---

Episode 589: The Young Princess of the North Sea Ice Palace.

In a small room on the upper floor of the Upper House.

It seemed somewhat difficult for several people to enter the space.

Yet, at least five people were crammed into that cramped room.

A thin bed was laid out.

Lady Mi was shortly presenting herself toward it.

“This is Hyo-ran from the Mi family, overseeing the Baekhwa Sect. I have come to meet the young princess of the Ice Palace.”

As Lady Mi spoke, the person on the bed smiled faintly.

“Oh my, you don’t have to be so formal. You can be more at ease.”

What a little rascal.

No, a naive… No, the young princess of the North Sea waved her hand at Lady Mi.

Then—

“That’s not appropriate. Princess, how could you speak such to someone from the Central Plains?”

A figure standing behind spoke up.

“You should receive proper hospitality wherever you go. Especially in such a strange place.”

It seemed to be a guard.

The bravery to speak up was considerable. It felt like they were already well beyond their peak.

Then, the person beside also looked like a guard. Another man donned in similar attire stood there.

Perhaps that person was also a guard.

The young princess expressed a bit of discomfort toward the guard’s words.

“Woo Beom… but this isn’t even our land. How could I receive better treatment than this? I even caused a bit of a ruckus!”

I have no idea what she was saying so boldly.

Swish.

The young princess carefully rearranged her posture. It was likely to show respect to her counterpart.

“P-Princess…!”

The guard looked surprised, trying to stop her. But the princess’s words came first.

“My name is Yuri. I was called the fourth star of the North Sea. Thank you for the warm welcome.”

A light bow caused her white hair to sway slightly.

Then, raising her head, she flashed a shy smile.

“I didn’t expect to meet like this… hehe.”

That might be true.

She probably never thought she’d get caught after running away and end up in this situation.

“I feel a bit awkward now. How embarrassing.”

Yuri scratched the back of her head while speaking.

A silence fell over the room.

No one dared to break the quiet.

After a few seconds.

It was once again Lady Mi who shattered the silence.

“I express my gratitude once more for your visit to the Central Plains….”

“Hehe, it’s nothing.”

“First of all, I have something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Before the illusion, I wish to hear how you attempted to escape. That is what I’m curious about.”

“Ah.”

She seemed interested in the reason why I vanished in front of the guards.

“Was the guidance from the Upper House not to your liking?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then, I’d like to know what prompted such actions.”

As Lady Mi continued calmly, Yuri smiled slightly and replied.

“I simply wanted to take a look around.”

“Look around… you say?”

“Yes.”

Her surprisingly simple answer caused even Lady Mi to falter in her expression.

What kind of answer is that…

But the sincerity in Yuri’s face was undeniable.

“I really wanted to visit the Central Plains. Especially Hanam, where the Martial Alliance is! I thought I’d never get to go until I died, but once I’m here, I couldn’t hold back.”

Her face sparkled with excitement.

“So, I wanted to see the Martial Alliance… and get a glimpse of the famous Shaolin Temple as well.”

“…so that means you tried to escape?”

“I’m sorry about that. But I thought if I came here, I wouldn’t be able to go outside anyway. And honestly, that’s probably true.”

Listening to Yuri, questions bubbled up inside me.

‘Is it true that once you arrive at the Upper House, you can’t go outside?’

Her confidence in that statement felt a bit off.

“So… since it’s come to this, can I at least go sightseeing today…?”

“No.”

Lady Mi firmly interrupted Yuri.

“The Central Plains are more dangerous than you perceive, Princess.”

“Aw… but just for one day…”

“We are tasked with ensuring your safety during your stay in the Central Plains. Carelessly roaming outside not only poses a risk but…”

Lady Mi’s eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at Yuri.

“Recalling what you requested us to do for you in the Ice Palace, it is even more inappropriate behavior.”

“…mmm.”

At her resolute words, Yuri made a distressed sound.

Honestly, it’s really hard to comprehend every time I see her.

‘How can someone who looks like that be so naïve?’

Just saying she resembles Moyong Hi-ah implies she’s a cold beauty radiating a chilling atmosphere.

Even with her hair, Yuri seems to appear even colder than Moyong Hi-ah.

How can her behavior and speech differ so much from her looks?

‘So why was I summoned here?’

Just as I contemplated the incomprehensible situation, I noticed something.

“But…! That person hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Princess…? What do you mean…?”

“The Red Feather of the Central Plains!”

…What feather? Everyone made strange faces at Yuri’s exclamation.

“That person’s arrival is when things can proceed, right?”

Lady Mi frowned at the peculiar nickname.

Red Feather? Who on Earth could that be?

It seemed that even Lady Mi had never heard of such a nickname.

As Lady Mi furrowed her brows, deep in thought for a moment.

“Ah?”

Realization seemed to dawn, and she glanced my way.

What? Why are you looking at me?

Lady Mi, who had been looking at me for a brief moment, quickly shifted her attention back to Yuri.

