From the next day, Jihyuk really began to send precious ornaments and treasures to Yeocheong. Even Yeocheong, who had little interest in jewellery or ornaments, was surprised – everyone could see at a glance that these items were far from ordinary and of considerable value.

“I have never seen such large pearls before, Your Highness.”

“I have never seen jewels of such vivid lustre, not even in the Song Empire.”

Yeocheong knew that the Kingdom of Yeon was quite wealthy thanks to trade and tourism, but still – it couldn’t possibly compare to the Song Empire. Yeocheong ordered the items to be placed in the jewellery box and handed it to Seon.

“His Highness the Crown Prince must really appreciate you, Your Highness. If the harem were full of wives, he could at least boast about it.”

“Seon, don’t say unnecessary things.”

“It’s all right. What could be wrong with a ruler’s harem being full of Yin-born wives?”

A harem… After Yeocheong’s death, the young lady who had supposedly been chosen as his fiancée would have ascended to the position of Empress, and the harem would surely have been filled with the sound of children’s laughter.

‘Enough. Don’t think about it.’

“One day others will come to fill the palace. Avoiding the subject won’t change that.”

“No matter who comes in the future, it’s clear that the Crown Prince holds you in the highest esteem, Your Highness. So I’m not worried at all.”

Seon said, her face beaming with pride as she looked at the jewellery box.

Yeocheong watched her ever-optimistic maid and thought to herself.

‘I must get this child out of the palace before the incident begins. The question is how to do that without punishing her… and maybe let her take some valuables with her…’

“At least we don’t have to return the gifts His Highness sent us. Just looking at such precious things brings me joy.”

Seon added cheerfully.

Yeocheong didn’t want to leave her behind to experience what was to come. Yeocheong looked at Seon for a moment, lost in thought.

Seon, who had an unusually strong sense of loyalty and belonging to Yeocheong, would undoubtedly cling to Yeocheong and beg not to be sent away – even if Yeocheong gave an order. And with no family to go to, it wouldn’t be easy to send her out alone.

“I’m already looking forward to the gift His Highness will send tomorrow.”

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Speak of the devil and he will appear. After sending a gift to Yeocheong this morning, Jihyuk had now come in person. More excited than Yeocheong, Seon hastily straightened her mistress’s clothes.

“We greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“It’s been a while. I had almost forgotten the lady’s face.”

He was referring to the past few days, when he had been too busy with affairs of state to visit Yeon Palace. Yeocheong replied quietly.

“How could I demand the presence of someone who is burdened with affairs of state? Besides, even though Your Highness could not come in person, the gifts you sent made me feel as if you were always here with me.

“Filling this chamber with only the finest treasures… there’s still a long way to go. I wanted to fill it all at once, but… choosing each piece carefully turned out to be no easy task”.

Jihyuk replied with a small smile. In Yeocheong previous life, the treasure chest – whose lid was badly cracked – had only been filled with damaged jewellery. Even the palace guards of Yeon, who had treated Yeocheong’s belongings as their own, had not dared to steal them.

The usable items had gradually disappeared, leaving only the defective pieces, dulled by poor storage or badly damaged, in the chest. Although it was not yet full, its contents had become incomparably more valuable than what it once contained.

“Since Your Highness gave them to me personally, what among them wouldn’t be valuable?”

“If it’s something I’m giving you, it can hardly be called impressive.”

 Jihyuk replied, lifting the teacup in front of him and taking a sip.

As they exchanged a few light and inconsequential remarks, Jihyuk, who had been quietly watching Yeocheong, finally spoke again.

“I heard you visited the Jangnakwon Pavilion.”

“I was told it was a place that the late King had personally restored to see his royal grandchildren. It really is as beautiful as the stories say.”

“I heard you asked about the Song Empire.”

At these words, Yeocheong’s hand, which had been reaching for her teacup, trembled slightly. Of course – no matter how much sympathy he might show, Jeong Han was still Jihyuk’s man. It would have been even more suspicious to try to hide such a trivial conversation.

In fact, hiding such an ordinary exchange would have raised even more suspicion.

“Yes. There was something in a letter from my mother that I couldn’t overlook, so I felt a bit uneasy.”

“You could have asked me instead.”

“How could I burden someone as busy as Your Highness? There’s hardly enough time to tell pleasant stories when I’m with you.”

Yeocheong offered the explanation gently.

But the truth was simple – Yeocheong didn’t want to talk about such things with the man who had destroyed Yeocheong homeland.

