“If only her appearance had been even slightly less beautiful.”
They say people clucked their tongues in pity the day she entered the palace.
She was that Lady Yeongeon’s son.
The fifth prince, Dan-ye.
“I greet you, Your Highness.”
Among all the princes and princesses, the only one who resembled the King was Taejeonggong Dan-gyeong.
Dan-yoon, Dan-ye, and even Yubaekhu were said to resemble their mothers.
Dan I-jae, it was said, resembled his paternal grandmother—the previous king—so he had little in common with the current King, who didn’t share any resemblance to the late monarch.
Fortunately, due to the previous King’s “purge,” most of the royal bloodline had already been killed or exiled far away, so no one questioned the legitimacy of the remaining royal descendants.
Even in Dan I-jae’s case—it was only because he appeared long after his mother’s death and happened to resemble the previous King that people concluded, “He must be the King’s biological son.”
After all, Dan-heul was the only remaining bloodline of the previous King.
“Ah, Baek Munhak. I’ve finally had the pleasure of meeting you.”
The ‘beautiful prince of Sugyeongdang,’ they said.
Indeed, he resembled his mother, Lady Yeongeon, and had a striking appearance.
Gentle eyes, a high nose bridge, a smile that showed pristine white teeth—it all looked completely natural.
No wonder the palace officials sang his praises.
With a polite and kind face, a soft voice, and graceful gestures, he seemed like the ideal nobleman from an old tale.
It also made sense why Dan I-jae, despite his handsome looks, had failed to earn people’s favor.
Objectively speaking, Dan I-jae too could be called a “beautiful prince,” but his eyes could sometimes seem frightening, and his expressionless face gave off a chilling aura.
Even his smile often came off as mocking.
Compared to the sweet, spring-like charm of Dan-ye, he was someone people would instinctively avoid.
“I was very curious to meet the young scholar who stole His Majesty’s heart.”
Sahyeon carefully lifted his head and looked up at him.
Indeed, even from the atmosphere alone, he could see why this man—despite Taejeonggong Dan-gyeong being the crown prince—was still often mentioned as a “strong successor.”
Gentle, intelligent, and said to be skilled in martial arts—a multi-talented royal candidate.
On top of that, unlike the other princes and princesses, his mother was still alive and offered support from her family.
Whether this would work in his favor or against him remained to be seen, but for now, it was crucial to gain influence wherever possible.
“I am but an insignificant scholar, merely borrowing from the great reputation of my teacher. Fortunately, His Majesty granted me a generous opportunity, and I’m simply doing my best.”
Compared to Dan I-jae, who had no backing at all…
Sahyeon lifted the corners of his lips with practiced ease, silently scolding himself.
Why was he always comparing everything to Dan I-jae?
Public opinion and character alike both favored Dan-ye.
No—they should favor him.
“His Majesty is not one to bestow favor without reason. I heard that my younger brother began his studies after meeting you. Despite giving up on many previous tutors, what clever trick did you use to make that stubborn boy pick up a book?”
A clever trick?
Sahyeon raised one eyebrow slightly.
It could’ve been taken as a compliment, but something about the subtle tone at the end of Dan-ye’s sentence caught in his mind.
“I was simply lucky. Many say His Majesty has long intended to name the 8th prince as the Lord of Shinneung. But why has he not yet granted the title? The 8th prince has begun to realize this as well—and it was merely around that time that I arrived as his tutor.”
“Hahaha, have I made Baek Munhak uncomfortable?”
Uncomfortable?
Not likely.
Sahyeon had shown no signs of discomfort.
For Dan-ye to ask this so lightly after such a modest and polite exchange—wasn’t it effectively admitting that his intention had been to provoke discomfort?
“Not at all. I just find it a bit embarrassing that everyone keeps asking me for the ‘secret’ to getting an adult prince to finally begin studying. In truth, I didn’t do… much at all.”
Dan-ye slowly stepped closer.
Then, suddenly, he reached out and touched Sahyeon’s hair.
Sahyeon glanced at his hand with a hint of unease.
Dan-ye chuckled lightly and withdrew his hand.
“Apologies. I’d heard the rumors, but seeing it in person, it really is…”
Then he leaned down and whispered softly, locking eyes with Sahyeon:
“Mystical.”
Eyes gently curved, pupils a clear light brown.
There was no lewdness or greed behind them.
