SMHER 08

8. Ripples in the Heart

From the moment he first appeared, the Crown Prince Wan was unmistakably a striking man.

His dark brows framed sharp, resolute eyes; a high nose and lively lips completed his refined features. His tall, well-trained body suggested discipline and strength. An aura of nobility and command surrounded him.

As he strode toward her with long, purposeful steps, Rejin inhaled without meaning to. Though she merely stood still, her heart raced as if trying to escape.

“Ah, Crown Prince. What brings you here?”

Princess Jeonghye noticed Wan first and greeted him.

“That is what I should ask. Why are the royal guards here?”

Wan already understood the situation but feigned ignorance as he addressed the princess.

“W-we had a minor accident,” she replied, her voice shrinking as if expecting reprimand.

Wan smiled faintly at her nervousness.

“So you manage to bring trouble wherever you go.”

Though the words sounded harsh, his expression had softened, making Jeonghye blink in confusion. It was as if she had misread him entirely—her older brother, usually as stiff and unyielding as stone, was smiling.

“Um… pardon me, but are you unwell?” she blurted.

“What do you mean?”

Wan’s brow twitched at the sudden question, and Jeonghye hurried to correct herself.

“Oh—nothing. I spoke out of turn.”

Something in the atmosphere had changed. Jeonghye tilted her head, wondering what could have altered her brother—always so rigid and precise—yet no matter how much she thought, she could not find the answer.

While Jeonghye and Wan conversed, Juae and Miyoung, standing nearby, schemed about how to win his favor.

After much deliberation, they straightened their clothes and put on bright, flattering smiles before stepping forward.

“Crown Prince, it is an honor—!”

But as Juae began her greeting in the sweetest voice she could muster, she noticed Wan’s gaze fixed on Rejin’s face. She stopped mid-sentence.

He had not even heard her. Worse, it was as though her presence meant nothing.

The silent exchange of glances between Wan and Rejin irritated her.

No one had ever ignored her so openly. She was unaccustomed to such treatment, yet as the Crown Prince was involved, she could say nothing.

Feeling utterly dismissed, Juae bit her lip. Next to her, Miyoung interrupted without tact.

“Oh, Your Highness! I am Miyoung of the House of Jang, daughter of the Grand Secretary. As a companion of the princess, I have the honor of meeting you.”

“Is that so?”

That brief reply was all she received. Realizing the mood, Miyoung’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger.

Rejin, feeling Wan’s intense gaze, bowed respectfully, but nothing more. Despite the heat of his look, Wan offered no further words.

“Keep the surroundings orderly and ensure no unnecessary rumors spread within the palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness. We will obey your orders.”

Wan finally addressed the head of the royal guards instead.

Because he had not treated Rejin warmly, Juae forced herself to swallow her humiliation. Yet the bitterness inside her remained.

She sensed something in Wan’s attention toward Rejin—a subtle interest—and it only deepened her resentment.

Later

After returning home, Juae could no longer contain her anger. She flung off her shoes in frustration, sending them skidding across the courtyard. A servant hurriedly retrieved them, terrified.

“Go and fetch Boksoon.”

The servant hesitated. “B-Boksoon is out on an errand… Is something the matter?”

“Do as I say! Why so many questions?”

Juae kicked the shoes away again, her face twisted in rage. The servant, pale with fear, bowed deeply and retrieved them.

“I—I apologize. I will bring her at once.”

Juae’s appearance, once carefully groomed that morning, now looked disheveled. The servant, knowing Boksoon had helped with her styling, trembled with a bad feeling.

But suddenly Juae changed her mind.

“No. I have no time for this. I must see Grandfather. Has he returned from the court?”

The servant quickly answered, fearing another outburst.

“He returned a short while ago and is in his room.”

“Good. Tell him I wish to see him.”

Juae’s eyes glinted harshly as she slipped her shoes back on.

She was the sole granddaughter of Gwak Ji-un, the powerful statesman whose influence was said to shake the heavens. Though most feared him, Juae had grown up sitting on his knee and never truly felt afraid.

Instead, she often coaxed him into granting her wishes. No matter what she asked, he had never refused. Perhaps that was why she had become so spoiled, acting as though the world belonged to her.

“Grandfather, it is Juae.”

“Come in.”

As soon as she entered, Juae lowered her shoulders and adopted a pitiful expression.

