SMHER 04

4. An Awkward Reunion

“Aaaah!”

A sudden scream rang out. Rejin reflexively reached out and caught the flying ball.

‘Oh no… damn, I’m screwed.’

For a moment, Rejin blinked in confusion. Who in the world catches a ball with bare hands like that?

As if echoing Rejin’s thoughts, an uneasy murmur spread through the group.

‘I just wanted to stay quiet and disappear…’

She exhaled deeply, staring at the ball in her hand, unsure what to do with it.

“Are you all right?”

A deep voice then reached her, sounding like a lifeline dropped from the heavens. Rejin turned toward the source.

Embroidered upon a blue dragon robe was a golden dragon gazing back at her.

‘Damn it!’

Her brows furrowed even more. It was obvious at a glance that this man held a noble and exalted position—one who would one day rule this country. He was approaching Rejin.

His brows, drawn as if with a fine brush, and his straight nose caught the sunlight in a brilliant sheen. For a moment, Rejin stared in a daze—until the movement of his lips jolted her back to reality.

“I-I’m fine.”

‘No, wait… saying I’m fine might be wrong?’

Her eyes wavered anxiously. It suddenly seemed strange that a delicate young woman could catch a flying ball and remain unhurt.

“Ouch.”

She let out an awkward groan—something she had never done in her life—and dropped the ball.

Wan suppressed the faint urge to laugh at her strangely stiff movements. If he laughed now, he might be accused of mocking a woman in distress.

But how unnatural it was. Every movement, every glance of hers, drew his attention.

“Allow me to check.”

That was why. A man who rarely took interest in others had decided to approach and ensure her safety.

Rejin flinched as Wan neared and quickly hid her hands behind her back.

‘No way. I absolutely can’t show them.’

Knowing that her hands were unlike those of ordinary noble ladies, she stubbornly refused to reveal them. But in pulling her hands away, she inadvertently moved too close to him.

Their faces were now alarmingly near.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart raced. Heat surged through her, and her face flushed. The eyes that had briefly met his darted away, unable to settle.

Why does he have to be so handsome…!

No, that wasn’t the point. Rejin quickly composed herself and straightened her posture.

Wan, seeing her sudden defensive stance, didn’t know what to do. He had thought she might have caught the ball properly after all—but perhaps he was mistaken.

Gazing at her hunched shoulders, he felt as if he had become some kind of brute and took a step back.

So that was it. He must have frightened the delicate woman.

“Are you truly all right?”

He asked again, concern in his voice.

Her clear eyes blinked before she nodded once more.

“I-I’m fine.”

Her speech was somewhat rough for an elegant young lady, but Wan could not dwell on it. His gaze kept returning to her expressive eyes.

“That is a relief.”

Muttering to himself, Wan finally looked around. All eyes were on the two of them.

“Since there seems to be no further issue, it would be best to disperse.”

Following Wan’s order, his attendant moved to disperse the crowd. The nobles surrounded Rejin, asking if she was hurt. She forced a smile and waved them off.

‘Hah, a spirited young lady.’

A faint smile escaped Wan’s lips. But that was all. He had far too many matters to attend to.

Leaving the brief commotion behind, he headed toward the main hall with heavy steps.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

As always, the deep, rigid voice made Wan feel as though his chest tightened before he even crossed the threshold.

“Father, you summoned me?”

He bowed respectfully, expressionless. His father, King Wonjong, was the tenth son among twelve brothers. The fact that he had seized the throne despite not being the crown prince spoke volumes about his character and ambition.

‘It seems this isn’t a private audience.’

Beside the king stood Left State Councilor Gwak Ji-un—a man of smooth words and political cunning.

Wan disliked Ji-un’s presence but showed no sign of it and lowered his head.

“Hm, you are here. I was speaking with the councilor.”

The king looked at him with interest.

“The councilor was praising you.”

Wan stared at Ji-un with an unreadable expression. Praise from a man who never spoke words that didn’t benefit him hardly seemed genuine. Something about this felt wrong.

“So he did not speak falsely. It is well known that the Crown Prince’s learning and insight are second to none.”

“I am honored.”

What was he really trying to say? Wan suppressed his rising suspicion and maintained his formal demeanor.

“In fact, the councilor suggested something. How about assigning you to the task of suppressing the bandits causing trouble in the capital?”

“Pardon?”

