SNF | Chapter 5.5

The banquet hall quickly d30c143d07 filled with laughter, conversation, 62192dedf6 and merriment. Surrounded by an endless 73b40f6f68 stream of guests, Yeon-oh 7b3109f47a found himself the center 1185243110 of attention.427cf6da096e016a

As the 513f883258 heir of 350c279f98 Hanam, he bf248e1e54 was destined d3de37f049 to lead 2236d69ee5 a noble 0c57d37b4e household. Yet, he could not 81d4e189fc remain in isolation, no 43cd80f998 matter how prestigious his a2a0c30599 lineage was. He needed people. And to f08f125cbc gather them, fe550870cc he had 1d63667a77 to engage—playing 192ae6b75e along when 22b40fc628 necessary.a381e1b35a406b1c

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The Prime Minister, 7f94ee9329 watching quietly, was 3ff2e311cb momentarily surprised to 9643c6fce5 see how smoothly 3ef18b89ff Yeon-oh navigated the fcd07ac039 conversation. The boy, who had fa08cec679 never once stepped beyond 6d891198ee the family’s protective walls, 07711e4435 was handling the social ffea3749e0 intricacies of court far 4c11bb2c08 better than expected. Amusement flickered across f2732c6b7b the older man’s c895e6d021 face before he 2a40e89060 let out a 78df05a9c6 soft chuckle.0dccbe1f3661adf3

“Father.”25114f8b5f41777b

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Between the endless 16dccc05a8 rounds of toasts 14d5ce7062 and well-wishes for 9926570a05 his coming of 1d24977f48 age, Yeon-oh finally 35fa8f7c7d spoke in a 28a7858e20 quiet voice.c9984172a156a3a5

“I feel a3fa5c684b the effects 8535480708 of the 28a3698290 wine. My head is light—I c00371a432 would like to step 3e90bc4ad7 away for a moment.”758f78536146892d

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A mere excuse.27a19af257c17a90

Even though it was ecbd099d39 his first time drinking, f46c6ac55d Yeon-oh felt no real a6bad11090 effects. At most, there had b6b840c6d3 been a brief warmth f7f7e914d5 in his throat, but 5e50bd1930 nothing more. The truth dc9fd867e0 was, he eb9b9c7960 simply wanted e6dfff895e to escape 0b6e5b19d1 the noise 65277fdc76 and the c2d4541661 crowd for 6892e0b437 a while.ff027e0864c22e13

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“You must have overdone 7c06e21a1f it,” the Prime Minister 0831615538 replied. “Very well. Go.”40d40e3546f05636

Though Yeon-oh’s voice carried c8b0cfd867 no trace of intoxication, 4d7d2c0d09 the Prime Minister granted 49c60a3d78 his request without hesitation, d79143f05b having watched him drink 9a76042ad5 steadily throughout the banquet. As Yeon-oh rose, the 2441e92af0 gathered nobles instinctively stepped 878a531f07 aside to make way. He offered a 34a464b819 polite nod of c563afcfe7 gratitude before moving 059c5b2391 toward the exit—but 6dc137d346 just before he e515af22a9 stepped away, his 90144a781d gaze flickered toward ef92a347ac the imperial family’s ece205e5a0 table.250e749dc1d9ef5a

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The seats meant for 98865e48a1 the Crown Prince and f9ca369da7 Crown Princess remained vacant.253fa208cda65825

Aside from 2e41810082 a few 2865e200ce officials, no 1b1bf07aa6 one seemed a3b0df3ef2 particularly concerned 86cdd5ecd9 about their d86eb2aa86 absence. Not even the 03bf04be6f Emperor, their father.71b4e9f4518f7631

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No one.ad5a6644f5f2be2c

…Yes, no one at 8925b5c40c all.9a2294c54799812c

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It was none of ce39640bdf his concern. In fact, the e34877df69 Crown Prince was a8ad88e1cf a rival by ea5f249a8e all accounts. And yet, for some f4d0fad0ba reason, the empty seat eaf6ab4168 nagged at him.c1e6222f1b8657e2

