Chapter 128
“Your Highness, won’t you have a little more?”
At Eunso’s urging, Danseol shook her head and set down her spoon.
“I’m full.”
“But you’ve barely eaten….”
More than half of the rice and side dishes remained. After Gyeom left, Danseol’s appetite had gradually diminished, and now it had come to this.
“I suppose staying cooped up in Chwiwoljeon and not moving around much has dulled my appetite.”
“Then shall I bring some light refreshments to have with tea?”
Danseol shook her head.
“More importantly, is there still no word from His Majesty?”
“No, we haven’t heard anything yet.”
“…I see.”
At Eunso’s words, Danseol’s shoulders slumped. It had been about a week since Gyeom departed, yet she had received no news about him at all.
‘Nothing has happened to him… right?’
Seoju lay at the far western edge, its terrain rugged. Gyeom had likely only just arrived there by now, but Danseol could not help worrying.
What if he suffered a fall from his horse on the treacherous roads?
What if he encountered bandits and was put through hardship?
Until the sun set, Danseol would sit by the window, endlessly longing for Gyeom—this had become her daily routine.
“Your Highness, the weather is especially lovely today. How about taking a walk?”
“Well….”
“Or perhaps you could do some embroidery for the first time in a while? Flowers stitched to suit the spring would be quite beautiful….”
“It doesn’t stir my interest.”
Danseol shook her head, her face showing that she had lost interest in everything.
‘I’m worried she might fall ill at this rate.’
Serving Danseol, Eunso had never seen her so listless and dispirited.
Whether reading books, embroidering, or going to the Office of Royal Physicians to study medical texts, Danseol had always lived her days busily. Yet now she had let go of everything and did nothing but stare out the window—how could Eunso not worry?
Rolling her eyes as she pondered what might lift Danseol’s spirits, Eunso finally spoke.
“Then how about visiting the Office of Royal Physicians after a long while?”
“The Office of Royal Physicians?”
When Danseol showed interest for the first time, Eunso seized the opportunity and pressed on eagerly.
“Yes. I heard that every spring, new medicinal ingredients are brought in. How about going to get some fresh air and have a look at them?”
It was true that new herbs arrived in spring, though Eunso did not know exactly when. Still, she hoped that even this might help her mistress regain some vitality.
“Let’s do that.”
“Yes! I’ll prepare for the outing right away!”
At the prospect of Danseol finally leaving Chwiwoljeon, Eunso bustled about excitedly.
“Wow, so many flowers have bloomed in just a week.”
“Indeed.”
As Eunso said, all manner of spring flowers were in full bloom, painting the world in vibrant colors. The breeze carried floral scents, and butterflies flitted among the blossoms, drawn by their fragrance.
It truly felt like spring had arrived.
“But it’s far too quiet.”
“Spring is naturally calm. The winds are gentle, and the animals that slept through winter are only just beginning to stir. I find this peacefulness of spring quite lovely.”
“Even so, it’s too quiet.”
Like Eunso, Danseol loved the unique tranquility of spring. Yet today, that peace felt ominous to her, like the stillness before a storm.
And Gyeom’s absence weighed on her all the more.
Though the palace was more splendid than ever with blooming flowers, to Danseol it felt desolate.
“Perhaps you feel that way because your heart is lonely.”
“Perhaps….”
“Yes. If you go to the Office of Royal Physicians, look around, and talk with Elder Suui, you’ll feel better.”
Even with Eunso’s bright chatter, Danseol could not easily shake her unease.
“Your Highness, you’ve come.”
Upon hearing that Danseol had arrived, Seorang hurried out.
“We were worried when we heard you’d been staying only in Chwiwoljeon.”
“And so I came here today. As you can see, I’m fine.”
“His Majesty will return safely.”
At Seorang’s reassurance, Danseol smiled and nodded. With both Eunso and Seorang making such a fuss, Danseol realized just how deeply despondent she had been.
It made her realize anew that Gyeom had become an indispensable presence in her life.
“I heard that new medicinal ingredients arrive in spring. May I take a look?”
“Ah, of course. But before that….”
After glancing around, Seorang leaned in and whispered softly so only Danseol could hear.
“There’s something I wish to show you first.”
At his secretive whisper, Danseol’s eyes widened.
Whatever Seorang wished to show her was surely related to the dye used for tattoos.
“This is smoother than I expected.”
Seeing Seoju in the distance amid the rugged terrain, Gyeom muttered to himself. Mounted on his horse, he surveyed the steep mountains of bare rock and the low vegetation stunted by the dry climate.
“Indeed. We expected the journey to be difficult since we heard a rebellion had broken out, but it feels no different from usual.”
At his aide’s words, Gyeom nodded. Their heavy armament felt almost excessive given how peaceful the road to Seoju had been.
They had not encountered a single armed group, not even the bandits common in the west. In fact, the journey was so uneventful it was nearly boring enough to induce yawns.
“Something feels off.”
“Could it be that Seoju Fortress has already fallen…?”
It was not an impossible thought. This region, with its harsh terrain, was nearly isolated from the rest.
If the rebellion had escalated to a full uprising, such a closed-off geography could just as easily become a cause of self-destruction.
If that were the case, the troops he had brought might not be enough to suppress it, since Gyeom had taken only a minimal force to maintain mobility.
“We should hurry.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Gyeom urged his horse onward toward Seoju.
“What’s this? Has a war broken out?”
“But the city gates look far too orderly for that.”
“Ah! Then perhaps this is a guard force His Majesty has sent down to protect Seoju!”
The people of Seoju whispered among themselves at the sight of Gyeom and his fully armed troops. Their curious gazes and excited voices made it seem as though they had come out to enjoy a spectacle.
It was strange.
Not only the aide but even the soldiers looked around uneasily, sensing something amiss. Yet nowhere could they find signs of rebellion.
The marketplace rang with merchants’ cries, and women bustled about buying side dishes.
No matter how closely one looked, it was nothing more than a peaceful daily scene.
“We’ll go to Seoju Fortress and meet the governor.”
News of Gyeom’s arrival threw the fortress into turmoil. The sudden appearance of the emperor left the governor flustered.
“Your Majesty! It is an honor that you would personally visit such a humble place.”
The governor bowed repeatedly as he guided Gyeom inside. As Gyeom entered the fortress, he observed his surroundings, but like the streets, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
The governor had not even known of Gyeom’s arrival.
“It seems Your Majesty merely stopped by while passing through. Had we known in advance, we would have prepared properly….”
“I came to suppress a rebellion.”
“A rebellion? Then it must have occurred in another region. If needed, we can send troops as well—”
“No, in Seoju.”
At Gyeom’s words, the governor looked startled.
“A rebellion in Seoju?”
His face showed that this was the first he had heard of such a thing. Gyeom took a letter from his robes and handed it over.
“This is a dispatch I received via courier.”
The governor accepted the letter and unfolded it. As he read, his expression shifted again and again.
By the time he finished, his face had gone pale.
“There has been no rebellion in Seoju for nearly a year. As you can see, everything is peaceful even now.”
At the governor’s words, Gyeom’s expression hardened.
“It seems someone has deceived Your Majesty.”
