Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 54

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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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54.

I blinked blankly, my mind still hazy with sleep. I had no idea when I’d drifted off while lying in bed.
I’d been dreaming—a long, vivid dream. Cheonhaerang had appeared in it.
It was after I’d suffered through the fever that all divine beings contracted in childhood.
I had always been the one to approach her first, but from that moment on, she began approaching me.
I’ve always been the one to approach Haelang first, but from then on, Haelang started approaching me first.

“I’ll play with you specially.”

Looking back now, it wasn’t even her real name, but calling her Yeonhwa felt so right.
I couldn’t believe I’d managed to bury that memory away all this time.
Now I spoke her real name aloud.
Jiho now tried calling the child by his real name.

“Harang…”

Feeling as though something might spill over, I bit my lip hard. I checked my phone—it was nearly midnight.
I didn’t know if sleep would come, but I had to force myself to rest for tomorrow.
I closed my eyes again. That was the moment.
Jiho closed his eyes again. That was the moment.

“Ji-ho.”

I shook my head frantically and looked around. Then I saw him.
Beyond the window, city lights streamed in. Silhouetted against that glow stood a young man.
It wasn’t a mistake. So I didn’t hesitate.
I leaped up and rushed toward him. The young man eagerly pulled me into his embrace as I reached him.
Unable to speak, I buried my face in his chest and broke into silent tears.
He gently patted my back and spoke tenderly.
Patting her back gently, the boy spoke affectionately.

“Sniff, sniff….”
“Huff, huff…”

The only response was the sound of weeping.
Seeing the girl crying so sorrowfully, the Young Man’s heart ached.

“I’m sorry for being late, Jiho.”

The Young Man’s gentle apology was nothing short of a detonator for Jiho.
I finally broke down and wept loudly, like a child.

* * *

Since the room shook with my sobs, naturally the sound leaked outside, and naturally Yerim had no choice but to come to my room.
Still, I couldn’t stop crying, and only after a long while did I calm down enough to face Cheonhaerang and Yerim.

“Are you done crying now?”
“Mm….”

At his gentle question, I felt tears threatening to spill again, but I held them back and quietly accepted his touch.
Cheonhaerang carefully wiped away my tears with a tissue. I couldn’t even imagine how disheveled my appearance must be. A belated sense of shame washed over me.
I rolled my aching eyes and glanced sideways at Yerim. She was watching us with a displeased expression.
It was the look one gives when watching a couple act like a couple. I carefully pushed Cheonhaerang’s hand away from my face.

“I’m, *cough*, fine now.”
“Your eyes don’t hurt?”
“No.”
“I’ll apply a warm compress later. It’ll be hard if your eyes swell.”

How should I put it—an even more refined tenderness or attentiveness from Cheonhaerang.
I was so happy about it that the corners of my mouth started to rise, but I hastily lowered them when I noticed Yerim’s gaze. Then our eyes met directly.
Yerim’s expression was indescribable. Then she knelt on one knee before Cheonhaerang and bowed her head.

“Celestial Maiden Yerim pays respects to Your Highness the Prince. I am overjoyed to see you in such robust health.”

It was impeccably formal etiquette. Cheonhaerang held my hand, intertwining our fingers one by one, and replied.

“It is all thanks to you. So please, rise, Yerim.”

Following the Prince’s command, Yerim stood from her position. Then Cheonhaerang spoke.

“Now then, shall we sit comfortably and talk?”

Cheonhaerang and Jiho sat on the bed, while Yerim settled into a chair. Cheonhaerang still held Jiho’s hand, their fingers interlaced.
Yerim caught a glimpse of their joined hands—so tightly clasped they seemed unwilling to part for even a moment—before quickly averting her gaze.
She decided it was only natural for them to be so devoted at their age.
Yerim watched Cheonhaerang, whose smile never faded, and asked him a question.

