Shifting Focus

“Yes, let us depart at once.”

Prince Eighteenth, who had been staring at me with a thoroughly dazed look, gradually widened his eyes.

His lips parted in a silent, startled gasp as his gaze dropped down to focus entirely on the point of contact—where my hand was firmly clasped within his own.

‘…’

It certainly wasn’t the first time he had held my hand, so I had absolutely no idea why he was exhibiting such an incredibly innocent, pure-hearted reaction.

It felt precisely as though I were witnessing the cliché trope of a character falling in love at first sight, unfolding flawlessly in real-time.

Anxious that my passing thoughts might somehow solidify into a terrifying reality, I quietly called out to him. While it was blatantly obvious that the man already harbored a deep affection for me, I recognized it as merely a lingering remnant of childhood puppy love. Permitting his heart to anchor itself any deeper onto me was something I absolutely intended to reject.

“My Lord?”

The absolute second the call left my lips, I felt his hand flinch noticeably against mine.

Simultaneously, a brilliant, crimson flush rushed up his features, painting his face a shade of red that completely eclipsed his previous embarrassment.

His eyes darted around in a frantic, roiling panic before he let out a loud, awkward cough. Seeing his state, I hurriedly cast my eyes toward the ground.

“…Ahem, ahem! Yes, indeed. Let us depart at once. We must get moving, of course.”

dishonesty“Ah, yes.”

‘…Ah, it seems I truly shouldn’t have offered him that sweet smile earlier.’

Blinded by a sudden, wicked impulse upon crossing paths with Yeon Ji-oh, what absolute catastrophe had I just unleashed with my own two hands?

Yet, no matter how intensely I succumbed to late regrets, the water had already been spilled from the basin.

Sensing his intense, burning gaze refuse to detach itself from my form for a long moment, I quietly maintained my stride as Prince Eighteenth slowly led the way forward.

Leaving Yeon Ji-oh standing entirely abandoned on the street corner, I kept my eyes anchored to the ground for a short distance before gradually lifting my head.

‘…’

Exactly what kind of glitch had corrupted the system for the original plot to continuously fracture so violently ever since I returned from my long convalescence?

If one were to analyze the grand trajectory, Prince Eighteenth and Yeon Ji-oh had successfully executed their historical first meeting, and the prince had strictly drawn a firm line against the boy’s dramatic overstepping. That much aligned with the original text. However, the accelerated pacing was deeply concerning, and more than anything, the fact that Yeon Ji-oh—who should currently be glowing with radiant, exquisite luxury courtesy of the endless wealth showered upon him by Namgung Hwi—looked so thoroughly destitute and pathetic weighed heavily on my mind.

‘Hmm.’

Come to think of it, the boy’s appearance had been remarkably absurd on the very first day I returned to Hefei as well. He had presented himself at our gates looking like a wretched, hollow shell of a human—almost as if he had been brutally cast out by Namgung Hwi.

On the fateful day I had formally demanded a dissolution of our betrothal, Yeon Ji-oh had been proudly draped in that exquisite, sky-blue satin garment—the highly symbolic uniform reserved exclusively for the future matriarch of the Namgung Clan, which I myself used to wear. Back then, every single thread on his back had been of the absolute highest, most luxurious refinement…

“Tell me… are you perhaps experiencing an immense amount of physical strain?”

It seemed I had allowed myself to drown in my thoughts for far too long. At the sudden sound of Prince Eighteenth’s anxious, deeply worried voice, I immediately snapped myself back to reality.

dishonesty“Not at all, My Lord. I was merely letting my thoughts drift to a minor matter for a brief moment.”

“Then, we shall adjust our pace and move much more slowly.”

The absolute second the confirmation left my lips, Prince Eighteenth decelerated his steps to an incredibly sluggish, gentle crawl. Forced to match his newly diminished velocity, I tilted my head upward to look at the man beside me.

‘…’

While he had managed to regain a modicum of composure compared to his explosive panic a moment ago, Prince Eighteenth’s features were still thoroughly flushed with a chaotic wave of intense excitement.

Furthermore, a shimmering, transparent look of profound anticipation was painted across his eyes. It was blatantly obvious that he had completely misinterpreted my triumphant smile from earlier as something entirely romantic.

An immense, heavy sigh threatened to tear its way out of my chest. Yet, knowing that such an action might incite yet another unpredictable, dramatic reaction from the royal prince, I desperately forced the breath back down.

As I walked along while actively managing my turbulent inner thoughts, my eyes lazily drifted across the vibrant structures lining the avenue. Suddenly, my gaze locked onto a familiar silhouette materializing in the distance—specifically, a figure draped in recognizable, high-society robes stepping off a bridge across the canal and heading straight toward our location. And marching rigidly in a flawless formation behind him were the elite guards of the Namgung Clan, trailing their Young Master.

“…Haa.”

“Young Master Seo-yul?”

I had desperately intended to suppress any vocal reaction, but the heavy sigh had slipped past my lips before I could stop it.

Prince Eighteenth, who had been continuously sneaking subtle, burning glances at my face throughout our walk, seized upon the noise instantly, as if he had been waiting for the perfect opening to swoop in.

dishonesty“Yes, My Lord?”

