Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 44

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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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44.

The night sky was studded with stars, deep and endless. Cheonhaerang still had not awakened.
The Jade Emperor said it was likely escapism born from the shock.
When he would wake depended entirely on Cheonhaerang’s will.
It was understandable enough.
Just hearing the story made my head spin. How much more so for Cheonhaerang, who was both the subject and the victim.
A master I had regarded as an older brother had sought his life. Now it turned out that master was truly his blood brother.
A half-brother at that. Evidence that the Patriarch had betrayed my mother.
Cheonhaerang must have suffered an indescribable sense of betrayal and shock.
Perhaps he would never wish to trust anyone again.
But was not a relationship without trust agonizing? So perhaps Cheonhaerang would never wish to awaken.
I gently grasped Cheonhaerang’s hand. It was cold.

“Cheonhaerang.”

My call merely echoed through the void.
The young man who would answer with a bright smile no longer existed.
What would I do if Cheonhaerang never awakened, if this continued forever?
How could I live leaving him like this?
It would be better to see Cheonhaerang standing beside someone else.
At least that would be a living form.
Not like now, appearing as though dead.
Cheonhaerang’s death. My heart clenched at merely imagining it for an instant.
I could no longer imagine a life in which Cheonhaerang did not exist.
For Cheonhaerang to exist, Gihyeongrang must die. Otherwise, Cheonhaerang would die by Gihyeongrang’s hand.
I must protect Cheonhaerang.
Leaving for a time was merely to protect him.
The weight of having to leave Cheonhaerang like this was heavy. Yet ultimately, I had to leave for Cheonhaerang’s sake as well.
I had to eliminate the Heavenly Realm first, which would become Gihyeongrang’s strength. The Heavenly Realm would surely come for me.

“Gihyeongrang might already know that you and Cheonhaerang are staying in the Kunlun Mountains. So he won’t fall into a trap so easily.”

“But if the Jade Emperor moves, things change.”

“The Jade Emperor, who should be guarding the Kunlun Mountains, went to the Human Realm? Then where did Cheonhaerang go? Is Cheonhaerang really in the Kunlun Mountains without the Jade Emperor? Or has he returned to the Human Realm?”

That was what Yeonhwa said. To those who thought that way, she was a very good bait capable of drawing out Cheonhaerang.
So Gihyeongrang had been moving from the beginning too.
The Jade Emperor would take over the vacant position as the homeroom teacher of 2nd Year Class 4, and she herself would return to 2nd Year Class 4 as well.
What had been processed as a transfer would be changed to a short-term field study experience.
Ryujiho would become a student of Seonhwa High School again.
A student of Seonhwa High School who had come to find the runaway celestial maiden.
But the runaway celestial maiden was no longer at Seonhwa High School.
I couldn’t be with Cheonhaerang.

‘It’s okay. It’s okay, Ryujiho.’

I comforted myself and forced the corners of my lips upward.
I whispered quietly to the young man who could no longer smile.

“I’ll be back soon. Take care of yourself, Cheonhaerang.”

It would be very lonely. It would be very sad. But it’s okay. For Cheonhaerang’s sake.

* * *

Yerim’s eyes rolled around. How on earth did this princess discover her whereabouts and find her?
Just as Yeonhwa, who was actually the Prince, had done, Yerim had only seen Yeonhwa before her from a distance at banquets.
If there was a princess she saw fairly often, it was only Suho.
Yeonhwa had been practically confined indoors, and Yeonhwa had mostly been in the Human Realm.
And now I was alone in this room with Yeonhwa. Since greeting her, Yeonhwa had been silently drinking tea the entire time.
If she had personally sought me out in the middle of the night, it must surely be something important.
There was one thing I could guess at.
Gihyeongrang.
If the Patriarch knew, there was a high possibility that Yeonhwa also knew of my relationship with Gihyeongrang.
Moreover, that school that Yeonhwa was guarding. I also knew what lay beneath that school.
Gihyeongrang must be aiming for that.
Then Yeonhwa should be in the Human Realm right now. So why was she before me?
I had returned to Baekokgyeong, though not without difficulty, but I had wanted to meet Yeonhwa as well.
Should I speak first then? It was at that moment I was contemplating this.

