DRP 61

chapter 61

Instinctively, I sought the center of the stench.

I had expected it ever since the moment Hongram’s name was called and the smell had exploded—but sure enough, the stench was emanating from the group where the Hong family members were gathered.

This was undoubtedly jealousy.

Judging from the texture of the smell, it was less about direct assault and more about subtly tormenting from behind. This type was hard to catch because it left little evidence.

Moreover, since the stench was gradually dying down over time, it was being controlled.

The fact that malice that had once filled the banquet hall so strongly was now being tamed was no good sign. It meant someone had decided to act on a crime and was scheming it in their mind.

I looked toward where Hongram was.

“Congratulations on your first place!”

“Do you have a field of study you particularly like?”

“I’ve heard from my sibling attending the academy. You are a very diligent and talented individual.”

“I hope we can become friends through this opportunity.”

People swarmed around the little sparrow.

Hmm, for now, it’s fine. With so many watching, no bad person would dare approach recklessly.

The problem would come after the banquet, but even that had a solution.

“Hongram.”

“Hyeon!”

I seized the opportunity and deliberately approached as the Hong family members tried to reach Hongram. The people surrounding Hongram naturally gave way to the presence of Huireok.

“Congratulations on your achievement.”

“Thank you!”

Hongram’s cheeks were flushed. Her round eyes sparkled, which was so cute.

I restrained my urge to pat her head and handed her a drink.

“Here, drink this.”

“Thank you.”

Delighted, Hongram drank the entire cup on the spot.

I had guessed she’d be thirsty. She had just finished a tense exam and had been surrounded by people.

While Hongram took a breather, Huireok subtly kept an eye on the surroundings as I had asked.

The Hong family members, intimidated by his tiger-like presence, neither approached closely nor dared to retreat, stiffening in place.

I took the opportunity to speak.

“I’ll soon send word to your family. Would you like to visit the mansion where we are staying?”

“Eh?”

“It’s an invitation.”

I extended it with an air that allowed no refusal, and the little sparrow hesitated, tilting her head, then snapped her mouth shut.

She looked back as if sensing something.

The young men whose eyes met Hongram’s instinctively frowned.

Among them, I noticed one boy whose expression was particularly stiff. He was clearly the source of the stench.

In the boy’s gaze at Hongram, undisguised contempt was evident. This was not a look of torment shown just once or twice.

Yet Hongram did not flinch and swiftly turned her body away from him.

“If you invite me, I would be glad to accept!”

She responded with such confidence.

The clever little sparrow had already figured out what was going on.

“I rarely leave Seolgokdo, so I have few acquaintances in the capital. I think I could become good friends with you, Hongram.”

Smiling brightly, she sealed it by saying she would send an invitation letter within a few days.

In Hlekguk, without the Crown Princess present, there was no girl of higher status among her peers than her.

Now, let’s see who dares touch the little sparrow backed by the granddaughter of the former general and a direct descendant of the Hyun family!

Hongram’s eyes widened as she realized what I had planned. She hadn’t expected me to go this far.

But I had nothing to worry about.

The little sparrow before me was a good sparrow recognized by the Hetae. And a good person must be protected from bad people.

After that, the situation went even more smoothly.

As I moved beside Brother Sion and stepped back, more people surrounded Hongram.

Thanks to this thick defensive wall, I could enjoy various events with peace of mind.

Dtaang. Dang. Dtaang.

Time passed unnoticed as we ate, rested, and chatted, until the bell marking Gyeongsi (around 4:30–5:30 PM) rang.

This bell, used by the palace and various provincial offices, was magically controlled and rang at precise times.

Sure enough, looking up at the sky, the sunset was already spreading.

“Take your time leaving.”

The Crown Prince announced the end of the event.

As the main guests began to leave, people prepared to depart.

“I’ll see you next time.”

“I’ll send word, so you must come.”

“Yes!”

Hongram left first, saying she had to return before sunset, and Brother Sion also joined the flow of departing guests.

“I feel so bad.”

“You’re busy. Go quickly. We’ll leave slowly.”

It was when most guests had left the palace that a palace maid appeared before us, bowing deeply.

“You are ordered to accompany them.”

Seeing Huireok, he nodded slightly.

Before entering the palace, Huireok had said that his family might call for us.

The Crown Prince Cheong Gyuheon.

His family was the only one who would want to meet us today.

