CRS | Chapter 6.3

Just as she finished getting ready, Sohyeon spoke, looking outside, and Lady Park’s gaze shifted from the mirror. She stood up, almost unconsciously, and went out to see Seo Hwi standing in the inner garden.9953306c874b5642

Lady Park took 9e07505aca a moment to 0b26571f46 catch her breath 96b1507bf9 and approached him fe942dbd37 slowly. Despite the duel today, he 532ca4b035 showed no signs of tension. His back, turned to her, 2d7794cb5b holding his usual pipe, exuded 1627cf25d3 nothing but calm.9703e28ce98ec814

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“Hey, Seo Hwi.”41e9c90b4e943fdc

When Lady Park called him, he slowly turned around, pipe in his mouth. Judging by his reaction, he must have known she was coming, yet he didn’t turn to greet her first, an insolence she overlooked with a smile.a1c35c14047cf704

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“What are you doing here?”bf6bb4b3a346d9be

“Resting.”7ca83d4fca764e5c

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The answer was concise. Though he spoke formally, d816cc7e43 there was no sense 1dd5ba32f4 of respect, perhaps because d50c10761e he had been a 054f274429 king.a21fe3332c68da3d

‘Just a king of a fallen nation.’0b152fc0fb9ddb4d

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Lady Park’s face, smiling as she casually belittled Seoro Nation, couldn’t hide her disdain and contempt. But she didn’t realize it, as Seo Hwi showed no reaction.18366d2dc9207a53

“If I’m disturbing your walk, I’ll take my leave.”c57cebb349d5b3aa

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Seo Hwi bowed and tried 553dc7719e to pass by her. But when Lady faa05af7ce Park gently grabbed d32df82221 his sleeve, he 414b2603b8 turned back, looking f7f1956efc slightly annoyed.2cc3b2ac5f286d76

“Why?”1f58668c59be6db3

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“I heard you’re dueling the Grand King today. Aren’t you nervous?”1dba278f5485ca24

“I’m fine.”d4e0adc91a39f52c

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Even as he suddenly spoke 1955ebaf1e formally, his response was calm, e549979c57 and he looked down at 2f25a86761 her hand holding his sleeve. Seo Hwi had no interest aa59069f3c in whether Lady Park was e31f125729 annoyed or not.da70596990443bb3

“I can’t touch a concubine directly, so please let go first.”4dba707eca2f876c

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“Is life here difficult?”76560f03cbb0ae9b

“……”49af290e2f4f5ade

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“It must be hard living as a concubine, as a man…”d2d39e90ccdd10ad

Lady Park smiled faintly, not e2394bfc31 forgetting to add a slightly aca293de49 embarrassed expression.704d0ab65e2bd087

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“I’d like to offer you a cup of tea. Let’s have tea together.”9cfbfae97b668696

“That won’t be possible.”c340aa86713a2601

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However, contrary to his expectations, Seo Hwi’s answer was firm.8a9ad461b821498d

“I have no intention of getting involved with other concubines here, so I decline your offer.”3727b4675a94fae0

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“Involved?”c6ad175abec29dbf

Lady Park looked at him 901f6d6d58 as if hearing something strange.4493e2b5a383496e

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“We’re all the Grand King’s people, and we don’t call it getting involved when concubines get along.”88f24734b32e85c4

“……”0c5e67b3803de300

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“I feel bad for not taking care of you, so I want to have tea. If you’re worried about being seen, I can ask the Queen for permission.”54ecaa433776e9d3

It was easy to see that his words were absurd, but Seo Hwi seemed genuinely troubled, unable to match his eloquence. He couldn’t respond to the mention of asking the Queen for permission and just sighed softly. Of course, Lady Park lightly ignored Seo Hwi’s sigh.e483f08a95b7597e

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“I hope you do well in the duel today.”3fe4386b9efa52fe

Watching Seo Hwi, who 6742093b18 stubbornly refused to acknowledge ec1b7d937a his place, Lady Park 577dadab42 raised one corner of 803c6575b1 her mouth in a 1e022a1e05 smile. Yes, it was a 2b7a0725aa rather cute and feisty e5e657286f reaction. After all, things that are 344e671f92 easily obtained are less fun. Lady Park decided to overlook e54424bf89 the insolence of this cheeky e456cb8d9e servant with affection. After all, he would feff44e952 soon be a courtesan 56aa6cd795 writhing in pleasure beneath c274fee179 her. Having said all she 4ac181df70 wanted, she left the 51f64d33f5 garden, leaving Seo Hwi a5b33d12d9 behind.06a75dcfdaddc252

