Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 590 (Part 2)



590 (Part 2)

“Moreover.

‘Cousin.’

Moyong Hee-ah’s mother was a princess of the Ice Palace.

Yuri is also currently a princess of the Ice Palace.

This meant that the former Ice Palace Head had stepped down and a new figure had taken the position.

‘If the Ice Palace Head has stepped down who could it be?’

It was likely one of Moyong Hee-ah’s mother or one of her siblings.

Of course one cannot know just by thinking.

After all I didn’t know a single person from the Ice Palace.

‘Let’s put this aside for now.’

I had to ask something much more important.

“If it’s a curse does it mean the cold syndrome?”

I asked about the curse of Moyong Hee-ah the term Yuri had used.

“Oh is that what you call it here?”

“Isn’t it referring to the coldness within the body?”

“That’s right. We call it a curse.”

“I don’t quite understand.”

A curse.

What did they say? Was it the curse of the Ice Spirit?

I was pretty sure that was it.

It sounded somewhat ominous.

Moreover it was indeed quite dangerous.

In her previous life Moyong Hee-ah had lost her life to that illness.

However.

“Aren’t you people from the North Sea?”

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Moyong Hee-ah’s issue stemmed from inheriting her mother’s constitution.

Half of her was from the Central Plains.

With the blood of the Baekcheon Sword Master mixed in it was said that her body could not withstand the coldness of the North Sea leading to the illness.

But why do they refer to it as a curse over there?

As I asked with that meaning in mind Yuri tilted her head.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Um?”

“No rather it’s dangerous because you’re from the North Sea.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The curse… is one that anyone from the Ice Palace bloodline can fall victim to. It’s naturally a burden for those who protect the Ice Spirit.”

At Yuri’s words both my eyes and Moyong Hee-ah’s widened.

“…So everyone has the cold syndrome?”

To say that anyone from the Ice Palace bloodline has this illness.

That the coldness dominates the body slowly freezing one to death is something that all bloodline members are born with?

“But why?”

Why are they still alive? I was about to express that doubt.

“On the contrary it’s an important source. To use the Ice Spirit one must have that constitution.”

Hearing Yuri’s words I finally understood.

‘It’s not about curing the constitution. It means using it for the heart technique.’

The coldness within the body can be utilized through a specific heart technique.

Does that mean it also allows them to maintain their lives?

Just as I was trying to understand this.

“That’s ridiculous…!”

Moyong Hee-ah suddenly raised her voice.

“I never heard such a thing from my mother.”

Seeing Moyong Hee-ah’s reaction I nodded.

That too was a question.

‘If such a thing exists why didn’t Moyong Hee-ah’s mother…’

Why didn’t she tell her daughter how to maintain her life?

She too was of the bloodline so she must have known how to soothe the constitution.

“This is a power that is only passed down to direct descendants. It cannot be carelessly left behind or shared.”

Yuri explained this part but Moyong Hee-ah still seemed to not understand.

“Moreover….”

Seeing this Yuri said.

“…There is a reason why we call it a curse.”

“That is—!”

“And so.”

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Moyong Hee-ah tried to say something but I interrupted her.

Now was not the time for that.

As I intervened Moyong Hee-ah looked at me with wide eyes.

Then she bit her lip and lowered her head.

She seemed to be holding back her emotions.

I turned my gaze to Moyong Hee-ah and looked at Yuri.

“What does this have to do with the cold syndrome the curse you mentioned and this matter?”

I asked wondering what the connection was.

“…As I said this is a curse. Anyone from the bloodline has it. No one can escape it.”

“And?”

“However… I heard that you have released it. Is that true?”

Did I release the curse? I pondered for a moment at that question.

It was true that I could eliminate Moyong Hee-ah’s coldness.

But I couldn’t be sure that I had completely cured it.

However.

“At least somewhat?”

It was true that I no longer felt the coldness that had been within her body.

“…”

Yuri made a strange expression upon hearing my answer.

Then she looked at Moyong Hee-ah.

“…Indeed just like when I first saw you I don’t feel any traces of the curse. How did you do it?”

