SNF | Chapter 6.4

But it was a question he couldn’t ask. Once the conversation about the princess was concluded, there was only silence. The Crown Prince broke the silence.73d7ee9b12132368

“I’ve heard of it.”b6f8d0e220183a34

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yeon-oh, who had a childhood where he couldn’t freely cross the threshold of his mansion, had never seen a play. Of course, if he had been interested, he could have invited them to the mansion, but he hadn’t been interested enough to do so.7a1090e03df7add7

“Then this will be your first time. The royal actors are quite famous. I assure you, it’ll be worth looking forward to. I’m worried that starting with such a high-level play might raise your standards too much.”9e48cd03869f6b8f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”3b6fc4cbb0e51d75

“Actually, the day we met outside the palace, if it hadn’t been so late, I thought about showing you a play.”d658483246f19437

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yeon-oh remained silent, 5f2c9a03f8 watching the Crown bd01ab8190 Prince mention the 568743d1a5 past without hesitation.50be27f0ad39b425

“Oh, right. We agreed to pretend not to know.”d0d545eb9e135bc0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

When Yeon-oh didn’t respond, he laughed lightly and hurried his steps.4725d3a22f2aad0e

Amidst the silence, only 17c2b4916e the two girls chattered. Listening to ae2f0b1e79 their voices, 36bd525244 they crossed 3f9a336e57 the threshold 346a96ea09 of a 9997c6f608 place with 047810ef21 a sign a3d520b94d that read cff4b0d27d ‘Yeoneum Pavilion’65ff824d9fb8a12f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The actors’ performances were just as the Crown Prince had boasted. Even to Yeon-oh, who had no interest in opera performances, their acting was impressive. The opera on stage was a story Yeon-oh was already familiar with. It was the tale of King Wu of the Yue Kingdom, who first unified the nation. Since it took place in what is now Hanam, he had heard it a few times as a lullaby from his wet nurse while staying there.ccbf69465e4989be

It was known as the tearful love story between Prince Wu, before he ascended the throne, and the Princess of the Han Dynasty, who was both an ally and an enemy. The story was famously titled “The Tragic Love of Prince Hodong and Princess Nakrang.”d957d9b302ba942f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Having heard it in passing, Yeon-oh already knew the story and wasn’t particularly interested, so he watched the unfolding events on stage with indifferent eyes, occasionally glancing at the Crown Princess and the Princess. They had long been completely absorbed in the performance.c0b5e6d939a61ee9

“Young Master.”ed15a1ca873f8178

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yeon-oh, who had briefly 8546d2507e been watching them, turned 58228b579c his gaze back to 314316bbce the stage when he 3291f4124b heard someone calling him 428121234a from the left. The Crown 3c8fd7a93b Prince, leaning 8836f7c06e against a ba8c3991d3 golden chair 306fa8c771 engraved with 103b6d3cf2 a dragon, b051707e75 was looking 4f7490d9bc at him.0ca91d98b1b05951

“You seem bored.”5fadb3242cf8b7fb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…It’s a story I already know, and it’s not one I particularly like.”8fe443fd62633128

Yeon-oh lowered his voice as much as possible, worried that his response might break the immersion for the Crown Princess and the Princess. The Crown Prince tilted his head to one side at Yeon-oh’s answer.eac2a9cb52f51b63

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why? It’s quite interesting.”a033d20b91f7fcc8

Yeon-oh withdrew his gaze 59bcee988e from the Crown Prince bce007c1c0 and looked at the 564ea69995 stage. An actress playing 7a267ffa7e the princess was fad1fb2f02 crying sorrowfully. The princess had fallen 19059bf821 in love with the 20a4040081 prince, who had joined 9ca09c6b34 the envoy, on the b116ee451a first day they met, 7cbb47e3d6 but their relationship was f35c1bd1a9 impossible. The wall between them 2ec56db39b was insurmountably high and be88c515ba unbreakably solid.23e171bc06b806c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But if it were merely a story of despair over an impossible love and parting, it wouldn’t have been talked about for hundreds of years until now.cc72e4a47fd10575

The princess’s love was pure and sincere, and the prince felt the same. They nurtured their feelings for each other, avoiding the public eye. Their feelings grew, but the path to fulfillment was distant, and the day of parting drew near. Eventually, the princess sent the prince back to his homeland and fell ill with lovesickness. Not long after, a war broke out between Yue and Han, and a secret message arrived for the princess. It was a letter from the prince saying that if she tore the drum that sounded when Han was in danger, and Yue won the war, he could take her as his wife.037b46e49671add7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Is it interesting to you that a princess of a nation could prioritize personal feelings over the safety of her country?”a08124984096c2ae

