It’s hot.
I arrived. When I reached my destination, I was wiping sweat from my brow. It’s because I was wearing layered clothes.
To get to the point.
Where did I arrive? Naturally, it’s my maternal grandfather’s house. Contrary to my expectation that Generalissimo So’s mansion would be austere, the estate was surprisingly ostentatious, starting with the gate. Even from eighty-nine paces away, the gate stood out vividly.
Of course, the scale was grand, and the materials used to build the house were all high-quality. It was at a level most noble families couldn’t even dream of matching.
If you compared it to the main hall of Hyeolyunseong, it’d bring tears to your eyes.
The one shedding tears would, of course, be the lord of Hyeolyunseong. But what can you do? With little revenue and constant warfare, Hyeolyunseong’s shabby state was inevitable.
I approached the mansion with Yu Geung in tow.
“Impressive.”
Perhaps my taste aligns with my grandfather’s.
Or maybe it was the lady of the house who decorated it. If so, I take back the comment about sharing my grandfather’s taste. On second thought, it seemed more likely to be the lady’s doing. I couldn’t imagine my grandfather fussing over household decor.
If Hanseon, the eunuch, were here instead of Yu Geung, I could’ve asked who the lady of the house is. Unfortunately, Hanseon was back at Hyeonnyeongdang.
“Let’s go in.”
I swung both arms back, clasping my hands behind me.
“Ahem.”
Then, stepping so close to the gate that my nose nearly touched it, I shouted, “Come here!”
It was something I’d always wanted to say. Living as Baekyeon, I never had the chance, but now I’m fulfilling that wish in this unexpected way.
Footsteps sounded from beyond the gate. Soon, the door opened with a clunk. The gatekeeper came faster than expected, and I narrowly avoided bumping my nose into the gate by stepping back quickly.
“Uh, uh, uh, uh…”
The gatekeeper poked his head through the open door. Our eyes met. He was a middle-aged man with a large mole beside his nose.
“Your Highness?”
Spotting me, the gatekeeper’s eyes widened as if he recognized me instantly.
“Your Highness? Grand Prince Ikwon!”
“That’s me.”
He seemed shocked, as if I’d come to a place I shouldn’t have. Didn’t he know I was coming? I tilted my chin slightly, and the gatekeeper hurriedly cleared the way.
“Where’s my grandfather?”
“You’ve come to see the master, Your Highness?”
Compared to palace servants, this gatekeeper wasn’t exactly sharp.
If Hanseon were here, he’d probably stand out as the cream of the crop among these gatekeepers, a true talent.
“What, did I come to the master’s house to see someone else?”
“I’ll inform him at once!”
Stepping through the gate with my hands clasped behind my back, I slowly surveyed the surroundings. The house felt surprisingly lived-in. Given it’s the home of a stern, military-minded grandfather, I’d expected it to be as bleak as an army camp.
Well, it’s still a place where people live. Even my grandfather must eat, relieve himself, and sleep to function as a human.
“Guard Yu.”
I spoke to Yu Geung, who followed me in.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What do you think of this place?”
Yu Geung looked around and replied, “It’s a splendid mansion, Your Highness.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I thought it over a few times—Yu Geung is such a dull guy. If I keep a boring person like him as a guard, I’ll end up just as dull. That’s another reason not to use Yu Geung as a guard.
“I mean, doesn’t it seem my grandfather has unexpectedly refined taste?”
“I beg pardon, but this humble one lacks such discerning eyes…”
“Tch.”
The gatekeeper was staring at me, signaling to follow. I quickly trailed him into the main hall.
“I’ll promptly inform the master.”
The gatekeeper led me and Yu Geung to a guest room and disappeared.
Shortly after, a presence was felt outside the guest room.
“Your Highness, it is Generalissimo So Ikgyeom.”
His promise to fetch the master quickly wasn’t empty.
“Come in.”
As I spoke, the door opened immediately, and my grandfather appeared.
His face was as stern and cold as the last time I saw him. Staring straight ahead with an expressionless gaze, his eyes quietly shifted to me, scanning me up and down.
Just like before, he’s blatantly sizing me up.
“What brings you here?”
The words would read as polite on paper, but coming from his mouth, they didn’t sound courteous. My appearance wasn’t as pristine as it was in the palace, probably because I nearly got into a scuffle with some fool.
I could’ve let it slide, but my grandfather’s distrust wouldn’t allow it.
“I made an enemy or two.”
“What does that mean?”
He stiffened, his eyes practically scolding me to cut the nonsense. If I were soft-hearted, I might’ve been hurt.
But my heart’s tough, forged through years of begging. Thanks to that resilience, I wasn’t wounded.
“Your Highness.”
He spoke in a reprimanding tone.
Like Yu Geung, my grandfather doesn’t take to jokes—how dull.
