Even If Flowers Bloom on a Broken Branch - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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30.
The stars rose, and dawn arrived once more.
The shape of the moon changed day by day, and the dawn invariably swallowed its yellow light. Yet Hong Ran’s quarters remained completely unchanged.
Standing before Hong Ran’s room, which was lit day and night, Juhwa carefully tapped on the paper window.
“Ran, it’s me. It looks like you haven’t eaten yet…”
“Just a little longer.”
Juhwa looked down at the food that had already turned ice-cold.
This was yesterday’s dinner. Hong Ran had skipped her meals and spent the entire night sewing. She was so absorbed that she didn’t even seem to realize how much time had passed.
Juhwa let out a soft sigh.
‘I always knew she was this kind of child, but…’
Once Hong Ran focused on something, she couldn’t seem to hear anything anyone around her said. She was bound to let her own mother’s words slide right past her ears.
‘And since she heard those words, a fire must have been lit inside her.’
Ever since Lee Yeon fiercely commanded the man who had kidnapped her, Hong Ran spoke as if she could give Lee Yeon anything, even her very life.
And now, she had been told “I leave it to you” by that lady who was like the sky to her.
After pacing back and forth for a long while, Juhwa finally opened the door carefully.
Creak.
Even though it was still early spring, the air inside the room was hot.
Lumps of melted candle wax had fallen all over the floor. It was the trace of scraping away the thick buildup on the candlestick.
Hong Ran remained sitting primly in her seat, but her hands were moving without a single moment of rest.
“…….”
Juhwa walked over quietly to avoid making a sound and gazed down at her daughter.
Countless tiny wounds covered her slender fingertips. They were the marks of being cut by thin threads and pricked by the sharp tips of needles.
“Why aren’t you wearing a thimble?”
“It dulls my fingertips. I’m fine.”
Yet Juhwa’s heart was far from fine. It felt like watching a candle that had burned down and completely melted away.
“You must eat while you work. You’ve stayed up the entire night.”
Juhwa took hold of Hong Ran’s hand. It felt burning hot.
“If you fall ill, my lady’s heart will not be at ease.”
“I don’t know about after it’s finished, but right now, I cannot afford to even be sick, mother.”
Hong Ran smiled slightly and slipped her hand out of Juhwa’s grasp.
“I must finish making it much earlier than the deadline. Because we will have to do a fitting and alter it again.”
Her voice was exhausted, but it carried a determination so absolute that she could no longer be dissuaded.
Juhwa watched Hong Ran take up the needle once more, then nodded silently, closed the door, and stepped outside.
Right now, she wouldn’t hear anyone’s voice. Perhaps not even Lee Yeon’s.
“Mother.”
As she stepped out and closed the door, Juhwa raised her head. Hong Jin was standing there.
His complexion had improved wonderfully ever since he began staying here. His build was getting better by the day, to the point that it was hard to recall those past days when he was as painfully thin as a withered branch.
The people of this household simply could not leave him alone, as he was terribly skinny and small for his age of nineteen.
‘Hey, do you like potatoes?’
They constantly fed him various famine-relief crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes by steaming, roasting, and cooking them, and on days they slaughtered a cow or a pig, they skillfully cooked not just the meat but the offal as well to feed him to his heart’s content.
That wasn’t all. The men pointed out his slouching, insecure posture and nagged him in all sorts of ways.
‘Straighten your back! Shoulders down! You’re a man, so why are you so frail and lacking energy? And what’s wrong with your thighs? Do you walk with your arms?’
He was bewildered by the unconditional goodwill of people he had met for the first time. It was even a little frightening and burdensome.
However, his shallow wariness soon melted like snow before their sincerity.
‘Th-This is too hard.’
‘It’s supposed to be hard, you brat. Your body will become grand in proportion to the sweat you spill. Now, run again!’
Thanks to that, Hong Jin had put on a noticeable amount of weight and his posture had improved. He looked much sturdier not only on the outside but on the inside as well.
As Juhwa watched him silently, Hong Jin walked closer. He gazed toward Hong Ran’s quarters with a worried expression.
“Did older sister skip her meal again?”
“It seems she cannot even hear my voice.”
