C4 Part2

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This woman revealed more of herself depending on the situation. Was this her version of motherly love? Or was she trying to show others that the one who owned Heon wasn’t his newly wedded wife but her?

“Back then, His Majesty was so stubborn, so I wasn’t able to stop him. Since that girl is that attendant’s daughter, how could I be satisfied with her? But it was His Majesty’s order, so I wasn’t able to go against it. This mother of yours will go and take care of it for you, so just wait a little longer.”

“Are you thinking of breaking my marriage?”

“Isn’t it a marriage you didn’t even want? As your mother, how could I not know this?”

Among Consort Yu’s supporters, there was a saying that there wasn’t a blessing better than to be graced with Consort’s beautiful smile. On the other side, her enemies claimed that Consort Yu was ruining the nation and that she needed to be put to death immediately.

Neither side was wrong. To those she saw as valuable, she showed such generosity and mercy. However, to those who were in her way, she patiently bided her time before handing them the most deadly poison.

And Heon knew why she was clinging onto him so tenaciously.

“As expected… Seeing as how I cannot manage that woman myself, it’s no surprise you can’t handle her either.”

“Heon?”

Consort Yu looked at him in confusion. When he saw this, a crooked smile stretched across his lips.

“What is it that you want from me?”

“What?”

“Seeing as how it’s just the two of us here, why don’t you tell me freely. If I ally myself with you, what do you plan to do?”

Even though she heard the words she’d been waiting to hear, Consort Yu didn’t feel an ounce of happiness as she gazed at Heon. She wasn’t sure what she’d done to irk him this time, but he was a lot more fierce than usual. The scarier he became, the calmer he seemed. Consort Yu’s eyes widened.

“Is your heart wavering towards that child?”

“Since you want to hear it so much, I’ll call you as you’d like, Mother.”

When she heard him call her ‘Mother’, a shiver ran down her spine. Although he was the only son she had given birth to, at this moment, she didn’t want to say another word to him.

Even though she was the one who’d first approached him, she began to back away. Seeing this, Heon grabbed her.

“This was a marriage I chose, and she was the wife I took in.”

“She’s a girl that is destined to marry the Crown Prince. She’s a girl that he fell head over heels for and will not give her away to anyone.”

“......”

“She’s a girl that the Crown Prince still has not forgotten. I’m not sure about now, but no one knows how things will turn out.”

“From what you just told me, it seems that he has already begun to move.”

At his pointed remark, Consort Yu caught her breath. However, her expression quickly returned to normal. Then she confidently opened her mouth.

“Do you think one’s first love is something that disappears quickly? As more time goes by, a first love becomes more earnest and sincere. If it was something I could break the first time, then your marriage is no different.”

Although those words were ridiculous, Consort Yu’s remark pierced deep into Heon’s heart and made a small wound. Even though he knew this was her way of trying to get him to waver, once the suspicion had taken root, it had transformed into rage.

Was MoonWon with JaeHoon right now?

Although his heart was being rocked into chaos, he didn’t let it show on the outside. Consort Yu watched him, waiting for any sign of a crack in his armor. However, Heon didn’t plan on letting her succeed.

“Someone I know abandoned her son and the husband who had been her first love.”

“Y...You!”

Heon turned his eyes away from her. When he saw a man standing not too far away, he let out a sigh.

It was Prime Minister Lee Moon who was leading the charge against Consort Yu. It wasn’t good for Heon to be seen speaking with the Consort in public like this.

Heon knew very well who had sent the assassins to attack him. Although the Consort was someone who he’d like to sever ties with, others saw him and the Consort as one.

“I will take my leave for today.”

“I’m not finished yet.”

“Then speak to the air on your own.”

“Where do you think the Crown Prince went?”

Heon couldn't stop his breath from catching. Consort Yu looked at Heon with pity in her eyes.

“I heard that as soon as he heard you came here alone, he left the Palace. Who do you think he went to see?”

Heon’s heart turned cold and sank inside his chest. His footsteps quickened.

To Heon’s knowledge, MoonWon wasn’t someone who acted rashly. However, he knew how foolish a maiden’s heart, a first love, could be.

Having completely turned away from Consort Yu, Heon began to exit the Palace. When Junghwan saw that Heon was walking in the opposite direction of the emperor’s office, he approached him.

“Master!”

“We’re heading back.”

To the shock of everyone, she was the woman that he had taken in as his wife.