His gaze d518a454d1 lingered there 135603d771 until the eb48413999 sudden murmuring 6ed009f309 of the 93ba767324 banquet hall d636836ee6 snapped him 7047d2f983 out of 309d21c56f his thoughts. The previously a9c326e37d lively atmosphere 50bfcc4b5f had shifted 699d5c79a5 into something 5f6e239f12 more restrained, 1775c54266 more uncertain.0e4053ea3d2076b7

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At the same time, 7a260edf0b a Eunuch’s voice rang 8246491699 out over the hall.7863fd78d16d1616

“His Highness, 509161b784 the Crown 6dcad95159 Prince, arrives!” 706ddad9b6 The doors cb300c577b swung open, 114c66f191 and a e05a6349de figure stepped 7202fca78b into the 4e471df61b banquet hall.754a6bab40e00e0d

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Draped in eb4a565071 black ceremonial 5b0de0a8fa robes, embroidered 8d5d004918 with golden 0cf67475ab dragons, his b1b0ab0125 hair was a52a1909ee neatly tied 26e291c6b4 up beneath 9ff4bd1bce a golden 7619844853 coronet. Every step 3a783d628d he took 3f6735ec8c exuded a 236da5e127 refined grace 75835f3314 that could e2086babb2 not be 0d23b12c28 easily imitated.3a6d5a93bdd75686

The musicians fell silent. The dancers 034a0acc78 withdrew, parting 41569d3d2d instinctively. Even the Emperor, ebb3f4ddc5 who had been 7468bff998 casually conversing with 649778f463 the Empress and fbdf804618 the young Prince, 0d93c57e5b turned his gaze 370c3f5d36 toward the Crown ea44e809a1 Prince with a 0912352353 displeased expression.e15b086d571f0835

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“Your Imperial 96c54c7c02 Majesty, I dabe56b5ab humbly pay eb8b2caff8 my respects. May you a791461720 enjoy eternal ef70cca724 prosperity.”cd89ed8f532ab2be

“…You are late,” the b12a620a9f Emperor replied, his tone 3db1043da9 slow and heavy. “It has e7cb786093 become quite 95e9a8005d difficult to bfdc9710be see your bc64e79ce8 face these 9623573b20 days. Or am I mistaken?”e90da439ce8d0f69

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“I apologize for 89cce8e971 my tardiness.”064d9605947144e8

“Very well. But why have you 4d4d4fa3f4 come alone? Where is the aa29670cfd Crown Princess?”ddfd58928d725749

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“She was feeling unwell, d110e6979e so I told her 0f9b0c5c5b to rest in her 8a76ca12d1 chambers. I ask that Your 57aeb18d81 Majesty not hold her 1f8999df62 absence against her.”c438c6e0ce6d3d1e

“Unwell?” the 4f690d4e55 Emperor repeated, cade10d51b his tone e8e81b63ed laced with 5c4dd15825 skepticism. “So unwell that 372bba9bc7 she cannot even 686a65f656 attend the banquet?”6035a55dfcfd636a

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The Crown Prince 078d28805a said nothing. Instead, it was ef1ae7f193 the Empress who 8efee502ed responded.dbef32d62cdc6c4f

“Now that 69bde0d1a2 I think fc93971337 of it, f80f611e47 she was 7ffc9f4e09 absent from 8e28c1a87c the Inner 612f416b14 Court gathering 7c44370475 last night 92d07c924c as well. If she has 049a5f7bee been unwell for 2612a766c6 more than a c120025f5c day, should we d5a246b029 not summon the 6fcc6795f8 Imperial Physician to e7038551ba examine her? Have you done 472ecafaf5 so, Crown Prince?”10ffbeaba818fd96