“When did you awaken, Your Highness?”
“You don’t need to speak so formally with me.”
“Pardon? But how could I possibly—”
“I’m more comfortable that way. This formality feels strange.”

Under normal circumstances, perhaps. But now that she knew he was the future Patriarch and the Prince, how could she simply drop her honorifics?
Yet faced with Cheonhaerang’s resolute expression, Yerim had no choice but to relent. She swallowed a sigh before speaking.

“…Alright then. I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you, Sister.”

Sister. It was an extraordinarily unfamiliar title for a mere celestial maiden to hear from a Prince, yet Yerim decided to adapt to it for what lay ahead.

“I only just woke up. I told Mother and came straight here.”

When he emerged from that long dream, his mother had been at his side.
Why? How? Why was Mother there? Countless questions swirled in his mind, yet he could not voice a single one.
He couldn’t. His mother’s face looked as though she might weep at any moment.
It was the first time she had ever looked at him that way.
So he remained silent, awkwardly accepting the unfamiliar touch of her hand.

“Thank goodness. Thank goodness you’re awake, Cheonhaerang.”

His name, spoken from his mother’s lips, felt strangely foreign.
Had she ever called him by name like this before?
For a moment, he wanted to pull away, but he remained still. He didn’t want to hurt his mother.
Because there was no one else by her side.

“Would you like to see Jiho?”
After holding his hand tightly for a long while, his mother asked him this, and he nodded without hesitation.
So he came straight here. Solely to see Jiho.
It might seem callous, but no one else occupied his thoughts.

“So you haven’t met Princess Yeonhwa or the Jade Emperor yet?”
“No.”

At Cheonhaerang’s response, Yerim fell into brief contemplation.
Yeonhwa had designed most of this plan, so there were aspects even she didn’t fully understand.
In such circumstances, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for Cheonhaerang to explain the situation?
It would be better if at least the Jade Emperor were here, but the Jade Emperor still hadn’t returned despite the late hour.
He’d gone to the School, but I had no idea what he was doing there.
Yerim decided to organize the situation as an adult first.

“For now, Princess Yeonhwa or the Jade Emperor should explain the current situation. But it’s late at night, so why don’t we all get some rest and discuss it tomorrow?”
“That’s fine with me.”

Cheonhaerang nodded readily.

“Then you should sleep in the Jade Emperor’s room—”
“Can’t I sleep here?”
“Huh?”
“I want to sleep with Jiho.”

It was nothing short of a bombshell statement. Jiho startled and looked at Cheonhaerang. Flustered, she tried to release the hand she was holding his with.

“You, you, what are you—! Men and women should maintain proper distance—!”
“Well, in this day and age, who cares about propriety?”

Yerim spoke casually as if it were nothing, responding to Jiho’s words.
In the old days, there were rules about men and women not sitting together, but what of that in this modern world? General Ryu was said to be old-fashioned, and it seemed Jiho had inherited that from him.
Come to think of it, there was no reason to suspect Cheonhaerang would do anything to Jiho. Yerim held an inexplicable trust in him.
Besides.

‘He’s the Prince, after all. He wouldn’t act recklessly.’

He wouldn’t do anything that might jeopardize his formal approval from General Ryu regarding his relationship with Jiho.
Still, just to be safe.

“Then Cheonhaerang, keep things proper. Understood?”
“Of course, Sister.”

Cheonhaerang laughed with utmost cheerfulness. It was a reassuring laugh.
Yerim nodded as if relieved.

“Then everyone sleep well.”
“Wait, wait a moment, Sister!”

Jiho tried to grab Yerim, but the door slammed shut in an instant with a bang.
Jiho stared at the firmly closed door with a deflated expression.

“Then I’ll go wash up and come back, Jiho.”

Unlike me, who was growing flustered, Cheonhaerang remained utterly composed, and Jiho stammered before seeing her off.
With another soft click, the door closed again, and Jiho gazed at it once more with that same deflated expression.

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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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