The hard, cold stone pillars were now bathed in the sunset’s glow.

The palace corridors were silent, as if no banquet had taken place. The maid crossed the red-lit corridor without a sound.

It was the movement of someone properly trained.

“This is the place.”

Suddenly stopping in the middle of the corridor, the maid touched the wall. To my astonishment, the wall parted like a curtain, revealing a garden filled with the scent of grass.

Someone had likely hidden this garden with exquisite magical skill.

“From here, only the two of you may enter.”

The maid bowed to us again.

“Thank you for guiding us.”

Huireok greeted the maid and reached out his hand to me. I took his hand and entered the garden.

Chirp chirp. Rustle.

The lush garden was green and slightly warm, as if caught between late spring and early summer.

But for some reason, there was a faint scent of the winter wind I recognized.

“Baeksan?”

“You recognize it?”

Unintentionally murmuring, Huireok smiled with narrowed eyes.

“This is where my brother and I lived until we were four. Father himself set up the barrier here.”

That explained the familiar scent.

If the twins grew up here, the slightly warmer temperature made sense.

Just as I used to tumble around in heated rooms as a child, Baeksan created an environment safe from colds for his children.

“You must hold my hand tightly. From the entrance to the nearby pavilion, no one but our family can pass through.”

“Then I absolutely cannot let go.”

Clinging to his arm, Huireok lifted me up, saying it was even better this way. I couldn’t take my eyes off his face so close.

His face, bathed in sunset, looked dreamlike.

Unconsciously, I held his cheek and slowly lowered my head.

“Are we setting up a bridal room here?”

A clear, crisp voice snapped me back to attention.

I turned to see the Crown Prince, dressed casually, standing slightly askew.

Startled, I tried to get down from Huireok’s arms, but my fiancé, for some reason, did not let me.

“No need for formalities.”

“Huh? But…”

“As long as nothing progresses beyond this.”

The Crown Prince said he didn’t want to witness a display of familial affection, and my face flushed.

I had to tap Huireok’s shoulder repeatedly before I could finally touch the ground.

We moved into the pavilion to speak properly. Here, even if separated from Huireok, we wouldn’t be bounced out by the barrier.

I sat down, feeling relieved.

“Phew.”

Sinking into the chair, I felt alive again.

The Crown Prince, likely tired from the banquet as well, slouched in the chair.

Shimmer. His blue hair cascaded like a waterfall.

The expression of someone annoyed with all the world—his demeanor exactly matched my future father-in-law’s usual manner!

“Did you just think I look like my father?”

“Gasp.”

“Everyone who knows my biological father makes the same face as you, future sister-in-law.”

So it wasn’t just me!

“What do you think, brother?”

“Feels like a head of a family wearing the emperor’s skin.”

“Haha!”

Huireok complained that their laughter was exactly the same.

The two seemed like surprisingly ordinary brothers, even if their faces weren’t similar.

“So, why did you call us separately?”

“I wanted to meet the future sister-in-law personally. Your scent and aura are unusual.”

The Crown Prince, previously slouched, now leaned on the table to speak. I realized he had maintained some formality at the banquet.

“My scent and aura?”

“Are you, future sister-in-law, perhaps a Hetae?”

“….”

“Judging by your expression, I guessed correctly.”

I had forgotten that dragons could recognize Hetae.

When I laughed in disbelief, the Crown Prince comforted me.

“I’ll place a seal later, so don’t worry about the secret leaking.”

“Please, I insist.”

Too many people already knew my identity. Including the Crown Prince, there were about sixteen.

If more people found out, everyone would know I was Hetae.

“Now to the main point.”

“You’re still impatient,” the Crown Prince clicked his tongue and explained why he had called me.

Even unofficially, Huireok was a member of the royal family, and I was to become the emperor’s daughter-in-law, so there were a few things I needed to know.

“First, the line of succession.”

Starting with something intense, he emphasized that it was necessary.

“If, for any reason, I cannot maintain the Crown Prince position, your brother will ascend above me.”

My mouth fell open in shock.

Looking quickly at Huireok, he gave a wry smile—he seemed to have already known.

“Can I refuse?”

“Do you think you could?”

“No…”

A groan escaped involuntarily.

Even without Huireok, Baek family had successors, but the royal family did not.

The emperor’s offspring were only the twins.

If anything happened to the man before me, the only successor would be my fiancé.