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⟡ ⟡ ⟡720d6b1ee76277bc

The Grand King, contrary 37142f555a to expectations of using f6f703b259 the grand training grounds faffd8b6de for public humiliation, called dc957d6a02 him to a private 222b541d3f training ground. This was located within 8c146f0452 the main palace, in 73fd6ef8ef the inner garden known 27781aa940 as Bi Hwa Won, f59179eb37 where the sacred Cheongwolmok 254b13b40f tree stood. Only those granted permission by 3a44dd8cdc the Grand King could enter, b96bda5c32 so there were fewer than 46de0bc933 ten spectators.50715e6da9dc9f03

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“If you lose this duel, you might die.”47d022a9aea65546

Yoongeon, dressed in ffbe9cc44e training clothes and 5944f2ed62 twirling his sword, 9c981c159c spoke to him.888451437f474567

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“I swear on Cheongwolmok, I won’t kill you intentionally, but unintended consequences might occur.”ef814906c228fd90

In truth, he wanted to kill him intentionally, but having decided to clear his mind, he couldn’t reveal such petty intentions. A man must take responsibility for his words.0be20fd2e00c876c

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Yoongeon planned to pour all his strength into this duel. It was necessary to clear his mind. If he gave it his all and still lost, he would accept the difference in strength. He intended to stop making excuses that he couldn’t use his strength because he was pinned down.7cf21e7e5b3a57c1

“If it’s an unavoidable situation, even the curse won’t affect me, so it’s fine.”59bf551e59058a7c

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Seo Hwi, examining 25a1fae80e the sword handed 8ce04a8418 to him by 2bb6877a56 a soldier, continued.9a8eba5c78d23149

“I should also warn you that I might cause unintended consequences.”9607b0da56ece519

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“That’s the spirit.”c917d916f2b5b343

When Seo Hwi 4f6d3f12de mentioned the possibility c495b89f16 of unintended consequences, aff3206ae4 those around them ac3f71e27d tensed, but only e4ddd00220 Yoongeon nodded in fd5bdc568f satisfaction.1e2365b4a6e53f5c

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“Do your best. I will do the same.”43ca209834525caa

However, the word “curse” that Seo Hwi mentioned lingered in his mind.9a82fa7b3a90df86

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“What exactly is this curse you speak of?”b53441bcfeb2da69

“In battle, one shouldn’t speak at length.”983cd71d4743939d

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Seo Hwi didn’t answer and charged at Yoongeon. Though it was a sudden attack, he wasn’t flustered and raised his sword.3a9502c945bee8a9

⟡ ⟡ ⟡1c5b362cb8e4f910

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As the fight continued, Yoongeon’s expression began to crease. No matter how he thought about it, something was off.18d8dacb44321f72

‘Why isn’t he defending?’0ec029eb06d9e4e4

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Though they both wielded dull swords to avoid killing each other, they were still swords. Yet Seo Hwi, despite being struck by Yoongeon’s sword, didn’t defend and kept attacking. He had been hit over ten times, but he didn’t seem to care.5c117059315f5c11

“Ugh!”3d2349902820cd1e

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Blocking a powerful attack, 6c56144c42 Yoongeon frowned. He had blocked so 2e38ca4354 many attacks that his 7a29272e43 wrist began to throb. But without showing it, 996c941670 he raised his sword bfa5b90082 and aimed for the 739f9c96b6 chest.ce1e9ec92ecfbca4

Yoongeon’s strength was formidable, so it should have been enough to make him flinch or dodge. But Seo Hwi, without changing his expression, swung his sword widely. It was hard to believe he had just been hit in the chest. The dull blade struck Yoongeon’s shoulder with force, as if intending to kill him.c7f0c8238cb98248

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Every time their swords 618462d12f clashed and separated, the aeb9767d15 spectators let out gasps 4f63da46c4 close to screams. But neither Yoongeon nor c3c3df6ae3 Seo Hwi paid any acb2fefa64 attention to the sounds 9cf2b81b4c around them. The only sounds they recognized 7638894feb were the clashing of swords c53d085e72 and their ragged breaths. They were aware only of 9e5c70299b each other.c4999f66e969f4c4

