes, Iryeon flinched in surprise before bowing her head.

“I, too, entered the palace after those events, so I do not know the exact details; the only ones who might truly know would be the Head Court Lady of the Bedchamber or perhaps the Chief Eunuch… Shall I try to find out?”