A maiden who was supposed to become the Crown Princess. They said that she was the Crown Prince’s lover.

If that was the case, then MoonWon…

Then the Crown Prince who had gone to see her…

Heon unconsciously clenched his fist.

“Master, the imperial order…”

Even Lee Moon, who did not favor Heon, and even the annoying Consort Yu… Even the emperor whose thoughts Heon could not understand… None of them remained inside Heon’s head.

At this moment, there was only one person on Heon’s mind.

“M-Master!”

Despite Junghwan’s calls, Heon’s footsteps grew faster as he exited the Palace.

* * *

“Unnie!”

Seeing MoonWon coming from afar, SoYoon got up and ran towards her without hesitation. SoYoon’s large eyes were wet with tears and glistened like shiny marbles.

MoonWon crouched down to SoYoon’s level as her eyes narrowed apologetically.

“Have you been well?”

Now that she was tightly buried in MoonWon’s embrace, SoYoon burst into tears. MoonWon gently stroked SoYoon’s small back in apology. Possibly due to her heightened emotions, SoYoon would not calm down despite MoonWon’s soothing.

“I thought I’d never see you again.”

“Never see me…? But I’m here because I wanted to see you.”

“But I couldn’t send you letters or go see you. If I hadn’t gotten hurt, you wouldn’t have had to go so far away.”

Although SoYoon’s injury had been the push, MoonWon had definitely not gotten married because of it. MoonWon consoled her sulking sister and shook her head.

It hadn’t been an easy decision. And although it was a bit difficult, she had no regrets.

“If you feel that way, then I feel even more sorry. Don’t ever think that way.”

“But…”

“I’m doing fine. That’s why I was able to come here like this.”

SoYoon swallowed back her tears when she saw MoonWon’s bright smile. MoonWon wiped SoYoon’s tears and gazed down at the sister she hadn’t seen in so long. Although not a lot of time had passed, SoYoon had already grown taller.

“What about Father and Yuhwa?”

“Mother went out, and Father is inside.”

“Let’s go see him.”

A sense of relief that she hadn’t felt since she’d gotten married rushed through her as soon as she got here.

She had come home.

As MoonWon slowly stood up, SoYoon’s hand grabbed hers. Holding SoYoon’s small, soft hand, MoonWon turned around and looked at Hong-yeom and Yeori.

“I’ll be back, so stay here.”

“Is this the younger sister you’ve been speaking about, Mistress?”

SoYoon turned her head when she heard Hong-yeom’s question. When MoonWon nodded, Hong-yeom’s piercing gaze rested on SoYoon.

“She doesn’t look like what you described at all.”

MoonWon burst into laughter. SoYoon, who had been looking up at MoonWon all this time, finally turned her head.

The boy was about a hand’s width taller than her. Despite the fact that he wasn’t like the other children in this neighborhood who had pale skin, the part that drew SoYoon’s interest was his blue eyes that reminded her of the sky.

He was quite pretty to look at, but his words did not match his looks. They were very rough and coarse.

“Unnie, who is he?”

“He’s a child who helps me with my work. You can call him Hong-yeom.”

SoYoon’s eyes returned to Hong-yeom and observed him. A child who stayed by MoonWon’s side… Before MoonWon had gotten married, that had been SoYoon’s job. She felt as if her position had been replaced.

SoYoon wasn’t sure what MoonWon had told him about her, but his eyes were full of dissatisfaction as he looked at her. SoYoon felt a spurt of anger, but he was still a hand’s width taller than her, so she held back. The only one she could trust was MoonWon. SoYoon hid behind MoonWon’s skirts and narrowed her eyes.

“Unnie, he’s a weird kid.”

When Hong-yeom heard this, his eyes narrowed as well. Seeing Hong-yeom’s reaction, SoYoon looked up at MoonWon and smiled.

“But his eyes look pretty.”

“Doesn’t it?”

MoonWon asked back in response to SoYoon’s observation. SoYoon nodded and went back to looking at Hong-yeom.

“It’s as if I’m looking at sparkling sapphires. But I’m not sure what he meant by me not looking like how you described.”

After hearing SoYoon’s remark, MoonWon glanced at Hong-yeom. Unexpectedly, Hong-yeom’s face had turned red, and his face was lowered to his chest. Although he didn’t look it, Hong-yeom was a very considerate child, and he also grew bashful quite easily.

