I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

28 – Shades

Young-jeong covered her mouth with both hands at the conversation she heard outside the door. If I didn’t do this, it seemed like I couldn’t stop the sound leaking out.

When Hee-dan first entered the room to examine the portrait, Jeong was already awake.

No matter how tired I was, I went to sleep with the thought that it would be safe in Heidan’s dwelling, but it wasn’t to the point of changing my habit close to instinct. The years of experience accumulated in her body reflexively awakened her spirit consciousness as soon as she felt someone else’s presence.

But she pretended to sleep without getting up.

Because Heidan’s hand was stroking her hair very carefully and kindly. She wanted to feel her touch just a little longer.

It was a touch of memory. When was it In the past, before Yeongjeong’s father, Yeong Yi-in, ran away from Jo Nara, her mother also stroked her like this…….

Maybe it’s because she couldn’t forget the warmth of her mother’s hands. Even in front of her mother’s violence and abusive language, Young-jeong could not leave her side.

At Hee-dan’s touch, which reminded her of her fleeting past happiness, Yeong-jeong melted into subtle emotions mixed with her nostalgia and sadness.

However, it seems Heidan had a different idea. After a while, Hee-dan, who removed her hand, quietly left her room as if he had entered quietly.

Youngjeong, immersed in intense emotions, couldn’t react right away, and after Heidan left her room, she slowly lifted her eyelids.

Just as Hee-dan was about to open the door and go out, Young-jeong took her hand from the door and held her breath at the sound of her voice outside.

And the conversation that follows.

Hee-dan asked Young-jeong to lower her voice, worried that Young-jeong would hear her, but it was impossible for her not to reach Young-jeong’s ears. Young-jeong, who had to live a life of being extremely wary of her surroundings, also had a very sensitive hearing like Hee-dan.

Youngjeong put her ear to her door and secretly overheard the conversation between the two.

Hee-dan and his family were dragged down to the ground like her because she took her spirit. Han Qing’s excited shouts were all resentful and scolding of Ying Jing.

However, Hui-dan was caught up in her own choice and only soothed her angry Han-kyung, but she never criticized Young-jeong. Even if she simply agreed with their words, Hee-dan herself would be able to put their resentment to rest and get out of her predicament as well.

Anyway, Hui-dan must have thought that Young-jeong was sleeping. Then she would just not hear me, so I wish I could say empty words.

Heidan was more worried that Youngjeong would hear those words even in his sleep than the fire that had fallen on his feet.

It’s not a mere memory, it’s the first unrequited favor I’ve encountered since proper thinking became possible.

Yeongjeong felt like she was going to burst into tears. He covers his mouth tightly and closes his eyes to keep from crying.

Then, when she heard her brother’s name outside, Young-jeong listened to the conversation outside again.

‘Brother? Ah… It’s that woman.’

Hee-dan and his diners who saved the spirit.

Youngjeong She was a pretty attractive beauty even to her own eyes.

Of course, at that time, the portrait was unconscious and I couldn’t see it myself, but it was also the performance of her brother’s family that defeated those who were aiming for her portrait. If so, her older brother Ga-do would be a benefactor who saved Yeong-jeong, just like Hee-dan.

But when Hee-dan said she would leave her and go to her brother’s family.

The emotion she felt was not relief that her benefactor’s crisis would be resolved, but jealousy and deprivation for being prioritized over herself by her huidan.

‘Why….’

She’s still asleep herself.

The only person who can help me is Heidan.

Why are you leaving me who didn’t wake up and going to Hyung-ga?

Feeling the pressure as if his heart was tightening, he bit his lower lip.

It was such a strange feeling.

Since goodwill is more difficult and awkward than hostility, Youngjeong did not properly recognize the identity of the emotion based on goodwill.

However, just as a huge fire starts from a small spark.

It was clear that a new fire was burning in Yeongjeong’s heart.

§

Far from intervening in the Jo Dynasty assembly, I was not even allowed to enter the Jo Dynasty palace and was barred from the door.

After wandering around for a while, I vainly turned around and went to the mansion. Hearing that Pyeongwon-gun was waiting for me, I hurried to his mansion.

The third solo meeting with Pyeongwon-gun took place in a more solemn atmosphere than ever before.

He said straight away with a heavy expression on his face, without even saying hello to me.

“Young master.”

“Yes, Pyeongwon-gun.”

“Pretend you didn’t know.”

“Yes?”

“They said they didn’t know what kind of child he was until now.”

