That was the end of the conversation. Karitos also seemed to have something to think about, as he didn’t say anything more, and I didn’t add any more words either.
We returned to the palace that way, and instead of going to the Star Palace, I headed to the library.
“Are you well?”
“Ah… well… have you come?”
As if there was something pricking her, Hwang Do-ju didn’t welcome me as she used to.
“I won’t ask about the memory seal anymore.”
“Haha, do you really think I’m avoiding you because of that?”
“Avoiding is correct.”
“Hmm.”
He casually adjusted his collar and awkwardly smiled.
“So, why did you come today?”
“Perhaps… do you know about the disappearance of Princess Ageltrina?”
“I know.”
It was a casual question, wondering if he would know, considering he was just confined here. But surprisingly, he readily opened his mouth.
I visited with the faint hope of finding information related to the princess, but I didn’t have high expectations. However, it was intriguing to find out that he had some knowledge.
“Is it surprising?”
“I’m caught. How could someone like me know about it here? I asked, hoping there might be records or information.”
“Such a thing doesn’t exist. There naturally wasn’t anyone recording about that incident. There were people coming here at that time, so I heard. After the princess went missing, it was abandoned again, though.”
A bitter expression appeared on Hwang Do-ju’s face as if remembering the past glory.
“I see…”
“But why that incident?”
“In other words, were there no suspicious aspects in the eyes of Princess Hwang Do-ju?”
“There were. There were many suspicious things.”
“What was strange?”
“The fact that the princess went missing itself was an unbelievable thing. Nobles don’t go out alone. But at that time, the princess didn’t have such a thing…”
“Purposely not having guards would make sense.”
Hwang Do-ju’s small head nodded up and down.
“In conclusion… and also the actions afterward.”
“The investigations were shaky, and there were behaviors that showed no intention to find out?”
“There were also other situations that made the emperor suspicious.”
“Was there something like that? Emperor Sunhwa was somewhat suspicious, but…”
It was information that Karitos hadn’t heard. The story ended with the emperor being suspicious. If there was evidence…
‘Even if there was, it wouldn’t have changed.’
In the meantime, Hwang Do-ju’s small mouth moved.
“The official announcement of the princess’s disappearance came quite a while later. Since Prince Leandro really liked his younger sister, they hesitated for a long time, fearing that it would cause a commotion in the imperial family. Eventually, it was disclosed very late, and as soon as it was known, the emperor blamed slave traders for the mistake.”
Hwang Do-ju looked quite sad as if remembering the events of that time.
“Without a proper investigation, things went on like that.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, the slave traders didn’t stay still. It was the imperial princess, after all. The moment they were accused of kidnapping the princess, the impact would have been significant. So, they came forward entirely, saying they had never taken young children. They were willing to be investigated. When they did that, the emperor hastily declared that there was a mistake in the investigation. Eventually, the investigation returned to square one, and since a lot of time had already passed, it ended like that.”
“I don’t exactly know why, but it feels like the emperor deliberately created my daughter. I’ve had that thought before, but the more I hear about the surrounding circumstances, the more certain it becomes. Except for Emperor Sunhwa, no one benefits from it.”
“That’s true. That’s why it’s even more regrettable. What did that little child do wrong? She was such a bright and lovely child…”
Sitting down, facing him, I stood up, smoothing my seat.
“I will find her.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry. Good people shouldn’t suffer. I will find her… don’t worry. Thank you for providing the information.”
“I didn’t provide any information.”
Hwang Do-ju stuck out his lips as if he couldn’t think of anything particular.
Regarding slave traders and the emperor’s lackluster investigation, it’s enough. I’ll come back again.”
“Sure.”
“Oh, did you investigate the twins?”
“That, that will be brought soon. So… come back later.”
Hwang Do-ju became sullen again. I patted his head, smiling at his sulky demeanor.
“Thank you. Always.”
“T-Thank you. But, it’s about you.”
“What?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just… I feel a strange power. A strong power, not your power.”
I tilted my head.
“No, it’s probably my imagination. Go on.”
Blushing, as if the doll’s cheeks changed color like they were touched, Hwang Do-ju bounced away somewhere.
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
Smirking, I left the library.
Two days later.
Someone I didn’t particularly want to meet came.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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