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A feast dedicated to the heavens is being held for the first time in three centuries. During the sumptuous dinner, Their Highnesses, the Princes, barely touch the delicious dishes, quietly conversing among themselves. But in the hall, only their occasional sighs and voices can be heard, as well as the clatter of chopsticks on dishes. Do Ha relaxes his grip on his chopsticks, and his food remains untouched. He is completely out of humor and has no appetite, and in the morning, his head aches from extreme anxiety. Everyone laughs and continues to whisper, but he alone, for some reason, expects something bad, feels something incomprehensible, strange.
Do Ha notices that Jong Hwan has been absent since the beginning of dinner, and the thoughtful Jeok Yeon is a little nervous, pursing her lips and silently sorting through all sorts of delicacies with chopsticks, but her hands are shaking slightly. The atmosphere is truly frighteningly disgusting. Even when Jong Hwan finally appears before everyone with an unpleasant smile, it gets even worse. And you can feel it. Do Ha's damn fears are coming true.
"I want to tell you something," Jong Hwan carefully brings the cup close to his lips and takes a small sip. Next to him, Ah Yeon smiles brightly and breaks into a soft, sweet cookie. "It's about the imperial title and the competition."
Everyone begins to listen silently, quietly, even stopping using chopsticks and talking to each other. But for some reason, Jeok Yeon is still uneasy. She feels like something is about to happen, something that could be the worst possible outcome for her.
"Let me start by saying that all this time I've been helping someone, whose grace enabled me to discover something amazing. And it's this that will help me and the others get rid of our competitor."
Jong Hwan calmly places the bowl on the table and gestures to his subordinate, then glances briefly at Jeok Yeon, who is nervous and trying to keep her composure in the oppressive atmosphere. "Lee Gen," the subordinate, hearing his name from his lips, sighs, freezes, and listens attentively to his master. "Bring him." One word, and Lee Gen is no longer in the dining room. Most of the princes do not understand what Jong Hwan means, and they begin to talk vigorously while discussing it.
"What's this Jong Hwan doing?" Cho Ran asks angrily, looking in his direction. "It's getting noisier. Why is all this intrigue happening just when I just want to eat? I need some peace and quiet."
"Don't pay any attention to him," Hae On takes the glass of wine with a smile. "And eat, there's nothing interesting for us anyway," and he drinks it down.
"But I think it will," Cho Ran stubbornly disagrees, picking up the chopsticks with irritation, carelessly, almost breaking them. "Now stop drinking, pour me some."
"Do you really like this kind?" Hae On asks, surprised, but pours it anyway, carefully. He and Cho Ran don't even notice the others now, their idyll continues as they drink wine after wine.
"Disgusting!" Cho Ran is now ready to pour a glass of alcohol on anyone. Some princes he doesn't even know, whispering brazenly to each other, glance in his direction. "This wine tastes terrible," he says, not touching the glass again. Suddenly, everyone stops talking. A deafening silence. Jeong Hwan, crossing one leg over the other, looks strangely restlessly at the door next to him, waiting for something.
Waiting, with a devilish look in his eyes. Suspicious, isn't it? Do Ha watches his every move. Baek Ran also notices the Second Prince's strange behavior and tries to intercept even the smallest bits of information through the common servants, but Jong Hwan hides everything so well that nothing is visible. Absolutely nothing. Do Ha reaches his fingers to his eyebrows, slowly, as if massaging them, to calm his heart, which is beating too hard. As soon as he thinks of Jeok Yeon, it's as if excitement fills his crippled soul. And even now, he doesn't dare look at her anymore; he's afraid. He's afraid for her, so incredibly afraid. For some reason. While he's thinking, thinking hard, Jong Hwan, with a frightening smile, is already rising from the soft pillows.
"Now is the decisive moment. There's a man around the corner of these chambers. A man who knows the secret of one of you."
As soon as this was said, there was another pause. Another frightening silence. Jong Hwan busily adjusts his glasses, and then his subordinate enters with the bandit. Bi Sol is unpleasantly surprised, but presses her lips together and says nothing. What's the point? Everyone will find out anyway... Jeok Yeon looks at his subordinate and doesn't understand what's going on: Bi Sol is clearly angry, but why?
