The Prince’s Arrival

“Hmm.”

The 18th Prince suddenly making a journey to Hefei was one thing, but completely shifting his lodging inside the walls of Mangeum Bank was an entirely separate variable. Absolutely none of these developments aligned with the established blueprint of the original novel.

While there was a distinct probability that this distortion was merely a byproduct of the plot line accelerating and warping at a rapid pace, it was entirely a matter of speculation. At present, I possessed absolutely zero clarity regarding how the situation was truly unfolding.

Because the baseline parameters had become so unstable, I was forced to navigate the landscape with an immense level of absolute caution.

“Let us simply endure his presence until he inevitably falls under Yeon Ji-oh’s spell.”

The exact split-second that specific event successfully materialized, absolutely zero threat would remain for—

“Ah.”

A sudden realization struck my thoughts. Analyzing the erratic sequence of events that had recently plagued my surroundings, predicting whether the story would flawlessly mirror the original text had become a highly dubious endeavor.

To summarize the equation accurately: even if the narrative successfully progressed to the exact juncture where the 18th Prince surrendered his heart to Yeon Ji-oh, I possessed absolutely zero confirmation that a newly empowered Yeon Ji-oh—wielding the immense political backing of a royal entity—would simply choose to remain passive.

“Our absolute best course of action is to behave with extreme modesty and seamlessly accommodate his preferences to a reasonable degree.”

The baseline relationship connecting Mangeum Bank to the 18th Prince was historically exceptionally amicable. Therefore, if I carefully mastered the art of survival and thoroughly lowered my profile, then even if the Prince ultimately flipped his affections toward Yeon Ji-oh, we could successfully deter any potential imperial plots targeting the financial sovereignty of our banking estate.

Quietly deconstructing the chaotic variables while finishing the remaining contents of my teacup, my thoughts naturally drifted back toward the dark-clad stranger we had chanced upon at the tavern yesterday.

“Just who on earth was that man?”

By sheer coincidence, discovering that the 18th Prince was scheduled to touch down in Hefei the exact morning after my encounter with that specific stranger injected a powerful layer of suspicion into my mind. The probability that the two events were subterraneanly linked made me intensely curious regarding his true identity.

My finger was rhythmically tapping against the side table when a sudden, preposterous thought sliced through my brain, forcing my entire body to freeze mid-motion.

“There is absolutely no way…”

No, that was completely ridiculous.

The theory that the 18th Prince had already arrived in Hefei ahead of schedule to execute a private incognito excursion was entirely illogical. After all, he was a prominent member of the high imperial family—furthermore, an individual who possessed absolutely zero baseline knowledge of martial arts. The concept of the Imperial Court passively allowing a fragile royal entity to wander the dangerous provinces alone while wielding a sword was a structural impossibility.

“Hmm.”

Despite successfully delivering a logical verdict that the stranger and the 18th Prince were completely separate individuals, a thoroughly sticky, unpleasant sensation refused to leave my chest.

I remained anchored to my seat for a long moment, deeply submerged in my thoughts, when the welcoming figure of Yeo-ui suddenly marched past the threshold of the reception hall with his sleeves aggressively rolled up.

“Young Master, your bath is completely prepared and ready!”

“Let us proceed immediately.”

When the mind is thoroughly cluttered with chaotic variables, nothing yields a more perfect resolution than a hot bath. Pushing myself fully up from my seat, I accompanied Yeo-ui toward the bathing chambers.

A full week had seamlessly evaporated since the exact day the imperial envoy had first visited our estate.

Perhaps because a prominent member of the royal family—specifically, the Emperor’s most cherished younger brother—was officially taking up residence within our walls, the Imperial Court had dispatched a staggering number of high officials to our banking estate ahead of schedule.

Having witnessed those palace figures continuously flowing into the internal administrative offices of the bank multiple times over the past few days, the definitive date of the 18th Prince’s arrival finally dawned upon Mangeum Bank.

“…I must behave with extreme, absolute caution starting today.”

If the internal habit of referring to him carelessly as ‘the 18th’ inside my mind accidentally slipped past my lips in public, the situation would degenerate to a catastrophic degree with absolute speed. Right as I was giving a firm nod of self-admonishment, I registered a uniquely intense, questioning gaze boring into the side of my face.

“Why exactly are you staring at me with that specific expression?”

“Well, because you explicitly noted that you must behave with caution, Young Master. What exactly are you planning to be cautious about?”

Given that I had delivered the statement without providing a clear subject, his curiosity was entirely justified. I immediately moved to smoothly satisfy Yeo-ui’s confusion.

“I merely intend to ensure that my public conduct remains absolutely flawless, leaving zero leverage for criticism. If I foolishly misstep and incur His Imperial Highness’s displeasure, a catastrophic backlash will violently sweep across the entirety of our banking estate.”

“Oh, is that all? Naturally, you must exercise absolute caution regarding that specific parameter, Young Master!”

