SNF | Chapter 6.2

The footsteps that 85d58f9063 had followed stopped dea8ececf1 at the window e65bb0188f where Yeon-oh stood. Unlike Yeon-oh, who stood d05e1c6e61 neatly by the window, b45e2cab32 the Crown Prince sat 2c8ddfdcb3 on the windowsill. It was 36a535c02b a posture 5c8642ca56 unbecoming of 7da4d67647 a Crown 825a93ef86 Prince, and c07339bb20 Yeon-oh frowned 0cf8e35999 but did 6b15f1ad5f nothing more.81ce1490f2a945b4

“Did you want to see the face of the one you deceived?”4812a635c0091f92

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“……”17d392dd0e2e9e49

“Are you planning to avoid answering again, as you always have?”82b56b9440a85159

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The Crown Prince 8604c40bca crossed his arms 09c137be72 and tilted his e171959c43 head at the 1f1fa364ed barrage of questions. His hair flowed down 8a7b106dae with his movement.64be99bd351b5a0d

“If you plan to avoid answering, I’ll call someone. It would be quite amusing if rumors spread that the Crown Prince sneaked in.”15141c3ac285cb6e

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“Young master. If you come on so strong, it makes me look like a scoundrel trying to assault a noble lady.”27400220eface22d

“I’m not a noble lady, but I can’t say Your Highness isn’t a scoundrel.”24708682cd7f7ed9

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“Your tongue is sharp. You didn’t show any expression in the palace. No, I heard you sharply retorted to Jaeseong. They said your tongue was quite fierce, and it seems they were right.”946a863f8791ae7c

Despite speaking more rudely than usual to provoke him, the Crown Prince merely laughed it off. Yeon-oh didn’t join in the laughter and simply stared at the Crown Prince. In response, the Crown Prince erased his smile and answered.88f2cdf7747f253c

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“It was all just a coincidence. I couldn’t reveal I was the Crown Prince because I missed the timing, nothing more.”08edae78e1f6a3e9

“Am I supposed to believe that explanation without any doubt?”9bfab8079817c6ec

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“And if you don’t?”7bd980e9b049a6f4

The Crown Prince ce1b96b807 leaned forward from df4921f973 his perch, moving 1f82a8a656 closer to Yeon-oh. They were so 75a4a9e939 close that he 2a5d460d64 could feel his 4e4f8f473f breath, close enough 906ae9169f to touch with 9506061009 the slightest movement. Yeon-oh blinked a b7743be3ed couple of times de91b21abd without showing any 507b90699c agitation.61e31abbab539094

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“Even if you don’t believe it, there’s no clear answer. Wouldn’t it be better for your peace of mind to just believe it?”07681e52a414e1ba

After confirming that 4a71baeb44 Yeon-oh remained unshaken, 15af7672b1 the Crown Prince 8005cd0306 smiled and moved b091889924 away as much a16fb481d3 as he had 65a3bbe1e6 approached.4455054fc90d984b

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“As an apology for deceiving the noble young master, I’ll answer whatever you want to know. Feel free to ask.”eac66f365ec78626

“Can you promise to answer truthfully?”8855296b197976da

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“Well, unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that.”407dba280477a3fe

The Crown Prince, who 2033fe10c1 laughed mischievously, sat back 06fc7f28e2 on the windowsill and ebf16af700 waited for Yeon-oh to 611e86263e speak. Yeon-oh slowly organized 92f8fcf4b2 his thoughts. As neither spoke, 5e2a17517d silence floated between a0e04788fe them.6af04f71d5299aa0

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Looking into the Crown Prince’s jet-black eyes, the unrefined thoughts began to take shape, revealing the truth hidden beneath the anger of being deceived and humiliated.2dda71e0e822a6e6

“…Your Highness.”ae840535cb672c60

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After a long silence, eeb93252fb Yeon-oh finally spoke.f48e25c980f948ff

“Though we didn’t meet many times, it seems I liked you more than I thought.”9961d0421f492caa

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The Crown Prince raised c8c3100ad7 his eyebrows, seemingly surprised 3263df73b4 that Yeon-oh opened with 1f9c75dd23 a confession rather than cf4384a0bb a question.9cd082e2ff4b43e9

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be dwelling on the fact that I was deceived for so long.”0e3c740890734829