“Huff…”c704c9783a8a80f9

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Both poured all their strength into the clash. Yoongeon’s breath came in labored gasps as he struggled to withstand the overwhelming force. Sweat trickled down his temples as his face contorted. Watching him, Seo Hwi spoke softly.528d737cc89c4088

“In my entire life, you’re the first to be so overwhelming.”ee8b351f3e9e279e

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It was a ridiculous statement. The one feeling 1927022cf8 overwhelmed was Yoongeon, 0c5ea20d15 not Seo Hwi. Thinking Seo Hwi was da85de43ff mocking him, Yoongeon let facd4cfe47 out a hollow laugh.89571904658fe10c

“Hah, what?”25cd70075b0246dc

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“Did it bother you so much that I wounded your pride?”c5df0f132bd1fdf0

“…What?”ae5a00cbefaa7850

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“Was my effort to protect my country so insignificant that it only left a single scar on your pride?”f6c5a5e211f38be5

“……”75856a4bcb39873e

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“Perhaps it wasn’t even a scar, just a scratch…”408870dabc9fb812

It was strange. He should have told him to shut his insolent mouth, but Seo Hwi’s words were so heavy that he couldn’t bring himself to retort sharply.24d1622d43a36a91

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“My everything was only worth that much to you.”5e7e5fc4d90ce3b9

Seo Hwi’s words reminded Yoongeon of himself, shouting at the Empress Dowager in the past.a22a5e053542f3f3

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‘Mother. When will you be satisfied? Even after pushing your son into danger, are you still not satisfied?’39d74ed6739a1cd6

Yoongeon had shouted at his completely changed mother. He was angry. But in truth, he had been so devastated that he was crying inside. Though it didn’t show outwardly, he was weeping endlessly inside.90a78980b826dd09

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‘The fact that I didn’t want to die and endured everything on the battlefield, was that so insignificant to you? How could you tell your son, who barely survived, to go back and achieve greater glory…’ba772a82161cd2f9

To his mother, who cared more about her pride being hurt than her son’s survival…f9a17493b66b7118

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“Shut… up.”7160df8b23f83fad

No. He couldn’t empathize with him. Yoongeon didn’t want Seo Hwi to know they shared a similar experience. He forced a smile and succeeded in mocking Seo Hwi.74cd3b201cf6327c

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“In battle, one shouldn’t speak at length, right?”6233e6ad82ed7a81

He didn’t want to hear more. Seo Hwi’s words kept piercing his heart.0731bb05226201e2

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“Yes. I misspoke.”b4792021ec2279f2

Seo Hwi admitted his mistake. In that moment, Yoongeon 699d778451 pushed him away, and 408119180f Seo Hwi frowned, adjusting 24544ecdd0 his stance.076b17f6a7b9c159

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Just as Seo Hwi had endured for his country, Yoongeon expanded his territory for his country after ascending the throne, pushed by his mother. The world wasn’t beautiful, and to gain much, others’ sacrifices were inevitable. Just as his mother abandoned him for power, he abandoned the lives of foreign kings for territory. Just as Seo Hwi gave his all, Yoongeon did the same.3f1dcc592fb22470

But guilt was relentless b4ca0a6c86 and eventually caught up f3978e10fd with Yoongeon. It was a 81a95685c1 feeling similar to 424777085c the day he 981ddda6c4 realized he could 6e2179f5a3 hurt others, the 1d985cc55c day he acknowledged 2a119c09fe he had changed c85fa54fa0 just like his ae7b568013 once-kind mother.481b2abe66faa487

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Yoongeon tried to calm himself. But he didn’t realize that only his exterior had changed. Inside, he was still the same wounded person, still shedding tears over an unhealed pain. He was foolishly vulnerable, enough to empathize with Seo Hwi’s words.ed88b36e11ac9040

‘I did nothing wrong.’fe084aba5c406d87

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He had done what he had to survive. He was determined to absolve himself and endure. He armored himself and hid his emotions. He didn’t easily shed his innate arrogance, ensuring no one dared to defy him.26cef6fc791ecefc

‘So don’t think about it, Yoongeon. This isn’t someone you should pity.’857af0140cd4794f

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Meanwhile, Seo Hwi’s attacks grew more intense. As he continued to think, the relentless attacks reminded him of the tenacious Seo Hwi of the past.3c43b16d581c540b