Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 35

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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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35.

Only after finishing dessert with Seowangmo could I finally return to my room.
It felt as though I had already exhausted all my energy for the day.
People say that unfounded worries can be fatal, but I couldn’t imagine Seowangmo summoning me at every meal. With my weary body, I collapsed onto the bed in a sprawl.
After finishing dessert, my stomach felt perfectly satisfied. My eyelids began to drift shut.
Just as my eyelids were repeatedly falling without resistance, I suddenly snapped my eyes wide open.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t seen Cheonhaerang. If he had come to my room, he would have known of my absence.
Throughout the long hours until tea time, there hadn’t been a single strand of his hair in sight.
What could be the matter? Or was he perhaps sleeping in?
Though his body’s tension had eased and he could sleep longer, something told me that wasn’t the case.
I bolted upright from the bed and left the room.
The corridor remained tranquil. Cherry blossoms caught by the breeze tickled my cheek as they drifted past.
I suddenly stopped in my tracks and gazed outside. The cherry blossoms of Kunlun Mountains were in full bloom.

“Shall we go flower viewing together?”
“Eek!”

Startled by the sudden voice, I let out a cry without thinking.
My scream echoed through the corridor like a reverberation. Then came a silence that pierced the ears.
Calming my racing heart, I turned my body stiffly. Behind me stood Princess Yeonhwa, wearing an awkward smile.

“Sorry. Were you very frightened?”
“…Oh, no. I’m fine.”
“….”
“….”

Silence fell again. Yeonhwa seemed somewhat embarrassed, and soon broke the silence, speaking first.
Her voice carried an attempt to sound as kind as possible.

“Where were you headed?”
“Ah… To Cheonhaerang’s room. I hadn’t seen him this morning.”

At that moment, Cheonhaerang was being thoroughly teased by Hand Ogeong. Yeonhwa hesitated for a moment before deciding whether to mention this.

“Cheonhaerang is with the Jade Emperor right now.”
“With the Jade Emperor?”
“Yes. He said he wanted to grow stronger.”
“….”

I recalled everything that had happened to them so far. And I thought about what was yet to come.
Gihyeongrang. The head of the Heavenly Realm and the instigator of the Heavenly Realm war.
Looking at it coldly, could Cheonhaerang really defeat Gihyeongrang?
Gihyeongrang and Cheonhaerang had vastly different experience. Cheonhaerang had witnessed war, but had not truly experienced it. Cheonhaerang was not on the battlefield.
Noticing my expression darkening with worry, Yeonhwa quickly opened her mouth to shift the mood.

“Come now, don’t be so gloomy. Shall we go see the flowers bloom?”

* * *

Thus I was dragged away by Yeonhwa without a moment to myself.
Fortunately, Seowangmo did not appear, but for some reason the Jade Emperor was there.
I observed the two of them, whose atmosphere seemed ominous. To be precise, only one of them appeared ominous.
Yeonhwa gazed at Hand Ogeong with an ice-cold expression.

“Why are you here? What about Cheonhaerang?”

I was curious about that too. According to what Yeonhwa had said, Cheonhaerang was supposed to be with the Jade Emperor.
Hand Ogeong answered in a languid tone.

“The true form has not yet reached a stage where it should appear. My clones are doing well, so please do not worry, Your Highness.”
“So. Is this Mother’s command, or your own will?”
“….”

A chill ran down my spine. The atmosphere had somehow become even worse than I thought possible.
The hostile air was so thick that a fight breaking out at any moment would not have been surprising.

“…If you say it is my will. Would that change anything?”

Oh, Jade Emperor. Could you just stay quiet?
Noticing Yeonhwa’s expression contorting, I swallowed the harsh words I was about to direct at Hand Ogeong.
Yeonhwa spat out the words as if grinding them between her teeth.

“No, there isn’t. Nothing at all.”

She passed by Hand Ogeong with cold indifference.
Hand Ogeong watched Jiho staring at me with a bewildered expression, then shrugged his shoulders as if it were nothing.

“Then come on up, little one.”
“…Yes, of course.”

I suddenly felt an intense desire to be alone. If I had my way, I would abandon the flower viewing and return to my room.
But as merely a member of the Baekho Clan, I had no grounds to refuse. I spotted Yeonhwa already in the pavilion and hurried my steps toward her.
Then, struck by a sudden thought, I glanced back at Hand Ogeong.
At my questioning gaze asking if he wasn’t coming up, Hand Ogeong simply smiled and waved his hand dismissively.
Right. Encountering him again now didn’t seem like the best choice. It was better that he stayed below. I nodded in understanding.
The table arranged inside the pavilion was laden with various refreshments.
More refreshments again. My stomach felt slightly empty from the walk here, but could I actually eat?
I sat down with some hesitation.
When Yeonhwa personally poured tea into my cup, my hands grew restless and wandered uncertainly.

“Ah, thank you, Your Highness.”
“There’s no need to drink if you’re not hungry. The purpose here is the flower viewing, after all. Though an uninvited guest did manage to intrude.”

The uninvited guest was unmistakably the Jade Emperor. I laughed awkwardly and replied, “Yes, of course,” then sipped the tea.
It was peach blossom tea with a subtle fragrance—perfectly suited for drinking amidst the full bloom of cherry blossoms.
The sound of the flowing river spread gently around us. Cherry blossom petals scattered on the breeze.
It was a peaceful moment.
I gazed at the brilliant shimmer of light dancing across the river and wished I could be seeing this scenery with Cheonhaerang.
I wondered how Cheonhaerang was faring. I hoped he wasn’t injured too badly.
Was it alright for me to remain here like this?
If I truly wanted to follow Cheonhaerang, shouldn’t I be doing something myself?
Cheonhaerang couldn’t always protect me. I needed to become strong enough to defend myself against Gihyeongrang.
Running away could no longer be my only recourse.
I had learned archery from my family. As befitted a Baekho who governed metal among the five elements, I could also work with steel.
But against Gihyeongrang and the Heavenly Realm, I was still far too weak. If there was more I could learn, I needed to learn it.
I cautiously observed Yeonhwa’s expression. I was desperately torn over whether I should broach this subject. Would the princess actually listen to my request?
It was in that moment of my hesitation, my lips trembling slightly.

“Jiho, you’ve probably guessed it already, but I despise the Jade Emperor. I’d say it borders on hatred.”
“…Pardon?”

So suddenly? When the person in question is right here? Won’t he hear everything?
I was bewildered. But my confusion was of no concern to Yeonhwa.

“You’ve probably heard the rumors. Yes, the Jade Emperor was my ex-husband.”
“…!”

I was genuinely shocked. So shocked that I couldn’t form a single word. I could only stare at Yeonhwa with a blank expression.

‘Insane.’

That was the only thought that surfaced in my mind.

“We divorced quite some time ago. When General Ryu was still a child.”

Was I really supposed to be hearing this? Why was Princess Yeonhwa suddenly telling me such things?
Did she notice my discomfort? Is that why she’s telling me not to worry about it now?
But how could I not worry? Honestly.

‘The Jade Emperor is hearing all of this, Your Highness!’

The pavilion was deathly quiet, and Yeonhwa’s voice carried in all directions.
I was now acutely aware of the Jade Emperor listening to every word from beneath the pavilion. I had no idea what expression to wear when facing him.

‘So that’s why the Heavenly Realm was in such an uproar back then? But how did they end up married in the first place? Did they love each other?’

That Princess Yeonhwa and the Jade Emperor had been lovers—I couldn’t quite picture it.

‘Then why did they divorce?’

The answer to my question came immediately.

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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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