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.ecac5b0e48e6ff53

“Have you ever seen Ja-seong wake up when he’s drunk?”51777e2f899d74d5

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“However.”e9f3e3ed0c9a576c

“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?”8042a81400b165cc

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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.64ffcf71695caa08

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.e267b632b9701ace

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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.”682210f9cee4d586

“…I seem to recall seeing someone who claimed to be not free outside the palace several times. Perhaps my memory is distorted.”96af7c41410adacb

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Yeon-oh spoke without realizing 184476b6e4 it.6c3110fe6942f553

“You said you’d treat me like you did during the Spring Festival?”4719c507d91c5e2b

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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.bbb98f32df477f60

“…It’s late. I should be going, Your Highness.”a1e8c1851534dca8

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Feeling it would be d6d2d5e04c better to leave than 1b0c5056b1 to show more of f2c15e3db3 his drunken state, Yeon-oh fe3266ae34 spoke up, and the 4beba9af0a Crown Prince looked disappointed.967b7723ee0b1177

“Already? The sun hasn’t even set yet.”18d34470402fbeee

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“It hasn’t set, but the sunset has passed.”1e6d9dfe09ff06b0

“Still. It hasn’t completely set, has it? I’m reluctant to let you go like this.”2628e588040c39f7

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The Crown c5fb43b0f1 Prince hesitated 0d5658d29d to grant 0e2e2aba8a Yeon-oh permission 06d2f2b89e to leave. The more 870f4f34e1 he hesitated, 3d35582603 the more 5c1596df43 Yeon-oh felt d3df666608 the intoxication 6385465418 rising, so 2425afb2fa he shook 08e88dbc31 his head. In the 593d187aa5 midst of 13858efdc4 this, his 4ddc86adea gaze fell 6d7396dea7 on Lee f20ee2b716 Shinwoo. He felt an urge 454afbcc38 to collapse like that, 320515fe32 but the thought of a0d5a3546d not wanting to lose 53e1539d0e composure ultimately won over cf8cc8e278 the impulse. Yeon-oh straightened his swaying 3874961e26 body.12fe27fd265a3cff

“Your Highness.”fe153a438e8f466d

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“Alright. Once we finish this bottle, I’ll let you go. How about that?”ff7d26ef66a4fb5a

The Crown Prince 4522b89537 suggested, shaking the 8f9ec3e568 bottle of strong 85f6064512 liquor. Accepting would b0d30c12a1 be akin fdc8678306 to digging c9c012de68 his own a432e84e00 grave, but ca6426808f there was 84331d67f9 no other 8b2a5c896e option. The Crown Prince seemed 1b38dc651f genuinely unwilling to let 38793f147e Yeon-oh leave. Whether it 4cf1ea0973 was because b6d078c77d he was eb427e29e0 genuinely happy 51f0d2c6ee to have 6999cf5943 a drinking ed81bd98e3 buddy or de6c71f9ee for some 0d2371919b other reason 7991a17d2f was unclear.fb798b34e1c05cfc

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“Hmm?”5dca49b771b3594d

“…You’ll really let me go once we finish this bottle?”579e6eb9a4ad1254

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“I’m the Crown Prince of a nation. I wouldn’t lie.”476b229720bff779

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.e1a71a54e765e317

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“Are you trying to ask about the lie regarding the Uigwi?”e26266cdcc6ee7ad

“…”202fce00db54d080

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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.”7a83f1f4ba3ac074

The Crown Prince shamelessly justified his lie. It was a ridiculous logic, but instead of showing emotion, Yeon-oh focused on the word “battlefield.”2c59cbf9938146b8

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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?9d458da6dd2218f4

“…”4f64e62b0788e9e8

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However, words didn’t come easily. Yeon-oh swallowed his curiosity along with the bitter drink.fd4eebc024af0f37

“This drink is unusually strong and cheap for the Imperial Palace.”0d6660ec62a03396

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“…”e38e9c7900dbb4ad

“It’s the drink soldiers have on the battlefield.”b77b6512690f4f8f

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The Crown Prince continued, fdfb7953f2 swirling his cup. It seemed as 1a8738a666 if he was addbef0a39 answering the question 6c055497bf Yeon-oh had swallowed, ef14c5ad49 so Yeon-oh quietly ae42188a75 listened.21df6c8955669b27

“The first time I drank was when I killed someone for the first time.”7595442443f77ed2

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“…”89be0d01d93b64e5

“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.”6d68d3c11690b3a4

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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.8dd649aa7bfdb4b7

“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.”bcc07ff75bc12f1c

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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.0fe91ce634bc1477

“I’ve told a story that doesn’t suit a celebratory day. Shall we continue drinking?”d167662bf2ff1769

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“Your Highness.”9d02f71e929f7385