“Just, you know, I beat up some fool I ran into on the street.”
His eyebrow twitched. He clearly didn’t take my words at face value. Did he think I’d done something bad?
Objectively, without bias, what I did on the way here wasn’t anything bad. It was absurd and exasperating, but my wastrel karma kept me silent.
Meanwhile, Yu Geung was fidgeting beside me like a nervous dog.
“…Master Generalissimo.”
Suddenly, Yu Geung spoke up. For the rigid Yu Geung to speak unprompted before the Generalissimo was rare.
“I humbly offer a word. His Highness saved a commoner’s child from harm in the alley.”
Yu Geung continued, glancing nervously.
“So, please don’t speak so harshly.”
What’s this? Is Yu Geung taking my side?
Well, that’s surprising.
But I kept my amazement to myself. As a result, neither I, my grandfather, nor Yu Geung spoke, and silence fell.
Awkward.
I cleared my throat, trying to change the subject.
“You summoned me, yet I get scolded first?”
I also nudged him with an elbow, fishing for a reaction.
My grandfather swallowed a sigh and offered a greeting.
“Have you been well, Your Highness?”
“I’ve been fine. What could be wrong? Have you been well, Grandfather?”
He bowed his head.
“Yes, Your Highness. I’m honored.”
“You looked fine to me.”
Honestly, his complexion didn’t look great. He seemed tired.
As my grandfather, still standing by the door, came forward and sat, another set of footsteps sounded outside. They weren’t a servant’s or gatekeeper’s—distinctly unique steps. It was the kind of stride that didn’t care who noticed, bold and unhesitant. No sane person would walk like that before Generalissimo So, so it was deliberately loud, meant to be heard.
I stared at the door in disbelief, and my grandfather said, “This is why I summoned Your Highness.”
I blinked, pondering the identity of this peculiar figure outside.
A servant? No.
A subordinate? No.
His wife? Unlikely.
“I’m coming in.”
A light voice, a casual tone. Clearly not someone beneath my grandfather. The thought struck me as the door opened again—without my permission. Definitely an unusual person.
I glanced at their feet. Unlike the hurried presence earlier, the steps were now light and graceful.
“I greet Grand Prince Ikwon, Your Highness.”
I looked up.
Our eyes met, and the other party gave a faint smile. Their flamboyant attire caught my eye first, but their gender was ambiguous. It was my first time meeting someone whose gender was unclear. At least in Hyeolyunseong, there was no one this unique.
“I didn’t expect Your Highness to come in person.”
“Why? You summoned me.”
“I thought so because I didn’t receive a reply to my letter. My apologies.”
Hearing that, I realized it wasn’t my grandfather who summoned me—it was this person. If my grandfather wrote the letter on their behalf, they must be quite close to him. But they seemed too young to be his friend. Even if my grandfather didn’t care about age in friendships, the age gap was significant.
If that’s the case, their closeness to my grandfather alone means they’re not someone I can treat lightly. Not that I planned to.
This person’s demeanor toward me was remarkably natural. They acted in ways that could seem rude but didn’t care. Is that just their personality? Are they another wastrel? Were they close to the first prince originally? If so, Hanseon or someone would’ve mentioned it, but I heard no such thing.
No matter how notorious I am, I’m still a prince of the realm. Can someone treat me this casually?
I gestured to an empty seat.
“Sit, for now.”
“I’m honored, Your Highness.”
They said “honored,” but they didn’t look it. In that sense, they were like my grandfather. Are they really his friend? Either way, I wasn’t offended by their lack of sincerity. Saying the words is enough, right? I’m not that uptight. Life’s better lived with ease.
In that relaxed spirit, I signaled Yu Geung to sit. As a guard, he should stand by the door per protocol, but people shouldn’t be so rigid. Following my easygoing gesture, Yu Geung sat awkwardly.
Once Yu Geung was seated, a servant brought tea and left.
“I’ll pour you a cup, Your Highness.”
The enigmatic, gender-ambiguous figure, with flamboyant sleeves, poured tea into a cup.
“Thanks.”
I said it casually, and my grandfather shot me a look as if he’d seen something bizarre.
What? What’s wrong?
“Do you remember me, Your Highness?”
Slurp.
Yellow tea filled the jade cup, steam rising in wisps.
“Hm.”
I pretended to sip the tea to divert attention. But the gazes of all three—my grandfather, Yu Geung, and the stranger—were fixed on me like nails. Staring calmly at the tea, I thought to myself.
I’m curious too.
Who are you?
How would I know?
But their words clearly implied we’d met before.
Desperately searching my mind, it was empty.
Damn it…
I sighed inwardly as another question came.
“You don’t remember me, Your Highness?”
Ugh, this is driving me crazy.