“I asked the accompanying concubine what had happened. Instead of an answer, she choked me.”

“…”

“Instinctively, the thought that I had to survive came first. So, I swung the broken shard of a vase within reach.”

Enwoo looked down at the scars on Geon’s chest.

Her gaze brushed against his chest with a poignant expression.

“The scar on the chest was from struggling during that incident. Fortunately, I was able to properly strangle the Grand Queen.”

At the age of 11, Geon committed his first murder to survive.

Despite his young age, Enwoo’s large pupils filled with tears at the cruel reality Geon had faced without even having time to mourn his mother’s death.

He was so pitiful, forced to protect his own life without the chance to grieve his mother’s death.
“He was angered by a world that pointed fingers at him as the child who lost his mother and avenged her by killing the celestial being.”

“But I didn’t think about leaving with the spreading wildfire. While wondering if I would be buried with the Grand Queen, at that moment, I was rescued by Ryu Rim, who was in charge of the royal guards.”

“Was the culprit… caught?”

“Later, someone who confessed to attacking and setting fire to Jeongbin Palace was found.”

Enwoo waited for the continuation of the story.

She anticipated a rightful end for the one who murdered Jeongbin and tried to harm Geon.

However, the following words were not what Enwoo wished to hear.

“It was evident even to an 11-year-old that he wasn’t the culprit.”

“How were you so sure he wasn’t the culprit?”

“It was probably to silence the testimony that the Grand Queen tried to harm me.”

After the Jeongbin Palace fire, the young Geon testified about the appearance of the collapsed Heegyeong and the concubine who tried to harm him.

However, people dismissed it as Geon’s fabrication due to the psychological shock from his mother’s death.

Those who listened to Geon’s testimony began investigating the concubine, suspecting that there might be hidden motives.

The ones who tried to kill Jeongbin and Geon probably needed a shield to prevent their identities from being exposed.

“That person was likely a powerless individual coerced into confessing to the concubine’s plot.”

“…”

Tears started to well up in Enwoo’s eyes.

Her heart ached at his story, but what was even more painful was Geon’s nonchalant recounting of his past as if it were someone else’s.

How much suffering must one endure to become indifferent to pain?

Geon stopped his story, looking at Enwoo shedding tears.

“Crying again.”

“Sniff… No. Please, continue… Sniff… Tell me everything…”

This story was only a small part of Geon’s life.

Enwoo wanted to know more about his past and share his pain.

As tears flowed down Enwoo’s cheeks, Geon, with a worried look, observed her.

“Huk… No. I want to hear it all… Sniff… Please tell me…”

Geon decided to respect her wish, “Alright.”

Afterward, Geon gradually revealed stories about the wounds on his body, tales of survival, and struggles he faced to stay alive.

Every story was a struggle for survival, much like the one before.

Each time, Enwoo cried with aching pain.

The more she got to know Geon and understand him, the more devastated she became.

She was angered at those who unfairly judged Geon, innocent of any crime.

And she admired and appreciated Geon for enduring and surviving until now.

After hearing about the last wound, Enwoo, hugging Geon tightly, spoke with a trembling voice.

“I will protect Nari so that such things never happen again.”

“Enwoo.”

“I will be your strength, Nari.”
How can she protect him with her small and delicate body?

Geon found the woman who snuggled into his embrace, vowing to protect him, incredibly lovable.

“I’ve said it many times, but just being by my side is enough for you.”

“Nari…”

“Will you stay by my side? Can you promise not to leave?”

“Yes. I promise. I will never leave your side.”

Enwoo, who had somehow ended up in his embrace, buried her face in Geon’s chest.

Geon gently and carefully stroked Enwoo’s head.

In a life where he always rushed to survive, the only thing he desired was Hong Enwoo.

She was the person and the woman who brought a ray of light into his dark life.

His only person and woman.

Geon had no intention of letting go of Enwoo in his embrace.

Unpleasant news arrived in the side story.

A messenger who had rushed to Hanyang on horseback appeared in front of Hwan.

“The messengers and military personnel sent to Gyeongwonbu have been captured by the hostile Sichuho (Jurchens)!”

A few months ago, following reports from Ryu Rim that the movements of the numbers were suspicious, Hwan had sent messengers and military personnel.

However, those sent to investigate in Gyeongwonbu had not encountered the Jurchens living beyond the borders.

“They were captured by Sichuho? Aren’t they savages living far away from the border?”

“Reporting, Your Highness, it is said that the messengers from Asanbo betrayed the military personnel and handed them over to the Sichuho!”

“!”