Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 15

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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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15.

I gazed quietly at the ceiling, my expression somewhat troubled.
After finishing the hearty dinner Yerim had prepared, my stomach felt pleasantly full. Though sleep should have come easily on this soft bed, I couldn’t drift off.
It was because of someone who had cast me into this turmoil.

‘Is it the face? Is the face the problem?’

Perhaps it was because I hadn’t seen a face matching my taste in so long. When she smiled so brightly with that face, my heart couldn’t remain still.
The proximity was also an issue.
We were nothing but a fabrication to deceive Yerim, yet somehow we felt so close.
But the greatest problem lay elsewhere.

‘She’s a princess. A princess!’

Not a prince. A princess. I was becoming excited over a princess.
Some would say that gender shouldn’t matter when you like someone, but for me, it mattered.
When I reflected on myself, I had never once thought that I liked women.
Moreover, my heart had never raced for any other woman.
Even when I saw the Board of Directors, though I thought she was breathtakingly beautiful, my heart didn’t race.
My heart only raced for Cheonhaerang.
Even knowing her true form beneath the male disguise.
Princess Yeonhwa.
If she returned to the Heavenly Realm, she might marry, as the other princesses had.
Her age was similar to Cheonhaerang’s, and children her age already had betrothals.
Though she was an exception.
Marriage. Princess Yeonhwa would marry.
The image of some worthless man standing beside Princess Yeonhwa flashed through my mind.
My vision spun dizzily.

‘…It can’t be.’

It was something that could never happen. Only a perfectly worthy man could stand beside Princess Yeonhwa.
But even searching the entire Heavenly Realm with eyes wide open, no such man existed. There was no man worthy of standing beside Princess Yeonhwa.

‘Could it be… that the princess ran away because she didn’t want to marry?’

No, that couldn’t be it. The princess’s reasons for running away were clearly something else entirely. As were her reasons for staying at this school.
But perhaps… could those reasons be included as well?
The Supreme Deity might have tried to force the princess into marriage.
My thoughts grew increasingly tangled, and endless imaginings unfurled across my mind. The more they did, the more turbulent my heart became.
Even if—truly, even if—I genuinely cared for the princess, she was someone I could never have.
I was a divine beast. The Baekho Clan, one of the Four Divine Guardians who protect the Heavenly Realm and the Supreme Deity.
I was not unaware of the weight that name carried.
The balance of the Four Divine Guardians must never be broken.
If any one of us formed a bond with the Supreme Deity’s bloodline, it would mean the balance of power among the Four Divine Guardians was shattered.
Which meant that even if I harbored feelings, I could only keep them to myself.
Feelings I could never speak aloud.

“….”

I closed my eyes tightly.
That’s right. It had only been yesterday and today. To harbor feelings like eternal love after merely two days was absurd.
Of course, I had childhood memories, but hadn’t I already buried all of those in the past and forgotten them? I could do the same this time.
Once I returned to the Heavenly Realm, I would see the princess’s face only a handful of times anyway.
Then everything that happened here would fade away. It would be buried in memory just like that.
My mind, which had been full of countless thoughts, suddenly became blank.
There was no need to think so hard about it. Someday, far in the future, I would be able to laugh easily and say, “That’s how it was back then.”
Even this phone call.
Buzz. At the vibration, I opened my eyes. When I checked my phone, a name now deeply familiar filled my vision.
Cheonhaerang.
In that brief moment, I genuinely agonized over whether I should answer the call or not.
But even if I wanted to ignore it, as a retainer I could not dare ignore the princess’s call.
Taking a shallow breath, I finally answered.

“…Hello.”
-Jiho.

Her voice, calling out to greet me, wrapped softly around my ears.

-What were you doing? Did you eat dinner?
“I ate dinner and was just lying down. What about you? Did you eat?”

As I answered, I suddenly found myself imagining what Cheonhaerang’s original voice sounded like.
Right now it was the young man’s low voice. Was her true voice a bit higher and more delicate than this?
From the voice I’d heard in childhood alone, I somehow couldn’t easily imagine it.

