Royal Coup d'État - Chapter 63

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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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Episode 63
If she set her mind to it, she could silence the press for as long as she wished. Ever since Sun was announced as an adopted daughter, the way people in the Royal Household Administration looked at her had changed entirely.
Succession Rights were suspended, so everyone held their tongues—but once she became the Crown Prince’s daughter, it was undeniable that Cheong-yang County Lord would be the next heir to the Imperial Throne.
If necessary, she could have pressured the Royal Household Administration to maintain an embargo. But this incident needed to be exploited carefully. It was only possible because her father hadn’t been badly injured.
“A Limousine departing from the Imperial Palace has arrived at Suhakwon University Hospital in response to the attack on Uijeong Daegun.”
Even before stepping out of the car, the voice of a reporter holding a microphone drifted faintly through.
Click-click-click—
The sound of shutters firing came in volleys. What expression would Sun wear when she emerged from the Limousine, what reaction would she show? The cameras snarled like beasts that had caught prey, relentless and hungry.
“I’ll go out first—”
“Wait.”
Seok-chul stopped short at Sun’s words.
In that moment, Sun checked her face in the mirror she always carried.
The instant the door opened, dozens of lenses would point at her like gun barrels. She had deliberately leaked the news of the attack on Uijeong Daegun together with word that the Crown Prince investigation team would also oversee this assault, so she knew exactly what they’d be eager to ask.
Ahem.
Sun cleared her throat lightly and nodded to Seok-chul. Watching her in the rear-view mirror, he immediately swung the passenger-side door wide open.
As the door connecting to the outside world opened, a barrage of clicking sounds rushed in from all sides.
She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring that wave of noise. From now on, cameras and microphones would be Sun’s weapons. Public Opinion Warfare wasn’t something only Uigu Daegun did well.
‘Perhaps I understand the modern way better than you do, Uncle.’
Seok-chul hurried over and opened the door to Sun’s seat. As she extended a leg clad in black slacks, the shutter sounds grew even louder.
Lowering her head, Sun set her foot on the ground and took a shallow breath. Simultaneously, her expression began to cool, turning icy. She needed to look like someone who was visibly angry.
“Hyun-ju! A word, please!”
“What do you make of this sudden attack?”
“We heard the Crown Prince investigation team will handle this case as well. As someone serving in an advisory capacity, did you know about this beforehand?”
Each reporter thrust a microphone toward her and shoved a lens forward. Sun stared at the cameras with an expression hardened to stone, utterly unmoved.
“I’d like to ask the people of this nation first. At this moment, is it truly a coincidence that my close family member was suddenly attacked with a weapon by an Imperial abolitionist who appeared out of nowhere?”
Sun clenched her fist. Speaking clearly while aware that some cameras were capturing the gesture, she pressed on.
“I believe the police also don’t regard this as mere coincidence—that’s why they moved.”
When Sun finished, she drew a deep breath. Then, her voice trembling with rage, she spoke in measured, deliberate tones.
“How long has it been since we buried the Crown Prince? And now we’ve nearly lost another member of the Imperial Family.”
Sorrow and fury gleamed together in Sun’s eyes. Reporters desperately pressed their shutters to capture that expression.
“I would like to make a public proposal here.”
Everyone waited for Sun to open her mouth. The reporters’ eyes sparkled as they switched on their recorders.
Sun looked around at them before slowly parting her lips.
“To this day, no member of the Imperial Family has ever been arrested. I do not believe this is evidence of the Imperial Family’s innocence.”
Through today’s articles, Uigu Daegun would surely come to regret it. He would beat his chest in remorse for laying hands on Sun’s people, for provoking them until things reached this point.
With that certainty, Sun continued.
“Issuing a warrant for the Imperial Family requires more procedures than for ordinary citizens. It’s a custom established to protect the royalty, but surely it cannot apply to cases like this?”
Sun’s gaze pierced through the cameras one by one, sharp as a blade. Though they were aggressively snapping photographs, her eyes showed not the slightest flinch. Instead, she straightened her shoulders and met them boldly, as if commanding them to capture her even better.
“Before all members of the Imperial Family claim their innocence, I hope they will actively cooperate with the investigation. And I also request of the judiciary and law enforcement: do not fear that the Imperial Family may be entangled in this case. Use every means—summons for questioning, warrant issuance—spare no effort. Our Imperial Family will stand before the law with unblemished dignity.”
