The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 99

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“Here, Your Highness. This is maejak-gwa (plum blossom cakes), and this is gamju (persimmon wine). Suksu said he put in a special effort.”

Right. I can tell even without the explanation. That was my snack.

But Heesa was deliberately carrying all of that with a serious face.

“This…”

“…”

“I will not give it to you.”

―Said Heesa, a palace maid of the Eastern Palace.

If you’re not going to give it to me, why did you bring it from the Eastern Palace kitchen?

Instead of saying that, I quietly observed her, and Heesa did the same.

My eyes said let’s see how far you’ll go, but Heesa was different. After saying that, Heesa was looking at me as if urging a toddler taking their first steps.

Come on, Your Highness. Quickly!

Seeing those eyes, I sighed in resignation and muttered.

“Give it.”

“Try saying it more firmly!”

“Hand it over.”

“Not that, just a little more…!”

Stop it already. I had a headache. This was already the third time today.

‘I shouldn’t have brought the palace maids with me then.’

I recalled this morning’s events while avoiding Heesa’s still passionate eyes.

A few hours ago, after much contemplation, I wrote a letter to ‘Sanya’ and headed to Flower Dragon Palace.

I wasn’t going to see Mother. I looked for the child who was still crying with that strange wailing sound.

The child was still sitting alone on that high throne, sobbing. In front of the lavishly prepared ritual table, officials in formal attire were bowing deeply.

‘Cease your crying!’

‘Quell your anger!’

I was appalled seeing that sight.

You crazy bastards. What are you doing?!

Naturally, the child kept crying. It was inevitable with the dignified voice of middle-aged men resounding.

Eventually, I strode to the throne and comforted the child. Everyone looked at me with surprised eyes as I intruded on the ritual and soothed the child.

‘Your Highness, you must not lay your hands on the baby―’

‘As if the child will stop crying if you console them like that! Have you never looked after a child before?’

I interrupted the minister trying to dissuade me and shouted angrily. He seemed a bit taken aback, then reprimanded me again with a solemn face.

‘The baby is different from ordinary babies.’

Different how? Don’t you see the crying has subsided now?

Just like at night, the child cried less when I comforted them. Not completely stopping, but at least not wailing loudly like before.

I slightly stepped aside to show them the child, and their eyes widened in a different sense.

‘…Has the crying lessened a bit?’

‘But how could the baby…’

They’re all just pretentious fools. I gritted my teeth while patting and soothing the child.

‘It is only natural for a child to cry and throw tantrums, so you should think about comforting their sorrowful heart, not performing these rituals.’

It was quite a solemn rebuke. But the problem was that my palace maids and Mother who had just arrived along with other consorts heard it.

‘Why is this even a problem?’

Right. Actually, I’m not sure either. But if I had to explain, it was like this.

It’s normal for children to cry and throw tantrums. I said that with my own mouth, a child whose head isn’t even dry yet.

Upon hearing those words, the others realized that I had rarely properly thrown tantrums or cried until now.

Our princess has been enduring a lot! So let’s comfort that sorrowful heart!

‘What the hell is this?’

What kind of mindset leads to this train of thought?

But it wasn’t completely incomprehensible either. These people were originally a bit abnormal.

Anyway, everyone in the palace was anticipating my tantrum. I was very troubled by those desperate gazes.

What a humiliation from one misspoken word.

Honestly, I wasn’t such a docile child. Although it was a long time ago, I suddenly cried to avoid Gowun’s punishment and rushed in front of the envoys because of the relief crop.

…Saying it like this, it’s true I never really cried out of sadness.

‘But when I want to, tears don’t come out.’

When I forced out fake tears, they flowed like a faucet.

But when I felt sad and wanted to cry a little, tears wouldn’t come.

At most, a single drop when I faced Giyun.

‘Why is it like this?’

I don’t know why, but I know this isn’t the way to fix it.

They seemed to think I would throw a tantrum and cry if they said they wouldn’t give it to me, but do I have to cry for snacks at this age?

Heesa’s hand holding my snack tray without putting it down on the table was trembling. It didn’t seem like it was due to lack of strength.