She desperately tries to calm him down and gently tugs at his shoulders, but he remains angry, albeit a little more quietly, but he still exudes a frightening aura. "Bi Sol," Jeok Yeon barely says, and he turns to her. And is silent. And looks. At the sarcastically smiling Jeong Hwan, and clenches his knuckles tightly. Jong Hwan almost laughs when he sees him like this and pushes the thug forward.
"Please," he points at Jeok Yeon. The bandit is almost sweating from nerves, but seeing such confidence from this man (?), he immediately sighs. "This man..." He pauses, agitated. All the princes immediately turn their attention to him, causing a slight tremor to appear. Then the bandit points his finger at Chok Yeon. "This guy is a woman!!! This prince is a woman!!! I saw it!" He's ready to spill everything he knows. He's ready to repeat it a thousand times. Just to survive. He's ready to do anything. The pause grows longer and longer… Literally. Some of the princes' mouths are open. Is there a girl among them? And how long has it been?
They all believe Jong Hwan, they believe the scoundrel. Now Jong Hwan has a better chance. They begin to discuss it among themselves, forgetting that the main character of these events is at the same table.
"Did you hear that?" one prince says to another.
"You know, I'm surprised... For centuries, people believed the fourth prince was a man... She even looked like one... How did it happen that she deceived the entire empire, but especially her adoptive father?"
"She wanted to take the title!" his interlocutor replies furiously, though his goal is the same: to damage the culprit's reputation. "Having the necessary abilities to be the emperor's son, she decided to seize the empire by any means necessary, and therefore decided to hide her identity."
"The Fourth Prince is one of the strongest candidates for Emperor," another prince chimes in. "There's no point in competing with him. Even as a girl, he's still the Emperor's son."
Some princes, not intending to enter into conversation, silently agree with the last interlocutor and only quietly glance at the fourth prince. "What if the Emperor hears about this and gets angry?" asks the prince who started the conversation.
"Then we can get rid of one of the strongest, can't we?" “That’s right,” his interlocutors reply. “So…” And suddenly they find themselves killed.
"Oh, your guess is almost right," Jong Hwan said, looking down at them with a sly smile. "You have a wonderful imagination, but I would prefer if you came up with more details about what His Majesty the Emperor might have said. And now..." He turns to the bandit and says, "Are you right? Do you have proof? Would this majestic one, one of the strongest, dare deceive His Majesty the Emperor? I don't believe it!" He's already speaking mockingly to the bandit.
But he knows the truth. A good liar. "That's right!" the bandit's eyes widen. "The Fourth Prince is a woman!!! I saw it with my own eyes..." Jeok Yeon, hearing all this, is speechless. She can't utter a word, only endlessly fiddling with the fabric of her clothes and trying to find support within herself. She's afraid, she's scared, she's in pain. She's nervous. This is the first time she's seen such emotions since her youth.
Emotions at all... Do they still exist? "Sir," Bi Sol looks at her, trying to distract her from everything. "Please don't be nervous. They have no evidence."
"Did you know?" she asks, almost hysterically, but quietly. "Why didn't you tell me that this man saw my scars? Why didn't you tell me you were going to kill him?" She doesn't understand why she wants to cry. Why can't she be calm anymore?
"Master!" Bi Sol grips her shoulders tighter and almost screams. "Stop it! I did it for you, I didn't tell you on purpose! I thought..." He doesn't feel guilty. "That this man would die before they could get to him. Even if I did make sure he lived... And that's why..." "Bi Sol, please leave me and go away," Chok Yeon interrupts him. She wants to hug herself, but now many people are watching her behavior. "Sir..."
"Your Highness the Fourth Prince, hello," Jong Hwan steps too close to her, causing Bi Sol to hiss and want to attack, but restrains herself, as Master has ordered him to step back. "Although, really, you should be called... Your Highness the First Princess?" He loves to mock those who are weaker. And he laughs, watching. Maliciously.
"Your words are beyond all bounds, Your Highness the Second Prince," Do Ha suddenly loses his composure and bursts into the conversation, perfectly timed in the eyes of everyone present. He's angry, very angry. He stands there, shielding Jeok Yeon from view. "No one is allowed to touch her. No one is allowed. No one." A dark feeling begins to spread throughout the prince's heart and body, his anger consuming his common sense and only making the situation worse: Do Ha doesn't understand what's happening now, he just wants to kill Jong Hwan and help Jeok Yeon. Jeok Yeon's eyes widen in surprise, her knuckles clenching. She never expected such help. Especially from the First Prince. Is she stunned? "Is that so?" Jong Hwan crosses his arms over his chest and continues with a caustic smile. "You decided to protect your brother? Or rather, your sister?.. I didn't know he was so dear to you. Oh, what a pity... I wanted to show and tell you so much... The whole truth... That you didn't know?"
