SNF | Chapter 8.2

Yoon Heekang, who had responded appropriately, took the bottle from Yeon-oh’s hand and placed it on the table, then approached Lee Shinwoo, who still had his head on the table. Lee Shinwoo didn’t wake even when shaken. After trying for a while, Yoon Heekang sighed.a65a75369f8e7556

“Have you ever seen Ja-seong wake up when he’s drunk?”51b94dab88c173e5

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“However.”a1defd3c551d4a6c

“Enough, enough. Let’s drink more today, Lee Pyeong. The court will officially resume its duties tomorrow, so today is the only chance for this. Right?”73788418f20a005c

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There was no stopping the Crown Prince, who spoke as if pleading. Yoon Heekang sighed instead of trying to stop him further. With a sigh of resignation, the Crown Prince cheerfully poured into Yeon-oh’s empty cup. Perhaps worried that Yoon Heekang might intervene again, his pouring was hurried.361d7b918643d9f3

The problem was Yeon-oh. Whether it was the strong drink he had just consumed or the accumulated alcohol finally hitting him, everything began to blur. As he shook his head to clear the dizziness, the Crown Prince’s figure wavered. He felt that drinking any more would be disastrous, but his hand had already lifted the cup, and soon his tongue was wet.5ff1c3e364235e3d

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“Are you drunk? Your eyes are unfocused. Hey, Lee Pyeong. When you take Ja-seong home, make sure to take the Right Censor too. I’d love to personally escort my precious new drinking buddy, but I’m not exactly free to do so.”a408a66038f28f30

“…I seem to recall seeing someone who claimed to be not free outside the palace several times. Perhaps my memory is distorted.”4c4a7365945f4c5d

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Yeon-oh spoke without b086ce36d0 realizing it.afd7aa9191991124

“You said you’d treat me like you did during the Spring Festival?”e0ec32b5f95e9a90

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At the Crown Prince’s retort, Yeon-oh realized his mistake and closed his mouth. It seemed he was indeed drunk. He couldn’t distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be said. While Yeon-oh was chastising himself for his mistake, the Crown Prince seemed to find it amusing. His face showed no signs of intoxication, unlike the empty bottles around him.54c037157d063cc6

“…It’s late. I should be going, Your Highness.”1282610a6148b418

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Feeling it would be 1cf697cc98 better to leave than ab6e240565 to show more of b34577d1c0 his drunken state, Yeon-oh b8eb47da81 spoke up, and the e779067d21 Crown Prince looked disappointed.090c58ab46ca1589

“Already? The sun hasn’t even set yet.”45bc53bc9e370b07

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“It hasn’t set, but the sunset has passed.”cb887d7917a594a1

“Still. It hasn’t completely set, has it? I’m reluctant to let you go like this.”7f285dd9c22ad78c

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The Crown Prince hesitated 5c922a2586 to grant Yeon-oh permission 0489667ff1 to leave. The more he hesitated, 8f223d3f25 the more Yeon-oh felt 109f336442 the intoxication rising, so 0817b9ec33 he shook his head. In the midst of b9b98c65e6 this, his gaze fell ad9f659314 on Lee Shinwoo. He felt an urge 2f09bdfcf3 to collapse like that, 55b5319ca8 but the thought of 98dd9243ef not wanting to lose 731fa98b46 composure ultimately won over df3531fd6c the impulse. Yeon-oh straightened 8ca711a16b his swaying aa490a12cd body.c2a5bcfdb18a3624

“Your Highness.”379ee9a568a68a8e

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“Alright. Once we finish this bottle, I’ll let you go. How about that?”16ad654c21c08c31

The Crown Prince 34fd1c5a21 suggested, shaking the 169b5f618f bottle of strong 11366ba950 liquor. Accepting would 745506d601 be akin 11d5a40921 to digging 962eba597e his own b97b1c210c grave, but 0fca696c8b there was 0b0dc17323 no other 2a298426c1 option. The Crown Prince seemed 47b5b1756c genuinely unwilling to let d5c06dc846 Yeon-oh leave. Whether it was because 4aa99ea534 he was genuinely happy debf563299 to have a drinking e85c320f10 buddy or for some f5ec9ce72d other reason was unclear.6788f016b9b1998c

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“Hmm?”f9d24204fb94dbf8

“…You’ll really let me go once we finish this bottle?”d0bef413094b9a65

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“I’m the Crown Prince of a nation. I wouldn’t lie.”327ee47704779406

Yeon-oh wanted to ask if claiming to be the Uigwi wasn’t a lie, but he gathered his wits. However, his expression, distorted by the alcohol, was not well hidden.0309d7d6354ec953

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“Are you trying to ask about the lie regarding the Uigwi?”046fff6a6ead6623