The image of a princess blinded by love, unable to see an inch ahead, and wanting to destroy the royal family’s treasure that could determine the fate of the nation, was foolish.8136862b475b23e1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“At your age, shouldn’t you be more sympathetic to the princess than thinking realistically? Even the Crown Princess used to dream of a fateful love where she could give up everything like that princess. I’m sure Wanan feels the same.”86ae432a1b767f84

Fateful love, huh. Watching the scene where the princess was killed by her father for destroying the nation’s treasure, Yeon-oh barely suppressed a laugh. The Crown Prince, hearing Yeon-oh suppress a laugh, added another question.b1aea3d207426231

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then, if you were that princess, what do you think you would have done?”d748763a43c4a5e0

Yeon-oh turned 616cad79a0 his head. The Crown ea5628d33f Prince had b24ab570aa a genuinely 50e9d74756 curious expression. However, neither the Crown 235ed20b86 Prince asking the question 44c937323e nor Yeon-oh answering it 586bf64b45 was unaware of how d78bf577d4 deep the question was. Yeon-oh lowered his eyes b22c5f1744 for a moment and 4d5ce8bb47 then looked at the 98d7ae784b Crown Prince. His eyes reached 3a3622ed41 the Crown Prince 92c984fc3d without a hint 486fd0d391 of wavering.09b3cc13d96903a8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Your Highness, it’s a meaningless question.”def57941df3efa79

“Meaningless…?”39e6cd593304eff7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There’s nothing more important than the safety of the empire for the noble royal family or the children of prestigious families. I am merely an accessory for the peace of the empire.”910cdd90983eb2fa

“Are you saying you would have cut off your feelings if you were in the princess’s position?”f4ea0b87203ca0ca

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s what should be done.”128077cbbe224267

There was no cea52e9c57 hesitation in his 092154a72b answer. Yeon-oh spoke c85c31b9ff in terms 1981533fe2 of the 4a5be545c6 empire, but 6f05810757 if he d44db635ef had to 463eb32e22 choose between e07b66eeec his family 3516a0029d and love, 3f79326551 the choice 094ba0cbf3 should be 2ce718ad9a his family. He would not 6e0dc4bc68 make the wrong 7928ba9933 choice by being 8d31260ef7 consumed by love, cb83c3fbe6 as the princess 6f7f8d3e59 of the Han 69ade1702c Dynasty did.3afa3ff40c604e91

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Let me ask differently. If you had to choose between your family and personal beliefs, what would you choose?”01b9fb1a192a793d

“…Everything I enjoy stems from my family.”04e95264b893cf72

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“So, you would choose your family. But, Young Master, even if your family’s will hurts you, could you still choose your family?”c432db85708a28c3

“Even if it leads to death, it doesn’t matter. That’s how I was raised.”debdef275aa229df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Everything he 62969eec6c enjoyed was c211f6c6db derived from c7ce4a017e his family, f7993a332f so it af6c71b4b2 was natural 2f39bc2934 for him 17551fdc1f to belong 73ebf252b2 to and 5061997077 prioritize his 41f41be33b family.9f6900d62983a983

Even as he answered, Yeon-oh was tense. These were not words to be spoken lightly. It was as if he had indirectly told the Crown Prince himself that he intended to bring him down according to his family’s will. The Crown Prince laughed, making Yeon-oh’s tension seem unnecessary. Yes, he laughed. Without any particular meaning, purely.8a8858d00f24f0ee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Aren’t you answering with too much certainty?”da98a1e15b178284

“…”0c2f9febec3441af

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t be so sure. It makes things difficult for me.”fb44c79d991a864d

A look of confusion appeared on Yeon-oh’s face.60983646b939e720

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why would it be difficult for Your Highness?”372a65eb58203d07

“When I see you answering so firmly with a face that looks like it could break at any moment, I want to grab and shake you.”666fc6db24e471e4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Your Highness.”22ca61bcb600767c

“It’s a joke, Young Master. Just a joke.”ab334478720510a0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Though he brushed it off lightly as a joke, Yeon-oh somehow didn’t hear it as a joke. It felt like a response to his own intentions.8210fe6a5004ce1f

“…It doesn’t sound much like a joke, but since you say it is, I’ll take it as such.”d349277f2a9c3b6a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But he couldn’t argue with the Crown Prince’s words, so he had to concede.4b2bc63d1ec6e465

“The actors are particularly good today.”54a4fce85d82b7e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Your Highness’s praise must be the greatest honor for them.”aa174994ff26ff42

The Crown Prince soon cd464aeb94 focused on the opera, c5e39015a0 which was as boring 031c05a638 as ever. Instead of watching 83156823bd the opera, Yeon-oh 975b29178e watched the Crown 5ad9c16a90 Prince. There was something elusive, 314018b583 like trying to grasp c2bf49e8d4 smoke.add8ae1452ab0e4d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Ah.”5687f13c95a2facf

