Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Drinking Together
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The Imperial Princess had her entire body toyed with by So-hyang, causing her expression to crumble for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and addressed the group.
"...S-Since everyone seems to be before their meal, why don't you all join me for dinner."
"No, why is Your Highness suddenly...? No, no. It's an honor."
Wind Path Beggar momentarily showed confusion but responded to the situation like the seasoned beggar he was.
"Tang Mae. What happened?"
"I-I saw something too stimulating..."
She covered her flushed red face with her hands, peeking through her fingers at the space between So-hyang and the princess.
"Eek."
At those words, the princess flinched as if recalling the recent shock, her shoulders twitching.
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
Namgung Su found the words hard to understand.
-----
In this pre-modern era, no matter how large the city, it couldn't surpass the heights of modern civilization.
Even so, when So-hyang first set foot in Unju Castle, she couldn't hide her surprise. The bustling streets were lined with buildings over ten stories tall.
"...Doesn't it mismatch the era?"
Compared to modern civilization built on reinforced concrete and engineering advancements, it fell short, but for an age around the medieval period at best, the scale was unprecedented.
The architecture, using wood and tiles to evoke a traditional atmosphere, was quite a sight.
Amid that bustling district stood the tallest building, a massive hall with twenty floors in total.
It was the pride of Unju County and a true tourist landmark: the Windcloud Inn.
"You've arrived. Your Highness, we've reserved the top floor as usual."
"Ah, Innkeeper. Thank you as always."
"And the others...?"
"They're companions I met here. Send up meals to match our numbers."
"Understood. It shall be done."
So-hyang couldn't help but wonder.
Before the modern era, even with sufficient technology, high-rises weren't built because elevators weren't widespread.
Were they going to climb those stairs?
The answer was simple.
"Is this your first time seeing such a contraption?"
The Windcloud Inn had an elevator.
Complete with automatic doors and buttons—a fully modern hotel elevator.
"Hmm...?"
Rarely, So-hyang visibly faltered, and the group looked at her fondly, thinking even prodigies were still children.
"The Central Plains are vast..."
Even the Central Plains martial world had twenty-story inns with elevators.
This shattered So-hyang's unconscious assumption that the Central Plains resembled her past life's China.
Thus, the princess and her companions began their meal with dishes personally brought by the innkeeper.
Far more expensive than expected, made with rare ingredients, and above all—
"Personally, I find the chef here superior to the imperial kitchens. The hot springs are one thing, but the food is the real draw."
The key was the chef's skill, and the inn's head cook was worthy of the title master.
The Windcloud Inn rivaled the starred hotels So-hyang had stayed at in her past life.
Not just in attracting diverse guests with varied rooms,
but in the cleanliness of facilities and the staff's courtesy, which were exceptional.
"No wonder Your Highness frequents this place. It's my first time in such a splendid inn."
"Ahem, you recognize it. Nowhere better to unwind."
Even boldly reserving the top floor to secure the favor of an imperial scion like herself.
It was advanced to the point of absurdity.
After the meal, tea was served and finished, then the princess spoke again.
"It's late now, so the rest of you may retire to your rooms."
A gentle dismissal for everyone but So-hyang.
She had entertained them out of courtesy as fellow travelers, but held no further interest.
"And you—share one more cup of tea with me."
------
The sunset had fully faded, and the moon faintly rose.
The princess led So-hyang to another spot.
An open space without outer walls, overlooking the outside, with a small tea table and chairs for two.
So-hyang sat facing her, inwardly muttering that it didn't seem like architecture from this era.
A white porcelain bottle brought by a server, its sharp alcoholic scent piercing the nose.
"'Tea' means liquor?"
"Why, do you dislike grain wine?"
"Your Highness, I'm only thirteen this year."
"—What, that young!?"
Though So-hyang's youthful appearance showed, her composure in expression and demeanor surprised the princess.
"I thought you just looked younger than your age when wanted..."
So-hyang smiled sweetly at the hesitant princess holding the bottle.
"I'll take one cup. That's within the bounds of elegance, isn't it?"
"...Oh! Truly?"
Her face brightening, she poured, and So-hyang reciprocated.
"Kuh! You know your liquor!"
The princess was a lover of tobacco and alcohol alike.
Unhealthy habits normally, but imperial bodies weren't bound by such concerns.
For an imperial, it was a remarkably constructive pastime.
"Many have far worse vices."
Ju Yeong-in, whom So-hyang had torn apart, was a prime example.
The conversation paused, silence flowing.
"Does Your Highness hold no ill feelings toward me?"
No matter how much of a wastrel he was, wasn't she too calm facing the killer who tortured her blood kin to death?
"Blood kin my ass—that vermin's deeds were monstrous! What unease? Just cleaning up his messes nearly broke my back."
The princess snapped irritably instead.
She took a breath.
"I heard what that vermin did to your hometown."
Her subdued voice and steadfast eyes held apology, guilt, and pain from responsibility.
"Truly horrific. Don't you harbor resentment toward the imperial family?"
So-hyang closed her eyes, recalling that day.
The drunken wastrel's bellowing.
Silent soldiers swinging weapons.
Screams erupting, the air thick with blood.
