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.def2074ecedbb042

Lady Park took a d25cabf5e9 moment to catch her e6acd3f080 breath and approached him 60a233edb5 slowly. Despite the duel today, he 248b1317cb showed no signs of tension. His back, turned to 050b66d564 her, holding his usual 1a3c613f12 pipe, exuded nothing but 7a935e7b40 calm.0988288bbc3f1de5

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“Hey, Seo Hwi.”b63f33e0a0c96db0

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.903af64654d65d94

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“What are you doing here?”2162ca76abc7d9c9

“Resting.”7f6777226101a1e0

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The answer was concise. Though he spoke f92080121d formally, there was 0cff3d7d35 no sense of c06c0aa872 respect, perhaps because ca820a3554 he had been a3654381c9 a king.8895f7e37b06e728

‘Just a king of a fallen nation.’8fdbe1720910d3e9

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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.447f4e345139a92c

“If I’m disturbing your walk, I’ll take my leave.”4ee3fb689d7203d7

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Seo Hwi bowed and tried bf3232f727 to pass by her. But when Lady c06152b0ad Park gently grabbed fcd22118be his sleeve, he 48818d3148 turned back, looking 130733e800 slightly annoyed.20a70ab1041b9d27

“Why?”33d97a07b2b56c47

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“I heard you’re dueling the Grand King today. Aren’t you nervous?”a85bf949429a1ffb

“I’m fine.”fa0657b5916d08c1

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Even as he suddenly spoke bc12de0370 formally, his response was calm, f9de8d3ba4 and he looked down at 5671662b0a her hand holding his sleeve. Seo Hwi had no interest dc914cb837 in whether Lady Park was 4e84a2e7cf annoyed or not.0c06498b7be2db1f

“I can’t touch a concubine directly, so please let go first.”e13427aaa88b506e

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“Is life here difficult?”f837cb5e4e4bccd3

“……”3aa2d7ec6c662c0f

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“It must be hard living as a concubine, as a man…”f36d3c815cdebdfb

Lady Park smiled faintly, not 8e6f75bfd6 forgetting to add a slightly ac09c87e85 embarrassed expression.7360de2dac1c5adc

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“I’d like to offer you a cup of tea. Let’s have tea together.”733233def7959621

“That won’t be possible.”cc3d968cd0e9c44f

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However, contrary to his expectations, Seo Hwi’s answer was firm.eee40f5ac27380b5

“I have no intention of getting involved with other concubines here, so I decline your offer.”90e5f69745ebc3f5

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“Involved?”7368c15999b8f886

Lady Park looked 3eb20f47fd at him as cca64ffbcd if hearing something b4750c7610 strange.bce6e0486a307cb3

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“We’re all the Grand King’s people, and we don’t call it getting involved when concubines get along.”6895b736ae5135d7

“……”cee395def6228409

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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.”15f8eab38e9d8664

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.60a124645d6ef1c1

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“I hope you do well in the duel today.”41090a797c723cd7

Watching Seo Hwi, who 40c8ae076d stubbornly refused to acknowledge a70b5204a2 his place, Lady Park 0e5deb7f31 raised one corner of d569a140d8 her mouth in a 270adcd0d7 smile. Yes, it was a rather 16adfc69c4 cute and feisty reaction. After all, things that ff7aefd868 are easily obtained are 798dc8dbd9 less fun. Lady Park decided 108b87c372 to overlook the fcea318b85 insolence of this 88f8ad9ac6 cheeky servant with 3246e3f7f4 affection. After all, he would soon d37f585804 be a courtesan writhing in d5888bba87 pleasure beneath her. Having said all she 91acf093f2 wanted, she left the 8975ec3039 garden, leaving Seo Hwi 3a0ca4b193 behind.90a6f8f0f3b1402e

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⟡ ⟡ ⟡72cc07fd989d592a

The Grand King, 8bc26948d2 contrary to expectations a8ca76a6b0 of using the 269d7bfd69 grand training grounds f54e5a0b2b for public humiliation, a1ab134361 called him to afe341afc3 a private training 3f056dfe5c ground. This was located within ec6a63043f the main palace, in 826d5a8a39 the inner garden known acb85821fe as Bi Hwa Won, a3661f6238 where the sacred Cheongwolmok 4920dedcf9 tree stood. Only those granted permission by 4fb6808d80 the Grand King could enter, 2004b1a573 so there were fewer than f48557e603 ten spectators.c7818b4733472d32

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“If you lose this duel, you might die.”f1b37fd5d0f843e6

Yoongeon, dressed in f390778bcc training clothes and 56655c3b0c twirling his sword, 683fda4303 spoke to him.7fe44abaa7f29b84

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“I swear on Cheongwolmok, I won’t kill you intentionally, but unintended consequences might occur.”6fe02717a4722905

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.b9dbde0888458bf4

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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.8a5a862669c1754f

