Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 84

It was one week later when Hongyo was finally released from Yukhotongsa.

Having judged that there was nothing more to interrogate her about, the Chief Investigator of Yukhotongsa sent Hongyo back to Hwayounggyeong. Although nothing had been finalized yet, it was an undeniable fact that she had crossed into the Forest of Vanishing Shadows, regardless of being lured by Jang Daeho. Even taking the circumstances into account, entering a forest forbidden without a shaman’s protective ritual was a clear violation, leaving it highly uncertain whether she could escape punishment.

However, state law did not hold someone guilty if they entered under a threat to their life or out of absolute ignorance. This was to ensure no innocent citizens suffered unfairly, and specifically to prevent guilt from being placed on young children who had not yet learned what the Forest of Vanishing Shadows truly was. Yet, for Hongyo, neither applied. At best, leniency was possible for those driven by an absolute, unavoidable necessity, but she had no way of knowing how much her statement that she had entered to retrieve an ornament would help.

But the water was already spilled. Even though a week had passed since the incident, Hongyo knew she would have entered that forest even if she could turn back time. It was partly because it was a gift from Gamyoung, but as she had told Mohyun, it was because it served as a token of her choice being respected for the first time. Still, the fact that she could not come up with a better alternative remained a lingering regret.

She felt nothing but apologies toward those who had been strained by this ordeal: her foster mother, Gamyoung, her peers at Hwayounggyeong, and Jeonghwan, who had trusted her and assigned her this responsibility.

Meanwhile, Hwayounggyeong had lately been akin to walking on thin ice. On the night the Grand Oracle Ceremony concluded, not only Jang Daeho and his group but even Yeoryeong vanished from Hwayounggyeong. Since Hongyo had disappeared at the same time, it was only natural that talk began circulating among the Gamhwis. In particular, Choi Hyangbangwho had reported Jang Daeho’s group to Jeonghwan when they suddenly broke away from the rear guard during the return was exceptionally curious about the inside story of the incident.

However, because everyone involved that night had vanished without a trace, there was no one left to ask. With the situation as it was, it was only natural for the rumors to grow wilder. Some whispered that Jang Daeho had caused an accident that night and fled before being caught by the royal guard, while others claimed he had deserted for good, but no one knew the truth. Furthermore, with the disappearance of the Vice-Commander, Yeo Hongyo, the Commander—who cherished her deeply—had grown significantly sharper lately, leaving absolutely no place to pry.

Amidst all this, Yeo Hongyo had finally returned to Hwayounggyeong, so it was only natural that everyone was dying to know what had occurred that day.

“Oh, isn’t that Hongyo!”

Choi Hyangbang, who had been uncharacteristically gloomy during these restless days, shouted the moment he spotted Hongyo. Jumping in place as if he had seen a ghost, Choi Hyangbang was joined by all the others filtering out from their training session, who came rushing toward Hongyo in a swarm.

“Are you feeling alright?”

The Gamhwis, including Choi Hyangbang’s group, surrounded Hongyo and immediately began asking about her well-being. However, the condition of Hongyo, returning after a whole week, could not be called good even as a hollow compliment. The stray rumors—that she had engaged in a massive brawl with Jang Daeho, or that she had returned that night with broken limbs—didn’t seem entirely false, given the faint scratches remaining on her face and her heavily gaunt appearance.

“Why is your face so injured like that… Are you really okay?”

Yoo Deoksu asked gently with a worried expression, prompting Hongyo to nod. It was a relief, at least, that she wasn’t broken or sick anywhere, just as they had feared. Yet, Hongyo’s mind was in a far greater mess than her body. Even so, just being at Hwayounggyeong instead of Yukhotongsa significantly lifted her spirits. Sensing her mood, Choi Hyangbang decided the timing was right and subtly pried:

“I’m sorry to ask the moment you’ve arrived, but could I ask just one thing? On the way back after the ceremony ended, I saw Jang Daeho break away from the group. Did he happen to go to you then? That bastard hasn’t been seen since that day either. What on earth happened?”

At those words, Hongyo grimaced. It wasn’t because the question offended her, but because thinking about that day made her head throb as if her mind were rejecting the memory.

In truth, she had no idea what had become of Jang Daeho since then either. She had subtly asked the military investigator during her interrogation, but she was met only with a cold reply that they could not disclose that information due to regulations. In any case, trying to remember the events in the forest caused her head to throb violently past a certain point, forcing Hongyo to halt her thoughts and catch her breath.

“Give me a moment, I…”

Hongyo, whose lips had turned pale as if she were still unwell, stopped mid-sentence. Just as Yoo Deoksu, unable to watch any longer, asked if she was alright and reached out to support her—

“Yeo Hongyo.”

Jeonghwan’s voice cut through from behind the crowd. At that sound, the men surrounding Hongyo instantly parted down the middle. Looking uncharacteristically disheveled as if he had run all the way here, Jeonghwan stared at Hongyo with a hardened face.

“A word with you.”

Jeonghwan halted his advance, turned on his heel, and walked away. Hongyo stared at his back for a brief moment before quickly following after him.

“What happened?”

The moment they arrived at his office, Jeonghwan closed the door and shut every single window. Going even further, he lowered his voice to a bare whisper and demanded answers.

