The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 94

* * *

This morning was a bit strange. When I woke up, I felt odd in a way I couldn’t pinpoint. Even though I had a heavy conversation the day before, ‘Sanya’ asked about my day in her letter as always.

Thinking I should write a reply before bed, I folded it again and rubbed my eyes for no reason. Is it because I talked with ‘Sanya’?

I’ve been living like a person obsessed with letters all this time. Anyway, now that it’s been settled, is it because I feel relieved?

As I stared blankly, I suddenly looked at the window. It seems different from usual. As if drawn to something, I walked to the window and opened it, and an unfamiliar floral scent rushed in.

“…Flowers?”

The scenery that had been lush green until yesterday was dyed entirely in light pink. The fragrance was so strong that the room was soon filled with the scent of flowers.

“Your Highness. Are you awake?”

While I was confused with my still sleepy mind, I heard Seoyeon’s voice from outside.

I absentmindedly answered yes, and the palace maids entered to assist with my morning routine. Heesa, seeing the wide open window, smiled brightly.

“This year, Arun ended a bit early, right?”

Hearing those words reminded me of something. The peach blossoms that bloom all at once after Arun, and a young child.

I knew about it, but like this, overnight? No, and above all.

“Isn’t the duration of Arun one month?”

While exchanging letters with ‘Sanya’, a lot of time had passed, but still, that much time hadn’t passed yet. At my puzzled question, Seoyeon, while changing my clothes, answered.

“Arun ends on the day the peach blossoms bloom. Most of the time, that period is one month, so it’s just known that way, but it’s flexible.”

“I thought the flowers only bloomed when the baby appeared, but I guess not.”

“Of course! The peach blossoms that bloom in the palace are a specialty of Seora.”

An excited voice answered my remark. Heesa continued with a lively tone.

“It’s a promise made by the first Dragon to his consort, Emperor Taejo. He really loved peach blossoms.”

Was there a legend about this too? I stared intently at Heesa, meaning for her to continue.

“To cheer up his consort who was disappointed that Arun had ended, he made the peach blossoms that had already withered bloom once more.”

Peach blossoms bloom around April, and Arun begins in summer. It’s certainly strange for peach blossoms to bloom in summer.

“The Emperor loved that sight so much that the blessing continues to this day.”

Heesa continued as if dreaming.

“Isn’t it really romantic?”

Romantic my foot. I couldn’t bring myself to shatter innocent Heesa’s imagination and muttered inwardly.

Love? What love? Giving an ability like blooming just to watch someone’s reaction all your life.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t believe the Dragon truly loved his consort.

As the beginning of all abilities, unlike other divine beasts, the Dragon could have given a powerful ability to the person he loved.

Like the Dragon’s Command, for example.

“Will the baby come this time?”

That thought was cut off by Heesa’s excited voice. I looked at that bright face and lowered my head. I could guess, but I didn’t give a definite answer just in case.

‘Since the ability has weakened, they said it would appear this time.’

But it’s sad to be disappointed after getting your hopes up. I tightly shut my itching mouth, and fortunately, the presence or absence of the baby was soon revealed.

A few days later, as I was sitting on the bed after breakfast without any thoughts, I heard hurried footsteps by my ear.

“Heesa. What’s this commotion?”

Seoyeon’s calm voice admonished Heesa as always.

“Oh my, Madam. That’s not what’s important right now!”

Heesa’s bright voice frantically followed. I got up from my seat and approached the door. I carefully walked so that the palace maids wouldn’t open the door upon hearing my footsteps.

What are they talking about?

“They say the baby has come!”

“Huh?”

The door creaked open at my unintended words. While Seoyeon was surprised to see me, Heesa continued with a bright smile.

“They say the baby appeared at Sanwha Pavilion. Let’s go see, Your Highness!”

Before Seoyeon could stop me, I quickly nodded.

I’ll finally see that child now!

* * *

Sanwha Pavilion, which I visited after a long time, was unusually crowded. Even on normal days, it had more visitors than other gardens, but it was like it had turned from a botanical garden into an amusement park.

‘I guess everyone heard the rumor.’

Heesa excitedly guided me, and as I followed, I faintly heard the sound of crying.

