The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die

Chapter: 118

“I thought it was your brother who had come.”

“Yes, I’ve come in place of my younger brother, Do Sang-won,” Do Ye-ran replied brazenly. Her audacity was astounding; one might wonder if she had a heart of stone.

“Your audacity remains unchanged,” the General remarked.

“...Yes.”

A silence fell between them. So Ik-Gyeom was silent because he was still trying to process the absurdity of the situation, while Do Ye-ran was watching the General closely.

Do Ye-ran broke the silence. “I won’t be going back.”

The way she said it implied that she had a way to return if she wanted to. Indeed, though she was reckless and foolish, she wasn’t stupid.

So Ik-Gyeom sighed heavily.

“With your personality, you wouldn’t have come this far without a good reason. It takes about a week to travel from Yunrim to the capital.”

Do Ye-ran nodded slightly.

“So, what is it? If you’ve gone to such lengths, there must be a reason. Convince me.”

“And if I do?”

“Do you think you’re in a position to bargain with me?” So Ik-Gyeom threatened.

Do Ye-ran glared at him, her eyes cold.

One of the peculiar things about Do Ye-ran was her strange eyes. Her cold gaze seemed almost artificial, like that of a finely crafted doll.

So Ik-Gyeom felt a discomfort bordering on fear and stopped his threats. He softened his tone, saying, “If you insist on doing something foolish...”

“I won\'t,” she replied before he could finish.

These young people had no manners. He clicked his tongue inwardly and looked around.

“Tell me.”

In truth, So Ik-Gyeom could already guess what was going on in Do Ye-ran’s head. Her background provided him with a clue. He recalled what she had told him about the inner workings of the Do clan nearly a decade ago.

‘Sir, a young girl has come to see you and won’t leave. What should I do?’

A small girl, unaccompanied by a servant, had come to his manor.

The servant, judging by his tone, wanted to turn her away. But So Ik-Gyeom was not a man to turn away a young girl who insisted on seeing him.

‘I’ll see her. Send her in.’

When he first met Do Ye-ran, she had been dressed like a beggar.

Despite her shabby appearance, she had said to him without hesitation, “I want to enter the inner palace.”

The inner palace. The queen’s quarters.

She had declared her intention to use Yegyeong. Even in her ragged clothes, her ambition had been clear.

Remembering that, So Ik-Gyeom chuckled. Not long ago, he had found and brought a young boy to fulfill Yegyeong’s request. He seemed to have a strange affinity for children dressed as beggars.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was happy about people trying to use his grandson.

“Why are you laughing? I haven\'t said anything yet, General.”

Do Ye-ran glared at him suspiciously. So Ik-Gyeom regained his composure.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s strange.”

“Well, it’s nothing.”

She stared at him curiously before continuing.

“I want to make a contribution.”

So Ik-Gyeom responded immediately.

“Nonsense.”

“How dare you say that I’m talking nonsense?” Do Ye-ran protested.

“You won\'t do anything to dishonor His Highness, will you?”

“Your very presence would dishonor His Highness. People will see you not as the noble daughter of the Yunrim clan, but as his former fiancée.”

“Since there are more rumors about the two characters of His Highness’s name than there are words written in the books in your father’s study, what are you worried about?”

So Ik-gyeom was speechless.

“Don’t just dismiss me. Reconsider, General. I’m capable, you know that.”

Looking at her still pale face, he realized that her confidence in her abilities was not unfounded. But that was the problem.

“Did your father give you permission to leave?”

“...Yes.”

How audacious. There was no way she had his permission. Regardless of the truth, to the outside world, Do Ye-ran was the treasured jewel of the Yunrim Do clan, the most precious flower in their garden.

“There seem to be many people who want to make my life difficult. I must have done something wrong in my past life.” So Ik-gyeom said wearily. “How do you plan to use His Highness this time?”

“I haven’t used him,” Do Ye-ran protested. “Wasn’t the engagement already broken off?”

So Ik-gyeom cleared his throat and feigned ignorance.

“Your father was strongly opposed to it.”

“It wasn’t just my father, was it?”

It was true. The opposition hadn’t come solely from the Yunrim clan. Yegyeong himself had strongly disliked his fiancée, which had led to the end of the engagement.

