Episode 11
Heeheehee-!
As Ma Bu tightened the reins, the horse stopped and snorted.
Doyul, who got off the carriage first, reached out his hand to Yerin.
“Madam, give me your hand.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Yerin, who was immersed in emotion, was startled and placed her hand on top of Doyul’s hand.
Yerin stepped down onto the neatly laid out mat.
Creak.
The corner of the mat broke, making a creaking sound as soon as her foot touched it.
“…….”
Doyul deliberately ignored the sound.
Whether it was embarrassing to show the appearance of the family’s energy or not, he put some force into the hand that was holding Yerin’s.
Yerin looked around quietly.
“Overall, it’s similar to the North Ice Palace that I remember.”
Watching the North Ice Palace slowly crumbling, her heart felt uneasy.
“Of course, since I’m here, I won’t let it be destroyed like this.”
At that moment, when Yerin had such determination in her eyes.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
The blue-clad guards lined up in a row, along with the servants of the Ice Palace.
Even the elders of the Ice Palace stood in front of the guards and servants.
They all showed the utmost respect towards Doyul.
“…Are they the entire population of the North Ice Palace?”
Certainly, the number of people seemed to have decreased compared to when she first established the North Ice Palace.
“It’s been a while, everyone.”
While receiving their greetings, Doyul straightened his back.
The innocent face of the young boy had disappeared, and only the stern expression of the Ice Palace Lord who ruled the North Ice Palace remained.
“Everyone, please show your respect to the new leader of the North Ice Palace.”
A firm voice echoed.
In an instant, the gazes of the people turned fierce.
The sharp enmity that tingled their skin.
“……”
“……”
Even though it was a brief silence, their intention of not welcoming Yerin was clear.
To them, Yerin was…
“A woman from the enemy Four Heavens Gate, and the one who caused the shameful marriage alliance with Doyul.”
But only for a moment.
“Greetings, Madam.”
“Greetings, Madam.”
The people of the Ice Palace swallowed their bitter humiliation and showed their respect towards Yerin.
“Yes, my children. You are much better than those useless Four Heavens Gate scoundrels.”
With the heart of her ancestors in the darkness, Yerin praised her descendants.
Isn’t that right?
The Four Heavens Gate, who abuses even their own daughters for being women.
In contrast, the North Ice Palace, even if they are from the enemy family, never forgets to show respect to their host.
The more you compare, the more the latter seems like a fairy.
“You must have had a difficult journey, Your Highness.”
“I hope the journey wasn’t too tiring.”
Above all, Yerin was pleased with the many words of concern pouring towards Doyul.
At least it meant that they cherished and were loyal to Doyul as their leader.
“I should do my best to help Doyul as well.”
Yerin made up her mind like that.
“Hmm? Who is that girl?”
Suddenly, Yerin’s eyes widened.
There was a pretty girl standing among the elderly elders.
She seemed to be around the same age as Doyul, and she had a self-assured expression that comes from being showered with love.
Unlike Yerin, who had a dark expression due to the abuse she endured at the clan, her expression was different.
Just as if she felt Yerin’s gaze, the girl turned to look in her direction.
“Oh.”
Their eyes met.
At the same time, a fierceness flashed in the girl’s eyes.
“What… what was that just now?”
Yerin was confused.
It’s my first time arriving at the North Ice Palace today.
I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong to receive such a cold look…?
In that moment, the girl’s expression changed completely.
“Huh.”
Yerin’s mouth fell open.
The girl, who quickly transformed into an innocent face, approached the middle-aged woman standing next to Yerin.
“Madam Jaejeongwon.”
Jaejeongwon?
Yerin tilted her head in confusion.
The North Ice Palace is divided into three departments.
There is the Department of Rules, responsible for the palace’s regulations, the Department of Finance, which manages the taxes collected from the North Ice City, and the Department of Martial Arts, which researches and develops martial arts.
Of course, there is also the elite guard, Seolgeomdae, directly under the palace lord, but let’s put that aside for now.
So, that means…
“That middle-aged woman must be one of the elders of the palace…”
She doesn’t seem to have any knowledge of martial arts, so how did she manage to become an elder?
Yerin tried to hide her puzzled expression.
The girl smiled brightly at the Department of Finance.
“Since you have just arrived from a distant place like the Four Heavenly Gates, it must be very difficult for you to adapt to the palace.”
