Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 32

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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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32.

“How dare I, a mere servant, presume to fathom the depths of Your Majesty’s wisdom?”

Years spent within the palace walls had honed Yerim’s tongue to perfection.
Yerim was curious, though. Beyond a brief time in Cheongyeokgyeong and a passing acquaintance with the Baekho Clan, she had little connection to Princess Yeonhwa.
Moreover, if the Patriarch were searching for such people, there would surely be others more suitable than she.
So why summon someone who had already resigned?

The answer to her question came after a moment of silence.

“I believed Gihyeongrang would not dare touch you.”

Thud.
Something inside Yerim seemed to shatter. Or perhaps it had already broken long ago.
Gihyeongrang. The leader of the Heavenly Realm.
A name she thought she had forgotten, yet never truly had.
The man who bore that name had once been her lover.
The Patriarch knew this.
She had believed no one would ever know.
Not a soul in Baekokgyeong.
A connection to a traitor. And she had failed to obey the Patriarch’s command.
Even death could not atone for such a sin.
Yerim hastily fell to her knees.
Yerim quickly knelt down.

“I do not seek to condemn you. I merely explain my reasoning.”
“I’m not blaming you. I’m just explaining the reason.”

The Sangje continued speaking calmly.

I just thought that if I let you go, that child would be safe too.

Yerim’s mind raced rapidly as she struggled to comprehend the Patriarch’s cryptic words.
Gihyeongrang, who had appeared before her.
Gihyeongrang, whom Ryujiho also seemed to know about.
The Prince’s elopement, which Yeonhwa had tacitly approved.
The bewildering puzzle pieces were finally clicking into place.

“…Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask.”
“You have my permission.”

He hadn’t told her to raise her head, but Yerim understood that the Patriarch’s mercy would allow her this much.
She lifted her gaze and met the Patriarch’s eyes—a bold move, yet he did not rebuke her for it.
Staring into those emotionless golden eyes, Yerim asked her question.

“Is the Prince’s departure to the Human Realm because of Gihyeongrang?”
“It is.”

Surely not.
No matter how sheltered the Patriarch was, he couldn’t be this ignorant of the world.
Gihyeongrang had the Heavenly Realm backing him. Even the Heavenly Realm itself had lost track of him.
Yet a mere Prince, barely a hundred years old, was supposed to capture him?
Yerim was certain the Prince had lost his mind.

‘But why would Gihyeongrang suddenly try to capture him?’

Was it to gain recognition from the Patriarch as his successor?
But hadn’t the Prince already received the title of Prince, even if it hadn’t been publicly announced?
Without extraordinary circumstances, it was only natural that he would become the next Patriarch.
Yerim couldn’t make sense of it. In the first place, it was impossible for the Prince to capture Gihyeongrang.
So why would he even try?
Then a sudden thought occurred to her.
The Prince had once stayed in Cheongyeokgyeong. It was when the war had begun.
The Patriarch had hidden the Prince away carefully.
Why? To protect the Prince?
Was that truly all there was to it?
Of course, as the future Patriarch, it made perfect sense.
But somehow, it felt as though there was something more concealed beneath the surface.
Something very important that I don’t know.
If I could uncover that, I would finally understand why the Prince had to remain as Yeonhwa, and why the Prince sought to capture Gihyeongrang.
Everything would make sense.

“You don’t ask for reasons.”
“…I dare not inquire, Your Majesty.”
“That’s enough. I rather like that you know your place.”
“I am grateful for your mercy.”
“You may withdraw. There is no fault to hold against you.”

The Patriarch turned away. Yerim bowed deeply, watching his retreating figure.

“Your boundless grace honors me, Your Majesty.”

Yerim exhaled silently and stepped backward. As the door closed with a soft click, she turned around.
Her thoughts tangled like knotted thread.
The Patriarch’s mercy meant he would not hold her accountable. So there should be nothing more to worry about.

‘But why, then.’

