The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 87 – Epilogue

* * *

While the master just slept, the Eastern Palace was bustling with people. It seemed that as long as I slept, many were curious about my well-being. Thanks to that, I was able to find out most of what I was curious about.

The palace maids were safe, and so were Yeoryu and Gowun. It was a bit difficult because Gowun didn’t want to leave my side even for a moment, but he seemed to have no other injuries.

And there were some unexpected visitors as well.

‘The consorts came.’

There were some whom I only occasionally greeted, and some who had to apologize after picking a fight with me. They all visited my quarters and asked about my well-being.

I wondered briefly if it was to look good in front of Mother, but their attitude and appearance didn’t seem that way. They really just confirmed I was safe and quickly left, telling me to rest.

And there was something they all said to me without fail. That they were glad I came to the lonely palace. That they were grateful I warmly welcomed them despite their rude visits. That they hadn’t had a chance to say it, but they were glad the opportunity to express their gratitude hadn’t disappeared.

I felt strange seeing that. It wasn’t such a big deal. It wasn’t something to be thanked for.

When I said that out of guilt, they smiled.

‘That too is Your Highness’s kindness.’

Remembering it again made me embarrassed. But I didn’t dislike it.

For the time being, perhaps for quite a long time, I thought it would be a memory that made my heart flutter every time I recalled it. Thinking of that warm memory again, I slowly took a step forward.

After finishing those kind and warm visits, what I did was visit the prison where Giyun was being held.

As expected, I frowned at the damp and unpleasant air. The prison was dirtier and more humid than I thought. There was a reason everyone dissuaded me.

Still, I followed the palace servant guiding me and stepped into the prison.

When I said I would go see Giyun in prison, of course everyone opposed. From asking why I would go to such a filthy place to asking why I would meet such a dirty bastard.

Mother sobbed, asking if it was because he was still my father, and I sighed at her without hesitation.

It wasn’t for such a grandiose reason. I just felt like I would be bothered if I didn’t do this.

The opponent who had given me such a sense of helplessness was now nothing. I knew that, but I felt like I had to confirm it at least once.

And I had a very small suspicion.

“The criminal shall pay respects to Her Highness the Princess.”

I slowly came to a stop. Giyun, who had been sitting upright, raised his head. Although he was wearing a prisoner’s clothes and confined in a cell, he wasn’t discouraged at all. Giyun, who had been sitting with a straight posture, quietly smiled upon seeing me.

“You came to see your lacking father.”

“How impudent!”

The palace maid beside me shouted. I looked at Giyun for a moment, then turned my head.

“I have something to discuss with this man, so stand back.”

The palace maid was flustered by my words. It seemed to look like I was taking Giyun’s side. Still, I couldn’t have this conversation with someone else present.

Instead of explaining that, I smiled at the palace maid, and she bowed to me and left the prison. Only after the sound of footsteps completely faded did I open my mouth.

“Why did you do that?”

Giyun just smiled at my question.

“Do what?”

“You attempted treason.”

I frankly answered his probing question. There was no need to hide it anymore.

“I intended to make you the Emperor.”

Just as I thought this moment was the last, he seemed to think the same. At the simple and unfiltered truth, I asked.

“I thought I was already the only princess, and I was favored enough that my position was not lacking.”

“But it’s a position that won’t last long.”

Giyun’s following words were chilly.

“Her Majesty has not long passed the age of thirty. She can produce a prince at any time.”

“…”

“If that happens, no matter how much Her Majesty cherishes you, your position won’t be the same as it is now.”

It was something I too had worried about briefly. Words I never thought would come out of Giyun’s mouth. The suspicion I had buried raised its head again.

Why did he keep me alive?

If he had the power to overturn the entire palace by himself, he could have become the Emperor himself instead of making me a puppet.

Since the original work had changed a lot, perhaps Giyun had also changed. Maybe he cherished Sanya in his own way.

“Weren’t you ever curious about how Her Majesty knew about the opium?”

Putting that thought aside for now, I started the conversation. It was one of the reasons I sought out Giyun today.

“Even if that servant ghostwrote, how could that child have met Her Majesty?”

“…”

“The one who informed Her Majesty of that fact was me.”

I continued with a slight smile.

“The original child wouldn’t have known that.”

At my words, Giyun’s eyes widened.

“I am not your daughter.”

This is the absolution I give myself. If by chance Giyun truly loved his daughter, at least in the end, I didn’t deceive him as a consolation.

And at the same time, it would be a punishment. Knowing that such a daughter is actually no longer in this world would be the most painful thing.

At those words, for the first time, Giyun’s face distorted. It was the first time I saw him express that much emotion, always smiling or expressionless.

But the following words were cold.

“That child ended up being of no help to me.”

Giyun exhaled as if he couldn’t contain his anger. It was far from the grief of a father who lost his daughter.

“You probably don’t consider me your father.”

“…”

“But you won’t feel any emotion even if I die.”

His eyes flashed. If the bars weren’t blocking us, he would have strangled me right away.

“So, did you enjoy my clowning?”

“…”

“Right. Something felt strange.”

The muttering Giyun was like a madman. As I looked at him with disgust, Giyun smirked.

“Do you want to ask why I said that to you?”

“…”

“That foolish thing would never be able to forget what I said.”

“…”

“So, won’t she vow revenge for her father who died unjustly for her sake?”

Each syllable was steeped in deep hatred.

I silently looked down at that face that seemed like an evil spirit, then suddenly swung my hand.

Smack!

The small hand neatly went in and out between the bars. I slyly rubbed my stinging fist.

‘…Look how hard his head is.’

Giyun, who had been hit on the head by me, looked at me with a dumbfounded face. Actually, I wanted to slap his cheek, but with the bars between us, one hit on the head was the maximum.

“You think anything that comes out of your loose mouth is words? You’re worse than a beast.”

I wanted to be nonchalant, but my face couldn’t help but frown. Giyun was so vile that I felt foolish for even momentarily thinking of him as human.

Even until the end, the reason he acted was for his own revenge.

It’s unpleasant, but he knew the original Sanya very well. If it had been that child, she really would have done that. Even if she didn’t take revenge on the Empress, she would have lived her entire life pitying her dead father.

She would have lived like that, unable to hate or love the Empress who cherished her. In the end, it was her own daughter she gave birth to. No, even if not, it was an innocent young child.

And for such a petty reason, telling her to live a life of guilt.

I tried to say more, but gave up. He’s not the type to understand even if he hears it, and I didn’t want to waste time trying to change him.

I dusted off my clothes and got up without any lingering attachment. Giyun, locked in a cell looking up at me, seemed small.

“I was worried you might remain as a fear to me…”

A human who can only amount to that. What I’m seeing now is Giyun’s true nature.

“You were smaller and more worthless than I thought.”

I began speaking indifferently. It was also a resolution to myself.

“What you did was scary, but I won’t dwell on it for long.”

I won’t hate you terrifyingly, nor pity you in the slightest.

Giyun, who wasn’t even a threat to me, was truly a nobody.

“I will live well. Loving and being loved ordinarily.”

As much as that pitiful child of yours couldn’t live, as much as I received that life.

Having finished speaking, I took light steps.

‘I miss Mom.’

Mirinae too, Garam too, my palace maids too, and Gowun too. I miss the people who love me and whom I love, not Giyun. I left the prison like that. And never looked back.

Some time later. I vaguely heard the news that a criminal had been executed. As the country was large, it wasn’t uncommon for death row inmates to be executed. I didn’t bother asking for the name of the deceased, and he was forgotten like that.

It was an ordinary and peaceful day.