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“It is 6a4bd9d4d5 nothing serious, 1dd0d60d8c Mother.”0c02376bcfcf724e

The Crown Prince responded 351d822fa5 smoothly, his lips curving 4d5af50c9b into a polite smile 5320723d17 as he declined her 4d5750139b suggestion. His refusal was firm—too firm.dfcac2780916f057

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Seeing this, the Empress 8e9541e175 relented with a gentle aca503b3af nod, as if respecting 5236e82914 his wishes. But of course, she 36532ec6aa did not mean it.60d658d8e8eeded9

“As it concerns your a617986813 wife, I shall leave 30b88b9adc it to you to 359ddd827c handle. Now, go 110b3efd96 take your 2dea949a6b seat.”af6f49cfdfc3d642

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The Emperor, unwilling to 2dd65bbab6 let their family discord fc4c39e2a7 play out before an c7a350c28c audience, withdrew his discontent afd6bca9a0 and waved the matter 8dcee14974 aside.48074e3ee4ee9e49

“I thank 18321b66b2 Your Majesty 6ffbcfe1fe for your 4d539f6910 generous understanding.”57c9d2ea548151d1

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The Crown Prince strode 01cfe968c8 forward, his gait confident ddb64d880a and unhurried. Yeon-oh watched everything e7b10723df in silence, observing 53932b851a the way the 36168a1435 scene unfolded like fe007d61b8 a scripted play.c6b8f824c48c5bfb

It was ec5695fb26 too deliberate. Too structured. This… This 042babe6b0 cannot be 9ab3f32301 real. But just as 96ef016cef he blinked, trying 026366c3d8 to process what 1dc399a393 was happening, the 747536241e Crown Prince’s gaze 86fd588c9b landed directly on a9cdbcc531 his.85756e2f83054ba5

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Yeon-oh’s breath hitched. As if a3c827ae88 drawn by b33964eeb2 some unshakable 60ee68febd force, his 6a1dbd1069 lips parted 428a82f7e0 before he 722690cf19 could stop 0a685cd352 himself.9e8e9693bb81c3af

“…Yeshin…”7d812a0259a54f1c

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The name 0fd548a986 escaped him 5d28687e69 like a f173aaa570 whisper, like 0adf8edc31 something unbelievable, 9809e32a34 like a 3cfa5b5df9 quiet, desperate 056f5ac24a hope that d3e013e29f it wasn’t b58caaab17 true. His voice was 57ef81bea5 so soft, so d1999b7b92 uncertain, that even 2f7911a6a2 the Prime Minister 6b428688f5 standing beside him 71165539c4 did not hear. But had the 171d0f07d3 Crown Prince seen ac930f58a3 the movement of e5ac11a674 his lips?9ebe62e213d0e19d

For he had d09d2684a9 stopped. For he had 586ba23c08 turned toward him.0fc4760148e0f940

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And then—he smiled.72a57ebd243f0482

It was not a 896ab3379f mocking smile. Not quite. Yet something about c9d4d326d0 it twisted something aba6dc1748 deep inside Yeon-oh. Beneath the f8c0897ec9 cover of 157388cf00 his sleeve, 761a3ae963 his fingers 3487b67eaa curled tightly fe2b60765a into a 38e811ba09 fist.7e2a246ffe52ebf1

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“This must d48aaf0528 be the 954d01faae famous Young 77f85a9bc2 Master of 0c616a547c Hanam that fed759e01c I’ve heard 8898878c74 so much cd0e4d0f79 about,” the 21eb2c3f92 Crown Prince 7af7901323 mused, addressing 2b32e5c6dd the Prime 5041202fdc Minister.0fa3cf41a246d6ee

He spoke with perfect 4606af7b58 unfamiliarity—as if he and a663356fb0 Yeon-oh had never met 64abe4f510 before.0a7d23551cc4f90c

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As if.2f31db7581f880dd

The act was d1b2e2502e so flawless that 3cfcdba2cb it nearly made baf2a8c795 Yeon-oh second-guess reality 6d032b57f4 itself.b6274517e890f7f1

