HRB 17

Chapter : 17

Honey Laced with Poison (2)

“What… are you suggesting we do?”

Jo-young was flustered by Yeon-ho’s proposal, especially since he appeared dressed not in his usual slightly intense attire, but in a neat and refined manner.

“I said we should discuss poetry.”

“Is there perhaps… a time at Bisan Fortress when the lord and his wife study together?”

“There isn’t.”

“Then why are you suddenly suggesting we discuss poetry?”

“To spend time together with Her Highness the Princess.”

“……”

Jo-young blinked blankly. In that instant, countless thoughts rushed through her mind.

Do people of noble birth normally get to know one another by discussing poetry when a man and a woman spend time together?

Or am I misunderstanding what he means by ‘spending time together’?

As these confusing thoughts raced through her head, Jo-young simultaneously scrambled to recall what poetry she even knew.

The thought suddenly struck her that a princess ought to know at least some poetry, and her mind began working quickly on how to escape this situation.

Fortunately, the lord explained himself first.

“I heard that Your Highness enjoys reading poetry. I am lacking in many ways, but I wished to become a conversational companion for you.”

Only then did Jo-young realize why he had said such a thing, and why he had appeared dressed like this today.

At the same time, she found it faintly amusing—he truly didn’t understand women.

Jeong Jae-in, the son of Scholar Jeong Jin.

The man said to be the princess’s lover would surely be well-versed in learning, having studied alongside the princess and grown close to her.

Since the princess liked him, the lord must be trying to show that he, too, could recite poetry like that man, hoping to win her favor.

“Are you doing this because you’re worried I might think your learning is lacking, my lord?”

Yeon-ho neither denied it nor jumped back in embarrassment.

“There is a prejudice that commanders who wield swords are ignorant and uncultured. Given that killing people and seeing blood becomes routine, and that such lives can appear savage, it isn’t a prejudice entirely without basis. It would not be strange if a noble princess feared or felt uncomfortable around a rough soldier.”

“A princess should never think of a great general who protects the nation as savage. A general is the blade that protects the people and strikes down the enemy.”

Jo-young did not know what the real princess truly thought of him, but she believed that at the very least, a princess should never think that way—surely she wouldn’t.

As conviction entered her voice, she seemed to stand tall with a dignity befitting a true princess.

“Even if they are enemies, killing people is a harsh and difficult task that just anyone cannot do. You are someone who takes on that tremendous burden. And if one were to think the lord who commands troops and defends a fortress is ignorant, then that person would be the ignorant one.”

“That was truly a fine statement befitting a princess. However, is that truly how Your Highness feels? Are you honestly without even the slightest prejudice—without fear or contempt toward me?”

In truth, when Yeon-ho had rescued the princess from the assassins, he had seen her face pale as if she might retch at the sight of blood and corpses.

In the eyes with which she had looked at him then, there had been fear.

Jo-young smiled gently, as if to soothe his heart.

“At first, I was afraid. When I saw you appear holding a sword dripping with blood, you did look like a yaksha. But once I realized you had come to save me, I was endlessly grateful. Thanks to you, I saved my life and even gained three months of freedom. To me, you are no different from a benefactor.”

Though he had heard kind words about himself, Yeon-ho felt displeased.

“I wish to become Your Highness’s husband, not your benefactor. I did not give you three months because I wanted gratitude, but because I wanted to win your heart. And yet, just now, Your Highness made the time and effort I am devoting seem trivial.”

“What? No—no, that’s not what I meant!”

“Then how did you see me as a man, not as a general? Did you truly have no interest at all in finding out whether this man—so different from Jeong Jae-in, merely a benefactor—might be learned, or someone you could converse with?”

“Please don’t misunderstand! I have never once compared you to… Jeong Jae-in.”

“Because there is no comparison?”

“Yes. Because you are completely different people. My lord, you are already someone who shines more than enough!”

In her flustered attempt to explain, her true feelings slipped out without her realizing it.

Jo-young covered her mouth with her hand, but once spoken, the words could not be taken back.

“…Shines? Is that a compliment?”

“Would that be an insult?”

As Jo-young scolded him out of embarrassment, Yeon-ho finally relaxed his stiff expression and smiled.

“I doubt I shine so brightly as to be dazzling, so please look at me properly. See what kind of man I truly am.”

Jo-young grumbled, unable even to hide her burning cheeks.

“My lord, you really say such things without changing your expression at all.”

“Do you dislike shameless men?”

“I don’t know what kind of man I like or dislike. Just as I liked Jeong Jae-in because he was Jeong Jae-in, please show me yourself as you are. Discussing poetry isn’t something you truly enjoy, is it?”

“I thought Your Highness enjoyed it.”

As if!

Jo-young screamed inwardly. She didn’t know much about other people’s romances, and she herself had never been in love, but what woman in the world would enjoy such stuffy romance as discussing poetry with a man?

“You don’t need to adjust yourself to me. These three months seem to be your time, not mine.”

“To be honest, I don’t really know what one is supposed to do to pass time with a woman.”

Jo-young found Yeon-ho’s candid admission, made without embarrassment, refreshing.

All kinds of people came and went through the Ha family estate. Hundreds passed through every day, most of them men.

They boasted, showed off, and if their shortcomings were exposed, they made a fuss as if gravely insulted.

Especially in front of women, she had often seen men act like sages who knew everything.

Yet Yeon-ho showed his clumsy side openly to the princess—the very person he wished to impress. And even so, he did not seem foolish at all; rather, he appeared wise and bold.

“You told me not to compare, but please tell me what you mainly did with Jeong Jae-in. I ask because I truly don’t know.”

How would she know?

Jo-young forced an awkward smile to buy time, rummaging through her memory for bits and pieces of lovers’ pastimes she had heard about somewhere.

“It wasn’t anything special. Um… we just… walked in the garden and talked… went to the market together to buy things… fished by the river, tended a vegetable patch together, and in summer, packed food and played in the valley streams.”

She had started haltingly, but as she continued, the words flowed easily—far too easily for something she’d called “nothing special.”

“You do… quite a lot.”

“I suppose we did….”

Reading the discomfort on Yeon-ho’s face, Jo-young waved her hands.

“But you don’t need to do such things, my lord. Where would you find the leisure to idle away time with me?”

It almost sounded as though she were asking him to do so.

She truly hadn’t meant that, but in trying to comfort him, she’d only gotten herself tangled further.

She felt sorry that he might be belittling himself by comparing himself to Jeong Jae-in, and guilty that he might think that way because of her—so she’d meddled unnecessarily. Perhaps it had even been his calculated ploy.

But a real princess would have coldly turned away and pushed him back.

“Unlike Jeong Jae-in, you and I live under the same roof anyway. If you visit from time to time and we simply talk like this, that alone is enough to get to know each other.”

Already not a real princess, she must not give him false hope.

Coming to her senses, Jo-young spoke indirectly, hoping he wouldn’t make needless efforts.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Pardon?”

“The Deputy Minister said Your Highness has been bored. It seems you may need some books.”

He had not been persuaded at all.