…Regarding that specific parameter?

Before I could fully dissect the underlying meaning behind his strange choice of words, my brows knitting together in brief confusion, my eldest brother stepped into the reception hall to escort me. The exact split-second my eyes locked onto his form, an involuntary gasp of pure admiration escaped my lips.

“Brother, is it not an absolute crime for that garment to look this spectacular on you?”

It honestly made me question if there was a single quality the bloodline of Mangeum Bank failed to possess.

Wielding a flawless combination of immense wealth and breath-taking aesthetics, even though he had purposely selected a thoroughly modest, plain white silk robe adorned with microscopic patterns to ensure he remained invisible, his visual presence remained spectacularly radiant.

Right as I was continuously scanning his frame while offering endless compliments, a sudden, heavy wave of profound worry painted my brother’s features, entirely contrasting his initial entrance.

“…Observing your current appearance, Yul-ah, it is your form that is looking entirely too conspicuous today.”

“This baseline is completely negligible, Brother. I put forth an immense amount of personal effort to thoroughly suppress my natural beauty today.”

“Pardon?”

Completely blindsided by the absolute confidence of my response, my brother’s eyes widened to their absolute limits. However, the shock lasted only a brief moment.

“Haha!”

My joke, heavily wrapped in a layer of absolute truth, triggered a massive wave of genuine laughter from his chest. Listening to his boisterous, clearing laugh, a bright smile broke across my own face as my brother stepped forward, gently taking my hand to rest it securely over his palm.

“When the words leave your lips, Yul-ah, it fails to sound like a mere play on words, so I must request that you exercise restraint when addressing the public. If you display that level of absolute confidence, you might accidentally force another individual to fall victim to instantaneous infatuation. Though, in absolute reality, a sea of people would undoubtedly lose their hearts to you even if you simply stood perfectly still.”

While the realization that my brother’s protective filters were exceptionally thick flashed through my mind, recalling the reflection I had viewed in the mirror this morning made me understand the precise origin of his deep concern.

Even through my own critical lens, the image of Geum Seo-yul dressed in this flawlessly elegant, pristine attire was nothing short of spectacularly graceful and breath-takingly beautiful.

“I shall keep your counsel close to my heart, Brother.”

“Then let us make our departure immediately.”

Receiving his perfect escort as always, the exact split-second we reached the threshold of Mangeum Bank’s massive primary gates, I realized that the perimeter surrounding the estate was exceptionally quiet today.

Then again, given that the 18th Prince was actively touching down, the city authorities had undoubtedly engineered absolute clearance along the streets. If an ordinary citizen foolishly chose to obstruct the path of a royal entity, they could be executed on the spot with zero legal recourse.

“Have you arrived, children?”

“Yes, Father. Mother, Sister.”

The exact moment I smiled while addressing each member of my family in turn, the expressions of the three individuals simultaneously turned spectacularly grim.

If I hadn’t explicitly deconstructed the situation during my prior conversation with my brother, I would have spent the morning spiraling into deep anxiety trying to decipher their dark looks. Smoothly adjusting the fabric of my robe, a serene smile graced my features.

“Do not display that specific smile so openly, Yul-ah.”

My brother’s low whisper drifted into my ear, completely saturated with an immense weight of profound concern. Shifting my head to look up at him, I found him staring down at my face with an expression infinitely more anxious than before.

“Please do not worry, Brother.”

Even if the individual arriving was a royal prince—and even if he was written to be so intensely in love with Geum Seo-yul that he suffered from severe, physical pine-sickness—as long as I successfully endured the initial phase, his romantic focus would inevitably slide entirely toward Yeon Ji-oh.

What if he aggressively directed his attention toward my form regardless?

I would simply pull the strings from the shadows to ensure the two main leads crossed paths significantly ahead of schedule.

Offering my brother a wide, reassuring grin, the deep anxiety lining his features finally cracked, allowing a soft, subtle smile to ripple across his face.

However, the silent exchange of comfort lasted only a fleeting moment.

Thud, thud! A massive, rhythmic vibration that shook the very foundations of the earth began to echo from the far end of the avenue. Startled by the thunderous sound—a phenomenon completely foreign to the peaceful baseline of Hefei—I frantically scanned the horizon. Breaking through the morning haze, a grand, imposing procession emerged, spearheaded by heavily armored imperial soldiers, escorting a single, magnificent carriage toward our gates.

Though my brother had explicitly noted that the Prince intended to travel entirely incognito to conceal his royal identity, moving across the provinces with a military escort of this immense magnitude meant absolutely every single observer would immediately recognize that a supreme titan of the realm had arrived.

“…….”

The exact split-second this colossal military column had stepped foot inside the borders of Hefei, it had undoubtedly ignited a massive wildfire of public fascination.

Furthermore, having witnessed the armored vanguard march directly to the gates of Mangeum Bank, the local population would undoubtedly birth an endless sea of wild, speculative rumors by nightfall.

