Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Translator: Penny
Chapter 62
A cat on the hunt.
Or, an eagle.
These were the kinds of thoughts that came to Yoo Sung-jae’s mind when he first saw Ha-eun’s sharp eyes.
Of course, that was only her appearance; he didn’t think of Ha-eun as a particularly fierce person.
A calm atmosphere emanating from her composed way of speaking.
And, underlying it all, a cautiousness.
She knew how to choose her words while not pushing away Yoo Sung-jae, who was always trying to strike up friendly conversations.
Thanks to that, he was able to narrow the distance between himself and Ha-eun without much difficulty.
However, there was that moment when Ha-eun’s sword, instead of the wild boar in his imagination, grazed the edge of Yoo Sung-jae’s robe by a hair’s breadth.
At that time, all the emotions he felt from her fierce gaze were far from ‘affection.’
‘Romance… is it even possible?’
He couldn’t help but worry if the core genre of , ‘historical romance,’ could be properly expressed.
It was also because he couldn’t quite imagine what someone with Ha-eun’s fierce impression would look like when in love.
To put it bluntly, it was an unnecessary worry.
Having a fierce impression and acting out being in love were, in the end, separate matters.
｢I guess it’ll have to be just the two of us from now on.｣
｢Y-You mean just the two of us, Your Highness?｣
｢Yes, just the two of us. Everyone else just nags me all day.｣
A light conversation during an outing.
However, the emotions that bloomed on Yeongwol’s face were anything but light.
The joy of being able to go on an outing alone with Lee Hyun once again.
At the same time, regret.
The outing with Lee Hyun was promised to Yeongwol, the bodyguard.
It was not promised to Yeongwol, the woman who loved Lee Hyun.
Something that could never be promised.
｢Why are you so deep in thought? Are you that sick of taking care of a Crown Prince who loves to go out every day?｣
｢…So you are aware that you love to go out.｣
But you’re not aware that you’re constantly tormenting me.
The words she had to swallow once again made Yeongwol feel bitter.
Even so, her heart still fluttered.
She felt like he was a man, not just the Crown Prince she had to serve.
-Tap tap.
｢How can the Crown Prince’s bodyguard go around with grass on her shoulder?｣
She flinched even at the fleeting touch of him lightly brushing off a pine needle that had somehow gotten on her.
It was because she still held onto the feelings she had given up on conveying, so she couldn’t even breathe easily.
Even though she still had a fierce impression and sharp eyes.
The emotions for Lee Hyun that were overlaid on top of that made Yeongwol look like a woman, not a strong martial artist.
In the past, she had only received comradery between lord and subject from Lee Hyun.
But what Yeongwol truly wanted now was love between a man and a woman.
However, for the sole reason that remaining as his bodyguard was what was best for Lee Hyun.
｢…It’s getting late, so let’s return to the East Palace now.｣
She forcibly suppressed the desire to be with Lee Hyun a little longer.
She walked behind Lee Hyun instead of beside him.
Only after Lee Hyun started walking ahead could she finally turn her gaze to him.
From Yeongwol, who could only watch without revealing any of her true feelings, only heartache was felt.
And… cut.
It was exactly the scene that Jin Gyu-seong had imagined while reviewing the script, so no NG sign was added.
‘It’s definitely become softer compared to episode 1.’
Another advantage of filming the scenes in the order of the script.
It’s easy to check whether things like the relationships and emotions between the characters that change as time passes in the drama are well expressed.
Lee Hyun and Yeongwol’s first impressions of each other were clearly far from romantic.
However, as time passed.
Now that Lee Hyun and Yeongwol cherished each other for different reasons.
“Wow, Sung-jae is going to get a lot of hate when this airs, huh?”
“If it were man to man, it wouldn’t really matter. But because it’s man to woman, it comes off as flirting.”
“Unintentional flirting always looks worse. I guess we have to accept that part.”
It was more important than anything to express the emotional gap between Lee Hyun and Yeongwol.
There had to be scenes like S#51 where Yeongwol’s feelings didn’t reach Lee Hyun, so that their eventual union would shine more beautifully.
The very next scene, S#52, was also a scene that would make their eventual union stand out even more.
However, unlike S#51, which had a relatively calm atmosphere.
“We need to rehearse the part where you slap Yeongwol, so Da-yeon, please get ready.”
S#52, which they would be filming soon, was a scene with a darker atmosphere.
It was also a scene where Lee Hyun and Yeongwol faced a crisis.
“Hmm…. How about trying to hit slightly downward from this angle?”
-Whoosh!
“That, that was too abrupt just now. Make the trajectory a little smoother.”
The part that Ha-eun and Da-yeon were currently rehearsing was the part that most clearly showed that the two protagonists were in danger.
But was it because this was the first time Da-yeon was playing a villain like Queen Yoon?
Even though they continued to practice for quite a while, the act of slapping Da-yeon’s cheek was slightly off or awkward.
It would be better to actually slap her cheek.