“If you find yourself fatigued, we must halt our stride and rest for a brief duration. My heart bleeds with an immense, agonizing pain whenever I behold you straining your fragile body.”

“Yes.”

‘Of course… there was absolutely no way that wretched fool would ever permit Yeon Ji-oh to wander through the city streets entirely unassisted.’

Locking eyes across the span of the bridge with the individual who was staring directly at my form, I pressed my lips into a tight, flat line. For some bizarre, inexplicable reason, Namgung Hwi looked remarkably more gaunt and hollowed-out compared to our last encounter.

When I had faced him at the estate, he had at least retained a sharp, striking aura, but today, that majestic presence was entirely vacant. It was as if the blinding, main-character halo that used to envelope the primary top of this world had completely faded into obscurity. Staring at the diminished figure of Namgung Hwi, I prepared to adjust my stride and follow the lead of Prince Eighteenth, who was gently guiding me forward. However, before I could lift my foot, the royal prince suddenly let out a loud, highly theatrical cough.

“It is blatantly obvious that Young Master Seo-yul is enduring an immense depth of physical exhaustion. Allow me to support your form.”

‘…Excuse me?’

Simultaneously with his declaration, Prince Eighteenth’s eyes dropped down to fixate directly on my waist line.

Dumbfounded by his sheer audacity, I turned my head intending to deliver an immediate, absolute refusal. But the exact moment I caught sight of Namgung Hwi marching across the stone steps of the bridge with his eyes locked ruthlessly onto our location, I tightened my grip on Prince Eighteenth’s hand and gave a firm nod.

dishonesty“…I shall leave myself in your care, My Lord.”

Indeed, if the alternative meant enduring an agonizing, dramatic confrontation with Namgung Hwi on a public street, I would infinitely prefer to utilize Prince Eighteenth’s royal escort to smoothly vanish from the scene.

Prince Eighteenth froze flat on the spot for a brief, stunned second, utterly paralyzed by my compliance. Then, a radiant, triumphant smile slowly bloomed across his lips. Smoothly wrapping his arm securely around my waist line—executing the gesture with the exact, protective fluid motion my older brother always used—the prince began to guide me forward.

“Then, let us depart.”

…Though his voice vibrated with an immensely stiff, completely robotic awkwardness.

I had merely granted him permission for the sake of a swift, tactical retreat, yet the man was radiating a depth of nervous tension that was almost palpable. Feeling my own emotions threating to waver in response, I desperately centered my mind and slowly moved my legs.

We managed to traverse a short distance before a highly familiar, desperate voice echoed from directly behind our backs.

dishonesty“Young Mas…”

Yet, the words were abruptly cut short, never permitted to reach completion.

I had no inkling as to what specific force or internal restraint had violently choked the phrase back into his throat, but one thing was certain: if he had dared to complete that sentence, I would have absolutely incinerated him.

Completely ignoring the burning, lethal glares piercing straight into my spine, I stepped past the threshold of a refined, towering restaurant building Prince Eighteenth had elegantly guided me toward.

“Do you possess the necessary stamina to ascend the stairs, Young Master?”

Glancing around the bustling interior of the ground floor, Prince Eighteenth delivered the inquiry with immense, delicate caution. Noticing the heavy shroud of concern painting his features, I parted my lips to reassure him.

dishonesty“I am perfectly fine.”

It seemed my tense, preoccupied demeanor had made him assume my fragile health was failing, but negotiating a flight of stairs was hardly an insurmountable ordeal for this frame.

Furthermore…

Recalling the reality that the man beside me was an Imperial Prince of the realm, I quietly observed one of his elite shadow guards step forward to command the attention of a restaurant attendant who had rushed over to welcome us.

“Kindly ascend, Your Grace.”

Having smoothly finalized the arrangements with the attendant, the shadow guard deeply inclined his waist to signal that the path was clear.

Offering a dignified nod of approval, Prince Eighteenth turned back to me, his eyes shifting into an incredibly deep, soulful gaze.

“…If the exertion proves too taxing, you must lean your entire weight against my form as we ascend.”

An immediate, flat reassurance that I was entirely unbothered nearly leapt out of my throat, but I recognized that now wasn’t the tactical moment to shatter his illusions. I simply offered a polite nod, causing another surge of pure, unadulterated joy to instantly flood Prince Eighteenth’s face.

‘…’

Seeing him take such immense, childlike delight in such a trivial interaction, it was glaringly obvious that the existence of Yeon Ji-oh had exerted absolutely zero romantic influence over his heart thus far.

Choosing to remain silent, I climbed the steps alongside Prince Eighteenth until we finally emerged onto the highest floor of the establishment.

“Allow me to escort your honorable party to a pavilion table blessed with an exceptional vista, sirs,” the restaurant attendant chirped.

“Lead the way,” the shadow guard commanded on behalf of his master, smoothly stepping forward to follow the guide. Moving in tandem behind them, I immediately glided into the seat the moment the guard completed a thorough inspection of the perimeter and signaled that it was safe to sit.