However, the engagement had indeed taken place. And according to the law, once someone had been betrothed to the royal family, they could never marry anyone else.

Therefore, despite her beauty and background, Do Ye-ran was destined to remain a sheltered flower forever.

“Unlike you, General, I don’t get many opportunities. Don’t turn me away.”

“...Very well. You’re saying that since you missed your chance to enter the palace through His Highness, you’re looking for another way in.”

“Something like that.”

“If you want to make a contribution, how do you plan to do so?”

Do Ye-ran immediately held out her hands.

“Look at these...”

Despite her seemingly sheltered life, her hands were a mess. Her palms were covered in calluses and scars, and her fingers were gnarled, hardly the hands of a noblewoman from the Yunrim clan.

“I’ll figure out what to do. Just give me a chance.”

Whatever she had been doing, she had clearly been working hard. It would be cruel to send her away. Especially considering what he knew about the Yunrim clan.

So Ik-gyeom was in a dilemma.

If he continued like this, he would be completely at her mercy.

“You’re cruel,” he said.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

He sighed and turned away. “Get some rest. We’ll be leaving early tomorrow.”

* * *

The doctor said I could finally leave my room.

“Finally, I have your permission.”

I felt stiff from lying in bed for so long.

“Ughh.”

I stretched as much as I could, but I was scolded.

“Be quiet. I don’t expect you to be graceful, but can you at least stop making those strange noises?”

It seems I still wasn’t good enough.

A messenger from the Lord of Wolhan Fortress arrived shortly after the doctor left.

“The Lord humbly requests your presence at a meeting before dinner.”

He spoke with even more humility than before. I agreed to go.

“I haven’t really done anything, though.”

“What does it mean?” Gon asked as soon as the messenger left.

I watched the door where the messenger had disappeared and replied, “He’s being awfully deferential. Does he think I’m going to go on a rampage?”

He probably thinks I’m going to act like a madman, now that I’m out of bed.

“That would hurt my feelings a bit,” Gon sighed. “What am I going to do with this foolish boy... Are you really asking me that?”

I thought back. There had been quite a commotion in Wolhan Fortress while I was bedridden. It seems Son Gye-du had insisted on a background check of all the troops. He must have been looking for something to do, so he caused a stir by doing something unnecessary.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that everyone in the fortress is watching your every move right now.”

“Really?”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

Gon had been going around the fortress for a few days, since it had recovered sooner than I had. That was why I had been staying in bed and following the doctor’s orders.

“Have you talked to the other elders?”

“They’re not much different. It’s undeniable that your reputation isn’t great, and some people have been secretly unhappy because of the lack of support from the capital due to your father’s issues. But... aren’t you a prince after all?”

“Ah.” I nodded. “So they’re worried, huh? Afraid they’ll get caught in the crossfire.”

Gon groaned. “Why do you always have to think that way...”

“Huh?”

It started patting its chest with its wings.

Why? What’s wrong?

Just then, we heard footsteps outside. I recognized the gait immediately.

Before he could knock, I said, “Come in.”

The shadow behind the paper door flinched, and then the door opened.

“Your Highness.”

It was Jincheon.

He approached, bowing awkwardly.

I hadn’t seen Jincheon since returning to Wolhan Fortress. It was partly because the doctor had ordered me to rest, but honestly, I had been avoiding him.

“Yeah, come in.”

Jincheon looked up but he seemed lost in thought.

I studied him and asked, “You’ve gotten a tan.”

I was asking if he had been training hard with his sword, but he gave a short reply.

It seemed he hadn’t come to visit me out of concern; he had probably just come out of a sense of duty. After all, what kind of bond did we have? Whether I lived or died, what did it matter to him?

“...Are you well?” Jincheon asked hesitantly.

It seemed he was starting to feel awkward around me. Well, it had been a while. It was a bit ridiculous for someone of his age to feel awkward, but Jincheon had always been a strange one. I should be understanding.

“Yeah, I’m fine. As you can see.”

I swung my arms around to show I was fine. But Jincheon didn’t look at me and kept his eyes on the floor.

“Um...”

Was he ignoring me?

I laughed awkwardly.

I guess it’s going to be difficult to get close to this guy again.

It’s probably for the best.