The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 88

* * *

With Giyun gone, Mother gained untouchable power. For some reason, the palace barrier completely disappeared, but with Mother’s ability, I wasn’t too anxious. And so, I enjoyed a perfect vacation.

No one threatened me, and there was nothing I had to do either.

It was very peaceful days where both my mind and body were at ease.

Yes. It really was.

“…”

Until one day, a very strange letter arrived.

[Hi.]

Having just woken up with bed hair, I gripped that letter without even rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Thinking I might not have fully woken up, I rubbed my eyes and narrowed them to take a closer look at the paper.

But the contents didn’t change, and the existence of the paper in my hand remained the same.

I woke up late today, only after the sun was high in the sky. Even after getting up, I was rolling around on the bed when I discovered a single letter placed by my pillow.

Until now, letters were delivered by Seoyeon or other palace maids. I had never received one in such a letter-like way, so I was a bit excited.

It’s obvious who sent it, but still, isn’t there a flutter that comes from it being a letter?

Could it be Mother? Or Mirinae? It could be Yeoryu too. Ah, if it’s Gowun, that would be so cute.

I took out the sealed letter while having these pleasant imaginations. Whoever it was, I thought I should greatly compliment them.

But the contents of the letter were vastly different from what I had expected.

Of course, it wasn’t a threatening content. If it’s ordinary, it’s an ordinary content, but something was strange.

[Hi.

The moon is so bright.

Are you doing well?

Please reply.]

“…”

No matter how many times I read it, I don’t know what this means.

Thinking it might be a code, I held it under a candle, but nothing appeared. Rather, I almost burned the letter.

This seems to be the entirety of the content. This…

What is this?

A letter with no recipient or sender written. No, I’m not even sure if this can be called a letter.

Why is the moon suddenly bright, and what’s with asking if I’m doing well? And please reply?

‘There needs to be content for me to reply or not.’

With a disgruntled face, I fluttered the letter and got up from my seat.

Anyhow, this person seems to have deliberately not written who they are so that I can guess their identity. With this contextless content and playing such a prank, it’s obvious who it is.

“Is anyone there?”

I neatly folded the letter, put it back in the envelope, and called for the palace maids. They immediately entered.

I yawned loudly and said,

“Tell Consort Seonbi that I will be visiting.”

* * *

“Sanya!”

At the main gate of Garam’s palace. As I was getting off the palanquin, I was startled to see a red-haired man running towards me from afar.

“Sanyaaa!”

Is that a human or a puppy? Muttering words that were definitely not curses, I slyly got off the palanquin. Actually, I kind of wanted to get back on and return.

Garam, who had run up to me, smiled brightly and spread his arms. When I frowned in response, Garam’s eyes widened.

“Why, why are you like that?”

“You smell like sweat.”

He smelled more like dirt, but it was true that Garam was sweating. Why did you run here wearing long clothes in this summer heat?

At my words, Garam seemed to lift his arm to smell himself, and soon his body was engulfed in flames.

“…!”

That, that crazy bastard…!

The moment I reached out to him, the flames surrounding Garam disappeared. A dry heat swept over, and Garam smiled brightly.

“All dried up!”

“…”

Is it important that you dried up now?

I wanted to kick his shin, but there were many eyes watching. I let out a deep sigh and bowed my head in greeting. And then I walked past him.

“Sa, Sanya?”

“…”

“Why are you like this? Do I still smell? Ah, no?”

“…”

“Ah, is it because of the flames earlier?”

Garam abruptly stopped. Walking ahead, I slyly stopped when I didn’t hear footsteps.

…Why? What is it?

Turning around, Garam was looking at me with a dumb expression.

“…You were worried about me, weren’t you?”

Seeing that face, I felt a bit conflicted. It’s a normal face of being touched, but why do I dislike seeing it?

“I’m fine! With the barrier gone, using abilities has become easier! I was already good before, but now!”

Ugh, seriously. Seriously!

I gritted my teeth, strode over, and grabbed Garam’s sleeve.

