Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 88

“Article 249. That if one who does not possess the dragon’s power enters the Forest of Vanishing Shadows without authorization, they shall be exiled beyond the northern border.”

Here, being exiled beyond the northern border was practically no different from going to one’s death. The northern region was a place avoided not only by military officers who received official appointments but even by criminals who left under the condition of having their punishments commuted. Because the dragon’s stronghold was within arm’s reach, even ordinary beasts became magical creatures in that area.

Moreover, it was fortunate that the shamans who had belonged to that land since long ago, including the daughter of General Choi Hyeongwon who had volunteered to go there, performed purification rituals; otherwise, beyond the border where even that support was unavailable, it was either freezing to death or dying to magical creatures. However, even if one returned alive anyway, if they failed to receive a purification ritual, they would go mad just the same.

For a moment, not a single word passed between the two men. Between the two who were just quietly looking at each other as if reading the opponent’s intentions, the one who broke the silence was Gamyoung.

“However, it is stated that if it is due to unavoidable circumstances, one can be exonerated.”

“Yes. Surely that would depend on how grave the matter of those unavoidable circumstances is. But is trespassing into the Dragon God’s domain just to look for a single measly ornament such a grave matter?”

Even when he received the report, this part was entirely incomprehensible to him. What on earth was that ornament that Yeo Hongyo dashed in without even exercising proper judgment? From the standpoint of having watched Hongyo quite closely for a long time, though not as much as Gamyoung, he was not a child so reckless and thoughtless. However, the moment that answer came out of Gamyoung’s mouth, Kyungrak felt beyond dumbfounded, to the point of dizziness.

“That ornament is something I gifted him. If he entered to find a bestowal granted by a member of the Imperial Family, it would be a sufficient reason.”

Kyungrak had not thought as far as this. In the first place, he didn’t even know that Gamyoung had gifted an ornament to Hongyo. As Gamyoung said, if it was a bestowal granted by a member of the Imperial Family, the story was different. Selling it was out of the question, and unless it was passed down by inheritance, it must never be handed over to anyone, let alone lost. Therefore, if he trespassed to find a bestowal, the mitigating circumstance was sufficient. Moreover, if the member of the Imperial Family who granted that bestowal testified personally.

Kyungrak felt as if he had been dealt a blow. To put it another way, Jang Daeho had not only extorted a bestowal granted by a member of the Imperial Family but had also thrown it into the sacred domain of the Dragon God, and on top of that, had lured Yeo Hongyo so that he had no choice but to enter the Forest of Vanishing Shadows. By that point, the Grand Inspector would also accept his child, who had committed such an act, ending up with a punishment of about a whipping.

‘Thanks to this, the matter will become much easier.’

Kyungrak swiftly revised his strategy. Since he had gained a card with which he could hold and shake the Grand Inspector, he intended to make good use of this card now. Therefore, to do so, he had to make this audacious younger brother of his let go of his card at this point.

“If your intention is such, I shall no longer stop you. However, when the Emperor commands, is it not proper as a subject to rightly follow?”

Kyungrak commanded Gamyoung, who still looked as though he had no intention of bending in the slightest.

“Director. I shall say it once more. This sovereign needs the Grand Inspector right now.”

“Why is your expression like that again?”

Hongyo, who had been staring blankly only at a book for several minutes, lifted her head at that voice. Then, Jeonghwan, who was still plying his brush without rest, said,

“The pages haven’t turned for several minutes now. If you are tired, you would rather go inside and rest.”

Even though he spoke bluntly, lately Jeonghwan was taking over and doing everything up to her share. To Hongyo, who said she would do her own work, he threw a book, telling her to at least read if she was bored, as he wasn’t a person cold enough to make even someone who had been sick work. Yet, even the military strategy book she used to enjoy reading so much did not enter her eyes.

When Hongyo gave no answer, Jeonghwan, who ultimately put down his brush, looked at Hongyo. Although he had received a report that he completed the purification ritual immediately after entering the Forest of Vanishing Shadows, perhaps because the shock was great, lately Yeo Hongyo often lost his presence of mind. If he was in a state like right now, it seemed it would be better to send him somewhere to recuperate rather than to Hwayeong, but it was regrettable that it was a matter outside his authority.

Hongyo, who was quietly facing Jeonghwan, eventually shook her head.

“Even if I rest, it doesn’t feel like resting. It’s rather better to be out here.”

At the same time, the faint smile he showed weighed heavily on his mind. Jeonghwan, looking at such a Hongyo, said as if tossing it out,

“Because there is so much you are thinking about with that small head, it probably doesn’t feel like resting. If you have worries and keep them bottled up like that, it becomes an illness. I don’t go around spreading things anywhere, so if it’s truly suffocating, you might as well confide in me.”

“Wasn’t it you, Inspector, My Lord, who taught me that I must watch my mouth awake or asleep?”

“You remember such things very well. I, too, have no use for you, so go inside and rest now.”

By the looks of Hongyo’s condition, it seemed better to escort her back before it got any later. It was just when Jeonghwan was about to rise from his seat. Hongyo, who had been quietly watching him, caught the wrist of Jeonghwan, who was pressing on the table to stand up.

“No. Please stay with me.”

Jeonghwan could not hide his startled look for a split second. Because he failed to conceal his startled face unlike his usual self, Hongyo, startled in turn, hurriedly released her hand that had caught his wrist.

“I am sorry. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“No. It is just that I was a little startled, so do not mind it.”