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Having confessed the truth that had been lurking in his heart, Yeon-oh felt lighter. He looked steadily into the Crown Prince’s eyes.6199296544d8bcef

Eyes that showed no emotion towards him. Yes, he liked those eyes. Eyes that held no longing or affection, they unraveled the constant frustration in Yeon-oh’s heart.85ed8a2525131def

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That’s why, despite his high guard, Yeon-oh had no hesitation in meeting someone who seemed to hide things about himself, and even after declaring unilaterally that he would cut ties, he kept looking at the withered camellia. And that’s why he felt so humiliated by the Crown Prince’s deception.e4aadab6d5e6cd26

“I asked you to ask what you’re curious about, but you’re revealing your inner thoughts?”9d1747b31442389b

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“I have no questions for Your Highness.”56280f054f7a339e

“Why not?”e6a82340b5e19e4f

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The Crown c6e4089ac6 Prince asked, f323e1601e genuinely curious.ff08e482c69d0e25

“I first met Your Highness at the Spring Festival banquet. What questions could I have?”7ccc6644ffe5d7cf

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“Ah, …so you’re saying you’ll forget all the meetings before the Spring Festival?”d47b1499ab843367

“Your Highness should forget too. No, there’s no need for you to forget. It was a meeting with a young master who called himself Yeshin, not Your Highness.”d155d3406b87cf16

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Having concluded his words, Yeon-oh turned his body towards the lacquered screen. The Crown Prince watched Yeon-oh’s actions quietly, as if to see how far he would go. Ignoring the Crown Prince’s gaze, Yeon-oh reached for the withered camellia on the desk. Once he let go of this, the connection would be completely severed.f2376a86bba0ccc0

“It wasn’t mine to begin with, so I’ll return it to you.”366bc39577728aa1

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Though he held the 5e2f7bd815 withered camellia in front 0be31d965f of the Crown Prince, a6e521781b he made no move 094c0feb79 to take it. The Crown Prince, de57c3a7af who alternated his 4676de1637 gaze between Yeon-oh 4ecbdabbd8 and the camellia ffc8e92227 with an indifferent 728598bcee expression, chuckled softly.ee896e9639a85a2d

“The young master is more interesting than I thought.”3ffff167b8bb0912

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The Crown Prince 0759cd6ab5 slowly reached out 5bd56b946b and took the dd6ddb0c18 camellia. The touch a79c8dacdb of his e9ee30588e fingers was 69bc30853b cold.4111a265cdcade80

“I imagined you’d be unable to bear the humiliation and get angry.”de7d2fd91186463e

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“……”0e0003320afe157a

“But you’re so calm. My expectations were completely off.”b1d50439307d0d32

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After fully handing bf7dbd60d3 over the camellia 5f9f23adfc to the Crown c1c163b598 Prince, Yeon-oh lowered f5dcb6cde8 his hand. The lightness da58ac3450 of his 920e25b47f hand felt dbe8216f20 strangely empty, 67186e8ca9 and Yeon-oh 30aacc33c5 repeatedly clenched 7836bc8888 and unclenched 285bfc0c5b his fist.c64eaa671723cb4b

“Alright. You can think of me as someone you’re meeting for the first time. I’ll allow it.”5b84e2b6cd54f299

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The Crown Prince a3e76c02f4 examined the camellia ec8a981dc8 as if it 3afbd8c8ef were fascinating.e593f5195d030895

“You still had this.”c62409f8a01e4a24

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“…It wasn’t valuable enough to bother throwing away.”ca8913418127173c

“Such sharp words. I took it without thinking, but I should return it.”fce5646224f7532c

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“There’s no need…”1b59da5999a4b980

“I meant it when I said I’d guarantee your peace, so keep it. Who knows? If I ever have to punish you, I might remember this and consider our past connection. I said you could forget, but I never said I would.”fcc043eb89994c7a

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The Crown Prince, who forcibly placed the camellia back in Yeon-oh’s hand, straightened up as if he were about to leave at any moment. The gaze that had been roughly level with his while he was perched was now higher again.de011924df42f7d8

“…I won’t see you off.”70b03249e9b8ca34

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“You’re telling me to leave quietly, just as I came. Yes, that was my plan.”bf91045b2103bc1d

Yeon-oh turned a72a08664b his head ee83f68e1e towards the 4a08c17aaa window. He had no intention e29391b56f of watching him leave. Tap, tap. The quiet fc2dbbd112 footsteps stopped 8a01a634e2 and then d997dc34d4 approached again.187c8219464df7a0