“Let’s have a conversation inside. The sun is harsh.”

Speaking with a smile while gritting my teeth, Garam shouted, “Ah!”

“Right, we should go in quickly. Our Sanya shouldn’t get tanned.”

But Garam, who was about to hurry his steps, hesitated again. Slyly glancing at me, I sighed. What? What is it this time?

“…I guess I can’t carry you?”

“…”

At my coldly frozen expression, Garam hastily made an excuse.

“No! But you let the Noble Consort carry you, and it’s the same with Her Majesty.”

Ah, so you want to try carrying me too…

‘Is that even something to say?’

Am I Jesus? To be fair to everyone?

It was hot to begin with, and my displeasure level was gradually rising. I smiled, stretching the corners of my mouth tightly.

“It seems Your Lordship has no intention of conversing with me, so I will take my leave now.”

I’ve entertained that high tension enough.

Play by yourself, you bastard.

“…”

“…”

I really intended to send him away.

In the room that was so quiet you wouldn’t believe there were two people, Garam and I, I sighed as I recalled what just happened.

Garam practically clung to me like he was about to cry. When I answered that I was leaving because he was being loud, this is what’s happening now.

It’s so quiet that it seems like he’s holding his breath.

‘There’s no need to be that quiet.’

I meant don’t raise your voice, not don’t speak at all.

In this aspect, Garam was quite a perfectionist. Should I tell him it’s okay to talk?

A thought of pity slyly came to mind. Drinking the iced fruit juice while pondering, a gulping sound was heard. Garam, who was watching that in front of me, chuckled, “Heh heh.”

‘Are you laughing?’

Cancel the momentary pity.

When I narrowed my eyes, Garam shook his head and made an X with his index finger on his lips. He was so tense, but when he looked at me again, he laughed with a relaxed face.

‘It has been a while since I came.’

I had been so mentally occupied that I had almost forgotten about Garam. Since the palace is so vast, we didn’t run into each other by chance either. Even though I saw Mirinae and Mother quite often during that time.

Garam wasn’t as touching as Mother or as reliable as Mirinae, but he was still someone I secretly liked a lot.

He’s a bit clingy, but not always, and he does it when he does. Sometimes he does foolish things, but there’s no ill intent.

Seeing him smiling like that even after being treated that way, I felt a bit sorry.

“…Have you been well?”

Asking slyly with those feelings, Garam’s face visibly brightened.

“Of course! I’ve been doing well. What reason would I have not to?”

Well, that’s true. I nodded and took another sip of the fruit juice. Mm, sweet. Delicious. As I was eating snacks and listening to Garam’s story, Garam laughed and reached out to me.

“It’s all over your face, you brat.”

There were crumbs on the hand wiping my mouth. Garam’s laughing eyes changed a bit. As if I was pitiful and dear to him.

“Baby. How have you been?”

“…”

“Are you okay now?”

That question, not prying hastily, was just the right amount of affectionate. I smiled brightly in a way that matched that affection.

“Yes. I’m okay.”

When I smiled as brightly as I could, Garam also smiled as if relieved.

Garam was sometimes mature like that. But that doesn’t mean he’s always mature.

‘An adult wouldn’t send a letter like that.’

Thinking about it again, it was a truly impressive letter. Hi, the moon is bright. Are you doing well? Please reply.

I understand the desire to hide their identity, but it seems they overlooked the fact that there was no one else who would do such a thing besides themself. Still, I understood why they did it.

‘I was so prickly…’

Everyone couldn’t even come to my palace, couldn’t call for me, and were just carefully watching my mood.

Garam, who couldn’t wait and slyly sent a letter, was a bit pitiful and very slightly. Really slightly cute too.

“Next time, if you miss me, send a message or come visit the Eastern Palace.”

It’s too late for Garam alone. I should have told you earlier that I would make room for you too.

“And don’t send letters like that anymore.”

At my words tinged with laughter, Garam made a puzzled face. It wasn’t a face of being caught and embarrassed or trying to cover it up with a lie, but a genuinely puzzled face.

“What letter?”