Her family's tearful eyes, even in death, worried for her.
Biting agony.
Agony so extreme it tore her soul to summon aid.
The old man inheriting the child's life turned pain to vengeful fuel, exacting fitting retribution.
Excess would be vengeance against the world, not just her family's harm.
So-hyang had seen many who deemed all bystanders to their pain worthy of judgment.
It was profoundly sad.
"No reason to resent Your Highness from the start. You exposed his crimes and lifted my warrant."
"...You knew?"
She had claimed imperial status but never specified her lineage.
Yet her speech betrayed it plainly—
"I heard 'Third Imperial Princess' before dinner. Odd if I didn't know."
"I hoped to gloss over it... Tch, that beggar. I had no intent to reveal."
Irked, she downed her cup, exhaled deeply, and formally introduced herself.
"Very well. I am Zhu Yeonhwa, third in the imperial line."
So-hyang smiled gently and bowed.
"An honor to hear your esteemed name."
"Enough of that. No need for formalities between us."
"Between us, you say—?"
"—Hm? After toying with my body as you pleased, now you distance yourself?"
So-hyang flinched and smiled awkwardly.
The hot spring antics were impulsive even for her.
A perfect teaching aid to refine her near-perfect body lay before her; she couldn't resist.
She had obtained nominal consent, and the princess showed no intent to complain—fortunate.
"Fine, fine. Your touch was persistent, but I felt no malice."
Her flushed face—perhaps from drink—muttered softly.
"Might even get used to it..."
She cleared her throat lightly, shifting the mood, then grew serious.
"Anyway, no thanks due. Denouncing the seventeenth fool and lifting your warrant served my interests..."
Political maneuvering to weaken rivals, not pure goodwill.
It helped So-hyang, but the princess wouldn't accept gratitude.
"Truth be told, I thought you dead."
Paradoxically, revoking the warrant took longer than stripping Ju Yeong-in of title and name.
Half a year had passed since the warrant.
No capture report, and survival unlikely for a ten-year-old under nationwide pursuit.
"Whatever you endured, you're alive— that's fortune."
Hearing this, So-hyang couldn't help laughing.
"...Ahahaha!"
Exposing her blood kin's crimes out of disgust.
Searching the land to save the wrongfully wanted.
An imperial scion deeming herself no saint?
So-hyang recalled Wind Path Beggar's tales of the era's imperials.
The eldest prince was revered by all.
The second prince dominated.
The third princess was beloved.
"Indeed. Worthy of love."
Smiling, she slowly sipped her cup.
The drinking companion pleased her; the night sky above held a bright moon.
Her pleasantly tipsy cheeks flushed, the breeze cooling her skin delightfully.
One irksome thing, though—
"You hiding there. Your glare stings."
So-hyang murmured lowly.
Her narrowed eyes fixed behind the princess; the space by the door rippled faintly.
The mood chilled instantly; the princess waved frantically.
"Ah, no. That one hiding—"
"Your guard, I know."
No matter a secret outing, would the third from the throne wander unprotected?
She'd sensed the presence since the hot springs.
"...How did you pierce Hidden Submersion Art?"
"Oh? Hidden Submersion Art, is it?"
The guard's stealth was impressive.
Invisible to sight, silent in motion, odorless.
"Impressive technique, but unnaturally so."
No sound from the hiding spot, air flow severed—jarringly alien.
Keen senses alone wouldn't detect it, but So-hyang's near-supernatural spatial perception made hiding futile.
Especially the overt hostility felt since touching the princess in the springs.
"—Moon Shadow!! What have you done?!"
The princess rebuked the air in shock.
The guard called Moon Shadow remained silent and unseen despite the shout.
"She saw you as toying with her charge—natural for a guard to resent."
So-hyang calmed the furious princess, voicing understanding.
"Still, tone down the hostility? My skin prickles."
But the malice intensified.
Not outright killing intent, but clear antagonism.
"Ahaha, why so...?"
So-hyang's pale eyes chilled; her curved lips hinted at menace.
-----
Fundamentally, So-hyang's mental age was that of a centuries-old elder.
Most appeared as grandchildren, evoking fond, indulgent smiles.
Like harboring no grudge against Wind Path Beggar's group despite their murder attempt.
But she wasn't a pushover forgiving all.
Like decisively beheading the Blood Chase Squad for burglary and murder.
Of course, Moon Shadow merely harbored hostility without acting—
"I gave chances, didn't I...?"
Once, exposing the stealth.
Twice, empathizing as a guard.
Her patience extended only so far.
"Your Highness, pardon the intrusion."
With graceful poise, she drew her waist sword, slashing a chilling arc toward the princess.
"—Eh?"
The transparent air warped; a thin sword flew faster than the wind's parting, blocking before the princess.
A clear metallic ring echoed through the floor; the revealed guard gasped curses.
"You little—"
Before finishing, So-hyang's palm whipped toward her cheek.
A sharp smack resounded; her head snapped aside.
"...Uh, eh?"
Pain shattering fury and spinning her head, the guard stared blankly at So-hyang.
"Tsk, won't open your eyes properly?"
Elders sternly discipline insolent youths.
So-hyang deemed moderate corporal punishment acceptable.