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Chapter 59
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
Crown Princess Sunmi greeted Seojun and Yeon warmly.
Yeon flinched slightly but lifted the corners of her mouth.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Can’t we speak casually?”
Sunmi grabbed Yeon’s hand firmly.
Yeon’s eyes twitched slightly.
“There are just… people watching.”
Politely declining, Yeon pulled her hand free.
“Everyone knows you two are friends. Why be so careful? Are you still uncomfortable that your friend became the Crown Princess?”
The Crown Prince frowned.
Strictly speaking, Sunmi and Yeon could hardly be called friends.
They had only attended the same school in elementary school. Unlike Yeon, who had a normal middle and high school education, Sunmi had followed a strict elite path, so they had no contact.
Yet, when Sunmi became Crown Princess, she publicly promoted her connection to Yeon.
“And on top of that, she made it sound like the Jin family was an extraordinary match that the royal family had been eyeing since childhood.”
Having successfully built her image, Sunmi secured the position of Crown Princess without significant opposition.
“Why are you being like this to your little sister on such a happy day?”
Sunmi pretended to scold her.
“It seems the Crown Prince is a bit upset. He wanted to take care of her more closely, but she got married right after returning.”
If he tried to intervene twice, someone might get murdered.
Yeon let Sunmi’s nonsense slide in one ear and out the other.
“Yes, I’ll live well enough to make both of you squint in envy.”
A faint crack appeared on Sunmi’s face.
Invisible sparks flew between Yeon and Sunmi.
Byun, who had been silently observing the tension between the two women, stood up and lightly tapped Yeon on the shoulder.
Reflexively, Seojun stepped forward to shield her.
“You should be careful with your hands.”
Byun’s stomach twisted at Seojun’s low warning.
“Arrogant brat.”
He would have to fix that insolent attitude, but today was not the day.
Today, his target was Yeon, not Seojun.
“Wait, let me talk to you for a moment.”
Byun, who had unilaterally summoned Yeon, stepped onto the Seokjo Palace balcony first.
“Don’t go.”
Seojun whispered into Yeon’s ear.
Byun’s behavior earlier had annoyed him—the way he looked down on Yeon and touched her as if she were nothing.
“I’ll be right back.”
Yeon patted Seojun’s hand and walked toward the balcony where Byun had gone.
Opening the curtains, she saw Byun leaning against the railing.
His posture was slouched—just missing the cigarette, he looked like a delinquent.
“Let’s keep this brief if you have something to say. There are many people to greet.”
There were numerous guests who had flown in for hours to attend the princess’s wedding.
Among them was the ambassador from the Czech Republic, the destination of Ayeon and Seojun’s honeymoon.
Prague, Czech Republic.
The final honeymoon destination. Also, another palace servant, Jangmi, was there.
Disguised as a reporter, Jangmi had requested Yeon to come to Prague.
Yeon pondered how to persuade Jangmi to become a witness.
“She said she’s a colleague of Yoo Seoyeon.”
Perhaps informing her about Yoo Seoyeon would help.
Fortunately, Yoo Seoyeon, recently hospitalized, was adjusting well to the hospital. She initially refused counseling but, after stabilizing with medication prescribed by a psychiatrist, she gained the courage to schedule a session.
“We’ll deal with Ms. Jangmi later.”
For now, the priority was handling the burden in front of her.
“Do you think acting nice on a wedding day makes the Crown Prince look foolish?”
Yeon shook her head. Why was he trying so hard to make people laugh when he wasn’t even a comedian?
“Not at all.”
“Good. Someone has to watch over this foolish little sister, otherwise who will?”
“If you’re done, I’ll be going.”
Yeon turned sharply, unwilling to listen to his nonsense.
“Wait, Yeon! Do you know why Kang Seojun joined the royal family?”
Byun grabbed her hastily.
Yeon closed and opened her eyes, looking very tired.
“We loved each other, dated, and married. If it’s a purpose, then it’s my happiness, right?”
