It’s been said about half a month, so the Grand Prince will arrive in just three days.

Eun Seol came down from under the pavilion and slowly walked along the pond.

She came here on a warm spring day and now stands at the threshold of winter. Somehow, it feels like this winter won’t be cold.

She wanted to spend a warm winter with the people who cared for and cherished her.

She was already looking forward to spending the winter with the Grand Prince.

“I told you not to be alone, but why don’t you listen?”

She turned her head at the sudden presence.

For a moment, she thought it was a dream.

He was standing across the pond as if it were a lie. Her steps quickened.

“Your Excellency!”

“Slowly, come slowly. You’ll fall.”

She ran into his arms as he stood with his arms outstretched towards her.

He pulled her waist and hugged her tightly.

“Your welcome is so intense, I don’t know what to do with myself. Why are you out alone again?”

“I was enjoying the beautiful evening sunset.”

“Shall we go up to the pavilion for a moment? To see the sunset, we should view it from up there.”

He climbed up to the pavilion and extended his leg, making her lie down.

She blushed as he smiled, slightly raising the corners of his mouth.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“It’s fine. Lie down comfortably.”

His fingertips slowly traced down her cheek and stopped on her lips.

The action was so stimulating that Eun Seol unknowingly parted her lips.

Not missing that moment, he overlapped his lips with hers.

It was a blissful kiss that awakened all the senses in her body.

After exploring her lips for a while, he painfully raised his face.

“It seems we can’t go any further, it’s too dangerous.”

His face contorted in pain. She smiled and held his hand tightly.

“If His Majesty asked to this extent, it must be a very important matter. May I ask what it was now?”

Hearing it was a royal command, she thought it wasn’t something to be taken lightly, so she hadn’t asked anything until the day he left.

She was planning to ask when he returned after resolving everything.

She slowly sat up, waiting for his answer.

“I went to Dongnae and met the head of the Daeho Trading Company. You may not know, but currently, the Jindo Trading Company has a monopoly on all goods entering the palace. Not just the palace, but all the market merchants in Hanyang are watching Jindo Trading Company’s every move.”

“If that’s the case, won’t it be hard not only for the merchants but also for the people due to rising prices?”

“You’re right. That’s why His Majesty decided to entrust the seafood and fish products entering the palace to the Daeho Trading Company. The Dongnae merchants were a great help.”

“It must have been difficult, but it’s fortunate that the matter was resolved faster than expected.”

“The head of the Taeseong Trading Company worked hard. I rushed a lot because I wanted to come back quickly.”

The Grand Prince chuckled, saying that while it was true the matter was resolved faster than expected, the early arrival was purely due to his insistence.

“The head merchant must have worked hard, I wonder if he’s alright. Ah, I saw someone there who resembled you.”

“Someone who resembles me?”

Eun Seol looked at Lee Woon with puzzled eyes. He nodded as he stared at her face.

“Yes. The head merchant was surprised too. Come to think of it, they really do look very similar. They said it was Miss Choi, the daughter of the previous head merchant. Miss Choi also gave a gift to be delivered to you.”

“A gift?”

“Miss Choi, I mean. It’s just my feeling, but she seemed to know you. When she handed over the gift, she didn’t ask anything, as if she had known you for a long time.”

“Surely not. How could she know me?”

Lee Woon just shook his head without answering her words.

* * *

The next morning, she received a box from Court Lady Eom.

Seeing that the Grand Prince had delivered it, it seemed to be a gift from Miss Choi of the Daeho Trading Company.

Inside the box was a neatly folded vest made of navy silk.

And beside the vest was a letter.

She read down the neatly written letter.

−I wanted to express my gratitude to the Grand Prince for closing the deal, but he firmly declined, so I’m giving a gift to you, madam.

I heard you recently got married. Please think of it as a wedding gift. Though my skills are lacking, I hope you like it.

Wishing you a warm winter, I made it a bit longer. Always be healthy and happy.

She stood still for a while, holding the letter she had finished reading.

She didn’t know why her heart was pounding so much.

She felt grateful and happy that someone was thinking of her.

