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Chapter 78
Seojun held back his words.
Yongwoon spoke with a complex mix of emotions.
“When you told me you were going to resign from your parliamentary seat, you said it, right? That our goal wouldn’t change. Is that statement still valid?”
Seojun’s gaze darkened.
The small pavilion at Nakseonjae was engulfed in silence.
After a long pause, Seojun finally spoke.
“Our goal remains valid.”
Though a little delayed, it was the answer Yongwoon had wanted.
“Then that’s enough.”
Yongwoon felt relieved, while Seojun, turning back with his coffee, frowned.
No matter what he said or did, nothing felt satisfying.
It was as if a tiny thorn was lodged under his fingernail, constantly bothering him, leaving him with a lingering sense of regret that he had missed the best choice.
“Focus on one thing.”
Seojun recalled the goal he had pursued for over ten years.
An Ji-Young.
It was time to deeply investigate the tragic death of his one and only sister.
At night in Nakseonjae, Yeon came to Seojun’s study.
Seojun removed his blue-light blocking glasses to greet her.
“Finally coming?”
“Seojun, have you been watching the CCTV until now?”
In their voices, there was a mutual concern matching in intensity.
Seojun smiled faintly and nodded.
“But there’s nothing noteworthy.”
He closed his laptop.
“I told you there wouldn’t be.”
Seojun had been reviewing CCTV footage from the East Palace during the period when An Ji-Young had been working.
The footage was old, the quality poor, and much data had been lost, but it was necessary to review it again.
Finding Ji-Young and proving that her disappearance was related to the Crown Prince would make uncovering the disease much easier.
Seojun pressed his fingers to his temples and stood up.
“Coffee?”
“At this late hour?”
Yeon’s eyes widened.
“You’re not going to sleep anyway.”
He looked at Yeon’s desk diagonally across from his.
Piles of documents, scattered pens, and a hair tie.
Her study, where Yeon spent the most time in Nakseonjae, was filled with traces of her presence.
Lately, Seojun and Yeon had been living almost like exam students.
They woke up at dawn, grabbed a quick bite, handled external work separately, then returned to continue their tasks.
When things didn’t go smoothly, they discussed; when opinions clashed, they debated.
If Yeon started to doze off past midnight, Seojun would carry her to bed.
“Haah. Tonight, I’ll just finish one thing and go to sleep.”
Yeon yawned, and a sparkle appeared in Seojun’s eyes.
If it’s just one task, he thought, he could finish it in an hour.
He abandoned his plan to drink coffee.
“What is it?”
He leaned back on the desk, arms crossed over his chest.
“I knew it.”
Yeon suddenly smiled brightly.
“You helped because you knew I’d ask for it.”
Yeon sat on the edge of the desk, her legs dangling.
“Have you found Go Jun-Hwan?”
“Not yet.”
Perhaps the assistant AI had slowed, or maybe Seojun had overestimated its capabilities.
There had been no news regarding Go Jun-Hwan at all.
“I found him myself.”
Yeon laughed softly, looking at Seojun, like a puppy saying, “I did well, right? Now pet me!”
Seojun instinctively raised his hand but softened it and rested it on the desk.
Though he wasn’t generally fond of small animals like dogs, cats, or rabbits, he found himself compelled to reach out when it came to Yeon.
Perhaps, he thought, at over thirty years old, he had discovered a new preference.
Watching Yeon quietly, he noticed her cheeks gradually puffing out.
“Why aren’t you surprised?”
“Because I trusted that with Your Highness’s abilities, you’d easily locate Go Jun-Hwan.”
“Honestly, hearing that is more satisfying than being surprised.”
Yeon’s face bloomed like a flower.
Unable to resist, Seojun let his hand brush her cheek.
Yeon leaned into his large hand, then pulled back.
Though she wanted to enjoy the warmth of Seojun’s hand, handling the Go Jun-Hwan situation took priority.
“If I tell you where Go Jun-Hwan is, will you get him out?”
