The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 104

* * *

When I opened my eyes, what I saw was the ceiling of my bedroom. I had never looked at the ceiling closely, but I felt strangely happy to see it.

The ceiling, the canopy, and…

“Hic, hic, ugh.”

Heesa was crying.

“…Why are you crying?”

Heesa, who had been crying while carefully wiping my arm, was startled and looked at me. I coughed a few times. My throat feels scratchy as if I had slept for a long time.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Heesa, who heard my voice, started crying even more. It was like turning on a faucet. What’s the point of crying when Mother’s ability is the Dragon’s Command and Mirinae’s ability is healing?

I reached out my hand and patted the back of Heesa’s hand, scolding her.

“Anyone who sees this would think I died and came back to life.”

“It was almost like that! Do you know how shocked we were when you returned from your outing in that state?”

Right. How did I get to the Eastern Palace?

“How long was I asleep?”

“A whole day!”

I, who had expected about a week, was a bit deflated. No wonder my body is moving well.

“A day is not a big deal… No, nevermind.”

I hastily denied it, afraid Heesa would make a fuss again, but Heesa’s eyes were already brimming with tears.

“I’ll tell Her Majesty everything!”

In the midst of this, I’m touched by her effort not to raise her voice in case my head hurts. Yes, yes. I got it. I’m sorry for worrying you.

After Heesa calmed down a bit, I asked what I was curious about.

“What about Yeoryu and Noel?”

“…The Noble Consort personally treated them. He said if he had been a little later, it would have been a big deal.”

The time they were exposed to Gowun’s ability wasn’t that long. The shadows are assassins after all, so they must have trained to build up resistance to poison.

Even so, to think their lives were in danger…

‘Gowun is really strong.’

I stretched and asked again.

“What about Gowun?”

He wouldn’t have been affected by the poison since it was his own ability, but there would be issues with using a lot of ability at once and mental problems. He’s not crying in front of the door again like last time, unable to rest, right?

At my question, Heesa’s face became strange. It was an expression mixed with sadness and anger.

“Why are you looking for that ungrateful one?”

That unpleasant remark felt ominous. I frowned and asked,

“What do you mean by that?”

“How can you not even be angry? He hid his ability and put you in danger!”

I sighed at Heesa’s outpouring. It seems the issue is that I was affected by Gowun’s ability.

“If Her Majesty had not made arrangements in advance, it would have been a real disaster. It’s already Her Majesty’s grace that she didn’t impose much punishment.”

“Heesa. Don’t say that. It wasn’t Gowun’s fault.”

When I cut her off firmly, Heesa closed her mouth, but she still had a dissatisfied face.

“Then where is Gowun now?”

I asked as I got off the bed. I wanted to check if he was safe first. However, Heesa didn’t answer me right away.

“…You can’t.”

“What?”

“You can’t meet him.”

Heesa blocked my way. I asked irritably at her determined face,

“What’s the problem?”

“I apologize, Your Highness. But it’s Her Majesty’s order.”

Mother’s order?

I didn’t like my actions being restricted without my opinion being included, even in a casual sense.

I was about to say I should go to Flower Dragon Palace, but Seoyeon informed me that Mother had arrived. Soon the door opened and Mother came in.

Heesa looked around and left the room, leaving the two of us alone in the quiet room.

“You’re awake, Sanya.”

Mother looked at me and sighed. It was a sigh filled with relief and conflict.

“You little troublemaker. It hasn’t been long since you were seriously ill, and now this again. Do you enjoy making your mother’s heart turn black with worry?”

Mother tried to joke playfully with a forced smile, but I couldn’t laugh.

“Why are you not allowing me to meet Gowun?”

I had no time to beat around the bush. At my question, Mother’s expression also hardened.

Mother bit her lip tightly, sat me on the bed, and knelt down to meet my gaze.

“You probably expected it, but it seems Gowun can no longer stay in the palace.”

My heart sank at the carefully spoken words.

“Please reconsider.”

I desperately clung to Mother.