It wasn’t just a little startled, but Jeonghwan did not willingly say those words. His heart, which was beating fast even now from being startled, gradually calmed down. Jeonghwan, sitting back down in his seat, looked at Hongyo. Even if he looked taciturn normally, at times like this, Jeonghwan truly had deep eyes. Just by him looking at her calmly, Hongyo felt as if she were gaining comfort from that gaze. Hongyo, looking into those eyes, slowly opened her mouth.

“Hypothetically speaking. If you, Inspector, find out that a person you thought you knew well is a completely different person from the one you have known all along, how should you accept it?”

Jeonghwan quietly looked at Hongyo, who was bringing up the words with difficulty. He was speaking assuming it was about himself, but at least here, there were only two people Yeo Hongyo would care enough about to have such a worry.

‘Is it Director Hwayeong, or is it Gu Yeoryeong?’

He didn’t know whom Yeo Hongyo was referring to, but if it was Director Hwayeong, he was subtly sly, so it was certain he would absolutely never show an appearance that he thought would be harmful to Yeo Hongyo. Though the Cha Gamyoung that Yeo Hongyo usually described was the same person, there was definitely an appearance that was not seen by the superior he himself served. Because Cha Gamyoung was endlessly generous only to Yeo Hongyo, yet somewhere blindly devoted.

Though people said it was because they were old friends, when a third party like himself who didn’t know the circumstances looked at it, it was a strangely twisted appearance. Just as if he were somehow Yeo Hongyo’s fiancé. However, since he had said with his own mouth that there was someone he loved, it seemed to be just a peculiar friendship. At any rate, since he had such a disposition, he wouldn’t have shown an appearance disappointing enough to make Yeo Hongyo worry so much in front of Yeo Hongyo.

Then, was it Gu Yeoryeong? Jeonghwan placed a bit more certainty on this side. According to the confession, the one who lured Yeo Hongyo to Jang Daeho was Gu Yeoryeong. As for the reason, since they said he was still keeping his mouth tightly shut, there was no way to know, but for Yeo Hongyo, who was close to Gu Yeoryeong in Hwayeong and had relied on him quite a bit, he couldn’t help but be confused. However, whether it was the Director or Gu Yeoryeong, not knowing their inner hearts was the same. Therefore, Jeonghwan had no choice but to answer simply from his own standpoint.

“I do not know who it is, but it seems there must be a reason for it. Has it not been said that one can know the depth of ten fathoms of water, but not the heart of a single man? Even if you pride yourself on knowing each other best, in the end, you cannot become that person, so when you do not know, it is rather better to ask why they did so. If you show your sincerity first, won’t that side give some kind of answer too? It seems you can worry then.”

It was an extremely simple answer, but sometimes what looked simple was often the correct answer. Hongyo looked at Jeonghwan with an expression that seemed to understand yet not understand. It seemed he understood with his head but had no certainty. However, whoever the person Yeo Hongyo was thinking of right now might be, it was Yeo Hongyo’s part to decide whether to accept this advice or not. Jeonghwan stood up from his seat, pretending not to notice Hongyo, who still looked confused.

“Let’s go. The hour is late.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Hold on. Something is on you here.”

“Where?”

“Stay still. Because it looks like I need to brush it off.”

Hongyo looked at Jeonghwan, who approached her and straightened her attire. Jeonghwan’s touch as he brushed the dust off her shoulder was exceedingly careful, as if he might touch the bruise. Hongyo, looking at such a Jeonghwan, blurted out thoughtlessly,

“It’s truly strange.”

“What is?”

“You are so gentle, Inspector, so why have you still not married?”

At those words, Jeonghwan faced Hongyo. Then, he lightly pinched her cheek where even the scratch had completely vanished.

“Did you say you were an only child?”

“Yes, I am.”

“If you also had a younger brother, you would have done the same. There are just one or two things that need a hand.”

In truth, Bian had acted as if even a fingertip touching by chance was unacceptable ever since his mind grew mature, but it seemed there was no need to speak of even such circumstances. Thinking of Bian when he was much younger, who used to follow him around calling him ‘brother’, it felt to the point of feeling like a past life. And as if to take that place instead, Jeonghwan had a side to him that treated Hongyo like a young younger brother.

Hongyo chattered away while following Jeonghwan, who walked ahead. She had felt it since some time ago, but whenever she was with Jeonghwan, her mind was at ease. Even if he was taciturn and sometimes it was unknown what he was thinking, when she herself was having a hard time, she wondered where she could meet someone who cared for her so gently like this. At first, it was very unfamiliar and she felt apologetic that he escorted her to the dormitory rather than going straight to his quarters after work was over, but when her mind was this complicated, she was rather grateful that he joined her on the way back.

However, those steps did not go far. When the voice that had been chattering beside him ceased, having recovered his energy in the meantime, Jeonghwan looked back at Hongyo. At the place where Hongyo, who had stopped her steps before he knew it, was looking, a faint light was turned on until late. And if it was a place where the light was turned on even at this hour, there was only one.

“Inspector, My Lord. I am sorry, but could you please return to your quarters first today?”

What on earth was he thinking so much; Hongyo, who had been looking at that light for a while, brought up the words with difficulty. For a split second, Jeonghwan had to clench his fists to suppress the impulse to say no. But was Yeo Hongyo a child who would listen to his words just because someone blocked him?

“Just in case, make sure to ask the Director to escort you back when you return.”

At that, Hongyo, who bowed her head deeply, ran toward that light as if she had made up her mind. Jeonghwan watched until Hongyo disappeared from his field of vision, then turned his steps.

It seemed that what Yeo Hongyo spoke of was, after all, Cha Gamyoung, not Gu Yeoryeong. Though he could not know why that fact was so bitter.