As I approached the place where people were gathered, the palace servants who recognized me were surprised and stepped aside. I put my index finger to my lips to the ones who tried to announce my visit. Thanks to them obediently following, I was able to see the baby lying on the soft grass without being disturbed by people.

It was a young child who seemed to be about two years old at most. As I had heard, the child was wailing. The crying sound was loud as the child was right in front of me. Hearing that, I slightly frowned.

‘The crying sounds strange.’

It sounded like a whining newborn’s cry, but also like an adult wailing in agony. It was a strange crying sound I had never heard before, indescribable.

Perhaps because of that, the child who was said to bring a bountiful harvest didn’t seem very friendly to me.

After the baby appears, the top priority of the imperial family is to soothe the child. The child needs to stop crying and smile before disappearing for a good harvest to come next year.

So I had to comfort the child, but I couldn’t bring myself to approach the child at all.

The moment I hesitated, someone stepped forward. I saw a splendid dragon robe. As our eyes met, I widened my eyes.

Mother was here?

Mother was also surprised to see me, but instead of coming to me, she picked up the child.

“She is going to hold the ceremony.”

As I blankly watched the Emperor’s procession, Seoyeon quietly added.

“Ceremony?”

“It’s a ceremony to soothe the crying baby.”

The nuance was a bit strange. Holding a ceremony to soothe a baby? What is this? It’s eerie.

“How do you soothe a child like that?”

The palace maids made puzzled faces at my question.

“Shouldn’t you hold and pat the child?”

The palace maids’ faces showed a cute smile, as if I looked innocent. Only Seoyeon tried to tell me with a resolute face.

“It’s against etiquette to carelessly touch the baby’s body.”

No, that’s not the problem right now. No matter how creepily that child cries, it’s a crying baby, and you’re going to hold a ceremony while leaving the child seated? Hold and pat the child, or at least feed a spoonful of honey.

Kneel and pray, or bow, what does that young child know?

“But isn’t it a baby?”

As if understanding my confusion, the palace maids’ expressions gradually changed. They comforted me with a smile.

“Don’t worry. Although the baby came in human form, it is a messenger sent by the Dragon. It does not follow the ways of mere creatures, so it’s alright.”

I know that, but still.

The child’s crying could still be heard, though distant. The child kept crying without stopping. I wanted to think of it as just a totem, but it looked too human for that.

“…Does the crying stop with just that?”

“The baby has always been moved by the sincerity and stopped crying. Don’t worry.”

A kind answer came to my muttered words. I had nothing to say since it had never been wrong, but…

“Shall we return, Your Highness?”

Seeing my unpleasant expression, Heesa carefully suggested. I nodded.

As I left Flower Dragon Palace, the sound of crying gradually faded away.

* * *

A strange pattern of light enters the pitch-black ceiling.

I stretched out my hand and tried to grasp that light a couple of times, then let out a deep sigh.

‘I should sleep.’

Quite some time had passed since I lay down to sleep. But sleep wouldn’t come easily.

It’s because I saw that during the day.

I frowned and tossed and turned. I felt like I could still hear that strange crying.

The image of Mother holding the child like moving a statue, and the child who kept crying even while being held.

Night is ‘Sanya’s time. I don’t know if that child is conscious during the day, but she must have been waiting for the night. ‘Sanya’ wakes up when I fall asleep, but I couldn’t sleep at all.

After tossing and turning a few more times, I finally sat up.

‘It keeps bothering me.’

It seemed like no matter how many hours I lay down, I wouldn’t be able to sleep like this. It would be better to just resolve it.

As I strode to the door and flung it open, one person standing in front of the door turned his head towards me. He didn’t even look surprised. He didn’t even flinch.

‘He should be a little surprised.’

I looked at him skeptically and blurted out.

“You were awake, Gowun.”

I knew you’d be up.

Gowun, rolling his eyes, slightly nodded and glanced at me. Although they take turns keeping watch, Gowun, being a growing child, was not included in the night watch.

Above all, I had even told Yeoryu last time. Make him sleep at night.

‘I know why he’s out here though.’

I clicked my tongue softly. Now wasn’t the time to scold him for that.

“Let’s go somewhere with me.”