C2 Part1

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MoonWon gently stroked the girl’s hair and gave Yuhwa a smile.

“You said you’d only go out to sell the animal skins, so when you didn’t return, I was so worried something had happened to you. You said you’d cut back on your work, but what is all this that you’re bringing with you?! Didn’t I tell you that I can just sew more?”

“I only brought back things that I can do slowly. Yuhwa, if you overwork yourself in your condition, you’ll get sick. You must not do more than what you have right now.”

“How can I just remain like this when my Lady is working so hard? I’m merely my Lord’s concubine…”

“What is so amazing about a fallen noble’s daughter? There’s no need for you to wait for me like this.”

“My Lady!”

Yuhwa cried out with a ghastly pale face, but MoonWon didn’t show any discomfort. She could no longer call herself a noble, and she held no foolish, lingering attachment to the past.

Her large family was no longer filled with members, and the shed that used to overflow with wealth was no longer here. The customers that used to come every single day had now turned their backs on them.

“Is Father inside?”

“He just got up.”

“I’ll give him my greetings.”

“Um... my Lady.”

Yuhwa grabbed MoonWon and shook her head. Seeing her gesture, MoonWon let out a sigh.

Her household no longer had servants.

The only thing they had left was her collapsed father, his concubine with a bad leg, and the concubine’s young daughter.

As misfortune rocked their house, they had nowhere to turn.

“It’s fine, so just go inside with SoYoon. And don’t touch the things I brought with me or you may get hurt.”

Yuhwa didn’t seem to know what to do. Seeing this, MoonWon stretched out her hand to the young girl next to Yuhwa and gently stroked the girl’s hair.

Two years had already passed since their clan had collapsed. The pain of being abandoned by the Crown Prince as well as the aftereffects of her family’s ruin continued to torment her.

* * *

“MoonWon, I’ve been thinking.”

Her father looked worse for wear, but his eyes held a cold gleam. At first, those eyes terrified her so much that she had been afraid to approach him.

However, when she realized that YongUn’s eyes were those of a man who had everything taken away from him by force and was only holding on by one strand of hope, her fear transformed into pity.

“What did you think about?”

Because she had basically walked around the whole city today, her muscles were sore and heavy, but she didn’t betray any discomfort and sat down opposite her father.

“Doesn’t Her Highness the Consort visit the hot spring at the Yi River once a year? Let’s try going there. If Her Highness knows about our situation, she will definitely show mercy on us.”

MoonWon lowered her eyes when she heard YongUn’s idea. She didn’t know much about politics, but she knew just what kind of woman the Consort was. The Consort that her mother and father had trusted so much…

As the Consort’s friend, her mother had begun to act arrogant. Ultimately, unable to withstand their new situation, her mother took her own life.

Amidst all the confusion and chaos, YongUn’s health had deteriorated.

They were barely able to maintain their lives. When he was faced with his ruined clan, YongUn’s sense of loss had transformed into an obsession with the Consort. He was certain that if he met with the Consort, they would be able to return to the way things were. He continued to nag MoonWon about her.

“Do you know how far the Yi River is from here? And even if we get there, it is not guaranteed that we’ll be able to meet with her.”

“We only need to meet with her! You just think of how we can get there. I’ll do the talking.”

Her mother, who had trusted in the Consort, had been branded as a terrible wife, and YongUn had become a man who would do anything to protect his power.

Although their peers wagged their fingers at them, they wanted to be parents who would do everything for their child, MoonWon.

Although she was a girl, they claimed that she could do everything the boys could do and let her learn many things.

“

Cough, cough.”

Wracked by violent coughs, YongUn could no longer continue talking. MoonWon went to his side. She wiped the blood trickling down his lips with the hem of her sleeve and carefully laid him down on his bedding.

“Let me get your medicine. Please rest.”

“We must quickly make our way to the Yi River…”

“Please rest.”

When YongUn began to flay his arms, MoonWon grabbed them and waited. A few moments later, YongUn murmured that they must leave and gradually fell asleep. After watching over the sleeping YongUn for a little while longer, MoonWon went back to her seat and sat down.

She had planned to go to the mountain before the sun had completely set, but she couldn’t get herself to stand.

‘How can lingering attachments bring back the past?!’

She would only have the strength to hate someone when her family’s situation was more secure.

The people she needed to give all her attention to at this moment was YongUn, who was currently losing his mind, Yuhwa, the concubine whose leg had been hurt by MoonWon’s own mother, and her little sister SoYoon. She didn’t have time to care about the Crown Prince or the Consort.

“My Lady, a guest has arrived.”

