A Kind Goblin's Bird

Chapter 30
The Empress has always wondered about it. She was always convinced that the bitch who put the goblin’s egg inside her stomach, and she, with noble blood, had to give birth to the filthy goblin was the concubine. A bird that grants wishes. Sa Heon-yeong knew how much the Empress’ heart was beating when she heard the story without looking at it.

Sa Heon-yeong knew that he was not a goblin. He knew it all too well. He had never used a magic spell once in his thirty years of life, and he was always facing death on the battlefield. He has never had anything beyond human, so he must be just a human. However, Sa Heon-yeong did not claim to be a human since he was a child when he was nearly killed by the prince’s sword. He couldn’t. So he lived as a goblin. Although he was a human, he had to wear a goblin mask for many years to obey the command to live like a goblin. It was unreasonable and sometimes humiliating, as if breaking his heart, but it was unavoidable. The opponent was the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Emperor.

His wife , who knew nothing, had hit the Empress head-on. To a mother who denies everything, saying that his son is a goblin, his wife claimed that it was his son.

The cost was horrendous.

“…… So, if she didn’t want to be deposed, the Empress commanded Her Highness to sing.”

“…….”

“If she’s deposed.”

“…….”

“She asked if the Empress would accept, her son…….”

Sa Heon-young’s eyes widened, then slowly distorted. He covered his face with one hand. He didn’t know how to control his crazy feelings.

What is that.

Young-ah, his foolish and kind wife. Why did she lose her life?

Sa Heon-yeong raised his head and looked at the ceiling. Suddenly, he missed one night and came back in the morning.

‘I thought something bad happened.’

She had been staring at the darkness all night long. She said she was worried when Sa Heon-yeong returned. What did he say then? Did he laugh at her? He didn’t remember well.

She was so worried when he didn’t come back for one night.

In fact, she didn’t even know he was doing something bad.

Just to acknowledge him as a person. Did she leave so harshly when she said something like that?

What is so important about him that he knew nothing while she was tormented?

“It became a will.”

Sa Heon-young closed his eyes at Ha Soye’s words. Now he thought his tears were dry, but something else was filling his eyes. He didn’t know if it was blood or tears.

“Ha Soye.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I need some rest.”

Retreat. Sa Heon-yeong closed his eyes while Ha Soye disappeared. Swallowing hot things, he thought of the lovely person he could no longer hold. And, slowly he recalled those who took that person away.

Something is breaking in his mind. The shattering sound was not as loud as he thought. Is this the mind or is it the humanity?

Whatever it was, it wasn’t as big as he thought it would be. It broke in an instant. No, only the shell is broken. The soul that was in it went to the underworld with Young-young. She was the only one who treated him as a human, so he had to die with her.

“Foolish husband, really..”

Sa Heon-yeong wiped the place next to him with his hand. There was nothing left of Young-young’s body temperature, but the fact that it was the place where she had laid made him happy.

“I couldn’t protect you and I let you do, I couldn’t fill you with flowers, and I couldn’t even burn you on a white boat.”

After that, Sa Heon-young took a long breath. He slowly lowered his back and kissed the empty bed. He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened his eyes. A sly smile dripped down like blood from his lips.

Who said that the road to the underworld is lit with blood……. Young-ah, go slow. I’ll light it up like broad daylight soon.

His eyes were red from tears of blood. Just like a goblin.

***

“Did he show up to work?”

The prince frowned.

“Already? It was only a few days ago that the beloved wife died and he went crazy in the Valley of Sinners.

“Yes, Your Highness. It is said that the delayed work is almost finished.”

When the Grand Eunuch, who was at the seat of the emperor’s assistant, bowed his head politely, the Crown Prince snorted and threw away the scroll with agitation.

As the Crown Prince of the Empire, it is natural to assume the role of the right hand of the Emperor. It feels good to feel like an emperor. But it’s annoying to see the scrolls. Documents all the time about what went wrong. He was tired and upset. Why the hell does he have to listen to the stories of things that are even worse than bugs? The prince clicked his tongue and picked up a drink.

“Is the work finished? It must have been a considerable amount.”

“…….”

“That eyesore bastard.”

Some people who knew that Sa Heon-yeong was the twin of the Crown Prince would gossip very secretly. Could it actually have changed? Which one is the goblin and which one is the Crown Prince? Are you sure the Empress is not mistaken? His Highness the Crown Prince’s disposition is like…….

That goblin did not know its place and entered into a noble womb, so the damage was great. Those who should look up to and respect the Crown Prince are often suspicious. Maybe, maybe, they talked well. While not being able to say a word in front of the Emperor, Empress, and himself. Those who rub their hands, bow their backs, desperate to please. When he turned around, they put a suspicious look on his back. Maybe that’s the goblin over there?

Is that possible? How could they not distinguish between low blood and precious blood? Even though he put on a goblin mask, why can’t they tell them apart?

“I should have just locked him up.”

The prince regretted it.

“Yes?”

The eunuch, the prince’s henchman, asked curiously.

“Heon-yeong. Until he was four years old, he was raised in prison. Heon-yeong asked when the weak-minded father stopped by to see Heon-yeong. Can I go out if I wear a mask?”

The Grand Eunuch also knew about it. He served the emperor for over forty years, and he meticulously remembered most of these brother’s incidents.

“Yes.”

“It seemed that the Emperor did not want him to wear a mask, but the Empress was against it. It’s normal. Giving birth to a goblin is a shame for a woman. It’s better to die.”

“…….”

“I chose the mask.”

He wanted to keep Heon-young in cages for the rest of his life and feed him, but he couldn’t bear to see Heon-young walking around wearing that mask. In the end, impulse prevailed.

Twenty-six years since then. Sa Heon-yeong’s mask was always chosen by the Crown Prince. Every time I heard a rumor that a terrifying goblin was drinking blood and eating human flesh, he laughed. It was fun. Even if he tore a bitch to pieces and killed it, he didn’t get enough fun. Sa Heon-young was special. A goblin with his own face. Those pitiful eyes that struggle to be human. Every time he saw that pathetic soul longing for their mother, he was so happy that it was hard to bear. Heon-young was truly a special beast.

“My poor and pitiful little brother. The masks were always hand-picked by me. How pitiful.”

The red goblin mask.

The hideous mask was chosen by the prince. The Grand Eunuch lowered his eyes without saying a word. The prince’s bad hobbies didn’t happen yesterday and today. For King Mun, it was still a bit better to wear. People, regardless of gender or age, suddenly died. The emperor is preserving his place today and tomorrow, and the empress listened to whatever the prince said. As the power of the emperor weakened, the power of the Empress Dowager, the largest power of the imperial family, also weakened. The Crown Prince, who was the representative of the Emperor and had the full trust of the Empress on his back, became the absolute power.

“I can’t believe he’s come to his senses, so that love was nothing special then?”

Only the dead are pitiful. The prince shook his head. Then he said, “Oh,” and looked back at the Grand Eunuch.

“Does Heon-young know yet? Why did his wife die?”

“….… I’m sorry. I don’t know…….”

“I have to tell him in person on our birthday. That lowly one died running around without knowing the place, but it means that she was devoted to Heon-yeong, so shouldn’t I have mercy? No matter what I say, it’s my sister-in-law, but if there’s any resentment left, I’m in trouble.”

A single smile appeared on the prince’s face.

“If he knew that she said, “Will you recognize him as your son when she’s deposed?”

“…….”

“Will he shed tears of blood again?”