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Chapter 51
As she walked toward the bed, Juhee whispered softly to Lu.
“Lu, we’re leaving tonight.”
Lu’s tail gave a short wag.
“We’re leaving without Rowen knowing, so you mustn’t make any noise. Got it?”
“Woof!”
Lu barked briefly, as if to say he understood.
No one would come until the coronation began.
Juhee pulled the curtains shut and crouched down, retrieving the bag she had hidden under the bed.
She brushed off the dust roughly and opened it.
There wasn’t much inside.
Just as she was about to close it after packing a couple of simple outfits, Juhee hesitated.
—Juhee, what’s wrong? Did you forget something? I’ll get it for you!
“No, I’ll get it myself.”
She slowly stood up and approached the small table beside the bed.
On top of it sat a wooden music box Rowen had bought for her when they went out together.
—Ah, this! The song is really nice! Are you taking it? I like it!
Juhee hesitated for a long time, debating whether to take it or not.
In the end, she packed the music box.
She had intended not to take anything related to him, but for some reason, she couldn’t leave the music box behind.
After placing it in the bag, she pushed it back under the bed.
After some time passed, a maid’s voice came from outside.
“My lady, it’s time to prepare.”
“Yes.”
Since it wasn’t a ball, there was no need to dress extravagantly, so Juhee prepared herself.
When she finished and opened the door, a maid stood waiting with a brown robe.
“I’ve brought the robe you requested.”
“Thank you.”
After putting it on, Juhee stepped outside and got into the carriage waiting for her.
The carriage rattled as it set off toward the central square.
The coronation would be the last time she saw Rowen.
The central square was crowded with people who had gathered to witness the ceremony.
With her robe pulled over her, Juhee would be even harder to recognize.
Just as she thought that, the carriage came to a slow stop.
Taking a knight’s hand, she stepped down into a sea of people.
Everyone wore expressions full of anticipation, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Juhee slipped through the crowd and made her way to the front.
The knights escorting her hurried to follow closely behind.
The center of the road was cleared for the procession, and a platform could be seen in the distance.
As she stared blankly at it, a loud trumpet sounded.
The coronation had begun.
People craned their necks to look toward where the procession would appear.
Soon, a magnificently decorated carriage came into view.
Seated atop it was Rowen, draped in a red cloak.
When he waved once, the crowd erupted into cheers.
Normally, they would bow, but today was an exception.
Juhee pulled her hood lower.
The carriage slowly approached.
She thought there was no way Rowen would notice her.
But the moment she lifted her head slightly to look at him, Rowen looked right back at her.
‘No way… did he find me?’
It wasn’t her imagination.
Whenever Juhee moved slightly, Rowen’s gaze followed.
He smiled brightly, as if happy she had kept her promise.
The women near Juhee let out small squeals.
“Hey, His Majesty smiled at me. Did you see that?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, he smiled at me.”
“You’re both wrong. He smiled at me! How is he so handsome?”
Juhee hesitated, then began moving along with the carriage.
She had promised herself she would watch until he received the crown.
Finally, the carriage stopped before the platform, and Rowen jumped down effortlessly.
He slowly ascended the platform.
At the top stood the High Priest, dressed in white robes.
The once noisy crowd fell silent, all eyes fixed on Rowen.
Reaching the top, Rowen knelt on one knee before the High Priest.
He barely listened to what was being said.
He just wanted the tedious ceremony to end quickly.
If it were up to him, he would have postponed the ball to the next day, but the ministers had opposed it, citing tradition.
“We will now bestow the crown.”
Once the crown was placed and the final blessing given, everything would be complete.
The High Priest lifted the crown resting on a velvet cushion.
It was the crown worn by all emperors since the founding of the Florel Empire.
Special magic had been cast upon it so it would never fade or lose its gems.
It always shone as if brand new.
Under the bright sunlight, it gleamed brilliantly, drawing everyone’s attention.
The High Priest slowly placed the crown upon Rowen’s head.
“May the goddess’s blessing always be with you.”
A radiant light poured over Rowen’s body, marking the end of the ceremony.