“It was my stubbornness to go out this time too. I already knew about that ability, but I was complacent. It’s my fault.”

Why did I say let’s go outside the palace? I deeply regretted it. It might have exploded someday, but at least not at this very moment.

Mother didn’t give me any answer and looked at me with a pitying gaze.

I continued,

“It won’t be dangerous. It was just because of a special situation, and it was only…”

I was at a loss for words. I bit my lip hard and tried to finish my sentence.

“It was only this one time.”

Until now, no one knew that Gowun had the ability of deadly poison to the extent that he had hidden it well. If he has that much control, it should really be safe.

“But Sanya. There is also no guarantee that it will end with just one time.”

Mother answered calmly. She was kind yet ruthless.

“Gowun’s ability is stronger and has a wider range than the Maho family’s ability. It’s a big problem if even ordinary people can’t properly control their abilities, so how would it be for Gowun?”

“…”

“And above all, there was one more incident before you woke up.”

I was surprised at those words and raised my head that had been lowered.

Mother was looking at me sadly.

“No one could calm him down until I arrived and the force subsided.”

“Then, Mother, you can control it.”

I asked again. It was my last hope, but Mother shook her head again.

“Baby. Like all abilities, the Dragon’s Command is not almighty either. You felt it this time too, right?”

I couldn’t deny those words. Thanks to the Dragon’s Command, I was relatively safe from Gowun’s ability, but it wasn’t completely without impact.

If Gowun can’t control his ability, problems will continue to arise, and it will also cause issues for the safety of many people.

“If something like this happens again, I won’t be able to let it go without punishing that child next time.”

This is right for you and for that child.

I nodded at Mother’s words. I knew it was right.

But still…

“Can’t you grant my selfish request just this once?”

Mother answered my powerless words after a brief silence.

“I’m sorry.”

A tired and sad voice. Mother carefully hugged me.

“Until now, I let it slide even though Gowun didn’t properly fulfill his role because you cherish that child. But not this time.”

“…”

“What’s most important is your safety. Regarding this issue… Even if you dislike it, I have no choice but to force you.”

Everything she said was right. My objection was just being unreasonable. But then, does it mean I won’t be able to see him again?

“You can still exchange letters. Don’t be too heartbroken, okay?”

Mother comforted me, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

* * *

The sound of a bell was heard from afar. It was the bell signaling that the time of Jasi (midnight to 2 AM) had passed.

It was late, but I was still awake.

‘I can’t fall asleep at all.’

I tried to force myself to sleep by closing my eyes, but after a short nap, I eventually woke up again. Is it because I’m troubled?

I sat on the bed and stared into the void. The bluish moonlight had entered deep into the room.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been awake at this hour.’

Since I kept getting drowsy during the day and fell asleep early, I rarely woke up in the middle of the night.

Still, quite a long time ago, when I had just met Gowun. That dawn was really enjoyable. Even though he’s not the talkative type, I wonder why that chatter was so fun. It’s really curious.

Was it because he was the first person I could comfortably talk to since coming to this world?

Maybe that’s why, or for some other reason, Gowun was special to me. Even if I make new friends or have younger siblings in the future, none of them will be as special as him.

A new child I meet won’t be as good at finding books as Gowun, and won’t have bluish dawn-colored eyes. They won’t stay by my side until dawn worrying about me, and they won’t be restless just from being told to speak informally. No, even if they are, the result will be the same.

Gowun is already my family.

Suddenly, I felt frightened. If I can never see you again from now on, will I be okay without you?

At that moment, a small knocking sound was heard. It was a tiny knocking sound, like a bird tapping with its beak.

I approached the window and opened it, and discovered a boy standing below. I stepped back two steps after opening the window wide. And before long, the moonlight that had been pouring through the window was blocked.

The bangs that had grown long at some point fluttered near my eyes. Through them, I could see clear, almost transparent gray-blue eyes.

It was just like when I first met Gowun. Facing the still youthful face, I smiled as if I was about to cry.

“…Gowun.”