Because she had practically lived in this office while preparing for the Grand Oracle Ceremony, it was a highly familiar space to Hongyo. However, Jeonghwan’s completely altered demeanor made even this familiar room feel entirely foreign. Hongyo looked at Jeonghwan, who was still pressing her with a rigid expression, and slowly opened her mouth.

“I was intending to return after completing the cleanup for the rear guard. I did not know Jang Daeho would break away from the group. It is entirely my oversight.”

Hongyo lowered her head. Knowing exactly what kind of man Jang Daeho was, it was her fault for failing to remain on guard against him until they had safely returned to the imperial palace. No matter what, she should have returned together with the rear guard.

“I am sorr—”

“That is not what I am talking about right now!”

The voice that ground out from his throat was heavily suppressed. When Hongyo looked up, she saw Jeonghwan, his face tightly straining to hold back his fury.

“None of us knew Jang Daeho was planning such a thing. Therefore, that is not your fault. But in that situation, you should have removed yourself from the spot immediately. Then, you should have reported it to me upon your return. No matter how outstanding your martial arts are, not just Jang Daeho but those men as well are fully trained soldiers. Furthermore, of all places, how could you dare set foot in there!”

It seemed he had been continuously receiving reports during the week she was gone, given that not a single word he spoke was incorrect.

Jang Daeho breaking away from the rear guard and returning to the Forest of Vanishing Shadows was something beyond her control, but she should not have allowed herself to get dragged into what followed. As Jeonghwan said, returning to report was the best course of action. On top of that, entering a forest where entry was strictly forbidden meant she had handled the situation in the worst possible way. Yet, even upon thinking about it again, she could not be certain that she wouldn’t act the same way if she were thrown back into that moment.

“I am deeply sorry for causing trouble to Hwayounggyeong and to you, Commander. I will accept my punishment willingly.”

Hongyo dropped her gaze to the floor. Even if she were expelled from Hwayounggyeong because of this, she would have no right to complain. What was done was done, and she intended to take full responsibility for it. However, Jeonghwan’s anger had clearly not subsided, as he let out a scoff of disbelief.

“Accept your punishment willingly? The person to be punished isn’t you, it’s Jang Daeho.”

The growling tone carried an intense rage—a voice Hongyo had never heard from Jeonghwan before.

“Do you think I would just let my subordinate end up like that? The primary responsibility for failing to manage the Gamhwis lies with me, so never let those words cross your lips again.”

Lifting her head at those words, Hongyo quietly gazed at his entirely cold face. Seeing Jeonghwan striving to fulfill his responsibility even in a situation like this, she felt a profound sense of apology along with deep respect as a fellow military officer. Where else in the world could one find a superior like this?

In truth, even without him putting it into words, his current appearance made it fully evident that he was doing everything in his power to resolve this incident. His face, showing uncharacteristic signs of exhaustion, and his slightly disarranged vestments were entirely unlike the usual Jeonghwan. Thus, despite her own precarious situation, Hongyo could not help but worry for him.

“Are you alright, Commander?”

“……”

“You look exhausted.”

At that, Jeonghwan, who had been watching to see what Hongyo would say, let out a dry chuckle. Then, abruptly cutting off his laughter, his expression turned entirely unreadable, masking whatever thoughts he harbored. As Jeonghwan took a step closer to Hongyo, she instinctively retreated a step, causing her back to hit the door right behind her.

Hongyo looked up at Jeonghwan, who had closed the distance by another step. The dimly lit office, where all the blinds were drawn to block out even the sunlight, remained unfamiliar, but it was nothing compared to the man standing right before her. His shadowed eyes shifted toward the scratch left on her pale cheek.

“If you had the peace of mind to worry about me, you shouldn’t have returned in such a state.”

The space between Jeonghwan and her was barely a single step. Within that inescapable distance, Jeonghwan reached out his hand. His thumb, heavily calloused from years of gripping a sword, gently brushed past the scratch on her cheek.

The fingertips that lightly caressed her cheek traced down her neckline and moved toward her shoulder. Hongyo looked up at Jeonghwan, barely able to breathe. His eyes, uncharacteristically dark and murky, stared intently just beneath her neckline. His thumb subtly parted the collar resting right beside her neck. As he did, the deep blue bruise caused by her shoulder being forcibly pressed down when she was caught by Jang Daeho’s pack was slightly revealed.

Hongyo caught his wrist with her left arm. At that gesture, Jeonghwan finally met Hongyo’s gaze and withdrew his hand without lingering. However, his stare remained pinned to her, as if refusing to allow her to even look away.

“From now on, wherever you go, stay by my side.”

At those words, a look of profound shock was laid bare within Hongyo’s wide eyes. Yet, Jeonghwan was by no means speaking lightly. Yeo Hongyo would never know—the feeling of his blood turning to ice when he received the minute-by-minute reports of what had occurred that day. But far more horrifying than that was the sheer helplessness of being able to do absolutely nothing.

To call it a mere sentiment of looking after a subordinate felt tender even to himself. Yet, Jeonghwan couldn’t care less about any of that. He simply never wished to see the one he cherished in such a state ever again.