Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 2

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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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2.

The Heavenly Realm was home to countless celestial maidens.
Though the daughters of the Supreme Deity were also called celestial maidens, they were different from all the others.
There were only three princesses of Cheongyeokgyeong under the current Supreme Deity’s reign.
The eldest was Yuhwa, the second was Sohwa, and the youngest was Yeonhwa.
All three princesses possessed the same striking features—snow-white hair that cascaded like falling snow and eyes that gleamed with golden irises.
The young man before me also had white hair, and his eyes shone with that same golden light.
I recognized his face from childhood. I had seen it long ago in Cheongyeokgyeong, the palace of the Queen Mother of the West.
I never imagined that the celestial maiden Yeonhwa was a princess of Cheongyeokgyeong. Back then, she had black hair.
I couldn’t express how shocked I was when I learned that Yeonhwa was royalty. I even went through my past memories in detail, worried I might have offended her in some way.
Regardless, those white locks and that face could only belong to the celestial maiden Yeonhwa.

‘But why does she look like this? Is she deliberately disguising herself as a man?’

Given her status as a runaway, it made sense she’d do this to avoid detection, but I couldn’t understand why she’d chosen Sunhwa High School specifically.
And there was something else that troubled me—that man. The one who had trapped me. Who was he?
How did he know about me, and how was he able to infiltrate this school and set that trap?
He wasn’t a ghost. He certainly wasn’t human.
I sensed nothing from him at all.
Yet he commanded a hundred ghosts.
Moreover, he knew my father, the patriarch of the Baekho Clan.

‘Does the Heavenly Realm know about this?’

Surely they didn’t send me here knowing all this…?
I grew serious. A flicker of distrust toward the Supreme Deity and my father rose within me, but I quickly suppressed it.

‘…No. Regardless, I’ve found the celestial maiden now. I need to bring her back quickly.’

At the thought of returning to the Heavenly Realm so soon, my heart began to soar with anticipation.
Though considerable time seemed to have passed without hearing a response to my greeting, I tilted my head slightly in confusion.
In that moment, the darkness that had enveloped everything began to slowly lift.
Blinded by the dazzling light flooding my vision, I couldn’t help but squint.
With the light at his back, shadows obscured the Young Man’s face from view. But soon my eyes began to adjust.
It was the moment I discovered his face—as though he were about to cry.
I was deeply flustered.
His breath brushed against my cheek, tickling it, and his warm body heat enveloped me.
The Young Man pulled me into his embrace.

“…!”

A subtle floral fragrance lingered at the tip of my nose.
My hands, lost and uncertain, fluttered helplessly in the air. I was of the Baekho Clan, and I could not dare push him away.
Not knowing what to do, I simply remained as I was. And then it happened.

“Thank goodness, Jiho. Really….”
“….”

I could say nothing. His voice was desperately urgent yet achingly tender.
What was he so relieved about? What had frightened him so deeply?
Did he… still remember me?
Many questions tangled at the tip of my tongue, yet I could not voice a single one.

* * *

‘I suppose we could separate now….’

At least it wasn’t summer yet, so the heat wasn’t unbearable—that much was a mercy.
I watched the Young Man from the corner of my eye, holding me as though he would never let go, his face buried in his shoulder, and I thought to myself.
As a noble princess, I could not presume to place my hands upon him carelessly, so I merely rolled my eyes.
Beams of light streamed through the densely packed trees.
I had certainly passed through the school’s entrance, yet now I found myself in an unfamiliar forest.
Whether it was because of that man or because my princess power had transported us here, I could not say.

‘Still, when should I bring up returning….’

I had no desire to linger in such a desolate place.

How much more time had passed like that?
With a sniffle, the floral fragrance finally faded away. Only then could I face the Young Man’s expression once more.
Seeing his glistening eyes, I briefly wondered if I should offer him something to wipe his tears.
But I had nothing to give. I wasn’t carrying a handkerchief.

“Jiho.”
“…Yes, yes?”

