episode_0442

While conversing with Princess Haehwa, Yul pondered on when to bring up the topic, but it seemed like the perfect moment now.

“Actually, I’ve been trying to show Princess Haehwa the good side of the empire all this time. But how can a country be all good? If there are good aspects, there must be bad ones as well, it’s only natural.”

“Right. I understand.”

“I was worried that if Princess Haehwa saw the bad side of the empire, her enthusiasm for promoting exchange between the empire and the North might wane.”

Princess Haehwa nodded cutely.

“I didn’t come here just to see the good side. While it’s nice to see the good aspects, I also want to see the bad side. That’s the real image of the empire.”

“Exactly. I’ve also changed my thinking now. I hope Princess can experience both the good and bad sides of the empire. That way, we can truly become friends.”

It seemed like a natural segue to bring up the issue that Princess Haehwa had been pondering recently.

Yul intervened at the right moment and brought up the issue that was difficult to broach.

“But what if we only focus on the bad side and lose hope?”

Princess Haehwa smiled broadly at Yul’s words.

“I made friends because of coming to the empire. That alone makes the empire a place worth being grateful for.”

Seeing Princess Haehwa and Yul getting along well was heartwarming.

“I’ve seen many things since coming to the empire. I especially enjoy attending classes at the academy. I wish we had a similar place in the North.”

Princess Haehwa expressed regret that there wasn’t an academy like the one in the North.

“If building an academy is difficult, why not send students here? How about giving the people of the North a broader opportunity for education, like you, Princess?”

“Studying here like me?”

“Yes.”

It was something I had been planning for a long time.

Fortunately, Princess Haehwa showed interest.

“It would be great if we could do that. It’s much less burdensome than building an academy.”

“Princess Mona would probably give a positive response if you mention it.”

“Would it be okay for people from the North to attend the academy? What if others don’t like it?”

Someone must have said something to Princess Haehwa, as she seemed quite shocked.

“Why worry without even trying?”

Princess Haehwa hesitated before cautiously speaking in response to my question.

“I do have some concerns.”

“Concerns?”

“I found out that the people of the empire don’t like me.”

Princess Haehwa finally revealed the reason for her gloominess.

“It’s a misunderstanding. Why do you think they don’t like you?”

“There was an unpleasant incident at the coronation ceremony. I met someone who said they didn’t like me.”

“Well… to be frank, not everyone can be loved by everyone. The North and the empire haven’t interacted for too long. Complex emotions towards each other have been accumulating without being resolved for too long.”

“I know. I don’t mind being disliked. But if I come all this way believing in you and have a bad experience, I would feel really sorry.”

What kind of words did she hear at the coronation ceremony?

Yul held Haehwa’s hand, who was feeling down.

“Can you tell me in detail? What happened at the coronation ceremony.”

“I just heard some bad words.”

“I want to know what those bad words were. You wouldn’t be this hurt over something ordinary.”

Princess Haehwa is no fool, she didn’t come here unaware that the people of the empire discriminate against minorities.

Knowing that she must have come with a certain determination in mind, the fact that she still got hurt meant that those who had touched her at the coronation ceremony had done something shocking enough to leave a mark.

“I’m curious too. Should I tell you?”

When Yul finally mustered the courage to ask Princess Haehwa about what had happened back then while holding her hand, she eventually opened up.

※ ※ ※

“Those bastards.”

“Yes, they’re bad people! Did you just let it happen? You should have told Princess Hwangtae!”

“It’s a good day, I didn’t want to talk about bad things.”

Yul and I couldn’t hold back our curses after hearing everything.

Princess Haehwa, who was not yet an adult, had experienced something she shouldn’t have.

“If the nobles had planned to come after her, Princess Haehwa wouldn’t have been able to endure it. Besides, no matter how well the princess speaks the imperial language, it’s still a foreign language.”

It was the nobles who had harassed the relatively weaker ones.

Adult nobles were discriminating in a way that even academy students wouldn’t.

“Do you remember what he looks like? It would be better if you knew his name, but if you remember a memorable name, please tell me.”

“I remember, but what are you going to do?”

“You said that bad people should pay for their actions. It should apply not only to me but to everyone.”

Calling Princess Haehwa, who was still in a dress, a slave was a deliberate insult.

“…I’m not sure, but when we talked, we called each other by name. I remember those names.”

