ETHTKE chapter 36

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“I’m sorry about today. In the end, I couldn’t stop it.”

No matter what, I wasn’t able to prevent the emperor’s statue from losing its head.

However, Baek Yigang chuckled lightly with an indifferent expression.

“If someone heard you, they might think you summoned the lightning. Don’t apologize.”

For a moment, our eyes met, but he quickly turned his head away.

“Still… I was sure we could stop it.”

“You’re not a god. You can’t stop everything.”

Baek Yigang was repeating what I had said to him once before.

‘I’m not a god. But I do know what will happen, and I can tell you about it. Maybe even help you.’

I did say that, but now that it happened, it does sting a bit…

This time, I was careless. I had been through this before, but I forgot.

There won’t be a second time where I lose to the original story.

One moment of emptiness is more than enough.

“You don’t have to act so stiff. Feel free to be angry. After all, this happened because of me.”

“You have a talent for nonsense.”

Baek Yigang wasn’t even pretending to listen to me.

Hey, at least pretend to listen when someone is talking!

“Are you really not going to get mad?”

“…Did you think I’d blame you?”

For a moment, Baek Yigang turned his head, and our eyes met immediately.

I saw the sharp look in his eyes gradually soften.

“Of course not. Especially not at someone who came to me because they felt regret.”

His voice that followed carried a soft hint of a smile.

It was a gentle, soothing tone, like calming a child.

“Oh, whatever. Just get mad already. It’s my fault, so hurry up. I can’t stand feeling guilty!”

Why is he suddenly acting all nice? It doesn’t suit him! Now I don’t even know how to react…

Maybe it would be easier if he just ignored me and dismissed my words like he usually does…

“Forget it, just smile like an idiot like you always do. You’re good at that.”

“Hey, when have I ever smiled like an idiot?!”

With the darkening sunset behind us, we bickered our way back to the crown prince’s palace.

“Cheong Dowoon.”

Baek Yigang, who had arrived first and pulled me into his bedroom, remained silent until I was under the blanket, before finally speaking.

“Yeah?”

“Let me say it again, don’t worry. No matter what happens to me, none of it is your fault.”

There was a strange nuance to his words, suggesting he wasn’t just talking about today’s events.

But perhaps it was because of the stark quietness in Baek Yigang’s violet gaze fixed on me, I couldn’t bring myself to respond.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I have something to do tonight. Go to sleep first.”

Baek Yigang seemed to be checking the barrier surrounding the bedroom before he left the room.

And I had no idea.

That I wouldn’t see Baek Yigang again for quite some time after that…

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“…I know the founding festival is tomorrow, but does it really require all of this?”

The next day, when I entered the office, I didn’t see Baek Yigang but rather his aide, Philip, who looked absolutely exhausted.

I can confidently say that face is the result of an all-nighter. I lived with that face back when I was in Korea, so I know it too well.

Philip, who always appeared neat and tidy, seemed to be under a lot of stress… He must be very busy indeed.

“With the Empress absent, His Highness has to oversee all the empire’s events, so there’s no other choice.”

“Of course, I understand that, but…”

After returning to the palace last night, Baek Yigang hadn’t left the conference room or his office.

I had no way of knowing if he was still alive.

I had to see to know. I heard he hasn’t even had time to eat and has been working non-stop—it’s pitiful.

When you think about it, he’s quite a patriot for someone who’s supposedly a villain.

And isn’t this the first time he hasn’t slept because of work, rather than insomnia?

He’s been so busy lately that I couldn’t even cast a sleep spell on him.

“How long have you known Baek Yigang, Philip?”

“I’ve served His Highness since he was very young, so it’s been over ten years.”

The chain on Philip’s glasses made a slight jingling sound as he answered, his hands never stopping their work.

“You’ve known him for a long time. You must know everything about Baek Yigang.”

Now I think I understand why Baek Yigang keeps Philip close…

The two of them are strangely similar. They’re both obsessed with work.

Suddenly, Philip’s hands stopped.

Then his pitch-black eyes, which had been fixed on the documents, turned toward me.

“Cheong Dowoon.”

“Yes?”