The word ‘guest’ sounded so strange to her. After the fall of their family, the only ones who’d come to see them were people who had been wronged by her mother or people who wondered if they had any money stored away.

After exiting the room, MoonWon’s brows furrowed when she saw who was standing there. She was suddenly filled with an ominous feeling.

She did her best to swallow the bitter taste in her mouth and lowered her head.

“It has been a while, Deputy Secretary General.”

As MoonWon bowed to him in greeting, Deputy Secretary General Kong WonJoon stroked his beard.

* * *

“You’ve grown up a lot.”

After placing a cup of water in front of WonJoon, MoonWon sat across from him.

“I apologize that we don’t have much to serve you in terms of refreshments.”

“I can clearly see how your household situation is, so why would I ask for more? There’s no need to worry about me.”

WonJoon had personally come to visit their house, but instead of asking to speak with YongUn, he asked to speak with MoonWon privately.

“I hope your father recovers soon. It’s been hard on you.”

“I know that you’re not here because of Father. May I ask what this is about?”

WonJoon burst into laughter at her boldness.

Her father had lost his reason after having become drunk with power, and her mother had become a bully. However, MoonWon was different from her parents.

While her parents had gone out to wreak havoc with their authority, the one who had weathered her family through the storm was their eldest daughter MoonWon. Everyone in the higher circles knew this very well.

If everything had gone according to plan, she would have become the Crown Princess. However, the emperor abandoned the Ju family.

“It has been decided that Jiah will become the Crown Princess.”

When she heard the word ‘Crown Princess’, MoonWon’s fingertips began to tremble almost imperceptibly. WonJoon glanced at her to see if he could gauge her thoughts.

However, the wave of emotions only appeared for a second. In the next moment, her expression returned to normal and she replied in a firm voice.

“Congratulations. It looks like you will become the future emperor’s father-in-law.”

“You’re a lot calmer than I expected. Wasn’t that supposed to be your seat?”

He was gazing at her casually, but the aura oozing out of WonJoon was too dangerous to overlook. MoonWon had learned things she didn’t want to know as she attended to her father and cleaned up the mess her mother had left behind.

“It was an engagement that His Highness the Crown Prince had pushed for, and it ended without coming to fruition. Two years have already passed. There is no reason for me to be disappointed. I have no need for any lingering attachments to that title.”

“It has not ended for His Highness.”

MoonWon’s eyes narrowed at WonJoon’s statement. After gazing into her eyes, WonJoon picked up the cup of water and took a sip.

“Help His Highness let you go.”

“I’ve already let go of him. There is nothing I can do.”

“Get married.”

MoonWon’s eyes widened as she was at a loss for words. Before she could open her mouth and ask him what he meant, WonJoon cut her off.

“I’ll find you a good marriage partner, so we should hurry and…”

“What are you going to do if I refuse?”

“MoonWon, do you think I came all the way here to ask you for a favor?”

The anxiety that had appeared with WonJoon began to tighten around her throat once again. She didn’t want to speak with WonJoon anymore, but his eyes were still glued to her.

“This is an order.”

Her heart sank inside her chest.

The events that had taken place two years ago had returned to shackled her once more.

She needed to refuse, but the words remained stuck inside her throat and would not come out.

* * *

Sleep evaded her. MoonWon picked up her heavy body and sat up.

Three days had passed since she had been notified of her marriage.

“Huu.”

Before the Deputy Secretary General’s visit, strange things had begun to happen.

The terrible stench of blood, the decapitated corpses, and the bloody man standing in the middle of this scene. Recalling his cold gaze and terrifying voice, MoonWon’s body began to tremble.

Before she could forget the events of that day, the Deputy Secretary General had visited to urge her to marry.

It could have been a coincidence, but for some reason, she couldn’t help but feel that the two events were somehow connected.

“Do we need to run away?”

Either way, all she had left was her father, Yuhwa, and SoYoon. The small amount of money she had managed to bring from their ruined house was almost gone. She was making some money using whatever skills she had, but the money required to buy YongUn and Yuhwa’s medicine was formidable.

“Not marriage.”

She had decided long ago that she would not refuse any help, but it depended on the situation. If she stepped foot in an uncertain situation, things could backfire and she could lose everything.

When the thoughts did not stop, MoonWon shook her head.

Thinking some fresh air would do her good, MoonWon changed her clothes and went outside. The cold night air blew around her.

Her body trembled at the unexpectedly cold breeze, but it helped settle her chaotic heart.

“Hm?”

The relief only lasted a moment. When she felt a strange presence, MoonWon stood up.

“MoonWon.”