As expected—

“Why do you look like that? What happened?”

Ji-un responded exactly as she hoped.

“I went to the palace today,” she began, her voice trembling with feigned sorrow.

She told him a story filled only with her grievances, omitting any fault of her own and blaming Rejin for everything.

She even forced tears, dabbing at her eyes with her sleeve. Her performance seemed fragile and tragic.

“Grandfather, I suffered such humiliation. How can I return to the palace and face the princess—or the Crown Prince? It was all because that daughter of the Ministry of War’s family interfered. If only she had not stepped forward, I would not have been shamed…”

Though she spoke at length, Ji-un’s reaction was lukewarm.

Juae noticed the hard line of his expression and inwardly sensed something was wrong, yet she pressed on.

“Will you do nothing while I am treated so poorly? Are you going to watch in silence?”

“And what would you have me do?”

“Teach that girl a lesson. It would be best if she were removed from the princess’s entourage.”

Ji-un’s expression turned icy.

“Absurd.”

His blunt rejection startled Juae, making her flinch.

“Do you think the affairs of the palace can be swayed by your feelings? Have you forgotten how to act your age? I do not wish to hear more. Go and reflect.”

“B-but—!”

Juae tried to protest, but Ji-un’s gaze was severe. She swallowed her words.

“Very well. I will withdraw.”

This could not be happening. Why was everyone so cold to her? Did they believe she would simply accept such treatment?

Grinding her teeth, she left the room, her eyes burning with anger.

Ji-un watched her go with a complicated expression, rubbing his weary face. Though he had spoken sternly, it pained him to see his granddaughter distressed.

‘It matters little what happens to others, but the family of the Ministry of War must not be disturbed.’

There was no reason to stir trouble and create complications. Ji-un muttered to himself, though a flicker of discomfort crossed his face.

Soon his expression hardened once more—becoming that of the formidable statesman, the strategist who pursued success without hesitation.

Later

“Miss, is something wrong? You look troubled.”

As soon as Rejin returned home, Bonghee followed her.

“No. It’s nothing.”

Though she answered lightly, Rejin felt uneasy thoughts trailing behind her, quickening her steps.

“It doesn’t seem like nothing.”

Bonghee kept pace, refusing to be left behind.

“It really is nothing.”

Rejin waved her hands, trying to push her away, then hurried into her room and shut the door.

Bonghee, unable to follow, stood outside and tilted her head.

“How strange. Her face was all flushed, like someone in love… Oh, what nonsense.”

She scolded herself for such foolish thoughts.

“She must be tired from visiting the palace. I should make some of her favorite sweet rice cakes.”

Without overthinking, Bonghee busied herself.

Meanwhile, inside her room, Rejin collapsed to the floor, her heart still pounding.

Wan’s gaze—the way he had looked at her—replayed in her mind as vividly as if he stood before her. Her heart thrashed like a storm.

Why had she been unable to look away? Why did she want to keep staring at him?

She sighed.

It was the first time she had experienced such turmoil, and she had no idea how to resolve it.

‘This is nonsense!’

Imagining Wan smiling at her, Rejin stiffened. Her face burned even hotter, and she fanned herself with her hands.

‘Something must be wrong. Perhaps I am ill.’

She worried that such unsteady thoughts were a sign of sickness and sighed again.

Meanwhile

In the Eastern Palace, Wan sat before his desk, staring at the corpse of a hornet he had placed there.

Seeing the insect reminded him of Rejin. She was a peculiar woman—who would think to kill a hornet with chopsticks? The more he considered it, the more it amused him.

Since being named Crown Prince at nine years old, Wan had been guided by strict discipline. His unwavering righteousness often made the air around him feel heavy.

Yet lately, his behavior had become unpredictable.

Today he had smiled while examining the hornet’s body—an act that, if witnessed, would surely have been deemed madness.

Sensing the worried gaze of the eunuch Hong, Wan asked,
“Hong, are you afraid of hornets?”

“Hornets, Your Highness? They are not pleasant creatures.”

“If you were in my place, would you try to catch one with chopsticks?”

“Chopsticks? I would have simply run away.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

I wonder what expression she had when she did it. Thinking about it made him smile.

Seeing that smile, Hong realized something.

A woman had stirred a change in Wan’s heart—created ripples on the still surface of water.