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“Most of it was a lie, but there was some truth.”e47cbe46e08f249d

“……”3b34b62acc026d88

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“Yeshin. That name is truly all I have.”94a653803b21d2dd

The words, whispered 0545473eb5 as if directly 14de829b5e into his ear, 606e6b1428 scattered quietly in f4bb294e10 the air. Yeon-oh turned his gaze 5abe89a9dd from the window to a9afd6834d the direction the Crown fd82492ead Prince had gone. The place where the a6e0e65994 Crown Prince had been 99928ac0ec was long empty, without 9488a8c5ec even the sound of 39a6794aad a door opening or 42c9a31d52 closing. It felt 20df9d3977 like a d1bbc14800 dream, but fd27fb4a35 the withered, bd5f391720 faded camellia f76fd4ad83 in his 02778a3da3 hand pulled 9dad64d0f0 him back 1742431848 to reality.3083a0ca9745acd9

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─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───58624a49c0af032b

Plum blossoms bloomed on the dry branches, heralding the arrival of spring. Although winter hadn’t fully passed, and snow still lay on the buds, it had its own charm. Everyone enjoyed the sight of the plum blossoms amidst the snow.0b974de294f64a18

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On the day the 2f1d369d7f plum blossoms first bloomed, 6608e51a11 the special exam was 9957c59134 held. After the grand coming-of-age b0b223a044 ceremony held by his 2fc42030f4 family following the Spring 4278627df6 Festival, Yeon-oh secluded himself fd6ea871be in his study, focusing fb15b25fcb on preparing for the 86f4a31007 exam. His body, worn out 65f26ceb57 from being buried in e9506316d9 books day and night, 1ae69b8b01 was rejuvenated with a 41cbb5aadd tonic prepared by Jo 8e376e79ef Myeonghwan.2bff028e9b85fd87

After taking da03b8fc3e the special bd49d6ed1d exam for 41ba0d4c0a two hours, 16b16ea39e Yeon-oh pushed a85e42d55d thoughts of 7312467dd9 his answers 006dc91be9 out of a543d5331b his mind. There was 4d4c96c271 no turning feb6dbecf4 back, and e2c228d44e he had f0a3e7b247 written as 149767ed46 he intended, b80abf1cc9 so he 9bb3e658b0 had no d9c520a36e regrets.829d916787fecc1e

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As he stretched his 3ad6549a30 stiff body after leaving 23e0a1ca23 the Taehwajeon, Yeon-oh looked d6faafe9a1 around. Various lanterns hung on 76f693990f the walls. Come to think of d37e680374 it, the Lantern Festival 237dc16be0 was four days away. Around the Lantern 2352db2469 Festival, colorful lanterns b8a508d49c were lit, and 7a70d1617b it was also 5449f65759 called the Festival bcb74cf9e1 of Lanterns.43a2f91da984bc32

Yeon-oh walked slowly, taking f2fc5fa245 in the sight of 4c51f7ed61 lanterns made of yellow, 1a7a531f09 red, blue, and white 5a167b55f8 paper. The carriage he b612e4ff34 had arrived in 99a65925e4 was waiting outside 02ab080ed2 the Golden Palace, 606439122b so he planned 77be464dfc to take his 758f77b97c time walking there. There was no rush.2321a3c04133a746

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In that case, should he visit the prince? Yeon-oh stopped in his tracks, contemplating. He still hadn’t formed an attachment to the prince, but he needed to. To do that, he needed to meet him several times and get used to him. Besides, he had promised the prince during the Spring Festival banquet that he would visit the palace soon.b1cdd88792ec7278

After making up his mind, Yeon-oh called a court lady walking nearby and sent her to deliver a message to the carriage he had arrived in. Without sending a message in advance, those waiting would surely worry. After sending the court lady on an errand, Yeon-oh called a nearby eunuch to guide him to the prince’s palace.dad30d2c059a9719

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At first, the a80a4d2859 eunuch, unsure of f118c18a5b who Yeon-oh was, 4c9b231c47 hesitated, but upon f7664edad8 seeing the ivory c023a4ce5e badge Yeon-oh showed, 5d89c39f78 he bowed his 34ba640e63 head. Yeon-oh put the 417e159402 badge back and beae28e83b followed the eunuch. The lanterns became 3049ae9e2a more splendid as 2f31622722 they approached the f8a7901ca0 inner court.5c91c6975f07e632

