“I see Gwangho here. Your Highness.”

An unpleasant voice called Yeonwoo and Geon to attention.

Turning around, they saw Hwan, followed by courtiers and palace ladies.

Although Geon had no reason to be pleased, Hwan managed to put on a hypocritical smile.

In response to that pretense, Geon offered a perfunctory greeting with a cold, formal expression.

“Are you well, Your Highness?”

‘That person is the Crown Prince…!’

Yeonwoo, facing Hwan for the first time, swallowed nervously.

Last time, he only heard the voice when he accidentally entered the sponsorship, never expecting to see him here.

That person was the Crown Prince who had sent assassins to kill Geon.

Seeing the person responsible for tormenting Geon right in front of him, Yeonwoo’s fists clenched with sweat.

Despite the tension, Hwan unexpectedly let out an affable tone.

“I heard you went hunting with the Queen Mother. Did you catch many prey?”

“I caught an adequate amount.”

Yeonwoo felt a chill.

Though Hwan was smiling, an indistinct sense of danger emanated from the atmosphere.

Behind that smiling face, Yeonwoo couldn’t help but be wary, not knowing what kind of weapon he might be hiding.

“It’s truly enviable how even your mere existence monopolizes the Queen Mother’s attention just by breathing.”

“…”

Geon wore an expression that seemed to say there was no point in responding.

Then Hwan’s gaze fell on Yeonwoo.

“By the way, what an unfamiliar face.”

“I greet Your Highness. I am Private Hong Yeonwoo of Gwangho Army.”

Yeonwoo stepped forward cautiously and offered a careful greeting.

As Hwan’s piercing gaze swept over Yeonwoo’s body, she shivered.

Hwan, without taking his eyes off Yeonwoo, spoke.

“It’s surprising to see Gwangho Army allowing someone by their side.”

It was uncommon for Geon, who always went alone, to let someone accompany him.

Considering the close bond observed from afar, Hwan squinted and looked at Yeonwoo as if finding him intriguing.

“Wait…”

“!”

When Hwan grabbed Yeonwoo’s arm and pulled, she was dragged forward.

With the sudden closeness, Yeonwoo quickly lowered her head, but Hwan continued to scrutinize her face with an increasingly intense gaze.

“Indeed, why keep someone like this close?”

Chilled to her bones by the inexplicable creepiness, Yeonwoo felt Hwan’s gaze pierce through her.

“Even though she’s a woman, she looks handsome enough to be believed. It seems quite enjoyable to have her by your side.”
As Hwan’s scrutinizing gaze seemed to dig into her soul, Yeonwoo’s complexion gradually turned paler.

At that moment, Geon reached out, grabbing Hwan’s wrist.

“Let go of her.”

“Why are you so stern? Anyone would think you’re competing over one woman.”

Even though Hwan was seemingly relaxed, he showed no intention of letting go. Geon’s grip on his wrist tightened, and an intense strength surged through it.

Although Yeonwoo must have felt excruciating pain as if her bones were breaking, Hwan did not bat an eye.

Tension hung in the air between the two brothers.

After a while, when Hwan’s hand finally released Yeonwoo, Geon promptly pulled her to his side.

“Why are you so sensitive over just one soldier?”

“If you have no business, I’ll take my leave.”

“…As you wish.”

Geon turned away from Hwan, clearly showing that he had no desire to stay in his presence.

Hwan stood there, watching the two of them moving away.

“Hmm…”

Red marks were left on Hwan’s white and slender wrist.

Considering the severity of the bruising, there should have been a tingling sensation, but Hwan was so absorbed in his newfound amusement that he felt no pain.

Hwan recalled Kim Taeseok’s report after the tiger hunting incident.

Even though Geon’s assassination plan had failed, it wasn’t a complete loss.

According to Kim Taeseok’s report, there was a soldier named Hong Yeonwoo always by Geon’s side, and the way he carried himself unmistakably resembled that of a woman.

Initially, Hwan doubted the report, thinking it might be a result of an injury.

However, judging by Geon’s attitude today, he had a hunch that Kim Taeseok’s report was accurate.

The appearance of the soldier named Hong Yeonwoo, even if considered a woman, was delicate and refined enough to be believable.

Moreover, the way Gwangho Army looked at Private Hong was different from the ordinary gaze given to a man.

Though an ordinary person might not have noticed subtle temperature changes, Hwan, who always paid attention to Geon’s surroundings, quickly detected his change.

The moment Hwan’s touch reached Yeonwoo’s body, he felt a surge of life in Geon’s gaze.

The intensity of that vitality was fierce enough to tear Hwan apart, yet it unwittingly provided an opportunity for Geon to exploit.

It was evidence enough that Gwangho Army was so sensitive about someone they wanted to protect.

“That person is indeed the one…”

In truth, whether Private Hong was a woman or not didn’t matter.