Do Ha is struggling to contain himself, but it's not obvious. Only Baek Ran understands. He pats her on the shoulder, silently encouraging her." But since you haven't come over to my side, My Brother," Jong Hwan comes closer and takes off his glasses, then smiles. "Don't interfere" With these words, he forcefully pushes the First Prince aside. Baek Ran catches his master. "First Princess, are you comfortable being addressed this way? Or... Do you want to tell me the whole truth?" His sly gaze bodes ill, causing Jeok Yeon's shoulders to sag, making her appear shorter and smaller. She's frightened by his eyes. She looks at him devastatedly and doesn't dare say a word. Under this kind of pressure...
Under this kind of pressure, she can't find the words. Do Ha bites his lips viciously until they bleed, hissing in pain. Baek Ran also struggles to contain himself, but continues to hold his master close. "Ryu Do Ha, now is not the time to do anything," he whispers in his ear. "You'll only make things worse." Do Ha doesn't answer, but he understands his subordinate is telling the truth. But what does Jong Hwan want to do with his Yeon? His actions are disgusting and perverted! Meanwhile, Jong Hwan stands calmly with his arms crossed.
"Sir," the bandit bows and bows in despair, wanting to appease him. "I will prove the truth to everyone!" Jong Hwan glances back at him, wincing and pursing his lips. The bandit interprets this as consent and, cursing everything, runs toward Jeok-yeon. She remains in her place, not even shifting her weight, not moving, in a stupor, unable to say anything, only remaining silent. She can no longer do anything. She's finished. She just sits on the pillow. And Do Ha is terrified, his body begins to tremble, but tenacious hands hold him in place. Do Ha is truly terrified, even paralyzed. He fears for his love. He's ready to scream. And pounce on anyone who hurts her. Jeok Yeon remains silent as they approach, her gaze absently drawn toward the exit.
Her powers seem sealed, unable to use them due to her thoughts and anxiety, making it impossible to even attempt to escape on foot. Bi Sol stands a little further away from her, very close to the door, and notices his Master's restless eyes. But he can't help, he won't even have time. Though he doesn't even think about it. And yet, he doesn't dare disobey.
The bandit is already near Jeok Yeon. How fast. Appearing unnoticed, he nearly pushes her to the floor, and, almost falling on her chest, tears off her clothes with a sharp dagger. It all happens too easily. "How pleasantly surprised I am," Jong Hwan smiles dazzlingly and slyly, then moves closer to the prone Jeok Yeon. Bending down, he straightens her matted hair and whispers so quietly that only she can hear. "Thank your subordinate, for he tried so hard to shield you from the throne, My Brother." Seeing his gaze, Jeok Yeon turns cold and, turning her head, sees her exposed chest, streaked with scars. Scars that she hates. And which she always wanted to hide from everyone. But now there's nothing to cover them with. Hatred, especially. Her outerwear is torn. Jong Hwan doesn't even bother helping her with her clothes, just calmly leaves her like that in public and then grins nastily. Jeok Yeon can't get up from the floor; she's too weak and tired. She covers her exposed areas with her hands, making it look so helpless. And that irritates her. Everyone's gasping and groaning, laughing, making noise, pointing at her. Is this shameful for Jeok Yeon or not? No, only the throne is more important to her. But still, she needs clothes... Bi Sol stood there, just like a pillar of steel. It was as if a spell had been cast on him, silence and pacing. He wasn't even going to help.
And Do Ha watches what happened to Jeok Yeon with utter horror, can't take it anymore, and pushes Baek Ran hard to the floor. While Baek Ran curses why he was pushed, he desperately runs straight to her, almost falling over, the room is too big. "Jeok Yeon!!! Jeok Ye-yeon..." He sees her lying on the floor, her clothes all torn, quietly, and not even planning to get up. Is he in pain? Worse, he's in a lot of pain. He's in terrible pain. There's a stabbing pain in his heart, it's beating faster and harder from the excitement, from the fast pace. It hurts Do Ha to see Jeok Yeon like this, helpless. Does he want to help her? Madly.