Just as she turned around to go back into her room, MoonWon froze.

She heard a voice she had no reason to hear. The man who had embraced her as he asked to live their lives together had brushed off her hand in her time of need as if it were dirty.

“MoonWon, it’s me.”

When she screamed until her throat was sore as she was being taken away by soldiers, he had never turned around.

“Your Highness.”

The wound that raged against her difficult reality slowly began to open once again.

“Your Highness, please save me.”

Too tired to walk, MoonWon crawled to JaeHoon’s feet and slumped down. Her vision was blurry and her body was trembling, but Crown Prince JaeHoon was the only one she could hold onto right now.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please show mercy.”

She never wanted to be the Crown Princess. She never wanted power. She merely followed her family’s orders and accepted JaeHoon’s outstretched hand.

“I didn’t come here to save you.”

“Your Highness! Please!”

“Soldiers! Why aren’t you dragging the criminal away?!”

She felt that she’d be fine if she never married. And if she had to marry, she hoped to live quietly as the wife of a common man.

Because she didn’t have anything, she had nothing to covet.

That’s what she thought. However, the moment she saw JaeHoon, it all collapsed.

* * *

“If you have something to say, say it quickly and let me go back.”

This was the first time he’d seen her in two years, and she had changed so much. The eyes that would sparkle when she was in a good mood were now sunken and heavy. The smiling face that was as bright as the new moon was now stiff and dark.

She didn’t want to speak with him, but he forcibly grabbed her and brought her to an inn on the outskirts of the city. He had so many things he wanted and needed to say to her, but MoonWon remained cold.

“MoonWon.”

But she was still so lovely. The feelings that didn’t arise for any other woman in the Palace, no, for any woman among the nobility, began to bubble over when he saw her.

The only one who could move his heart. How could he leave this kind of woman and marry another?!

“I heard that you are to be married to the Chief Commander.”

Had her marriage partner already been chosen? She had resolved herself to the fact that she was getting married, but she never imagined that her future husband had already been decided on. And it was the Chief Commander no less… Wasn’t he the son that the Consort had given birth to before she had entered the Palace?

“Who told you that?”

“Just hold on a little longer.”

MoonWon’s eyes narrowed at JaeHoon’s words. However, because he continued to speak, he didn’t notice the way she was looking at him.

“It’s difficult right now, but if you endure and wait a little longer, I will come get you no matter what. I will convince Father Emperor no matter what and…”

“How am I to endure?”

JaeHoon’s mouth closed shut at MoonWon’s reply. However, MoonWon had reached her limit.

She was already at a loss for how to survive right now, so how could she endure more than this? And even if she were to grit her teeth and endure it even more, there was no guarantee that JaeHoon would stretch out his hand to help her in the end.

“I’m already having such a hard time, but are you telling me to put my trust in you and endure even more, Your Highness?”

“MoonWon!”

“You are someone who has already let go of my hand, Your Highness. How am I to know that you won’t do it again?”

A guard standing behind them stepped forward at MoonWon’s harsh words. JaeHoon stopped him from coming any closer.

JaeHoon was incredibly confused by MoonWon’s reaction. In the past, she was a maiden who had followed everything he said.

“If you would like to show me your truth, then don’t wait and take me with you right now.”

JaeHoon flinched at MoonWon’s words. Seeing his bewildered reaction, MoonWon lowered her head.

She didn’t have a family that could protect her anymore. And the MoonWon that would yield to every one of her family’s wishes was no longer here as well.

“You cannot do anything, Your Highness.”

After finishing what she had to say, MoonWon let out a sigh. She had been helplessly dragged here, but if Yuhwa found out that she went missing in the middle of the night, she’d be worried.

She didn’t want to dwell on the Palace or JaeHoon anymore.

“I’ll take my leave…”

“Aigoo! You were here! Aigoo!”

A foreboding feeling washed over her.

The fatigue that had been weighing down on her joints disappeared in an instant. Brushing past JaeHoon, MoonWon rushed down the stairs.

“What’s going on at this time of night?”

“I heard that a suspicious person entered your house, but SoYoon… That small child SoYoon said that she’d protect the Lord and… Oh, no.”

MoonWon didn’t finish listening to the man. Without so much as a goodbye to JaeHoon, she began to run back to her house. Seeing her disappear, JaeHoon stood up to follow after her. Before he could take a step, his guard grabbed him.

“Your Highness, we cannot stay any longer.”

He needed to catch MoonWon. However, if he did that, he would have to give up everything.

Could he do it?

“...Let’s return to the Palace.”

He didn’t have any power right now.