After the New Year passed, a cold winter came to Unyeon Palace.

Eun Seol’s body was very tired from welcoming guests who came to Unyeon Palace for the New Year.

As it was the first New Year since the new mistress entered Unyeon Palace, not only the wives of the ministers but also ladies with official ranks lined up to meet her.

Regarding this, everyone whispered that the Left State Councillor’s power had been somewhat diminished.

The inner quarters, which had been quiet, were unusually noisy to welcome the New Year.

While she spent busy days in the inner quarters, the Grand Prince also spent all day with people in the outer quarters.

They said this was the first year so many people visited Unyeon Palace.

It would have been unthinkable without Lady Eom.

She overslept due to accumulated fatigue.

When she barely opened her eyes, she saw Lee Woon sitting by the window. His voice sounded a bit excited.

“My lady, come here and see.”

He gently pulled her to sit between his legs. Embracing her shoulders from behind, he whispered:

“Open the window.”

She softly opened the window. The cold wind coming through the open door brushed her face, chasing away sleep.

She exclaimed at the scene unfolding before her eyes. The whole world was covered in snow, turned white.

“It seems to have fallen overnight. I wanted to see the first snow with you, so I waited until now.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I didn’t want to wake someone sleeping soundly. The whole world is white. I’ve never seen a snowy landscape look so beautiful.”

His arms embraced her shoulders. Her body leaned against his chest as if falling.

“I’m so happy.”

“I’m happy too.”

This moment of being in the same space with him, looking at the same place, was so precious and joyful.

Many things happened over the past year. Above all, Eun Joo’s incident was horrible and shocking.

They said Eun Joo, who fainted unable to endure the flogging, lived like a person who had lost her mind even after waking up.

Soon Young came to visit several times, but the doors of Unyeon Palace did not open as the Grand Prince did not give permission.

These were memories she never wanted to recall.

Cold wind came in through the open window, but she didn’t feel cold.

A moment later, he closed the window and wrapped her clothes tighter.

“You might catch a cold, so dress warmly when you go outside.”

“Didn’t you say the Chief State Censor was coming today?”

“He’s famous for not moving privately, so I took him as my teacher. I wanted to introduce him to you. When he arrives, I’ll call you to the outer quarters.”

“Is he coming alone?”

“Ah, I forgot. The teacher has a youngest daughter who’s just coming of age. Kim Yeon Woo, she’s eighteen this year and a bit difficult to handle. She might come along.”

His expression looked somehow pleased as he spoke.

“You look happy. It seems this Yeon Woo child amuses you.”

“She was a bit peculiar since childhood. Her older sister was so quiet you wouldn’t know she was there, but Yeon Woo grew up like a boy. She was always causing trouble, giving the Chief State Censor a hard time.”

“What kind of trouble did she cause for you to remember so well?”

Not noticing her face hardening, his voice was very excited as if something was so good.

“When I first met Yeon Woo, she was about ten years old and was crying because she climbed up a wall and couldn’t get down. After I caught her when she fell, she started following me around asking to marry from then on. Anyway, she was peculiar.”

“…”

Did he just say marriage?

It was a bit annoying how casually he uttered the word marriage.

He put on his outer robe and even laughed frivolously. He looked genuinely pleased.

“If it’s an earnest heart, we shouldn’t dismiss it as a peculiar feeling.”

“It was the words of a ten-year-old child. There’s no way it could be earnest.”

“If it was earnest, we would have married.”

“What? No. From long ago, there was only Yoon Eun Seol for me.”

Sensing the atmosphere was somehow not right, Lee Woon quickly changed his stance.

Then he awkwardly laughed and left the room.

* * *

Eun Seol put on the vest gifted by Chief Choi of Daeho Trading Company and went outside.

As she descended to the yard, Min Seo ran to her.

Her cheeks were coldly frozen as if she had been outside until now.

She firmly wrapped the scarf she was wearing around Min Seo’s neck.

“The wind is cold. You should have dressed warmly before coming out, aren’t you cold?”

“I’m fine. I’m not cold at all.”

“By the way, where’s Yeori? Why are you alone?”

“She’s probably in the annex with the head court lady.”

“Then let’s go to the annex too.”

The snow piled in the yard had been cleanly cleared so people could walk.

When she arrived at the annex, Lady Eom urgently called her.

“My lady, you should go to the outer quarters.”

“Has the Chief State Censor arrived?”

“Yes, they say he just arrived.”

She straightened her clothes and headed to the outer quarters with Lady Eom.

Perhaps because he was the Grand Prince’s teacher, the path to meet Kim Hak Gyu felt unnecessarily tense.

Just as she took a deep breath and stepped onto the porch of the outer quarters, she stopped in her tracks at the laughter coming from inside.