As she put the letter in the drawer and tidied up around, Court Lady Eom entered.

“A message came from your family home. Your mother is critically ill.”

“Why suddenly my mother?”

“I’m not sure about that, but it doesn’t seem to be a lie. They say she keeps asking for you.”

Her heart wavered for a moment at the word that her mother was calling for her.

She felt pathetic for not being able to break free even after being treated like that.

Court Lady Eom’s firm voice broke her reverie.

“You shouldn’t go. His Excellency won’t allow it either.”

“I suppose so? Well, I understand for now, you may go.”

She thought and thought again.

This wasn’t something that could be resolved by simply avoiding it. It wasn’t that she wanted to go because she was worried about her mother, but that she no longer wanted to continue her relationship with them.

For that, she had to meet them once. She headed towards the men’s quarters.

As she entered the office, he got up from his seat where he had been organizing documents and strode towards her.

“I was just about to finish this and visit the inner quarters, but you couldn’t wait and came all the way here?”

“I hope I’m not interrupting you when you’re busy.”

“No matter how busy I am, you come first. Sit here.”

The Grand Prince sat her on the bed and pulled up a chair to sit in front of her.

She needed to talk, but she was just moving her lips, not knowing how to start.

She saw the corners of his mouth rise loosely.

“Speak. It seems you have something to say.”

“Your Excellency, I would really appreciate it if you could grant permission.”

“For what?”

“Word has come that my mother is critically ill.”

“And?”

His expression gradually hardened. His voice lowered and his eyes grew cold.

She knew the reason, but right now, making him understand her feelings was the priority.

“They say my mother is asking for me.”

“So, you’re determined to go there?”

“If you allow it, I’d like to go.”

“If I say no, will you not go? I don’t understand why you want to go at all. After all you’ve been through, do you still want to go?”

She said nothing and just waited for the Grand Prince’s permission.

A heavy silence fell between them, so quiet that not even breathing could be heard.

After a long silence, the Grand Prince rubbed his face as if suppressing his emotions and stood up abruptly.

“Ha, I saw everything! I saw exactly what state you were in that day, yet you’re saying you want to go there again! I… just thinking about that day drives me crazy, how can you not consider my feelings at all?”

“I know how you feel. I don’t want to go to that terrible place either. But if I don’t go, they will keep calling for me.”

“Then just live without seeing them.”

“They are people I need to meet once and settle things with. I’m just doing this to ease my mind. So, please allow me to go.”

“What if I say no until the end? Will you still go?”

His face now seemed devoid of any emotion.

She stood up and took a step towards him, embracing him.

“If you tell me not to go, I won’t.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Yes, so please don’t be angry.”

Lee Woon’s gaze wandered in the air before meeting her eyes directly.

His eyes were affectionate.

They were warm and loving enough to make her forget all the pain and sorrow she had experienced until now.

“Aren’t you afraid? They are people who have only hurt you. If you go, who knows what they might do, so why do you want to go there again?”

He quietly spoke as he embraced her shoulders that were nestling into him.

She could feel him suppressing his emotions.

How should she say it?

She thought about how to speak so that he wouldn’t be hurt because of her and could be at ease.

She raised her lowered gaze to meet his eyes.

“I won’t just be passive anymore. I want to become strong and dignified, not for anyone else, but for myself. I want to show them that I’m no longer the person I used to be, and also make them realize that they can’t treat me carelessly. I am the wife of Grand Prince Jin Heon, whom no one can treat lightly.”

“Court Lady Eom says I’m stubborn, but that’s because she doesn’t know you. Go ahead. But take Court Lady Eom with you and move with the guards as well.”

“I will do so.”

“Wherever you go, don’t move alone. Do you understand?”

He sat her back down and knelt right in front of her.

His gaze held her eyes.

“Don’t forget. You are my heart. If you’re not here, my heart will stop. So, don’t get hurt.”

“…Your Excellency.”

“I’m worried, so don’t come back too late.”

She cupped his face with both hands.

“I’ll be careful and come back so you won’t worry.”

His hands gently held hers. She loved how he looked at her as if she were his entire world.