Why had the Patriarch told me such a thing?
If he wasn’t going to reproach me, there would have been no need to say it. That was the nature of his station.
Yet why.
Why deliberately plant such questions in my mind?
Questions about why Princess Yeonhwa sought to capture Gihyeongrang.

“…Damn it.”

Yerim muttered her frustration under her breath and ran her hands through her hair.
It seemed she had become entangled in a troublesome affair.

* * *

After leaving the chamber, Jiho walked briskly down the hallway. Without her own knowledge, she was relying on memory to find Cheonhaerang’s quarters.
If even one celestial maiden had passed by, she could have asked for the exact location, but not a soul appeared.
At this point, she began to wonder if there were any celestial maidens in Cheongyeokgyeong at all.
It hadn’t been quite like this before. Unlike Baekokgyeong, Cheongyeokgyeong seemed remarkably quiet.
This was likely Seowangmo’s intention.

‘It should be around here.’

Stopping at what I presumed to be Cheonhaerang’s room based on my memory, I leaned carefully toward the door to sense if anyone was inside.
That was the moment.
Click—the door opened.

“Jiho? What are you doing there?”
“…Huh? Oh… ah, it’s nothing.”

Since it was roughly the adjacent room, I decided it must be the right one.
Embarrassed, I cleared my throat awkwardly and straightened my leaning posture. Then I opened my mouth hesitantly.

“Um, I think something might have happened to Yerim.”
“Huh?”
“Well, obviously I couldn’t tell her anything, right? But until now, there’s been no contact at all. No calls, no texts.”
….

It was only natural. How could Yerim have had the presence of mind to contact Jiho?
Yerim had returned to Baekokgyeong. She was likely summoned directly to the Patriarch.
Perhaps the Patriarch would hold her accountable for failing to complete the mission.
But Cheonhaerang knew the Patriarch would not do that. He couldn’t, not because of him.
He spoke to reassure Jiho.

“Don’t worry too much about her. She’s returned to the Heavenly Realm.”
“What? How do you know that?”
“I sent her. It’s dangerous for her to stay in the Human Realm.”

It wasn’t wrong.
He had already been threatened twice. When he first went to school, and just today.
By Yueul, who approached him identifying himself as the vice captain of the Archery Club.
Yueul is not Gihyeongrang.
The auras of the two were slightly different.
Then Yueul must be one of the Heavenly Realm’s celestial beings.
All of the Heavenly Realm’s celestial beings might already be in the Human Realm. And Gihyeongrang on top of that.
Gihyeongrang had known about me. I couldn’t say that such a Gihyeongrang wouldn’t know of Yerim’s existence.
Jiho accepted Cheonhaerang’s words. The Heavenly Realm was safer than the Human Realm.
But there was a problem.

“…But Cheonhaerang.”
“Yeah.”
“The reason I came to the Human Realm was to bring you to the Heavenly Realm. That’s why my guardian came with me.”

Yerim’s duty was to protect Ryujiho, but it inherently included the return of Princess Yeonhwa as well.
Yerim had failed to complete her mission.
No—she had failed entirely.

“You couldn’t bring her back, and I’ve ended up like this… Will Yerim be okay?”

Jiho’s worry was evident. Cheonhaerang spoke gently, as if to reassure her.

“It’s fine, Jiho. Even because of me, Father won’t do anything to her. If it comes to that, I’ll tell my eldest sister as well.”
“….”

Jiho gazed at Cheonhaerang quietly.
That’s right—thinking about it, there were many people here who could protect Yerim from the Patriarch. There was Cheonhaerang, and there was Princess Yeonhwa.
Of course, the greatest figures were Seowangmo and the Jade Emperor.
The anxiety that had gripped her seemed to settle somewhat. Jiho exhaled in relief.

“Then that’s a relief.”
“Is that why you came to see me?”
“Huh? Well, yes?”
“Don’t I need to be seen?”
“What?”
“I feel hurt.”

What on earth…?
Jiho wanted to ask that, but seeing his drooping eyes, the words wouldn’t come.

“So now you only seek me out when you need something?”
“….”

It was quite a leap in logic. Yet it was enough to leave Jiho flustered.

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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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