“…”e486b29a135c2983

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“The Uigwi isn’t part of the Cheomsabu, of course, but, hmm, I just changed the title a bit from a commander who once served on the battlefield. After all, it’s still a military position.”000a67ac1341b2a3

The Crown Prince shamelessly justified his lie. It was a ridiculous logic, but instead of showing emotion, Yeon-oh focused on the word “battlefield.”87f109440f687106

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The battlefield was something he had never experienced. It was something he would never experience unless a rebellion broke out in the Imperial Palace or foreign invaders breached the gates and reached the capital. Perhaps that’s why he was curious. How did the Crown Prince survive in a place where he was sent to die, and what was his mindset?a6bb413594508d46

“…”bed46aae65e95140

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However, words didn’t come easily. Yeon-oh swallowed his curiosity along with the bitter drink.dffb2c9917943f46

“This drink is unusually strong and cheap for the Imperial Palace.”99d262e7f120d810

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“…”0435eb550bbefd80

“It’s the drink soldiers have on the battlefield.”b2c6dcb4542b538d

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The Crown Prince b19979fb8a continued, swirling his 44601692ce cup. It seemed e8ac32582c as if c17c593f9b he was 1a8b118612 answering the 227624d326 question Yeon-oh 3d9344d536 had swallowed, af4907330a so Yeon-oh cad321e311 quietly listened.c3bf23b9aef1b58e

“The first time I drank was when I killed someone for the first time.”e81cd3fac24ca988

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“…”acaf107ad3d499d6

“I was twelve. I was young, but considering I had been on the battlefield since I was ten, it was late. Still, as the Crown Prince, the generals around me protected me, so I never had to kill anyone myself.”1bd22812af6c89c0

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The Crown Prince grimaced as he swallowed the drink, as if it were a bitter medicine, but soon smiled as usual. Yet, strangely, it didn’t seem like a genuine smile.9ade43008d35c0cb

“It felt so strange. I couldn’t sleep. Whenever I tried to sleep, the face of the person I killed vividly appeared. I didn’t want to dream, so I drank. This is the drink, and even after returning to the capital at fifteen, I drink it occasionally when I remember. Strangely, it makes the first person I killed vividly appear.”f7c5efd5028388bb

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The Crown Prince extended his hand. Though there wasn’t a single scar on his pale hand, it was calloused. It showed how fiercely he had lived. Yeon-oh looked at that hand, then at the Crown Prince. His smiling face remained unshaken. The Crown Prince must have made a tremendous effort to maintain that smile.ec45e48c1717cf3a

“I’ve told a story that doesn’t suit a celebratory day. Shall we continue drinking?”bd7252ddbc27c0cb

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“Your Highness.”dbfa2c343bdc385e

The Crown Prince, who 1733c3e7c5 was pouring into his 87c6447078 empty cup, turned his c86c5af1c1 head at the voice 838666a029 calling from outside.30484e5e00e8899a

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“A letter has arrived.”93d569a851b60d54

Whether it f7fd8d412b was the 9dc034ec4b letter he 084cb10efd had been 9a3cec78c5 waiting for, bff7c1dc85 the Crown c84fec1f81 Prince stood dd6275c400 up without e3c4bd8af8 asking who c689cae663 it was bf96a6c684 from. As Yeon-oh tried to bbd642218a stand, the Crown Prince 70f4aff64f placed a hand on 0fccf84976 his shoulder, pressing him 3cb49c6578 down.3028926a94ab5fae

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“I’ll be right back. Stay here.”2b6296cd7667aa50

The Crown a06736695e Prince, who 7be5a3f52d had earnestly 0254097585 requested, left e4cfbcf6e9 the room. Taking advantage of 2d01dd175a his absence, Yeon-oh 17e745f9b4 placed his hand 7e596156fc on the desk 94ad15c3ea and rested his c744906ef6 face on it. Though his weight leaned 56c2609fb9 on his hand, the 9deeec8698 position was more comfortable.3db925dfdc01f76b

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“You seem tired.”71d8bc8fbb80a100

Seeing this, Yoon Heekang 33f1f963ea spoke.e085ea0ab715eef0

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“I’m drinking for both of you.”700e99d3aedfefb9

“When His Highness returns, he will order you to leave. So, rest your eyes for a moment.”0891a231f327dcbf

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“Is it an important letter?”3b378b97d8d2ddbf

Yoon Heekang closed feb1ce5bb5 his mouth. He was clearly 8bd90a81bb not cut out 4559a786d4 for politics. If it were truly e4982622c5 an important letter, he 201ebb55e2 should have denied it ee7785b227 with a nonchalant face. Or he could have e2adba9a5b deflected the question like e2210f991c a sly fox. As it e97a9a6dc1 was, he af00f424f0 might as 68d491352c well have 1824273c72 confessed it cb286c97c7 was an 82c6d2f969 important letter.2e886a56dc2a03eb

