Min Ah said she had to leave before it got late and left the palace.

Eun Seol wanted to hold her back, but Min Ah did not wish to stay.

After sending Min Ah off, she felt increasingly anxious and uneasy.

Eom Sang Gung woke her from her preoccupied thoughts.

“My lady, why do you look so worried again? Is there something troubling you?”

“…Eom Sang Gung.”

“Please tell me. Did something happen with that girl Min Ah?”

She cautiously brought up the topic of Min Ah.

After hearing everything, Eom Sang Gung let out a heavy sigh.

“I want to help that child, but is there no way?”

“Unless the Minister releases her, there’s nothing we can do. It might be best to speak to the Grand Prince about her younger sibling.”

She had thought the same, but didn’t know how to broach the subject.

“Just tell him the truth. If you speak to the Grand Prince, surely he’ll find a way.”

“Is the lord not back yet?”

“He said he’d just look around the market, so he should be back soon.”

“When he returns, tell him I’m waiting.”

“He’ll come straight here even without me saying anything.”

Realizing Eom Sang Gung’s meaning, her face turned red.

Lee Woon’s excessive displays of affection were enough to make him the talk of the palace.

The embarrassment was entirely hers to bear.

Regardless, Lee Woon seemed oblivious.

“About the lord. He used to be quiet and never smiled, but these days he seems like a different person.”

“Was he usually of a quiet nature?”

“Yes. He only spoke when necessary and kept to himself.”

Eun Seol knows better than anyone how loneliness and desolation can wear a person down.

Thinking that he must have lived just as lonely made her heart ache.

“By the way, I haven’t seen Yeori for a few days. Has something happened?”

“I’m worried too. She’s been running a fever and feeling weak for days. When I ask what’s wrong, she just cries without saying anything. Something must have happened, but she won’t open up.”

She had been concerned when Yeori, who was learning embroidery, hadn’t been seen for days.

“Tell Yeori I want to see her. We should find out what’s going on, shouldn’t we?”

Shortly after Eom Sang Gung left, Lee Woon entered, his presence announced by footsteps.

As soon as he entered the room, he abruptly took her hand.

“My lord?”

“There’s somewhere I’d like to go together. It’s late, but shall we? I’m sure you’ll like it.”

Led by his hand, she came out of Unyeongung Palace and met eyes with Seo Yeom, who was holding the reins of a horse.

Seo Yeom glared at Lee Woon with disapproving eyes.

“Do you have an illness that makes you wander when the full moon rises?”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m asking why you’re so desperate to go out every time there’s a full moon.”

Receiving the reins from the gruff and stern Seo Yeom, Lee Woon sighed and clicked his tongue briefly.

“More nagging. Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

“I do this because you come back injured. If you returned unharmed, why would I be like this?”

“Enough. I’ll come back fine, so don’t worry and go inside.”

Despite being told to stop, the nagging continued, but somehow Seo Yeom’s voice seemed tinged with concern and worry.

Perhaps because of this, though annoyed, Lee Woon neither cut off Seo Yeom’s words nor rebuked him.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“You worry too much. You’re fine in every other way, just cut down on the nagging.”

Ignoring Seo Yeom’s fierce glare, Lee Woon first helped her onto the horse before mounting behind her.

“Stop grumbling and go inside to rest. We’ll be back.”

“Don’t return too late.”

“Alright. Go inside.”

Eun Seol looked back at the receding Unyeongung Palace from atop the slowly moving horse.

Even then, Seo Yeom remained still, watching them.

“He’s just needlessly worrisome.”

“He seems to care for you greatly, my lord.”

“He’s loyal on top of being a worrywart, so his nagging just keeps increasing.”

Though he said this, his words were filled with affection for Seo Yeom.

“Hold on tight. We’re going to gallop now.”

They rode through the quiet night. The scenery from horseback was more beautiful than she had imagined.

It was like flipping through pages of a beautiful painting. The wind on her cheeks felt refreshing and pleasant.

After riding for some time, they arrived at a deserted riverbank.

Dismounting, they held hands and walked, listening to the rustling of reeds in the wind.

The bright full moon of the fifteenth night shyly rested on the surface of the river.

Moonlight shattered and gleamed on the gently rippling water, while the surrounding reeds swayed as if dancing in the wind.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful scene before her.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“It’s truly beautiful. How did you know about such a place?”