“I have heard tales of you.”

A soft voice rang out quietly.

Yerim sensed a tension far more suffocating than when she stood before the Patriarch himself.
Feeling the oppressive weight bearing down upon her, she lowered her head in deference.

“Tell me now—do you still believe Gihyeongrang holds you in his heart?”

Was this sincerity or jest? Yerim found herself unable to discern the truth.
Yet one thing was certain: with those words alone, Princess Yeonhwa had revealed she knew of the bond between Yerim and Gihyeongrang.
But what did she truly mean? Come to think of it, the Patriarch had spoken similarly.

“I believed Eul could not lay a hand upon you.”

Why? For what reason? They were merely former lovers, nothing more. Besides, Gihyeongrang had never loved her.
Such words all presupposed that Gihyeongrang had loved her.

“Haha. You remain amusing, truly.”

Gihyeongrang’s words echoed in her ears. Yerim slowly parted her lips to speak.

“I beg your pardon, Princess, but we have long since parted ways.”
“Is that so? Yes, I see.”

Princess Yeonhwa answered with an air of indifference, then sipped her tea once more.
Yerim’s mind filled only with question marks.

‘What on earth is this?’

Frustration gnawed at her. Surely the Princess had not come merely for such trivial conversation.
Just as Yerim prepared to speak again—

“Then what of your own heart?”
“Pardon?”

Yerim’s head lifted of its own accord. Her gaze met the eyes of the woman before her.
Brilliant golden irises that proclaimed noble blood.
The owner of those eyes was asking about her heart.

“Can you pierce Gihyeongrang’s heart?”
“…I am ashamed to say I do not understand why you would ask such a thing.”
“Ah, I don’t mean for you to literally pierce his heart. I’m asking whether you can stand against him.”
“….”
“Only then can I send you off at ease as Jiho’s protector.”

Jiho. Though not much time had passed, hearing that name felt like an eternity.
Why did that name suddenly appear here?
What was the princess trying to accomplish?
Was she trying to give me a new command that wasn’t from the Patriarch?
Yerim’s thoughts were in disarray. I couldn’t fully comprehend the princess’s words.
But one thing was certain.

“…Yes.”

I continued speaking.

“I can stand against him.”

It was time to end their painful past.

* * *

It hadn’t been many days, yet it felt like ages since I’d been here. So this house felt strangely unfamiliar to Jiho.
The princess said she had gone to persuade Yerim. If Yerim came, it would probably be tomorrow.
So she came here with the Jade Emperor.

When I asked if it was alright to leave without greeting the Queen Mother, the Jade Emperor said not to worry, that the princess would take care of everything.
But I had received the bow. It bothered me that I left without even greeting her. I thought I should write a letter later.

“Wow, nice place.”

Hand Ogeong’s words broke through my thoughts.
I turned to look at Hand Ogeong, who was sitting comfortably on the living room sofa without me even asking him to sit.
I wondered if this was right. No matter what, men and women should maintain propriety.

“But do you really live here too, Jade Emperor?”

Of course, there were spare rooms available. But would it really be appropriate for Yerim to live with just the two of us?
We’re all grown adults, after all. What if something unfortunate were to happen?

“If we need to respond quickly to anything, this arrangement is more efficient. Why? Are you worried I might lock eyes with Yerim?”
“No, it’s not exactly that….”
“Don’t worry about it. Even if the heavens split in two, that would never happen.”

Because neither Yerim nor I have room in our hearts for anyone else. Hand Ogeong swallowed the words he couldn’t say and smiled softly.

“Come on, you must be tired. Let’s shower and get some rest. We have school tomorrow.”

Jiho had no choice but to nod and head toward the bathroom. As she showered, she replayed Hand Ogeong’s words in her mind.
It had been a firm declaration that it would never happen. But the future was something no one could predict.

‘Unless….’

Had the Jade Emperor still not forgotten Princess Yeonhwa?

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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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