“Does it matter? You said you have a way to control it anyway.”

Moyong Hee-ah didn’t know that.

And that’s why she almost died.

That too was a question.

Seeing Moyong Hee-ah’s reaction I nodded.

‘If such a thing exists why didn’t Moyong Hee-ah’s mother…’

In my previous life I had lost my life because I hadn’t treated it.

But would that matter to Yuri?

If there was a way to control the coldness it shouldn’t be a concern.

Upon hearing my words Yuri bit her lip.

She had the same expression as Moyong Hee-ah had earlier.

“That is.”

“And first.”

As Yuri was about to speak I interrupted her with another question.

“How did you know that I could treat it?”

“…”

Yuri pressed her lips together at my question.

The fact that I had treated Moyong Hee-ah was information known to only a very few.

What was the reason for trying to secretly treat Moyong Hee-ah while keeping her by my side?

I had done that because I wanted to keep it hidden as much as possible so how did the Ice Palace know about it?

As I expressed that doubt Yuri averted her gaze and spoke to me.

“…I received information.”

Does that mean there is a mole?

‘Well.’

It’s not strange.

Although they say they are not in a hostile relationship they are still from a foreign land.

At the same time they are blood relatives even if only partially.

It wouldn’t be strange for them to know some information about Moyong Hee-ah.

‘But having someone close by is unsettling.’

It was somewhat annoying that someone who seemed to be a close aide was doing that.

‘I should find them later and deal with them.’

If I hadn’t known I might have let it go.

But now that I knew I had no intention of letting it slide.

For now I would set that aside.

“Then the reason you wanted to see me was for treatment?”

I needed to clearly understand the matters of the Ice Palace now.

“Yes.”

Yuri answered my question.

“If you could… ‘release’ our curse I would like to ask for your treatment.”

“Um.”

Hearing her words I stroked my chin.

I didn’t respond to Yuri’s words.

The curse of the Ice Spirit.

The term was quite peculiar but it referred to Moyong Hee-ah’s constitution.

And now that I said I could treat it a blood relative from the distant Ice Palace had come to ask for treatment.

It seemed to make sense.

‘But it’s strange.’

Something felt off.

The words Yuri spoke.

The situation she was showing. Something felt off.

Along with the strangeness there was also a story that came to mind.

It was still just a suspicion.

I wasn’t certain.

I needed to confirm more.

“To fix a controllable constitution you came all the way here to see me… is that it?”

“Yes. No matter how much it can be controlled since it’s a bloodline curse… I really wanted to receive treatment.”

Plop.

As I listened to Yuri’s words droplets fell in my mind.

A small shock rippled through like a wave.

“Um.”

I glanced at Moyong Hee-ah.

The emotional turmoil she had been experiencing just moments ago was gone and her face had turned cold.

At first glance she seemed to be listening to the conversation.

But looking at her face I couldn’t help but be certain.

You are thinking the same thing as me.

That was my conviction.

My belief that my thoughts were correct.

“So…”

“Ice Palace Head.”

I paused.

At my sudden words Yuri momentarily froze.

It was just a fleeting moment but I didn’t miss it.

Yuri smiled and asked me her expression managing to catch up.

It was already too late.

“What are you suddenly talking about—”

“It seems the Ice Palace Head is in danger.”

“…”

The smile vanished from her face.

Seeing her attitude I realized what had been bothering me from the beginning.

“That too very much so. Right?”

“…”

Swoosh.

The coldness mixed in the air.

Yuri was looking at me with a blank expression.

The atmosphere that had seemed silly and playful had completely vanished.

She looked like a completely different person.

As if ice had taken on human form.

Yuri looked at me and said.

“You.”

Her tone and demeanor had completely changed.

Feeling that I smiled.

Ah I see now.

The reason I had been feeling uneasy all along I think I finally understand.

‘It felt heavy in my stomach. That was the problem.’

The reason I had been annoyed and disturbed as if I had seen something I shouldn’t have.

It was none other than that.

I was bothered by the sight of that woman hiding her true self and pretending to be someone else.

“What is your true identity?”

That was what I found so hard to look at.”