Chapter 32

“I mean the type of adult who can proudly carry out his or her duty in their current position. When I see your smile, attitude, and language, I really would like to take my cues from you. I feel you are dignified, well-educated and broad-minded.”

Looking at Kyosul who was heaping praise on her, Kyoyoung almost burst into laughter.

How young and foolish she was! Kyoyoung was nervous before she met Kyosul because the latter was the Crown Princess of the Mok Kingdom, but when she met Kyosul in person, the latter looked like just a child who grew up in her parents’ love without knowing which way the wind was blowing. How could Kyosul praise her so highly? She felt Kyosul was just infantile and foolish, but she knew enough not to reveal her feelings about Kyosul. She gently tapped Kyosul’s hands with a gentle but fake smile.

“I’m flattered, Your Highness.”

Kyoyong pulled her hands. She was very good at keeping a distance from somebody without letting him or her know. In other words, she was a woman totally steeped in behaving well and pretending innocence.

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“Do you think it’s discourteous if I call you sister?” asked Kyosul.

“Yes, I think so. If somebody hears you calling me a sister, you’ll be in big trouble.”

In fact, Kyosul was calling Concubine Sassi ‘Sassi Mom’ by forcibly getting her approval. So, blinking her big eyes, Kyousul asked Kyoyoung to respond favorably to her request.

“Isn’t it okay for me to call you sister when I’m with you only? I would like to get along with you well. In fact, you’re one year older than me anyway.”

Kyoyoung bowed her head, “Your Highness Kyosul, there are many people in this palace who can overhear us anytime. When it comes to something against the law, you should use extreme caution. In fact, one’s title is more important than age in the imperial palace. Besides, your request is a very important matter that could negatively affect the Crown Prince, so please withdraw your request.”

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Her firm attitude made Kyosul embarrassed, shaking her head. When she mentioned the Crown Prine, Kyosul came to her senses. If her request ever stood in the way of the Crown Prince, she should never make such a request.

“Got it. I won’t ask you for it. So, please raise yourself.”

Raising her head, pretending not to resist her order, Kyoyoung comforted her.

“As you’re so immature like this, let me help you more in the future. If you’re in doubt about imperial matters, just feel free to ask me anytime.”

“Thanks, Kyoyoung.”

Kyosul’s heart sank when Kyoyoung drew a clear line when she tried to coax her, but Kyosul was easily touched by her calculated words.

“You are indeed my role model, Kyoyoung. I’m going to try my best to be a good Crown Princess that you can feel proud of.”

“I think you can do it very well.”

Reaffirming her resolve, she looked at Kyoyoung with envy. Kyoyoung had never met a woman like Kyosul she could deal with so easily. If Kyoyoung was a cat, then Kyosul was like a rat used for her amusement.

“By the way, I’ve got a question.”

“Please feel free to ask. As I got here before you, let me try to be of help to you as much as possible.”

“Thanks for saying that.” Kyosul took out a piece of paper and a brush. Kyoyoung guessed she would ask a quick question, but it seemed she had prepared to ask it.

Kyoyoung forgot for a moment that Kyosul was an unpredictable woman.

“I’m just curious about the Crown Prince’s preferences.”

“Preferences?”

Kyoyoung couldn’t understand at all what she was talking about now. Asking again with a curious look.

“Well, I told you about this before. I’m doing my best to carry out my job as the Crown Princess. I pluck the most beautiful flowers in the morning and dry them. And I write a letter to him every morning.”

“A flower and a letter to Dongchon Palace every day?”

When she asked again, her voice was rather cold, but Kyosul didn’t notice it.

“He hasn’t yet replied to me, so if I know his preferences. I think I can meet his expectations, but I don’t know anything about the Crown Prince. I think you know more about him, so I want to ask…”

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Looking at her innocent face, Kyoyoung felt stuffy.

***

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When she recalled her conversation with Kyosul at her residence. Kyoyoung felt upset.

Looking at the faraway Dongbi Palace where her residence was located, Kyoyoung gnashed her teeth with surging anger.

“I know that type of girl. She has pretended to be innocent and shed tears before me. I think I let my hair down looking at her innocent face.”

