“I definitely heard a pleasing answer, so why does this tightness in my chest still not go away?”
Sahyeon wondered what kind of answer he had truly wanted from him…
“Are you just planning to stand by and watch? So all you intend to do is pretend to learn elementary studies and open the way for me, and beyond that…”
“Baek Munhak.”
Dan Ijae grasped the doorknob.
The light didn’t reach the front of the library door, so Sahyeon couldn’t see what kind of expression he had on his face.
“Didn’t you hear it from your senior brother? If you throw a pine caterpillar into a mulberry field, it’ll only starve to death.”
“You are not a pine caterpillar, sir.”
A scoffing laugh, mixed with a hint of derision.
“You’d better learn to distinguish between jade and stone first. Otherwise, how would you ever…”
Creak—an unpleasant sound accompanied the heavy wooden door as it opened.
The sky was already dark, and a purplish gloom stirred outside.
“…choose a proper ruler?”
Now, Sahyeon was alone in the library.
A cold draft blew in through the door crack, making his shoulders tremble.
With a dry, unnecessary cough, he returned to the spot where he’d laid out the bamboo scrolls.
He placed his fingertips on the letters.
The ink no longer smudged.
He wondered if anyone would ever pay attention to these boldly written lines.
The king was old, and the crown princes had been weighed and measured for so long that they were only focused on building their own power bases.
Now, each carried several powerful factions on their backs.
Maybe that’s why Sahyeon wanted to make use of Dan Ijae, who had no particular background.
‘Though that wasn’t the only reason.’
He didn’t think it was a bad idea.
At the very least, Dan Ijae was someone whose thoughts could change upon hearing Sahyeon’s words. Perhaps it was worth taking the risk…
But if that’s what Dan Ijae truly thought, there was nothing to be done.
The king was now seventy.
Though still healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising if his strength suddenly waned.
For a prince who hadn’t built a proper foundation until now to try for the throne — just as he said — was too late.
If he were to expose his ambitions poorly and the king suddenly passed, all that would await the losing heir would be death.
‘I must meet the Fifth Prince.’
The Fifth Prince, Dan-ye, had yet to reveal himself.
But he might hold the answer Sahyeon sought.
After all, he was someone who had already stepped into the war for succession.
***
“Brother, it’s hard to even catch a glimpse of you.”
As soon as he entered Gamcheondang, a figure standing in front of the mirror pond spoke to him.
Tall and well-featured, with a composed face.
Always wearing a relaxed yet polite smile — the master of Sugyeongdang, Fifth Prince Dan-ye.
Dan Ijae only moved his gaze, scanning the garden.
The court officials from Sugyeongdang and Gamcheondang stood at an awkward distance from each other.
Only the youngest court official was missing.
The other officials must have found an excuse to send him away.
“What brings you to such a cold place?”
Even in the dark, Dan-ye’s white pipoong-ui (a type of robe) glimmered faintly.
Come to think of it, white was always like that — even when completely engulfed by pitch-black darkness, it was the last to fade.
That’s why white falcons often failed in night hunts, and Sahyeon too…
He always stood out. Almost annoyingly so.
“I sent someone to share a cup of tea with my dear brother after a long time, but he was scolded and came back. Has something been bothering you lately?”
“Not that I recall.”
“Then it seems one of our officials lied.”
Dan-ye, still smiling, gave a signal to one of the officials.
The official, pale-faced, hurried over.
“What punishment should be dealt to a court official who lies about a royal prince? At Hwaemyeongdang, they say tongues were cut out.”
“P-Prince, that day you did push me, didn’t you? I just…”
Without any visible change in expression, Dan Ijae turned his gaze toward the official.
His eyes, devoid of any emotion, met the official’s.
It was a chilling gaze, one that made the official feel as though no plea or appeal would ever reach him.
The official’s lips trembled as he fell silent.
“Brother.”
Without looking away from the official, Dan Ijae spoke softly.
“Matters of Sugyeongdang should be handled by Sugyeongdang.”
With a voice as cold as the night air of Gamcheondang.
“Do I need to concern myself with a court official’s punishment?”
He slowly raised his eyes and stared directly into Dan-ye’s.
“No need to be so angry. Did I come here just to trouble your peace?”
Dan-ye smiled warmly, undeterred by the sharp gaze, and gestured for the official to leave.
The official, trembling all over, backed away.
“It’s just that I was displeased by the baseless rumors circulating around the palace because of that official’s words. But don’t worry. As always, baseless rumors fade quickly.”