Thunderous applause erupted.
He slowly stood.
Now, all that remained was to return to the palace and receive oaths of loyalty from the ministers.
Rowen turned and quickly scanned the crowd below.
Among the countless people, he found Juhee.
Even with her robe, he recognized her instantly.
Even if she had worn a mask covering her entire face, he would have known.
That was how focused he was on her.
She, too, was looking at him.
After a few seconds, Juhee turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Rowen watched until she was no longer visible, then slowly descended the platform.
He wished time would pass quickly and night would come.
He wanted to hear her congratulate him.
But it was only a futile hope.
* * *
Juhee returned looking slightly exhausted.
There had been so many people that she felt tired despite doing nothing.
The room was empty.
“Ha…”
It seemed they had snuck out again.
She had clearly told Mel to keep an eye on Lu, but it looked like Mel had gone along too.
While changing clothes, Juhee noticed a small note on the table.
In crooked handwriting, it said they had gone to the garden.
She wasn’t sure whether to thank them for leaving a note or scold them.
She opened the window, sat down, and began reading a book she had borrowed a few days ago.
Page after page turned.
When she reached about halfway—
Mel’s voice rang out.
—You’re so late! What if Juhee got back? I told you not to go out!
“Whine.”
—But it was so fun, right?
Mel giggled as she flew in through the open window.
Lu followed, leaping in lightly.
But upon seeing Juhee sitting there, his wagging tail dropped.
—Oh! Juhee, you’re back? Well, you see… it was too boring staying in the room… and the wolf said there’s a path where no one would notice… I was really curious, so we just went out for a bit…
Mel’s voice gradually grew quieter.
Since it was her last day, Juhee decided not to scold them.
Instead, she asked what they had done.
Mel beamed and chattered excitedly.
—We played tag! A fox and a rabbit wanted to play too, so we all played together. It was really fun!
“I’m glad you had fun.”
Before they knew it, night had fallen.
Juhee had told the maid earlier that she wasn’t feeling well and would skip dinner, so no one came to check on her.
Looking outside, she saw carriages arriving one after another—it seemed the ball was about to begin.
She wondered when Aspel would arrive.
He had told her to leave the window open at night, but hadn’t said exactly when.
And the palace was protected by powerful barrier magic—how would he even get in?
The moon rose, and faint music could be heard.
It was nearing midnight.
Juhee felt anxious, thinking Rowen might come to her room at any moment.
Then—
Someone lightly landed on the window frame.
Juhee slowly stood from her chair.
“Aspel.”
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly, tightening her grip on her bag.
Aspel glanced around before asking,
“Have you already said your farewell to that man from before?”
“…No. There’s no need.”
“I see.”
It was strange—humans usually said their goodbyes.
But whether she did or not didn’t matter to him.
His only concern was taking Juhee back to the village.
He stepped into the room and picked up a branch from a vase.
Then he spoke to Lu.
“You follow on your own. As a divine beast guarding the forest, you’ll be fine.”
Lu wagged his tail slightly.
Juhee’s eyes widened.
“Lu… is a divine beast?”
“You didn’t know? That wolf isn’t ordinary. He’s a guardian spirit of the forest.”
“I had no idea.”
She turned to look at Lu.
“It’s rare to be loved by a divine beast. It’s impressive he followed you this far.”
Aspel tilted his head slightly, then continued,
“More importantly… your energy feels blocked compared to before.”
“Ah, that’s…”
Juhee lowered her gaze awkwardly.
Aspel’s eyes landed on her bracelet.
“You’re wearing something impure.”
“…It wasn’t my choice.”
“Hmm. That explains why you won’t say goodbye.”
He clicked his tongue and grabbed the bracelet.
With a small exertion of force, it shattered instantly.
Juhee had tried to break it before, but it hadn’t budged.
Yet Aspel destroyed it effortlessly.
He was far stronger than she had thought.
As the bracelet broke, she felt something that had been suppressed begin to flow freely within her.
Juhee touched her now bare wrist with her fingers.
