A Dragon Lives In That Scholar's Deep Spring - Chapter 6

– CHAPTER 6 –

The usual refrain of being like a child didn’t bring any good words. Moreover, it’s not something to be taken lightly even between real parents and children. In various ways, it seemed like a story that touched on many sensitive issues, and the day he had been hiding finally burst out involuntarily. 

Song Hyeon-ik, startled, stuttered in response.

“No, well, it’s not like that! It’s just that I wanted to suggest a marriage meeting with my third daughter, not anyone else!”

“It’s a grateful suggestion, but rather than just my marriage…”

With a lowered voice, Do-gyeom expressed his opinion.

“Wouldn’t it be more important to have a reliable someone who can nurture the Crown Prince, rather than just my marriage, my lord?”

In response to the words, Song Hyeon-ik cleared his throat, coughed awkwardly, and adjusted his beard.

“Why do you need to be so stern about it? I know very well that you and the Crown Prince have been close since childhood, but you also have a family and responsibilities to uphold.”

Do-gyeom vaguely felt why Song Hyeon-ik was rushing this marriage. It must be out of concern that if his daughter were to become the Crown Princess, she might face an unfortunate fate.

“I’m sure your late parents wouldn’t want their naive son to suffer because of an ill-considered marriage.”

It seemed better to lighten the atmosphere rather than engrave the uncomfortable truth that even if his daughter participated in the selection, she would never become the Crown Princess.

“You know, the talk that I grew up without parents and a solid foundation always follows me.”

“What nonsense. I know better than anyone that you’re not that kind of person!”

“I’ll gratefully accept that. However, I think it would be better to reconsider my marriage after the Crown Prince’s engagement.”

This time, Do-gyeom bowed deeply and quickly left the royal palace with larger strides than usual.

* * *

As he emerged from the small gate next to the water pavilion where the king had just passed, he bowed once again and stood up, revealing a square pond.

Despite probably seeing a lot last night, the water flowed gently in the thin breeze, swaying back and forth without a word.

It seemed that the restlessness and torment enough to make one go mad were solely Do-gyeom’s burden.

“Or perhaps, you didn’t want to kill me but wanted to die yourself?”

As he looked at the scene again, amidst the confusion, fragments of memories buried deep in his mind began to emerge one by one.

At the time, it seemed like incomprehensible words that didn’t even sound like they were being heard, but considering the woman’s otherworldly power, one thing made sense.

Her arrogance and recklessness seemed unmatched by anyone.

“Hah…”

The reason he didn’t hand over Farang to the authorities according to protocol was because of this. No, it was more accurate to say he couldn’t do it.

At first, he thought it was pointless to imprison her, so he decided to let her go far away from the palace. But once he hid her, it became a headache.

“It’s truly rare to meet such an unusual person.”

Before facing that extraordinary woman at home, Do-gyeom, who was busy with various thoughts and preparations, briskly walked, only to be blocked by someone.

“…What are you doing here, my Lord?”

“What’s the matter? Isn’t this place suitable for calming your troubled mind?”

If it were an animal, it might have bristled its fur or revealed its claws. While Do-gyeom was tense, Jo Ik-hwan, the Left State Secretary, casually looked around without a care.

“I occasionally seek solace within these palace grounds.”

“I won’t disturb you then.”

If it were someone else, they would have tried to add more words to gain favor with the influential Left State Secretary, but Do-gyeom wasn’t like that. After nodding just enough, he turned away, and Jo Ik-hwan added a word as he walked away.

“You resemble him a lot.”

If Do-gyeom hadn’t heard Jo Ik-hwan’s next words, he would have continued walking.

“Your father, I mean.”

When Do-gyeom, with a stern expression, slowly turned around, Jo Ik-hwan was already standing there, looking at a small island in the middle of the pond. He was always smiling, so why did he seem so guarded?

The memory of feeling a strange chill when he first saw Jo Ik-hwan as a child, hiding behind his father’s robe, was still vivid.

“Do you fish?”

“I’ve only tried it a few times with my father when I was young.”

“Ah, I remember. Even as a child, you had a keen sense.”

Jo Ik-hwan smiled contentedly and subtly suggested Do-gyeom.

“Why don’t you come fishing with me sometime?”

“If those who want to fish are still lining up in Bukchon, wouldn’t it be after they’re done that my turn comes?”

Seeing Do-gyeom decline without difficulty, Jo Ik-hwan laughed aloud.

