Chapter 18 (1/2)

“Princess! How can you believe such a wild rumor?”

As soon as she was done talking, he shouted as if he had a seizure.

Yomin opened her eyes wide and subdued her surprise at his sensitive reaction. She had never heard such a loud voice before.

Suddenly, she wanted to ask, Did you know how to speak in such a loud voice?

While Ruhae raised his upper body, embarrassed at her sudden mention of the rumor, Yomin was calm, with a gentle smile on her face. As his wife, she was the type of woman who checked his deteriorating health with calm eyes like a calm lake.

@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {.lqzyy5e1479ea17c16 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {.lqzyy5e1479ea17c16 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {.lqzyy5e1479ea17c16 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {.lqzyy5e1479ea17c16 {display: block;}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {.lqzyy5e1479ea17c16 {display: block;}}

Slowly closing her eyes, she continued, “According to the rumor, you were noticed by court ladies heading to the East Palace, holding the Crown Princess in your arms. Not one but several of them allegedly noticed you. That’s why they’re gossiping about you behind your back.”

“That’s because the wife of the Crown Prince suddenly fell, so….”

“I knew you would do so,” said Yomin.

While he was trying to clarify his position hurriedly, she cut in and replied brightly.

“As a woman from the Hwa Kingdom came into this quiet imperial palace, the court ladies made up such a rumor, I think. I didn’t believe it the moment I heard it. In fact, it didn’t deserve my attention because I know what kind of character you have.”

@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {.ofyyd5e1479ea17b74 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {.ofyyd5e1479ea17b74 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {.ofyyd5e1479ea17b74 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {.ofyyd5e1479ea17b74 {display: block;}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {.ofyyd5e1479ea17b74 {display: block;}}

“Princess Yomin!”

Letting go of his hand holding the desk, he flopped down onto the mat. When he let out a sigh, she touched his face.

At her sudden act, he pulled himself back instinctively. She extended her hand again and said,

“I think you have become weak recently. Let me ask the royal doctor to brew herbal medicine to recover your health.”

With a worried look, she cupped his cheeks with both hands. She took pains to forget his effort to pull himself back when she extended her hand. The moment he backed off, her heart sank. He was supposed to be closer to her than anybody else, but he hesitated even to touch her, which broke her heart. But she tried her best to make a smile to forget about her wounded heart.

“Let me say goodbye for now, Your Highness.”

“Sure. Let me stop by your residence sooner or later.”

“I’m going to wait for you, always dressed up and ready to greet you.”

She answered with a happy smile. But again today she was not satisfied with the quality of dialogue with him. Above all, she didn’t like the way he called her. She has been married to him for several years, but whenever he called her, she was so disappointed.

Ruhae was a good husband. He was kind and cheerful. Above all, he didn’t leave his wife alone and lonely. He visited her not too often or not too occasionally. But that was it. The more he visited, the more she felt he was dealing with her in a businesslike manner. She got the impression that he made it a rule to see her out of the sense of duty as her husband.

By the way, when are you going to call me your wife?

Though Yomin exchanged greetings with him and even talked with him, she felt lonely as she left her study. Ruhae always called Yomin ‘Princess Yomin’ as if she were not his wife.

In the solemn palace, the royal couples showed others how close they were by calling themselves by given names. That’s why she always felt it regrettable that Ruhae always called her ‘Princess Yomin.’ Though it was not a big deal for her to take issue with, she was still sensitive to the matter of how he called her title. Even those who got to know her for some time called her just ‘Prince Ruhae’s wife.’ She just wished Ruhae called her his wife.

When she stood on the wooden porch, the court lady standing near the stepping stone put on shoes for her. While looking down at her, Yomin suddenly recalled what Ruhae said a moment ago.

I held her in my arms because the wife of the Crown Prince fell suddenly.

Her eyes sparkled at that moment. Ruhae called even her ‘wife of the Crown Prince,’ when she was still called ‘Princess Yomin’, not ‘wife of the Prince,’ when she had been married to him for several years. She was reminded of the wild rumors getting around among the court ladies.

“Bojin!”

@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {.flchy5e1479ea17c68 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {.flchy5e1479ea17c68 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {.flchy5e1479ea17c68 {display: block;}}@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {.flchy5e1479ea17c68 {display: block;}}@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {.flchy5e1479ea17c68 {display: block;}}