Even My Life Is Yours – Chapter 64

Author: nicotine

Lately, Gamyoung had been in a foul mood. The pride he felt when Hongyo displayed skills far greater than expected and reached the semifinals had started to crumble the moment he met Jang Daeho in the finals. What he had merely considered unsettling when he heard the news of the initiation ceremony had become something he could not simply stand by and watch after confirming its reality at the competition. The only fortunate thing was that the arrow was aimed at the pavilion and not at Hongyo. If the tip of that arrow had been aimed at Hongyo instead of him, he might have not only had him kicked out of Hwayeonggyeong but also taken measures to ensure he could never approach Hongyo again.

However, the arrow had lodged in a pillar below the pavilion, and since no one was harmed, it was highly likely that the punishment would end with confinement. If he pulled some strings, it wasn’t entirely impossible to find a way, but as long as that man was the Pangam’s son, there was a high chance the matter would be swept under the rug.

Moreover, since no one was actually hurt, the emperor Kyungrak had no need to risk antagonizing Jang Daeho’s family, a founding contributor to the nation, especially when there was no one to replace the current Pangam. For Kyungrak, who had just declared his ambition to make the country stronger in a royal decree, experienced generals were necessary, so it was highly probable that such an incident wouldn’t result in a severe punishment.

Of course, if he had his way, he would have preferred to punish him himself, but punishing the son of a founding contributor’s family so soon after being appointed as the Hwayeonggyeongjang didn’t seem like it would be helpful to Kyungrak, who had appointed him to this position.

But if he left things as they were, he might one day bring harm to Hongyo. Thus, while he couldn’t completely tie Jang Daeho’s hands and feet, he had to devise a way to prevent him from harming Hongyo. With so many eyes on him, he couldn’t even go to meet Hongyo as easily as before, and Gamyoung could feel himself getting edgy, even as he tried to act otherwise. No matter how much he tried to hide his feelings, he was keenly aware that it was by no means an easy task to pretend not to know the one he loved even when seeing her.

In such a situation, the welcoming party might have been a good opportunity to meet Hongyo. Although it would all be just watching from afar without being able to acknowledge her, he might have been able to exchange a word or two up close.

‘I’ve shot myself in the foot.’

Gamyoung felt terribly down, feeling even more distant than when he used to meet Hongyo outside, but he knew he would have done the same thing even if he went back in time. It was a great pity that he couldn’t meet Hongyo freely now, but watching Hongyo grow day by day was another kind of joy. Besides, the guilt of hiding his identity was gone, so it wasn’t all bad. Still, not being able to meet her when he wanted to was a heart-wrenchingly sad affair.

Therefore, despite being incredibly busy, Gamyoung was determined to attend the welcoming party today. Just being able to see with his own two eyes that Hongyo was okay, even from a distance, made it a worthwhile occasion. Of course, he always received reports on the soldiers’ daily routines, but it bothered him that the last time he saw her at the competition, she didn’t look well at all. He had someone look into it afterwards and found out she had even gotten medicine from the pharmacy, so she was clearly not well.

Moreover, the last thing he saw was that friend Hongyo had recently made touching her cheek, which didn’t sit well with him. On top of that, knowing full well how weak Hongyo was to alcohol, Gamyoung had no choice but to go, even if he wanted to tell her not to. He couldn’t stop her directly, but he could, when the time was right, use discipline as a pretext to stop her.

However, upon seeing the room, which was located in a secluded area quite far from the Gamhwi’s room, Gamyoung felt that something was wrong. Of course, even though it was a welcoming party for Hwayeonggyeong, it wasn’t a gathering for only Hwayeonggyeong people, so the rooms were probably separated this far for the convenience of the superiors and teachers, but for Gamyoung, it was nothing short of a disaster. His expression hardened even more when he realized that they were not the only ones in the room.

“Please, come in, Lord Gyeongjang.”

The man with a smiling face was one who had looked down on Gamyoung ever since he was appointed as the Hwayeonggyeongjang. The reason was that, no matter how much the emperor cherished his younger brother, it was a lack of qualification for someone who hadn’t even gone through the military service examination to sit as the head of Hwayeonggyeong, an institution for training military officials. But no one was unaware that the biggest reason was that he himself had been passed over for the position of Hwayeonggyeongjang. Gamyoung also knew this, but he kept him in Hwayeonggyeong because he knew that his skills as a teacher of basic military studies were not bad.

However, seeing that there were women in this room, not just them, Gamyoung seriously considered that it would be better to hand over that position to someone else. But the man, who had no way of knowing this, insisted on seating Gamyoung next to Yehyang, the owner of Myeongwolgwan. Then, as if in a great hurry, he obsequiously poured wine into Gamyoung’s untouched cup.

“First, let’s have a drink to lighten the mood.”

But when Gamyoung didn’t budge, the man, sensing the mood, smiled gently and tried to humor Gamyoung. At that sight, Gamyoung asked bluntly.

“Did Lord Pangam order this?”

“No! How could that be!”