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“It’s fortunate you’re a military officer.”b77bb7c623baf151

“I think so too.”73e156f158cb5316

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Once again, Yeon-oh’s words came out bluntly. Realizing that his drinking habit seemed to be revealing his true feelings, he thought he should refrain from drinking in the future. As he slowly blinked, he frowned. He felt as if his body was floating. It was as if his body wasn’t his own.0cf04fe3705b2259

Every time he clenched and unclenched his hand, or wiggled a finger or two, the strange unfamiliarity was unsettling. He disliked this uncontrollable sensation. In this uncontrollable feeling, Yeon-oh recalled his recent nightmares. Those nightmares, which rendered him powerless, were terrifying and despairing. For a moment, Yeon-oh’s breath quickened.c2a1fed8550e43c9

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“Looks like you’re drunk. I might get blamed for getting such a precious son drunk.”0596f235e3d606dc

While thinking about the nightmare, Yeon-oh didn’t realize the Crown Prince had returned. As Yeon-oh hurriedly tried to stand, he lost his balance. He tried to steady himself on something, but his hand slipped. At that moment, the Crown Prince caught Yeon-oh, preventing him from falling.5c3ee12f2de45f2a

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“Right Censor. Are you okay?”6cfa9c654ea72170

Yeon-oh nodded, trying to calm his startled heart. Seeing Yeon-oh’s pale face, the Crown Prince reached out. Perhaps intending to touch Yeon-oh’s face, his hand lost its way in the air as Yeon-oh leaned back.caa7d181d196c59a

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“…Right Censor?”9ea21844de9133ba

Yeon-oh was flustered, though he tried not to show it. There was no reason to lean back when the Crown Prince reached out. Yet, his body moved away from the Crown Prince involuntarily. Perhaps because he had been thinking about the nightmare, the Crown Prince’s outstretched hand overlapped with the hand in the nightmare. It felt as if that hand would strangle him, and the fear weighed heavily on him.e7025ade2e0a5e22

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“Right Censor.”46afc958f1f94bab

The Crown Prince called Yeon-oh again. He needed to say something, but his mouth wouldn’t open. It felt as if a suppressed groan, stifled by fear, would escape. Watching Yeon-oh, who was enveloped in shallow fear, the Crown Prince alternated his gaze between his outstretched hand and Yeon-oh, then brushed his hair back with his other hand.0292bdde9a253386

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“Did this hand seem like it would harm you?”bf0909d3561adba2

Yeon-oh swallowed a cf7cf9eb48 groan and gathered 9e6d39e007 his emotions, finally 72837150f3 opening his mouth. The Crown 9424f916fc Prince interrupted 7a079527f5 him.49c05ef780f02405

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“…”7d3bb0fc6237c46e

Yeon-oh had never thought the Crown Prince’s hand would harm him, but the hand reaching for his face reminded him of the hand in his nightmare. So he couldn’t say anything.73354d603c1eb883

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“Judging by your expression, it seems you really thought so.”e2e6bf8524f00204

The Crown Prince interpreted Yeon-oh’s silence as he pleased. Yeon-oh didn’t deny it.7b28477fdc987ff3

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“Then listen, Right Censor.”90605a86f2207a96

“…”162fc38026821395

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“This hand is not one that will harm you.”90a889465edfd088

Instead of being offended, the Crown Prince, with a face no different from usual, took Yeon-oh’s hand. The gentle warmth was unfamiliar. As his shoulders trembled slightly, the Crown Prince’s hand soon moved away. The warmth that had covered his cold hand receded, leaving a strange sense of longing.2d96f2913b6f6a0f

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“Your hand shouldn’t harm me either.”505b07e385f8dd3a

It sounded like a joke, but there was a serious undertone. It was also something Yeon-oh couldn’t promise.1d240ac9e9a8cbf6

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“I’ve had enough of killing allies who tried to harm me since I was twelve.”85f09e6a8e81cef5

The Crown Prince’s face, whispering that his first kill at twelve was an ally, was inscrutable. Why did the Crown Prince tell Yeon-oh this? Was it a warning to the Hye family? If so, did he prepare this gathering and recount his experience at twelve just to give this warning? As he watched Yeon-oh, the Crown Prince turned his head at Yoon Heekang’s voice calling him.024b06193b1b10ae

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“Lee Pyeong.”e2596a01f976a7f7

When Yoon Heekang 528e00f2c3 was called, he 6afc6cd237 immediately approached the 5ba503c939 Crown Prince and 60ac3a277b bowed.50a5ac5251fd4bb0

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“Yes, Your Highness.”10c5db24cf3ef8bf

“Leave Ja-seong here for now and help the Right Censor leave. Seeing him so pale, it’s best to send him back to Hanam quickly.”0e5ca44e1c0e588a

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“I will do so.”5868d28a36c8e998