MoonWon gently stroked Hong-yeom’s hair before she held SoYoon’s hand and went inside the house.

* * *

Even though it was far away, a delighted girl’s laughter traveled through the air. It was soon followed by a voice that definitely belonged to MoonWon.

Not bothering to wipe the sweat on his forehead, Heon stopped in his tracks. Seeing Heon’s reaction, Junghwan approached him.

“Master, the Mistress is…”

“Shh!”

When Junghwan was about to step out after hearing MoonWon’s voice, Heon stopped him. Although it was hard to hear, the laughter definitely belonged to MoonWon. Hearing her laughter for the first time, Heon felt something stir inside him.

Thanks to MoonWon’s mother, Consort Yu had entered the arms of the emperor. Heon’s harmonious household had been shattered. The moment his ill father finally let go of his life, the vultures surrounding the clan came in and frantically devoured everything else.

“Now all that’s left is to finish up.”

The first thing Heon saw when he entered through the open door was MoonWon tying the hair of a young girl who seemed to be her sister. The maiden whose presence didn’t seem to matter to him had at some point become someone his eyes searched for.

“Can I have this?”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

SoYoon shook her head. She always liked whatever MoonWon gave her.

“No! That’s not it…”

“It looks like the hair tie is too beautiful compared to the person who will be wearing it.”

“Hong-yeom, you…!”

SoYoon bristled at Hong-yeom’s blunt remark. Whether it was because they were the same age or because SoYoon was unreserved, Hong-yeom seemed to enjoy quarreling and teasing SoYoon. Before their family had fallen, Hong-yeom’s behavior would have been seen as rude and impertinent. However, now, both MoonWon and SoYoon didn’t mind it at all.

“All done.”

MoonWon took her hands off of the hair tie and helped SoYoon stand up. With her hair tied into a single braid, SoYoon stood up, the hair tie shaking with her movements.

“I’m glad it suits you.”

When SoYoon heard MoonWon’s words, she gave her a bright smile. However, when she felt the gaze of someone else, SoYoon turned her head. The smile on her lips completely disappeared.

MoonWon followed SoYoon’s gaze, and her face stiffened as well.

“Ah!”

Because she’d been busy doing SoYoon’s hair, MoonWon hadn’t noticed Heon’s arrival.

Noticing his forehead drenched in sweat, MoonWon was surprised to see him look so different from what she was used to seeing.

She felt that he wasn’t even going to look for her, so she merely told the servants that she was going out to see her sister. But it looked like he hadn’t heard about this and had been running around searching for her instead.

Feeling Heon’s fierce aura, SoYoon quickly hid behind MoonWon’s back.

To SoYoon, Heon was merely the man who had forcibly married MoonWon and taken her away. Additionally, Heon was the only one who struck terror in her heart.

“It’s alright.”

When she felt MoonWon’s hand stroke her head, SoYoon turned her stiff face to MoonWon. If there was anyone who was going to get scolded, it would be MoonWon for coming here without permission.

“Go to Yuhwa. Yeori, can you and Hong-yeom take SoYoon with you?”

Yeori, who didn’t seem to know what to do, took the two children and entered into the inner residence.

Once they had completely disappeared, MoonWon approached Heon and held out her handkerchief.

“I should have received your permission before coming here, but I was in too much of a hurry. I’m sorry.”

Heon hadn’t realized that he had been sweating until he took MoonWon’s handkerchief. When he returned to the inn, he encountered JaeHoon and his people waiting for MoonWon.

As soon as Heon found out that JaeHoon had no idea where MoonWon was, Heon began to make his way towards her house. JaeHoon began to follow Heon, but it wasn’t a difficult task to shake him off.

“Is there something urgent?”

Heon gazed at MoonWon without wiping the sweat off his brow. MoonWon lowered her head. Although she had created this mess because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to see her sister before returning to the bamboo grove, now that she was standing in front of Heon, she could see what she had done wrong.

“If you’re very angry, please only take it out on me. Yeori and Hong-yeom only followed me here due to my stubbornness.”

“Did you meet anyone else?”

“Sorry?”

Was it when she clung onto him as if her life depended on it?

Or was it when she first approached him and asked whether he was okay back at the library when he’d shielded her from the falling books?

His relationship with MoonWon didn’t change just because of JaeHoon’s interest in her. Heon still believed that women didn’t belong in his life, and MoonWon was still the child of the woman who had broken his family.

But… he didn’t want to let JaeHoon see the look she had on her face as she gazed at him.