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear it. Still, when it comes to foreign affairs, I’m better informed than the Chief Attendant. If there’s anything you want to know, please ask me directly.”

Yeocheong didn’t answer. Yeocheong just smiled quietly.

Telling lies to someone who knew nothing was probably as easy as twisting a child’s wrist.

And how could Yeocheong trust that what came out of his mouth was the truth? Yeocheong shoud rather hear vague truths than detailed lies.

“The matter with Seonguk won’t be resolved quickly. But it’s unlikely to escalate into something serious enough to affect your mother in the Song Empire.”

He was talking about things that Yeocheong would probably want to know, but would have a hard time understanding.

“Although Seonguk is smaller than Song, it is not a nation to be dismissed. That’s why His Majesty covets it all the more.”

What Yeocheong knew of Seonguk was limited to one thing – its severe discrimination against Yin-born individuals. Perhaps sensing this, Jihyuk kindly continued.

“Seonguk is strategically located for travel across the continent. Because of this, it has often been the target of invasions.”

“Ah…”

“And so they are always well prepared for such invasions. This time, too, they will probably be the country that holds out the longest against the Song Empire.”

But if it was a nation so used to war, wouldn’t that mean that the Song Empire could be the one in danger instead? An uncomfortable feeling crept back into Yeocheong’s chest and Yeocheong tapped his fingernail lightly.

“However, their tactics are very defensive. They’re not very good at attacking. So it would be difficult for their soldiers to ever reach the imperial palace.”

“And how can you be so sure?”

Despite Jihyuk’s explanation, Yeocheong’s fear remained and Yeocheong lifted his eyes slightly to ask. Their eyes met – and for a brief moment, Jihyuk seemed taken by surprise.

“There are many records that show Seonguk successfully defending itself after being invaded, but none that show it ever invading another country or launching a counterattack.”

But it was only a momentary flicker of surprise. Jihyuk quickly returned to his calm expression and answered as if nothing had happened.

“…I see.”

It wasn’t that Yeocheong didn’t understand what he said. Rather, it was the way he spoke – as if stating something so obvious – that made him realise how little he really knew.

Yeocheong reminded himself that this was only natural. Jihyuk had been raised as the heir of a nation, while Yeocheong was merely a Yin-born prince, someone to be sent away through a convenient marriage alliance. The gulf between them had always been there.

Although Yeocheong had been visiting the archives more often lately, none of the books the archivist offered Yeocheong contained anything about politics or warfare.

“If I’d known earlier, I would have felt better. I feel a bit ashamed to worry about something out of ignorance.”

“There’s no shame in not knowing what you haven’t had the chance to learn. And since this is about your mother, how can you not worry?”

“Still…”

“It was my carelessness in not mentioning it earlier. I should have told you about the news from Song before you even had to wonder. I was careless.”

One source Yeocheong could hear about Song from was someone Yeocheong shouldn’t approach lightly – and the other was someone Yeocheong couldn’t trust completely. It was a frustrating situation, to say the least.

“In preparation for the war with Seonguk, our Kingdom of Yeon has also sent reinforcements to the Imperial Palace. I will inform you as soon as new information becomes available, so please don’t be too worried.

But how much of what Jihyuk told Yeocheong was true and how much was false?

Yeocheong couldn’t answer right away. Yeocheong hesitated for a moment in silence.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll speak to His Highness…”

“Y-Your Highness, the Crown Prince…”

At that moment, the sound of a struggle came from outside. Someone was urgently knocking on the gate of the Yeon Palace and then bursting it open. A palace official, who had shaken off the guards trying to stop him, fell to the ground in front of Jihyuk as the doors swung open.

Although it was clear that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were talking in their palace, the official had rushed in without the slightest regard for decorum. His back rose and fell sharply with hasty breaths.

“What is the meaning of this disrespect?”

“I apologise, Your Highness. I know this is a serious breach of etiquette, but this matter is urgent – it couldn’t wait.”

The official bowed his head deeply under Jihyuk’s piercing gaze. After a short silence, Jihyuk asked in a low voice.

“What is it?”

“His Majesty… the King…”

His Majesty. Yeocheong recalled the face of Yeon’s king, whom Yeocheong had seen only a few times. And in that instant, Yeocheong realized the reason behind the official’s frantic disregard for court protocol.

“His Majesty is critically ill. The royal physician has said this may be the decisive moment. He has ordered that Your Highness be brought to Jungwon Hall at once.”

And so, his brief days with Yeocheong were coming to an end.