[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Chapter: 202
I didn’t dislike following my elder brother around Blood Cloud Fortress, observing its different areas. However, at times, simply being in the same space as him felt somewhat suffocating.
After returning to the inner fortress late at night, I did not head to my quarters but instead made my way to the annex. That was where Jawoon, Aro, and the other villagers were staying.
The path leading to the annex was shrouded in darkness. At night, most of the lights were extinguished for security reasons. Without a single torch to illuminate the way, the road was pitch black. Of course, the outer fortress walls remained lit to aid the soldiers standing guard.
When I arrived at the annex, a dim light flickered through the gap in the door. As I pushed it open, I saw Jawoon sitting in front of a small flame, his expression as rigid as ever. Further inside, Aro furrowed her brows the moment she spotted me.
"Uncle, where have you been running off to? You’re never around."
Her voice was sulky, almost petulant. At a glance, her attitude seemed no different from usual, but in truth, the unfamiliar environment appeared to weigh heavily on her. It was ironic—she had once thrown tantrums, desperate to leave the Demon Realm, yet now, she was wary of everything around her.
Jawoon, on the other hand, simply gazed at me in silence. In some ways, his quiet scrutiny was even more oppressive than Aro’s blatant displeasure. I couldn't tell whether he was trying to read my true feelings or if he was simply indifferent.
With nothing to say in response, I hesitated, observing their reactions. After a moment, Jawoon finally spoke, his voice slow and measured.
"She’s only saying this out of concern. Don’t take it to heart."
By sheer coincidence, we had arrived at Blood Cloud Fortress, but this was not an ideal place to settle down. Especially now, when skirmishes with Huawei were frequent, it was far from a stable environment. It was unlikely that the people of the fortress would welcome outsiders with open arms. The Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress would accept them if I ordered it as a Prince, but whether the existing residents would be willing to embrace them was another matter entirely.
If they were to settle anywhere, the capital would be the better choice.
I informed Jawoon that my maternal grandfather would be arriving at Blood Cloud Fortress soon. Upon hearing that he would be meeting General So, Jawoon looked visibly startled.
Two days later, an urgent scout’s voice rang through the fortress. Everyone in key positions was summoned. General So’s procession had appeared on the horizon. A tense atmosphere spread from the inner fortress to the outer walls.
I, too, headed toward the gate where my grandfather was expected to arrive. Around me, the commanders watched the distant figures with anxious expressions.
Time passed, and soon, dust rose in the distance as the sound of approaching hooves grew louder.
"He’s here…"
My elder brother murmured beside me.
My grandfather’s arrival was not merely that of a reinforcement force. Just as it had been in Wolhan Fortress, his presence carried immense symbolic weight. The opportunity to borrow his prestige and authority was rare. Even seated on his horse, his commanding presence remained unshaken. His armor gleamed under the sunlight.
Then, abruptly, his procession came to a halt.
At the forefront, my grandfather dismounted. His movements were deliberate, as if he had reached some unspoken decision while still atop his horse. Slowly, he lowered his gaze before stepping onto the ground with one foot, then the other. Standing with both feet planted firmly, he looked straight ahead—at me.
I was not the only one who noticed his actions. A heavy silence fell over the surrounding soldiers and officials, their eyes fixed forward, their breaths caught in their throats.
"Your Highness."
The Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress suddenly addressed me.
"If I may be so bold, should you not step forward to greet him?"
It seemed the fortress lord had conducted his own inquiries about me since my arrival. He had likely learned that I had gone missing during the battle in Wolhan Fortress and that my grandfather had left the Demon Realm before the situation there had even been fully resolved—only to come straight to Blood Cloud Fortress. His unease about this series of events was evident in his expression.
The grand procession remained frozen, tension thick in the air. The fortress lord gestured toward me, signaling for me to step forward.
I took slow, deliberate steps toward my grandfather. As I moved, the fortress lord followed behind me.
At last, my grandfather and I stood just a few paces apart, facing each other. His face was unreadable. Then, our eyes met.
For a moment, his gaze trembled violently. His stern, unyielding expression cracked, and the formidable dignity he always carried wavered.
"…Your Highness?"
His voice shook as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
I gave him a slow nod.
"Yes. I have returned."
A mixture of astonishment and disbelief flickered across his face. The clanking of armor rang sharply in my ears as he took a step closer.
The next moment, my grandfather reached out, gripping my shoulders firmly.
