[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Chapter: 200
Baek An had always been quite talkative.
Just as he had told Baek Yu, he now relayed the same story to the Fortress Lord. After hearing Baek An’s account, the lord’s expression shifted slightly in surprise.
Normally, he only half-listened to Baek An’s chatter, dismissing much of it as idle talk. But this was different. This was about Prince Ikwon.
A royal prince lending a hand to a mere servant? That was no trivial matter.
“Yes, Father. I saw it with my own eyes. He was helping the servant with his chores, even chopping firewood himself.”
Baek An was eager to vividly convey just how shocking the sight had been.
The Fortress Lord fell silent, lost in thought.
If this story was true, then Prince Ikwon was nothing like the man described in the capital’s rumors.
Of course, the Fortress Lord bore no personal grudge against the prince. But rumors didn’t spread so easily without reason—especially when it came to royalty. A reputation as bad as Ikwon’s couldn’t be ignored.
That said, he was deeply grateful to the prince for saving his eldest son’s life. Allowing Ikwon to bring in an unidentified group of strangers without questioning them had been his way of expressing that gratitude.
But that was as far as it went.
The Fortress Lord had no desire to grow closer to the prince. The power struggles in the central court were obvious, and he wanted no part in them.
His only goal had always been to protect the peace of Blood Cloud Fortress.
“…This is troubling.”
But the world rarely moved according to one’s wishes.
The Fortress Lord could already see the conclusion before him.
Regardless of how he had ended up here, Prince Ikwon had undoubtedly come to Blood Cloud Fortress seeking military support for the inevitable battle over the throne.
A nagging suspicion crept into his mind.
Had the prince orchestrated Baek An’s crisis, arriving at just the right moment to save him?
The timing was too perfect.
To appear at the brink of death and rescue him—it wouldn’t be strange if this had all been a carefully staged act.
The Fortress Lord remained silent, deep in thought.
He had no intention of trusting or relying on Prince Ikwon. And yet, he couldn’t shake the growing sense that the prince might be someone worth trusting.
Even if Ikwon was trying to win his and his sons’ favor, there was no reason for him to show kindness to a mere servant. What kind of prince would concern himself with a lowly laborer splitting firewood?
Moreover, there was that expression.
The moment Ikwon first laid eyes on him, there had been something unsettling about his gaze.
Why had the prince looked at him with such an inexplicable sense of longing?
The Fortress Lord felt uneasy.
And then, he caught himself—realizing that, against his better judgment, he was actively trying to see Prince Ikwon in a favorable light.
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“Father? What’s wrong?”
Baek An’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
It was only then that the Fortress Lord realized he had been wearing an unusually serious expression.
“…It’s nothing.”
He hesitated, recalling Ikwon’s strange gaze once more.
Why had he looked at him like that?
Had he missed something?
The more he pondered, the more it felt like something had slipped through his grasp—like the loss of something precious, though he couldn’t quite name it.
“…It’s nothing,” he muttered again.
Had exhaustion finally gotten to him? Was it the toll of overwork?
He raised a hand to rub his temple before turning to Baek An.
“Baek Yu is bedridden, and I am too busy to personally attend to His Highness. You must see to his well-being and comfort in my place.”
“Yes, Father.”
With that, Baek An left the study.
Alone in the now silent room, the Fortress Lord sat in contemplation, weighed down by an inexplicable sense of loss.
Yet, no matter how long he sat there, he couldn’t figure out why.
* * *
Following his father’s orders, Baek An began keeping an eye on Yegyeong. However, half of his motivation stemmed from sheer curiosity and a hint of caution.
It was still before dawn.
Baek An had intended to start his watch early in the morning, so he went to Yegyeong’s quarters—only to find them empty. Yegyeong was nowhere to be seen.
Determined to track him down, Baek An wandered around Blood Cloud Fortress.
Hadn’t it been the same on the first day? He had been searching for Yegyeong then as well—only to stumble upon an unexpected sight.
At last, he found him.
A secluded clearing, a little distance away from the inner fortress. A place so rarely visited that even the debris from ruined buildings had been left untouched.
The biting dawn air cut into his chest, and a thick fog still clung to the ground. Yet, Yegyeong had been there for quite some time already.
As if absorbing the silence around him, he took a deep breath. Then, he steadied himself, exhaling slowly.
Amid the stillness, he began to move.
The sound of a sword being drawn shattered the quiet. The cold steel gleamed faintly in the dim light of dawn. Yegyeong swung his sword in slow, fluid motions.
At first, his movements were gentle, almost as if gliding through water—smooth, deliberate. But soon, they grew sharper, faster, and more intense.
