Even If Flowers Bloom on a Broken Branch - Chapter 64

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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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64.
Court Lady Shin could not hide her bewilderment.
It was a very early morning, and she had come with the absolute certainty that Hong Ran would be at Unchaeheon.
In fact, the reason Eun-oh had sent her at such an early hour was obvious.
‘It must be a combination of the pressure that she must follow me, and the humiliation of showing her unkempt, unprepared appearance to everyone in the Royal Palace.’
If she told her that the Queen was waiting and that there was no time to prepare, so she must put on her clothes and come out immediately, she would surely flurriedly fail to prepare properly.
The Queen must have sent her at this hour hoping for that very sight, but she had run into an unexpected situation.
Court Lady Shin questioned once more.
“Is it true that Hong Ran is absent?”
“Yes, Court Lady.”
The Palace Maid nodded.
“You may check inside.”
“No, there is no need to go that far.”
Doing that would be a discourtesy. Furthermore, it would show that she could not trust her words, so she might find herself in deep trouble later.
However, if she returned like this, she would definitely hear bitter words from Eun-oh, so she wondered what to do.
Just then, the Palace Maid spoke to her cautiously.
“If you must meet Hong Ran by all means, why not go to Jeongjeongjeon?”
“To Jeongjeongjeon?”
The Palace Maid nodded.
“She left just a moment ago. If there is something you must convey, why not wait there or ask for it to be delivered on your behalf.”
Hearing the Palace Maid’s words, Court Lady Shin pondered carefully before nodding.
If she returned empty-handed without delivering the message like this, Eun-oh’s anger would surely pour onto her. In that case, even if it was late, it was a hundred times better to convey the words.
“That is a good idea.”
The Palace Maid bowed her head at Court Lady Shin’s brief praise. Court Lady Shin moved her steps immediately.
Though she did not know how long she would have to wait, she intended to go and wait. Cough, her waking face was still red.
* * *
Meanwhile, Hong Ran was looking straight ahead.
They said this Jeongjeongjeon was the most important pavilion where the King held audiences and major state affairs. She did not know she would come to such an important and strict place so frequently within a few days. If she did not keep her wits about her, she felt she would open her eyes wide and look all around just like when she first came with Lee Yeon, so she was walking while looking only at the back of the eunuch leading the way.
‘But this place…… seems different from the place I came to last time.’
From a certain point, it was an unfamiliar scenery. They were entering a little deeper into the palace. So just as she was about to ask again, the Palace Maid walking ahead stopped in front of a room.
The eunuch who followed from behind spoke cautiously toward the inside.
“Your Majesty, Hong Ran has arrived.”
“Tell her to enter.”
The door opened soundlessly. The eunuch and the Palace Maid stood in their places as if pinned down, as though this inside was not a place for them to go, and Hong Ran slowly moved her legs to step inside.
And with a click, the doors closed from both sides. It felt like the sound of her heart sinking.
“Have you come.”
Hong Ran could not be certain yet. Why the King wanted her, why he kept her in the palace, and for what reason he had summoned her since the morning—she could not clearly conclude a single thing.
At first, she thought his purpose might be to snatch her away from Lee Yeon, but if so, there would be no need to ask her opinion or Lee Yeon’s opinion, and it would have been enough to tell her to stay here the moment they first met. Yet, he patiently waited for her decision. And he had called her this morning.
As if he could not endure because he wanted to see her all night long.
‘Then, to me…….’
Does he really favor me.
At the same time, Lee Yeon’s voice echoed in her head.
‘I detest that man.’
She had called it detestation. They were words of dark emotion coming from the mouth of a person who seemed unlikely to ever hate anyone in her life.
‘I want him to die. As painfully and miserably as possible.’
In addition, she had said words even more terrifying than detestation. They were words that would certainly mean inevitable death if anyone else heard them. The fact that she had said those words to her meant she trusted her that much.
‘Since my lady has shown me her faith.’
Hong Ran looked ahead.
Jinpyeong was leaning languidly on a stool placed right in front. Her eyes met his.
‘I will do my absolute best to enter His Majesty’s heart.’
