Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: Go Mi's Tears
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Among the two imperial princes born to the Empress, one was thoroughly hiding himself. He had to be treated with as much caution as the Empress herself.
The reason I roamed this place like a madman was the hope that someday, someone would surely enter through there.
Thus, if I were harmed, the Empress would lose her strongest card, so she had not installed any traps here. Thanks to that, you were able to enter smoothly.
The Emperor's voice echoed in his mind.
His final words.
I'm sorry, my son.
Was it sympathy with the man's emotions?
Yi Hwan could not easily suppress his feelings.
Shwaaa!
The rain was still pouring fiercely. The rough wind and rain even swallowed the noise of the mechanism activating.
Hwa Ryeong appeared before him.
Had she waited without turning back? A bright smile bloomed on her face as she looked at Yi Hwan.
But Hwa Ryeong asked nothing.
It was because of Yi Hwan's endlessly sunken, gloomy gaze.
* * *
Ju Tae glanced at Yi Hwan's residence and turned to Cheol Mu-ok.
"What on earth happened in there? The atmosphere has been off since he returned... Was the Emperor really inside?"
"Perhaps."
Since returning from the forbidden area, Yi Hwan had not left his residence for two days. During that time, he had refused visits from Cheol Mu-ok and everyone else.
Cheol Mu-ok was worried.
'He's never been like this before.'
That was when Go Mi approached.
Cheol Mu-ok shook his head toward her. Go Mi stared at Yi Hwan's residence for a moment before stepping forward.
"Great Prince, I have a report."
"Come in."
Go Mi entered.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae stared at each other with wide eyes.
"Let's go in too."
Cheol Mu-ok grabbed the back of Ju Tae's collar as he tried to follow.
Grab.
"What's that?"
"Are you going to keep acting like a child?"
"......"
* * *
Having entered, Go Mi first examined Yi Hwan's complexion. He looked and felt no different from usual.
She cautiously sat across from him.
"Shall I prepare tea?"
"No need. Make your report."
"Yes."
Go Mi began her report immediately.
"The results suggest that the Second Prince's close aide, who was poisoned, may have been hit with Formless Poison."
At those words, Yi Hwan looked up.
"Did you say Formless Poison just now?"
"Yes. The physician performed the autopsy himself, so it's probably accurate."
Formless Poison, known as the king of poisons, had long vanished even from the martial world.
'Formless Poison was something that guy created first...'
Yi Hwan thought of the Poison King. He was the originator of Formless Poison. If determined, a single drop could kill hundreds or save hundreds—the worst deadly poison and the finest miracle medicine.
'Is that bastard a descendant of his?'
He thought of Yang Chan. If he was a poison master advanced enough to wield Formless Poison, the possibility could not be ruled out.
'In that case, maybe I shouldn't wait for him to appear but go hunt him down myself.'
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
"Nothing. Anything else?"
"Rumors are circulating that the Third Prince is moving his residence outside the capital. It seems he's opening the lake area he used as his base to the public and even setting up a military camp. If he moves, the forces around him will have no choice but to surface, so we should get a rough gauge of their strength."
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
Go Mi asked,
"You look very tired."
"I've had much to think about. No need for you to worry, so don't concern yourself."
"There is still something you haven't told us."
"About the Emperor's presence?"
"Yes. Isn't it the one thing everyone, including me, is most curious about?"
Yi Hwan leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly.
"It was as Hwa Ryeong predicted."
"...Then His Majesty was truly infected with the blood curse!?"
Go Mi's eyes widened fully.
The Emperor infected with a blood curse and imprisoned. This was an unprecedented monstrosity and tragedy, never to occur again.
"I removed the blood curse. But he refused to come out. When I told him about the palace's affairs, he said there was work to be done from inside. So..."
Yi Hwan trailed off, a glint in his eyes. Go Mi was trembling all over, her fists clenched tight.
She spat out,
"No matter who the Empress is, this is absolutely unforgivable. Absolutely..."
"Calm down. This gives us a power stronger than anything else."
"If you removed the blood curse, you should have brought him out no matter what!"
"Lower your voice."
"Great Prince!"
"Doesn't my word sound like words?"
"......!"
Shwaaa...
A frost-like aura settled in Yi Hwan's eyes. Go Mi's eyes flew wide, and she unwittingly clamped her mouth shut.
"I'll tell you the details after discussing with the Crown Prince, so leave."
"......Yes."
* * *
Hwa Ryeong looked up at the clear sky for once and took a deep breath.
"What a beautiful day."
She had escaped the thin-ice life of the Palace of Illusory Flowers. Now, life with people she had grown quite fond of felt wonderful.
Whoosh.
"Even the wind feels nice today?"
Enjoying the rare sunlight, Hwa Ryeong absentmindedly glanced at Yi Hwan's office and her eyes widened.
Go Mi was coming out. And she seemed to be crying.
'Why is she crying?'
Swish!
Hwa Ryeong dropped down in front of Go Mi.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Go Mi passed Hwa Ryeong and entered her own residence. Wondering what was going on, Hwa Ryeong hurried to Yi Hwan's office.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae greeted her.
