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Chapter 16

Shin Gwiryung began his story in a rather meaningful way.

Honestly, being human, I couldn't help but be interested in stories about the deposed queen.

It was something that had spread from the capital to the remote corners of Seopyeong, even reaching the ears of street urchins. Yes, I'm talking about myself. So how could I not be intrigued?

"The deposed queen entrusted me with a message," Shin Gwiryung said calmly.

His storytelling was so serious that I put on a grave expression and listened intently.

"Please help His Highness to live quietly."

It was a somewhat absurd request.

Live quietly? Being born as the king's eldest son meant that I was never destined for an ordinary or quiet life. Moreover, if I didn't actively strive, I would likely be killed by Prince Jaean in the future.

It seemed that the deposed queen had also anticipated that the Second Prince and his faction wouldn't leave the First Prince alone.

"I don't believe Your Highness doesn't understand the meaning of these words."

I nodded slightly in agreement.

"Yet, if you still intend to stop taking the bellflower..."

His gaze shifted down to the white inner robe peeking out from my sleeve.

"I believe there must be a reason for such a decision."

He emphasized the word "believe."

Shin Gwiryung looked as if he had been waiting for this moment. It probably wasn't just my imagination.

He had sought me out as soon as he heard the news that I was quitting the bellflower. I was certain that he had been waiting for this moment.

But, instead of answering hastily, I stared into Shin Gwiryung's eyes. There was no way to know what thoughts were going through his mind behind those jet-black pupils.

From my perspective, I could answer Shin Gwiryung's question by saying there was no particular reason. Or I could pretend there was an important reason.

I could simply say that I stopped taking it because it was a poison and it became burdensome. But if I, a prince, insisted that was the only reason, what would they think? However, when it came to actually opening my mouth, I couldn't bring myself to say that.

I couldn't gauge what kind of answer would win his favor. But the funny thing was that I felt like I needed to win Shin Gwiryung's favor in the first place. I tended to rely on my gut feeling rather than deep thought, so I decided to trust my instincts this time as well. I gave a vague answer first.

"Of course. Everything in the world has a reason."

"However, I dare to hope that I can hear Your Highness's true intentions."

He wasn't going to back down, was he? Well, if he had gone to such lengths to call me out here, he probably didn't intend to just kill time. He wasn't in a position to leisurely chat and joke around either.

So... would it be better to answer honestly?

But what if this guy went crazy and ran to the Second Prince, telling him that his half-brother was scheming to take the throne?

If things went wrong, I would only hasten my own beheading.

Even if he was close to the deposed queen, I couldn't be completely at ease. The person Shin Gwiryung was close to was the queen, not her son, me.

I didn't even know what kind of person he was, so I couldn't just spill my guts based on the fact that he was a friend of my bloodline...

"To be honest, I wish for Your Highness to desire the throne."

I choked even though I wasn't eating or drinking anything.

I choked, even though I wasn't eating or drinking anything.

He didn't just say he'd like me to have the desire, he said he wished for it.

I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand and asked, "Are you serious?"

Shin Gwiryung lowered his eyes. His demeanor was different from a moment ago.

"Which fool would dare lie in this situation?"

I was so dumbfounded that my mouth gaped open. I wanted to crack open that smooth head of his and see what thoughts were swirling inside, but that would only make me a murderer.

"Wait. So... I've been taking the bellflower because of this unusual body of mine?"

"Can you merely call it 'unusual'? It's something that could turn the world upside down."

I was speechless.

It seemed like everyone but me already knew.

Seeing how the bellflower was delivered by my grandfather, he probably knew about it too.

I suddenly felt like I had been played.

Was I being toyed with by Taejo?

After a brief moment of contemplation, I spoke. Shin Gwiryung didn't know me personally, but he claimed to be a friend of the deposed queen, so it should be okay to ask this much.

"Did my mother... tell you?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

It wasn't hard to figure out that the deposed queen had predicted what would happen after her death, and that her prediction was mostly accurate.

She was aware of the possibility of the First Prince becoming king, and she also foresaw that possibility threatening his life.

She wouldn't have entrusted her son's life to someone she didn't trust, so at least from the deposed queen's perspective, Shin Gwiryung was a reliable ally.

Reaching that conclusion eased my mind a bit.

Although he was still unpleasant.

"Do you have any intention of becoming the ruler of this nation?"

Shin Gwiryung asked, changing his tone. His tone was light, as if asking what I wanted for lunch, but the content was the heaviest of all the words he had spoken so far.