“Well, that’s true. The Four Heavenly Gates and the North Ice Palace have different customs, after all.”
“So, how about I personally accompany you to your quarters today, keep you company, and spend the night together?”
“Sure, you’re my cousin after all. There’s no one more suitable to be by your side than me.”
Jaejeongwon shrugged her shoulders and glanced briefly at Yerin.
“But you should get permission from the palace lord, shouldn’t you?”
In that moment, Yerin narrowed her eyes slightly.
She felt a strange pressure from Jaejeongwon.
“…Somehow, if I refuse this offer, it feels like I’ll become the bad person in this situation.”
Above all, Yerin was the hostess of the North Ice Palace.
Even if the palace lord and the Department of Finance have separate quarters, it was customary to spend the first day of arrival at the palace with Doyul.
If Doyul couldn’t go to her quarters because that girl was by her side…
“There might be rumors spreading about the simple-minded Department of Finance.”
What would the common people know about why she couldn’t spend the night with Doyul?
Above all, the people of the North Ice City didn’t have any positive feelings towards Yerin.
So, it would be best if there weren’t even any potential problems…
But then, Doyul spoke up.
“That’s a good idea.”
As soon as she heard that response, the girl’s expression changed.
“Right? It’s a good idea, isn’t it?”
“I also have some unfinished work to take care of, so I felt bad leaving my wife alone.”
After that, Doyul added with a casual tone.
“But there’s no need for you to stay until night.”
“…Huh?”
“Well, I’ll be spending the night with my wife.”
Doyul asked the girl with a genuinely puzzled expression.
“Since a new resident has arrived at the North Ice Palace, isn’t it only natural to spend the first night together?”
Suddenly, the girl’s face twisted in disgust.
“…Gaeun Sojo?”
What’s up with that reaction?
Doyul faced the girl, Ji Gaeun, with a suspicious expression.
“Oh, right. Nice to meet you.”
“But, palace lord. You’ve been traveling for a long time and must be tired, right? It’d be better to rest in your quarters…”
“If I’m going to rest anyway, why bother going to my quarters? Just go straight to my wife’s quarters.”
However, Doyul remained firm.
“I don’t want to burden Gaeun Sojo. I have unfinished work to do, but it can wait until tomorrow. If you don’t feel like it…”
“Oh, no, it’s fine!”
Gaeun, who had raised her voice, quickly put on a smile.
“I’ll take care of Gamo until you arrive, palace lord.”
“Then, please take care of my wife.”
Doyul turned to Yerin, who smiled brightly in response.
Gaeun, who had approached Yerin with a light step, gave a deep bow.
“Nice to meet you, Gamo. I’m Ji Gaeun, the daughter of the Department of Finance’s head.”
“Ah, nice to meet you too.”
“…”
Yerin, as the wife of the current North Ice Palace lord and the palace’s Gamo, naturally had to speak to her subordinates.
However, Gaeun’s face was slightly stiff.
“Maybe it’s because she’s still young, but her emotions are clearly written on her face.”
It was no wonder, as she had probably grown up receiving nothing but praise for her cuteness.
Gaeun nodded her head respectfully towards Yerin.
“Although I’m lacking, I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t have a hard time today, Gamo.”
“Thank you.”
Yerin replied with a satisfied smile.
Gaeun bit her lip until it bled.
“How could things turn out like this when I was trying to remove a stone that had rolled in my path!”
Hyun Doyul.
A long-held first love buried deep in the heart.
Actually, Gaeun had no interest whatsoever in martial arts.
The only reason she ventured into the North Ice Palace, using her aunt, the head of the Department of Finance, as an excuse, was solely because of Doyul.
“But, out of nowhere, he’s going to marry a girl from the Sacheon Dangmun…!”
Gaeun desperately begged Doyul to refuse the marriage, but in the end, he accepted the daughter of the palace as his wife.
Gaeun clenched her teeth in frustration.
“Well, what’s the point? It’s just a strategic marriage.”
The Sacheon Dangmun is practically the enemy of the North Ice Palace.
And Doyul is also trembling under the influence of the Sacheon Dangmun, so there’s no way he can properly treat a girl from that family as a Gamo.
However, despite all that, it seems like the palace lord is strangely affectionate towards that girl…
“Um.”
“…”
“Gaeun Sojo!”
Gasp!
Gaeun took a sharp breath and raised her head abruptly.