Knowing the names would make it much easier to find them.

“Please tell me.”

Princess Haehwa told me three names she remembered.

Whether to consider this fortunate or unfortunate, one of the three names that came out of Princess Haehwa’s mouth stuck in my head.

“If it’s that noble….”

He was a guy I had cursed as a son of a bitch before.

The mother of Prince Il, in other words, the sister of the Empress.

‘If Prince Il’s death hasn’t been revealed yet, is he still dreaming?’

He must be very regretful that Mona Hwangtae became the successor.

“If that person, he might have approached Princess Haehwa with the intention of hurting her.”

“Do you know him?”

“Did he intentionally approach Princess Haehwa?”

Both Princess Haehwa and Yul asked at the same time.

“Not everyone supports Mona Hwangtae becoming the successor. She may have become the successor, but Her Majesty has not confirmed it, so the successor can change at any time. And among the names Princess Haehwa just mentioned, there was a relative of Prince Il.”

“!!”

“Why me?”

“Aren’t Princess Haehwa and Mona Hwangtae close? Besides, Mona Hwangtae actively wants to build relationships with the North. If building a relationship with the North helps the Empire, it will be an achievement for Mona Hwangtae.”

“It’s difficult.”

Princess Haehwa seemed to have trouble understanding the words, so she groaned.

After I explained it a little more clearly, Princess Haehwa, who finally understood, asked with sparkling eyes.

“So, he did bad things to me because he wanted to do bad things to Mona Hwangtae?”

“That’s right.”

“It wasn’t because he didn’t like me.”

Princess Haehwa’s innocence, which was relieved to hear that it wasn’t just because she was disliked but because of political actions, was endearing.

“I didn’t know it was such an important matter. I don’t want Princess Hwangtae to suffer because of me.”

She probably still believed that Prince Il was alive and couldn’t let go of her regrets.

To pull her out of the position of Princess Hwangtae, what was needed was a flaw in Mona Hwangtae.

And rather than finding an existing flaw, the nobles would have tried to create a flaw in Princess Hwangtae by any means necessary.

“But Mona Hwangtae-nyeo is not someone to be taken lightly. Even if they try to create a pretext, she manages to prevent such actions thoroughly.”

In such a situation, the only one who could intervene would be Princess Haehwa.

“From now on, Princess Hwangtae-nyeo is entering a serious test. The nobles who do not support Mona Hwangtae-nyeo will try to sabotage whatever she does.”

After causing such chaos, Mona Hwangtae-nyeo will try to make Princess Haehwa take responsibility.

Creating a flaw if there isn’t one was the power struggle among the nobles.

“Touching the princess in such a situation would have been very easy.”

“Haehwa went through that because of a political issue…”

Shocked by the unexpected truth, Princess Haehwa took a deep breath, while Yul furrowed her brow as if she was angry.

“It’s not certain yet. It’s just highly likely based on the circumstances. If you give me some time, I will investigate further.”

Although it was said to be uncertain, honestly, I think it will definitely happen.

There is no way the nobles would engage in actions that would cause them harm for no reason.

“Even though it’s obvious what would happen if Princess Haehwa confronts Hwangtae-nyeo, provoking her in that situation was a move that couldn’t have been made without intention.”

“Since Princess Haehwa is close to the next ruler, the risk she could face by provoking her is something that couldn’t have been done unintentionally.”

“They might have thought of touching Princess Haehwa because she is already disliked by the Northerners and could be used as a means to attack Mona Hwangtae-nyeo.”

Now that I know what these guys are planning, it’s time to prepare.

Although Prince Hwangja was doomed to not survive in the contaminated zone, the fact that the factions supporting him were thriving was not good for Mona Hwangtae-nyeo.

“I thought I could just endure and let go of my bad feelings.”

Perhaps because she realized she was entangled in a political issue, Princess Haehwa seemed burdened by the current situation.

Even though it was said to be uncertain, Yul shuddered at the sinister nature of the nobles, and she brushed her own arm.

“I have received education from my mother, so I have heard similar stories before. But hearing that my friend went through such a thing gives me chills.”

Instead of being afraid of ghosts, we should be afraid of people.

There are far more attempts by people to harm others than by ghosts, and they are much more deadly.

Unlike Yul, who shuddered at the crimson truth, Princess Haehwa seemed to be lost in thought, her mind filled with complexity.