The Silver Shadow on the Rainbow Bridge

“This place is…”

I had caught fleeting glimpses of this particular avenue whenever I traveled back and forth, but this was the first time I had ever set foot directly upon it.

Staring at the rows of two- and three-story structures densely packed alongside the flowing canal, a classic Wuxia film or animation instantly sprang to mind. As I scanned my surroundings, my eyes locked onto an elegant, arched bridge positioned quite close to us. I could not suppress a quiet gasp of pure admiration. If I recalled correctly, such a structure was known as a rainbow bridge—or a Honggyo.

“Wow.”

I had always stubbornly believed that scenery could only be truly appreciated from a distance, but standing here now, I realized just how foolish I had been. While looking around and continuously uttering quiet sounds of awe, my eyes accidentally collided with those of Prince Eighteenth.

‘…’

He was directing a gaze of profound, unmistakable warmth straight toward me.

Overcome by an immediate wave of intense embarrassment, I hurriedly cast my eyes downward.

“Ah… Please forgive my discourtesy, Your Highness.”

“Seeing you take such immense delight in this view makes me think that choosing to venture here was the finest decision I could have made, Young Master.”

For this brief moment, I was completely of the same mind as Prince Eighteenth.

Yet, perhaps due to the intense display of emotion he had exhibited inside the carriage, my pounding heart refused to settle down.

And it was obvious why. The already sweet aura radiating from Prince Eighteenth’s gaze had somehow grown infinitely more suffocating and thick.

‘…’

If his intense gaze had carried even a shred of vulgar hidden intent, I would have found it incredibly easy to simply ignore it. But encountering a depth of emotion that transced simple affection—a gaze that looked upon me as though I were something utterly precious and adorable—I felt deeply embarrassed that I had inadvertently exposed my genuine inner thoughts to him.

“Young Master?”

Ah. I had let my thoughts wander for far too long.

Hurriedly nodding my head to break the spell, I forced my lips to part.

“Yes, Your Highness. It truly is magnificent.”

“Haha! Hearing you speak such words makes me hold this avenue in even greater affection.”

At my confirmation, Prince Eighteenth’s face brightened to a staggering degree. I found myself thinking that if the sun’s rays were to manifest as a human expression, they would look exactly like him. Noticing my steady stare, Eighteenth raised a clenched fist to discreetly conceal the corners of his mouth.

“Ahem, ahem! Then, let us begin our exploration of this place first. There is a specific treasure I yearn to bestow upon you, Young Master.”

Clearing his throat, Prince Eighteenth directed my attention toward a refined merchant pavilion nearby.

Glancing at the shop, my eyes swept across the vast array of exquisite hand fans displayed prominently within the interior, and I instantly deciphered exactly what kind of token he intended to purchase.

“Come, let us step inside.”

dishonesty“Yes, Your Highness.”

While there was absolutely no logical reason for me to accept a token of affection from him, there was similarly no valid excuse to reject it when he insisted so intensely.

‘Well, given that he escorted me to such a breathtaking vista, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to accept a single gift.’

The moment I crossed the threshold into the merchant pavilion alongside Prince Eighteenth, a middle-aged merchant—evidently the proprietor of the establishment—quickly glided forward to offer a respectful greeting.

“I believe there is a specific custom-made fan I commissioned here a short while ago.”

“May I dare to request the name under which it was ordered, sir?”

“Shin-rok.”

“Kindly grant me a brief moment, sir.”

At Prince Eighteenth’s alias, the proprietor swiftly turned and began to frantically rustle through a stack of ledger parchments. A mere moment later, a brilliant, radiant smile bloomed across his face as he glided back toward us.

“Ah, I have been eagerly awaiting your honorable arrival, sir! I shall fetch the masterpiece for you immediately.”

“Very well.”

I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of extraordinary fan could possibly warrant such immense anticipation.

Assuming that it was undoubtedly an exorbitantly priced treasure, I waited patiently until the merchant reappeared, carefully cradling an elegant wooden chest meticulously engraved with a breathtaking landscape motif.

“Would you care to inspect the craftsmanship, sir?”

“Yes, I must.”

Accepting the chest directly from the merchant’s hands, Prince Eighteenth carefully unlatched the lid. He spent a silent moment meticulously examining the contents from various angles before finally offering a satisfied nod.

“You there.”

“Your command, My Lord.”

At Prince Eighteenth’s call, one of the elite shadow guards who had been standing steadfastly behind us to ensure our safety stepped forward. I watched the interaction in complete silence.