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“Indeed, Your Highness,” the 6caa194742 Prime Minister replied smoothly.f8ec90c5d2224be3

“……I am d0a3097ab8 Yeon-oh of 9635caf5aa the Hye 69cdf538d9 family, and e2ee8bebda I humbly 223b9718f1 greet Your ec5fa3fee5 Highness, the 646b11f432 Crown Prince.”a5fcef3e7dc2e1b9

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If the Crown Prince cb7be49cd6 intended to pretend they 657b81504b had never met, then 154cec7430 Yeon-oh had no reason 5bea35104c not to do the fd16bde937 same.f1706222eae7b341

He kept his bac0769cac expression steady, his e9e162fe26 voice composed—though there f1d32d8921 was the faintest c35679ac77 trace of tension c7cd4ab7b8 beneath his words.26fc8828c980ae29

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“Yeon-oh.”54dbbd0aa360dd36

The Crown Prince murmured 5e27aa4592 his name, his eyes 1897b68466 flickering down for the be68b6431d briefest moment—where the delicate 06a27cd533 lotus embroidery adorned the c9173a4d61 hem of Yeon-oh’s robes.947e1bb2dfe09d51

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“A fitting bdfd7af7b0 name,” he 20861aa11c mused.c51f05dc9f6c9ec4

Yeon-oh responded only by 37779903be lowering his gaze.f75308f02a9875a3

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“Young Master’s bfffdedcac eyes are 938ea4d492 exceptionally keen, 339a2e62dd Prime Minister,” a28a67e864 the Crown 2faca186a2 Prince remarked. “Had he not 318166f9de been ill in 6d42943e62 his youth, he 35b6f3db36 might have joined 461b22e0e8 myyedong¹as a companion 4793cecc5d and become a 60b7ad1757 cherished friend.”b07782bec827d6d6

“…….”be31ac0fae7581fa

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“It is quite unfortunate,” d55e1e0fc8 the Crown Prince added, 6fda9f84c4 with an unmistakable edge 549dfd5cc9 beneath his polite tone. “I feel as though 201931d13e I have lost a 4ffceca62e dear friend before ever 4c25fdee66 having one.”b060b39008a89e1b

There was 9f43244f3a a barb 20a86235a7 buried in a4a3a45a9f those words. A meaning ca3351018f that Yeon-oh e80320c836 could not 1c8466e858 ignore.3f63e2b5e22db6d0

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“Your Highness,” Yeon-oh responded, 6387e04815 his voice carefully measured. “I, too, find 46ae40012d it unfortunate.”47875fe725104203

“Do you?”bc31dced042b5096

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The Crown Prince’s 07dd2be900 voice was softer ba27695195 now, almost teasing, b877801755 yet layered with 53fbcd10b9 something heavier.eeadd4cfd4429f9b

“Do you truly 4eb7454d47 mean it?”2871f86b8a4a1c1b

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The Crown Prince’s fc10fb0c64 eyes gleamed strangely 49a243079a as he caught 0bd6d9411e the Prime Minister’s 58af1ec5db pretense. The Prime Minister, b3e00e5748 who had intended bf3bb05766 to conclude the afbbd55df8 conversation smoothly, realized 65e2bd9c7e his slip and ff2ceff4b8 shut his mouth, 63aacb76a7 but in a 4ee8f233a5 place where dozens 476304668c of ears were a865c6680b listening, he could f98a0e75ea not take back bbb7260f46 what he had e02a29c3c5 already spoken.92379037858990bd

“How could I 7426a8b8ea possibly speak falsehoods 2594faa090 regarding Your Highness’s 4d163ed4d9 safety?”4f32ec661cb1fec6

