episode_0175

As tension mounted, the banquet hall, which had seemed gray until receiving the patriarch’s toast, suddenly transformed into a vibrant array of colors with the patriarch’s commencement declaration.

Lively and cheerful music resonated throughout the banquet hall, people chattered and laughed, indulging in various foods and drinks laid out before them.

Moreover, it felt as though not only those within the palace were enjoying the banquet, but festivities were also unfolding outside, with the sounds of fireworks and cheers echoing into the palace grounds…

Where did the solemn and serious atmosphere from before disappear to?

Now, the banquet was starting to resemble what I had imagined, making me feel remarkably at ease.

However, there was just a hint of something off…

[“Well then! Pour me another drink. How about it? Are you enjoying the Heavenly Realm banquet?”]

“Oh! Yes, Your Highness. Everyone seems happy, haha…”

[“Your Highness… Why? Not calling me ‘patriarch’ like before?”]

“Ugh…!”

To think I was sharing a drink with His Majesty the Emperor himself?

Thankfully, the patriarch seemed quite pleased, which was a relief.

He even made such mischievous jokes.

Perhaps it was because Heesun has been spending a lot of time in the palace lately with his daughter?

“I-I apologize, Your Highness. At that time, I was just a bit… caught off guard…”

[“Hmph, lacking in confidence, huh, Buma? You boldly passed through Heaven’s trials, yet why so timid now? Moreover, Buma, you are soon to become a father! Can you fulfill your duties as a proper husband and father? Act manly right away and address me as ‘patriarch’ again.”]

Oh… ‘patriarch’? Isn’t that a bit much?

It seems odd to have to prove masculinity through titles…

And even though this is a banquet, one could still get reprimanded for no reason…

Could it be that… you’re not tipsy, are you, patriarch?

[“It’s fine, it’s fine. If I permit it, who dares to find fault? Just say it once more, Patri… arch!”]

“Uh… Ah… Yes. Hoo… Patriarch…”

[“That’s it! Exactly right! Hahaha! This is the man chosen by my daughter!”]

“….”

It was a bewildering yet oddly familiar situation.

Was it reminiscent of the dreadful trauma experienced when teased by a fellow soldier during basic training?

[“Hahaha, did you hear that, Taebaek Geumsung? Buma just called me ‘patriarch’…! Addressing the Emperor as ‘patriarch’…! Hahaha, isn’t this amusing! It seems our Buma, being a mere mortal, is still unfamiliar with the etiquette and laws of the court…!”]

“I apologize, Your Highness. It is due to the negligence of us subordinates who have been preoccupied with our duties. We shall appoint attendants specifically to thoroughly educate Buma on the customs of the Heavenly Realm…!”

[“Yes, yes! Who is he to be my son-in-law…! Oh my…! Geumsung, assign the finest etiquette tutor to my son-in-law…!”]

“Yes, Your Highness…!”

“…???”

Could this be a case of déjà vu rather than trauma? How could I predict this so accurately…!

Patria… No, Your Highness…! Isn’t this going too far?

Why order me to do it and then instruct the attendant next to you to call me that?

This is clearly setting me up…!

I’ve been through this in the military, both as the recipient and the instigator, so I know all about it…

– “Hey, when we’re alone, call me ‘hyung,’ go ahead, try it, hehe~”

How suffocating it was when a senior soldier approached with an angelic smile, asking if military life was tough!

It was obviously a trap, so I dodged it by responding in a textbook manner,

“No! I learned in the military that it’s inappropriate! I’ll just address you as Senior Soldier!”

But in reality, not playing along often led to even more torment from the senior, creating a vicious cycle!

It’s more comfortable to pretend to be naive and fall into the trap of being underestimated in the beginning…

However, the problem is… this time, it wasn’t a senior but rather a high-ranking official?

Since everyone in the military is generally good at grasping situations, they noticed my absence as a senior and tried to push me a few times, but look at this…

That fresh-faced person who seems to be playing the role of a senior.

No matter how serious their face looks, I couldn’t find a hint of playfulness.

At least Heesun knows that I’m fed up with those rote-style teachings, so even though she vaguely knows that I’m avoiding etiquette lessons, it felt like she was understanding and indulging me.

“……”

Wow…

That person just exudes principles and strict discipline from their face alone! Even if you were to poke them with a needle, not a drop of blood would come out…

“Sigh… I miss Heesun….”

I just started missing Heesun.

If Heesun were here, she would have shielded me from the harassment of the master and the intimidating gaze of the stern gentleman…

And suddenly, I felt mentally exhausted, yearning for our lovely Heesun’s affectionate comfort.

But it’s really strange that no matter how much I look around, I can’t even catch a glimpse of Heesun.

I came here in the first place because I missed Heesun so much…

Didn’t the Gold Sibi lady tease me about that?

