Chapter 10
“You couldn’t even bring yourself to ask Lady Onju to be your mate, could you?”
“……”
“And those sweet lies about how she wouldn’t have to lift a finger thanks to your terrifying reputation in the imperial palace—you didn’t dare say that either, did you?”
“How could I say something like that to someone that tiny?”
This time, Pilhwan tapped his thigh with the edge of his hand. Surprised by the unexpected reference to size, Junghyo repeated with a beat of delay.
“…You mean she’s that small?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what’s going on, but she’s shrunk a lot. If I ask her to marry me now, I’d be the worst kind of scumbag. She’s seriously this small.”
“How could that be…?”
“Exactly. The old turtle said if I keep holding her close, she’ll slowly return to her real age.”
“Oh, well if there’s a way, then that’s fine. I was really starting to worry.”
Junghyo, whose heart had truly dropped in shock, masked his alarm with a bright, smiling squint.
“What a shame. Even though Your Highness has grown into such a giant, your thoughts haven’t changed much in thirteen years. Still all about Lady Onju.”
“That’s what makes it even more unfair.”
Seeing Pilhwan nod seriously, Junghyo couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“You’re laughing? When your lord is in such despair?”
“Can’t help it. You were like a grumpy old man even as a kid, and now you’re finally having a human-like dilemma.”
“When I met you again, you looked really impressive. But the more time passes, the more you turn into a nagging old man.”
“Well, if Your Highness didn’t act like this, I wouldn’t have to nag like an old man.”
Without a hint of impact, Junghyo calmly faced Pilhwan, then pulled a heavy coin pouch from his coat and handed it to him.
“Here’s my secret stash. Go buy yourself a bunch of clothes.”
“…Why clothes?”
“Your Highness’s charm lies in your looks—”
Junghyo paused, recalling Pilhwan’s past.
An eight-year-old boy who clenched his teeth through hunger and tears. A thirteen-year-old who wailed for Onju the moment he regained consciousness in the palace.
Then came the young man, whose tears dried up and heart hardened, who seduced courtiers with his looks and destroyed political enemies to gain power.
As if that was the very reason he returned to the palace.
‘Still… I can’t very well say, “Your charms are your looks and your cruel temper.”’
After some thought, Junghyo settled on emphasizing only the strongest point.
“Your most outstanding feature is your appearance. So dress as sharply as possible.”
“You think I’m in the mood to shop for clothes?”
“Whether you’re in the mood or not, the fact is phoenixes pick the male with the flashiest feathers. You can’t change your species.”
“Ha…”
“Make sure you stand out wherever you go. That way, you’ll win Lady Onju’s heart in no time.”
“It’s not about her heart. I need to fix her body first. What can I do with someone who doesn’t even reach my waist?”
Pilhwan tapped his thigh again in frustration. Junghyo sighed once more, prompting an irritated outburst.
“Why do you keep sighing?! If you’ve got complaints, kill me and take the throne yourself!”
“After all I went through to save and protect you, how could you say that!”
“You’re not the only one who acted loyal for life and then pulled a knife on me, you know.”
Even as he said it coolly, Pilhwan, perhaps feeling a twinge of guilt, rummaged through his sleeve and handed Junghyo two golden candies.
“Eat this and go hole up in the governor’s office and do some damn work. I won’t touch your emergency fund.”
“Oh my. Isn’t this the rare candy only ten pieces enter the palace at a time? The one you saved just for Lady Onju? How could you waste it on me?”
Junghyo, fully aware that Pilhwan was offering the candy as a silent apology, teased him anyway. Pilhwan didn’t reply and simply shoved one into each of their mouths, pointing toward the governor’s building.
A wordless command:
Shut up and go work.
It carried a heavy threat. Junghyo gave up trying to stall and bowed his head.
“As you command, I shall return quietly. Shame, I really wanted to hear from the mermaid how Your Highness spent your time in Dongnae.”
“Exactly why I’m going to see her first. Gotta shut her mouth.”
Pilhwan spun around, his robes flaring dramatically, and snapped as he walked off. As his figure receded at a near-run, Junghyo’s laughter followed him.
“Don’t forget, Your Highness! I’m moderately skilled in every field, not just martial arts! Don’t struggle alone—call me whenever you need!”
“You’re so damn loud.”
Hearing the laughter of one of the few people he could turn his back to without tension, Pilhwan looked up at the sky.
Onju, who picked him up when he had lost the will to live, fed him, sheltered him, and helped him survive.
Junghyo, who carried his half-dead body back to the palace.
Onju and Junghyo were both irreplaceable in his life.
‘The merfolk must be cursing me for what happened to Onju. I can’t put Junghyo in danger too.’
Holding their names deep in his heart, Pilhwan strode confidently down the road that led toward the sea.
Dongnae, after all this time, had changed beyond recognition. Only the shabby little alley with Onju’s workshop remained the same.
Everything else was blindingly extravagant.
‘Everywhere I look—it’s ostentatious. These buildings would make even the capital seem modest.’
His eyes narrowed with scorn.
‘Well, it makes sense. Hidden from the emperor’s eyes, it’s a haven for exotic goods and pirate ships. No wonder it’s sickeningly luxurious.’
It was both the emperor’s fault—and his gift.
He had sealed Dongnae off to “reclaim” his abandoned child. That act had turned it into a smuggling paradise.
‘In any case, Dongnae is Onju’s territory. The wealthier it gets, the better.’
His mouth curled into a lopsided smile.
Even if the wealth was illicit, it was welcome—
What unsettled him was how little remained of the Dongnae he remembered.
‘If I’m not careful, I’ll get completely lost here.’
Murmuring the name of his target store repeatedly, Pilhwan checked every passing sign.
Then the harbor caught his eye—lively and bustling beyond recognition.
‘That used to be a quiet tree-shaded spot where Onju and I would sit together…’
It was the place where Onju found his wrecked boat and rescued him.
Later, it became their peaceful hideaway.
Now, it was an overrun harbor.
‘I didn’t even notice it when I arrived disguised as a tourist. How could they change it like this?’
Frozen in place, his shoulders dropped. A slow anger began to rise in his eyes.
‘Out of all the shoreline… they made that spot into a harbor? It must’ve been the merfolk. Damn fish.’
The place where he and Onju made quiet memories was gone.
That loss offended him more than all the other changes combined.
The endless flow of people and goods off the ships made him frown.
Like he’d seen something revolting, he snapped his head away to glare at the sky. Round bulbs strung between the buildings swayed lazily in the sea breeze.