The blade sliced through the air, producing a distinct, piercing sound. He moved as if locked in combat with an invisible foe.
Baek An could tell at a glance—these movements had been repeated countless times.
Yet, they weren’t mere repetition. Each strike felt like a reenactment of past battles.
It was as though an unseen enemy stood before Yegyeong, aiming for him.
Baek An couldn’t look away. It was a form of instruction in itself.
It was clear now—saving Baek Yu had been no mere stroke of luck.
As Yegyeong swung his sword one final time, a wooden pillar in front of him was cleanly severed. He paused, wiping the sweat from his brow.
His dark eyes stared into the empty space before him, but his mind was elsewhere. He was wholly immersed in his training, as if battling against himself.
Only after a long while did Yegyeong finally lower his sword. He took a deep breath, surveying the scattered debris at his feet.
A faint look of relief crossed his face.
“Enjoying the show?”
The sudden voice made Baek An jolt, nearly jumping out of his skin.
Was he talking to him?
Baek An glanced around, but of course, there was no one else. Not even an ant in sight.
“I meant you, Second Young Master.”
Baek An stiffened, then let out an awkward laugh.
Being caught was embarrassing, but what startled him more was that Yegyeong had sensed his presence all along.
Feeling exposed, he hesitantly stepped out from behind the pillar where he had been hiding.
“I-I apologize, Your Highness. I did not mean to be disrespectful…”
Flustered, Baek An dropped to his knees, but the awkwardness of his movements only made his embarrassment more obvious.
“There’s no need for that. Get up.”
Yegyeong waved a hand dismissively as he approached.
His expression was warm, even affable, yet there was an undeniable steel beneath it.
Baek An lifted his head but still wore a hesitant, sheepish smile.
“Were you looking for me?” Yegyeong asked.
Baek An’s breath hitched.
How should he answer?
Yet, hesitating in front of a royal prince wasn’t a wise move either.
So, he fumbled for a response.
“I… I did not see you and feared that something may have happened.”
Yegyeong stroked his chin, replying thoughtfully, “So, you came to check on me. To keep watch, perhaps?”
His tone was light, almost joking, but Baek An knew better.
A prince of the royal family, and a mere provincial lord’s son—there was a stark difference in their positions.
Cold sweat ran down Baek An’s back as he instinctively lowered his head again.
“My younger brother keeping tabs on me is nothing new. But to think I’d still have watchful eyes following me even outside the palace… I must admit, I do miss some things about court life—but surveillance is not one of them.”
Was he being accused of espionage?
Yegyeong’s words had the air of a jest, but if he was even half-serious, this could turn disastrous.
Baek An felt a chill of panic and hastily replied, “N-no! That is… I was merely following my father’s orders to ensure Your Highness’s well-being…”
“Is that so?”
Yegyeong raised an eyebrow.
Baek An’s mouth went dry.
“I understand.”
Yegyeong let out a soft chuckle.
Baek An, on the other hand, was breaking into a nervous sweat.
If Prince Ikwon decided to report this to his father, he would be in for a world of trouble.
Baek An had never once set foot outside Seopyung, where Blood Cloud Fortress stood. Because of this, the figure he feared most was not the king or even the princes—but the Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress himself.
Even now, standing before a prince, the reality of it didn’t quite sink in. That was the truth of Baek An’s feelings.
After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously spoke.
“Your Highness…”
“Go on.”
Baek An continued, his voice subdued.
“I… I fear I have disturbed your time, Your Highness…”
“You want me to keep it a secret?”
How did he see through him so quickly?
Baek An instinctively shrank back.
But Yegyeong had spent over a decade within these fortress walls, living among the lord’s family.
Understanding what was on Baek An’s mind was no challenge at all.
Unaware of this, Baek An remained dejected, unable to lift his head.
“Very well.”
At Yegyeong’s response, Baek An’s head shot up. The dejection from moments ago vanished as his eyes lit up.
Yegyeong observed him with mild amusement before speaking again.
“I come out here in the morning to loosen up. So in exchange for keeping your little pursuit a secret… you will be my sparring partner.”
It was an entirely unexpected proposition.
Baek An’s eyes widened in shock.
“Truly?”
Yegyeong nodded without hesitation, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The mere chance to experience firsthand the skill that had saved Baek Yu’s life was an honor in itself. And to have his secret kept as well?
There was no reason to refuse.
Baek An’s eyes gleamed as he lowered his head in gratitude.
“I am deeply honored, Your Highness.”
Yegyeong let out a quiet chuckle before turning away.
It seemed the morning’s training was over. Without another word, he started back toward the inner fortress.
Baek An, unable to suppress the giddy smile creeping onto his face, quickly followed after him.
[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]