‘…’

‘But… is there truly a logical reason for him to sit directly flush against my side like this?’

Staring at Prince Eighteenth, who had supported my form all the way to the table and seamlessly sat down right next to me rather than taking the seat across, I considered voicing an objection. However, given that he had already settled his frame into the space, speaking up now would only create an awkward scene.

Choosing to let out a soft, imperceptible sigh instead of a verbal complaint, I turned my head to look past the wooden balcony railing. The absolute second the sprawling panorama registered in my consciousness, a quiet gasp of genuine admiration involuntarily escaped my lips.

“Wow.”

Beholding the avenue from this elevated vantage point offered an entirely different, breathtaking dimension of beauty that instantly stole my breath away.

The wide, meticulously paved stone road bordering the canal—engineered perfectly so that two grand carriages could comfortably traverse side-by-side—was a magnificent sight in its own right. Yet, what truly captured my undivided attention was the endless sea of vibrant, multi-colored lanterns suspended elegantly from every single structural facade.

Before stepping inside the restaurant, I had been far too preoccupied digesting the grand scale of the architecture to notice the finer details. Watching those brilliant spheres gently sway and dance under the caress of the wind was nothing short of an absolute masterpiece. As I sat completely entranced, drinking in the mesmerizing landscape in a dazed silence, a soft, low chuckle suddenly vibrated right beside my ear.

Snapping myself out of the spell, I immediately shifted my gaze toward Prince Eighteenth.

“I must ensure that I personally escort you to every hidden jewel within Hefei throughout the remainder of my duration here, Young Master.”

‘…’

“Though I was well aware that the merchant bank held your existence in the highest, most sacred regard, I never anticipated that you hadn’t even been permitted the leisure to freely behold the beauty of your own city.”

While it was entirely true that the original owner had been pampered with excessive luxury, there was absolutely no historical record to suggest that Geum Seo-yul had been physically restricted from exploring Hefei.

As for my own experience, because I had merely navigated between the specific plot-relevant locations dictated by the original novel, my exposure to the world had naturally been incredibly limited.

It seemed that on two separate occasions today, I had allowed my composure to completely disintegrate, thoroughly hypnotized by the simple beauty of the scenery. I never expected myself to exhibit such a raw, unshielded expression of awe on the exact same street. As I hurriedly gathered my features back into a detached, formal mask, Prince Eighteenth’s gentle laughter grew noticeably warmer and louder.

“It brings me immense happiness to know that our excursion today was a successful endeavor. I shall meticulously carve out as much time as humanly possible from my duties so that we may explore the length and breadth of Hefei together.”

“My Lord.”

“Hmm? Ah, yes.”

At the quiet call from his elite guard, Prince Eighteenth finally tore his eyes away from my face and turned his head to acknowledge the restaurant attendant, who had been standing rigidly by the table waiting to take our order. The prince offered a slow nod.

Receiving the silent cue, the shadow guard turned to address the waiting attendant.

“Bring forth the most exquisite, rarest delicacies this establishment is capable of crafting.”

Perhaps because it was an entirely unprecedented, blank-check command for a common restaurant, the attendant’s eyes widened in sheer shock for a fleeting second before he carefully scanned our expressions and opened his mouth.

“By… by rarest delicacies, Your Honor, do you imply that I should simply instruct the kitchen to prepare our most exorbitantly priced masterpieces?”

“This banquet is intended for a deeply treasured, noble guest, so see to it that the kitchen exerts the absolute pinnacle of their devotion and artistry in its preparation.”

“Yes, Great Lord! We shall pour our very souls into preparing a masterpiece worthy of your honor’s party!”

The attendant appeared to momentarily freeze like a statue under the sheer weight of the command before hurriedly bending his waist into a profound bow and scattering down the stairs with immense speed.

Watching the employee vanish below the floorboards, I casually shifted my gaze back to the table, only to catch Prince Eighteenth nervously fidgeting with his fingers, his hands resting atop the polished wood.

‘…’

Though I couldn’t fathom the exact reason behind his sudden bashfulness, the contrast between the authoritative, icy persona he utilized when addressing commoners and this remarkably timid, hesitant behavior right next to me made it blatantly obvious that his actions were entirely centered around my presence.

Choosing to bypass any further overanalysis, I smoothly redirected my attention back toward the beautiful vista beyond the balcony railing. The absolute second I turned away, a soft, profoundly disappointed whimper escaped Prince Eighteenth’s throat.

“Ah…”

Pretending to be entirely deaf to his sorrowful sigh, I flawlessly executed my performance of a man thoroughly captivated by the majestic landscape. I allowed myself to naturally sink back into the scenery, silently admiring the beautiful world before me.

It was during that seamless stretch of time, while I was peacefully losing myself in the bustling street scenes below, that a sudden, intensely heavy aura pricked at my senses. Recognizing the unmistakable weight of a piercing, unadulterated stare directed straight at my form, I immediately tracked the trajectory of the gaze.

And there, standing directly on the avenue below, my eyes collided violently with Namgung Hwi—the primary architect of my past miseries, and the very reason I had fled across the bridge to begin with.