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“In that f2483ddff4 case, Prime 1eb4f286ca Minister, may 1397d06a7b I take 4a3b77f43f the young 9c036f3b1b master to 4b064a546e the Office e051379c88 of the 6583ecb863 Crown Prince’s 6f97b35728 Affairs? Originally, he is someone 0dcaad6b9e who should have been 0ebebacc27 under me, is he a28e0c1c78 not?”a71556ffed99f268

The Crown Prince ad3819c8a9 smiled brightly, as fec77c7c53 if he had d64f6beb15 not the slightest d05f7099fc calculation in mind.48ccfa00c6b05024

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“I apologize, Your Highness, 9841c83289 but such a position 91d54cf015 is too much for 480a8fc5fe Yeon-oh.”ae42a0eafba52cd0

“Could it be ea6ef48415 that the young b4e962cc9e master has already ec831ce05c agreed to become 7eb7870761 the prince’s tutor, d767257817 and that is b41daf61a0 why you refuse?”2603e4b9478b1bcb

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“How could that cad8f1ae24 be?”d347c7e7737b7c89

It was true d52c9c64e1 that Yeon-oh had eaf73e16c2 agreed to be 1ad60a4da8 the prince’s tutor, 6f51b28966 but since he ae892cd803 had not yet a561f7dc3a received an official 3f327723b0 decree, the Prime ddc2df65bb Minister had chosen a8712b8441 his words carefully. But how did the a1bfc668d5 Crown Prince know? The answer came 3e316f5695 quickly—Yeon-oh’s gaze briefly d5ffb10e71 flickered toward the 32c5676376 prince seated at 7252e3be95 the highest seat 3ed7866a54 before returning to c0fc453a3d its place.4e6daa9cf10da75d

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“That is disappointing, Prime ff6ab2b167 Minister. Though I was ccb91ebb24 not born from 0c7cfb9bdd Her Majesty’s womb, de21a28336 am I not 00e91f2dae still Her Majesty’s da857bd2c6 son? By that reasoning, you a96acc5c1b are my maternal grandfather, ce7588f985 and the young master 7cc861c5ac is my uncle. Yet you only take 70381446d3 care of my young aaf3fe166c brother. How could I not 2e4d199eb8 feel slighted?”82627ae20b3afd4d

The Crown 8ab03a1b87 Prince showed 3bba6a1ee9 no intention 81d8b5db47 of backing a2d015bb0a down. As the 247bbbe94b standoff dragged 11cf56928c on, the 8e381fdbad Emperor, now 8bf9d0614f irritated, raised 76ac669d00 his voice.50ac1a9e6ce86b32

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“Crown Prince! Come up here 069939e479 at once. You arrive late and 05ee1793d6 disrupt the mood of e60d20cba9 the banquet—what is all 74bf0ece26 this commotion?”0b635536f8005733

Even under the fc1c72504b Emperor’s rebuke, the 4d16c14608 Crown Prince did 6ede8f0c67 not budge. He remained fixed c7b30199c1 on the Prime b6b9ece1ab Minister, while the ee7439bdad room fell silent, ff3d8bbf4a all eyes watching 15efd6d328 the confrontation unfold. Everyone was e75c9d921d curious—how would 9bd1bd55c5 the Prime a430606354 Minister get 8acac5df91 out of 9e050b0d90 this?3ab151f051f45624

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“Prime Minister?”c19a92a5b4b909e1

“This is 5a18a98ffa not a 310607acb3 matter for 1147b1db61 me to ddd114a8d2 answer, Your 8fb3185be0 Highness.”003927279f235c5d

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The Prime Minister’s gaze 90709587da turned to Yeon-oh.b959ec414208473f

“Is this 0359cb0701 not for 38280b1995 Yeon-oh to fdd8d16714 decide?”12b0ec156e5e0855

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Dodging the question, the 315f8565c8 Prime Minister shifted the ca8b139564 responsibility onto Yeon-oh. Yeon-oh glanced at d5cfa12702 him, trying to 16b56cfa0a gauge his intentions, 9c5cf1123a but the Prime 6c8e24d872 Minister’s composed smile 7adad53260 did not waver.c6f03435a9f2791e