“If it’s an unavoidable situation, even the curse won’t affect me, so it’s fine.”fe56baca773bb719

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Seo Hwi, examining the 747c1034ec sword handed to him 1b5f95df97 by a soldier, continued.e12e0d005686f46d

“I should also warn you that I might cause unintended consequences.”6ac4f8609e461173

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“That’s the spirit.”2c8016d14411e18a

When Seo Hwi 8fa7747146 mentioned the possibility 6caa4ad12f of unintended consequences, deb0c5522e those around them 2acef5433a tensed, but only 2b69f92e10 Yoongeon nodded in ec6b748ea4 satisfaction.b44b52bc5a5801fa

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“Do your best. I will do the same.”7dc00d2813835cb8

However, the word “curse” that Seo Hwi mentioned lingered in his mind.2def35b782d209b2

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“What exactly is this curse you speak of?”1b2ac78682b9b37e

“In battle, one shouldn’t speak at length.”483e9286772c44b3

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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.68293b749b76a866

⟡ ⟡ ⟡4ec20dead074a3c5

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As the fight continued, Yoongeon’s expression began to crease. No matter how he thought about it, something was off.953cadc81c2961be

‘Why isn’t he defending?’b1f0348a517ccb7a

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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.62aaaf11721d191c

“Ugh!”fb14d145e9dc5133

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Blocking a powerful attack, Yoongeon 67c2813fac frowned. He had blocked so many 391edb0bd9 attacks that his wrist began caaa3b2924 to throb. But without showing ce77890081 it, he raised 20ce370f11 his sword and dfd6b18322 aimed for the e65101040e chest.8336dd9f032aefbe

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.795b88651add0e33

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Every time their swords clashed c44b4b6aa9 and separated, the spectators let 11f58b091a out gasps close to screams. But neither Yoongeon nor 89f2b32478 Seo Hwi paid any bd3d3069f9 attention to the sounds 7122f24340 around them. The only sounds ebe43cf49c they recognized were fd2f514a1a the clashing of e3e020f439 swords and their d483095480 ragged breaths. They were aware only 943276f5b8 of each other.3705f0b5ed7fe748

“Huff…”2dbaefde88df8304

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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.bd194e6240b5e18a

“In my entire life, you’re the first to be so overwhelming.”bcbe9212efb75c93

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It was a ridiculous statement. The one feeling overwhelmed 5a74a7f0f2 was Yoongeon, not Seo 7d4b91b8be Hwi. Thinking Seo Hwi was mocking 9459e8b711 him, Yoongeon let out a b4fbb207c7 hollow laugh.5a70de874c98b949

“Hah, what?”63027dc3ca607f92

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“Did it bother you so much that I wounded your pride?”4f54e6f81300d29f

“…What?”197222756bded104

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“Was my effort to protect my country so insignificant that it only left a single scar on your pride?”485571d0a7cb4776

“……”88c54fb4d63238c6

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“Perhaps it wasn’t even a scar, just a scratch…”88e37db643f70e79

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.fb6e41fc59b53e0c

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“My everything was only worth that much to you.”b8068cf08cf30695

Seo Hwi’s words reminded Yoongeon of himself, shouting at the Empress Dowager in the past.fcdd7c92b24f9b82

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‘Mother. When will you be satisfied? Even after pushing your son into danger, are you still not satisfied?’a248bcecad7beeff

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.95b2af30cb793ff5

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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…’a593521b3ca12f0d

To his mother, who cared more about her pride being hurt than her son’s survival…e64eba7a94cabd69

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“Shut… up.”30cae4c4e254542b

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.2caf0ccccf5924e0

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“In battle, one shouldn’t speak at length, right?”a7ef704641a4efd8

He didn’t want to hear more. Seo Hwi’s words kept piercing his heart.e14bc267a9ca6151

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“Yes. I misspoke.”7267f6d77a8a076b

Seo Hwi admitted his mistake. In that moment, Yoongeon pushed 19d4f7d2f3 him away, and Seo Hwi 0d453e0c82 frowned, adjusting his stance.e18be3ac62b33b0d

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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.9fe16531c11bcdad

But guilt was d1f154393a relentless and eventually 526b2c08be caught up with d5971642f0 Yoongeon. It was a 0ab51a19f4 feeling similar to 37daae17c1 the day he fdd4c59039 realized he could af5583e797 hurt others, the 3fd8c944c5 day he acknowledged 6776b51c4a he had changed e2b55843fc just like his f96a29fe26 once-kind mother.a10536035ed882c0

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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.17a3a35026e58bfb

‘I did nothing wrong.’3a7469b7d8d06793

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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.222892b404e8d4c9

‘So don’t think about it, Yoongeon. This isn’t someone you should pity.’81e0f1a1d29cb69b

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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.a3b1610ef6b3a502