“I used to come here sometimes when the full moon rose. There’s no better place to soothe one’s heart.”

She recalled Seo Yeom’s earlier question about whether he had an illness that made him wander on full moon nights.

How often had he needed a space to calm his heart?

She could guess how many days he must have had to endure alone.

She grasped Lee Woon’s hand tightly and said they should come together from now on.

Now she wanted to share everything with him.

She no longer wanted to leave this man, who had been as lonely as her, perhaps even more so, alone in his solitude.

“Have you ever been seriously injured besides from falling off a horse?”

“Are you asking because of what Seo Yeom said? It’s all in the past. It wasn’t anything significant, so don’t worry about it.”

Just from Seo Yeom’s face and his expression, it seemed far from a trivial matter.

Though she tried not to dwell on past events, she couldn’t help but worry.

Even without knowing much, she understood that the Grand Prince’s position was different from ordinary people.

While injuries from falling off horses or during training could be avoided with caution, it was a different story if they resulted from someone’s antagonism.

Judging by Seo Yeom’s concern, it was clear he was still being targeted.

Realizing he was constantly exposed to danger made her suddenly worried and anxious.

Perhaps seeing her feelings, he grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. Their eyes met.

“My lady, I understand your concern, but I’m not so easily overcome. So don’t worry about anything. You should only see and think of good things by my side. Do you understand?”

She nodded, tightening her grip on their interlocked hands.

As they walked along the reed-lined path, a wide river came into view.

He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. Such actions had become natural at some point.

“Min Ah came by earlier today.”

She cautiously began, looking down at their intertwined hands. He tilted his head to look at her.

“She came to the palace directly?”

“Yes, it seemed she had made a difficult decision to visit.”

She slowly shared the conversation she had with Min Ah earlier that day.

After listening quietly, he let out a sigh along with a small curse.

“Min Ah said she has a younger sibling. She asked if we could find out how that sibling is doing.”

He remained silent, lips tightly pressed. She was the first to speak again.

“Min Ah didn’t say a word about her own pain. She was only worried about her sibling.”

“Hearing this, I can understand her frustration. But we can’t judge based on Min Ah’s story alone.”

“I know it’s not easy. I just wish Min Ah could regain her noble status and live with her sibling.”

He gazed at her intently after being lost in thought for a moment. His eyes were solemn.

“It wouldn’t look good if I were to act directly. It might even make them feel wronged. I’ll try asking the Chief State Councillor for help. If she was truly wronged, she should be exonerated.”

“Will the State Council involve themselves in such a small matter?”

“The Chief State Councillor won’t act directly either. But he’s not the type to ignore such a story. Don’t worry, I’ll send word to him.”

“I’m sorry for making such a request.”

She felt truly grateful and sorry at the same time.

She was thankful that he always put her first, and sorry for constantly creating difficult situations.

“My lady.”

His low voice sounded near her ear.

Her face was turned by his hand. Meeting her gaze, he smiled lightly.

“If such matters arise, always discuss them with me first. Just like now.”

She nodded in response instead of answering.

“It’s about your maternal family and father, is that alright?”

This time she shook her head. She wanted to break free from those who had never truly been family.

She didn’t want to trouble this man because of herself.

This was just the beginning. Though it might be slow, it was a necessary process to move forward.

She expressed her feelings calmly yet firmly.

“From the start, I was never family to them. Now I don’t want to be involved with those people anymore.”

“You’ve thought well. Now I am your family, and the people of the palace are your family.”

It should have been like this from the beginning. She had been clinging to that tie, considering them family all on her own.

Though she wanted to break free, she lacked the courage, and due to her dullness, she lost much despite having a way out.

“You have me, don’t you? Don’t be afraid, be confident.”

His voice was low yet resolute. Her heart raced at his pleasing voice.

For the first time, she realized how thrilling and heart-pounding it was to have someone completely on her side.

She gazed at him quietly. The corners of his eyes curved gently.

“Thinking about it again, it seems I made a good marriage, don’t you think?”

“Yes. I believe I found a good husband.”

Lee Woon whispered as he lightly kissed her lips.

“Shall we return to Unyeongung now? I can’t hold back any longer.”

Realizing the meaning of his words, her face flushed hot.