Wan looked up in surprise.

“You know—the so-called ‘Crimson Plum Blossom.’ A band of thieves who strike and vanish. If this continues, the discipline of the military will suffer. Even skilled investigators have failed to catch them, and I lie awake at night worrying about the future of Joseon.”

Ji-un clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Crown Prince, you must have heard of the thief? The one they call Hongmaehwa.”

It was impossible not to know. The so-called “righteous thief” who robbed only the homes of corrupt officials and nobles.

Wan steadied his thoughts and replied.

“Of course I am aware.”

“Then there is no need for a lengthy explanation.”

The king’s lips curved slightly. Wan felt a chill run through him. Though it sounded like praise, it was clearly a test.

Assigning him a case that countless investigators had failed to solve—if he succeeded, it would be celebrated, but if he failed, they could claim incompetence and control him. Either way, they lost nothing.

“From this moment, the investigation of the thief known as Hongmaehwa shall be entrusted to the Crown Prince. Fulfill your duty.”

Wan hesitated. Accepting immediately felt like walking into the center of a carefully prepared chessboard.

Seeing his silence, the king’s brows twitched.

“I shall devote myself fully.”

The answer came a moment later.

He did not want to agree, but he had no choice. He lacked the power to disobey an imperial command.

“Hahaha! With the Crown Prince handling the case, I feel greatly relieved,” Ji-un laughed, his eyes gleaming like a serpent.

“Are you certain that is wise?”

Wan’s pointed remark made Ji-un’s smile falter.

“I hope to ease your worries by solving the case—but I fear I might become a burden.”

Wan met Ji-un’s gaze with a composed smile.

“Haha! Of course you would. I wondered what you meant. I look forward to your achievements, Your Highness.”

‘Damn old fox.’

Moments later, outside the main hall, Wan massaged his stiff neck with a sigh. That man’s tongue must be possessed by a serpent.

He felt exhausted. But now that the situation had changed, he could not simply stand idle and become a pawn on the board.

With a sharpened gaze, he departed toward his next destination.

Under the rustle of insects and the faint shimmer of moonlight, Rejin swung her wooden sword with force.

‘I must be crazy. Absolutely crazy.’

The thoughts she tried to shake away kept returning. She had sworn countless times that she would quietly stay in the palace and avoid drawing attention. Yet on the very first day, she had become the center of it.

But there was a bigger problem.

‘Are you all right?’

His eyes—looking directly at hers—would not leave her mind. No matter how she tried, the memory of him approaching and asking about her well-being kept resurfacing.

Damn it. Stop thinking about it!

Trembling, she intensified her training.

“Rejin.”

A calm but firm voice called her name.

“Are you here again?”

Her father, Huibo, watched her late-night training with worry.

“Ah, Father.”

Rejin quickly lowered her sword, as if caught doing something wrong.

“I heard there was a minor incident at the palace?”

Huibo’s tone carried concern, and Rejin found it hard to respond.

“Stay away from the palace for a while.”

“What? That… that can’t be! I can’t just stop going.”

This place held her sweat and tears. It was where she cleared her mind and steadied her heart. It was everything to her.

Huibo sighed, having anticipated her reaction. He had taught his daughter martial arts so she could protect herself—but had it been the wrong choice?

In this land, men and women had strict roles. He feared his daughter would be seen as an oddity.

Thus, he made up his mind.

“You cannot live like this forever. It is time to put down the sword. I will find you a good marriage match. From now on, you must be modest and focus on the duties of a woman.”

“Father!”

Hoping to soften her heart, Huibo turned away from her desperate call. He believed this was for her own good.

For a long time, Rejin stared at the place where he had disappeared, then sighed and trudged toward her quarters.

Even as she changed clothes, she let out countless sighs.

Sleep would not come easily that night. Sitting on the wooden veranda, she gazed at the night sky.

Her chest felt tight—bound by the rules and expectations that clung to her like chains. Things she could not resist, no matter how hard she tried.

‘It might not work this time.’

Seeing the determination in Huibo’s face, Rejin sighed again. And the thought of marriage…

To wed a man she did not even know and spend her life as a housewife made her chest tighten.

‘Ugh, it’s suffocating.’

When the insects chirped once more, Rejin jumped up as if shaking off unpleasant thoughts.

She couldn’t stay like this. She needed to go somewhere and scream—just for a moment—so she could sleep.