“You even have the audacity of a Crown Prince’s tutor. From boldly rejecting my proposal to be your guardian at such a young age, I should’ve known.”

“If you had become my guardian back then, wouldn’t I have become completely the Crown Prince’s person now?”

It was a somewhat challenging statement. Do-gyeom, who had thrown a stone into Jo Ik-hwan’s calm waters, saw ripples forming in the gentle waves for a moment.

“What do you mean?”

Though he briefly furrowed his brows as if puzzled, Jo Ik-hwan was smiling again as if nothing had happened.

“If someone hears this, they might think I’m in opposition to the Crown Prince.”

Indeed, as expected of Seoul’s tiger, he wasn’t easily awakened by just pulling his beard a bit.

“If that were true, I wouldn’t have hesitated to make my only daughter the Crown Princess.”

“…What?”

“There was a promise made long ago between your ancestors and mine regarding marriage, as loyal subjects, shouldn’t I have given them a bride?”

Daughters from a powerful family participating in the selection were somewhat expected, but he didn’t anticipate Jo Ik-hwan’s daughter being one of them. Does this mean that he brought in an adopted daughter for the sake of selection?

“I’ve heard rumors of illness in your household a long time ago.”

“Well, I guess I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

Jo Ik-hwan lightly tapped Do-gyeom’s shoulder and smiled even brighter than before.

“As you know, she’s been feeble since she was young, and she caused this father a lot of distress. So, I let her spend a long time in a good place, away from the palace, but now she’s not just healthy, but more lively than her peers, causing me distress again.”

“…”

“How about it? At this rate, wouldn’t she live a much longer life than the crown princesses who passed away in vain?”

Whether he was aware of the white knuckles on the tightly clenched fist or not, or whether he was deliberately pretending to ignore the turmoil bubbling inside and making light conversation, Jo Ik-hwan didn’t forget to counter Do-gyeom’s provocation. Do-gyeom forced a smile.

“…In any case, I’m glad she’s in good spirits.”

“Thank you for your concern. Well, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

Jo Ik-hwan, who had already neatly adjusted his red robe as if signaling his departure, passed by Do-gyeom leisurely. It felt like an already painful headache was worsening.

What to do. Do-gyeom’s worries deepened.

* * *

“Lady, do you not wear anything underneath?”

Upon opening the loosely tied robe, Sun-yi was shocked to see the pure white nakedness revealed. The busy fingers pulling out small pieces of cloth from the bundle were in a flurry.

From meticulously dressing her, combing her hair that had been messily undone, to tying her hair elegantly, there was so much to do.

Since early morning, the master had entrusted her with this task, not to anyone else. Sun-yi’s enthusiasm to do well blazed brightly.

“Wear something underneath? There’s no need for that.”

But the problem was that the elegant lady wasn’t moving as gracefully as Sun-yi would have liked.

“Oh my, what are you talking about? A woman shouldn’t feel cold down there. Instead of being stubborn, quickly…”

“Don’t touch me.”

“Goodness!”

Although it seemed like the lady lightly brushed her off, Sun-yi stumbled and fell to the ground in a heap, rubbing her cheek as she got up.

“If you push like that, my cheekbones will break, you know?”

As much as she wanted to make a scene, Sun-yi held back. Although she might not always listen to orders, she was never to disobey or offend her master, who had warned her repeatedly to be careful.

Nevertheless, her laughter burst out involuntarily. Even though she tried to be cautious, Sun-yi didn’t realize that she seemed rather reckless.

“If you continue to walk around so naked, it’s bad for my reputation! Please put something on quickly.”

Her Father said that the master, who was supposed to work the night shift, suddenly carried that lady in even before sunrise. She was curious about how the master, who usually stays at the palace, met such a lady, but even stranger things unfolded one after another.

She had prepared a meal with great care, but she didn’t even know how to use chopsticks or a spoon and just pushed the broth around without eating anything. And now she says she doesn’t even need underwear.

“Enough. Your noise is annoying, so shut your mouth and leave.”

With the appearance of a fairy who lives on dew alone, her beautiful lips uttered words that were as sharp as needles. Sun-yi rolled her eyes and observed the lady.

She was undeniably a stunning woman, with looks that could easily put the top courtesans of Joseon to shame. Her delicate and fragile demeanor, as if she had never experienced anything difficult, made it hard to believe that she hadn’t even seen a spoon before.