49 Times Left, Master! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
Even under suspicious gazes, I merely alternated my respectful gaze between the Thirteenth Prince and the Seventh Prince.
There, my disciple. See? I’m on your side.
But the Seventh Prince reacted before my disciple did.
Just as the Seventh Prince raised his hand, a sharp slap rang in my ear and my vision swung sideways.
“!”
Despite my reasonably polite refusal, the Seventh Prince couldn’t control his temper and struck my cheek.
‘Truly, that’s just his nature. No wonder my disciple killed him quickly in the previous life.’
My cheek throbbed, but I carefully kept my expression composed.
Fortunately, though hot-headed, the Seventh Prince wasn’t foolish—merely the type whose temper exploded before his mind could catch up.
Having lashed out on impulse, the Seventh Prince immediately lowered his hand, as if realizing his mistake.
He must have remembered that although the Thirteenth Prince was his half-brother with no powerful backing, our Yo clan was one of the most prestigious noble houses, having held the position of Ilsa-jik for five consecutive generations.
Though my father’s generation failed to secure the Ilsa-jik post and thus lacked the full authority of past generations, we were still undeniably a distinguished noble family.
“If Lady Yo Dae In says so, I suppose there’s nothing to be done.”
Yet his pride apparently wouldn’t allow an apology. After hesitating briefly, the Seventh Prince tossed out those words carelessly, flicked his sleeve, and abruptly turned to leave.
As he stormed off like a tempest, a sigh escaped me involuntarily.
The Seventh Prince had always acted before thinking, earning frequent scoldings from the Emperor—and consequently, many enemies.
But in my previous life, I’d never been struck by him. We’d merely kept our distance.
Now, after reincarnating, he’d even slapped my cheek. Though he’d left reluctantly after hitting me, he surely harbored resentment inwardly—our relationship had worsened compared to before.
‘From now on, even if I support my disciple, I must avoid making enemies among the other royals.’
After all, I couldn’t freely exploit future knowledge. If I acted recklessly and altered the future, responding appropriately might become impossible.
Once the Thirteenth Prince fully entered the struggle for the throne, conflicts would inevitably multiply. I couldn’t afford to create personal enemies on my own initiative.
‘I’ll have to tread carefully.’
“Why do you take my side?”
But the matter didn’t end with the slap from the Seventh Prince.
The moment the Seventh Prince departed and his footsteps faded, my disciple immediately questioned me.
Snapping back to awareness, I found him scrutinizing my eyes as if analyzing them—not with gratitude, but suspicion.
Having killed him repeatedly across several reincarnations, my sudden assistance now naturally made him wary.
Then again, in my most recent past life alone… I’d sided with the Seventh Prince.
Of course. Acting friendly out of nowhere would seem suspicious.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I’ve never heard it said that Your Highness excels at horsemanship.”
Thus, I offered the excuse that my actions stemmed not from favoring the Thirteenth Prince, but from concern over his perceived inadequacy.
In truth, I knew his riding skill far surpassed even the Ilsa-jik officers of the military—but this was the period when the Thirteenth Prince deliberately kept a low profile, and in my previous life at this time, I hadn’t known his true ability.
So this excuse should suffice.
The Thirteenth Prince’s eyes narrowed slightly. Was he recalling memories from before my reincarnation? Or gauging the truthfulness of my words?
After that trial-like silence passed, the Thirteenth Prince turned away coldly and instructed,
“Let us go inside. If you don’t treat it quickly, a handprint will remain on your face.”
So… it’s settled for now?
[This is the timeline separator]The moment I returned home, I sat at my desk and took out paper and brush.
I rummaged through my mind as thoroughly as possible, trying to recall what had happened in my past life.
Though I couldn’t openly use past-life knowledge like the Thirteenth Prince, knowing at least some key events seemed necessary for preparation.
Take today, for instance. Had I known in advance about the clash between the Seventh and Thirteenth Princes, I could have avoided the scene entirely or prepared a better response.
If I hadn’t appeared where the Seventh and Thirteenth Princes confronted each other, I could have simply comforted the Thirteenth Prince afterward.
Then he wouldn’t have looked at me suspiciously. Perhaps he’d have regarded me with more generosity?
But thoroughly recalling events from those few years before my reincarnation proved far harder than I’d resolved it would be.
‘If I had a trigger, it might come back to me. Trying to force it out of nowhere just isn’t working.’
Fortunately, thanks to the Seventh Prince’s mention, the hunting tournament immediately came to mind.
Two major incidents had occurred there: one, the Seventh Prince fell from his horse and injured his leg; the other, the Ninth Princess was hurt during a fight between the Second and Sixth Princes.
