Chapter 35: Tangled Bonds and Unseen Truths

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

It felt like someone had struck my head, my thoughts halting.

I steadied myself, speaking seriously. “Needed?”

Gaeyeohwa’s eyes sparkled brightly, an unreadable expression.

I cleared my throat and said, “Lady Gaeyeohwa.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” she replied.

“You ask if I need you?” I said.

“Well, I mean—”

A sudden thought struck me: what if her foresight had seen through my intentions from the start?

But I could be wrong, so I had to be cautious.

“I’m not sure how to respond,” I said.

I’d chosen a guise of courtship, thinking it the safest approach, but I couldn’t just agree blindly without knowing her thoughts.

She spoke. “Your Highness, you haven’t seen me before today.”

I replied nonchalantly, “I’m looking at you now, so how can you say I haven’t seen you?”

“No matter the kind of liking, it’s too early to consider me for your heart,” she said.

“What’s so strange about that?” I asked.

Her expression darkened noticeably, revealing she couldn’t fully hide her emotions.

That meant my words had touched something, but I couldn’t tell what just from her face.

“What’s on your mind? What are you trying to say?” I pressed.

Was there a reason she couldn’t reveal her hand?

If so, she should give me a hint to keep the conversation going.

I answered, then paused, recalling a fact.

I was already known as a wastrel.

Who’d take a wastrel’s nonsense seriously?

Even if she told Namakseong’s lord everything I’d said, it’d cause little harm.

“He’s just a wastrel spouting nonsense,” they’d think.

With that, I made my decision.

“There’s a reason I think you’d fit into my plans,” I said. “My interest lies in a strategist for Duke Mungong’s future.”

She wouldn’t be foolish. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t speak recklessly.

“That’s my assumption. Is that interpretation acceptable?” I asked.

She answered carefully, “May I ask if Your Highness knows something about me?”

“What something?” I replied.

She hesitated briefly, her gaze wavering.

From her reaction, I knew exactly what she meant.

“I’ve heard vile rumors from some shameless folks calling you a wastrel,” she said.

I laughed aloud. “Some?”

She bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”

I lifted my chin, smirking. “So, what do you think?”

Asking if she was needed meant she was considering joining me, at least exploring the idea.

She wasn’t saying this to serve a wastrel prince.

The Gaeyeohwa before me seemed sane, at least.

“I don’t believe the rumors,” she said.

I laughed again. “Smoke doesn’t rise from an unlit chimney. Rumors don’t just appear.”

“They spread from the capital,” she said. “How many people there must be.”

Even beyond, the capital’s rumors had reached here.

“Of course, the whole nation probably thinks I’m a wastrel,” I said.

“They’ve never met Your Highness as I have,” she replied.

“So you think the rumors are false?” I asked.

“Tired people need gossip to pass the time,” she said.

I chuckled, leaning back. “That’s a long-winded way to say it.”

She was a seer and strategist cherished by Duke Mungong in the future. That she’d deny understanding me suggested a clear reason.

“What’s your point, then?” I asked.

“Why do you laugh like that?” she said.

I waved my hand. “No, no, it’s nothing.”

“Have I said something wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing at all,” I said.

She looked at me warily.

I shook my head briefly, signaling she didn’t need to be so guarded.

“Then may I ask something? It doesn’t seem you aim to be a princess,” I said. “If not, what can you do? If not a princess, you’d be my vassal. Do you believe you could be useful to me?”

Her lips trembled slightly.

This was the moment to reveal a bit of my hand.

“If you can see the future, why would I need you as a vassal?” I asked.

Her pupils shook noticeably.

There was no mistaking that reaction.

I pressed, not missing her response. “Is something wrong with what I said?”

“No, not at all,” she said, her voice trembling.

She looked like she might collapse but spoke again.

“You expect me to have foresight, don’t you?” she said. “Search the world, and surely someone has such a gift. How could a lowly person like me possess it?”

Knowing her secret made her words laughable. She’d said it to test me.

