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Chapter 50
To maintain the regulated speed within the palace, the carriage moved extremely slowly.
Seojun, feeling frustrated by the sluggish pace, thought it might even be faster to run on foot.
“Let’s get off here.”
The streetlights, which had been illuminating the darkness, started to thin out, and the place where the carriage stopped was so dark it hardly seemed like part of the palace.
If the headlights were turned off, it would be nearly impossible to see even a foot ahead.
It was the perfect spot for some secretive incident to occur.
Seojun’s eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Eunuch Oh’s back.
“Here?”
“Yes. Just follow me. Someone is waiting.”
Could it be Byung? Was this to give him the morning greeting he missed earlier? Perhaps in a slightly rough or even barbaric manner?
‘Not bad, actually.’
Seojun opened the carriage door, stepped out, and turned his shoulders.
“Let’s go.”
Seojun nodded, and Eunuch Oh pulled a small lantern from the trunk, leading him down a forest path illuminated by the headlights.
The forest was much larger and deeper than it looked from the outside.
‘Looks abandoned from the outside, but the inner path is well-kept.’
Someone must be secretly maintaining this place.
Who in the royal family would need such a secluded spot?
Only Byung came to mind.
Seojun heightened his animal-like senses to their maximum, ready for any unforeseen situation, prepared to react instantly if someone jumped out from behind.
The wind rustled the leaves, and occasionally an owl hooted.
“From here, you’ll have to go alone.”
Eunuch Oh handed him the lantern in front of a moss-covered turtle statue.
Seojun raised an eyebrow slightly as he took the lantern.
He could have interrogated Eunuch Oh here to find out who was waiting, but he let it slide.
No need to waste effort when he would find out soon enough.
“See you later.”
With that final remark, Seojun strode forward. The more steps he took, the brighter it became.
Eventually, a modest pavilion appeared before him.
Someone sitting on the wooden porch raised a hand.
“You’re here?”
His expectations were completely off.
All his tension melted away like snow. He relaxed his clenched fist.
“What are you doing here all alone, Your Highness?”
The person who had called him here was none other than Yeon.
“What else? Waiting for you, Seojun. We have to celebrate our party. Ta-da!”
Yeon gestured to her side.
A round low table covered with a cloth was set up.
The breeze carried a fragrant aroma, which Seojun, tense from anticipation, hadn’t noticed at first.
“Come sit quickly. The food’s getting cold.”
Yeon stepped onto the wooden porch and pulled back the tablecloth.
On the table were traditional liquor and various side dishes like jeon (pancakes) and dried persimmons.
“Celebration drink?”
Seojun pointed at the bottle.
Yeon nodded.
“Becoming the head of the bureau isn’t a big deal to celebrate. It’s natural.”
“I know. This isn’t just for you, Seojun. It’s for both of us—me and Kang Seojun.”
“Celebration-worthy?”
Seojun asked, and Yeon’s eyes widened.
“How could you not know?”
“……”
“We’ve each taken a step closer to our goals!”
Marriage was merely a means for both of them to achieve their respective objectives.
Even so, Seojun’s attitude suggested that a confirmed marriage wasn’t really something to celebrate, which stung Yeon a little.
“Now, sit. I’m hungry.”
“You didn’t have dinner?”
“I didn’t miss it, I just couldn’t eat. I was busy.”
In the past, she would have been surrounded by dozens of caretakers ensuring she never missed a meal. But living as a royal for a day, Seojun understood how impossible it could be on busy days.
Although skipping a meal wasn’t a problem for a robust man like Seojun, it was different for Yeon.
“I’ll have to ask Chief Seong to make sure you eat properly.”
“She’s already taking good care of me. She took such good care that I gained a kilogram after entering the empire. Look at this, my cheeks!”
Yeon pressed her plump cheeks with both hands.
Although they squished like steamed buns, Seojun found it adorable.
He smiled warmly, took her hands, and brushed her flushed cheeks.
His gaze, warm enough to melt eternal snow, tickled her chest.
“Cute. You could gain another 10 kg from now on.”
Yeon’s cheeks turned even redder at his gentle teasing.
She didn’t know how to respond, so she timidly moved away and turned her head.
“Isn’t that a bit too generous for someone we’re about to marry?”
Seojun rubbed his forehead with his fingers.
This was troubling. Yeon, embarrassed and acting prim, looked irresistibly cute.
It made them look like a real couple about to marry, even though their union was strictly for practical purposes.
Seojun deliberately reminded himself of their goals and straightened his face.
“Although it’s cold, try the skewers first. They’re amazing.”
Seojun’s careful movements as he placed the food on his plate were neat and precise.
His gaze fell on Yeon’s hands, nails closely trimmed and bare, which left an impression.
“You cut your nails often, huh?”
“My nails? Oh, they’re short, right?”
Yeon looked at her hands. Compared to manicured nails, these were simple and practical.
“Cutting them short is a habit from when I was a reporter. Long nails make typing uncomfortable and can get caught on things in daily life.”
“You quit being a reporter a while ago. That habit hasn’t changed?”
“I haven’t fully quit yet. This is a secret though.”
Leaning over the table, Yeon whispered:
“I’m actually on leave.”
Her position at a globally renowned investigative media outlet was still active, which helped her in finding the rose.
“You’ll have to quit once you achieve your goal anyway, right?”
“I just feel attached. The company even tried to retain me first.”
“You really loved being a reporter.”
“Yes. I was good at it too.”
Watching Yeon naturally boast about her achievements, Seojun couldn’t help but find her cute again.
He fixed his gaze on her lips as she talked.
She kept adding food to her plate, yet after taking one skewer, the hungry Yeon put her chopsticks down.
Her small chewing mouth was incredibly endearing.
“Seojun, are you listening?”
He finally raised his gaze from her lips.
“I was listening, to the heroic tales of Lee Yeon as a reporter.”
“Shouldn’t you react somehow? Say something like ‘Amazing’ or so?”
“You are amazing.”
“No need for bowing and praising. You don’t seem interested since it doesn’t involve you. How about this?”
Yeon pulled a note from a pouch-shaped bag beside her.
Seojun’s eyebrow rose upon seeing it.
“I found two former palace maids, Son Eun-gyu and Byun Yoon-ji, who left while working in the East Palace.”
Next to Son Eun-gyu’s name was an address, and Byun Yoon-ji had a dot.
Seojun was greatly surprised.
Yeon had located them even faster than professional detective Bo Jo-an.
Seojun’s fingertip twitched involuntarily at the sight of her triumphant smile.
He almost praised her and patted her, charmed by her proud expression.
“Really impressive.”
Honest praise made Yeon briefly beam, then quickly stiffen her face.
“I should have found them earlier.”
She rubbed her fingertip over Byun Yoon-ji’s name.
Byun Yoon-ji was the only palace maid who had overlapped with Ahn Ji-young’s service in the palace.
“She’s dead, this one.”
“An accident?”
“No. She took her own life.”