“Settle the remaining balance immediately.”

“Understood.”

The moment the decree was issued, the guard smoothly retrieved a heavy silken pouch from his robes. Without even bothering to verify the contents inside, he tossed it directly to the merchant. I watched in real-time as the proprietor’s eyes widened to the size of saucers upon catching the weighted pouch.

“T-This… This is an immense sum…”

“The craftsmanship has deeply pleased my heart, so I have chosen to include a significant bonus as a token of my sincere appreciation.”

“My deepest, most humble gratitude to you, Great Lord!”

To describe that sum as a mere ‘bonus’ was an absolute understatement of his imperial generosity.

Clutching the weighted pouch crafted from scarlet silk, the merchant snuck a brief glance inside and immediately bent his waist so low his nose nearly brushed his knees.

Judging by the ecstatic, split-wide grin stretching across his face, the contents inside had to be staggering. I stared at the merchant, who looked as though he would gladly throw himself into a roaring fire if Prince Eighteenth merely commanded it, until a soft cough echoed from beside me.

Shifting my gaze back to Prince Eighteenth, I found him extending the newly acquired wooden chest directly toward me.

“Please accept this.”

‘…’

“Do not misinterpret my intent. It carries no heavy burden; it is merely a token I yearned to bestow upon a dear, long-lost friend after so long. Therefore, do not allow your heart to feel pressured.”

Despite his composed words, Prince Eighteenth’s entire face had flushed a brilliant, burning crimson.

Letting out a soft, imperceptible sigh, I bowed my head slightly to express my formal gratitude.

“I shall accept your exquisite gift with the utmost appreciation, Your Highness.”

“I earnestly hope you will carry it by your side at all times. It has been meticulously crafted so that it may also serve you as a weapon for self-defense.”

‘…Self-defense?’

Now, that completely changed the nature of the gift.

I had originally intended to examine the contents later once we returned to the estate, but curiosity completely won me over. I immediately flipped open the lid to inspect the fan resting within.

“Oh.”

The exterior, shimmering with a brilliant silver luster, was an absolute sight to behold. The moment I lifted it from the silk lining, I was pleasantly surprised to find that despite its solid, metallic appearance, the weight was exceptionally balanced and comfortable in my palm.

Chw라락—

With a crisp, sweeping snap, I unfurled the fan in a single motion, my eyes tracking the incredibly lavish painting depicted across the silk—a breathtaking rendering of a magnificent, sprawling imperial garden.

“Tell me… do you perhaps retain any recollection of this place?”

dishonesty“…A recollection, Your Highness?”

“Ah.”

Seeing that my response was entirely vacant, Prince Eighteenth’s posture instantly deflated with disappointment. Yet, the melancholy lasted for only a fleeting second.

The moment I began to gently flutter the fan back and forth, a radiant, helpless smile swept back across his face.

“Engraved upon that fan is the exact location where you and I shared our very first encounter, Young Master.”

“Ah.”

If it was a memory belonging to the original owner’s childhood, then there was absolutely nothing for me to recall. I offered a vague, polite nod, prompting Prince Eighteenth to point toward the painted garden with an immensely excited cadence.

“It was within those grounds that my eyes first fell upon you. I had been running recklessly without looking at the path ahead and crashed directly into you. You tumbled backward onto the grass and began to weep so beautifully… I completely forgot that I was supposed to soothe you, and simply stood there, hopelessly entranced, watching you cry for the longest time.”

‘If a child starts crying, you’re supposed to soothe them, not just stand there staring like a lunatic.’

Of course, uttering such a blunt retort aloud was an absolute impossibility. Swallowing the thought deep down, I simply nodded along. After staring at the fan for a long moment, Prince Eighteenth finally shook himself free from his nostalgia and regained his composure.

“Then, let us depart from this establishment and move along to our next destination.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Given that he had explicitly labeled it a weapon for self-defense, I had assumed he would instruct me on its mechanical functions or hidden triggers, but it seemed he had no intention of doing so right now.

Well, that didn’t pose any real issue. I had Jin-cheong by my side, and I could always ask my older brother to inspect it later.

“Kindly hand me the container.”

At his request, I handed the empty wooden chest back to him. Prince Eighteenth offered a soft smile and smoothly transferred it to the attending guard who followed closely behind us.

In the meantime, I gracefully slipped the fan into the decorative silk sash wrapped around my waist and lifted my head.

