CH 33.2

“There’s obviously nothing different in his appearance, but why do I feel this unfamiliar and awkward… Do you also feel the same, Empress?” 

The empress shut her mouth and thought over Sukbi’s question for a moment. Yeonbin’s troubled and dark expression when she said to never change if he was being sincere and to never get caught if he was lying flashed before her eyes. The Empress then said,

“Sukbi.” 

In an instant, Sukbi, who talked with a heavy voice and light attitude, straightened up her posture, lowered her head, and answered, “Yes, Your Majesty.” Unlike the previous empress and concubines, they were usually quite friendly and intimate because the number of concubines was so small, but no one dared to speak when the empress talked with such a dignified voice.

With the heavy air in between, the empress’s voice rang out.

“You and I are the ones that could be said to know the emperor the most and serve him from the closest.” 

“… That is more than I deserve, Your Majesty.” 

“But from now on, we may face a side of His Majesty that we’ve never encountered before.” 

Looking at Sukbi, who raised her head with a questioning face because she couldn’t understand her, the Empress flashed a smile again.

“It seems like a great typhoon is approaching, so Sukbi, you need to be careful to not get swept away.” 

Sukbi, Biyoung, couldn’t understand why she was reminded of Yeonbin’s face earlier when she heard what the empress just said. 

***

“Isn’t that Yeonbin over there?”

Yihan, who kept stretching out his neck to look around as if he was looking for something ever since he sat on the palanquin, saw someone walking far ahead and then asked with his back straightened up. Eunuch Oh next to him slightly looked ahead and soon answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty. That is His Highness Yeonbin.”

“Where did that weak person leave his palanquin and why is he walking?”

It was such a wonder why the one who welcomed him with a pale complexion after drinking a medicine last night left his palanquin and walked on his feet. Even though now wasn’t a hot or cold season, it wasn’t a short walking distance after all. Really, he always acts as he pleases.

“Don’t stop and just keep walking by. I’m tired of looking at him.”

Yihan quickly added while measuring the distance that slowly got closer. Eunuch Oh with his head down dared to bloom a slight smile without the emperor knowing. The reason was that originally, the emperor didn’t need to pass through this way at this time.

The usual way heading to Anjeong Palace from Cheonggeon Hall wasn’t this one. This way indeed could be used as well, but then, the detour to take wouldn’t be a few. So, there was no reason to take this way—the way that must be passed by for going to Jeongan Palace from the Empress Palace—unless there was a special intention.

The emperor’s palanquin was passing by this way despite that fact, entirely because the emperor asked. Eunuch Oh wasn’t someone who couldn’t guess Yihan’s heart, which asked that, but saying he was tired looking at him and to just pass by. Of course, he didn’t dare to speak about that to the emperor.

Then, Yeonbin, who noticed the presence that came closer, looked back and quickly kneeled down, greeting the emperor. Yihan held his head straight and kept looking ahead, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from glancing sideways.

“… Stop.”

Also, Yihan couldn’t stop the word that suddenly jumped out of his mouth when the palanquin had barely moved past Yeonbin.

***

The palanquin only stayed still for a while. Yihan didn’t give any order after stopping the palanquin. Hwawoon kept kneeling down like that. The emperor’s palanquin didn’t completely pass by him, and the emperor also didn’t order him to get up, so Hwawoon couldn’t rashly move his body.

Yihan clenched on the armrests as he looked ahead and then moved his eyes only, kept stealing glances behind. The palanquin was more ahead than where Yeonbin kneeled down, so he was frustrated inside as he couldn’t see Hwawoon only by moving his eyes.

He indeed ordered to stop unconsciously, but when he remembered the words spoken by his mouth to just walk past, he felt embarrassed. He wanted to immediately give an order to move again, but when he thought that Yeon Hwawoon was right behind him, he couldn’t say it at all.