Hwa Ryeong glanced at Yi Hwan's room and asked via transmission,
[The Moon Lord was crying? What happened?]
Cheol Mu-ok pointed at Yi Hwan's room. As she moved to enter abruptly, he grabbed her arm and shook his head.
[It's best to play dumb for now.]
"......!"
It was then.
"All three of you, come in."
Hwa Ryeong shook off Cheol Mu-ok's arm and entered first. Moments later, the three sat across from Yi Hwan.
Cheol Mu-ok cautioned Hwa Ryeong,
[Hold back until he speaks first.]
She was not one to hold back usually, but for some reason, she bit her lip and endured.
The three focused on Yi Hwan.
His atmosphere was definitely different from usual.
"Hwa Ryeong."
"Yes, Great Prince."
"You need to die now."
"......!"
"My lord! What do you mean by that!"
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae were shocked. Hwa Ryeong stared at Yi Hwan with wide eyes, at a loss for words.
Yi Hwan continued indifferently.
"Only then will the Empress stop looking for you. I've told the Moon Lord to make you a human skin mask. Once it's done, become a completely different person until everything ends."
"......"
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae finally relaxed their expressions. Hwa Ryeong shrieked.
"Follow some order when you speak! I really thought you meant to kill me! You're awful, really."
"......"
"Why was the Moon Lord crying? She's the one running herself ragged for you."
'The Moon Lord cried?'
At that, Yi Hwan looked at Cheol Mu-ok. Cheol Mu-ok replied heavily.
"She must have felt slighted."
Ju Tae chimed in.
"You'll have to make it up to her later, right?"
Yi Hwan had no idea Go Mi had cried. But recalling their conversation, he felt unnecessarily sorry.
Yi Hwan picked up his teacup. But not a drop remained.
"I'll prepare tea."
"No need."
Yi Hwan brought up something else.
"I'm moving the command post to the Imperial Palace."
"......Pardon?"
The three were startled again. Yi Hwan continued calmly.
"Only you three, the single-pulse warriors, the deputy general, and key officers will enter, so prepare in advance."
"What about me? I'm going too, right?"
"If I say stay, will you stay?"
"No."
"Then change your voice, tone, and behavior from now on. Make it so no one from the Palace of Illusory Flowers would recognize you."
"Got it."
Hwa Ryeong felt relieved. She had worried for a moment about being separated again after finally leaving the Palace of Illusory Flowers.
[Ask why we're going in quickly.]
Ju Tae urged Cheol Mu-ok.
Cheol Mu-ok asked cautiously.
"May I ask why you're suddenly entering the Imperial Palace?"
"I judged the palace is better for hunting the old fox and her cubs than here."
"So we're starting in earnest?"
"Yes."
Yi Hwan rose abruptly.
"I have a place to go, so don't follow."
"You're going to the Moon Lord... Gah!"
Hwa Ryeong pinched Ju Tae's side mercilessly.
[Use some tact!]
[Argh! Feels like you tore off a chunk of flesh...]
[Want more?]
"......"
* * *
Yi Hwan headed to Go Mi's residence.
A female warrior who had been diligently crafting something stood hurriedly and bowed.
"Greetings, Great Prince."
"Is she inside?"
"Yes. Please wait a moment."
Yi Hwan watched the female warrior enter Go Mi's room and sat down.
Looking around the room, there were no common paintings or ceramics. Instead, several maps of unknown places hung starkly on the walls.
It revealed Go Mi's resolve and will toward her position.
Go Mi opened the door and came out.
"Please come in, Great Prince."
"Could you step out for a bit?"
"Yes, Great Prince!"
The female warrior hurried out.
Go Mi sat across from Yi Hwan. He gazed at her reddened eyes.
"You must have felt slighted."
"No. I momentarily forgot your feelings, Great Prince. You must have been more heartbroken than I, yet I failed to consider it. I'm sorry."
It was sincere. At first, tears had welled from feeling hurt, but upon reflection, she realized Yi Hwan, of all people, must be hurting the most.
No matter how he treated her coldly, how would he feel seeing his father—who gave him life—in such a state? And she had shown intense emotions before such a man.
"Still, I was sorry. No matter how unsettled I was, I shouldn't have done that to anyone else, let alone the Moon Lord."
"......!"
At the heartfelt apology, tears that had welled up finally trickled down Go Mi's cheeks.
Drip.
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
Weren't these the tears of Go Mi, who seemed like she would never cry even with a knife to her throat?
"Shall we get some air?"
"......If it's because of me, it's fine."
"It's because of me."
"......"
* * *
Hwa Ryeong sat on the carriage driver's seat, humming a tune. She wore a newly made human skin mask, far prettier than the previous freckled one.
Cheol Mu-ok chuckled.
"You like it?"
"Of course. Don't I look younger?"
"Good that you like it. By the way, you need to change your voice, right?"
"How about this voice?"
"Too sticky—men would swarm you."
"Then this one?"
"Too nasal."
"Ugh, forget it!"
Then Yi Hwan's voice came from inside the carriage.
"I'm going to my sister's house."
"Yes, my lord."
"And be quiet."
"......"