This time, Dan Ijae gave a flick of his finger.
One of the officials handed him a jangjuk (long smoking pipe) already filled with lotus tobacco and lit.
As he took a long draw, the subtle scent spread around them.
Dan-ye watched quietly before speaking again.
“Were you coming back from the library?”
“Yes.”
“How was Baek Munhak?”
Instead of answering immediately, Dan Ijae looked at him once.
“You’ll know when you meet him.”
He took another puff from the lotus tobacco.
“Our eldest sister seemed quite surprised. She even came to Sugyeongdang — which she usually avoids — to ask me about you today.”
“Good. Since Lady Taejeong has resumed her visits to Sugyeongdang, the ‘baseless rumors’ among the court officials should settle too, shouldn’t they?”
“Baseless rumors?”
White smoke floated up gently into the air before being scattered by a sudden gust of wind.
A smile crept across Dan Ijae’s lips.
It was mocking — and strangely unsettling.
“If my dear brother, of all people, asks me about rumors, how should I answer?”
“Brother.”
“It’s cold. If you have something to say, please say it quickly.”
“Do you think Lady Taejeong only asked about your well-being?”
Dan Ijae put the pipe back to his lips.
The tip glowed red as it burned.
“Why did His Majesty send Baek Munhak to you? I wonder too — whether it’s for your sake, or for all of Un-gyeong Palace.”
He exhaled the smoke he had deeply drawn into his lungs, then let the pipe drop to the ground.
“And since you’ve monopolized such a man, Lady Taejeong must be anxious too.”
“Monopolize?”
“Perhaps Lady Taejeong is trying to send me to Baek Munhak to cause friction between you and me…”
“Go meet him. He’s the keeper of Un-gyeong Palace’s library before he is my teacher.”
“May I really go and meet them?”
“Yes.”
Dan I-jae let out a hollow laugh and closed his eyes.
“You, my older brother, are asking your younger brother for permission? And if I say I don’t wish for it, will you truly not meet them?”
“If that is what you want.”
A hand settled on his shoulder—along with it came an unpleasant sensation that crawled down his spine.
Dan I-jae’s expression twisted in an instant.
Though he was clearly uncomfortable under the gaze, Dan Ye simply smiled and did not remove his hand from I-jae’s shoulder.
“You must know the reason, dear brother, why His Majesty sent Baek Munhak to you—despite the fact that Taejeonggong’s mentor is already in Jeonghangoong, and my own mentor is currently away. Surely, you realize he wouldn’t want Taebaek Munhak to remain by your side for long. And yet I hear…”
Dan Ye leaned in close, whispering softly into Dan I-jae’s ear:
“Though you can’t even hide your discomfort when I merely place a hand on your shoulder… I hear you’re unusually fond of Baek Munhak.”
Only after finishing his words did he finally let his hand slide off Dan I-jae’s shoulder.
“Will you just hand him over to Taejeonggong like this?”
“There’s no ‘handing over’ to be done. He’s someone who’s going to Jeonghangoong regardless.”
“You need to harbor some desire, little brother. Despite being the only one in Ungyeonggung to receive His Majesty’s unmatched favor—how can you remain so indifferent?”
Favor?
More like guilt.
Toward the son falsely accused, whose mother was left to die, and who himself had to grow up pretending to be dead outside the palace walls.
Of course, for the king to feel guilt toward anyone was a rare thing indeed.
Perhaps age had dulled even his cruelty.
Dan I-jae let out a sigh, more like a long exhale, and looked at Dan Ye once more.
The latter wore a kind expression, as if he truly cared for his younger brother.
“Brother.”
Dan I-jae smiled again—
That chilling, beast-before-its-prey smile.
“Please don’t try to test me.”
Then, in a voice low enough that only Dan Ye could hear:
“What will you do if I really do start to desire something?”
For the first time, Dan Ye, who had maintained composure throughout, twitched his brow.
“Why would you…”
Dan I-jae brushed his shoulder, as if dusting off something foul, and took a step back from him.
“If you want to meet Baek Munhak, go ahead. What kind of younger brother would stand in the way of his older brother’s will?”
“…You won’t regret those words?”
“Brother, have you ever been to Shinneung?”
Dan Ye fell silent.
That alone was enough of an answer.
“I hear it’s a nice place. I haven’t been, but since everyone says so, I suppose it must be.”
Sahyeon was someone destined to remain in Jeonghangoong anyway.
And Dan I-jae—was someone destined to leave for Shinneung.
What reason was there to hold on?
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