Startled by his words, the man jumped up and waved both his hands. But Gamyoung was not unaware that this man had been sticking close to the Pangam for a long time. There were many others with far superior martial skills, yet he had strutted around as if the position of Hwayeonggyeongjang was his, most likely because he trusted in the Pangam’s influence. So, his fawning over him now was no different from a plea to withdraw Jang Daeho’s punishment on behalf of the absent Pangam; it would be stranger not to know.

“I simply arranged this meeting to clear up any misunderstandings, as it seems I have misunderstood you, Lord Gyeongjang.”

“What misunderstanding are you talking about?”

At that, the man, sensing the mood, instead shouted at the women sitting beside them.

“Hey! What are you all doing just sitting there? Not even livening up the mood! Now, let’s clear up the misunderstanding slowly. Lord Gyeongjang, please have a drink first. My cup feels neglected.”

He then picked up the wine bottle, seemingly intending to gloss over the matter. Normally, he would have let this level of flattery slide, but today was different. He was already busy with work, and now the Pangam’s son had caused trouble, giving him a headache. And with this kind of man fawning in front of him, his patience was reaching its limit. Moreover, the thought that Hongyo, whom he had wanted to see even from a distance, was separated in another room because of this man, made it impossible for kind words to come out.

“If you are displeased that I, despite my lack of qualifications, am sitting in the position of Hwayeonggyeongjang, I will be happy to face you at any time so that it does not remain a misunderstanding.”

Then he spoke to Yehyang, who was beside him.

“Please excuse me for today.”

At that, Yehyang, who had keenly assessed the atmosphere, spoke gently.

“Not at all. However, it seems you have some private matters to discuss today, so it would be best for us to take our leave now.”

At that, the man, gaping at Yehyang, glanced at Gamyoung and then cursed at her with his eyes. But Yehyang, without batting an eyelid, leaned in close to Gamyoung. As the distance between them closed in an instant, Gamyoung instinctively flinched back. A gentle voice lingered near Gamyoung’s ear and then disappeared.

“When you come next time, I do hope we can have a long conversation.”

And just as Yehyang, smiling brightly and moving away, called all the women in the room and opened the door, standing right in front of the door, as if she had been there all along, was Hongyo, her bewildered expression fully visible. Their eyes met through the gap of the open door. Hongyo wasn’t the only one who was flustered.

Gamyoung, who had unknowingly frozen while looking at Hongyo, stared as Hongyo started to run, then abruptly shot up from his seat. And when he chased after her, no one in that room could stop him.

“Ugh… where am I?”

Hongyo stood in front of the corridor, looking for the exit, but she was just getting more lost. She had felt it when she first mistook alcohol for water and drank it, but it seemed she was a lightweight. At least back then, she had fallen asleep on the spot, but this time she was just getting drunk, which was a relief. But if she drank any more, she felt she wouldn’t be able to escape making a fool of herself like that time, so she had hastily left the spot, and now look at her. If Kyungrak, who enjoyed spirits close to hard liquor, had known, he would have found it quite cute, but unfortunately, Kyungrak was not here.

However, her intoxicated body had lost its sense of direction, and she couldn’t seem to figure out which way was out. The corridor, made up of numerous rooms, was filled with loud laughter and chatter, making it even harder to find her way.

“Is it even possible to get out?”

Embarrassed that she couldn’t find the door she had somehow entered through, Hongyo wandered the corridor, not even realizing she was heading deeper in, until she stood before a door. The chattering sounds had gradually faded, and from the corridor, where voices were now heard only sporadically, an exceptionally bright light was streaming from the crack of a door. As she followed the light and was drawn to the door, she heard a familiar voice of her military studies teacher, and among them, a voice even more familiar.

“I simply arranged this meeting to clear up any misunderstandings, as it seems I have misunderstood you, Lord Gyeongjang.”

The voice, which was usually only gentle when dealing with Jang Daeho, was so obsequious it sounded as if his tongue was coated in oil. It was unbelievable that this was the voice of the teacher who was so authoritarian to everyone except Jang Daeho.

“What misunderstanding are you talking about?”

But it was nothing compared to Gamyoung’s. Hongyo had never heard such a chilly voice from Gamyoung. Even though the words weren’t directed at her, Hongyo flinched without realizing it. She knew she shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave the front of this door.

If it had been an angry voice, she wouldn’t have been this surprised. The voice of Gamyoung, who ended the conversation in a single stroke as if swatting away a nuisance, was so cold and indifferent that Hongyo could not deny the fact that no matter how much she had angered Gamyoung in the past, Gamyoung had cared for her in her own way.

Even though it wasn’t directed at her, it was a voice that froze her entire body. Because of that, she was stuck standing in this spot. Just then, what appeared to be the shadow of a woman approached the shadow sitting in the seat of honor, and then moved away. And before she could even think about what that meant, the door opened.

Behind the woman leaving the room, her eyes met with eyes as cold and indifferent as the voice. At that, the eyes that had been expressionless just a moment ago instantly found their light, as if it were all a lie, and looked back at her, just as surprised as she was.

In that moment, Hongyo turned around and ran. She didn’t know why, but all she could think of was to run. Because the Gamyoung whose eyes she had met didn’t seem like the Gamyoung she knew.