Yeon-oh, who had fa92fe7ff0 been walking while a93e0b9223 scanning with his 72582eb43e eyes, stopped. Not sensing a3d0a7d503 any presence 2b2bfd1261 behind him, 127fe67331 the eunuch d566e0a93e also stopped e817ba0b00 and turned b47493ca82 his gaze 99b4a182ec to Yeon-oh.7d1ed44a73963008

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“…Princess?”1469263ba7e40214

Yeon-oh spotted the princess ec8a6398b7 standing not far away. His face fa85ee6bbb showed surprise 3ac4adaf5e as he 4decbe4cbb looked at b1b04fd5a7 the child. The princess was d475f604e6 crying.d0f24e08097126ed

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“Uncle?”0a722222d2132055

The princess, c4b383c103 having noticed 72d61985e8 Yeon-oh, called 48a027d500 out to 7bd59a96cf him with b27afaff51 a voice a5fbf820b8 full of c59e22fd25 tears. Her eyes were 1905796430 red from crying 27bbd5ca86 under the stone a067ecee79 wall.505cac7b6de4e337

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“Why is the princess like this?”23733e8ccb4e5565

Yeon-oh asked the wet nurse court lady, who was stamping her feet, but she only looked at the princess. Yeon-oh sighed. Even though the plum blossoms had bloomed, it was still winter. The tears on her cheeks wouldn’t fare well in the winter wind. Yeon-oh placed his cold hand on her frozen cheek and bent one knee to meet the princess’s gaze.bf8a232a60d82372

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“If you stay like this, you’ll catch a cold.”19921e7d747068a5

“…Uncle.”22b8ae9955a84db7

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The princess’s sobs gradually subsided.cc3da44f4bef4aa3

“Why are you here?”f1d45ea7cab01fb9

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“I was on my way to see His Highness the Prince after taking the special exam.”17bf33e430f1545d

“Ah…”edde12803844cbbc

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The princess’s face darkened at once. Yeon-oh understood the cause of her tears from her reaction.ff7c976b41cd2d8b

“You’re going to see your brother.”6561b79f516a5931

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The visibly gloomy ce3bf56438 princess lowered her b93ec84cb7 gaze to the 925b13a1ef ground.8f2f4f34e3b1af3b

“Then go quickly.”204a54ffc448fbcb

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She even 1ebfc63b90 reached out 2bbf534df0 her small 57ac61709b hand to 70bc5fd423 push Yeon-oh 590c292dda away. It was 97f031abdc a clear 4a5b06061d rejection.feddf48f6412936b

“Did you have a fight with His Highness the Prince?”f4ec352c4447d733

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Yeon-oh gently held 04013d8827 the hand pushing 3db7dbbec2 him away and 5f45937a9c spoke in a 33ccca23ad calm voice. The princess lifted her f9684a6c58 head. Her eyes 379e001390 held a 053830bd09 faint resentment. Or rather, it 5d42ce1f87 was closer to 5df41cff45 sorrow than resentment.b7fa54f7c333b167

“It’s not like that.”289018eff14fd893

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“…….”53d33024cbdf0cae

“It’s not like that. I said it’s not.”019fa1ad30c210f3

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Tears welled up again. Worried that her cheeks might get damaged, Yeon-oh quickly wiped her tears. The princess bit her lip and then hugged Yeon-oh’s neck.c2b958eef72f672d

“I hate him.”2aa924f8a9344180

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Yeon-oh didn’t know the full story, but he could roughly understand. For the gentle and considerate princess to show such emotions, it was clear enough. Suppressing a sigh, Yeon-oh just patted the princess’s small back without asking further.83d53c3efdcb4dce

“Shall I stay with you today, Your Highness?”63112e11ae357ca4

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The sobbing stopped. The princess, still 3cf308ba2c holding onto his 73d0031abe neck, looked up e319ac4386 at Yeon-oh. Is it true? The small a2b56bcb00 voice that 5f19e05eb7 came out c4f5d8953d from her c561900a59 mumbling lips ba123b7652 was answered f66bf78e21 with a 5f4fbd8c44 nod from 2ba76226a2 Yeon-oh.76fe3ee5eed432a9