Why Did It Turn Out Like This? (5)
The Emperor urged me on.
"Come on, speak up."
Your Majesty...
You already told me that what I wanted to say wouldn't fly, didn't you?
Still, who knew when another chance like this would come? I couldn't just let it slip away.
With no better option, I pulled out the backup plan I'd prepared just in case.
"Your Majesty, all I ask is that you trust me once, someday in the future."
"Trust your words?"
"Yes. I don't know when it will be, but when the time comes, please remember this promise today and believe what I say. That is my one wish."
This wish was for my future.
By succeeding in this mission, I'd become a subject truly favored by the Emperor in name and fact.
Not that I'd asked for it.
But that meant someone might try to slander me someday.
What I'd need then was time.
If the Emperor bought me that time, I could escape whatever trap someone had set.
Or even if the Murim Alliance poisoned the palace, with time from the Emperor, I could neutralize it.
It was my own safeguard for whatever the future might bring.
The Emperor pondered my words for a moment, then nodded.
"It's a simple request, yet an incredibly difficult one."
As expected of the Emperor.
He'd seen right through the true intent behind my plea.
"But I promised to grant your request, and an Emperor cannot go back on his word. Very well, I shall honor it. And as a bonus, I'll bestow upon you ten bolts of imperial silk."
"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's boundless grace."
With that, my rewards concluded last.
The Emperor rose from his seat and approached the Gold Guard daehyeops, personally patting their shoulders.
But to one in particular, his expression brimmed with special pride and satisfaction.
That look...
It was the same face my father made when looking at me or my brothers.
No way?
The moment I saw it, everything that hadn't made sense until now clicked into place.
Cold sweat broke out on my skin.
I'd pressed my sword to So-un Daehyeop's neck and forced him to grovel before me, hadn't I?
And even if it was acting... I'd made him bark like a dog in front of me... and slapped him?
It'll... be fine, right?
I'd made up for it later, soothing him well enough.
But what if it wasn't?
In my previous life, King Jinseung had told me that his eldest brother, Prince Seongbo, was the obsessive type—once fixated on something, he saw nothing else.
I made up my mind.
I knew nothing about it.
At that moment, the Emperor patted my shoulder and said,
"Crown Prince Juhyeon wants to see you."
A short while later.
Guided by an inner palace eunuch, I headed to meet Crown Prince Juhyeon.
It wasn't directly to the prince's chambers; I was led to a room in one of the palace halls.
"Please wait here. I'll escort His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Yes."
As I waited, glancing around, a familiar young man entered.
Crown Prince Juhyeon.
I quickly stood and paid my respects.
"Sit."
"Yes."
A palace maid entered as I sat, pouring tea.
"How is your health, Your Highness?"
The prince replied to my question.
"The physicians were astonished. They said my condition shouldn't have recovered so quickly to this extent."
He continued, looking at me.
"It must be thanks to the spirit medicine you fed me and used in my treatment."
Ah... that was Golden Spirit saliva.
But ignorance is bliss, so I just smiled lightly and bowed my head.
Then Crown Prince Juhyeon started misunderstanding on his own.
"Could it be... that was a spirit medicine you had on hand?"
"..."
"Good heavens! To use something so precious on me..."
"No matter how precious the spirit medicine, it's worth less than a human life."
His eyes filled with emotion as he gazed at me.
Uh, this is getting a bit heavy.
"From clearing Chun Gyeong-seong's injustice to saving me... How can I ever repay this grace?"
"I merely followed His Majesty's orders. And as for rewards, His Majesty has already bestowed them."
I continued.
"So please focus on your recovery. Seeing you stay healthy after all the effort to rescue you would be the greatest reward for me."
He nodded vigorously.
"I understand. I'll do my utmost to recover. By the way, now I see why they call you Seonhyeopmirang in the world."
"Cough!"
To hear that nickname from imperial lips...
Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
"Consort Hwarunbi arrives."
I'd sensed several people approaching, but it was Consort Hwarunbi.
Consort Hwarunbi was Crown Prince Juhyeon's mother.
She must have come all this way for her son.
We rose quickly, and soon the door opened as a beautifully attired woman entered.
I'd seen her before at the imperial silk delivery competition.
"Eunhae Merchant Group's young division head Eun Seo-ho pays respects to Consort Hwarunbi."
"Raise your head."
At her command, I slowly lifted my gaze.
"I came upon hearing you were meeting the Crown Prince. I wanted to thank you personally for saving my son."
She spoke to me in a gentle voice.
"Thank you for saving my son."
"I apologize, Your Ladyship, but this was the work of the Gold Guard daehyeops. I did little."
"Do you think me blind? I know full well your great contribution. Without you, I might have lost two precious sons."
Huh? Two?
Besides Crown Prince Juhyeon, who else...?
Ah, could it be So-un Daehyeop...
Consort Hwarunbi had three sons.
The eldest, Prince Seongbo, whom I hadn't met yet; the second, Crown Prince Juhyeon, whom I'd just saved; and the third, King Jinseung, from my previous life.
That would make So-un Daehyeop none other than Prince Seongbo.
Ah... In my previous life, Prince Seongbo must have seen Crown Prince Juhyeon's body.
That explained why he'd razed Chun Gyeong-seong so brutally.
The So-un Daehyeop I'd seen had an emotional side; seeing his brother's corpse in that state...
But why was the prince serving in the Gold Guard, hiding his identity?
For now, I set aside the questions and focused on the moment.
In any case, if So-un Daehyeop was her son, he'd likely told her of my exploits.
