Chapter 9
Shh.
The man lowered his head, as if signaling for silence.
As he drew closer, Soa could feel the pressure of their thighs pressing together, even through the layers of clothing.
She instinctively struggled to break free from his embrace, but stopped when she heard the voices approaching.
Yeonwoo’s voice, desperately calling her name, was followed by the Queen’s voice.
“Crown Prince, close your mouth immediately!”
“…Your Majesty, this is definitely Soa’s ribbon. It’s a gift I gave her.”
“Crown Prince!”
Click.
The people who were approaching were now only a wall away.
The Queen’s deep, seething anger and Yeonwoo’s despair, which left him speechless, were palpable even from such a short distance.
“Did I not always tell you to be careful with your actions? Do you think you can just do as you please? What kind of wife do you think you’ll have in the future, acting so recklessly? You’re going to ruin everything for a woman? What did you work so hard to gain, and how did you protect your position? Do you want to give it up so easily?”
“…”
“Because you saw a red ribbon, you doubt your mother and search the entire palace for a woman? Is that the way of a gentleman that I taught you?”
“…Mother.”
Her voice was heavy and dark, filled with suppressed emotions.
Just hearing it made Soa feel like her heart was collapsing.
Though Yeonwoo was the only son of the king, his legitimacy was often questioned because of the Queen’s low status, as she was from a family of no renown, and a powerless concubine. Soa knew that Yeonwoo was frequently a subject of gossip among the ministers who spoke of his legitimacy.
It was one of the reasons Soa’s father, the prime minister, worried about her marriage to him.
For the Queen to be this worried wasn’t surprising, but even so…
“Soa.”
The man called her name again.
But this time, Soa didn’t raise her head.
She didn’t meet his gaze.
She was heartbroken because Yeonwoo was in this predicament because of her.
She had never experienced such blatant hostility or hatred before, and the fact that she had fallen out of favor with the Queen was painfully clear to her.
“He’s moved.”
“It’s not possible. Didn’t we lock him away?”
“He might have been attacked. We must find Soa before it’s too late…”
“Crown Prince, do you understand what you’re saying?”
“What do you mean…? Mother, are you saying—?”
“He must never be found. He’s a beast. His very existence disrupts the court and threatens His Majesty.”
“Mother, Soa is just a victim. She was attacked by that beast.”
“If what you say is true, then the only action I can take is the one I must take. You know this as well.”
“…”
“Is this ribbon truly from the daughter of Minister Yoon?”
“…”
“Go back now. Isn’t it time for the royal examination? The future king must focus on his studies. I’ll take care of it personally, just like when you were young.”
After a brief silence, the sound of footsteps began.
With each step they took to leave, Soa could feel the regret, despair, and worry in the air.
The man’s gaze was busy, constantly checking Soa.
Soa, fully aware of his concern, couldn’t force herself to smile or insist on leaving as she had before.
“…”
The man watched intently as her strength seemed to drain away, and she collapsed into a sitting position.
Soa quietly lifted her head to look at him.
Slowly, she opened her mouth.
“I need to go home.”
“…”
“Please help me get out of here.”
Without a word, the man knelt down to Soa’s level.
He reached out and lifted her onto his shoulder like a child, then, with just a couple of quick steps, he vaulted over the wall.
“Put me down.”
The man complied silently, his attitude now different from before.
It seemed that he had noticed the change in Soa’s expression and was now more mindful of her feelings.
“I need to tell you the way back…”
“You can’t go back like that.”
“Huh?”
“…Since you invited me, I must return and thank you. That’s the proper way.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
Thank you. I will repay this favor.
Soa spoke softly, then lowered her head in gratitude.
The man reached out as if to say something, but when Soa simply looked at him and quietly pulled her wrist away, he said nothing more.
Soa quickly tidied her messy hair.
As expected, the Queen’s men, who had been sent to search for her, were now surrounding the area.
When they found her and rushed over, Soa, pretending to have just regained consciousness, asked for help.
“I’ve been looking for you for so long. Are you alright? You suddenly fainted, and we tried to take you to a physician…”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was feeling dizzy from the ride, but I thought I was fine, so I came to greet you, but I’ve caused this inconvenience. When I woke up, I was in the back garden… Did something happen?”
“…The back garden?”
“Yes. Afterward, one of the maids kindly informed me that the Queen was here.”
The Queen fell silent for a moment.
She then stared at Soa as if trying to assess the truth of her words.
Soa bowed her head without a wrinkle and waited for the Queen’s next words.
“I have used my people incorrectly. I told them to be careful. They broke their leg when they fell, and after that, it seems they tried to hide the fact that they hurt Yoon Soja. I will punish them severely. I apologize for causing you distress. Are you in any pain?”
“Yes. Thanks to your concern, I’m fine.”
“Let me escort you home. Minister Yoon must be waiting. This time, I will ensure that I send you off safely without making any mistakes. I will tell them to be extra careful.”
“I’m deeply grateful.”
Soa bowed deeply, expressing her gratitude.
The Queen’s gaze lingered on her head for a moment before her lips parted again.
“There’s one thing I want to ask.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Did you receive the ribbon you’re wearing today from someone?”
“Huh? The ribbon?”
“Yes, the red ribbon looks quite nice on you.”
“Ah… The red ribbon was a gift from my father.”
“Then it must be precious to you. It’s a shame you lost it.”
“My father often gives me ribbons as gifts since I was little. He probably doesn’t even know I’ve lost it.”
“Minister Yoon must truly cherish his daughter. I’ll call a maid to help you with your grooming. He must be terribly worried about you, treating you this way…”
“I’m so sorry to show my father such a sight… I’m deeply ashamed.”
“We’ll see each other again soon.”
The Queen seemed satisfied with Soa’s answer and didn’t add anything further before turning to leave.
Soon, a palanquin arrived.
Instead of the gruff man who had brought her earlier, there was a well-dressed warrior.
Soa stepped into the palanquin and, once inside, exhaled the breath she had been holding in.
The night was thick with uncertainty, and the mist of confusion was almost palpable. Soa moved forward, unable to see what lay ahead in the darkness.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
These two lines were written in a letter that had been delivered by Gil, who had been running around all night to get the message across.
Minister Yoon repeatedly asked if she had gone through anything serious, but Soa just smiled vaguely and enjoyed some tea, saying she would retire early for bed.
Whether it was the lingering tension or the incomplete poison in her system, Soa spent the next few days sleeping fitfully, waking and falling back asleep.
When Gil returned with the letter, she didn’t even bother to read it and simply turned over in bed.
As the days passed, petals began to bloom on the branches, and the air became filled with the vibrant breath of spring, much like Soa herself.
“Miss, Miss!”
Jungi burst into Soa’s room energetically, waking her up with a loud call.
Soa, who had been lost in thought since dawn, finally gave in and let Jungi drag her outside.
“What’s all this commotion about?”
“We finally got a message!”
“A message?”
“Yes, the palace called for you! A letter has arrived for you to participate in the selection of the Crown Princess!”
“…”
It was probably just a formality.
The Queen didn’t want her there.
Soa pondered over the reason behind it.
What had she lacked? What virtues of a Crown Princess had she failed to meet?
How had this caught the Queen’s attention?
