episode_0135

[Episode 135: Morning Greetings]

“Hyangdan… Why are you so out of it today? Not even playing with me…”

Tap tap…

“Mom…? Huh? A, a puppy? …Why? Why are you calling?”

Hyangdan snaps out of her daze, startled by a finger poking her side.

In front of her, a beautiful girl with ash-gray hair puffing her cheeks cutely as if she’s dissatisfied and a cat staring intently at herself.

“Hyangdan… You didn’t hear me again…”

“Meow-”

“Oh..! Sorry sorry.. What did you say? I was lost in thought…”

Seems like I was too out of it unintentionally. Even a slight touch made me jolt like this…

‘Ugh.. How many times have I spaced out like this? Geez.. That really caught me off guard.. Feels like my body has become hypersensitive…’

Even though it was just a light poke on the waist, the sensation felt overwhelming.

Just lightly touching me sent shivers down my spine as if electricity was flowing through my entire body…

Today, she sensed that something was a bit off with her body.

Her mind kept wandering…

Suddenly feeling a spike in temperature… then thirst… stomach fluttering… for no apparent reason…

It’s not itching, not painful at all, just an inexplicable sensation she couldn’t grasp…

Perhaps ever since she licked up all that thick liquid yesterday…

“Dani! …Hyangdan!”

“Meoww!”

Oops! Once again, I didn’t listen to our dog! What if the dog gets really mad?

“Ugh.. Sorry puppy.. Sorry to the cat too.. Why am I like this today?”

However, despite my continued mistakes, her dog friend, rather than puffing up its cheeks like before, lowers its eyes slightly with a worried look.

Only then does she seem to realize that something is wrong with her body.

“Hyangdan.. Are you feeling unwell? Your face is really red… Or… Is something wrong?”

“W-what do you mean..! N-nothing’s wrong…! I’m fine, puppy.. Just feeling a bit off today…? Ugh.. Maybe I’m sleepy? Uh.. Puppy, I think I should play with the cat today… Oh, haha..! Maybe I’ll feel better after a nap..!”

“Really… Is that enough..? I… I’m really worried…”

Meow….

“……”

Amidst her physical discomfort, the warm concern of her friends is felt vividly, as if it were soothing her heart.

‘Wow… Everyone is worrying about me like that… My heart feels all fuzzy… Sorry for not being able to play with you guys…’

Hyangdan felt a bit heavy-hearted realizing she had caused unnecessary worry to her friends.

In truth, such relationships were quite new to her.

Were there any friends she played with other than the goblin uncles until now?

Of course, she considered the Kim shopkeepers, whom she had teased, as friends in her own way, but…

In reality, she knew.

It was more about seeking attention like a child than forming friendships.

Despite fearing becoming pitiful and lonely, she had avoided acknowledging it…

But when she was with these friends, she didn’t have to worry about revealing her true colors or being feared or hated.

No need to play pranks to attract attention.

If she’s sick, they worry like this, and when she’s happy, they come to play together, running around joyfully.

Yes… They were undeniably her friends.

So, she wasn’t pitiful or lonely anymore.

Only now, with these real friends, Hyangdan could acknowledge that.

And…

Sniff sniff

Ah… How fragrant the smell is…

Always surrounded by the scent of alcohol and pungent odors from the male customers…

Hyangdan embraced her friends gently, inhaling the refreshing scent of grass and catnip wafting through the air.

“Yeah… Compared to rough and tough older brothers, our dog and cat are much better! They’re all affectionate and delicate… Oh! Come to think of it, even Mr. Kim’s scent is incredibly pleasant…”

She reminisced about how happy she had been when disguised in his clothes.

His embrace was warm, cozy, and fragrant…

She felt like she could live her whole life in his clothes; that’s how comforting they were.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Is it because he’s someone I love? Why is he so different from other men? Even yesterday, I thought his musky and intense scent was fragrant… Ah… I’m feeling strange again…”

Unintentionally, vivid memories from yesterday resurfaced… It seemed as if the intense scent from yesterday was once again lingering in the air.

Suddenly… a rush of warmth and rising feverish feelings.

It was a symptom she had experienced dozens of times already.

Could it be because of what she had tasted until her stomach was full yesterday?

Does a man’s essence… have the power to affect a woman like this?

Resembling the scent of night-blooming flowers, that pungent yet sweet and intense aroma lingered at the tip of her nose all day, refusing to dissipate…

The intense heat, the bitter taste… everything was so vividly imprinted in her mind…

“Hyangdan… You feel really hot… Maybe you’re actually sick… Come here… Lie down here and rest quickly…”

“Meow….”

Her friends, worried about her condition, led her to the bed, laying her down gently.

“Hyangdan… Just wait a bit… I’ll go ask the maids to prepare some medicine for you quickly…”

“Yeah… Thank you…”

Her dog and cat friends hurried off to fetch the medicine, leaving her alone in the silent and spacious room.

In her mind, there was only one image floating: the handsome face of Mr. Kim.

He had mentioned that he had to greet the Emperor in the morning with his eldest sister and might have a lot to do, so he might return late.

