Bab 36: Without Hindrance (2)

For certain, the memories that invaded Sungho's mind were from Hyeon Ju, which was triggered by the drawn picture in the book.

When he saw the recollections from Hyeon Ju's perspective, Sungho knew that her first brother, Baek Hyeon, gave off a child-like spirit. He was also certain that the siblings shared a good relationship, judging by how the two interacted in the memory.

"Are you okay? What's wrong, Your Highness?" He heard Chun ask who stood beside his seat.

As Sungho re-see the scene clearly, he thought that he went back to when it happened and he was present at where it occurred; he felt the grief, which came toward him like a huge wave.

"I-I'm fine," he replied. Sungho hurriedly swallowed the overwhelming sensation building in his throat, the sadness and anxiety raising, which caused his voice to be unstable and shaky. "It's just... I suddenly want to see brother Hyun Sik."

Sungho remembered wondering to himself that it would be better if he had woken in her body along with her memories. But now that he had acquired a piece of it, he suddenly wished he would never recall another nor all of them anymore.

The foreign anxiousness that was supposedly hidden, buried a thousand feet deep beneath the ground introduced itself, waving as it went, rushing into his mind and giving him scratchy distractions.

Was this what Hyeon Ju would always face throughout the entire time after her marriage to the king? Sungho could not stop himself from assuming this, he could not avoid such thoughts forming inside his head.

Since all of her family was killed in a blink, she must have been anxious for herself and for Hyun Sik who was working under the beast she loathed.

How old was Hyeon Ju when she was married off to the king? Was she 17? Or was she 18? Sungho could not determine which since he had not read nor heard anything about her age. Should he try asking Chun? Would it cause another suspicious impression if he did so?

"He'll be back before you know it," was Daewon's comforting words, looking at him intently with a serious expression on his face.

Sungho failed to understand his character. Earlier, Daewon was being a tease, yet now, he was someone thoughtful. When Sungho gave him a weak smile and brought a hand to his forehead, something came in his thoughts and knocked his consciousness.

"The picture!" he gasped loudly as he hastened to open the page where he saw it.

When he was finally able to reach the page, he saw how Baek Hyeon's drawing was wet, stained with a large spot running down the paper. Without any hesitation in his actions, Sungho tore the picture from the soaking book and placed it on the window stool for it to dry.

"What am I going to do?" Sungho asked aloud from fear while he stared down at the damp paper. "It will look cockled after drying it off." Seeing how it would turn out inside his head, looking totally water damaged, he instantly felt regretful.

Meanwhile, during Sungho worrying about the damaged picture of Hyeon Ju, a knock from the door rang in their ears, which made everyone pause and shift their gaze on the person stepping inside the room.

"Concubine Eun, Her Highness." Seok greeted after his entrance and shared looks and nods with Daewon.

"Then I'll be on my way, Your Highness." Daewon bowed in front of him, following as he stooped to lift the books he had stolen from the library and brought them near his chest.

Sending nothing to say to the soldier, Sungho simply nodded his head and watched him leave the room. While he was doing so, he heard Seok call for him.

"Your Highness, I have a letter for you."

"A letter from whom?" he questioned as he reached out and received the parchment paper that Seok was passing to him.

"It says it's from Concubine Gi."