Chapter 125 (2/2)

”I am leaving, so stay at the palace to the end. As you wished so much, stay beside the Crown Prince by all means.”

”… I can't…”

”You have to.”

Yomin didn't allow her to make any excuse.

She continued with a heavy heart, ”Protect the son just like you stand by the Crown Prince. As you were responsible for expelling his mother from the palace, you have to fill the vacuum left by her.”

Kyoyoung lowered her head. Yomin's critical glance tormented her. She looked at Kyoyoung for a while, but Kyoyoung couldn't leave the place first.

”How foolish I am to the end!”

Yomin sneered at herself. After she abandon her position as a princess, what she did for the last time was her bitter criticism of Kyoyoung.

She had been totally ignored by Ruhae. Given her position right now, it was absurd for her to express her concern about Ruhae's son to Kyoyoung.

Going back to the South Palace, Yomin was staggering dangerously.

”This is going to be my last visit to the palace.”

That was true. She was stepping back to the South Palace for the last time.

She didn't want anything from Ruhae. She just wanted to watch him, but now she couldn't do anything.

All she could do was wish him well.

***

Darkness, which seemed to cover the Imperial Palace, was forced to retreat when the sun rose. No matter what happened last night, the sun was to rise again.

The day broke when they would observe Dohwan Taehwanggun's birthday and crowning at the same time.

”Where is my mom? Mom?”

Rubbing his eyes, young Dohwan looked for his mother, but nobody brought his mother to him. Everyone looked embarrassed and turned away from his eyes.

He didn't like birthday gifts piled mountain high, nor delicious meals. He just missed his mom. ”Where is my mom? Why isn't she coming?”

Dohwan became more and more impatient. His patience didn't last long. Although there was a splendid banquet taking place, he didn't pay any attention to dancer's dance or musicians' songs. At last, his face turned red and tears began to be welled up in his eyes.

”Damkang!”

Someone called with a heavy voice. He put his heavy hand on Dohwan's head.

With his eyes still welled with tears, Dohwan looked up at him.

Bipaan was also looking at him. He rarely called his childhood name Dohwan, which his mother Kyosul used to call kindly. Bipaan just called him Damkang.

”Dad,” Dohwan hung his head while whining. It was only Dohwan who could conduct himself without reserve before Bipaan, who was feared by all people in the Imperial Palace and notorious for its cold-heartedness.

As he was busy taking care of state affairs, he couldn't spent much time with Dohwan, but he was always kind to Dohwan.

”Your mother is sick in bed with illness of the mind, Damkang. So, let's go and see her when she gets better.”

Unlike his scary look, Bipaan always grabbed his small hands kindly.

As if he felt relieved by Bipaan's comfort, he rubbed his eyes with the sleeves.

Dohwan opened his eyes wide and asked, ”Is mom very sick?”

When Dohwan looked up at him, Bipaan knew he took after Kyosul so much.

He silently stroked Dohwan's head. Looking at him, Bipaan seemed sad. Dohwan found it hard to understand his father's facial expression, but he was about to cry, thinking his mother was very sick.

At the end of the banquet, Dohwan was brought to Ohyuje. In no time, the Hwangtaeson's crowning ceremony was held. Young Dohwan did not understand the meaning and weight of what had happened. He just recognized that his official title was changed from Taehwanggun to Hwangtaeson.

Before the child understood the weight of the crown on his head, the emperor first supported him as the heir to the next emperor.

Crowning the Hwangtaeson was was a great national event. Not only the Imperial Palace but also all the castles were boisterous about celebrating Dohwan's crowning ceremony. When the ceremony was done at the central palace, a large sedan chair decorated with golden ornaments and red cloth was prepared.

”Wow!”

Extremely excited to see the big sedan chair for the first time, he forgot the sadness of not seeing his mother all day. As he was still young, he got in the sedan chair with his father.

”Are you sharing this with me, dad? How far are we going? Are we going to see mom?”

As he was thrilled, Dohwan talked a lot. He grabbed his father's fingers with his small hands and looked around with a bright smile.

The huge golden sedan chair carrying Dohwan and Bipaan left the palace and turned around the capital city.