***
Do Ha is almost out of breath when his feet finally touch the pillows next to his beloved Jeok Yeon. He gently strokes her hair, adjusting it so it's out of the way, and then slowly and carefully, gently lifts her weak body, with difficulty, into his arms, holding her so her head rests on his hands. Jeok Yeon herself is weak. Her strength seems to have been sucked out by the creature, depleted… Her eyes seem to be covered with something that is impossible to see, only to hear… Her arms and legs move with great difficulty. But she hears clearly. And can feel. Think. And speak.
"Jeok Yeon," Do Ha continues to hug her carefully, making sure she's comfortable, and slowly makes a small bed for her out of a few pillows. "How are you... feeling?"
Jeok Yeon gazes at him silently, though she can't see anything through the dim white haze. But she listens intently. As if there's no one else around. She sits on his lap with difficulty, but mostly reclines. Do Ha, having finally prepared the bed, arranges Jeok Yeon so that her entire body rests on the pillows for comfort. Then, to the great surprise of many who had remained silent until this point, she removes her outer garments, leaving only her snow-white undergarments. Jeok Yeon can't see anything, but now he feels warmth, and not coolness like minutes earlier. When Do Ha, already out of breath, sits on his knees next to Jeok Yeon, tenderly and carefully covering her with his clothes, there is a deathly silence. No one even dares to breathe. Everyone just watches as the all-powerful, unsociable first prince tries to help his love. No one dares laugh. Even when Do Ha is already holding Jeok Yeon very tightly and slowly lifting her from the floor, still wearing his clothes, no one dares laugh.
Is everyone embarrassed? Not at all. And anyway, Do Ha simply doesn't care: the most important thing is to take care of Jeok Yeon.
***
Time flies by. Surprisingly, the princes remain silent, having seen the truth before their eyes. They only glance briefly, and not a sound comes out of their mouths. Jong Hwan, along with the bandit and his subordinate, remains in the room, while Do Ha prepares to take Jeok Yeon back to his palace to lay her to rest. And Baek Ran doesn't even try to interfere. "Are you really going to take her to us?" He points at the already sleeping Jeok Yeon, covered in his master's clothes. "I didn't expect you to be so kind as to agree to bring a stranger into your palace."
"Yes," Do Ha answers briefly, holding Jeok Yeon tenderly. "Don't touch her," he notices that his subordinate wants to touch her hair. "My hair is just beautiful, I haven't been able to get it like this in all my years!"
One look and silence. The entire journey now passes silently. Once they reach the palace, all the servants begin preparing for bed. Baek Ran begins to yawn, but, forgetting all about sleep, he helps carry the fourth prince to a private Room. "Are you going to continue on your own?"
"Yes." Do Ha smiles as he touches his beloved Jeok Yeon's hair, adjusting it so it doesn't get in the way of her eyes, and then covers her with a blanket. "You're as beautiful as the moon when you sleep," he whispers softly, so only he can hear. "You're as beautiful as the sun when you smile. Why did I manage to fall in love with you? Why?" He sighs and gets up from the floor, leaving Jeok Yeon alone. And she's not sleeping. She hears everything, pretends to be asleep in order to hear the truth, the goal of the first prince. But now... stupor?.. Rejection, misunderstanding of everything?
Or.... Astonishment? Many emotions are battling within Jeok Yeon. She wonders where they're coming from, if they haven't been there in a long time, why there are so many of them. But on the other hand, how surprised she is that she feels anything... But now she feels happy? Or... Does she feel shocked that she is loved?.. Does she feel it? "So you're not sleeping?" Do Ha, crossing his arms, stands near the wall, seeing her surprised face. "Did you hear everything?"
“I…” she’s confused. Surprised. “Yes.” Does she want to say something? She doesn’t know, she’s just surprised. Did she hear the truth? She did. Did she understand? She does. She understands, but she doesn’t accept it. How can she accept that she’s shocked, having heard that a feeling like love will never be beyond her control? Beyond her control and beyond her control?
"Yes?"
"Yes. I heard everything."
Just a couple of words. And brief glances exchanged with excitement and embarrassment.
