I Became the Eldest Daughter of a Fallen Family - Chapter 43

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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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Episode 43. Me? (2)
‘Am I… trembling right now?’
It was a line from some drama she’d seen long ago.
The words flashed through her mind along with a revolving lantern of memories.
Seeing how pale and flustered her expression had become, Ju Ha-yoon belatedly grew flustered himself and hastened to clarify.
“Ah, that is— I didn’t mean for us to ride together. I meant you should borrow the carriage and go.”
……Right. Of course.
What self-respecting sixth imperial prince would kidnap the daughter of a condemned man?
Especially one who had to oversee the Birthday Celebration feast for her paternal grandmother tomorrow?
Granted, it was also unreasonable by normal standards for him to suggest borrowing a carriage in the first place.
But even so, there was no stopping the way her heart plummeted into her stomach.
The world was dangerous enough as it was, and besides, he was… well, Ju Ha-jin’s brother, wasn’t he?
‘True, the Imperial Family’s sibling relationships are said to be somewhat different from ordinary households…’
There was a reason the old saying existed: startled by a goat, startled again by its horns.
Only after confirming that he meant her no harm did So Yeon-hee press a hand to her chest and offer him an awkward smile.
“I’m grateful for your consideration, Your Highness. In that case, I’ll shamefully borrow it today and return it when I come to deliver the tofu and duhwa in four days.”
Moving large quantities of tofu and duhwa would be impossible with this modest bamboo carrier anyway.
So Yeon-hee’s mouth curved upward at the thought of sparing herself the labor.
At that, Ju Ha-yoon replied once more, his expression stiff and his words clipped.
“There’s no need for that.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s a spare carriage, so feel free to use it. If you find it a burden, think of it as compensation for the trouble of indulging my insistence.”
Despite the somewhat curt tone, the tips of his ears had flushed a bright, bright red.
‘What’s this? Sharp-looking as he is, there’s something unexpectedly charming about him.’
Without thinking, So Yeon-hee opened her eyes wide and studied Ju Ha-yoon intently.
‘Nineteen this year, wasn’t it? Well, that’s the age when everything feels shameful.’
Wasn’t it true that men tended to have a prolonged adolescence?
Now that So Yeon-hee finally understood his awkward behavior, a subtle smile played at her lips.
“I did have a difficult day today. But thanks to you, I navigated two serious crises smoothly. I’m truly grateful for your help.”
“I merely did what was proper.”
“Still. Even you must have found it difficult to procure that much ice. Yet you brought an entire vessel of it.”
Of course, he was the one who’d dragged her into this chaos in the first place, so he might have felt some moral obligation.
But by that logic, what of Wi Jeong?
Though it began as Ju Ha-yoon’s suggestion, it was ultimately an event held at the Wi Household.
And the head cook was, after all, a servant of the Wi Household. When she resorted to improper methods to corner So Yeon-hee, no one stepped in.
‘Whether they knew and ignored it, or genuinely didn’t notice—’
If the former, that would be upsetting. If the latter…
Didn’t it mean he was watching her closely enough to catch the sort of details others would miss?
Even a highborn imperial prince at that.
‘What is he scheming? He wouldn’t be so kind unless he wanted something from me…’
So Yeon-hee paused to gather her thoughts, then broached the subject delicately.
“Now that I think about it, you’ve been remarkably kind to me.”
“…….”
“Whether it’s noticing the head cook’s scheming and coming to help, or stopping Wi Jeong—”
When she thought about it, he’d been like this from the start.
When Wi Jeong was in prison and tried desperately to find any way to contact her, running his mouth and clinging to her, Ju Ha-yoon had rebuked him and helped her instead.
‘Now that I think about it, even in my past life, Ju Ha-yoon was like this.’
A man who never showed his face, yet extended a helping hand in everything.
A man who subtly aided her as she drew closer to the truth, while sharply warning her of Ju Ha-jin’s danger.