“I didn’t call you to joke around. This is about the survival of the royal family. I’ll ask again: how much do you know about Kang Seojun?”
Yeon straightened her posture.
Had Byun noticed something about Seojun and her activities?
She considered testing him but decided against it. Without any information, confronting him might reveal more about her side.
She acted as if she had married Seojun out of passionate love, behaving accordingly.
“Why ask that? If you’re trying to slander Seojun because I didn’t marry the royal-recommended candidate, stop. We won’t be shaken by that.”
“Ha, you really dated him? Wow, I thought you were smart, but you’re completely naïve.”
Byun placed his hands on his waist and clicked his tongue.
He circled the balcony, sighed, and looked at Yeon with a disdainful gaze that annoyed her.
“Yeon, I’m seriously advising you—don’t trust him. He’s using you.”
Yeon barely restrained a laugh.
A wedding gift? The affectionate older brother and wise elder act giving her a laugh?
“Doesn’t fit at all.”
Moreover, in this relationship, it wasn’t Seojun using her—it was Yeon who was using him.
He might gain something in the process, but not as much as Yeon.
“Your Highness, what movies do you watch these days? Did someone offer you a scenario investment? A spy genre, perhaps?”
“Hey, Yeon!”
The Crown Prince shouted, and a shadow moved behind the balcony curtain.
He quickly lowered his voice and stepped closer to Yeon.
“Listen carefully. Do you know what law that guy prepared? The abolition of the royal family law.”
Yeon’s expression remained indifferent.
“So stunned you can’t speak, huh?”
Byun mocked her, interpreting her lack of reaction as he pleased.
After long consideration, Crown Prince Byun concluded that no man would give up his beliefs for love.
Then only one thing remained:
“What do you think that guy is doing using you to enter the royal family? He’s trying to dig up information to bring us down.”
Yeon scoffed.
“Is that funny to you?”
“Whatever Seojun’s intentions are, isn’t it fine as long as he’s honest?”
Yeon knew. She knew Seojun disliked the royal family.
She had even decided to actively cooperate in abolishing royal privileges he wanted.
But she hadn’t expected him to truly desire the abolition of the royal family.
“I said I’d help him become emperor.”
Hadn’t he abandoned the idea of abolishing the royal family back then?
If his intention still held, then they would become enemies.
Though she didn’t show it, Yeon was confused.
Then she suddenly realized:
“Wait, why am I believing him?”
Byun was someone capable of doing anything to bring down someone he disliked.
“Maybe he’s spouting nonsense or making things up to drive a wedge between Seojun and me.”
By her nature, that was the logical thought. Yet, she found herself listening to Byun’s words.
Perhaps… because she subconsciously knew.
One day, she and Seojun might face a situation where they would clash sharply.
Even if it wasn’t as serious as abolishing the royal family, they would collide at least once.
“Then what happens to us?”
Byun chuckled at the calmness of Yeon.
“Smartass. Just wait and see whose back that guy will stab. Don’t cry and cling to me later; watch carefully. Contact me if you learn something. You don’t want the royal family in danger, do you?”
Yeon agreed with the last question.
But she thought it was better for the royal family to be in danger than to rot.
She had traveled the world and seen firsthand how deeply people suffered under corrupt rulers.
If it collapses, rebuild it. If it fails, try again.
But if it’s rotten?
You must excise the rotten part.
Yet some things cannot be removed.
If the Daehan Empire rots, if its people’s lives decay as well?
You cannot cut away the essence.
People can live in poverty, but they cannot drink rotten water.
The reason Crown Prince Byun, who dreams of laughing while clutching gold on top of rotten water, and Princess Yeon, who prioritizes the happiness and safety of the Daehan people, cannot be on the same side.
Yeon smiled deeply.
“Please stop worrying about us, Your Highness. I’ll be going now. I’m a bit busy.”
Byun twisted his face but let her go.
He wasn’t foolish enough to follow her to the banquet and cause a scene.