“Ah, I won’t give it to you! Really!”

Seeing that, I let out a deep sigh.

Alright…

“You eat a lot.”

I tried to say it irritably, but even to my ears, it sounded quite deflated. Still, I maintained a face of disillusionment, and Heesa became restless.

In the end, Heesa put down the things she was holding on the table.

“Your Highness, please eat it all!”

“…”

Anyone seeing this would think I’m the one tormenting her. You’re the one who didn’t give it, so why are you making that face?

Not only Heesa but all the palace servants in the room were looking at me with that face.

My appetite is completely gone.

“Heesa.”

“Yes!”

“Get out.”

“Pardon?”

At my abrupt words, Heesa asked back with a dumbfounded face. I smiled, stretching the corners of my mouth, and repeated for her.

“Everyone get out.”

At those words, the palace servants who had been putting on all sorts of shows in the room were flustered.

“B-But, Your Highness.”

But my ass.

Annoyed at not being able to eat meals or snacks comfortably, my irritation had reached its peak. In the midst of that, someone refuting me made me even more irritated.

“Get out! Everyone, out!”

What the hell are you trying to do, seriously!

I shouted angrily and firmly pushed people’s backs. They said oh my while obediently being pushed by my hand. I was about to push them out and slam the door shut, but I was dumbfounded by their faces that I briefly saw through the crack.

‘You scolded us for the first time!’ With those words, I finished slamming the door shut.

I was going to shout a few more times if I kept hearing noise outside, but fortunately, as soon as I closed the door, the room became quiet.

Fuming, I plopped down on the bed and saw Gowun standing still.

“Why are they all acting like that?”

Gowun smiled again at my muttering and approached me. He fanned me with the folding fan on the table. Sighing at the gesture as if telling me to calm down, Gowun kindly said,

“Don’t be too angry. Didn’t everyone do it thinking of you?”

“I know. Of course I do. But what the hell is this?”

I thought it had gotten a bit better lately, but it’s starting again. I don’t like the high tension of being overly indulgent like that.

“…It’s understandable to be concerned.”

But the answer that came back made me feel complicated.

Are you also anxious that I don’t get angry…?

“Gowun. I’m older than you…”

I was about to say that I’m a few years older than him but hesitated. I still had to look up at Gowun.

“…Nevermind.”

I must look young in your eyes. Just like I see you as a baby…

As I glossed over it with a sigh, Gowun looked puzzled but kept fanning.

“Stop it. Your hand will hurt.”

“It’s alright.”

Gowun answered in a dignified manner and continued fanning gently. The moment I thought I should tell him to stop after exactly ten times, I saw something crawling on the open window.

Although the window frame is dark since the building is made of wood, it was a darkness that stood out from it.

The moment I saw that, goosebumps ran down my spine.

“…Gowun, over there.”

As I froze, Gowun’s gaze immediately went there. He walked over without hesitation and flicked the bug out the window.

He must have hit it quite hard. It seemed to be a bug with wings, but it fell straight down without even being able to fly once.

I was frozen without even having time to pity it, and only after some time passed did I exhale.

…Where did the person who said, “Right, you’re young so I’ll let it slide” just now go?

But I quickly changed my mind. There are things that are scary no matter how old you get.

“I hate bugs.”

I muttered with as much contempt as I could muster.

“I hate bugs, and I hate mice. Actually, I don’t really like summer either.”

To be precise, I don’t like humid air filling an enclosed room. So I tried to keep the windows and doors open as much as possible, but I can’t open the door because of those folks.

Gowun knew I hated bugs. Still, as if curious, Gowun asked me.

“Why do you dislike them?”

Well, does there have to be a reason for disliking something?

I particularly disliked the things I listed, but I couldn’t think of a specific reason.

“Just because. I just hate them.”

It was different from simple disgust. It was truly terrifying. Ugh, I don’t even want to describe it.

Seeing me genuinely shuddering, Gowun obediently started fanning again. Staring blankly at that sight, I opened my mouth.

“You must have something you dislike for no reason too, right?”