Chapter 17 (2/2)

This was a punishment he brought onto himself. He should have revealed his identity from the beginning. If he had done so, she might have taken it and given it a pass without any problem as she was simple and naive. But he was scared. He was worried that if she was the Crown Princess would be wary of him, a prince. He was scared because of the unusually fierce competition among princes to succeed the throne.

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“I hid my identity because I didn’t want to lose her, but that made me lose her more quickly.”

Thinking over and over his mistake, Ruhae murmured with a deep sigh.

“Like brother Bipaan said, I might have… ”

Ruhae suddenly recalled Bipaan’s sarcastic criticism of him.

Did you feel a great pleasure when you heard the Crown Princess calling you by your given name? I think you were indulged in a sense of superiority as if you were her paramour or the Crown Prince, and didn’t think of correcting her mistake, right?

Was it because he liked it so much when Kyosul called him by his given name?

Yuuljin

Her voice and her bright smile came to his mind suddenly. Her pronunciation of his name was so cute and adorable, with a pleasant vibration.

But he could not hear her voice anymore, let alone her calling his name. After she found out about his deception, she didn’t come to the back garden anymore. Nevertheless, Ruhae continued to visit the back garden as if that were a ray of hope he could count on.

As the days went by, Ruhae became more and more skinny. When he held a brush with a tired face, the eunuch said, “Your Excellency, Prince Ruhae, the princess has arrived.”

“Let her in.”

At his short reply, the door of his study was opened and a fine woman came in. Her round and small face shaped like a finely carved chestnut was pure and white without blemishes. Her hair was shiny as it was treated with camellia oil, and half of her round forehead was covered with bangs. She had a neat and elegant impression.

She was Princess Yomin, a woman of virtue who always served him loyally with all her heart without any objection to his instruction. Princess Yomin came into his study and said hello.

“I’m honored to see Your Highness.”

She adjusted her posture and looked at his face. She came to him with a light step. A woman, who hesitated to choose for a moment between the cushion mat next to him and one before his desk, sat face to face with him.

“Your Excellency, what’s the matter with you? I hear that you haven’t had much food recently. ”

“No, I’m fine. I’ve got something that disturbs me. That’s all. Don’t worry about me.”

“Oh, Prince Ruhae.”

There was some sadness in her calling with lament. She was heartbroken at his reply. He always treated her with courtesy. She was thankful to him because he seemed to respect her, but she felt heartbroken all the time because he seemed to keep his distance from her by showing too much decorum.

Today, she asked, though she knew she would be rejected.

“Is it something you can’t share with your wife?”

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Ruhae looked into her eyes. Her clear eyes were filled with her concern about him.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but today, too, he shook his head firmly with a smile.

“Thanks for your concern, Princess Yomin. But this is a very little private matter of mine. So, it doesn’t deserve your concern at all. ”

Though he said in a kind and soft voice, she felt it like a dagger in her heart. She wished he hadn’t smiled at all. Though he was always sweet and kind to her, she was hurt by his kindness sometimes.

Looking at his smile, her face became rather hardened. He was trying to keep his distance from her. He always treated her carefully. Though he couldn’t be more kind to her, he wounded her heart. She clenched her fists, her hands placed on her knees. Her skinny and small fists trembled suddenly.

After all, she said something she shouldn’t have.

“I hear there is some rumor about you circulating among the court ladies.”

With a curious look, he looked at Yomin. She turned her mouth up slightly.

She smiled a long smile and continued casually.

“The rumor is that when the Crown Princess first came to the imperial palace, you greeted her kindly and had romantic feelings about her, and since then you have secretly been meeting every day and have confirmed your love.”