‘They’d tried to pin the blame on the Thirteenth Prince.’
Since the Ninth Princess was the Empress’s daughter, the Thirteenth Prince—who lacked maternal family influence—would have faced serious trouble if implicated.
Yet the Thirteenth Prince had “luckily” encountered the Emperor during the hunt and wandered with him before parting ways.
At the exact moment the Ninth Princess was injured, the Thirteenth Prince was still with the Emperor.
Thus, the Second and Sixth Princes’ lies were immediately exposed, and the Emperor, furious over the incident, refused to receive either prince for months.
Back then, I’d thought, ‘How remarkably fortunate.’
‘But it probably wasn’t luck at all.’
He likely knew in advance about the incident involving the Ninth Princess and stayed by the Emperor’s side to avoid danger.
However, I don’t know the precise details. In my previous life, I’d stayed near the Third Prince during the hunt, so I was somewhat removed from this event.
But since the Third Prince had finished the tournament safely without incident… Fine. This time, I’ll follow the Thirteenth Prince.
No, wait. Absolutely not. If I follow him, I might draw the Second and Sixth Princes’ hostility earlier than in my previous life.
Once the Thirteenth Prince begins openly vying for the throne, he’ll inevitably grow distant from all royals except the Third Prince—but until then, I must avoid making enemies.
Earning the Thirteenth Prince’s favor and unnecessarily creating enemies are two different matters.
If I gain the Thirteenth Prince’s goodwill but incur the hatred of other royals, they’ll likely kill me before the Thirteenth Prince ever gets the chance.
‘And in such a crisis, my disciple certainly wouldn’t come to my aid.’
[This is the timeline separator]On the day of the hunting tournament.
As soon as the event began, I acted according to my prearranged plan.
After hearing the bell signaling the start, I watched as the royals and imperial relatives entered the forest in order, then slowly urged my horse into the woods.
‘I must avoid both the Thirteenth Prince’s area and the Third Prince’s usual spot.’
Though I’d rather rest in the barracks, doing so at an event hosted by the Emperor would earn his displeasure.
Thus, I intended to pass the time by Changseo Lake at the far edge of the hunting grounds.
By the time I returned, the Seventh Prince would have broken his leg, the Ninth Princess would be injured, the Second and Sixth Princes would have been scolded by the Emperor, and the Thirteenth Prince would have safely navigated the crisis on his own.
‘Good. Perfect.’
But soon after, I encountered something entirely unexpected.
‘Could such an absurd situation really happen?’
As I moved through the forest, inhaling its fragrance and resolving, ‘Indeed, being alive is best. This life, I’ll live a long, peaceful life—avoid entanglement with the Thirteenth Prince and enjoy good health,’ I heard shouting nearby.
What was that noise?
Though puzzled, I resolved to stick to the safe path and instead of heading toward the sound, I stood still and listened.
‘Sounds like a fight?’
Though I couldn’t make out exact words, it was clearly two men arguing.
“!”
Could it be the Second and Sixth Princes fighting?
They’d fought and accidentally injured the Ninth Princess, right? Was this the scene of that incident?
Good heavens. Then the Ninth Princess must be nearby too?
Unbelievable! I’d only meant to avoid the Thirteenth Prince by heading to this deserted spot—yet this deserted spot turned out to be exactly where the Ninth Princess got hurt!
I screamed inwardly.
Now that I thought about it, in my previous life I’d followed the Third Prince, so I’d never known where the Ninth Princess was injured, where the Seventh Prince fell, or where the Thirteenth Prince met the Emperor.
‘…It’s fine. No one’s seen me yet. I’ll slip away elsewhere.’
My momentary panic passed quickly. Determined not to get involved, I gently turned my horse’s head.
Don’t go that way. Quietly.
But before my horse took even a single step, a panicked cry rang out from somewhere: “Hey! Hey!”
Looking toward the sound, I saw a horse bursting through the underbrush, galloping madly at tremendous speed.
It wasn’t heading toward me but further ahead… Why was the horse running so wildly? The rider clearly couldn’t control it at all.
Wondering what fresh chaos this was, I looked closer—and saw the rider was the Seventh Prince.
With a terrified expression, the Seventh Prince tried to calm the horse, but for some reason, it wouldn’t stop. Given his renowned horsemanship, this was highly unusual.
While I watched, the Seventh Prince spotted me and shouted loudly,
“Lady Yo Dae In, help me!”
But even as he called out, he sped away before I could even attempt to assist.
Even if I could have helped, I wouldn’t have—assuming the Seventh Prince’s horse was acting up due to my disciple’s scheme, I shouldn’t interfere.
