TKEP 71🔐

Chapter 71

“Seojun Kang, it’s time to take your medicine.”

Seojun’s recovery speed was astonishing, even to the doctors.

From the day he woke up, he began light walks and handled most things on his own.

Yet Yeon still treated him like a critical patient.

Yeon snatched the tablet PC from Seojun’s hand. He had been reading the perpetrator’s statement in English.

“Work as soon as I wake up?”

“Is it work to read the statement of the person who stabbed me? This is just confirming the facts.”

“Building up for revenge?”

“You’re spoiling someone else’s plan already.”

Seojun and Yeon’s eyes met, and without thinking, both of them burst into laughter.

“Whether it’s revenge or whatever, wouldn’t you need to be healthy first? Take your medicine first.”

Yeon handed Seojun the pills and offered him a glass of water.

“Being nursed by the princess—truly an honor for our family.”

“Did the doctor touch your head during the surgery this time?”

Swallowing the pills, Seojun opened his eyes wide and looked at Yeon.

Yeon shrugged at his questioning gaze.

“No, you’ve just been joking more. The atmosphere is a bit lighter too.”

“People change after coming back from the brink of death.”

The person who filled Seojun’s mind when he was stabbed was Yeon.

And the only person he worried about as he fell was also Yeon.

He hadn’t deeply pondered what that meant. He just accepted that Yeon was someone precious to him.

Then a side of himself he had long forgotten naturally emerged.

The playful, sometimes childish side that existed only during the time with Jiyoung.

The happy memories he had deliberately tried not to recall, fearing it would make him weak while searching for Jiyoung, also surfaced.

This must be another change brought by Yeon.

It wasn’t bad.

Recalling memories didn’t make him weak; it made him feel strong enough to remember them.

Seojun crumpled the pill packet and tossed it into the trash.

The trash went straight into the bin from quite a distance.

“Oh,” Yeon clapped lightly, impressed.

“So? What’s the verdict?”

Seojun captured Yeon’s gaze.

“What verdict?”

Yeon tilted her head.

“The me before being stabbed, or the me after being stabbed. Which do you like better?”

“Do I really have to choose? Both are Seojun Kang, so I like them all.”

Seojun’s fingers tingled at her unexpected answer. Words that had flowed easily from his chest were suddenly stuck.

Meanwhile, Yeon casually put the tablet away and busied herself around the hospital room, opening windows for ventilation and moving about.

Seeing her act so nonchalantly after flustering him like that left him dumbfounded—but it was cute, and he couldn’t help staring.

Even though his feelings for Yeon were uncontrollable, he couldn’t let himself be dragged around helplessly.

A proper brake was needed.

There was still work to do.

Seojun forced himself to take his eyes off Yeon.

“Seojun, would you like something to drink?”

Yeon opened the fridge full of snacks wide.

“No caffeine, so no coffee. Too sweet isn’t good for your body, so no soda. What can Seojun drink?”

After asking, Yeon personally picked Seojun’s drink. She was stricter than the doctor.

“This will do!”

Yeon stood up, holding a plain sparkling water, when the door suddenly burst open in perfect timing. Oh, the eunuch Oh and Director Sung ran in.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! It’s an emergency!”

Without explanation, they shoved a phone in front of them.

The broadcaster said a live royal broadcast was about to begin. The words “Breaking News” were displayed prominently on the screen.

“What’s going on?”

Yeon looked between Eunuch Oh and Director Sung.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Seojun got out of bed and placed a protective arm around Yeon’s shoulders.

Director Sung bowed deeply.

“Eunuch Oh, speak. What happened in the Empire? Is there a problem with the royal family?”

Seojun asked in Yeon’s place.

Eunuch Oh pressed his lips tightly together.

“Eunuch Oh.”

Seojun lowered his voice.

“The Emperor is in critical condition.”

Yeon staggered, and Seojun quickly supported her.

“Critical… condition? Tell me everything, Eunuch Oh.”

As Yeon urged Eunuch Oh for details, the Crown Prince appeared on the screen.

“It’s better for you to hear directly.”

The official held the screen toward them.

On the screen, the Emperor stood at the podium with a solemn expression and began to speak.

• “To the respected people of the Empire…”

Yeon listened without even breathing.

After long explanations about the Emperor’s critical yet improving condition, he finally addressed the main point.

• “…The royal family and the relatives feel a great responsibility in this situation. Until His Majesty recovers, as Crown Prince, I will fulfill my duties so that my absence is not felt.”

Yeon’s lips trembled.

“He says he’ll act as regent? Absolutely not. My father, my father is still…”

Yeon couldn’t continue, unsure of the Emperor’s exact condition.

She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Seojun held her from behind.

“Let’s watch a bit longer.”

The Q&A session began shortly after.

A familiar face, reporter Bonguri, raised her hand.

Given the urgency, she seemed to act before consulting with Seojun.

• “From Women’s Era, reporter Bonguri. Are you saying that Your Highness, the Crown Prince, will act as regent?”

Bonguri pinpointed exactly what Seojun and Yeon were worried about.

The Emperor on screen smiled kindly.

• “If necessary, that is something I am considering. Next question?”

He actively responded to questions.

• “Crown Prince! Recently, the Eastern Palace has been embroiled in controversy. Is it true that some palace staff have gone missing…”

Suddenly, the reporter’s microphone went off, and the camera captured the “Irwolobongdo” (Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks) behind the Emperor.

The Q&A was strictly managed to favor the Emperor.

“There’s nothing more to hear. Turn off the video.”

Seojun said, and Eunuch Oh switched off the phone.

A heavy silence filled the room.

They had to quickly discuss how to proceed.

But with Yeon immersed in grief, no one could speak first.

Offering words of comfort was also difficult, so Seojun just held Yeon tighter.

Every time her back heaved with sobs, Seojun’s chest ached. He didn’t understand why his heart hurt more than the stabbed wound.

After some time, Yeon’s sobbing subsided. She lifted her head and wiped her tears.

There was no time to keep crying.

“Eunuch Oh, analyze public opinion hourly and report to me. Director Sung, find the fastest way to return home. We don’t need to take the private jet.”

Adjusting the private jet schedule required several procedures.

Even coordinating with the airport would take hours.

Yeon wanted to return to the Empire immediately.

Eunuch Oh and Director Sung took their tablets and began the tasks Yeon assigned.

“And Seojun…”

Yeon turned to him.

“I wanted to stay with you, but I’m sorry.”

Seojun’s eyebrows twitched.

What is this woman saying now?

Could she really be planning to return to the Empire alone?

Going to the Emperor’s palace alone—what does she intend to do there?

Fortunately, thanks to the Czech government’s cooperation, they could immediately dispatch the private jet.

A few high-ranking Czech officials came out to see Yeon off.

Due to the urgency, Yeon exchanged brief greetings and boarded the jet.

Sitting in her seat, it finally felt real—she was returning to the Empire.

Yeon sank into the seat and closed her eyes.

“Director Sung, what about Jangmi?”

“She boarded ahead of time. She was too anxious, so we gave her a sedative. She should be asleep by now.”

“Well done.”

With the sudden schedule change, bringing Jangmi to the airport had taken considerable effort.

“You’ve worked hard, Director Sung.”

“It’s nothing. It’s my duty.”

Now that they were on the plane, Yeon wanted to let Sian rest, but she hesitated to tell him.

“Anything you need me to do?”

Yeon bit her lower lip and opened her eyes.

“…Seojun Kang?”