Chapter 31 (2/2)

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Ruhae’s soft eyes became sharp.

***

“Thanks, Kyoyoung.”

“You’re welcome. Please ask for my help anytime when you need it,” said Kyoyoung with a gentle smile.

Much relieved by her kindness, Kyosul held her hands tightly, “Please allow me to take off first.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I think I spent too much time while I was having such a pleasant talk with you.”

Kyosul wished she would stay longer, but Kyoyoung stood up right away. After she offered courtesy farewells, Kyoyoung left her room. Crossing the yard to her residence, Kyoyoung slowed down now.

As she walked further away from her residence, her smile slowly disappeared.

“It looks like you have….” A cold look replaced her smile, “You must have underestimated me.”

Her cheeks trembled. In the end, she stopped walking when she began to sneer at Kyosul. Kyoyoung turned her head quickly and stared at her residence sharply. Her eyes were cold. When she recalled what just happened between her and Kyosul, she was filled with rage and shivered with resentment.

***

An hour prior, Kyosul sat face to face with Kyoyoung in her room in Dongbi Palace. The two women exchanged visits frequently. Regardless of the difference in their titles as the Crown Princess and the second wife of the Crown Prince, they seemed to be on close terms because Kyosul trusted too easily and Kyoyoung was very skilled in dealing with women.

“As you are in the imperial palace, I think I am now more comfortable around you.”

“I’m glad to hear that. As you felt so lonely, I was really worried about you.”

“Really? I am embarrassed to hear that.”

“That’s why we have tea and cookies like this so often. I just hope you can get accustomed to the palace life and feel more comfortable and at ease.”

While saying so, Kyoyoung held a cup of tea with a gentle smile. When she sat face to face with Kyosul, Kyoyoung always had the same expression on her face, which made Kyosul feel comfortable all the time. They kept chattering in a good mood for a while.

“By the way, Kyoyoung. As for me…” Kyosul said shyly, with a blush. “I’ve only got brothers in my motherland.”

“Oh, I see. I know you are the only princess in the blessed Hwa Kingdom.”

“You’re right. I’ve got four older brothers and four younger brothers. Though I had no sisters, I didn’t envy anyone because I had several brothers.”

Kyoyoung got curious why she suddenly talked about her brothers and sisters.

So, she quietly waited for Kyosul’s next words, smiling at her.

“As I have a great time with you like this, I think I know how good and pleasant it is to have a sister. If I had an older sister, I would guess she would be like Kyoyoung.”

“Did you say older sister?”

“Yes, older sister. I feel like you’re my older sister.”

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Having said that, Kyosul nodded cheerfully. Kyoyoung seemed surprised at her remarks but concealed her genuine feelings.

“How can I be your old sister?” said Kyoyoung, smiling rather stiffly.

Expressing thanks out of courtesy, Kyoyoung gently refused her request, but Kyosul came closer to her and held her hands all of a sudden. Kyoyoung flinched and almost pulled her hands away. Barely smiling, she let her put Kyosul’s little hands into hers.

“I really feel you’re my older sister from the bottom of my heart. I am just grateful to you in many ways, and I would like to take my cues from you.”

“Me?”

Genuinely startled, Kyoyoung looked at Kyosul. Kyosul’s innocent and glittering eyes showed that she was really looking up to her.

“When I got here, you reached out to me first and shared your shameful secret with me, and I really appreciate that. I pulled myself together thanks to your help.”

Kyoyoung blinked. The reason that she revealed her shameful secret to Kyosul was because a wild rumor about her already spread throughout the palace. As Kyosul would certainly hear it someday, Kyoyoung felt it would be much better for her to meet and tell her about it in person so as to keep her pride, but the innocent Crown Princess misunderstood her motivations.

“Besides, even if you are only one year older than me, I feel some sort of mystic aura around you, which is beyond description. It’s something I can feel from an adult woman. I want to be an adult woman like you.”

“An adult….”