A Kind Goblin's Bird

There have been many times when death has come before his eyes, but never before has his eyes been so blatantly dark. How could it be that Young-young did not return?

Your Highness! Someones shouting came in the distance.

It wasnt until one of his arms was caught that he realized he was losing his balance. Sa Heon-young pushed the arm away and closed his eyes for a moment.

It was a habit he often did when he had to think about things calmly. He closed his eyes and took in his breath as if in meditation.

No.

Your Highness!!

General Joos voice echoed behind his back.

Sa Heon-young ran. Calmly? Theres nothing like that, its nothing. How can he be calm? Young-young didnt come back. She was his wife. She was his woman. What did he say this morning? Lets be together, lets see the things in the world together.

His heart pounded at the ominous feeling. He couldnt stand it.

Your Highness, why are you like this?

The moment Sa Heon-yeong was about to go, General Joo caught him. Those who ran after grabbed Sa Heon-yeong and hung on him.

Your Highness, please wait. After all, you cant enter the Imperial Palace now. You know!

We were already outside the eyes of the Crown Prince, Your Highness. Your Highness.

When the sun comes up, the warden will go and check it out. Your Highness, please calm down. Your Highness.

Several armed forces grabbed Sa Heon-yeong and stopped him. Some of them, who ran late, knelt in front of Sa Heon-yeong and begged.

You must not go.

Opening the gates of the imperial palace after midnight is treason. He knows. But if Young-young is in the Imperial Palace.

Sa Heon-young remembered Young-young. Oddly enough, he remembered Young-young when they parted in front of the Empress Hall. At the time, he thought she was smiling brightly, but when he thought back, he was not sure how she was smiling.

Was she really smiling? Wasnt she anxious? What face was she smiling with?

Wait for dawn? How, how could he put Young-young there.

Then someone grabbed his leg. When he lowered his head, Ha Soye was hanging from his leg.

Your Highness, when the dawn comes, I will go and find out right away. After all, there are still people in the concubinage that this lowly thing knows, so I will definitely be able to understand what happened inside. Please, please, calm down. If King Mun is annihilated for treason before Her Highness returns, who will welcome Her Highness when she returns?

Please calm down, Your Highness.

Soldiers, servants, and maids all knelt on the cold stone floor. Calm down, calm down, calm down. Everyone kept begging. Crying mixed with earnest pleading.

No way, Queen Mother?

Sa Heon-young blankly looked down at his hands. His hands were trembling like a sick man.

Dont say that his mother did something bad to Young-young.

Sa Heon-yeong was well aware of how cruel the nobles of the Imperial Palace could be. He was educated to be cruel to himself if necessary. Those who rule must be revered. Sa Heon-yeong also subdued others, and he himself was thoroughly subdued.

But Young-Young , Young-young doesnt fit in there. She doesnt even belong there.

He looks like Lord Heon-yeong.

She doesnt even know what shes talking about.

But Lord Heon-yeong is prettier.

She is just a woman who whispers a sweet song to him.

She couldnt be left alone.

His throat was boiling. She wasnt supposed to be left alone. He should have been with her. He was in a position to eat the rust of the country, yet when he came to his office, it was like this.

Why did he leave her alone? Why did he let go of his heart? Knowing his mother. Knowing her cruelty.

Sa Heon-yeong wrapped his hands around the mask.

I knew I shouldnt let her go.

He knew the sky couldnt allow him to do anything so easily.

His body was cold. He was scared. What if something really does go wrong?

Sa Heon-yeong remembered death. He thought of things worse than death. Everything he had been through was now clinging to him as a nightmare. If any of those things happen to her, then, my God.

Sa Heon-young bent his back. It was painful as if his throat was burning. He couldnt breathe properly.

Heaven, please. I will carry it all. Put it all down on me, for her, please Please dont do that to her, only to her. Please.

A streak of tears ran down from Sa Heon-yeongs mask.