*** "Your Highness, First Prince," one of the court servants says quickly and hurriedly, bowing again and again before the sullen but calm Do Ha. "I must inform you that the Fourth Highness's trial will begin soon. Please hurry, His Majesty wishes you to be present from the very beginning."
"Okay," Do Ha, still frowning, puts on warm clothes over his light ones, and the courtier leaves, having received an answer. — It's time. When he finds himself in the courtroom, his gaze falls on her again. She's just as exhausted, just as tired, but more thoughtful. Exhausted. And he himself is just as tired, but he has the strength to at least look at her. The other princes don't look in their direction.
Thank you? Do Ha is grateful for that, though he'd prefer it if they weren't there at all. But... the Fourth Prince's trial is a trial. "Your Majesty," Heuk Yeong places a hand on Ryu Hwa's shoulder as he watches his sons. "Will you please tell them that this trial is a farce?"
"Wait a bit." Ryu Hwa touches her own cheek with a smile. "And now it's time." He claps his hands and then stands up from the throne, saying loudly: "The moment has come when I must judge one of my sons before everyone..."
All the princes look at him in surprise, waiting.
"I'll be honest... In all my years on the throne, I couldn't have expected that anyone could deceive me so skillfully, despite all the prohibitions and permissions," Ryu Hwa says with a sad smile, but his sons continue to expect a trick. "I'm pleasantly surprised, having seen such a person for the first time, who managed to so naturally squeeze into the ranks of my sons." Jeok Yeon's eyes widen in horror and surprise, not trusting him, the Emperor of the entire Empire. "I admire your courage, Fourth Prince. You were able to break the rules established by my ancestors for the sake of a throne I would have gladly relinquished even without these competitions. I admire your hard work, which saw you grow up in my palace, study, achieve success, and achieve your title. I admire that you, as a woman, were able to do this, to achieve so much. My Empress would agree that you would become emperor."
Ryu Hwa seems to be joking: Jong Hwan hears this with a tightly pressed lip. He's worked so hard for so many years, studied, concocted poisons, coerced countless servants into joining his side, read books on government, but it's all for nothing... He hates this man, his adoptive father, in fact. To give him away, to hint that the title of emperor, which Jong Hwan needs more than his own life, will no longer be his, but that of some pathetic girl? A girl who skillfully concealed her secret for hundreds of years, yet achieved quite a good result? But still, what a blessing that the throne won't be Do Ha's! This foolish boy, who took away Jong Hwan's title and success, will only receive a semi-immortal life along with his subordinate and die in poverty!
"Your Majesty," Jong Hwan suddenly says, stopping his thoughts. "Do you really want to give the throne to the Fourth Prince?" The word "that woman" still wants to escape his lips, but even if he admitted to others that he's gone mad, he's chosen to keep it a secret.
"Dear Son, let me tell you that I only admired her character and skills."
"I really hope that you have remained a very prudent Emperor."
"Thank you for your concern, Dear Son. And now..."
Jeok Yeon opens and closes her eyes from exhaustion, ready to fall from fatigue, but the servants hold her up carefully. "I don't want to judge you for your desires, which, fortunately for you, didn't harm my subjects. I'd like to reward you for your courage in remaining silent. You are the first woman with such power." Ryu Hwa now looks at her intently. "I am proud that you are one of the strongest princes. And therefore... I am not taking away your title." Jeok Yeon looks up at him. Is she alive? Or is this just a dream?
She can't understand anything. "You..." She wants to say something, but she can't find the words. "Thank you." Finally the words were found. Without tears. Gratitude.
***
“Do Ha,” Jeok Yeon lightly touches his shoulder as he stares at the night sky. “Did you… ask?”
"No."
These words are enough to understand.
***
"Your First Highness, you are worthy of this throne."
"I don't need it." Do Ha glances at Jeok Yeon, who is waiting for the results.
***
"Well... After the publicity, I didn't believe it at first, although I knew there was a chance of winning the quarter prince," one prince says to another. "And I thought that the Emperor would give the throne to the legitimate heir"
"But Jeok Yeon... She broke the law..." the third interlocutor interjects. They all lost. "The Emperor's decision is indisputable," the second sighs sadly.
***
Jeok Yeon touches her throne lovingly. She has finally waited.
"Jeok Yeon," Do Ha suddenly interrupts her idyll. "Maybe we should get married?"