"You're alive."
His voice trembled.
I had never imagined that General So Ik-gyeom—the man who had endured the loss of his only child while remaining steadfast in the royal court—could falter like this. Who would have thought that even he had a vulnerable side?
"Am I dreaming…?"
For a brief moment, he was at a loss for words. I felt the faint tremor in his fingertips.
This was the first time I had ever seen someone reveal such raw emotions because of me.
I lowered my head in silence.
My grandfather’s grip loosened, his hands slipping from my shoulders. Then, clenching his teeth as if struggling to contain his emotions, he slowly dropped to one knee.
With one knee pressed to the ground, he bowed his head.
At that moment, the Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress, my brothers, and the other commanders all followed suit, kneeling as well. Though they turned their heads away out of respect, none of them could ignore what was happening. Even the soldiers and officials stood motionless, watching in silence.
For my grandfather, revealing his emotions so openly was an exceedingly rare event.
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"My deepest apologies."
His voice was thick with suppressed emotion.
I had always believed that, to my grandfather, I was nothing more than a tool for restoring his honor. But now, I could no longer dismiss his feelings so easily.
Seeing my grandfather like this brought back memories of my own despair.
I had spent my life convinced that I was nothing more than a stranger to him—that I could never be truly considered his family.
But now, I was the one who had returned in place of his lost child.
If I were to continue dismissing the affection he showed as mere political maneuvering, it would be nothing more than a cruel misjudgment.
Even if I could never feel the same depth of familial love, there was no need to inflict any more pain upon a man who had already endured so much grief and regret.
I reached out, lifting my grandfather to his feet, and led him through the gates of Blood Cloud Fortress.
* * *
“It is both humbling and deeply appreciated that Supreme General So has graced this barren fortress with his presence.”
As Grandfather’s procession passed through the fortress gates, a palpable tension filled the air among Blood Cloud Fortress, my two older brothers, and the commanders. Though the Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress was technically the ruler of this fortress, it was Grandfather who now commanded the space with an undeniable authority. In terms of rank alone, he was unquestionably the superior. But this fortress was Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress’s domain—the place he had dedicated his life to. Moreover, the Baek family, a long-established noble lineage, held deep loyalty from the people residing here.
Yet, despite all that, the moment Grandfather entered, he naturally assumed the position of leader, as if it were his by right. It wasn’t that Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress yielded meekly, but Grandfather’s mere presence had a way of making everyone tense. It was a fascinating sight.
“I imagine there is much to discuss regarding how you came to be here.”
Grandfather’s voice carried a grave weight, making it feel as though I were being reprimanded. Of course, it wasn’t just a feeling. His gaze shifted past the Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress, settling on my older brothers, Baek Yu and Baek An. Standing a step behind the fortress lord, they lowered their heads slightly, their expressions laced with unease.
My eldest brother, at least, managed to maintain a semblance of composure, as befitted his position. He carried himself with an air of calm, but even he could not completely hide the slight tremor in his clasped hands. My second brother, however, was a different story. His nerves were so apparent that anyone could tell at a glance just how tense he was.
“You must be weary from your journey. Please, take some time to rest first.”
With each step Grandfather took, the soldiers and commanders following behind him remained silent, their gazes filled with admiration. I hesitated for a moment before addressing him.
Since the battle that had taken place the day I arrived in Blood Cloud Fortress, there had been no major incidents. According to Lord of Blood Cloud Fortress, the enemy also needed time to recover. The fighting had been long and grueling, and their supplies were not endless. They would likely return after tending to their wounded and replenishing their ranks.
“More than that, there are many things I must ask Your Highness.”
…Damn.
Despite my suggestion, Grandfather remained unyielding. Nearly dying before one’s own grandfather was, without a doubt, one of the greatest offenses a grandson could commit. Knowing my own guilt, I had no justification to refuse his questioning. I glanced around, searching for an escape, and seized upon Jawoon as an excuse.
“There is someone I would like to introduce to you first.”
“Are you disregarding my words?”
It didn’t work.
Perhaps it was because he seemed far graver and darker than the last time I had seen him, but avoiding his questions felt even more difficult than before. Lowering my voice, I murmured softly,
“At least meet the Duke of Unguk first.”
Grandfather’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t expected that name. And how could he? That man had been missing for so long that the court had all but assumed him dead.
At last, Grandfather relented.
“…Very well.”
[Translator - Jjescus ]
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