Kyoyoung was just dumbfounded. A flower and a letter? Kyosul was trying her best to win over the Crown Prince’s heart behind her back. Kyosul bluntly asked Kyoyoung what his preferences were when she clearly knew how much Kyoyoung missed him.

Though she really felt bad, she couldn’t resist as she already promised Kyosul to help her.

After that, Kyoyoung had to spend another 30 minutes with Kyosul telling her about Bipaan’s preferences. Kyoyoung feared that if she lied to Kyosul about him, the Crown Princess could make excuses by citing her, so she had no choice but to brief Kyosul about everything she knew about Bipaan.

For example, she told Kyosul about Bipaan’s favorite trail and time, his favorite hobby and tea, snacks and food. Though Kyoyoung answered only the questions she asked, Kyosul’s questionnaire was broad. Replying to each of her questions, Kyoyoung felt as if she were a cat bitten by a rat.

“Maybe she might be a pretty sophisticated woman. She clearly told me she didn’t love the Crown Prince, and now she’s humiliating me.”

Kyoyoung couldn’t swallow her anger, recalling her dialogue with Kyosul.

At that moment, she heard someone’s lilting voice. “It looks like Princess Kyoyoung is pretty upset. Who could dare humiliate her in this palace?”

Startled at that, Kyoyoung shut her mouth quickly, but she couldn’t take back what she had said already. She felt a cold sweat on her back.

Looking around, Kyoyoung asked in a tense voice, “Who is it?”

“Good heavens! I regret to say you don’t remember me. How can you forget my voice, even if there has been no frequent exchanges between us recently?”

In no time, there appeared a woman dressed in a colorful garment behind the big tree planted along the stream running around the outer wall of the East Palace. Her wig was studded with colorful ornaments and gems and her dress was open so that half her breasts were exposed. There was only one woman in the palace who enjoyed putting on this kind of luxurious clothes: Oran, the wife of Prince Dukwol.

She was just coming out of the Dongbi Palace. Kyoyoung was caught hurling abuses at the Crown Princess by Oran. She had the worst of luck! Kyoyoung wanted to blame Kyosul for her mistake.

“I’m honored to see you Princess Oran!” Kyoyoung had been caught off guard but had no choice but to offer greetings to Oran out of courtesy.

Waving her small fan, Oran hid her red lips, leering at her. “I haven’t seen you for a long time, Kyoyoung.”

“How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well all the time. It looks like you’re out of sorts.”

She was pretty good at finding out others’ vulnerabilities with her lilting voice, but Kyoyoung concealed her expression and replied calmly, “As I was bothered by minor things at the moment, I momentarily forgot my dignity and got irritated. Please forgive my tantrum.”

Kyoyoung made excuses as if it was not a big deal, but she was nervous about how much Oran heard about her own complaints against Kyosul.

Oran folded the fan and touched her lips with its tip, “Minor things…”

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Her sneering eyes and twitching lips rubbed her the wrong way. Kyoyoung took pains to avoid her eyes but didn’t let her guard down for fear she might play into Oran’s hands.

In the end, Oran slapped her palm with the fan repeatedly. The little decorative bell attached to the fan clinked and unnerved Kyoyoung.

“Do you think the Crown Princess’s affairs are a minor thing?”

Startled, Kyoyoung gasped and hoped that she wasn’t trembling.

Biting her lips, Kyoyoung asked furtively, “How did you know it was about the Crown Princess?”

“Hohoho… you must be kidding me.” With a hearty laugh Oran approached her and patted her on the shoulder with the tip of the fan. “Don’t you know this is the Dongbi Palace where the Crown Princess’s residence is located, right?”

Oran paused, “As you just came out of her residence, I presumed that what you’re complaining about was most probably about the Crown Princess.”

Though Kyoyoung narrowed her eyebrows, she didn’t show any unpleasant feelings. As Kyoyoung didn’t reveal her feelings easily, Oran just stared at her face to read her mind, but it was not that easy.

“Why are you so surprised?”

Kyoyoung didn’t open her mouth. She didn’t feel it necessary to answer quickly. If she answered too quickly, it could put her into jeopardy if something went wrong. Trying to make eye contact with Kyoyoung, Oran again opened her mouth.