Without giving him my heart.
“Your Majesty.”
Hong Ran walked slowly and bent her knees to greet him.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
For a moment, both of them hesitated.
Hong Ran hesitated because she did not know if this was the correct etiquette, and Jinpyeong felt an awkwardness even greater than what Hong Ran felt. It was because the feeling was considerably different from the court etiquette he had heard and lived with all his life.
With the feeling of being neither this nor that, like wearing clothes that did not fit, a laugh leaked out rather than displeasure.
“Pfft.”
As he laughed softly, Hong Ran’s face turned even redder. It would be different if she had acted brazenly from the start, but since she felt the awkwardness midway, she was too embarrassed to bring up any words.
When Hong Ran could not lift her head with a bright red face, Jinpyeong waved his hand.
“Do not pay it any mind, for I am not rebuking you.”
Do not pay it any mind—it was already the second time she had heard those words.
The first time was when she looked up at his face while supporting Lee Yeon in the courtyard of Daehee Palace, and the second time was now.
Everyone had been surprised by the sight of the King, who was strict and cold to everyone, generously forgiving her.
‘A side shown only to me.’
Then what kind of side did I show him. What kind of side of mine caught his eye for him to seat me in this palace—Hong Ran’s thoughts, which had been pondering so, gathered into one.
“Do as you usually do.”
Me, just as I am.
Me, who was just the epitome of gratitude and admiration without any fear, hesitation, or reluctance.
Hong Ran slowly lifted her head.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
And cautiously but without hesitation, she stepped toward him and smiled.
“Did you have a good dream last night?”
It was an affectionate voice, just as she used to do with Lee Yeon. And Jinpyeong knew it as well.
The gaze that looked at Lee Yeon, the voice that spoke to Lee Yeon, and even the tone laced with a bit of coquetry—it was exactly what he had desired.
He was extremely satisfied that it was directed toward him. A rarely generous voice flowed from his lips.
“How about you. Do you like your quarters.”
“I…….”
Hong Ran tried to say something but closed her mouth for a moment. Her lips parted slightly for a moment, and she answered a little late.
“I was lonely.”
It was her honest feelings. An unembellished answer just as it was.
Hong Ran spoke again.
“I know well that it is a place too good for me, and I know well that it is an infinite honor. I even admired the beauty of Unchaeheon, but…….”
Hong Ran dropped her gaze.
“I merely stayed there for one night, but it was truly empty and lonely.”
She realized for the first time that the night was so long. Lee Yeon was not there, but neither were her mother and younger brother.
She was very anxious, very lonely, and even more afraid than that, but she could not rely on anyone, and she could not pour out this heart to anyone. To the point that she did not know how she fell into a faint sleep.
The tears that had dried around her eyes in the morning were the trace of it.
“Is this how one gets used to it?”
The rims of her eyes as she spoke like that were red again.
Jinpyeong felt a strong urge to rub those eye rims. And so, it was the moment he stretched his hand toward the blushing, peach-colored face that seemed ready to burst at a mere touch.
“Your Majesty.”
At the same time Jinpyeong’s hand hesitated, Hong Ran’s body flinched.
Unable to fully suppress the displeasure that surged in an instant, Jinpyeong snapped his head toward the doorway.
“What is it.”
“They say the Queen’s Court Lady has come seeking to see Hong Ran.”
Jinpyeong’s face stiffened in an instant. Hong Ran was the same.
Both of them knew well what the Queen had done to Lee Yeon, the Grand Princess Consort. Especially Hong Ran, who was the person who had watched by her side from beginning to end as Lee Yeon was harshly punished.
Jinpyeong spoke in a low voice.
“Tell her to enter this place.”
“……Pardon?”
The eunuch questioned back a little late. It was a very bewildered voice. Jinpyeong turned his body away from Hong Ran and went to the door.
And,
Rattle, thud.
The door opened.
“Speak.”
Jinpyeong looked down at Court Lady Shin, who stood beside the eunuch.
“What did she tell you to convey to this child?”
Faced alone with the King unexpectedly, Court Lady Shin’s face turned white as sheet.

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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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