“Is there someone else I need to meet?”

MoonWon’s voice brought him out of his rambling thoughts. She didn’t seem to know anything about this matter, and he didn’t want to tell her about JaeHoon.

“I never said you couldn’t see your family.”

He should have been angry that she had acted on her own. However, because of her actions, she hadn’t met JaeHoon. The unfamiliar sense of anxiety disappeared as soon as he’d seen MoonWon’s face.

“But wouldn’t it be better for me to send my greetings before we leave?”

MoonWon thought he would yell at her with his sharp voice, but, instead, he seemed calm. Her eyes widened at this unexpected reaction.

Just like the time when he’d held out his hand to her as he asked her to go to the Palace with him, she felt as if she were seeing a hidden emotion peeking through his armor.

Her heart began to race. This feeling was different than when she’d been with the Crown Prince. She felt her face flush.

Since Heon had asked her a question, she needed to answer him. Barely managing to recover, MoonWon opened her mouth when she heard another voice call out.

“And who is this?”

MoonWon flinched when she heard the voice behind her. She wasn’t sure whether SoYoon had told him or if someone else had relayed the message, but YongUn had come out and was approaching them. Having already met with him, MoonWon’s face hardened.

“My Lord Husband, I’ll talk to my Father, so I think it would be best for you to go back first.”

Heon’s eyes narrowed at her sudden change in behavior. It was as if she were trying to keep him and YongUn from meeting. As she stepped away, Heon grabbed her.

“Husband!”

Flustered, MoonWon looked at him. In the meantime, YongUn had come and was now standing right next to them.

“I should have come with her earlier. I apologize for being late.”

“No worries at all. I’m sure you’re busy, so there’s no need to push yourself. Let’s go inside.”

“F-Father!”

“If your husband came, you should have told me. Why are you just standing there? Why don’t you go and bring us some tea. Let’s head in.”

Before MoonWon could stop Heon from continuing this unusual behavior, YongUn grabbed him. Knowing exactly why YongUn was doing this, MoonWon tried to get in between them, but Heon stopped her.

MoonWon helplessly watched the two of them enter inside.

“I’ll take my leave.”

No one knew what Heon and YongUn had discussed between them. However, MoonWon was bothered by the fact that her father’s complexion seemed a lot better after their conversation while Heon’s remained the same.

Did YongUn tell Heon the same thing he told her?

Worried, MoonWon looked at Heon, but he merely listened to YongUn’s words as YongUn held onto his hand.

“When will you be back?”

SoYoon’s previously smiling face was now cast with a shadow. Her damp eyes looked up at MoonWon, but MoonWon couldn’t do anything about it. Now that Heon was here, she had to leave. Crouching down onto one knee, MoonWon met SoYoon’s eyes and smiled.

“It’s not like I won’t be able to come back forever.”

“But you don’t know when you’ll be back.”

After glancing at Heon, MoonWon lowered her eyes. Tears began to well up in her eyes, but she couldn’t cry in front of SoYoon. If MoonWon ended up crying, SoYoon would burst into tears.

“I’ll be back.”

“If it’s too difficult to come in person, then at least send me some letters.”

When she heard SoYoon’s request, MoonWon looked back at Heon. His conversation with YongUn must have ended because he was now looking at MoonWon and SoYoon. After glancing at him for a moment, MoonWon turned back to SoYoon and nodded her head.

“I’ll definitely send letters.”

She saw Heon’s eyes flash, but MoonWon looked away. Instead, she wiped away SoYoon’s tears and gave her a bright smile.

“So don’t cry and be good to Yuhwa and Father. Alright?”

SoYoon nodded her head. After wiping away the rest of the tears clinging to SoYoon’s eyes, MoonWon stood up.

“We’ll be leaving for now.”

Once Heon said these words, he turned around. MoonWon soon followed. She hesitated and turned around to take another look at YongUn and SoYoon, who had burst into tears in Yuhwa’s embrace.

MoonWon flashed a bright smile in order to console her before turning around and following Heon out. MoonWon saw the carriages that Junghwan had prepared and lowered her head.

“Thank you.”

Heon narrowed his eyes in confusion. When she saw the question in his eyes, MoonWon gave him a shaky smile.

“Thanks to you, my family is now stable and in a much better place. I wanted to thank you long ago, but it seems that I’m only saying it now.”

“......”

“I’ll explain more when we return.”