A low, calm voice softly reached my ears.

It was similar to Baek Yigang’s, but a little more… what should I say?

A bit more disillusioned with the world…

Under the deep, dark blue hair, his sharp eyes glinted intensely.

What is he trying to say, looking at me so sternly?

“If you wish to see His Highness, go ahead. The meeting should be over by now.”

“W-what are you saying?! I was just asking out of concern! Because I know he hasn’t slept for days…”

Who wants to see him?!

I was just worried that Baek Yigang might collapse from overwork and wanted to check on him!

Despite my agitation, Philip’s expression didn’t change.

Thankfully or unfortunately, his eyes were not as unreadable as Baek Yigang’s, but they were still not ones I particularly wanted to look into…

“I see.”

“Of course. And if I visit while he’s working, he’ll probably hate it. He doesn’t like unnecessary interruptions.”

Unfortunately, my words went in one of Philip’s ears and out the other.

It was easy to see that Philip didn’t believe me at all.

“No, His Highness won’t be angry. In fact, he might even like it…”

The ridiculous comment flowed naturally from his lips, as if he were genuinely misunderstanding the relationship between me and Baek Yigang.

“You’ve seen it yourself, Philip. Baek Yigang doesn’t usually respond to my words.”

If I were to gather all the times Baek Yigang ignored me, I could probably compile a year’s worth of quotes.

He’s the kind of person who won’t even respond unless it’s something that piques his interest.

“No. If it were anyone else speaking, he wouldn’t even listen. It’s only because it’s you, Cheong Dowoon.”

“What, wouldn’t even listen…? Are you saying all my words are that useless?!”

Philip, are you subtly insulting me now that you have the chance…?

“Anyway, if that’s the case… I’ll just quickly check on him. That should be fine, right?”

I turned to leave with the intention of just confirming that he was alive, but Asel suddenly appeared and blocked my way.

When did Asel get here? It’s not even surprising anymore…

“You cannot leave the Crown Prince’s Palace, Cheong Dowoon.”

As expected, I heard the familiar warning. If I ask why…

“Why not?”

“It’s His Highness’s order.”

There it is, the infamous “by His Highness’s command!”

Moments like this make me realize how much Asel is truly Baek Yigang’s man.

“Anyway, the conference room isn’t that far, so just let me go. It’s not like it’s my first time wandering around. Besides, you’ll be with me, Asel.”

“I’ve already allowed you to come to the office. Please return to your bedroom now.”

Asel shook his head firmly, his face back to its original stoic demeanor, as if he had never been friendly in the first place.

He must have gotten scolded for taking me to the plaza last time against Baek Yigang’s orders.

Otherwise, there’s no way he’d revert back to his original stiff self so quickly.

I had finally managed to coax him a bit, darn it.

“Well… In that case, just stay here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled shamelessly, but Asel made no sign of letting me through.

On any other day, he would have reluctantly stepped aside with a face that said he had no choice…!

“I can’t allow that. His Highness has ordered that Lord Cheong Dowoon is not to be left alone.”

“But Asel, if I take you with me, I’ll get scolded for why I brought you in the first place, you know? So, just stay here.”

When I deliberately skirted around the matter in the plaza, Asel’s expressionless face cracked slightly.

See?

It’s clear he got an earful from Baek Yigang.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back in ten minutes. I’ll speak to Baek Yigang myself.”

“If you do not return within ten minutes, I will never allow you to leave again.”

“Alright, alright, I got it.”

Passing by Asel with a nonchalant face, I quickly exited the office.

Bang!

With the door shut behind me, I took a short breath and hurriedly turned toward the conference hall.

Isn’t this the first time I’ve wandered around the imperial palace alone, without anyone by my side?

There have been times like this before, but I had escorts following me back then.

“Haa… finally, I can breathe. I’m free!”

But calling it freedom was just a word; there wasn’t really anything I could do.

It seemed best to just go check on Baek Yigang’s condition quickly, as I promised Asel.

As I urgently turned the corner of the corridor to head toward the main palace, someone suddenly blocked my path.

For some reason, the dark shadow cast at my feet felt ominous.

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