I replied casually, “Right. If you had foresight, why bother with a wretch like me who’s only cursed? Haha, isn’t that so?”

She showed distress. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?” I asked.

“How dare I speak such words to Your Highness? They’re utterly inappropriate. I didn’t mean it that way. Please retract your words,” she said.

Her distress wasn’t from fear of me.

I could tell she was bold. Becoming Duke Mungong’s strategist wasn’t a small feat.

“Just a light remark,” I said.

“I apologize again,” she said.

“Fine,” I said. “So, will you reveal your secret?”

That alone would be a great gain. If she revealed her secret, I was ready to do whatever it took to take her from Namakseong’s lord.

But our talk was cut short.

Heavy footsteps approached, and someone called me.

“Your Highness! It’s Yu Geung,” a voice said.

It was indeed Yu Geung.

“What’s the matter?” I asked, glancing at the door.

I looked at Gaeyeohwa, asking with my eyes if Yu Geung could enter.

“Do as you wish,” she said.

I turned to the door. “Come in and speak.”

The door opened, revealing Yu Geung’s grim face. He brushed his sleeve, showing a reddish stain.

I frowned. “Blood?”

He nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Are you hurt? What could’ve caused that?” I asked.

It wasn’t serious enough for him to report immediately.

“What happened?” I pressed.

“It’s not me,” he said, glancing outside.

“A guard was injured,” he said.

“A guard was hurt?” I asked.

“For what reason?”

Yu Geung spoke gravely. “Namakseong’s lord tried to catch a crow, but a guard passing by shielded it and was hit by his arrow.”

Hearing this, I stood, knocking over my chair.

Recruiting Gaeyeohwa was important, but I couldn’t stay seated hearing a guard was injured. I left the room, following Yu Geung.

The guard had been moved indoors. His pale face was evident even before I checked his wound.

He was old and frail, making it all the more troubling.

“Your Highness,” he said, trying to rise from the bed.

“Stay down,” I said.

A physician was present. I asked, “Where’s he hurt?”

The physician bowed before answering. Serving a prince was tiring.

“He was shot in the right chest,” he said.

“Is it serious?” I asked.

“It’s not deep, but there’s significant bleeding,” he said.

That explained his pallor.

“You, guard,” I said.

“Yes, Your Highness,” he replied.

“Shielding a crow? What does that mean?” I asked.

“I’m sorry,” he said, hesitating.

I pressed him to answer.

He stammered, “Isn’t it the bird Your Highness keeps?”

“You mean Gonjo?” I said, groaning.

I couldn’t bring him into my quarters, so I’d told him to linger nearby. He must’ve caught the lord’s eye while circling Namakseong.

If the arrow had hit properly, Gonjo would be dead.

That the guard recognized him was surprising. That he’d taken the arrow for him was bewildering.

I couldn’t scold him for it.

Then, new movement appeared.

Yu Geung, standing nearby, checked outside. “It’s Namakseong’s lord.”

“Let him in. No, I’ll go out. Let the guard rest,” I said.

This accident would delay our group further. If it postponed our journey, Heo Seokkyeok would have complaints.

But it gave me more time to talk with Gaeyeohwa, which worked in my favor.

Still, this guard had stayed by my side since I awoke as the first prince. Seeing him wounded, I couldn’t call it good.

As I met Namakseong’s lord, our eyes locked, and he bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” he said.

“Why apologize? I’m not the one hurt,” I replied.

He spoke cautiously. “I heard the crow I shot at was Yours Highness’s.”

“You meant to shoot it?” I said.

“Yes, Your Highness,” he replied.

He apologized repeatedly, but I wasn’t pleased.

I hadn’t considered that Gonjo would look like a wild bird.

I dismissed the lord and called for Heo Seokkyeok.

“Captain Heo,” I said.

My mood was sour, but I’d make the most of the situation.

“With a guard injured, we’ll extend our stay in Namakseong,” I said.

Heo Seokkyeok nodded without protest. “Yes, Your Highness.”