And then e5dbec1ffc he realized.f46a78c8b662fd42

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What’s the matter, Young Master?”0a5118d3864cd3b9

When he let out a sound, the Crown Prince turned his head. Yeon-oh couldn’t say anything. How could he say that he had figured out why the Crown Prince always seemed unnatural and why he had defined him as unknowable?b16038a9213a3951

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The face that was always smiling, the sweet voice, and the equally gentle tone. Yeon-oh didn’t see it as the Crown Prince’s true self. It felt unnatural and awkward.309a5062dfd902fe

“…It’s nothing. I was just thinking about something else.”3c3f8cb0a8ba13db

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He swallowed the words, unable to say that he couldn’t tell if the Crown Prince in front of him was an illusion or not.6bc4b77bdd340435

“That’s bland.”74d94c423b8c6b6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Highness, aren’t you watching? Are you bored?”8b1418860b585df8

“Of course not, my lady. I’m watching intently.”131b011c5e8f8ce2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Crown Princess, who had been focused on the opera for a while, suddenly joined the conversation. The Crown Prince acted as if he had been focused all along. Who knows who the person Yeon-oh had been conversing with was. Anyway, thanks to the Crown Princess’s interruption, the Crown Prince no longer seemed curious about what Yeon-oh had swallowed.47e12917c37c862d

Even after the Crown Princess’s interruption forced the Crown Prince to focus on the play, Yeon-oh occasionally glanced at him. He glanced just enough not to be noticeable, but the Crown Prince didn’t turn his gaze sideways.2106c918a8e39b78

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yeon-oh, who had been glancing for a while, wondering if the false face would crack, adjusted his posture as the opera reached its conclusion. No one but the Crown Prince would know that Yeon-oh hadn’t been focused on the play, as he maintained a proper posture.6518c7117f0d28f4

The secret message was sent by a close aide of the prince who knew about their relationship, and when the prince, who had won the war, learned of it later, the princess had become a cold corpse. The opera ended with the prince’s wailing as he embraced the princess’s body, followed by a famous song.75f0fe431cacac20

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The actors af6deeebb5 who finished 11d64c1312 their performance daf3650b30 bowed on 259dd1551f stage. The Crown e47698c0e3 Prince applauded 7b3afaf5a8 them and 0e02454015 sent them 085353c0e3 off with c91417fae6 praise. Then he turned 5b715465bc to the Crown b486449ba1 Princess.8cef0f823ee3dacd

“My lady, your eyes look like a rabbit’s. Wanan, you too.”68f76c155e9815f9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Your Highness and Young Master Hye look the same as before.”444908369eadeb01

The Crown Princess, 67c06304e2 with tears in ca0873fbbd her eyes, retorted 4699aee35a as if wondering a485782dd7 how they could 94e9b2a9ae not be moved a9fb8cc8f4 by the opera. The princess beside her a82d224843 seemed to agree.a82ebafb68fe2918

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I was just embarrassed in front of my young wife and sister.”91dfbed158a74020

“Is that really so?”28c8d816df6b4532

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Of course. Isn’t that right, Young Master?”e94206ca067719c2

“Yes. His Highness is correct.”fa75e0f6c49f09da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yeon-oh, catching 13a5ab95ba the hint e7c34b08cd to play 7748294980 along, inadvertently e93f6daf0f agreed with 70681f23c6 the Crown cd73f42835 Prince. The Crown d5d0c41c52 Princess, after 55a5cbcec1 observing the 39ff5b519c Crown Prince 1240d7cf9e and Yeon-oh b555081601 closely, withdrew 0ec87ed974 her gaze 0646481b3f as if c92d76921b looking at 276f417199 heartless people. Her face once 21e81ae224 again carried the 6e2baf8c5e lingering emotion from 83d433c07c earlier.d71590773fe69287

“No matter how many times I watch it, it’s always touching, Your Highness.”9148a1a94473ff90

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What is so touching?”834968c043061bc2

“The unfulfilled love between the two. Didn’t it move you, Your Highness?”d8d1bbf955f62910

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Well. What do you think you would have done if you were in the princess’s position, my lady?”b4c9ae0e4cd83cec

The Crown Prince deftly evaded. The Crown Princess pondered, saying, “Hmm.” The princess beside her also fell into thought.ee931c294c59346b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m not sure. It would be painful to betray the country I was born in, but if that prince were Your Highness, I might choose the prince…”e0a1acfce6432b94

The princess nodded slightly bd8261783e in agreement. The Crown Prince glanced ead45fe692 at Yeon-oh as if 8a59366d2c to show off. It almost 5858dc56ef made Yeon-oh 20993ff388 laugh for c90873767e a moment, 13b8eb10f4 as it bc006e3d3c seemed like 024b2894e6 he was 1750ee764b gloating.aff8783d8d79be4b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do I seem naive to you?”92460dd40999b0d5