Struggle Chapter 9

Looking down at the dejected Nanyoung, Taerok bent deeply at the waist. Only then did he barely reach Nanyoung’s ear. Having grown up suffering from growing pains so severe that he could not sleep from an early age, Taerok still often had aches in his knees, ankles, and elbows. He was still growing, and Nanyoung, despite growing as well, could not even slightly catch up to him.

Glancing at Nanyoung, who could barely keep up with him in a dawdling stumble, Taerok swallowed a sigh.

“It must be lonely in the palace with no playmates.”

Lacking the skill to comfort, Taerok simply changed the subject. He figured that when the time came, they would formally select a child of the same age to attach to him, and that would serve to distract him. If it was a child from a meritorious family, it would be somewhat displeasing, but well…

“Ah, n-no.”

But Nanyoung hesitated and shook his head.

“I have Sim Eung, and I a-also have you, Uncle.”

Nanyoung laughed guilelessly, “Hehe.”

But I am not a playmate, am I. Taerok swallowed another sigh.

He hadn’t even sought out a friend.

His teacher had been assigned late, and a friend was late as well. At this point, it was not protection but neglect. At the unexpected answer, Taerok rubbed his brow bone, then abruptly murmured.

“Then you can just play with me.”

What Taerok had said was naturally incomprehensible to Nanyoung, and even Giheum, who had followed the Grand Prince out and was standing behind him, could not comprehend it for a moment.

“What is it that you mean by that?”

Giheum asked haltingly. He, too, was one who shared the views of those families who looked upon Taerok unfavorably.

And Taerok, likewise, knew very well that Giheum was on that side.

“If they say just anyone won’t do, then can’t he just play with me? Or am I also ‘just anyone’?”

“No, sir. How could that be? It is only that His Highness, the young prince, must spend time with those of his own age…”

“I, too, was once called ‘young master,’ and now I am a Grand Prince who has been enfeoffed.”

Taerok gave a sneering laugh.

“I may not know about age, but in status, are we not equals?”

He knew very well, of course, that he was being unreasonable. But if being unreasonable could deal a blow to that old fox, he was willing to act as childishly as it took. I have you to thank for this, Lee Nanyoung. The method of acting utterly childish by splitting hairs was something he had learned from Nanyoung.

“Think on it further. Of course… I, as a Grand Prince, would know the affairs of a child born into the royal family best. Surely you would not claim that the Grand Preceptor knows more about the Grand Prince’s affairs than I do.”

“Uncle…”

With the two adults creating such a tense atmosphere, it was understandable that Nanyoung was flustered. Taerok turned at the tugging on his robes, but Nanyoung’s teacher did not yield an inch either.

“There is still reading time remaining. Bid farewell to your uncle and return now, Your Highness.”

Nanyoung hesitated, then let go of his grip. Wanting to provoke Giheum, Taerok acted sweeter to Nanyoung than usual.

“Because of the scary old man, we shall have to see each other later.”

“He is n-not a scary Teacher.”

“You should say so. If he acts scary, report it to your uncle. Then, let us meet again next time, Your Highness.”

Having let Nanyoung go, Taerok tapped the small back. Looking back repeatedly, Nanyoung went over to Giheum. Uncharacteristically, Giheum took the hand Nanyoung held out to him.

“We adults fought childishly, dragging a child into it.”

Contrary to that cool-headed criticism of his own actions, Taerok’s face was filled with a smile.

Returning to his own princely residence, Taerok prepared immediately. His attendant and guards, who had been standing by, had also finished their preparations as expected and were waiting.

It was obvious that Taerok would be in a bad mood after his private audience with the King. Taerok slung his quiver over his shoulder and mounted his horse.

“Let’s go.”

At that single word, they rushed out the back gate of the Grand Prince’s residence in a drove. Taerok’s princely residence was situated with a mountain at its back and a river in front, with the river winding in the distance and the mountain spread out behind it like a folding screen. The summer season was not a very good season for hunting, but just riding would ease this mood somewhat.

In the end, Taerok’s haul that day was not good. Though the season was partly to blame, it was because Taerok’s concentration had become somewhat scattered after catching the first pheasant.