I was quite flustered, as I hadn't expected this kind of conversation.

"Isn't it a bit strange to answer such a question so directly when we've just met?"

"But if not today, when will another opportunity arise, Your Highness?"

The fact that he was already thinking about our next meeting was even more shocking.

"Frequent outings from the palace will displease His Majesty."

"I don't necessarily have to come to this residence to meet you."

"Haven't you considered that leaving the palace itself could be problematic?"

"Who cares what a wastrel does?"

I could roam freely only because I was a wastrel. I could act like a fool because I was a wastrel. The fact that I could bring Yoo Geung from the Geumo Guard and leave the palace on a whim to visit a relative's house without any reason was all because I was the wastrel prince.

These things wouldn't be allowed for a well-behaved, ordinary son of the deceased queen.

Shin Gwiryung frowned.

"I believe that is a bad move."

However, even though being called a wastrel gave me freedom of movement, it also disqualified me from being king.

In the long run, it wasn't a good thing.

I nodded.

"I know."

No matter how comfortable the life of a wastrel was, it wasn't something I could continue forever.

"I don't plan on living like this for much longer."

I was thinking of making a turning point soon.

There were definitely things in this world that only I could do.

Things that no one else but me could accomplish.

Shin Gwiryung's eyes gleamed at that.

It sent shivers down my spine for some reason.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

If this man was a friend of the deposed queen, did he see me as the blood relative of his friend, or as a tool for her revenge?

It was an open secret that the Second Prince Jaean, the current Queen Woo, and their faction were involved in the deposed queen's death.

If I were a friend of the deposed queen... I would probably hate them.

"It seems to me that you're trying to break your promise with your mother."

Shin Gwiryung smiled slyly again, just like before.

I swallowed a sigh.

He meant that I was a tool.

"Everything will unfold according to Your Highness's will."

I scoffed.

"It won't be easy."

"But the decision rests solely with Your Highness."

Of course, the decision was mine.

"Allow me to persuade you."

"Go ahead."

I said that, but I was nervous. Honestly, I was. Because in the future Seopyung, Shin Gwiryung, the head of the Pyeonggwang Trading Company, would have more influence than my grandfather, the General. The realization that I was finally doing something that could benefit Seopyung and Blood Cloud Fortress gave me a strange feeling.

It was the feeling that I was truly changing the future.

"This Gwiryung will do his utmost to fulfill Your Highness's wishes."

"Anyone can say that."

"I am well aware that I am insignificant at present."

Insignificant? At his age, building and managing a trading company was a remarkable feat. Even as a joke, Shin Gwiryung wasn't insignificant.

It was so absurd that I let out a hearty laugh.

Shin Gwiryung grumbled, "Which part of my words made Your Highness laugh?"

"Ah, sorry. It was nothing. Continue."

Shin Gwiryung stared at me disapprovingly, then resumed speaking after a moment.

"There is a reason why Your Highness should trust me."

"What is it?"

"I know how to manage the discomfort."

I paused for a moment, then asked.

"You've never experienced the same symptoms as me. How would you know?"

"It's not something I know from experience."

"Then someone must have told you. Was it my mother again?"

Shin Gwiryung didn't answer. It was the correct answer.

"Why did she leave that with you?"

"She entrusted me with the role of controlling Your Highness, so it was only natural."

"Why do you need to control me?"

"Have you forgotten?"

"Forgotten what?"

I pushed away the empty teacup with an indifferent attitude.

"...That day," Shin Gwiryung said with a smile. "Have you forgotten the anger of that day?"

He simply said 'that day' without any further explanation. But I think I knew what he was talking about. It was probably... the day the deposed queen died.

I had never experienced rage or buried anger over the deposed queen's death, so, I remained silent. I had no answer to give.

A heavy silence descended upon us. I was at a loss for words, acutely aware of Shin Gwiryung's scrutinizing gaze.

After some time, my grandfather came and opened the door. It was time for me to leave if I wanted to arrive on time.

I stood up and said, "I'll contact you again."

Shin Gwiryung's face showed disappointment. I added one more sentence.

"The decision won't take long."

Shin Gwiryung replied that he understood. He didn't look entirely satisfied.

Instead of feeling happy or fulfilled about gaining an ally, I felt heavy.

I returned to the palace with heavy steps.

On the way back, everything I saw reminded me that this life wasn't mine.

The scenery was different from when I left the palace for my grandfather's house.