Episode 63
“The people in Seogachon, what if we go down to the lower village first?”
“The lower village?”
“Yeah.”
Yerin nodded confidently.
“If you settle in the lower village, we’ll help you from the palace. And if you want to come back to your hometown after the investigation, we’ll help with that too.”
At Yerin’s words, the people in Seogachon cautiously glanced at each other.
Yerin drove her point home.
“It might be dangerous, so I’m telling you to stay until the investigation is over and safety is ensured.”
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence fell.
No one could easily break the silence.
And Yerin fully understood their hearts.
“Well, it’s not an easy decision to make.”
After the investigation is over and safety is ensured.
Anyone can say it, but who knows when that ‘safety’ will be guaranteed?
“Of course, I know it’s a difficult decision. But.”
Yerin firmly concluded her words.
“I’m saying this for your sake.”
After that.
“If that’s what the village chief says.”
The one who broke the long silence was the village chief.
“We will also follow.”
“Village chief!”
As soon as those words were spoken, one of the villagers shouted for the village chief.
“But Seogachon is our hometown where we’ve lived our whole lives!”
“That’s right, it’s not so easy to just leave our hometown like this…!”
Other people also opposed the village chief’s words.
But the village chief was adamant.
“Our hometown where we’ve lived until now is important, of course.”
The village chief stared at the villagers with a stern gaze.
“But the real reason our hometown is precious is because of the people living on that land.”
“But, still…!”
“If we stubbornly insist on staying in the village and someone among us loses their life because of it?”
At the piercing question, the people of Seogachon fell silent.
“I… don’t want to see such a thing.”
“Village chief…”
“I want to minimize the risk in any way I can.”
His voice was filled with sincerity.
“And it’s not like we’re leaving our hometown forever.”
The village chief reassured the people.
“After the investigation is over and we confirm that our hometown is safe, we can come back.”
“Um, well.”
“That’s true, but…”
The villagers’ momentum wavered a little.
Not missing the opportunity, the village chief spoke soothingly.
“And besides, they said they would help us directly at the North Ice Palace. How big of an opportunity is this?”
“Yes, we are aware of that, but…”
“Most of us in Seogachon are elderly or frail.”
The young ones have long since gone down to the lower village to find work.
The ones protecting Seogachon were mostly middle-aged or elderly.
“It’s not like we can descend the treacherous mountain on our own without the help of the Ice Palace, right?”
“Village chief…”
“No need for long words.”
The village chief, who nodded slightly, looked at Yerin.
“So, when do you think it would be best for us to leave, Miss?”
“The sooner, the better.”
“Then, how about tomorrow?”
At the suggestion, Yerin’s eyes widened.
“A quick decision.”
Yerin herself already knew that this incident was caused by the perennial frost.
If the contract with Doyul goes smoothly, Seogachon will regain its original peace, and she planned to send the people back then.
But.
“Even though the village chief may not know that.”
She had the determination to protect and knew what was most important.
It was probably because she had such determination that she had been able to take care of the villagers in this remote village.
“To ensure that the people of Seogachon do not feel lacking, I will take the best possible measures at the Ice Palace.”
The village chief’s approval swayed Yerin to show some kindness.
In return, the chief smiled warmly at Yerin.
“Thank you, Miss Yerin.”
There was not an ounce of suspicion towards the people of the Ice Palace, just a simple and innocent smile.
Facing that smile, Yerin made a firm decision.
“After this is over, I must definitely send these people back to their original hometown.”
* * *
That night.
Despite the arduous journey to reach Seogachon, Doyul couldn’t sleep and tossed and turned for a while.
Yerin, concerned, quietly called out to Doyul.
“Your Highness, can’t you sleep?”
“Oh.”
Doyul stopped tossing and turning.
Then he smiled awkwardly.
“I keep remembering what the lady said earlier.”
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Your Highness.”
“Not so much that.”
Doyul’s voice sank heavily.