Though the fingers that brushed his ear earlier gave Sahyeon a slight chill, it could’ve been his body reacting instinctively after so many past traumas.
“It’s merely a faded hair color…”
“It may be insensitive to say this to someone who went through something terrible in Maechun, but… sometimes people are blessed without wanting it. And this mystical color is what brought you here, is it not?”
Though it sounded like praise, there was a clear barb hidden in the words.
One that stuck uncomfortably.
Is he testing me?
But if he were, what motivation would he have?
Publicly, Sahyeon had been recommended by Taejeonggong and summoned by the King to carry out “some duty” at Unkyunggung Palace.
Dan-ye, a mere prince—not even the next in line—had no reason to provoke someone who was meant to be courted with sweet words.
If he were like that brash Yubaekhu, it might be understandable, but someone like that wouldn’t be so well spoken of.
So he must be looking for a particular answer.
If he went out of his way to summon Sahyeon like this, then surely it had to do with Taejeonggong.
“Who knows. I’ve never considered such a possibility, Prince. What’s happened has happened, and what hasn’t… well, those are things that will never be recorded in any annals of history.”
The same applied to princes who never became kings.
No matter how talented they were, history only recorded kings.
Those who never reached the throne would fade away, their very lives unrecorded.
Sahyeon ended with a harmless-looking smile.
Dan-ye, apparently not bothered, smiled just as serenely and once again whispered:
“What’s happened has happened. Wise words. Then, I do hope you share those words with I-jae as well.”
An unexpected comment.
Sahyeon’s lower eyelid twitched slightly.
Dan-ye, seemingly proud of the card he’d just revealed, smiled as he politely gestured toward the back of the pavilion.
“Shall we walk a little?”
Behind Sugyeongdang, tall pine trees stood thick.
Though capped with snow like pointed hats, their green vitality showed beneath.
Why did the sight immediately bring to mind the pale, withered birch trees behind Gamcheondang?
Sahyeon bowed politely as if gladly accepting the invitation.
Dan-ye took the lead into the forest, down the maze-like, winding path between sturdy trunks.
“Baek Munhak must’ve realized by now—Taejeonggong’s limitations, I mean.”
Was this why Dan-ye hadn’t sought him out right away?
To give Sahyeon time to assess Taejeonggong?
Instead of answering, Sahyeon inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of pine.
Dan-ye, as if he expected silence, gave a light laugh and added:
“That’s why you accepted my invitation, isn’t it?”
Yes—if Sahyeon had truly decided to side with Taejeonggong, he would’ve avoided Dan-ye at all costs.
Taejeonggong was a deeply suspicious man, after all.
Though not quite as much as his father.
“Taejeonggong may not be perfect, but during the long time that the crown prince’s position remained unclaimed, no other prince or princess managed to accomplish anything. So it might be better to go with someone who at least has legitimacy.”
“You’re quick to speak frankly.”
“Well, after dragging me all the way into the woods, I should at least make it worth your while, shouldn’t I?”
Dan-ye laughed out loud.
The echo in the pine forest made the sound feel oddly hollow.
“Baek Munhak, I believe you may be misunderstanding me. Well, everyone in this palace shares that misunderstanding—that I am aiming for the throne.”
Dan-ye came to a stop.
He looked up at the tallest pine tree and stared into the sky—
Yan exhaled a breath.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe this, but I truly have no intention of becoming king. That is merely my mother’s dream, not mine.”
Sahyeon almost replied, “Wow, that’s really hard to believe!” but managed to swallow his words, lightly tapping his lips with the tip of his index finger.
“Then why did you call for me?”
Danye turned to glance at Sahyeon.
His eyes were clearly curved into a smiling shape, yet for some strange reason, it wasn’t easy to keep looking into them.
“I said I have no intention of becoming king.”
Which means…
Sahyeon swallowed dryly and dropped his gaze.
Fine, let’s say Danye doesn’t want Prince Taejeong to take the throne.
But then the one he wants to see on the throne is Dan I-jae?
Why, of all people?
“Do you know what people whispered when I was born?”
Danye slowly turned around.
At the edge of his lowered gaze, Sahyeon could now see the tips of his shoes pointing toward him.
“They said, ‘If the First Princess had been a boy, she would’ve been killed the moment she was born.’”
It was clear Danye was about to say something that, once heard, could not be taken back.