Perfect Crown in Royal Academy of Korea - Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty Seven: The Most Peaceful Period
As Hwan's reign passed 4 years, the royal relatives of the royal house began to stir. It was because the news regarding an heir was not heard even a little. Since the ages of the King and Queen were young, it wasn't to a degree to worry about, but that the number of royals who could perform public duties was small was a problem.
As things were, Grand Prince Leean had no choice but to work more and take charge of more roles as the King's unique sibling. Because if he did not do it, the royal relatives and maternal relatives would come forward.
Already, the Yoon family was enjoying many things as the royal family's maternal relatives. Besides the management rights over the Royal Hospital that they possessed since before the royal marriage, the influence they exerted within the interior of the royal family was becoming grander day after day.
In particular, Queen Consort Yoon held a position managing the royal family property. That word meant that all the way from the royal family's unique property and the management budget allocated by the Cabinet, to the management of the royal family foundation, entirely was placed beneath Irang's feet.
Nevertheless, Hwan appropriately connived at the Yoon family who exhibited wild ambition to possess more things. Even if it was a marriage done without love, it was an effort to respect the authority and qualification possessed by his wife, Irang.
However, he checked them by not withdrawing the title of number 1 in the line of succession to the throne granted to Grand Prince Leean.
Occasionally, if irreverent people appealed that they must increase the number of royals capable of performing public duties—
'Shall I invest my little brother, Grand Prince Leean, as the Crown Brother.'
Hwan reminded them that he possessed a little brother. Even when pressure was applied that he must succeed the heir, it was identical. While counter-arguing whether it necessarily had to be a son that succeeded his back. Furthermore—
'I must look into my little brother's marriage.'
He repeatedly made subtle threats with the word that he would find a match for Grand Prince Leean. As if telling them to do it appropriately while they could lord it over as the unique and matchless maternal relatives. If an inside person came to be for the Grand Prince, that family likewise would become the royal family's maternal relatives, so they had to divide the power possessed by the Yoon family.
Hwan, who disliked coming forward to public positions, pushed most of the public duties to Wan, and thanks to that, Wan and Irang came to face each other's faces quite frequently. Watching the two people who exchanged tender smiles, people thought it was the appearance of an ideal royal family, but the reality was not that simple.
Because as much as the relationship between the Yoon family and the Grand Prince's Residence went crooked, the relationship between Queen Consort Yoon and Grand Prince Leean could not be the same as before either.
"Leean."
In particular, Irang did not look prettily upon her brother-in-law, who was becoming the pride of the royal family. It was unsatisfactory to see him doing more work than her husband and occupying entirely the glory that should be her husband's share. The shape of him standing guarding that side every single time her husband showed a weak appearance was also bothersome. Her thought was that because he kept making a corner to hide like that, her husband seemed to become weak while setting his mind at ease.
"Your Majesty the Queen Consort."
Wan's vision watching that kind of Irang was not pretty either. That the Yoon family, who was already enjoying many things, could run wild wishing to possess more things was impossible without Irang's implicit agreement.
The attitude of prioritising the royal family's dignity every single time his older brother's condition was not good also caused disillusionment. Seeing occasionally, it was at a level where it wouldn't be strange even if it were the second coming of Royal Father.
"What matter is it all the way to the Queen Consort's Palace."
"I bought a few gifts to commemorate having been to Germany."
Nevertheless, Wan wished to be tender to Irang. Although it wasn't that all of Irang's behavior was understood, he did not doubt that all of that was Irang's best. He knew that a marriage without love made Irang lonely, and he also knew that she had no choice but to become harsh in every matter to endure that loneliness.
Therefore, he wished to be tender at least himself. Because only if there was an opponent to rely on even a bit in this palace where there wasn't a single place to lean on would she be less unhappy.
"A gift?"
While Irang's cold face was becoming filled with question marks, Wan pulled out a small box from within his bosom. Irang, who untied the ribbon with an awkward smile, was temporarily blocked of speech upon seeing the identity of the gift. It was a music box in the shape of a grand piano.
"......"
"Does it not enter your mind."
As Wan read her face at Irang who held no reaction whatsoever, Irang quickly shook her head.
"No. Because it is too pretty. The schedule must have been busy... thank you."