This was something that not only Da-yeon, but also Ha-eun, had somewhat anticipated.
“Hey, Da-yeon. Just hit me.”
“What if you get hurt?”
“…You’re going to hit me hard enough to get hurt?”
“Th-That’s not what I meant!”
They decided to actually get slapped on the cheek.
Da-yeon, as well as the surrounding staff, tried to dissuade Ha-eun from this decision.
“But I’d like to try it once and then decide.”
Due to Ha-eun’s continued insistence, they eventually tried actually slapping her cheek once.
And… smack.
“Uh…. It’s definitely better when you actually hit her…. Are you really okay with this?”
“Yes.”
Either way, the staff didn’t want the filming to be delayed any further, so Ha-eun’s opinion was eventually accepted.
The problem was that Da-yeon’s expression didn’t improve even after actually slapping Ha-eun’s cheek.
From Ha-eun’s perspective, she couldn’t easily understand Da-yeon’s behavior.
Da-yeon had been eager to get her hands on Ha-eun for quite some time, so she thought that if she slapped Ha-eun’s cheek under the guise of filming, Da-yeon’s mood would improve to some extent.
‘…Why is she like that.’
For some reason, she seemed to be in a worse mood after slapping Ha-eun’s cheek.
Was the feeling of it not very good or something?
Of course, Ha-eun had no intention of letting Da-yeon slap her cheek until Da-yeon’s mood improved.
Ha-eun had only made the choice to actually get slapped on the cheek by Da-yeon because she thought it would be easier to film that way.
If they went into actual filming with Da-yeon’s awkward hand movements from before, they would only keep hearing NG signs.
Therefore, regardless of Da-yeon’s expression, Ha-eun had no intention of retracting her decision.
However, because Queen Yoon’s intimidation in S#52 was a scene that continued from the last part of S#51.
“Hey, you with the mole on your left cheek! You took the wrong sword!”
“Ah…. S-Sorry!”
The filming took place in a place that was a bit far from where Ha-eun and Da-yeon had been practicing.
The filming of S#52 began 10 minutes after that.
“Okay, then…. 3, 2, 1. Action!”
Finally, Jin Gyu-seong’s cue sign was heard, and immediately after that, the sound of footsteps was heard from all directions.
Not long after, Lee Hyun and Yeongwol were completely surrounded by royal guards sent by someone.
It was only natural that Yeongwol’s eyes became even sharper in response.
However, for some reason.
｢We have been ordered to bring this person in.｣
｢Who dares to give such an order─!｣
｢It is Your Highness. So, please hand her over.｣
They had come for Yeongwol, a mere Byeolgam, not Lee Hyun, the Crown Prince.
Moreover, they had come with a royal decree.
As a result, Yeongwol was eventually surrounded by royal guards and had no choice but to leave Lee Hyun’s side.
There was no one in this Joseon land who could defy a royal decree.
The problem was that the place where Yeongwol’s steps stopped was Gyotaejeon, the Queen’s residence.
In other words, it meant that it was the Queen, not the King, who had ordered Yeongwol to be brought in.
｢Show respect. This is Her Majesty the Queen.｣
She belatedly realized that something was seriously wrong.
Nevertheless, her knees were suppressed by the royal guards on either side and she had no choice but to kneel.
｢…Was the outing with the Crown Prince enjoyable?｣
A cold gaze.
A cold voice.
These were things that made it impossible not to realize that she had not been summoned with good intentions.
However, the difference in status between Yeongwol and Queen Yoon was like heaven and earth.
So, there was nothing she could do right now except keep her mouth shut.
No matter what Yeongwol said or did, it could be considered treason.
Even so, the reason why Yeongwol’s mouth eventually had to open was.
｢The eldest daughter of Minister of Public Works Kim Ho-jin, Kim Yeon. Does that name ring a bell?｣
A name that Yeongwol herself had abandoned long ago.
At the same time, it was a name that should never be revealed to anyone.
｢…I don’t know it.｣
｢Ha…. You don’t know?｣
｢Yes.｣
Yeongwol’s voice was as dry as ever.
In contrast, Queen Yoon’s voice, which had been gradually trembling and building up emotion, was the opposite.
｢How dare you lie like this…! Know your place!｣
-Smack!
And so, Queen Yoon’s fierce hand finally struck Yeongwol’s cheek.
Almost simultaneously, she roughly grabbed the end of Yeongwol’s head that had turned.
｢Ha, fine. Since you don’t know, I’ll kindly tell you.｣
Soon, a beautiful hand without any calluses was pulling her towards herself.
｢If His Majesty knew that someone who had abandoned the natural bond between parents and children and hid their identity was standing by the Crown Prince’s side with a sword, what kind of order do you think he would give?｣
｢…That’s really a name I don’t know.｣
｢Say the same thing in front of your father. Surely your father will also become a traitor who tried to assassinate the Crown Prince and be thrown into the same prison as you.｣
A terribly chilling voice.
