[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Chapter: 198
As I took in the bewildered expressions of the fortress lord and my second brother, I couldn’t suppress the strange feeling rising within .
The mont I entered the fortress as Prince Ikwon, I had beco nothing more than a guest here.
"My Lord, truly, it’s fine. There is no need for this… really."
I forced my voice to sound firm as I reached out a hand. But the fortress lord, with his head still bowed, showed no intention of moving from his spot.
The sight of him weighed heavily on .
I was reminded once again just how burdenso the concept of formality and reverence could be.
"I may have to stay in your fortress for a while, and if you treat like this—"
Ah.
Only then did I realize how odd it was for to be speaking so formally to the fortress lord.
I pressed my fingers against my temple before continuing.
"If you keep treating this way, how am I supposed to stay here comfortably?"
"Ah… I now understand Your Highness’s profound intentions."
The fortress lord spoke in a hushed voice, yet it was heavy with unspoken burdens.
Perhaps this was ant to be a show of respect, but rather than making feel honored, it only served to push further away.
I gave a strained smile and waved my hand dismissively.
"It would be better if you treated more casually."
My second brother still couldn’t mask the confusion in his eyes. His lips parted and closed multiple tis, as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words.
It seed he still couldn’t believe who I was.
To him, I had rely been his older brother’s savior.
And now, suddenly, he was expected to lower his head to . The situation must have been just as bewildering for him.
"More importantly… how is the eldest son doing?"
I deliberately changed the subject.
At that, both the fortress lord and my second brother finally rose to their feet.
My second brother, looking slightly awkward, answered.
"His leg is broken, but there are no severe complications. It is all thanks to Your Highness’s grace."
I let out a short, involuntary laugh.
A broken leg, yet no severe complications?
To anyone else, that would be an outrageous statent.
But in this household, it was completely reasonable.
I had been the sa.
I’d broken my bones plenty of tis before.
And whenever I had, my second brother would smack on the back and tell to stop whining—even as I clutched my fractured arm in pain.
Of course, our eldest brother had done the sa to him, and the fortress lord had treated the eldest brother’s injuries in much the sa manner.
"Would you like to see him? My son would surely wish to thank Your Highness personally."
"Very well. Lead the way."
I could find my eldest brother’s resting place even with my eyes closed.
But knowing the way didn’t an I should wander off on my own.
The fortress lord took the lead, and I followed.
As we made our way to see my eldest brother, I recalled sothing my maternal grandfather had once told .
"May I ask you sothing, my lord?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Please speak."
I hesitated for a mont.
Had there always been this many people in Blood Cloud Fortress?
The population seed larger than I rembered.
It struck as strange.
And then I recalled sothing my grandfather had ntioned before.
Yehui—that bastard—had been planning to head to Blood Cloud Fortress to aid in a battle there…
"Has my younger brother co to this fortress?"
"Yes, Your Highness. However…"
The fortress lord trailed off, his expression suddenly tinged with uncertainty.
"Why do you hesitate?"
"Forgive for asking, but… is Your Highness’s visit ant to be a secret?"
It was true that my companions weren’t exactly suited for battle.
He was likely wondering why I had traveled with them in the first place.
"There’s no need to keep it a secret."
I answered plainly, then added after a brief pause, "Are you asking because of my brother?"
The fortress lord seed reluctant to answer.
"That… is the case."
"It is not a matter of great concern."
I waited, expecting him to say more.
But no further words ca.
It seed that news of my disappearance from the Wolhan Fortress had yet to reach this far.
"Then… could it be that you’ve co to align yourself with General So, who is expected to arrive in fifteen days?"
Huh?
I was montarily surprised but quickly nodded as if nothing was amiss.
"Well… sothing like that."
That’s strange. Grandfather shouldn’t be arriving at Blood Cloud Fortress just yet.
"If this is an unofficial visit, I will keep it confidential."
"I’d appreciate that, but I wonder if you won’t end up earning my younger brother’s ire because of it."
"Would a re commander of a small fortress on the frontier be worth his concern?"
The fortress lord responded with a sly smile.
Frontier, huh…?
If this place was just so insignificant frontier stronghold, then what did that make , soone who had once fought desperately and died defending it?
"We’ve arrived."
After leading to the inner quarters where the fortress lord’s family resided, he spoke.
A few more steps from here, and I would reach my old room.
Would it still be empty?
I glanced down the corridor before pointing toward the direction of my forr quarters and asked,
"What’s over there?"
Caught off guard by my sudden question, the fortress lord hesitated before replying.
"An empty room, Your Highness."
"Ah. An empty room."
I nodded.
"I see. Understood."
"Is there sothing strange about it…?"
"No, nothing like that."
I had briefly wondered if there might be another version of in there.
But it seed that wasn’t the case.
Just… empty, huh?
As I pictured my old room, sitting vacant without an owner, my gaze shifted toward the door of my eldest brother’s room.
"This is the eldest son’s chamber?"