At the soft voice that gently pierced my ears, I startled and answered.
The Young Man meeting my gaze laughed brightly, as if he hadn’t just been crying.
It was a laugh like the azure sky visible beyond. My heart seemed to stop for a moment.
Come to think of it, it was like this long ago too. Back then, Yeonhwa also smiled in a way that seemed to enchant people.
With that enchanting smile, she spoke beautiful words. Just like now.

“I missed you.”
“….”

Thump. Thump. My heart pounded as if it might burst.
The fact that I needed to go back and explain everything was erased from my mind.
I should have answered, but my lips seemed sealed shut—no words came out.
I could only stare blankly at the Young Man.
I was only able to speak again because of his following question.

“Didn’t you miss me, Jiho?”

To say I missed him couldn’t compare to the tenderness in his heart.
To be honest, I had buried it in memories and forgotten.
A celestial maiden I met in Cheongyeokgyeong when I was young—so beautiful. A friend I had cared for deeply.
That was all. Isn’t that how all childhood memories are?
But the Young Man seemed different.
In a situation like this, who could possibly say they had actually forgotten?
I pushed aside the pangs of conscience that followed and nodded.

“…I…missed you too, Young Man.”

At my answer, Cheonhaerang’s smile became even brighter. I deliberately turned away from the pricking of my conscience and continued speaking.

“How have you been all this time?”

I realized for the first time just how effortlessly I could lie. My tongue didn’t even betray me.

“No, I haven’t been doing well.”
“…What?”
“I missed you.”

‘That much…?’

I couldn’t tell if Cheonhaerang was being serious or joking.
But looking at the drooping corners of the princess’s eyes, it seemed genuine enough.
I could no longer ignore my conscience. I wanted to change the subject now.

“Still, I’m glad you seem to be doing well.”
“….”

I lost my words. I couldn’t find anything to say.

Watching my flustered state, Cheonhaerang swallowed back a laugh that threatened to burst forth. Her bewilderment was crystal clear in his eyes.
In truth, Cheonhaerang already knew. The weight of our hearts was different. To me, he was merely a friend from childhood memories.
But to him, I had never been just a friend.
Only Jiho could have Cheonhaerang.
For this, he could gladly endure. Even if my heart held no place for him right now.
His plan had deviated slightly, but it didn’t matter. After all, the most important thing was to claim my heart in his hands.
Since I seemed to like his face, he intended to use it well.
Expressing silent gratitude to his father and mother for giving him such a face, Cheonhaerang spoke without dropping his smile.

“Then shall we head back to school?”

The subject had changed. I nodded inwardly with a sigh of relief.
Rising from his seat, Cheonhaerang extended his hand to me as if to say take it.
I naturally grasped his hand and stood up. Then I waited for the right moment.
I needed to return to the Heavenly Realm, not to school.
I had completed my mission. I had found the runaway celestial maiden, Princess Yeonhwa.
I hurried to speak.

“Wait, wait just a moment, Your Highness. Surely you’re not planning to go to school right now, are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Shouldn’t you be coming back to the Heavenly Realm with me?”
“Hmm… I don’t want to.”
“…Pardon?”
“I never said I was going back to the Heavenly Realm, Jiho.”
“…”

Her tone was gentle, yet it carried an inexplicable pressure.
My head spun dizzily.

‘What do I do?’

I had finally found the princess, only to learn she refused to return.
As her servant, I couldn’t force her to come back against her will.

“But why don’t you want to go?”
“Because I have something to do.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a secret.”
“What?”
“If you really want me to go back, try convincing me. Make me want to return to the Heavenly Realm.”

As she said this, Cheonhaerang smiled like a blooming flower. Watching her, I thought to myself:

‘Why me?’

So I wisely kept that foolish thought to myself. There was nothing to gain by irritating the princess. Instead, I asked her something else.
Instead, Jiho asked something else.

“…Could that secret possibly be related to that man?”

Cheonhaerang didn’t answer, only smiled. At the same moment, my vision distorted.

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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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