She was just disappointed. She didn’t want to be separated from him even for a moment.

“If I were to say I want to keep disguising myself in his clothes and stay close to him… that wouldn’t be appropriate, right? But… soon we’ll have to descend back to the mortal realm, so I should be transformed into clothes by then…”

Yes, let’s not dwell on regrets.

Although her body felt strange today, it was still a good day!

Seeing the slightly blushing face of Mr. Kim when their eyes met in the morning, it felt like many barriers had crumbled…

Naturally, memories of last night resurfaced.

His eyes meeting hers as if admiring them… complimenting her hair as beautiful… the lovely Mr. Kim…

“Ah… My legs are starting to feel weak again… trembling at the bottom… it’s strange…”

Quietly…

Unconsciously, her white hand began to move under her skirt…

Twitch…

“Why is it so damp here…? It’s hot and… ah… touching it seems to make it feel better…? Ah… huh… What is this? Why… why…? It feels similar to yesterday…! But something… something feels a bit lacking… huh… I like Mr. Kim…! Hng…! Ah…! Huh…!”

Would she realize that she resembled the mischievous antics of the Mr. Kim who had playfully hugged a broom and swayed his hips?

Fortunately, the quiet abode of the youngest daughter of the Emperor meant that unlike Mr. Kim and his friends who had faced embarrassment while drunk on the streets, no one would witness her current state.

“Your Majesty…! Princess Heesun and the fairy have arrived.”

Waiting outside the door, a courtier who appeared to be an official announced our arrival with a loud voice.

[Please come in.]

“Yes….”

As the sound of His Majesty’s footsteps echoed from inside, the courtier bowed his head and opened the door for us.

“You may enter now.”

“Thank you.”

I nodded to the courtier who opened the door, linked arms with Heesun, and entered through the open doorway.

The exterior of the room was impressive, but the interior was even more otherworldly.

A splendid room adorned with silk in a blend of green and yellow.

How spacious it was… overwhelming enough to understand why Heesun had described her own residence as the smallest…

“Indeed, the abode of the Heavenly Emperor is truly exceptional…”

Yes, Heesun and I had come to the dwelling where His Majesty resided early in the morning.

Officially, was it a morning greeting?

In reality, there were so many questions I wanted to ask His Majesty that I had requested this audience on a chosen day.

Since His Majesty had no personal time except at this hour, there was no other choice but to meet him now.

But… it seems that even in his personal chambers, the Jade Emperor has no privacy at all?

Whether it’s the courtiers or the officials, everyone is constantly in and out… It must be true that holding the position of a king or a celestial being is never easy.

Perhaps even if the position of the Jade Emperor were handed to me on a silver platter, it would still be difficult to handle.

“Lady Heesun presents herself before Your Majesty.”

“I have come to pay my respects to you, Your Majesty, on behalf of Princess Heesun.”

The room was so vast that despite pondering for quite some time, it took a while to reach where His Majesty was seated.

Hmm… I did introduce myself as Heesun’s father-in-law and bowed, but…

Originally, I had intended to simply say that I, a commoner, had come to see His Majesty.

It’s true that I have been acknowledged as a son-in-law, but there has been no official announcement about it yet.

So earlier, perhaps due to my ambiguous status, even the old courtier outside hesitated a bit when addressing me.

However, since Heesun insisted that I should be referred to as her father-in-law…

I had no choice but to address myself as “Mr. Unnamed Father-in-law.”

[Sigh….]

Ah… should I have just introduced myself as a commoner?

Look… he doesn’t seem pleased with that response.

Fortunately, it seems he didn’t outright reject it? That’s somewhat reassuring.

Perhaps Heesun also sensed that because her face lit up brightly as she cheerfully addressed His Majesty.

“Grandfather! Why haven’t you been visiting the lady’s residence lately? You used to come every day to inquire about the baby’s well-being. Could it be that the lady offended you a little during your last visit?”

[……]

“Oh, that was just because you were being too persistent with your requests. My word… you even sent spies? Do you know how surprised my husband and I were to see Lin wandering around at night?”

It’s… intriguing.

It seems like I’ve seen a new side of Heesun.

Although she’s my younger sister, she often displays a mature demeanor like an older sister…

But in front of her father, she acts like a child…

[Ahem…! How could one not worry about that child? By the way… that child…]

“Are you doing well? Of course, you are! Since you’re our lord’s child, mother must take good care of you. Hehe…”

[No, he’s not our lord’s child, he’s the grandson of a servant! Lady Heesun, mind your manners!]

“What? Our lord’s child, not my husband’s? How can the grandfather come out first? Even if he’s the Jade Emperor, that’s not right!”

[What do you mean it’s not right? Besides, that stern man has already taken away my most precious treasure, so shouldn’t I at least get a grandson like this in return?]

“What on earth are you talking about? Grandfather, really!”

…It seems like the new facet has been added by His Majesty himself.

When that trial comes down, it was incredibly solemn and dignified…

Still, at times like this, let’s just stay quiet.

What could a daughter thief have to say here? It’s fortunate if we’re not being pressured or attacked…