I asked nonchalantly, even though I could already sense his presence inside.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The fortress lord opened the door, revealing my eldest brother scowling in frustration.
However, the mont our eyes t, he broke out in a cold sweat and imdiately tried to sit up.
"Stay comfortable. Just relax."
I waved my hand dismissively, trying to stop him. But, as always, my brother was stubborn.
"That would be improper. How could I remain lying down before my savior—"
"Ahem."
At that mont, the fortress lord cleared his throat.
"This is Prince Ikwon. Show proper courtesy. It’s not as if your injuries are severe enough to warrant lying down all day, are they?"
"W-what…?"
My eldest brother’s eyes widened in shock.
He scrambled to sit upright in a flurry of movents.
A headache was beginning to form from all this excessive formality.
I was already exhausted from trying to stop them, so I said nothing. And, sure enough, my eldest brother proceeded to lower himself onto his knees.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
I pressed a hand against my forehead and let out a long sigh.
The air in the room suddenly felt cold.
"Are you trying to make look like so heartless tyrant who forces even the injured to kneel?"
"N-not at all, Your Highness!"
"I’d best leave."
With that, I turned on my heel and walked out.
I knew it wasn’t their fault, but that didn’t stop the irritation from creeping in.
If only I could be as cold-blooded as the high officials in court.
But if I had been that kind of person, I wouldn’t have had the chance to return here in the first place.
Muttering to myself in frustration, I stepped into the corridor.
The fortress lord quickly followed after .
"My deepest apologies, Your Highness."
"It’s fine."
"We were simply overwheld by Your Highness’s generosity and acted excessively. Please, do not be upset."
"I’m not."
I turned my head away, wearing an expression of mild annoyance.
I had wanted so badly to return, and yet now that I was here, all I wanted was to run away sowhere—anywhere.
"Would it be alright if I took a walk around the fortress alone for a while?"
The request seed to catch the fortress lord off guard.
He hesitated briefly before giving a nod of approval.
"Of course, Your Highness."
* * *
It seed that word of being Prince Ikwon had yet to spread, as no one excessively bowed upon seeing .
However, a few who had witnessed during the earlier battle recognized , inclining their heads or even approaching , calling the eldest son’s savior.
"That’s the one who rescued the eldest young master."
"Really? To think he defeated so many enemies alone and survived..."
I could hear their hushed whispers, but I continued walking as if I hadn’t noticed.
Praise like that was nothing new to . And yet, sohow, it felt foreign now.
I wandered through Blood Cloud Fortress at an unhurried pace, attempting to trace the marks left by ti.
This was my ho—so achingly familiar. Yet, it felt like a place I had never known.
The fortress I rembered was long gone, and whatever traces I might have left behind had vanished as well.
There was no place for the wandering warrior Baek Yeon, whose origins were unknown.
And yet, Blood Cloud Fortress would continue forging its history, creating new mories—without .
The thought that my ho would move forward while leaving behind felt unbearably cruel.
Scars from the battle stained the corridors—burn marks, shattered walls, remnants of destruction.
Soldiers carried the wounded, while the servants tirelessly scrubbed away the bloodstains.
My gaze wandered, unable to settle on anything.
"You’ve co all the way here… It seems the honored guest enjoys exploring unfamiliar places."
I had noticed the approaching elderly man but hadn’t expected him to address .
Turning around, I found myself staring at an old man with snow-white hair.
Though his tone was respectful, his eyes carried a peculiar warmth.
I observed him in silence before finally speaking.
"Who are you?"
He was a stranger to .
"I once served as a military advisor to Blood Cloud Fortress. Now, I am little more than an old man with no title."
I nodded at his introduction.
His face was not entirely unfamiliar, yet I struggled to recall any mories of eting him before.
"There is sothing unusual about your presence. May I ask where you hail from?"
His question left montarily silent.
He felt familiar—but from where?
After a brief mont of thought, I concluded that he must be a stranger.
So I answered honestly.
Judging by his deanor, he seed to be soone in charge of managing the inner gardens. If that were the case, there would be little reason for us to cross paths again.
"This place holds a deep connection to ."
"A connection, you say…"
The old man narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing closely before allowing a faint smile to tug at his lips.
"No matter where fate leads this fortress, I doubt it is re coincidence that you have returned. It seems I, too, have a role yet to play."
His words carried an almost cryptic weight, like a riddle waiting to be unraveled.
And yet, his deanor did not suggest the ramblings of a senile elder.
What is this? Is he a fortune teller?
I wanted to question him further, but at that mont, the sharp blare of a war horn echoed from deep within the fortress, cutting our conversation short.
Another battle?
Or had the enemy returned?
I instinctively prepared to rush out but paused as I rembered—Jincheon was no longer here.
Without him, there were no threats worth fearing.
The old man lifted his head, his expression turning grim.
"It seems the enemy is once again eyeing our gates."
I rely nodded in response.
Without another word, the old man turned and walked away, his steps unhurried as he left the courtyard.
I watched his retreating figure for a mont before resuming my own steps.
[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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