Pyongwon-gun’s eyes were looking at me even more bitterly than I, the person in charge, was like a father looking at his son who had committed a serious accident.

“Even when he heard about his identity that day, say that he acted without thinking deeply because he was so excited. Say that he was just an immature child who didn’t know what the relationship between Ah-guk and Qin was. Then I can protect Young master.”

Once again, Pyeongwon-gun gave me a rope of salvation.

Unfortunately, however, I couldn’t reach for it. Because my hand was already holding someone else’s hand.

Why do I care so much for a girl I only had a very brief and negative encounter with?

That’s because I made eye contact with the girl.

Not the innocent eyes of a 7-year-old, but the eyes full of hatred. Lonely eyes who know nothing of the beauty of the world, only evil and wealth.

From the moment I saw it, I couldn’t let go of it.

Knowing that if he helped that child, if he reaped that child, he would surely lose the luxury he enjoys now, being despised along with him.

When I couldn’t answer and kept my mouth shut, Pyeongwon-gun spoke even more earnestly.

“I support Young master, and Young master rises to the throne thanks to my support. And forming an alliance between the states of Zhao and Yan against the state of Qin. That is the will and cause we share, did Young master forget? “

“…I can’t have forgotten it. I remember it clearly.”

“If you do! Do as I say. I haven’t given up on Young master yet.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for treating me so highly and giving me so much grace.”

Pyeongwon-gun’s expression relaxed at the answer that was close to affirmative.

Sorry, but my answer wasn’t the end of it.

“Haona, Pyeongwon-gun, that can’t be.”

A child who must have suffered numerous wounds.

A child who was shunned even by her mother and had to learn to be hated by the world before she could even begin to walk. Jung was such a child.

Even I couldn’t pretend I didn’t know Jung.

“Why is that? Isn’t Young master smart? Isn’t he the one who knew the impact of his actions better than anyone else and expressed it to me? What Young master is showing now doesn’t look like Young master.”

“Pyeongwon-gun. Although I have learned a thousand things, I know one thing.”

Hate the sin, but don’t hate the people, it must be about the same thing as now.

“Parents cannot persecute their children because of what they did wrong.”

In an era where guilt by association is taken for granted, my words will sound like a comfortable delusion.

Because when a person commits a crime, it is common for his parents, wife and children, and siblings to be punished.

It was no different from the nobleman Pyeongwongun of the time.

He seemed to think that my words sounded too absurd, or that there was another reason altogether.

“…Young master. Do you have feelings for that child?”

Me? Jung?

That’s not true. If romance is a s*xual attraction to the opposite s*x, it couldn’t be, and it shouldn’t be.

“How could that be? Jung is still 7 years old.”

“Hmm, even Young master is only 10 years old.”

“One, the point of love may be in line.”

“Is it in line?”

I returned a word of reply to Pyeongwon-gun, who narrowed his eyes as if he did not understand.

Hearing that answer, Pyongwon-gun let out a shot and muttered.

“I thought he was a Zongheengga, but it turned out that he was a Moga.”

Pyeongwon-gun, who had convinced himself, said in a tone that he had no regrets, but he couldn’t help it.

“…I can’t convince Young master anymore. If you’re so stubborn, continuing to speak out would be insulting Young master’ will.”

“One, it’s sad. I expected that Young master would follow in my footsteps and become a guardian to protect the nations… Is this how our will collapses?”

Pyeongwon-gun raised his head upward. Above us in the room, we could only see the ceiling, but Pyeongwon-gun seemed to be looking up at the sky beyond.

He closed his eyes as if he had nothing more to say.

I respectfully bowed to Pyeongwon-gun according to the etiquette I had learned before.

“That’s not true, Prince Pyeongwon. Although I was dissatisfied and took a shortcut and took the return road, I will never forget the pact I shared with Prince Pyeongwon. I will always consider Jo Na-ra as a friend while pondering the kindness that Pyeongwon-gun has bestowed on me.”

Raise your bent body and bow down to say goodbye.

“Until then, please stay strong.”

Instead of walking backwards, straighten your back and turn around.

No longer was I a young pawn who was sponsored by Pyeongwongun.

It was the result of choosing the path outside the safe fence.

Pyeongwon-gun borrowed his own words and left a message to me when I turned around.

“At my estate, there’s room left. It’s wide enough to receive strangers, so don’t worry.”

It was a confirmation of his promise that if he came to the territory, he would protect his family.

That was the last favor Pyeongwon-gun gave me.

Pyeongwon-gun and I, our short trip together ended like that.