The Crown 18585e296a Prince, who e57e9c789e was pouring 77d87d13f4 into his 448875dce2 empty cup, 3724f081bc turned his 6b77b128a4 head at 8f0811d9d9 the voice 7f56e14083 calling from cecf2cc1dc outside.9743a2d0e3961fd0

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“A letter has arrived.”ac764757483d9ba3

Whether it 527ba5f9d7 was the 3515f8ef81 letter he 94e4eaa540 had been 28f57efa6f waiting for, 5ae26651cc the Crown d4cd3a5b03 Prince stood f4b415b89b up without 612628c18e asking who bebcf80895 it was 539cb16271 from. As Yeon-oh 84206178d6 tried to 73b4586d0c stand, the c989f60f48 Crown Prince 3fc2a2dce5 placed a 65279749cb hand on 21b5950537 his shoulder, 938b1f8706 pressing him 3a3be24383 down.e517ad682cb0cca4

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“I’ll be right back. Stay here.”4245fcc622b12db2

The Crown Prince, fd61d7bed9 who had earnestly aa90c3b57a requested, left the 540d6ee27e room. Taking advantage 0bf6c368c5 of his cec7800bba absence, Yeon-oh a3c3247d02 placed his 23e741bad9 hand on 5bebfbe1cf the desk 4880051fba and rested db26b93cfc his face f838703b75 on it. Though his weight cd7c4c43d1 leaned on his 8ac65e5639 hand, the position 1a2438104f was more comfortable.ee206db3bf1de5a3

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“You seem tired.”cb7ae64a34b08bd6

Seeing this, 3e192c8273 Yoon Heekang fb0f021b13 spoke.ce535bd1fd81debf

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“I’m drinking for both of you.”cdb49efac1d0fe77

“When His Highness returns, he will order you to leave. So, rest your eyes for a moment.”9c5831ad696b041b

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“Is it an important letter?”d8492eec49e80141

Yoon Heekang 6b1ef46174 closed his 4e16f47d70 mouth. He was 6b2d69a597 clearly not 5d295acfc8 cut out ac53c22a74 for politics. If it 939c793a24 were truly d6e0a1a457 an important 457b878c76 letter, he 594fbdc41b should have 8bcda4029d denied it a814da4fed with a 8ca26701a5 nonchalant face. Or he 9ce5782d19 could have 0e921629ac deflected the f777d72a29 question like fa981f1627 a sly 41000929bc fox. As it was, 74815401b4 he might as e07d490b6e well have confessed 645340a6a5 it was an f61015365d important letter.c4da681ff2d56610

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“It’s fortunate you’re a military officer.”41cfed21fdfa8bdf

“I think so too.”4de2bd76bdf94ceb

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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.2eb0646895eed4cd

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.f04feb0bdcf3d8c4

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“Looks like you’re drunk. I might get blamed for getting such a precious son drunk.”dc962776609a5fb5

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.f2ab48c69fb7ec90

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“Right Censor. Are you okay?”38250983970077b9

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.751c192cf9690f2c

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“…Right Censor?”7ec7256909f0095d

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.bf0269f5aaa28bc9

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“Right Censor.”9e3c9a66784d79b1

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.98be74dde0fe5100

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“Did this hand seem like it would harm you?”09ed356a9919c641

Yeon-oh swallowed 360bc6621a a groan 7a09af6edd and gathered c9ceacfc7e his emotions, ef91cda256 finally opening a6fc2bce38 his mouth. The Crown Prince e2c832ede5 interrupted him.7ec295d81f527a64

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“…”70bdc5aa26977e5a

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.5854336d5d74e704

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“Judging by your expression, it seems you really thought so.”82e504fb8bb798d4

The Crown Prince interpreted Yeon-oh’s silence as he pleased. Yeon-oh didn’t deny it.685ef8e1e714c1d8

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“Then listen, Right Censor.”63a7015707f288e5

“…”d290b03218490f0c

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“This hand is not one that will harm you.”1502840de1632d34

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.6a8e459d10c30065

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“Your hand shouldn’t harm me either.”a0f927937c1a7a51

It sounded like a joke, but there was a serious undertone. It was also something Yeon-oh couldn’t promise.5b16d1e6f428b48d

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“I’ve had enough of killing allies who tried to harm me since I was twelve.”7afa902adca23ef1

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.4c0efb412c1a9dd1

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“Lee Pyeong.”e14b391d2a776dde

When Yoon Heekang was e4d69b5a3d called, he immediately approached ceeb3d1a0c the Crown Prince and bc38034483 bowed.532af945a32fd4d6

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“Yes, Your Highness.”5669bf45ed22662f

“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.”0c62b5064c51659a

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“I will do so.”993dcb42c38340f4