Decisively, the power that the two words ‘the Queen’ possessed was enough to make everything that Queen Yoon had said so far possible.
｢…Please tell me the reason for this.｣
She could no longer deny Queen Yoon’s words and asked what she wanted.
If she was really planning to make Yeongwol and her father traitors, there would have been no need to intimidate Yeongwol like this.
｢Leave the Crown Prince’s side. And never return to the palace again.｣
What followed was a story about the power struggle between Lee Hyun and Queen Yoon.
More precisely, it was a story about the safety of the child in Queen Yoon’s womb.
｢If the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, he will surely try to eliminate my child. Would the Crown Prince really spare a threat to his position?｣
｢…Your Highness would not do such a thing.｣
｢Even if the Crown Prince is not such a person, the throne is a place where it cannot be helped.｣
However, if Yeongwol left Lee Hyun’s side.
And if Lee Hyun’s heart and mind slowly crumbled as a result.
And if he eventually fell out of favor with the King.
｢He will entrust Joseon to me instead of the Crown Prince. He cannot entrust this country and its people to a weak person who crumbles just because a mere Byeolgam is gone!｣
Queen Yoon and her child would be safe.
Therefore.
｢Leave, for the sake of your old father. This is the last mercy I am bestowing in place of His Majesty.｣
She wanted to isolate Lee Hyun by forcibly intimidating Yeongwol.
At the same time, she made it clear that Queen Yoon’s method was the only way to save everyone.
｢If only you disappear, no one will be harmed. Really, no one will be harmed.｣
A deep gaze that did not contain even a speck of lightness.
A solemn voice emanating from the high status of the Queen.
Decisively, Yeongwol’s cold reality, where she had not been given a choice in the first place.
｢……………………….｣
Made it impossible for Yeongwol to easily utter any answer.
The fact that she had become a weakness for Lee Hyun, whom she had tried so hard to protect, was mercilessly trampling on Yeongwol’s heart.
And so, at the moment when Da-yeon met Ha-eun’s eyes, which were more sorrowful than ever.
-Throb.
She realized why Da-yeon had felt something strange about Ha-eun surrounded by her classmates in the past.
“Cut! That was great!”
Even after the cameras and lights slowly began to be put away.
Even after heading to the costume room to change back into her original clothes, and then getting into Kim Jin-soo’s white van.
Ha-eun’s sad eyes did not leave her mind.
The memories of the sharp looks that Da-yeon had shown Ha-eun over the past 11 years also did not leave her mind.
She was a villain.
Like Queen Yoon.
‘…How did this happen?’
At first, it was clearly a competitive spirit to try to beat Ha-eun in acting.
She stayed by Ha-eun’s side to gain the self-satisfaction of having performed better than Lee Ha-eun.
However, as time went on.
She had gradually begun to feel things other than acting competition.
She was unconsciously afraid.
That Ha-eun, tired of Da-yeon constantly showing her an unfriendly side, would eventually leave Da-yeon.
Even so, she hated to admit it and continued to turn a blind eye.
Then, at that moment when she saw Ha-eun comfortably talking to people other than Da-yeon.
-Throb.
She once again faced the image of Da-yeon herself, who had become alone, and the image of 6-year-old Min Da-yeon, who had rejected all the children around her because she was special.
Appearing as a villain in the same drama as Ha-eun was Da-yeon’s last struggle.
She thought that if she competed with Ha-eun in acting again, she would be able to quickly forget such a lonely image.
To put it bluntly, it was a misjudgment.
Every time she acted cruelly towards Ha-eun as Queen Yoon, she only felt more guilty.
It was only acting, so it wasn’t something to be so concerned about.
Even so, the fluttering in her heart, which was getting worse day by day.
-Tap.
“Uh…? D-Da-yeon. Are you sick?! Why are you crying all of a sudden!”
“I don’t, I don’t know… nothing….”
Made it impossible to find a reason for Da-yeon to be by Ha-eun’s side.
She belatedly realized that the reason why Da-yeon had been able to get along with Ha-eun was purely because Ha-eun was kind.
If Ha-eun changed her mind and pushed Da-yeon away, she would eventually have no choice but to be alone again.
These were the images of the past, when it would not have been strange at all to be alone again.
Should she apologize before it’s too late?
No, isn’t it already too late to fix it with an apology?
She had only now realized that she had to change.
But she couldn’t even guess how to change.
\*
[ekdus7 has donated ₩100,000!]
: There’s a friend who kept bullying me since I was young, and I want to apologize to that friend now. But I’m worried that my friend won’t accept my apology. It’s hard to talk to my friend again because we’ve been apart for a while. But I hate to drift apart like this even more. What should I do? I’m also embarrassed to say that I want to continue being friends in the future
Cut the sob story
Why are you suddenly confessing here
This isn’t a school counseling center, dude
It’s too long, so it got cut off in the middle
I can’t ignore it because it’s 100,000 won lol
“Uh, um, first…! Let’s continue talking in a 1-on-1 chat─☆”
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny