episode_0177

When Heesun and the fairies let go of their instruments, the instruments floated in the air, swaying gently above the stage, playing by themselves.

A skill only the fairies of Heaven could perform.

It wasn’t a solo performance but a harmony created by their celestial skills.

The fairies, having set aside their instruments, danced gracefully with their beautiful winged garments fluttering like blooming lotus flowers.

Heesun, dancing at the center of the lotus flower, emitting delicate lines from the topmost graceful part, was careful not to let her gaze affect the dance, casting a loving glance at her companion.

“Wow… Look at your expression, Lord… You look so silly and adorable… Hehe…”

At this moment, Heesun felt the utmost happiness performing for him.

Even with such a silly expression, he looked incredibly charming.

Adorned magnificently, exuding nobility contrasting with his expression,

the clothes he wore were meticulously crafted for her future husband…

Yes, especially those clothes!

Upon seeing the attire on her husband, Heesun couldn’t contain the overflowing joy in her heart.

White base with golden embroidery, pink cherry blossoms stitched in silver.

Her own attire featured a pink base with silver embroidery, cherry blossom trees stitched in gold…

After the performance, standing beside him with their arms linked, they might resemble a cherry blossom tree in full bloom.

Her joyful spirit was captured in her dance and music, causing the lotus flowers of the performance to bloom vibrantly.

Perhaps the person who dressed her husband today had a golden touch.

As much as one’s eyes were drawn to the clothes, she rivaled them in beauty.

“Maybe she chose the outfit that best complements my winged garment without bothering my husband too much?”

Thinking so, she felt a tinge of sadness as her husband’s face seemed slightly weary?

“Our Lord doesn’t like changing clothes often, he must have had a hard time…?”

Hardship…

Ah… Come to think of it, she had endured quite a lot herself.

The first obstacle was her mother-in-law.

-“Child, Heesun… Sigh… Won’t you listen to your mother’s words… How can you engage in such strenuous performances while carrying a child in your womb… What if it harms your grandchild…!”

-“Oh, Mother-in-law, it’s fine…! Since it’s not too much…! You know… Mother is really more stubborn than me…! She used to be so stubborn that she made the Dohui Hall unbearable, now she’s even making life difficult for the girl?”

-“Oh my… Fairy Heesun! How dare you behave so recklessly in front of the royal family…!”

-“Oops… Oh my…? How did this happen…? It seems the baby in my belly was startled by Mother-in-law’s scolding…! Baby~ It’s okay~ Our little one is fine…. Getting angry at Mom… Was Grandpa very mean, right?”

-“Ugh… Heesun, this is…!”

“Oh dear…? What should I do…? Our little one seems really upset with Grandpa…! If you keep doing that in front of His Majesty…! Oh, what should I do…? What? Grandpa said if Mom allows you to dance, you’ll feel better? No, little one, Grandpa might scold again?”

-“Well… Do as you please.”

Well, that was easy.

This wasn’t considered much of a hardship.

The real challenge lay elsewhere…

“Stop…! You made a mistake again. Seol (Snow), are you going to keep doing that?”

“Oh my? I’m sorry, Heesun Mama. I made this rookie mistake again…! I’m worried about how much trouble you must be going through right now, so I lost focus…”

How could there be something more challenging than convincing His Majesty…!

No matter how irritating their behavior was…

The identity of that fairy… was ‘Seol,’ the close aide of the eldest sister from the most influential faction.

Being in charge of the surgery near the center of the lotus, it was a position where mistakes were not tolerated. However, she kept making subtle errors from the basics, engaging in this silent battle with herself.

“Sigh… How did I mess that up?”

Of course, she could fully understand Seol’s sentiments. She knew that both Yeon and Rin were capable of doing worse things than her for their own sakes.

Consequently, how bitter she must be feeling. The youngest fairy, Chilchili, who lost her winged garment, was receiving such a severe punishment just because she left her master to suffer like that over a trivial reason…

It wasn’t an action the sisters took thinking they would be kidnapped, but they probably considered the punishment excessive compared to the offense.

“Sigh…”

However, there were times when she understood it like that. She thought she would end it after irritating her enough, but she ended up engaging in this silent battle with herself all day long…

Certainly, she could have easily dismissed her like the other arrogant fairies who had been rejected before, but the reason she couldn’t dismiss that fairy until the end was simple.

That fairy had the most graceful figure and danced well.

In addition to having an exceptionally beautiful face, her voice was as sweet as a nightingale’s.

Since she was solely responsible for the central surgical part of the flower, four fairies were needed to assist her, but while two were assigned to Yeon and Rin, and one neutral fairy was chosen, the problem lay in the fact that the last remaining spot was just perfect for Seol.

Oh… How nice it would have been if she had even a bit less skill or if there was at least one person among the other fairies that satisfied her eyes.

Of course, if she continued causing trouble like this, she would eventually have to dismiss her, but her lingering desire kept fueling her folly.

She was determined to present a flawless performance to her master.

And to do that, she had to somehow persuade and take along that stubborn woman.

“I just want to blindfold her, drag her to my master’s bed at night, and forcefully push her in.”

If she experienced the expanding sensation like a frog just once, she would immediately become obedient and follow my words meekly…

Moreover, being a virgin would undoubtedly make the effect more dramatic.

Ah… How did she even come up with such thoughts?

Coincidentally, she seemed to have a pretty face that would appeal to her master, appearing sophisticated, yet unlike her gentle self and Hyeongdani, who had a tender heart, this woman, contrary to her appearance, seemed to have a temperament that made people recoil upon approaching her, like “Oops! She’s cold,” just like her name ‘Seol’ suggests…

This was also a natural thought considering that she possessed a special charm that suited the conqueror-like taste of her master.

Wouldn’t it be appropriate to offer her as a sacrifice when we, siblings, are struggling under pressure, as a break for my master to snack on?

“Oh! What a scary thought…! Sigh… Let’s not get angry… It’s not good for the little ones, and the author will only get more twisted if I get angry…”

It seemed that something had accumulated over these past few days to the point where she was having such thoughts that she would never entertain under normal circumstances.

One thing was certain: getting angry was counterproductive.

The author didn’t fear her.

But actually taking her to her master as a sacrifice was out of the question.

It would undoubtedly be a good gift for her master, but wouldn’t it disrupt my plan of surprising him by hiding the performance and startling him?

“Well, then, um, the only option left is…”

A direct approach.

That was the only way.

“Seol? Can we talk privately for a moment? Let’s go to the star room. Yeon and Rin, don’t follow. I’ll have a private chat with Seol.”

“M-Ma, Ma..!”

“Uh-huh… gladly, Your Highness.”

Seol’s response was somewhat fierce.

The woman’s goal is to somehow extract herself from this dance.

However, as this is an event overseen by the Emperor of Jade, with only a humble position as a fairy, she couldn’t dare to leave on her own accord.

So she behaved in such a manner.

To provoke her and make her reject me.

By doing so, not only would there naturally be a reason to leave, but if someone were to question, I could simply excuse myself by claiming ‘lack of skill’ due to a lack of concentration that day.

Even if she were to plead with me like she did when she had nightmares, it would have been a satisfying event for her.

Thinking that by teasing and manipulating me, she could reduce the punishment her older sister would receive through me.

However, this time, she had seriously miscalculated.

Unfortunately for her, I had no intention of getting angry at her or pleading with her.

There was no need for that.

She had accumulated plenty of experience on Earth.

Moreover, she had learned how to use the weapons she possessed by observing the Lord.

Although it was a brief moment compared to my life…

In that fleeting moment, she met a lifelong companion, faced danger, and overcame it all.

“I am no longer the weak and immature youngest fairy who interacted poorly with people. I am the wife of the Lord, a mother to a child! And Seol! Your ignorance of that will be your downfall.”

She was now not just a fairy but also the wife of a skilled hunter.

“Yes, Seol, it must be tough, right?”

With those words, Heeseon turned to Seol, who followed her into the star room, speaking affectionately.

“….”

“Well, the master is probably suffering the consequences, so your body may be at ease, but your mind isn’t, right?”

“Heeseon Mama. Even if you are the mama, this is a matter concerning Unni. How can you insult me by saying that I couldn’t focus on such a trivial dance because I was worried about our Mama!”

As soon as the conversation turned to punished older sisters, Seol raised her voice immediately, seeming displeased. However, Heeseon continued calmly without batting an eye.

“Lower your voice. How dare you raise your voice in front of anyone? I didn’t bring up that story to insult you, so don’t get so worked up already. If you get worked up over this, how will you handle what’s coming next? I just listed the facts, didn’t I? And what? That trivial dance? Ha!”

Surprised, Seol’s pupils trembled.

Was it because her reaction, unlike that of a foolish woman who would cry and plead, was calm and composed?

Without raising her voice or showing anger, Heeseon continued in a composed tone.

“You, and all the fairies following the older sisters, are missing something important.”

“… What is that?”

“It’s nothing special. Did you know that the older sisters had to undergo divine retribution and enter the cycle of reincarnation? Yes, the same punishment as that ‘Prince’ who received it before I was born. Becoming animals, feeding on each other until their sins are washed away, enduring the agony of carving out repentance.”

Seol’s eyes widened in shock at Heeseon’s words.

“That, that’s absurd…! Mama! How can you speak such absurd and outrageous words!”

“If you find it absurd, you can ask the deities yourself. Taebaek Geumsung is a strict person, so it might be difficult, but if you’re Taesang Nogun, he should give you an answer. So don’t interrupt and listen until the end. Your mistress’s fate rests solely in these hands. If you interrupt me again, I cannot guarantee your mistress’s fate.”

“….”

“Hoho… I quite like that expression you’re wearing right now. Yes, it’s almost unbelievable. Did my sisters just tease me as usual? But why did they receive such a severe punishment on that day?”

“……”

“It was because of the situation designed by Yeokgeun.”

“!!!”

“You must know too, right? No matter how much Yeokgeun intervened… if even one of my sisters had engraved the duty of a fairy in their hearts, my fate could have easily changed. There’s no way to escape Yeokgeun’s tricks. After all, everyone receives education upon becoming fairies, right?”

“……”

“My sisters were fairies. Fairies… are women who should plant kind and positive influences in people’s hearts, spreading happiness. Why do you think we wear these winged garments and dance high up in the sky? Isn’t it to show our dances and songs to those enjoying the banquet… to the people outside the palace walls, making them happy and joyful? And you, too, as a fairy with such a duty. Although I’ve lived a shorter life than you… I’ve never once forgotten that fact.”

“……”

“Why did those sisters, who forgot the duty of a fairy and got involved with Yeokgeun, not seek redemption through repentance but instead engage in petty acts?”

“… I don’t know.”

“I forgave them. Despite leaving me to the miserable fate designed by Yeokgeun… despite ignoring all my desperate cries and leaving heartlessly, they were the ones who allowed me to meet my lifelong benefactor and love… So, in the end, I could forgive them.”

“……”

“This gathering is a place where everyone in Heaven, including my benefactor and me, expresses gratitude and appreciation. And… if you truly care for your sisters… if you also feel a sense of responsibility…! You must properly show gratitude to my benefactor as well. If they hadn’t written a new story and made my fate just, saving me… my sisters would have been torn apart and lost without a trace by now..!”

“Hehe…”

Heesun’s calm voice gradually rises, beginning to show anger, while Seol’s eyes, filled with arrogance and venom, start to be overwhelmed by confusion and fear as if pierced deeply by Heesun’s weapon.

“But… how dare you… someone like you, who has forgotten even the duty of a fairy, try to disrupt such a gathering… for Him…? What did you just say? About those dances?”

“He, Heesun-mama..! P-please, just calm down..! I was just..! I never intended to cause any disturbance..!”

“Put your excuses aside..! Since you already understand the reasons. If I were to rush to Abamama and say I can’t forgive my sisters. If they feel that the punishment they receive is too light and complain… what do you think will happen to them? Huh? Or if Abamama realizes that you tried to ruin the gathering for the benefactor who drove out Yeokgeun? Then what do you think will happen to you?”

“I-I apologize, Heesun-mama..! P-please, at least…! N-no… I’m willing to do anything, even if it’s…! Whatever it is, I’ll do it! Whether it’s dancing or singing! What should I do…! How can I… save my mama…!”

Seol’s complexion pales like snow following Heesun’s gaze.

Heesun sensed that this tiresome power struggle would soon end in her victory.

“Phew… Yes, if you follow one command from me well, there might be no need to rush to Abamama right away.”

“W-what is it! I’ll do anything! If you want me to dance, I’ll dance, if you want me to sing, I’ll sing! What should I do…! How can I… save my mama…!”

A trembling voice and a desperate expression.

After a moment of contemplation, Heesun slowly opened her mouth.

“You will be my rival. Or rather, precisely put, you will be the personal rival of my husband, Bumaisin.”

“Yes, yes?”

Seol looked at Heesun with a bewildered expression.

However, in Heesun’s cool jade eyes, there seemed to be no warmth whatsoever, only a sense of firm determination.