It wasn’t until the situation spiraled to an extreme that So Yeon-hee realized the faceless angel who’d been helping her was the youngest son of Chairman Ju.
At least this time they’d exchanged faces and greetings, so that was progress.
‘Let’s see what this is really about. What scheme could he possibly have that makes him treat me this way?’
Behind her smile, So Yeon-hee’s eyes grew quietly sharp.
In neither her past life nor this one had she found it easy to believe that someone in such an exalted position would give without expecting something in return.
Ju Ha-yoon fell silent for a moment.
Only the faint sound of him swallowing filled the space as So Yeon-hee waited unhurriedly for his answer.
Would he hem and haw, or pretend not to know?
But then—
“I wanted to win your trust.”
“…… I’m sorry?”
So Yeon-hee’s eyes widened slowly, very slowly.
‘What did I just hear?’
An imperial prince. Confessing to the daughter of a condemned man. Just like that? Straight and unvarnished?
‘Is he in his right mind?’
So Yeon-hee stared at Ju Ha-yoon with an even more rigid expression than before.
He held her gaze for a moment, then abruptly turned his head away.
His ears, if anything, had grown even redder than before.
‘Does he really like me? Is this some adolescent boy’s reckless first love?’
At this turn of events, So Yeon-hee’s lips couldn’t help but twitch.
Not because she had feelings for him, of course.
And she certainly wasn’t naive enough to swoon over a confession from someone barely past adulthood.
Yet there was something miraculous about the threads of fate.
Had his kindness toward her in her past life also been rooted in such feelings? The thought made her heart flutter despite herself.
So Yeon-hee swallowed hard, pressing a hand to her trembling chest.
Though her body was only fifteen, her mind had always been that of a woman in her thirties who’d seen it all.
But now, strangely, she felt like a true fifteen-year-old girl.
At least until she heard his belated clarification that followed immediately after.
“To be precise, I wanted to earn your trust. Though I was recently appointed to the position of County Magistrate, I am lacking in many ways. But you possess remarkable talents. If someone like you continued to make things such as the Water Tap and offered counsel at my side, it would be an invaluable aid.”
“…… Yes?”
“Of course, I have no intention of forcing you. I merely hoped that if our paths continue to intertwine, we might help one another.”
It was a far longer sentence than his usual manner of speech, and grammatically precise.
Yet it was also calm, measured, and steady—without a tremor.
So Yeon-hee slowly turned his words over in her mind.
……Trust.
Someone of remarkable talent.
To help one another.
Ah.
…… Oh.
Heat rose slowly, very slowly, to So Yeon-hee’s cheeks.
‘So when he said he wanted to win my heart, he meant it that way. This isn’t a romance or a coming-of-age tale—it’s a story of warring princes. A tale of dynastic struggle.’
For some reason, her eyes grew moist.
So Yeon-hee turned her gaze toward some distant point, affecting indifference.
But she couldn’t help the way her face flushed a deep red with belated realization.
“…… I see. The Water Tap. Ha, ha, ha…….”
Damn that faucet. What was so impressive about it that he had to embarrass her like this?
She tried to vent her frustration, but it only made her feel more hollow and mortified.
In the end, So Yeon-hee succumbed to her shame and buried her face in her palms.
At that, Ju Ha-yoon asked gently, a note of bewilderment in his voice.
“What’s the matter? Does your head ache?”
“No. No, it doesn’t. It’s just…… Yes. It’s nothing at all.”
Please, don’t ask anything more. I think I’ll die of mortification if you do!
With difficulty, So Yeon-hee mustered a professional smile, hastily took her leave, and climbed into the carriage.
‘Nothing ever goes right since I came to Haenghwajin.’
Was this place cursed, or had shame become her constant companion?
Either way, So Yeon-hee thought quietly, she wouldn’t be able to face Ju Ha-yoon for a while.
‘I’m so embarrassed!’
At least not until today’s humiliation faded.

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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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