Yet a few breaths later, I realized the Seventh Prince had just thrown me under the carriage.
That damn prince! He shouted my name as he passed! The Sixth and Second Princes must be nearby!
Another thought struck me, chilling my spine.
‘Could this incident be connected to the Ninth Princess’s injury?’
The Second and Sixth Princes fought—but why did the Ninth Princess get hurt out of nowhere? Could she have been startled by the Seventh Prince’s runaway horse?
I screamed inwardly again.
Even if that were true, as long as I stayed uninvolved, I could simply suppress my curiosity and slip away elsewhere.
But of all things, the Seventh Prince had loudly cried “Lady Yo Dae In!” as he left. The Second and Sixth Princes must have heard it clearly.
Knowing I was near the scene, they might now try to implicate me in the Ninth Princess’s injury instead of the Thirteenth Prince.
Just then, a woman’s scream pierced the air. Clearly, a chain reaction had begun.
‘Damn it. I have no choice.’
Reluctantly, I spurred my horse toward the area where the arguing had sounded earlier.
There, I saw the Ninth Princess’s horse galloping as wildly as the Seventh Prince’s had.
The Ninth Princess clung tightly to the horse with both arms, while the Second and Sixth Princes, looking flustered, were only now mounting their own horses.
So the princess hadn’t been at the fighting spot after all—she’d just been passing by and her horse must have panicked at the Seventh Prince’s shout.
Seeing that, the Second and Sixth Princes had tried—and failed—to rescue her.
Damn it!
I turned my horse toward the Ninth Princess.
If I failed to save her, I’d surely be blamed for the very incident the Thirteenth Prince had avoided. I absolutely had to rescue her.
“Hey!”
Fortunately, unlike those two princes, I’d been mounted from the start—and thanks to being half-forced to follow the Thirteenth Prince in my previous life, my riding skills had improved dramatically.
I urged my horse to maximum speed, making the surrounding trees blur as if racing past.
“Your Highness, pass me the reins!”
When my horse matched pace with the princess’s, I called out to the Ninth Princess.
But she cried out while clinging tightly to her horse,
“I can’t let go!”
Indeed, she looked utterly unable to.
This time, I brought my horse as close as possible to hers and snatched the reins directly.
Then, pulling gently, I guided the horse to slow down.
Since royal horses were all well-trained, they could be calmed immediately with focused control.
“Don’t grip the horse’s neck so tightly, Your Highness.”
As I spoke again to the princess, perhaps because the horse had slowed, she loosened her stranglehold slightly.
The horse slowed further, and the princess quickly regained composure.
“Take the reins, Your Highness! It’ll stop now.”
I shouted from beside her, offering the reins.
But as she reached out with one arm to take them, she shook her head again.
“I can’t! I’ll fall!”
Just then, I was about to take full control of the reins myself to stop the horse.
Unfortunately, a tree stood precisely between the princess and me—not far off.
‘Damn it!’
Given our exact positions, if we continued at this speed, my arm would smash into the tree and break, the impact would topple the princess’s horse, and she’d tumble to the ground.
“Excuse me, Your Highness.”
I had no choice. I leapt onto the princess’s horse and pulled the reins directly to slow it down.
Thankfully, the horse calmed immediately.
The moment it stopped, I quickly dismounted, bowed my head, and apologized to the princess.
“My deepest apologies, Princess Hwang Nyeo.”
Normally, one shouldn’t leap onto a royal’s horse without permission—it wasn’t written in law, but common sense dictated it.
But given the emergency, she’d understand, wouldn’t she?
Contrary to my expectation, however, the princess remained utterly silent.
Surely she wasn’t going to scold me for rudeness—even in such a crisis?
Thinking quickly, I recalled how women in my past life had said, “With that look, even when angry, one’s heart softens.” So I raised my eyes to the princess with a wistful, melancholic expression.
I’d never played the flirt with princesses before—but this was an emergency.
Perhaps she was surprised I hadn’t withdrawn my apology, or perhaps she prioritized etiquette even in emergencies—I couldn’t tell.
But the moment I cautiously lifted my head and met the eyes of the princess, whose face was flushed crimson, I sensed something had gone terribly wrong.
Anyone could see the princess’s peach-like cheeks and the way she gazed at me—clearly, she’d fallen for me at first sight.
‘This is troublesome.’
As I stood frozen in panic at her fervent gaze, a cold voice spoke from behind me.
“What are you doing there, Master?”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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This is truly just very frustrating why is the princess sooo infatuated girl have a back bone don’t ruin yourself for a man
How many chapters are replaced with that one about princess bomoon? Is it 3rd time already? 😭