Chapter 4 …
Conspiracy
The man slightly raised his long brows and looked at Wolryeong with eyes devoid of warmth. A faint crease formed between his brows, suggesting that her frail appearance had come as an unexpected sight. On his coldly handsome face, a subtle smile appeared.
Sim Ungeum watched the two of them with wide eyes, her gaze moving back and forth. As Gyeongchang’s eyes lingered on Wolryeong, something hot surged up from inside her.
What’s so good about that skinny skeleton? Before, she at least looked delicate enough to pity, but now she’s just ugly and pathetic.
Ungeum forced herself to deny Wolryeong’s changed beauty and stepped closer to Gyeongchang. The distance between them was now less than a handspan. Turning toward Wolryeong, she smiled gently.
“Sister, the Prince has come, yet you’re still lying there reading a book? Shouldn’t you get up and greet him?”
After lightly scolding Wolryeong, Ungeum turned to Gyeongchang and smiled as if she felt truly embarrassed. Contrary to the burning jealousy in her heart, her outward appearance remained calm and gentle.
“My elder sister has always had a rather free-spirited personality. I hope Your Highness will kindly understand.”
Free-spirited? Today’s concept was supposed to be pure, delicate, and intelligent. I prepared so carefully, and she tears it down with a single sentence?
Leaning against a pillow dyed an elegant pale blue, Wolryeong widened her eyes as if startled and looked at Ungeum. Soon she lowered her gaze toward Gyeongchang and spoke softly.
“My body has not yet fully recovered, so please forgive me for greeting a guest while lying down. My sister is not wrong.”
She slightly raised her eyelashes and smiled faintly.
“Please be understanding, Your Highness. In my current condition, even getting up and walking is difficult. I truly apologize.”
The soft voice of a delicate beauty, her lashes trembling as she spoke, would have already melted the hearts of most men. But Ungeum, who despised Wolryeong, failed to notice anything and instead felt relieved.
Still an idiot, Sim Wolryeong.
Turning to Gyeongchang, she said,
“My sister is not well, so I will accompany Your Highness in her stead so you will not feel bored.”
Wolryeong almost burst into laughter at Ungeum’s desperate behavior. However, she hid her mockery behind a gentle smile and played along.
“Sister, I have troubled you with extra work. Your Highness, I lack the strength to properly attend to you. Even if my sister may be somewhat lacking, I ask that you look upon her generously.”
Gyeongchang watched the sisters’ silent battle with great interest. He had only come because he had no choice—yet who would have expected the visit to become so entertaining?
This marriage had been arranged by imperial decree, so both the Prince’s household and the Sim family found it difficult to break it off.
Thus the wedding had been postponed again and again. He had only come today for a brief, formal visit—but unexpectedly, he had witnessed a very interesting scene.
He had not missed the faint sneer that passed through Wolryeong’s eyes. Though the sisters appeared perfectly cordial on the surface, something about them struck him as strange.
He suddenly felt reluctant to leave this amusing situation.
Following his naturally willful temperament, Go Gyeongchang plopped down onto the bed where Wolryeong lay. Leaning forward, he brought his face close to hers. Their faces were now almost touching.
“I came specially to see you today. How could I simply leave? Surely you did not wish to see me?”
Their breaths mingled in the air.
Wolryeong, leaning against the pillow, had nowhere to escape. His warm breath brushed against her cheek.
When such a handsome man looks at someone like that, what woman wouldn’t feel her heart race—… Wait, what am I thinking?
Wolryeong startled herself with the thought.
But she was no ordinary person. Years of living as an assassin had trained her to remain colder and calmer than most.
Looking quietly into Gyeongchang’s eyes, she smiled with a shy gentleness.
“I feel terribly sorry to Your Highness. What kind of hospitality is this? It would be better if my younger sister attended to you instead.”
Watching Gyeongchang’s actions, Sim Ungeum’s face turned pale. Anxiety filled her heart.
Surely he doesn’t actually like this wretched-looking Sim Wolryeong…?
Only after hearing Wolryeong’s words did Ungeum feel somewhat relieved. Smiling again, she said,
“That’s right. Mother has already prepared wine and food. Your Highness, please honor us with your presence.”
Gyeongchang stared intently at Wolryeong. She remained completely calm, without the slightest sign of agitation. It was obvious she was only smiling to deal with him politely.
Though he was not particularly vain about his looks, Go Gyeongchang was still called the most handsome man in the world. Yet even with him leaning this close, she remained so composed.
That pricked his pride.
Slowly straightening his back, he looked at the woman sitting on the bed with curiosity. Now that he thought about it, she was quite different from the rumors.
