SNF | Chapter 4.4

The prince was sulking, and Yeon-oh was not the type to initiate conversation. Moreover, he wasn’t warm enough to go out of his way to be affectionate toward his nephew, especially after such an unpleasant first encounter.

“Uncle, do you like my sister more?”

In the end, it was the prince who broke the long silence. His cheeks were still puffed out in a pout as he directed his question at Yeon-oh. Do you like the princess more? This was not a simple matter of preference. The princess had been polite, but beyond that, she had looked pitiful compared to the prince—so much so that she naturally drew Yeon-oh’s attention.

“I like both Your Highnesses equally.”

“Liar.”

The prince was still pouting, but his expression seemed to ease ever so slightly, as if he were beginning to feel better.

“It’s the truth. You are both my nieces and nephews—how could my affection be any different between the two of you?”

“I don’t like that. Don’t do that.”

“…….”

“Like me more than my sister.”

Why should I? Yeon-oh swallowed back the words that nearly slipped out. The prince was already receiving an abundance of love. Even the affection that should have belonged to the princess was claimed entirely by the prince. Yet he couldn’t even tolerate the brief moment when Yeon-oh’s attention had been on the princess. It was as if he believed all love rightfully belonged to him.

The reason Yeon-oh had paid more attention to the princess in the first place was because he had seen himself in her. Yeon-oh had been as loved as the prince—by everyone except Hye Yeonseo, and aside from the people of Seocheon Manor, the entire family had cherished him. And yet, despite that boundless love, it had felt like an illusion, leaving him hollow and desperate, just like the princess.

“Does Your Highness dislike the princess?”

“No. I like her. She’s pretty and kind. She treats me well too.”

“Then shouldn’t it be fine for me to care for both Your Highnesses equally?”

“That’s different. Just like me more. Please?”

The prince’s stubbornness lacked any logic. Is this really someone fit to sit on the throne? Yeon-oh studied the prince carefully. In truth, there was no need to assess him—he was clearly unfit. If he were to voice this concern to the Prime Minister, the response would likely be that the prince was still young.

But Yeon-oh couldn’t shake his doubts. Youth is merely an excuse. It was true that the emperor was still healthy, meaning there was a long time before the prince would ascend the throne. He might change as he grew older. But if he were to be judged as he was now, he was not suited to be a ruler. He would remain wrapped in the Empress’s skirts, a mere puppet on display.

“…It’s cold. You must take care of yourself, Your Highness.”

Looking at the prince, who clearly wanted an answer, Yeon-oh chose instead to steer the conversation elsewhere. Of course, the prince didn’t look cold at all. He was bundled up in layers of clothing, with only his face left exposed to the wind.

Even so, Yeon-oh gestured toward the prince’s attendants, who immediately approached with a sable fur cloak. Accepting it, Yeon-oh knelt down and wrapped it around the prince.

“If Your Highness catches a cold, many will be worried.”

“Even you?”

“Of course.”

Though he didn’t get the answer he wanted, the prince’s lips jutted out less than before. He fiddled with the fur for a moment before slipping his hand out and reaching toward Yeon-oh. His gesture seemed like an invitation to hold hands. Yeon-oh stared at the small outstretched hand for a moment before taking it. The warmth of the prince’s hand spread through his own. Since Yeon-oh’s hands were naturally colder than most, he flinched slightly—but he did not let go.

“Come with me, Uncle.”

With his hand still clasped in Yeon-oh’s, the prince picked up his pace. No matter how big a seven-year-old’s strides were, they couldn’t compare to Yeon-oh’s. As a result, the prince was practically running while Yeon-oh simply walked, creating an amusing sight.

Somewhere behind them, a stifled laugh escaped from someone, followed by a soft voice scolding them.

“Look at this.”

The prince eagerly gestured toward a few trees, his expression full of pride. Yeon-oh, failing to understand why the prince found these bare-branched trees so impressive, glanced at the wet nurse for an explanation. She only lowered her head in silence.

“These trees symbolize prosperity. On the day I was born, Father ordered them to be planted, hoping that I, like these trees, would prosper forever.”

From the prince’s words, Yeon-oh could glean just how desperately the emperor had wished for a legitimate heir, one born of the empress and not a concubine. No matter how capable a seoja might be, they had no right to succession. The emperor’s desire to depose the crown prince was rooted in strengthening his own legitimacy, meaning that other children were of little concern to him.

Yeon-oh could imagine how overjoyed the emperor must have been when the prince was born. At last, he had a son with true imperial blood, one who could replace the half-blood crown prince. The emperor had expressed his joy by planting these trees, symbolizing his wish for his son’s peace and prosperity.

“His Majesty must cherish Your Highness very much.”

“This is a secret.”

The prince wiggled his little fingers, signaling for Yeon-oh to come closer. Yeon-oh bent down, and the prince whispered into his ear.

“…Father likes me best. Even more than Mother.”