"Since I didn't buy Brother's gift, it is a secret from Brother."
Watching Wan who needlessly lowered his voice while playing a joke, Irang nodded her head.
Wan, who rose from his seat after stringing out the stories that happened in Germany, carefully requested.
"That... if a difficult matter arises, contact me anytime. Comfortably."
It appeared he heard the story regarding the panic attack that happened to her husband while he was in Germany. Irang smiled without changing even a single stroke of her facial color.
"Since His Majesty is present, could there be a difficult matter."
It was a perfect queen's answer. Wan, who stood for a long time with a worried face, added again.
"Still."
"......"
"Still, if a difficult matter arises, contact me. I will become Sister-in-law's side."
To hate that kind of Wan was not an easy thing. Why her husband became weak so easily was also understood. Since if that grand a wall was before one's eyes, it would be human nature for anyone to wish to lean.
"I shall do so."
Only then did Wan leave the Queen Consort's Palace with a light stride.
August of that year.
"Your Highness! Grand Prince Your Highness!"
Hyun, who returned after finishing school, crossed the garden of the private residence while shouting. Although it was difficult to look at him as a boy anymore at the age of twenty-two, he was still clamorous and naive just like 'the Grand Prince's child'. Every single time the retainers saw that kind of Hyun, they could not hide their worrying minds as to whether he was doing university life well, and whether he was preparing well for the royal family palace official exam.
But—
"Uh-huh, even though I told you not to run."
As long as there was Wan, who did not withdraw the smile from his mouth rims even while giving a scolding, Hyun could not become an adult all along.
"Your Highness, Your Highness also heard, right?"
On Hyun's face asking Wan, who was sitting on the wooden veranda painting orchids, excitement and expectation were loaded to the utmost. Finding that appearance cute and wishing to tease him for no reason, Wan shrugged his shoulders.
"What do you mean."
"Aie, because I just phoned Court Lady Consort Choi?"
"So."
"Aie, seriously!"
Hyun, who stamped his feet while reading the faces of the retainers nearby, eventually came up on top of the veranda. And then, he stuck right to his ear rims and began to whisper.
"They say Her Majesty the Queen Consort has conceived."
Although the word of the Court Lady Consort telling him to watch his mouth since it was too early to make it official arose, there was no way Wan did not know what he himself knew. The mouth corners of Wan, who had been holding weight while pretending to be thoughtless, went up prettily. Only then could Hyun rejoice entirely.
"When do they say the due date is?"
"Is it that good."
"Of course it's good. Since it's a royal celebration."
As a person who would become a future palace official, to rejoice at a royal celebration was a matter of course. Even more so when thinking of Wan, who always worried about the relationship between His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort.
"She said it seems it will become April next year."
"They are coming when the day is good. When there are also many flowers, and the wind is cool."
"Indeed it is so."
Wan, who had a gratified face, nodded his head.
When he first heard the news, it was a bit awkward. A questionable mind also arose. He had never seen a time when the relationship between his brother and sister-in-law was warm, yet a child. Thinking whether this was why one cannot rashly predict between a married couple, too.
His brother's reaction was a bit dramatic. At first, he seemed more surprised than himself, then gradually he appeared to feel joy. The story that he laughed more frequently than usual crossed the palace walls and was heard even to the private residence. When he occasionally phoned—
—I will become healthy for the child.
This kind of word, and
—To act as a father, I must also quit alcohol, right.
He also used to do this kind of word without hesitation.
That appearance looked good. Between his brother and sister-in-law, which used to be only chilly, a warm breeze began to blow tolerably, and the Yoon family's checks heading toward himself also decreased noticeably. Although it would be because if his sister-in-law gave birth to a son, there would be no danger of himself becoming the Crown Brother, it didn't matter.
That he did not have to do useless nerve wars was good, and his brother's change, and his sister-in-law's stability, entirely was good. Above all, that family increased was good.
I must play with them a grand amount.
The thought that arose every single time he imagined a niece or nephew who resembled his brother and sister-in-law by half was warm like spring. Whether it was a boy or a girl, it was certain to be pretty, and because if that kind of child ran around within the palace, they would have no choice but to be happy.
It was the most peaceful period since his brother ascended the throne.