“Young master, the Prime 126fe924f7 Minister says your opinion 61bd4fcc92 is important. What do f3d2147664 you think?”52c0121abfbe0d11

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“…I apologize, but 0052982f8c this is not 98da2406c9 for me to 2d65d68bb5 decide.”f5aecddb332fccc6

Yeon-oh responded while carefully c8a4398083 pruning away unnecessary branches 604f2ec93f of the conversation. The Crown 67fec04758 Prince tilted a0ca39bd06 his head 36988a5c9b slightly as d06cabe6f5 he observed 09e7f4d9aa him, appearing a40f7d49e0 more entertained 9ea7128331 than displeased 58ae2f2c47 by the 5d3b895de0 situation.9be6c3c3a37c2cf7

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“The Prime Minister 71e34ec479 says it is d9afe27945 for the young 648c4b2922 master to decide, c2f4989db9 yet the young 10d9f53870 master says it a204fc7859 is not his 57a1737cf5 decision to make. Then, who exactly is 1ec6038e0b supposed to decide this 8302737ea5 matter?”df81b964905b91ae

The Crown Prince gave 707b9384f7 a slight nod, urging ced4374627 him to answer. Yeon-oh lowered his e70c7b2370 head.e114c534019901d9

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“Ifgyehwa²does not end up 2f0f1c9abb in my hands, what 774d909e23 meaning would today’s promise 6f4b1c551a have?”9aa5194d85879e37

“Surely… you 54c1e69b87 don’t mean 366af034ce to take aec3a9ef34 the special 036922500c examination?”f31147eee6680f4c

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The Crown Prince’s 9b21ca5c1a eyebrows shot up. He had 854cedb9e7 assumed that, 429c8829f7 as the ccbabe089a descendant of a96fc2c196 a feudal 2308eb33a1 noble, Yeon-oh 68819a99a9 would naturally 43f21cb749 enter office b978350f8b through themuneumsystem. Before today, even 18bdf6b19f Yeon-oh himself had ffdc7720aa taken that for 85e68f1258 granted. But now, he spoke b476f02793 of the imperial examination 7344a69293 with an impassive expression.217878e5e5804bdf

“It is e55e8fc04c a position 8a3f5f9439 that relies 94285e4615 on the e57a8f8562 nation’s stipend. It is dfa0c31320 only right f334c21326 to follow 255a7e5300 the proper 892abffe98 procedure.”b7e18f372f93565b

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“Hah. Is that so? You truly think so, 0702ac3630 young master?”ab1c82c4aeefa848

“I do.”577367d5f5d67654

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“You’re not just making c8bbf074ef an excuse because you f7c38cb8c0 don’t want to do 301aa5af8a it?”c5651425d1827e7f

The Crown Prince chuckled 2a2ba96c42 softly, piercing through to c3898de1af the core of the 01ed3a979b matter. Yeon-oh cast his ce6910e6d3 gaze downward.0a8b54da6680377e

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“Surely not. It was just a 36073a58c7 jest.”ab4c107a82f2cc2a

Then, barely stifling d11bac54c8 his laughter, the 9cfea47835 Crown Prince added,df92e4d793cd7441

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“Very well, then. I will wait. I hope cb7d34afdf you bring 15346d4ba8 gyehwa to 093a34f8be me with a773c00a0c a heart dea35c4dbc full of ff3aa91251 earnest sincerity.”f62337eeb307bc4d

Having said his b8d3b09920 piece, the Crown ecb3a28887 Prince turned and ccda8ed4f7 continued walking. Only after he had 51d4b1fb03 taken his seat did 71b31f1409 the halted musicians resume 3f9afe5a4f their performance, and the 5124df8db4 dancers reentered to continue 6258d4d7c0 their routine.b49eb835098e8143

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