-Yeah. It was delicious.
“But what’s going on?”

Curious about why he’d called at this hour, I asked naturally. Cheonhaerang answered as if he’d been waiting for the question.

-I wanted to hear your voice. So I called.

Thump.
It wasn’t merely the sound of a heartbeat.
Something enormous had collapsed.
It felt as though my entire world had been shaken. I knew what it was.
But I turned away from it.
And so I couldn’t utter a single word.

-We can see each other tomorrow at the same time as today, right?

To his question, I barely managed a response. My throat felt completely constricted.

“…Yeah.”
-Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Jiho. Sleep well.

The call ended, but his voice—so tenderly affectionate—lingered in my ears throughout the night.

* * *

My eyes were utterly hollow. Even Yerim mentioned it.
Last night, I’d spent the entire time restless with turmoil, unable to sleep.
And that turmoil had carried through to this morning. I had to face Cheonhaerang early in the day.
Of all things, I’d made the appointment yesterday as if bewitched.
After finishing breakfast, it was already 7:10. The 7:30 meeting with Cheonhaerang was drawing steadily closer.
I stared intently at the time displayed on my phone screen, tapping my fingers anxiously against the table.
Yerim looked at me with a puzzled expression, wondering why I was acting this way, and asked.

“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

At Yerim’s question, I suddenly lifted my head as if remembering something. The startled Yerim flinched.

“What, what is it?”
“Unnie.”
“Hm?”
“Could you drive me to school today? Cheonhaerang too?”

I needed more time to dispel this turmoil and return to emptiness. So I wanted to avoid being alone with Cheonhaerang.
If Yerim drove us, I could escape that situation of being alone together.
Yerim was briefly displeased that Cheonhaerang was included, but soon nodded her head.
After all, when she decided to pick us up, Cheonhaerang was already part of it. Adding a ride back didn’t make much difference.
If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it—that’s what they say. Yerim nodded readily.

“Sure, then.”
“Thanks, unnie! I’ll tell Cheonhaerang too.”

My complexion, which had been dark throughout the meal, brightened instantly.
Yerim found it strange, but seeing that I offered no explanation, she assumed I didn’t want to talk about it.
As the youngest of the Baekho Clan, I had drifted along carelessly before suddenly descending to the Human Realm, so I must have my own struggles.
Besides, I was at that sensitive age of adolescence. She didn’t want to pry unnecessarily and be disliked during our time together.
After all, there was no knowing when Princess Yeonhwa would be found and we’d return to the Heavenly Realm.
Since it was still early morning, Yerim, appearing more relaxed, headed to the bathroom to prepare for work.
Watching Yerim disappear into the bathroom, I sent a text to Cheonhaerang.

Unnie’s driving us today.

* * *

To Cheonhaerang, who had been dreaming of an intimate commute alone with me, my text was like a bolt from the blue.
However, unable to show his disappointment, Cheonhaerang tried to appear unbothered even when facing Yerim.

“Thank you, unnie.”
“Sure.”

Yerim answered coolly and took the driver’s seat. Cheonhaerang and I followed, settling into the back seat.
Unlike yesterday when it was difficult to even breathe properly, music now filled the car.
It was a trendy idol song that Yerim, who faithfully followed the latest trends, had put on.
Following the dazzling sound, Yerim even hummed along.
Glancing at Yerim like that, Cheonhaerang sent me a text. I seemed so different from how I’d been yesterday.
Yet judging by the attitude I showed toward him, his suspicions seemed to have cleared.

“Sister, did something good happen?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself….”

Cheonhaerang pondered. It seemed Yerim was one of those celestial beings whose emotions readily showed on her face.
In a way, one could call her honest. Perhaps that was why his father had sent her as his guardian.
Lifting his gaze, Cheonhaerang looked at Jiho. She sat with perfect posture, her back straight, gazing out the window.
He found himself unable to tire of observing her silently—even as the car arrived at the School Entrance.

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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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