“I feel it’s my duty to protect and take care of these people.”
“….”
Upon hearing his response, Yerin gazed at Doyul’s face in silence.
It had already been a year since they had been living together as a couple.
Even though he had grown taller and stronger, “He still looks like a child in my eyes.”
In reality, that was the case.
At sixteen, isn’t it still a bit too young to bear such heavy responsibilities?
“Hopefully, nothing will happen until the people leave Seogachon tomorrow.”
…Doyul’s whisper made Yerin feel a bit sorry for some reason.
She reached out and gently patted Doyul’s shoulder.
“It’s late, so go to sleep now.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Don’t just say it, close your eyes.”
At her words, Doyul let out a small laugh and closed his eyes tightly.
His long eyelashes gracefully cast a faint shadow over his delicate face.
Looking at his face, Yerin suddenly thought…
“He’s quite handsome.”
She reached out as if entranced.
But then.
“Aren’t you going to sleep, madam?”
As if he had noticed her reaching out, Doyul suddenly spoke up.
His eyes remained closed as Yerin withdrew her hand.
“What am I doing?”
Yerin reluctantly withdrew her hand.
“Come on, time to sleep.”
“Hurry up and lie down. We need to get up early tomorrow morning.”
It was a tender voice, as if coaxing a child.
Suppressing her embarrassment, Yerin lay down.
She closed her eyes tightly and thought, “I hope nothing happens tomorrow.”
That way, Doyul’s youthful anxiety might ease a little.
The next day.
The people of Seogachon were busy preparing to leave the village, bustling about since the morning.
“We need to minimize the amount of luggage we’re carrying.”
“Take only the valuables.”
“Leave behind things that can be found in the lower village.”
Survey members were running around, helping people pack their belongings.
Watching this, Doyul suddenly raised his head.
“Where is the madam?”
Normally, Yerin would stick close to Doyul and chatter away, but this time she was unusually quiet.
Doyul looked around and found Yerin.
“Ah.”
Yerin stood at a distance from the villagers, gazing intently at the sky.
Her eyes were sharp, like a blade ready to strike.
“Madam?”
Doyul approached her with a puzzled expression.
Without taking her eyes off the sky, Yerin whispered to Doyul in a low voice.
“Lord, look at that.”
“What… Oh.”
In an instant, Doyul’s face stiffened.
A flock of birds were flapping their wings urgently, as if they needed to leave Seogachon and this land immediately.
“…It’s just as we observed yesterday.”
Not only had all the animals disappeared, but even now, the birds were leaving.
Doyul felt a chill run down his spine.
And then.
“Lord, Lady!”
A cry came out looking for them.
“Everyone’s ready to depart!”
“Got it, let’s go!”
Doyul turned to Yerin with a firm voice.
“I think it’s best for us to leave Seogachon as soon as possible.”
“Yes. Let’s conduct the survey after evacuating the villagers.”
That way, Yerin and Doyul could move around more comfortably.
“Alright.”
Doyul nodded heavily and walked ahead of Yerin.
“I hope we don’t encounter any major obstacles.”
Following behind, Yerin pursed her lips, making sure no one else could see.
“This is a mess, really.”
You may be an important figure, but I don’t know how much of a big shot you are.
Just make sure to keep your end of the bargain with our Doyul!
The road down from Seogachon was quite treacherous.
The village’s location itself was rugged, and the path hugged a cliff edge.
It was already nerve-wracking, and most of the villagers moving together were elderly or frail.
Some were carrying heavy loads, and even the village chief and others with mobility issues were being carried.
Yerin and Doyul had to get off their horses and walk.
“We’re moving too slowly.”
Doyul assessed the speed of the group.
It was definitely slower than when the survey team moved as a unit.
And it seemed like others were feeling it too.
“At this rate, it’ll be difficult to reach the lower village before sunset.”
One of the survey members expressed concern.
“I think we need to find a place to camp.”
“….”
“Lord?”
