Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 66

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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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66.

Time alone with Cheonhaerang was precious. Though it became difficult once we boarded the bus.
Still, wearing my school uniform and blending in with the other students made me feel like a truly ordinary high school girl.
Especially now that Kim Seulgi was gone.
I wished every day could be this peaceful, but I knew all too well that was merely a dream.
I learned that lesson again on the way to school.
I stopped in my tracks. A black car was parked a short distance from the school gate.
I felt an odd instinct emanating from that car. And as if to prove that instinct, someone stepped out of it.
Someone familiar.
It was Yerim.

“Oh…!”

I let out a sound without thinking, but Cheonhaerang’s hand blocked my mouth. He hushed me and led me somewhere.
Hidden behind the corner wall, we stole a glimpse of Yerim.
Yerim stood there watching until the car drove away, then she moved on.
After Yerim left, I exchanged glances with Cheonhaerang. His hand, which had been covering my mouth, fell away.

“It seems like it’s definitely Gihyeongrang, doesn’t it?”

Cheonhaerang nodded in affirmation at my question.

“Yeah. It seems right.”
“Then they really were together. What is this? Did they get back together as lovers?”

If that were the case, it would mean Yerim had betrayed us.
But it seemed too blatant to be a betrayal.
Betrayal happens in secret. That’s what makes it hit harder.
Of course, it was always difficult to understand another person’s heart, and perhaps Yerim simply couldn’t forget Gihyeongrang and had become lovers with him again.
Yet somehow, Cheonhaerang didn’t think that was it.
Gluing broken glass back together is not easy. A former lover is no different from shattered glass.
But if they were forcing it back together anyway, wouldn’t there have to be some benefit for both of them?
Something significant enough to overcome the moment of their breakup.
Was it love again, or…?

“…Let’s go see our sister first. She might know something about this.”

They were still too inexperienced to find answers on their own, and so they had no choice but to seek an adult’s help.

* * *

“You’re saying Gihyeongrang went out overnight with someone?”

Yeonhwa asked again, wanting to confirm she had heard correctly.
At her question, Cheonhaerang nodded without hesitation.
Yeonhwa felt a headache beginning to form.
An overnight trip? Were they catching up on what they’d missed between them?
Or was Gihyeongrang holding Yerim captive?
Could he have done to Yerim what he’d done to Cheongan, turning her into his puppet?
No. He wouldn’t do that. To do so, he would have had to erase her sense of self.
Given that he sought to reunite with his lost lover, he wouldn’t want a lover devoid of self.
After all, what separated lovers long for is the image of their former beloved as they were.

“What do you think happened? Did Sister Yerim go on her own, or did Gihyeongrang come find her?”

At Cheonhaerang’s question, Yeonhwa met the gaze of two pairs of eyes fixed upon her.
These were eyes that wouldn’t be fooled by ordinary excuses.
It was a truth they would learn someday, but not now.
Yeonhwa answered with a sigh.

“…She said she would go herself.”
“She did? Why?”

Jiho asked as if she had heard something unbelievable. Yeonhwa replied.

“I can’t know that. She didn’t tell me her reasons.”

To perfectly deceive Gihyeongrang, she needed to deceive these two as well.
That was Yeonhwa’s judgment. Even if it made her a bad adult.

“So you understood the situation and sent Yerim off like that, Your Highness?”

Her tone had become subtly rigid. The way she referred to Yerim had changed as well.
It was then that Yeonhwa grasped what I intended. I was asking whether this decision came from me as her superior.
If that were the case, she needed to respond in accordance with it.

“Yes.”
….
“I don’t know what Yerim is trying to do, but if she has utility, I should use her according to that value. Just as His Majesty did.”

My voice was utterly cold. Cheonhaerang hastily called out to me—Sister—but my gaze remained fixed solely on Jiho.

“You know as well as I do why Yerim came here. Gihyeongrang cannot kill Yerim. Under that premise, Yerim has value in protecting you.”

It was ruthless. Yet viewed differently, it was an extremely rational conclusion befitting a superior.
That was why Jiho could say nothing in response.
Above all, the choice had been entirely Yerim’s to make.
Both accepting Yeonhwa’s persuasion and going to find Gihyeongrang.

“I have nothing more to say. You may withdraw.”

A cold command fell. Jiho rose from her seat, biting her lip hard.
Her stern expression was plainly visible, yet she did not forget to bow respectfully to Yeonhwa.
After Jiho left the Principal’s Office, a heavy silence descended upon the room. It was Cheonhaerang who broke the silence first.

“That was harsh, Sister. She must have been hurt.”
“Baekho is a Servant of the Patriarch. This means she is also my servant, inheriting that bloodline. Do you believe I made an improper judgment as her lord, Cheonhaerang?”

My cool gaze met Cheonhaerang’s. It was an appearance befitting a sovereign.
Yet to Cheonhaerang, something seemed subtly misaligned. As if I were deliberately showing him this facade.

“Sister. I don’t understand what you’re trying to do either. But I….”
….
“I trust you.”

With those words, Cheonhaerang smiled. For a moment, I felt my words catch in my throat.

“Then I should be going as well.”

Soon after, the door closed with a soft click.
Now only silence settled within the Principal’s Office.
Yeonhwa exhaled a long sigh and leaned back deeply into the sofa.

“Trust your sister.”

Cheonhaerang’s words echoed through her ears like a reverberating bell.
Yeonhwa closed her weary eyes.
Children spoke of trust so easily.
So now there was only one thing she could wish for.
That good news would come.

* * *

As I took my seat, I stole a glance at Jiho’s expression. Her hardened face showed no signs of softening.
I opened my mouth to speak to Jiho, but unfortunately the bell rang, forcing me to close it again.
Instead, I scribbled characters onto a practice sheet and pushed it toward Jiho.
The practice sheet suddenly entered her field of vision, and Jiho turned her gaze to look at me. I tapped the paper with a bright smile.
Jiho read the characters written on the paper.

Are you okay? I was a bit harsh, wasn’t I?

No, that couldn’t be called harsh at all. Princess Yeonhwa’s judgment was rational. She held a position where she employed people.
After all, wasn’t my own usefulness considered by the Patriarch from the beginning?
My mind understood this. But my emotions refused to follow reason.
Could anyone say it was right to send someone to their death? Even if it brought gain.
I didn’t want to do that. I came here because I wanted to protect.
I don’t know. It was confusing. If I met Yerim and asked her properly, could I find an answer to this question?
I scribbled an answer onto the paper.

No, I’m fine. Everything the Princess said is right. And since I still don’t know what happened, let’s ask my sister.
Got it, Jiho haha

Our written exchange ended. I focused back on studying.
Cheonhaerang watched me with his chin resting in one hand. Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.
Was there really a need to study this hard?
After all, whether I could even take the exam properly was uncertain.
But I seemed unbothered by such things. Well, unlike him, I enjoyed studying.

‘Would she go to university?’

If Jiho, who loved studying, wanted to experience university in the Human Realm, it was certainly possible.
Of course, if that happened, I would be more than willing to stay in the Human Realm with her. Attending university together later wouldn’t be so bad.
Living in the same house as Jiho.
As happy imaginings filled my mind, the corners of my lips curved upward in a subtle smile.

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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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