At her declaration to shatter the long-entrenched custom that had been locked in place like an iron rice bowl, the reporters’ hands grew even more frantic.
“Furthermore! If it is confirmed that any member of the Imperial Family has obstructed or exerted pressure on this investigation, they must face even harsher punishment. Moreover, to prevent such occurrences, we should move toward reducing the privileges granted to the Imperial Family.”
Having concluded her remarks, Sun placed her hands neatly across her abdomen. Then, slowly, she bowed toward where the cameras were clustered. As her crown came into view of the lenses, a searing flash of light washed over her.
What expression would Uigu Daegun be wearing as he watched this on television? How would the man who loved privilege most accept this situation—this brazen, unvarnished blow?
“But above all, I apologize to the people of this nation for the fatigue caused by family matters made so public.”
Click. Click.
The sound of her being photographed continued without pause. Observing the situation for a moment, Seok-chul began to wind things down.
“That concludes our remarks. She needs to go in now.”
At Seok-chul’s call, Sun slowly straightened and adjusted her posture with perfect composure. The path into the hospital entrance seemed unusually long.
As she neared the entrance, a question flew toward her. Entranced by the loud cry of inquiry, Sun paused.
“Just one final question!”
When Sun glanced in that direction, the reporter hurried to continue.
“Now that you’ve become the adopted daughter of Soyeol Crown Prince, you’re first in the line of succession. Do you think there will be changes to the succession structure that has been regarded as solid until now?”
Even during Soyeol Crown Prince’s lifetime, rumors of adopting a daughter had circulated, but nothing concrete had ever materialized. It was also why Uigu Daegun had been treated as the provisional heir for the past several decades.
Even at this provocative question—whether she could overturn such a firmly established succession—Sun maintained an expression so frigidly composed it was almost chilling.
“I’m not sure.”
And she spoke with perfect calm.
“Shouldn’t it be the case that someone the people suspect never becomes Emperor?”
* * *
“You did that perfectly!”
Walking down the hospital corridor, Seok-chul murmured in an excited voice. Even in a VIP Ward, he remained vigilant about the gazes of nurses and doctors, but he couldn’t hide his elated mood—quite unlike his usual composure.
But Sun’s mood had lifted just as much. She’d been wanting to hum ever since they arrived. All it took was landing a blow against Uigu Daegun—was it possible to feel this refreshed?
Wary of watching eyes, she couldn’t quite smile, but Sun playfully jabbed Seok-chul in the ribs anyway. Seeing him giggle with delight at even that small gesture made something click into place inside her.
Uijeong Daegun’s room lay in the innermost section of the VIP Ward. Given the unprecedented nature of an attack, it was clear they’d assigned him the safest location available.
“Yeosan Bubuin will be there as well.”
Seok-chul, having regained his composure, whispered the words. Sun nodded and came to a stop.
Ward 2nd Floor. Uijeong Daegun’s name was displayed on the placard outside the room.
It had been four days since she’d learned the news of her adoption being registered. She hadn’t expected to meet them like this.
Where should she even begin? Sun bit her lip lightly, then exhaled and let the tension drain from her shoulders.
Seok-chul watched her state for a moment, then gripped the door handle. The sliding door whispered open, and the room’s interior came into view.
“…Father?”
They’d said it wasn’t a serious injury, so she hadn’t expected him to be lying in bed. But what was this?
Sun furrowed her brow, scrutinizing the room carefully.
Her father stood with an IV in his arm, pressing his palm to his forehead, while her mother at the window went pale as a ghost the moment she saw Sun. And between them stood another person……
“Oh, hello there.”
A woman’s face—flustered, hurriedly bowing to Sun—looked familiar somehow.
She’d seen that face somewhere before. It was definitely etched in her memory.
Sun’s pupils trembled slowly.
The woman she’d seen in that blurred photograph more than once.
No. She would have known even without the photograph. Looking at a face that was the spitting image of her father’s, if she couldn’t guess who this was, she’d be a fool.
All the oxygen seemed to drain from the hospital room. No one dared to breathe first, as though they all might suffocate any moment. Every face turned a sickly pale white.
“Father.”
Sun gazed at Uijeong Daegun with an expression caught between laughter and tears. He too couldn’t hide his shock.
“How impressive.”
Uijeong Daegun shut his eyes tight.
It seemed absurd now—how he’d been floating just moments before, as though he owned the whole world. Like ice water had been poured over her head, Sun’s emotions turned cold and numb.

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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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