“When I was young, I didn’t know anything and called you elder brother, father scolded me so much. How could a ten-year-old child know anything, was that really something to be scolded for?”

“That’s right, I was fine with you calling me elder brother. Back then, you were such a fearless child. Climbing trees was basic, you even jumped over walls.”

“Please forget about that. But, do you remember when I kissed you?”

“Well… I don’t remember.”

“Do you really not remember? How could you completely forget that day?”

Eun Seol’s face hardened as she listened outside.

A kiss? She thought she must have misheard.

Even for a ten-year-old child, considering Lee Woon’s age then, it didn’t seem like an age to kiss as a joke.

“I couldn’t sleep all night after that day, how can you not remember? Do you remember how I followed you around every day after that asking to marry you?”

“Yeon Woo. That’s enough.”

Kim Hak Gyu scolded Yeon Woo in a stern voice.

Just what kind of relationship did that child have with him to address him so casually?

Seeing Yeon Woo, who had more memories with the Grand Prince than herself, gave her an inexplicable feeling of alienation.

It was annoying and upsetting how he responded to every word she said.

“Yeon Woo, if you keep doing this, I’ll send you home first.”

“Father, it’s just a joke. A joke.”

“You may be joking, but why don’t you understand that the listener might feel bad?”

“Teacher, she said it’s a joke. Stop scolding her.”

As Yeon Woo quietly retreated, Lee Woon’s soft laughter could be heard.

Lady Eom urged her as she stood still outside, unable to enter.

When Lady Eom announced her arrival, Lee Woon came out and took her hand to lead her in.

Kim Hak Gyu and Yeon Woo, who were inside, stood up and greeted her.

“Madam. I pay my respects. I am Kim Hak Gyu. This child is my daughter.”

“I am Kim Yeon Woo. I’ve wanted to visit Unyeon Palace, thank you for inviting me.”

Following Kim Hak Gyu, Yeon Woo greeted with a bright smile. Her smiling face looked innocently bright.

She forced a smile and greeted them.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from the Grand Prince. You also looked after Min Ah’s matter, but I haven’t properly thanked you.”

“What thanks? I only did what I should have done.”

She bowed her head in gratitude at Kim Hak Gyu’s modesty.

After staying in her seat for a while, Eun Seol stood up as simple refreshments were brought in.

“Please continue your conversation. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yeon Woo, you go out for a while too. Don’t cause trouble and behave yourself.”

At Kim Hak Gyu’s reprimand, Yeon Woo’s expression became gloomy. Sighing briefly, Yeon Woo turned back as she was about to leave.

Yeon Woo’s eyes looking at Lee Woon were earnest.

“After you finish talking with father, couldn’t you show me around this place?”

“I’m sorry, but that would be difficult.”

“Why? It’s too unfair to go home like this.”

“A lot of snow fell last night, so it’s dangerous.”

Lee Woon paused briefly and his gaze met hers.

He smiled faintly, his eyes curving.

“I can see how much she dislikes it, so what can I do? I’ll ask someone else to show you around.”

His eyes were smiling kindly, but his voice was firm.

A smile spread across Kim Hak Gyu’s face as he watched from the side.

“This is really too much.”

Only Yeon Woo, who didn’t understand the situation, was fuming.

Eun Seol returned to the inner room and closed her eyes, leaning against the wall.

It felt like she had returned to her childhood days when she only shrank back.

Yeon Woo’s confidence and self-assurance made her feel infinitely small.

– What can you do for the Grand Prince? You’ll only be an obstacle to his future.

Just wait and see. The Grand Prince will abandon you.

Because you’re just a plaything he’s toying with out of curiosity for a while.

Eun Joo’s voice, which seemed to be heard whenever she was about to forget, seemed to be heard again.

It’s not wrong either.

There is nothing she can do for the Grand Prince.

That fact felt especially miserable today.

How much time had passed?

The sound of footsteps was heard as he entered the room.

“Has the Chief State Censor left?”

“I’m on my way back from seeing him off. The conversation went on longer than expected, so I’m a bit late. My lady, I think I’ll have to go to the teacher’s house for a few days. The Chief State Censor leaves the palace late, so it might be very late when I come to the palace quarters. Will that be alright?”

Instead of answering, she nodded and didn’t ask for the reason.

She didn’t want to reveal her emotions over something trivial.

“It might be very late, so please go to sleep first.”

“Are you leaving from today?”

“Yes. Things became urgent suddenly.”

“I understand. Have a safe trip.”

“The weather is cold, so please don’t go outside and rest in the room.”

After he left and she was alone, she couldn’t stand how pathetic she felt.

She sighed at getting upset and even suspicious over nothing.

“Yoon Eun Seol, you’re so incompetent.”