“Princess. That may be…”

“If that person needs to come for the conversation to progress… then it means I can sightsee until then, right? Even if just for a little–”

Yuri’s eyes, which were determined to throw a tantrum, suddenly shifted to me.

“Eh?”

Then she pointed at me with her finger.

“You…! You’re the one who hit me!”

Yuri blurted that out, causing the guards behind to react.

An unnecessary tension filled the already cramped room.

“Hit…?”

I felt the guards’ eyes turning deadly.

Ah, this isn’t good.

“No, that’s not it. It’s a long story…”

Just as I was trying to hurriedly explain myself.

“What was I supposed to do in a situation like this… Ah, right.”

Yuri suddenly changed her posture.

Kneeling down, she graciously clasped her hands together, while looking at me.

What on earth is she doing?

Feeling a bit taken aback by her strange behavior.

“Excuse me.”

She spoke to me.

“I…”

Her voice had somehow changed. It felt awkward, like she was imitating a man’s voice.

Or rather, it definitely was that.

Why is this lady suddenly speaking like that?

As that question flickered in my mind.

Yuri looked at me and said.

“Is it okay if I marry you?”

“…?”

The atmosphere quickly turned icy.

Not a sound could be heard, not even a breath.

My thoughts froze.

I think it was about a second of that silence.

Was that the problem?

“What’s with this crazy girl?”

Without realizing it, I blurted out.

After so long, rough words escaped my lips.

“Ugh…”

I heard Moyong Hi-ah swallow hard beside me.

Yeah, I wanted to cover my mouth too.

Cold sweat ran down from my unexpected words.

At that moment.

“Whoa.”

Yuri reacted to the curse she heard.

“You cursed! Whoa!”

Something completely different came out of her mouth unexpectedly.

“Oh my, you called me a crazy girl. How fascinating! That wasn’t the answer I was looking for, but it’s quite refreshing!”

“…”

“Hey, could you say it again just once? It’s the first time I’ve ever heard a curse.”

I instinctively took a step back.

I definitely think she’s truly crazy.

This is troublesome.

‘No matter how you look at it, I really don’t want to deal with someone this mad.’

On top of looking similar to Moyong Hi-ah, her personality was more annoying.

Yes, it’s as simple as that.

I don’t want to get involved with such a person.

As I thought of making a run for it out of this awkward situation.

“Hey.”

The guard behind Yuri called me to stop.

Woo Beom.

Suddenly, my lower Dantian reacted.

Feeling that, I turned to look at the guard.

“You barbarian. What did you just say to the princess?”

“Barbarian?”

That’s a new kind of title. I’ve never heard such words before.

I’ve heard terms like rascal, scoundrel, or madman, but barbarian? How fresh.

“How dare you spew such nonsense…! As I heard, the people of the Central Plains are truly vile!”

The choice of words is considerably irritating. That thought crossed my mind.

His voice mingled with an underlying energy.

“How dare you, knowing who this person is, utter such words?”

“He introduced himself earlier.”

“Shut up!”

You asked me, didn’t you?

Why are you getting angry after asking?

“A worthless race like you dares to blaspheme against the star of the North Sea…! Instead of being grateful for their visit!”

“Uh, Woo Beom, isn’t that a bit too much…?”

“Stay quiet. I’ll uphold the princess’s dignity against these twits.”

“That’s really not necessary…!”

Yuri desperately tried to intervene.

But Woo Beom seemed uninterested in her words as he stepped forward.

At the same time, his hand moved toward the sword strapped to his waist.

“I will show you what the sword of the North Sea is capable of.”

Clang-!

Just as he was about to draw his sword.

Suddenly—

He stopped short, unable to pull it out.

A sharp dagger tip was pressed against his neck all of a sudden.

“Don’t move.”

A slight trickle of blood ran from his throat.

“Who are you…?”

To everyone’s surprise, it was Tang Soyeol who had restrained Woo Beom with the dagger.

Caught off guard by the unexpected circumstances, anxiety filled his eyes.

Seeing that, I spoke up.

“Three times.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me.

The young princess.

Lady Mi.

Moyong Hi-ah.

And that idiot named Woo Beom, they all stared at me.

“First, I let go of the ridiculous nonsense coming from Lady Mi.”

I did my best to keep my voice gentle.

“Next, I ignored your mindless rambling at me.”

He seemed confused, failing to comprehend.

“Lastly, I’m even letting your sword-drawing attempt slide.”

No need to worry if he doesn’t understand.

“I’m really not in a good mood today.”

As I focused my gaze on Woo Beom.

“But I’ve already put up with you three times.”

I spoke lightly while forcing a smile.

“If you utter one more word, you’ll truly die.”

There’s no second chance.

With that thought, I continued to stare at him.

Then—

“What the hell are you saying…?”

Unable to contain his pride, he spat out another word.

I was worried he wouldn’t say anything, but thankfully he did.

As that thought formed in my mind.

My hand was already at his throat.

 

---