When Juhwa replied with a small sigh, Hong Jin looked at the ice-cold tray and picked it up with both hands without a word.
“Leave it, I will do it.”
“Your back isn’t well, so how do you expect to carry something this heavy? Hurry and lead the way.”
Though he spoke gruffly on purpose, Juhwa could feel her son’s consideration for her, and only then did she smile a little.
Hong Jin followed behind her and glanced back at the room where the light was still on. A sigh leaked out on its own.
“……Is she living only for today?”
Why is she acting like someone who’s going to die tomorrow?
Hong Jin grumbled even more on purpose as he walked. The cold radish water kimchi soup that sloshed over from the movement felt exceptionally cold.
* * *
Meanwhile, Daehee Palace, where the Queen resided, had been bustling since morning. It was because the items ordered by the Queen’s supreme command were being completed one after another.
The court ladies moved the precious treasures one by one onto a table covered in silk.
Eun-oh sat before a mirror and watched the scene unfold.
“You are truly beautiful, Your Highness.”
At the court lady’s words, Eun-oh turned her head and looked into the mirror again. She saw herself in the mirror, magnificently adorned.
A pure white face finely painted with powder, and plump, red lips that stood out exceptionally well from the application of rouge. And her hair, which was gorgeously put up into a single bundle, was firmly secured by a newly crafted gold hairpin.
Whenever Eun-oh turned her head ever so slightly, the ruby embedded in the hairpin gleamed brilliantly.
“You shine so brightly that I can hardly bear to open my eyes.”
Eun-oh let out a smirk at the court lady’s words. It was mere flattery, but it felt quite pleasant to hear.
Eun-oh swept her eyes down over the clothes she wore. Today was the day for the fitting of her ceremonial robe for the banquet.
She intended to put the dress on in advance and delicately select and match the accessories that suited it.
“This time, it is quite a sight to behold.”
The dress was crafted from pearl-colored silk, and intricately embroidered with red and gold threads. Whenever the light hit it, the embroidery gleamed with a golden hue, making its presence stand out.
“Only something of this level can be called a Queen’s robe.”
Eun-oh, who had been looking at her reflection in the mirror with satisfaction, rose from her seat.
Now it was time to look at the jewelry.
“Let me see.”
The court lady followed by her side and said respectfully,
“Just as Your Highness commanded, these are pieces made by the most exceptional artisan. He asked to convey that he is deeply moved that you designated him directly.”
Eun-oh smiled contentedly. That artisan was someone she had never been able to commission even once back when she was at her private residence.
Because he had several years’ worth of backlogs, it was difficult to even place an order, but now, at a single word from her, he had cast everything else aside to craft and present these items.
And in just a matter of days, no less.
‘He used to hold his nose so high, what a pathetic sight.’
Eun-oh curled the corners of her mouth as she looked down at the necklaces, bracelets, and earrings crafted from pure gold.
Her splendid clothing was reflected in the mirror. Once she adorned herself with this jewelry as well, she would be absolutely flawless.
‘Now, no one will ever dare to compare themselves to me.’
Eun-oh clenched her hands tightly.
Her heart pounded as she imagined the humiliating expression that would spread across Seo Lee-yeon’s face.
* * *
Since then, the moon rose and set three times. During that time, Hong Ran barely ate or slept.
After the fitting, eating just a few pieces of meat was the entirety of her sustenance.
Hong Ran muttered to herself.
“It’s…… finished.”
Before her lay a dress that was the only one of its kind in the world.
It was a garment made solely for Lee Yeon, created with her utmost effort, pouring in all of her heart and resolve.
Hong Ran folded the clothing neatly and stood up from her seat. The place she was heading to was, of course, Lee Yeon’s quarters.
‘She never rushed me even once.’
Even though the date was drawing near, she had waited silently without showing the slightest bit of anxiety. She had firmly believed that it would surely be finished within the deadline, and that it would be extraordinarily beautiful.
Since she had done her absolute best not to betray that trust, she had no regrets left.
Hong Ran stood before Lee Yeon’s quarters, clutching the bundle of clothing tightly to her chest.
“My lady.”
As if waiting for her, the door opened slowly. Hong Ran made eye contact with Lee Yeon and smiled.
“Good morning.”
It was finally the day of the banquet.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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