It wasn’t much of a secret at all, but Yeon-oh humored the boy by playing along as the prince put a finger to his lips and whispered, “Shh.” The prince now seemed to have entirely forgotten about his earlier sulking.

After showing off the trees, the prince eagerly chattered as he led Yeon-oh around Eohwa Garden. Yeon-oh responded appropriately, listening to some things and letting other parts of the conversation wash over him.

“Oh, Uncle, do you know how to use a bow?”

“I learned briefly as a child, but my skills are far from worthy of boasting.”

“But you must still be better than me, right? I’m learning from my teacher, and he says I improve every day.”

“Is that so? That is commendable.”

“Uncle, when I get better at archery, let’s have a match. Okay?”

Yeon-oh hesitated. As a noble heir, he had once been required to excel in both academics and martial arts, so he had briefly trained in archery and horseback riding. However, due to his weak constitution, the strain had taken a toll, and he eventually had to give them up. It had been over ten years since he last held a bow, let alone a sword.

“I’m afraid that will be difficult.”

“Why?”

“It has been over a decade since I last touched a bow. Embarrassingly, I doubt I could match Your Highness’s skills.”

Disappointment immediately clouded the prince’s face. Yeon-oh hadn’t intended to crush his expectations, but he also didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep.

“Then… can’t we have a sword match either?”

“No.”

He answered firmly without hesitation. The prince’s face fell even further.

“…I was most looking forward to that when I heard Uncle was coming.”

“……”

“The Crown Prince never has time to play with me. I thought maybe Uncle could take his place…”

“But Your Highness has friends of your own, do you not?”

“They’re all good friends, but they’re not the same as Brother or Uncle.”

The prince’s tone was verging on whining, and Yeon-oh nearly frowned—but he held back.

“We can simply find something else to do together.”

“…Like what?”

“Well, what does Your Highness enjoy doing?”

“Hmm. Uncle, what are you good at?”

The prince, having somewhat recovered from his disappointment, looked up at Yeon-oh with bright eyes.

“I was taught calligraphy, tea ceremonies, and musical instruments, though I doubt any of those would interest Your Highness.”

Yeon-oh deliberately listed things he knew the prince would find unappealing. It wasn’t just to dissuade the child’s interest in him. Growing up unable to participate in physical activities like horseback riding or swordsmanship, he had only been able to learn indoor, refined pursuits suited to noble sons with frail constitutions.

“I can do all that with my teachers.”

The prince grumbled, kicking at the ground with the tip of his shoe. Yeon-oh could do nothing but watch.

“Your Highness, Young Master Yeon-oh seems troubled.”

The wet nurse stepped in, trying to soothe the prince. However, calming him proved difficult. Once again, Yeon-oh felt a deep sense of doubt toward his family’s decisions. But he forced himself to push the thoughts away.

Suppressing a sigh out of habit, Yeon-oh shivered as the wind slipped through the gap in his collar. Then, slowly, he met the prince’s gaze. The moment he bent down to match the prince’s eye level, the boy stopped kicking the ground and looked up at him expectantly.

“It will take time, but for Your Highness, I will train in martial arts again.”

“…Really?”

“It may take a long time. But if Your Highness doesn’t mind waiting…”

“I don’t mind! Even if it takes a long time, I’ll wait!”

The prince bounced on his feet in excitement, his earlier sulking nowhere to be found. Yeon-oh straightened the prince’s jangpo, ensuring it was snugly wrapped around him, before standing upright. The prince, humming happily, suddenly clapped his hands together.

“Oh! Mother said we should play tuho, didn’t she?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wet nurse, is everything ready now?”

“I believe so, Your Highness. The weather is quite cold; we should return to Inkyung Palace now.”

“Let’s go back! We’ll play together—Mother, Uncle, Sister, and me, the four of us!”

They hadn’t even seen half of the Imperial Garden yet, but the purpose of this walk had never been about sightseeing in the first place. It had been orchestrated to shift Yeon-oh’s attention away from the princess. There was no lingering regret, and it wasn’t as if this was the only opportunity. Now that he was the prince’s tutor, there would be plenty of time in the future for leisurely walks at his own pace.

“That sounds good.”

Yeon-oh didn’t object to the prince’s enthusiasm. The prince had been excited even before hearing Yeon-oh’s answer, and the moment he received confirmation, he couldn’t contain himself.

“Your Highness! If you run like that…!”

Completely disregarding his royal dignity, the prince bolted toward Inkyung Palace. The startled palace attendants scrambled to chase after him. Their master was the prince, so none of them paid any mind to Yeon-oh, leaving him alone in the garden.

Even so, Yeon-oh’s expression remained unchanged. He had memorized the route from Inkyung Palace to the Imperial Garden at a glance, so returning on his own posed no difficulty. Just as he was about to take a step forward, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

“You look exhausted.”

“…Uigwi?”