“Huu.”

“I shall remain anchored firmly by your flank throughout the entire ordeal, Yul-ah.”

Calculating that my deep sigh was a symptom of intense nervous tension, my brother firmly tightened his grip around my waist to offer physical reassurance. Leanly resting the side of my face against his broad shoulder for a brief second to signal my gratitude, I immediately straightened my posture to face the vanguard.

Thud, thud!

Executing their movements with absolute, mechanical precision that mirrored a flawless military inspection, the armored guards marched in perfect synchronization before dividing into two immaculate lines framing the entrance of the estate. Finally, the carriage nestled at the exact vertex of the formation ground to a halt directly before our positions—right in front of our eyes.

Contrasting the immense sea of soldiers surrounding its perimeter, the aesthetic exterior of the carriage was surprisingly modest and plain.

However, because the sheer volume of elite guards framing the vehicle was so spectacular, the plainness of the wooden carriage paradoxically projected an even more ominous, heavy aura—subtly broadcasted to the world that an entity of absolute power resided within.

Silently analyzing the vehicle and the rigid soldiers framing its flank, my eyes locked onto an elite guard who stepped forward, closing the distance to the carriage door.

After meticulously verifying the internal conditions with absolute caution for a brief second, the guard smoothly threw the wooden door open. The moment the heavy silk curtains were pulled aside, a man finally revealed his form to the world. Simultaneously, every single armored soldier guarding the vehicle dropped onto a single knee in absolute unison, hoisting their right fists to lock them firmly against their left chests.

“We greet the Grand Lord!”

“We greet the Grand Lord!”

As the thunderous salute echoed through the street, the man stepped fully out of the carriage. Spearheaded by my father, my entire family along with the endless ranks of estate staff immediately bowed their heads to offer proper respect. The reality that the servants had been strictly instructed to utilize the title ‘Grand Lord’ rather than ‘Your Imperial Highness’ was the ultimate proof that an iron mandate had been issued to ensure the 18th Prince’s royal identity remained entirely hidden from the public eye.

“…….”

Just what hidden agenda had driven the 18th Prince to suddenly launch this unprompted raid on Hefei?

While the deep suspicion was violently resurfacing within my mind, I suddenly realized with a jolt of pure panic that unlike the rest of the household, my brother and I were still standing perfectly upright.

Before the panic could fully paralyze my senses, I felt my brother’s grip around my waist firmly tighten. Instantly taking the cue, I feigned absolute physical fragility, surrendering the entire weight of my frame to his support while swiftly lowering my head toward the ground.

A single, breathless moment of absolute silence trickled by. Then, the distinct, measured sound of heavy leather boots clicking against the stone pavement began to close the distance, steadily advancing until a pair of exceptionally luxurious leather shoes materialized directly within my downward view.

“…It has been an incredibly long separation, my love.”

The voice cascading down from above my head was laced with a microscopic, undeniable tremor. While the narrative claimed he was reuniting with his absolute first love after years of agony, I found myself wondering if the situation truly warranted this extreme level of emotional instability, choosing to offer a deeper, more respectful bow instead of a verbal response.

The moment the 18th Prince lapsed into absolute silence, a suffocating quiet permanently locked down the main gates of Mangeum Bank. Right as I was tightly holding my breath to endure the tension, a welcoming voice finally broke the silence.

“Everyone may rise.”

“We comply with your mandate, Grand Lord.”

Following my father’s lead, the entire household systematically echoed the response as they straightened their postures.

Given that my brother was also delivering the verbal compliance, remaining completely mute would be an absolute tactical error. Quietly muttering the concluding syllables under my breath, I felt my brother briefly tighten his grip on my fingers before smoothly releasing the pressure.

Taking advantage of the movement to tightly squeeze his hand in return to signal that I was perfectly fine, the exact words that drifted from the 18th Prince’s lips caused my eyes to blink in absolute, unadulterated dumbfoundedness.

“…Even after the passage of so many cruel years, your presence remains identical to a single, exquisitely pristine blossom, my lady.”

…What on earth kind of absolute, unmitigated bullshit is this?

Faced with such a spectacular, unprompted piece of dialogue, my true thoughts nearly exploded past my lips. Forcefully swallowing down the words that were violently circulating within my mouth, I maintained an iron wall of absolute silence.

However, the 18th Prince appeared entirely unbothered by my complete lack of a physical response, his mind seemingly thoroughly buried under the weight of his own dramatic delusions.

“To think that you would personally march to the main gates simply to welcome my arrival. My heart could not possibly contain a greater volume of absolute joy.”

Once again, his tone was completely saturated with an immense, suffocating layer of profound romantic sentiment. Completely paralyzed by the sheer burden of his intense interest, I was desperately struggling to formulate a coherent response when a hand adorned with a flawless jade ring, a matching gold band, and a striking black bracelet smoothly entered my field of vision.