“Of course.”
“You won’t even ask where he’s hiding, and you’ll agree so readily?”
Even Yeon requesting help instead of taking action herself showed how difficult it was.
“Wherever he is, it’s something that needs to be done. No need to waste time nitpicking.”
“So, where is he?”
Yeon’s smile vanished. Her gaze turned cold as she spoke.
“The East Palace.”
It wasn’t surprising, so Seojun nodded.
“Let’s start the strategy meeting.”
“Crown Prince, Crown Princess, he’s awake.”
By now, Byeong had barely raised his face from the pillow, head pounding from the heavy drinking last night.
Puffy face, bleary eyes—the picture of hangover.
“You came at dawn? Annoying. Tell them I’m still sleeping.”
Every hoarse word carried the smell of alcohol, which made him bury his face deeper into the pillow.
“Water… please.”
A cold bottle of water was handed to him.
He sat up halfway and drank, which made breathing a little easier.
The hammering in his skull remained relentless.
Damn hangover. I must’ve drunk again.
He tried to drift back to sleep.
“The sun is high. The East Palace is in chaos. Are you going to sleep through this?”
The sharp voice pierced his ears, and Byeong’s eyes shot open.
Crown Princess Seonmi loomed over him, her gaze sharp and commanding.
“Why are you here?”
Still his wife, Byeong reluctantly sat up, annoyance on his face.
“Didn’t you hear me? The East Palace is in chaos.”
“What do you mean? Explain clearly.”
Seonmi clenched her eyes several times to contain her anger.
“The Changdeok Palace audit has been triggered. Do you know who’s conducting it? Yeon! Princess Yeon!”
“What?”
Changdeok Palace had originally been under Yeon’s management.
But because she was unmarried and living abroad, Byeong had been overseeing it.
Out of laziness, he had even delegated that task to Seonmi.
Seonmi manipulated the budget, projects, and personnel behind the scenes, creating slush funds that supported Byeong.
Considering these circumstances, Byeong smirked.
“Worried the money will run out? Don’t worry. When I become emperor, I’ll hand you stacks of cash that’ll satisfy your vanity.”
“I’m not doing this for money.”
Though he valued money, Seonmi’s fury stemmed from another reason.
“The princess! How dare she audit me and Your Highness? How dare she!”
She resented Yeon, whom she had considered subordinate, investigating her actions.
And the anticipated outcome of the audit displeased her: Yeon would take over management of Changdeok Palace.
It was mine!
Seonmi stomped her feet in frustration.
“Your Highness, this isn’t the time to sit idly! You must either stop Yeon from auditing or quickly receive abdication! You need to do something!”
Byeong ruffled his hair, getting up.
He loosely threw on his robe and frowned.
“The public opinion is terrible. You know that. If we bring up abdication now, it’ll just worsen public sentiment.”
The public was already questioning the Crown Prince’s competence and violence.
Bringing up abdication would fuel criticism of the outdated principle of primogeniture.
“So, what will you do? Sit quietly?”
It was a no-win situation.
The Crown Prince paced the room, biting his nails.
Seonmi watched him with contempt.
“Should I step in?”
Byeong snapped his head up and glared.
“If the hen crows, the household falls. Stay silent.”
Seonmi scoffed.
“Would the hen act if the rooster were capable? You have no plan.”
“Hey! Jin Seonmi!”
Byeong raised his hand at her.
Seonmi didn’t flinch.
“Try touching me, even a finger, and it’s over between us.”
Her warning was fierce, but to Byeong, it was laughable.
“Divorce, huh? How would you survive without me? Would your father accept a divorced daughter? Seonmi, wake up. You have no choice without me.”
If even Seonmi was acting out, the situation must be serious.
The solution was clear: advance without retreat.
Clicking his tongue, Byeong lightly tapped Seonmi’s cheek.
“Get some money ready. I’ll make sure Yeon can’t move a muscle.”