I expressed humility.
"All is due to His Majesty's grace."
"I knew you'd say that. And I will never forget this favor."
"For you to remember me is grace as vast as the sea."
"Sorry to interrupt your time together. I'll take my leave now."
Consort Hwarunbi left those words and departed.
I exchanged a few more words with Crown Prince Juhyeon and urged him to rest.
"Please rest now. You rose early, but you still need more recovery."
Truth be told, I said it because I wanted to escape this awkward situation and head to the Beijing branch.
Golden Spirit saliva was incredibly effective, after all.
.
.
.
I left the palace and headed straight to the Beijing branch.
They say leaving home means hardship, but to return after just three months...
"Young division head, you're back?"
"You're here? Young division head."
The branch staff welcomed me warmly.
Good, everyone seemed to be doing well.
"You've all worked hard while I was away. It's late today, so let's go eat something delicious tomorrow."
"Sounds great!"
They cheered at my words.
After greetings, I headed straight to my office.
Seo-hyang Sojeo tried to stop me.
"Young division head, there's nothing urgent for you to handle right now."
"Oh, really?"
Strange. After being away so long, nothing needed my immediate attention?
"His Majesty seems to have said to delay your duties a bit."
"Ah... I see."
Should I be grateful...?
"So go wash up and get some sleep."
"I suppose I should."
Palgap spoke up.
"I'll prepare the bath water then."
I chuckled at Palgap's hurried dash to my quarters, then turned to Seo-hyang Sojeo.
"Deputy Kwak."
"Yes."
"Your advice this time was a huge help. Thank you truly."
She smiled and shook her head at my gratitude.
"No need. It was only natural, for my own sake too."
True, I was her lifeline, after all.
Even if it made sense, I was still grateful.
That day, after bathing in warm water, I lay on the bed feeling refreshed in body and mind.
Home really is the best.
This wasn't the main headquarters' true home, of course, but it had become just as comfortable as my own.
As soon as I lay down, my consciousness blurred, and I fell into deep sleep.
.
.
.
When I opened my eyes, I slowly rose from the bed and stretched.
Having slept so soundly for the first time in ages, I felt utterly refreshed.
As I opened the door, Myeongjong Warrior and Iphil Warrior, standing guard, greeted me with clasped fists.
"Had a good rest?"
"Ah, yes. But what time is it now...?"
"You slept straight through two days."
I felt a bit embarrassed at that.
"That much? I promised a feast, but now I've broken it."
"It's fine. Everyone understands. And honestly, this wasn't an ordinary matter, was it?"
"Exactly. With all you've shouldered, young division head, it must have been several times harder for you than us."
Their words touched me deeply.
"Ah, you should eat and head to the office. Urgent matters have been piling up since this morning."
"What?"
It was so touching just a moment ago, and now it's shattered in an instant.
The palace.
Gold Guard's So-un followed Jin Yeong and Kwon Jik to the Emperor's office.
A moment later, an inner eunuch opened the door, and they entered.
They paid their respects.
Then So-un spoke to the Emperor.
"Father Emperor, I report that I have completed the five years of Gold Guard duty as you commanded."
"You worked hard. Back when I first gave you that order, you must have resented me."
"Honestly, yes at the time. But now I understand why you did it, and I can only admire your foresight."
He continued.
"Especially in this final mission, I learned so much."
So-un's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"I learned a great deal from young division head Eun Seo-ho, in particular. He's the first person to treat me that way, after all."
The Emperor had assigned Eun Seo-ho to this because he trusted his abilities.
He also hoped his son, on the cusp of his final mission, would learn more.
The crown prince was already set, but he needed a backup plan.
That was So-un.
The others were excellent, but none had the Emperor's qualities.
So-un was wise and talented beyond his years, but impulsive and emotional.
To correct that flaw, the Emperor had sent him to the Gold Guard.
He hoped diverse missions would teach him the ways of the world and temper his impatience.
The flaws had improved somewhat, but not perfectly.
Yet somehow, this mission had completely reformed his personality.
Though... it seems he learned a bit too much, beyond even my intentions.
Still, having observed and learned from Eun Seo-ho for no short time, he wouldn't be easily swayed by those trying to shake him.
"You worked hard. Now, with your Gold Guard duties..."
"Father Emperor, forgive me, but I have a request."
"What is it?"
"I wish to remain in the Gold Guard for one more year."
Surprised by the unexpected request, the Emperor asked why.
"What makes you think that?"
"Upon reflection, I realized I've only been a burden to the Gold Guard daehyeops. So I want to serve one more year to make up for it and help them."
His eyes shone brightly, filled with sincere resolve.
"I feel like now I can make up for past shortcomings."
"Shortcomings... Then you know what caused them."
"Of course. I was too hot-blooded, too emotional. It was all because of pride."
So-un declared confidently.
"I couldn't let go of the pride given to me. But this mission taught me that pride depends on my own actions."
He continued.
"By setting aside the pride bestowed upon me this time, I saw new things. What I'd clung to wasn't true pride. Real pride comes from my words, deeds, and achievements."
"To realize that already—impressive."
"It's thanks to young division head Eun Seo-ho."
His face flushed slightly as he spoke.
"It seems Eun Seo-ho gave you much guidance."
"Yes. Now I truly understand why he's called Seonhyeopmirang. He's an amazing person."
Seeing his face full of admiration, the Emperor suddenly felt sorry for Eun Seo-ho.
Sorry. I can't even stop that kid's obsession.