Holding up the dead pheasant, Taerok stared blankly at its glazed-over eyes, as if lost in thought. At least, those who accompanied him thought he was looking at its eyes. But in fact, he was gauging the pheasant’s weight. The reason he felt such a sense of déjà vu was that it seemed similar to Nanyoung, and yet seemed a little heavier, or perhaps lighter. To think of my young nephew while holding a dead pheasant. A sin of the heart would be sin enough, but this is a dreadful act. Taerok mocked himself and skillfully drained the pheasant’s blood.

Even though the smell of pheasant blood should have been present, perhaps the smell of metal was stronger to the beasts, as even the beaters came back empty-handed. Taerok returned only after catching two more pheasants.

“Pick out the decent feathers and set them aside. There will be some use for them.”

Taerok ordered as he tossed the dead birds. In the heat, the cloth wrapped around Taerok’s headband was also slightly damp. As he wiped his face with a wet towel, Taerok lowered the towel and tilted his head. It was because Nanyoung, who had looked at him with wonder for not shedding a single drop of sweat even while bundled up stuffily, came to mind again.

“I have done too many things today that I normally do not.”

Taerok frowned. Because of Giheum, he had done things he had no need to do. He had not had the slightest intention of embracing Nanyoung. Such an embarrassing act. The rumor spread by those who cannot distinguish truth from falsehood—that ‘Lee Taerok seemed to hold only Lee Nanyoung dear’—was already more than enough.

“I am still immature, am I not?”

Saon, who was pouring water over the back of his neck, asked, “Pardon?” Taerok shook his head no and tossed the towel.

“I will wash. There is no need to heat the water.”

Taerok’s voice seeped deep into every corner of the Grand Prince’s residence.

∞ ∞ ∞

While washing his face in the morning, Taerok turned his wet head and asked back fiercely.

“What? Who is coming?”

The servant hemmed and hawed. He felt as though he had suddenly become a traitor. Taerok wiped his face with the cloth handed to him. That did not, however, make the ferocity on his face disappear.

Even after hearing the creeping voice again, Taerok was so dumbfounded that he frowned.

He had told them to handle as they pleased regarding all the fuss about his marriage. And so, it seemed the matter had progressed this far without his knowledge.

Yes, meeting before marriage was certainly necessary. But so abruptly like this.

“Do as you like.”

Taerok, who had swept back his hair, gave a nod of his chin. The servant bowed his head meekly. Though it was not his fault, his back bent all the deeper unnecessarily.

Taerok tied his topknot and dressed in his official robes. He had come of age and tied his topknot, though he had not yet married. The world says one must see their child to be a true adult, but Taerok had no interest in the world’s judgments. Then… suddenly, at the thought of a child, Nanyoung came to mind.

It had been several days since he had last seen Nanyoung. He could not remember exactly. With Nanyoung having caught a summer cold that even a dog wouldn’t catch as the seasons changed, several days had passed, and then several more were wasted as he himself went hunting, so well over a week must have gone by.

“Shall I just enter the palace?”

I have not seen my nephew for some time, and he weighs on my mind so that I cannot bear it without entering the palace—wouldn’t that make a plausible excuse to avoid his betrothed?

However, his betrothed was diligent. Whether the Office of the Royal Clan had put some thought into it, the woman happened to reside on a fertile piece of land in the inner village of the very region where his princely residence was located.

“…”

Taerok stood with his arms crossed, leaning slightly, until the main gate opened. When the gate opened, a maidservant and a man, presumably there to guard her, were standing. When their eyes met, Taerok gave a short laugh.

We will loathe each other.

Their personalities would likely be similar. Their pride would be equally matched, too. He could tell just from a single glance. They were not suited for each other. They had submitted her Four Pillars, and yet they had not known even this?

“Please, come in.”

Taerok spoke courteously. The woman stepped lightly over the high threshold. On the shoes visible beneath the hem of her skirt, which she lifted slightly, flowers were intricately embroidered. Coincidentally, they were similar to the pattern embroidered on the five-colored silk headband that Nanyoung wore.

“I behold the Grand Prince’s residence.”

Taerok, who had been recalling the flower pattern with bats, lotuses, and cranes that bloomed alongside the floral design, awoke from his reverie.

“Are my shoes to your liking?”

“…They are lovely shoes. You have a discerning eye.”