Flower Dream Chapter 25

“Given the tribal chief’s personality, it’s highly likely she won’t give up and will keep pushing her daughter forward. So let’s schedule it so that we meet just once and be done with it, to prevent her from making any unnecessary moves.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but… weren’t you planning to stay here for about a week?”

Chief Eunuch Baek asked in puzzlement, calculating the remaining time in his head. The period Shin Ryuwon had planned to stay on the Honghwa Clan’s small island was one week. After that, he had to move on to meet another candidate for the Prince’s consort.

“Then even if we arrange a meeting for the day after tomorrow, there would still be two days left. If you want to end it with just one meeting with Hong Juyak, wouldn’t it be better to schedule it even later—like the day before we leave, or something like that?”

“If we do that, she’ll wear herself out and storm straight into Honghwajeong. I need to show my face before the tribal chief’s patience runs out. That way, she’ll be less of a nuisance.”

“That’s true, given her temperament, that could happen. Hmm, but you’ll still be here until early next week… I’m concerned that if we say we’ll meet the day after tomorrow, the tribal chief might become insistent.”

Chief Eunuch Baek wore a worried expression. There were rumors that the Empress would issue a consort selection decree next year, but nothing had been confirmed yet. If Shin Ryuwon happened to meet an incense bearer with good compatibility or one he liked during this matchmaking tour disguised as a provincial inspection, it was possible that they could proceed to marriage without a selection decree.

Hong Haehwa surely knew that fact as well, so she would undoubtedly try to settle the matter somehow before Shin Ryuwon left the small island.

“Have I not dealt with this kind of thing once or twice before? Even if the tribal chief pesters me, I can just firmly say I can’t meet her because I’m experiencing rejection reactions and need rest. If I say her daughter made my condition worse, she won’t be able to push blindly.”

“That’s true—if she’s not careful, she could be accused of harming a member of the imperial family, so she’d be cautious. But… aren’t you being too certain? What if, miraculously, you turn out to be compatible with her?”

“I told you earlier—I have a feeling. You know I’m sensitive about these things, so why are you acting like this?”

“Your Highness’s intuition is indeed uncanny. Still, there’s always that one-in-a-million chance…”

“That will never happen. Even if the scent were compatible, I wouldn’t like her. Honestly, I’m disappointed in Mother too. No matter how impatient she is, planning to put someone like that by my side…”

“Because the royal physicians warned that Your Highness’s body is reaching its limit, Her Majesty the Empress must have been anxious as well. Would she have had any time to consider character or family background?”

“And yet she excluded the Baekhwa Clan?”

Shin Ryuwon’s lips twisted. The more he thought about it, the more his irritation at the current situation surged. The Emperor, the Empress, and his siblings—all of them were ignoring his wishes and acting arbitrarily, which was deeply displeasing.

“And why are all the candidates true incense bearers? Did she forget that the stronger the body scent, the more severe my rejection reactions were?”

“That’s because, um, incense bearers with stronger body scents are more likely to be compatible with Your Highness, isn’t that so?”

“Haha, there’s no need to dress it up like that. What Mother wants is obvious. She believes in that superstition—that to bear a child with dense divine blood like mine, one must have offspring with a true incense bearer—isn’t that right?”

Shin Ryuwon laughed aloud as if he’d heard something amusing, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth as he sneered.

Back when he was a naive child who didn’t know how the world worked, he too had believed his mother’s actions were for his own sake. That was why, even though it became harder each time he met incense bearers, he had tried his best to follow the Empress’s will.

But as he grew older, he gradually realized that what his mother was doing was not solely for Shin Ryuwon himself. She was the Empress of the Empire before she was Ryuwon’s mother, and she placed far greater importance on the former role. Once he recognized that, he could no longer trust the Empress’s affection and sincerity.

“Ahem, it’s not exactly a simple superstition—about a hundred years ago, the royal scholars conducted an extensive investigation and the results showed…”

“So you’re telling me to understand Mother?”

“…That’s not it.”

“If Mother truly wanted me to find stability… she would have to set aside political calculations that exclude certain clans, and also let go of her ambition to bear descendants who would elevate the imperial family’s authority. But what’s the reality? It’s getting worse by the day. It’s moving in the complete opposite direction.”

“…”

“Lately, I’ve even started thinking: does Mother want me to be a stud horse?”

“Your Highness!”

At the increasingly harsh words, Chief Eunuch Baek called out to Shin Ryuwon in a stern voice. Rarely showing a serious expression, he looked directly at Ryuwon.