“As anticipated, it suits your form exquisitely.”

dishonesty“Your compliments honor me, Your Highness. I shall ensure it is put to excellent use.”

“Splendid. Then, let us walk this way.”

Beaming continuously at my favorable response, Prince Eighteenth extended his palm toward me once more. After a brief moment of hesitation, I placed my hand over his.

“Rather than rushing directly to our next destination, would you care to stroll along the avenue for a short while?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

‘That actually sounds wonderful.’

The moment I offered an immediate nod of agreement, Prince Eighteenth let out a joyous laugh and began to elegantly escort me down the street. Moving at a leisurely, perfectly synchronized pace, I found myself utterly unable to tear my eyes away from the arched rainbow bridges positioned at regular intervals along the canal.

“You appear as though you are beholding this avenue for the very first time in your life.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

dishonesty“…Is that truly so?”

Hmm?

Prince Eighteenth’s response came after a strange, heavy delay. Intrigued by his sudden shift in tone, I turned my head to look at him, only for him to tighten his grip on our joined hands and guide me directly toward the steps of the rainbow bridge.

“It brings me immense joy to know that I am permitted to share your very first experience here.”

‘Your face looks absolutely miserable for someone claiming to feel immense joy.’

With a deeply shadowed, unreadable expression once again clouding his features, Prince Eighteenth guided me up the stone steps of the arched bridge, his steps slow and deliberate. Following his lead—crossing a bridge for the absolute first time since my transmigration into this world—I couldn’t help but let out another silent gasp of awe as I looked around.

I had already acknowledged from afar that the scenery was spectacular. However, standing directly at the crest of the rainbow bridge, looking at the other arched structures spanning the water while vibrant merchant stalls stretched endlessly along both banks, the profound reality that I was living in an entirely different world finally settled deep into my bones.

‘…’

As I stood entirely lost in the mesmerizing vista, the hand wrapped gently around my waist suddenly tightened with an intense, firm pressure.

“I had assumed you would be filled with nothing but pure delight, yet you appear to be drowning in an immense sea of profound thoughts, Young Master.”

‘You really don’t need to vocalize every single thing you observe,’ I thought. Realizing a beat too late that my inner contemplation had bled onto my face, I smoothly smoothed my features back into a calm, detached composure.

“It seems you require a brief moment of tranquility, Young Master. I must step away for a short duration to retrieve a certain item I commissioned. If you find yourself growing bored, feel free to explore the immediate vicinity. You there, ensure you guard Young Master Seo-yul with your life.”

“But, Your Highness—”

“The establishment is located directly over there, so there is absolutely no need for concern.”

Prince Eighteenth pointed toward a refined boutique situated immediately past the foot of the rainbow bridge.

Entrusting my safety to the elite guard who had been trailing behind us, Prince Eighteenth turned and departed alone. Watching his retreating figure glide down the steps, I turned back to look at the bustling avenue.

‘…’

I had felt a bit pressured when he called me out for being lost in thought, but I never expected my lapse in composure to grant me such a perfect moment of freedom. Continuing to drink in the exotic, mesmerizing scenery, I suddenly sensed the presence behind my back shifting with restless agitation, prompting me to turn around.

Even though the royal prince had explicitly stated he was merely visiting a highly visible shop nearby, it seemed leaving Prince Eighteenth entirely unattended was weighing heavily on the elite guard’s conscience.

Reading the deep shroud of anxiety painted clearly across the warrior’s face, I immediately extended my finger toward the boutique Prince Eighteenth had entered.

“You should go look after him.”

“His Highness strictly commanded me to remain by your side and protect you, Young Master.”

‘I assumed he would leap at the chance to leave, so this is rather unexpected.’ After considering the situation for a brief moment, I offered a compromise.

“Then, let us move together.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

As expected, that proposal worked like a charm.

Nodding instantly, the guard extended a hand forward, signaling for me to lead the way. Offering a polite nod in return, I immediately began walking down the steps of the bridge toward the building Prince Eighteenth had vanished into.

“…Me?”

Hmm?

Right then, cutting through the roaring din of the crowded marketplace, a highly familiar voice filtered into my ears. For a fleeting second, I wondered if my ears were playing tricks on me, but the tone I had just caught undoubtedly belonged to Prince Eighteenth.

Glancing around to pinpoint the source of the sound, I adjusted my stride and rounded a corner, only to freeze instantly. There, standing completely concealed behind a massive support pillar outside the shop, was Prince Eighteenth.