However, even after arriving at the banquet hall, I still couldn’t find Heesun anywhere.

The only visible thing was three troublemakers having a blast at a slightly distant spot from where they were enjoying the party.

“Cute puppy! Fluffy kitten~ Try this too! It’s delicious!”

“Yeah… thanks… I… I’m having fun here.”

“Meow~”

Yomi might not know, but both Hyangdan and Sari were nervous until a while ago, clinging onto each other and pouting…

“They all look cute.”

The atmosphere in the banquet hall seems to have lightened up,

Seeing the delicious dishes in front of them, their eyes lit up, cheeks puffed with excitement, eagerly eating and laughing, everyone seemed elated.

“Yes… just stay happy like that…”

Sometimes I envy those friends. I also want to relax and enjoy something…

“Anyway… Heesun… we need to find Heesun… Huh? Master?”

This is ridiculous…

I can’t find the Heesun I’m looking for, but I keep finding other people?

I didn’t know, but the master was also here in that corner.

Tilting glasses back and forth, chatting happily with what seems to be a colleague, his face looks plump and healthy due to the vacation period…

While I just watched our troublemakers play and felt content, why does the master’s excitement seem a bit forced?

He said he was busy when I wanted to find out about Heesun, but here he is at the party again?

Moreover, he vowed not to even look towards the palace during the vacation period.

Phew…

As a disciple, it feels strange to say this, but…

Is he oddly nimble? Fidgety? Naturally, these thoughts come to mind.

Now I understand why Heesun occasionally taunts the master.

No, even though the disciple was feeling frustrated, the master could have subtly helped a bit…

Isn’t it too much not to even try to meet me?

Conscientiously, since you came over here, couldn’t you at least help me deal with the royal family…!

Sigh…!

Looking at the master chuckling with amusement, I stared through him, and only then did he seem to notice my gaze and briefly glance back at me.

Our eyes met.

“Oh! Disciple..! Oh..!”

The master seemed to be about to pretend to be pleased to see me, but upon noticing the craftsman sitting right next to me, he went, “Ah!” and quickly turned his head away.

…After that, he never looked back in my direction.

The feeling of completely blocking any possibility related to the master.

“Wow….”

I couldn’t help but admire the thorough appearance of my teacher.

[Is there even someone looking for Buma?]

“Oh! Your Highness.”

At that moment, amidst the conversation, I was bewildered by my teacher’s behavior as I wandered around aimlessly, wondering if I was strange. It seemed like Master had awakened me from my reverie.

Oh… I shouldn’t have been so careless while in the presence of His Majesty Okhwang Sangje; it seems like I made a mistake.

Just saying that I was looking for Heesun…

“I apologize, Your Highness… I was just curious about where Heesun was and couldn’t contain my curiosity, so I was wandering around the banquet hall.”

[Haha, how long will the protagonist of the banquet remain so tense? There are many things to apologize for. It’s okay. As a father, I am very satisfied with your answer… Perhaps Heesun will soon… Oh..! Ugh… That was close to a big problem, wasn’t it?]

“……??”

[Ahem…! Even if you stare at me like that, I won’t tell you. I’m afraid if that child gets angry. Just wait a bit. Oh! This person is really! Why is their temperament so impatient? They will show up when the time is right….]

“……”

You didn’t say anything, Master…?

And since you stopped talking in the middle, it only makes me more curious….

By the way, it’s surprising that there was still a hidden camera…

The banquet has already started, so I don’t know what else needs to be hidden or kept secret.

That’s when it happened.

“All members of Jangnae, please listen for a moment. The Gamyubaekhui (歌舞百戱) will begin shortly, so please vacate the center of the banquet hall and return to your seats.”

Just as the mystery reappeared, my head began to spin again, but the fresh-faced person who was chanting earlier started controlling the attendees of the banquet.

I knew there was such a procedure, but I didn’t realize it was so important to control the attendees to that extent.

The fresh-faced person who taught me the procedure just called it a performance and moved on, so I didn’t think it was that important….

Maybe they deliberately downplayed it to hide its importance from me?

[Oh! It’s starting now. Buma, keep your eyes wide open and focus from now on..]

“Uh… Yes.”

Since I almost accidentally mentioned the hidden camera, Master, who was making an awkward expression fearing Heesun’s scolding, reacted as soon as the fresh-faced person’s controlling words were spoken, speaking to me as if entrusting me with something important.

‘Hmm… Is it really that important? No, it seems like they’re deliberately diverting attention…’

Well, I guess I have no choice but to watch.

Realizing that the unexpected joy of discovering something when you didn’t know about it is more enjoyable, I also understood that following Master’s advice and focusing on this Gamyubaekhui would be the right thing to do.

Even though I don’t know what Baekhui means, if Gamyu involves singing and dancing, maybe they are planning some kind of performance?