“I understand you feel wronged by Her Majesty the Empress, but… please choose your words carefully. Birds hear what is said by day, and mice hear what is said by night. Even when we’re alone, it’s best to be mindful of your speech and conduct.”

“…I’ll be careful. I spoke out of turn just now because my emotions got the better of me.”

Shin Ryuwon readily admitted his fault. Perhaps because Chief Eunuch Baek had also been responsible for his discipline since childhood, Shin Ryuwon showed a weaker side when dealing with him compared to others. He also leaned on him psychologically to a considerable extent.

“More than anything, for the sake of Your Highness’s health, I believe you should take a consort as soon as possible.”

“Chief Eunuch Baek.”

“The royal physicians are unanimously expressing concern that if this continues, a major problem could arise someday. I’m not saying this for Her Majesty the Empress, but for Your Highness—I sincerely hope you will find a partner as soon as possible, so that you may enjoy peaceful nights of sleep.”

“…”

Shin Ryuwon, who had hardened his gaze at Chief Eunuch Baek’s ensuing argument, momentarily lost his words. The worry filling the eyes that looked straight at him, the heartfelt sincerity permeating his voice—they made Ryuwon’s chest stir.

“Hah, fine. Even if I’m not keen on it… I’ll approach this matchmaking earnestly. Will that suffice?”

After a brief silence, Shin Ryuwon sighed, making a gesture of raising both hands in defeat.

“That is a wise decision.”

Only then did Chief Eunuch Baek return to his usual demeanor, softening the corners of his eyes as if he had never hardened his expression.

“I’m tired. Let’s end this conversation here.”

“Yes, then shall I escort you to your bedchamber? Or would you prefer to take a walk in the rear garden?”

“No, I’ll go straight to the bedchamber today.”

Shin Ryuwon lightly shook his head and gazed silently at Chief Eunuch Baek, who was wearing a gentle smile.

“Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just… sometimes I feel like you’re more of a parent to me than Father and Mother are…”

“Pardon? Haha… Well, I did carry you on my back and raise you, didn’t I?”

Chief Eunuch Baek let out a hearty laugh, then brought his arms together as if cradling something and made a bouncing gesture, joking around.

“Anyway, you’re being ridiculous. At any rate, set the meeting with Hong Juyak for the day after tomorrow.”

Shin Ryuwon, chuckling despite himself, opened his mouth as he stepped out of the bath chamber.

“Yes, I’ll send word immediately to convey Your Highness’s intentions.”

Soon wiping the smile from his face, Chief Eunuch Baek answered in a serious tone and hurriedly followed behind Shin Ryuwon.

∞ ∞ ∞

Swish, swish…

Dan Yuha, seated on the veranda of the servants’ quarters, repeatedly pushed a thin needle through soft fabric and pulled it out. After a while, he stopped his hand, which had been moving as if dancing, and firmly tied the thread one last time. Then he took scissors from his sewing kit and snipped it clean.

“All done!”

Having finally finished altering the second garment as well, Dan Yuha held it up with a proud expression. It was worth the effort he had put in, wrestling with the clothes right after waking from a short nap upon returning to his room at dawn.

“It took longer than I expected…”

Dan Yuha enjoyed the soft, smooth texture of the fabric in his hands as he meticulously checked for any parts that hadn’t been properly mended. If he had received Senior Court Lady Kim’s help, he would have finished adjusting the measurements much sooner, but apart from the first day, he had been mending the clothes himself, so the second garment bore only his own handiwork. That was because he knew how busy Senior Court Lady Kim was.

Originally, in the royal palace, tasks that required dozens of people had to be handled by barely a dozen, so each day at Honghwajeong was extremely busy. The kind Senior Court Lady Kim had offered to help whenever she found time, but Yuha, having seen her darting from place to place, declined, saying it was fine.

Not knowing was one thing, but Dan Yuha didn’t have the audacity to pile on tasks he could do himself onto someone who was clearly swamped.

“Only three days left until I get to wear this…”

Dan Yuha set down the jade-green garment and muttered to himself. The clothes made of jade-green silk were embroidered with floral patterns using yellow and white thread, looking luxurious at a glance.

When he had first received the garment from Senior Court Lady Kim, he had wondered if he was worthy of wearing something so precious, but now he felt a pang of regret that there were only a few days left until he would wear it.

“Time really flies…”

Feeling somewhat melancholy for no particular reason, Dan Yuha puffed out his cheeks slightly, then let out a sigh with a pooh. When he had first been assigned to attend the Third Prince, he had felt so daunted at the thought of enduring a whole week that his future had seemed pitch black, but four days had passed in the blink of an eye. After just three more nights, Shin Ryuwon and his party would leave this place.