They say she’s timid, weak, and incompetent… Is that really true?
He began to feel she was not such an easy opponent.
“It’s fine. I will stay here with my future princess.”
He firmly rejected Ungeum’s suggestion and looked at Wolryeong.
“I heard you had suffered a serious illness. I didn’t realize it had been this severe. I have been busy with official matters and could not visit. Please do not resent me.”
Wolryeong was somewhat surprised.
Wasn’t he supposed to be as cold and ruthless as the grim reaper? Good heavens… the man in front of me is quite the actor.
“Of course official duties come first. Hearing Your Highness say so only makes me feel more apologetic.”
She forced a smile as she looked at him.
Inside, however, she was thinking only about how to drive this man away. In this world, she had no desire to marry him—or to form any relationship with him. In fact, she had no desire to marry anyone at all.
If Sim Ungeum liked him so much, she could simply hand him over.
“There is no need for that. Why not invite the Madam here so we may talk together?”
Gyeongchang turned to Ungeum.
“Miss Ungeum, what do you think of my suggestion?”
Before he even finished speaking, Ungeum answered immediately.
“I will go bring Mother right away.”
As soon as she stepped out of Cheonyeongeo Hall, a dark cloud fell over her face.
She had to get Gyeongchang away from here somehow. Otherwise, the plan could not be carried out.
It was thanks to her mother that Gyeongchang—who had never once visited since the engagement was decided—had come to see Sim Wolryeong today. Her mother had persuaded him through her father.
She absolutely could not miss this chance.
If she could grow closer to him, the position of princess would no longer belong to Wolryeong.
Having decided this, Ungeum chose Wolryeong as the sacrifice. Even if Gyeongchang later felt resentment, it would be directed at Sim Wolryeong—not at herself, who had been innocently dragged into it.
Even if something happens while he eats at Wolryeong’s residence, it has nothing to do with me.
Thinking this, Ungeum felt relieved.
She hurried off to find her mother, determined to adjust the plan and seize this opportunity.
Later
“This is called the Dragon-Phoenix Wine Flask. It can hold two different wines at once.”
Xiao Mingxue handed a delicately carved white-jade wine flask to Sim Ungeum. The slender shape resembled the waist of a beauty grasped in one hand. A soft glow flowed along its curves like water.
“If you simply twist the lid slightly, the wine inside changes. Isn’t it fascinating?”
Xiao Mingxue, Ungeum’s birth mother, remained as beautiful as ever. Even though the two children she had given birth to were now grown adults, time had not left a single wrinkle on her face. Her elegance remained radiant as ever.
Ungeum had inherited her mother’s beauty, appearing graceful and refined.
With excitement in her voice, she said,
“I’ve only heard about such wine flasks before. This is my first time seeing one! I had no idea Mother possessed such a treasure.”
She examined the flask from every angle in amazement.
“Please help me marry Prince Chungsin with this.”
Xiao Mingxue smiled warmly at her daughter.
“Of course. Haven’t I always told you? If there’s something you want, I’ll make sure you get it.”
Seeing her beautiful mother nod gently, Ungeum’s heart swelled as if she were about to marry Gyeongchang at once. Overwhelmed with joy, she threw her arms around Xiao Mingxue.
“Thank you, Mother! Thank you! Then everything is ready now, right?”
“Do not worry. There is no way a plan of mine could fail.”
With a confident smile, Xiao Mingxue lightly tapped her beloved daughter’s forehead.
“Whatever you desire, you will have it, my child. Now go and wait.”
Ungeum left the room with a bright smile.
Watching her daughter’s retreating figure, Xiao Mingxue’s lips curled into a cold smile as she murmured to herself.
Jeongram… that lowly woman. Even in death, leaving her daughter behind to hold me back.
The noblewoman scratched irritably at her freshly painted nails.
But you are dead, and I survived. Your daughter is now in my hands.
Thinking of Wolryeong’s deceased mother, Xiao Mingxue felt a strange sense of victory.
When you were alive, I wondered how long you would keep that arrogant nose in the air. But your daughter is different. I raised her to be a timid coward.
“Hehe.”
She covered the smile on her lips with her soft white hand. Then suddenly she remembered the emperor’s decree.
That foolish emperor was so wary of Prince Chungsin’s growing power that he even tried to stop the marriage…
Her hand, which had been covering her smile, now gripped the silk folds of her skirt tightly.
Ha! Did he think I would move so easily at his command? I will never allow Wolryeong to enjoy power in the Prince’s household. No, not even a little. The bride in this marriage must be my daughter, Ungeum.
