Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 592 (Part 2)



592 (Part 2)

**[The Little Princess.]**

Before heading to the Central Plains.

I recall the words my father once uttered.

His warning not to get involved with the Murim Alliance.

There was something he said afterward.

[If by any chance you go to the Central Plains and meet someone who wields fire from the west.]

[No matter what run far away.]

Yuri should have been surprised to hear those words.

No matter what happens fight back. That was how my father had always been.

Yet for him to say to run away.

[He must be in his middle age now. A man who wields flames. Remember that.]

His tone was much more serious than when he spoke about the Murim Alliance.

Having heard that Yuri couldn’t help but ask.

[Who exactly is he for you to speak of him like that?]

How could the ruler of the North Sea speak in such a manner?

As Yuri voiced her question the Ice Palace Head replied.

[He is the supreme being of the Central Plains.]

His tone was so resolute that it seemed he would not accept any rebuttal.

Perhaps that’s why.

For some reason memories from that time resurfaced.

I had also heard that the Red Feather wields flames.

From the west.

Which direction did he come from? A fleeting thought crossed my mind.

‘Since you said he’s in his middle age it can’t be him.’

Comparing ages it certainly wouldn’t be.

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My father had gone to the Central Plains with my grandfather long before.

Perhaps it was even before the Red Feather was born.

The person my father warned about could not be that young man.

‘This isn’t the time to worry about such things.’

Yuri repeatedly splashed her face with cold water looking exhausted.

As she said this was not the time to be concerned about such matters.

“Ha…”

At the point where all plans had gone awry.

In the tangled state that Yuri found herself in the Red Feather spoke up.

[It seems the situation has changed a bit. Wouldn’t it be better to discuss the details tomorrow?]

His voice carried a hint of laughter.

And Yuri couldn’t help but realize that this laughter was mocking.

He knew.

[If we’re going to have a ‘negotiation’ it seems we should prepare what we need to say.]

That the situation had completely changed.

Initially it had been a situation brought about by a request.

But with things turning out this way it was no longer a ‘request’ but a desperate plea.

It meant a shift in position.

From client and contractor.

To the roles of A and B.

Naturally A would be the Red Feather and B would be Yuri.

“Ha.”

This was not good.

If it turned out this way the conversation would become difficult. Didn’t the other party know?

‘…that the North Sea is in turmoil.’

I wondered how he had grasped that much in such a brief encounter.

But it was already out in the open.

The North Sea was in chaos.

Twisted by treason and rebellion the cold winds were mixed with bloodshed.

‘The reason it has come to this is all…’

My father who had steadfastly held his ground.

The problem was the anomaly that had occurred in the Ice Palace Head’s body.

He was trying to hide and fend it off somehow but time was running out.

To change the current position the ability to lift the curse that the Red Feather possessed.

It had to be a lie.

It shouldn’t be so.

It was a problem precisely because it shouldn’t be so.

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As the complexities piled up Yuri gradually felt exhausted.

“…I suppose I need to think this through.”

Though it was a brief conversation.

Yuri could clearly discern one thing while looking at the Red Feather.

He was.

“He is not someone who acts out of righteousness or cooperation.”

He was far from the hero her friend had spoken of.

He was far too rational and cold.

A person who wouldn’t act unless it benefited him.

Conversely.

‘If it were to cause harm he would become more brutal than anyone else.’

Just by looking at his words and actions or even his gaze one could tell.

He was definitely not a saint.

‘He is not someone who would act out of sympathy or circumstance.’

To persuade him there must be rational and compelling conditions.

Without those it would be meaningless.

Yuri gazed out the window.

The daylight had faded and the sun was setting.

He had suggested discussing things in detail tomorrow at noon.

That meant there wasn’t much time to think.

So she decided to acknowledge it first.

She needed to accurately realize her position and grasp the topic.

Only then could she make a more precise judgment.

‘The night is short.’

She had to come up with something before noon.

Somehow she needed to find a way to gain his cooperation.

********************

While Yuri was deep in thought.

Gu Yang-cheon had just returned to his lodging.

Originally he had planned to have a meal with Mrs. Mi afterward or take Dang So-yeol and Mo Yong-hee to see the sights.

But Gu Yang-cheon had to abandon all of that and return to his lodging.

“Hmm…”

With a serious expression.

His fierce gaze looked even more intimidating.

With narrowed eyes Gu Yang-cheon was staring at something.

A piece of paper he held in his hand.

This was the reason Gu Yang-cheon had turned back.

Just as he had finished speaking with the little princess.

At the moment he was about to leave after suggesting they talk tomorrow.

[…Wait a moment.]

At that time Yuri had grabbed Gu Yang-cheon.

Wondering if there was something else Gu Yang-cheon looked at Yuri.

She took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to him.

[What is this?]

He looked at her with a strange expression at the unexpected item.

[It’s from your friend.]

At Yuri’s words Gu Yang-cheon’s eyes widened.

The friend she mentioned.

Someone with enough connections to send him a letter from the North Sea.

Immediately certain individuals came to mind. How could the little princess have brought this? Then a bad thought crossed his mind.

It was already troubling that there were issues in the North Sea.

Gu Yang-cheon unfolded the letter right there.

[…!]

Reading the words he furrowed his brow tightly.

It was a message that warranted such a reaction.

Thanks to that he had to cancel all his plans and stay holed up in his lodging.

“…”

Rustle.

In the dark room where the light was not turned on.

Gu Yang-cheon’s blue eyes shone brightly.

It was so dark that he couldn’t see a single word of the letter.

But that didn’t matter to Gu Yang-cheon.

Even in the darkness it was all too clear.

So he read it over and over again.

[Sorry. I’m late.]

A short line.

[But don’t worry.]

And two lines.

That was the end.

Just two lines contained in the letter.

Though it seemed inconsequential.

“…”

Gu Yang-cheon could feel his heart gradually growing colder as he looked at it.

There was only one person who would send him such a letter.

The person who had become more precious than his own life.

The wicked woman who had left despite his pleas for her not to go.

It was a letter sent by her.

If one were to ask why he reacted so strongly to a seemingly harmless short message.

There was only one reason.

The words written in it.

[Don’t worry.]

That was the problem.

What exactly was the issue with this?

The problem was that it was a phrase that didn’t suit her.

Words that were as unbelievable as they were spoken.

This weighed heavily on his heart.

Earlier this year.

So until spring or at the latest until summer she had said she would come.

‘Suddenly saying she’s late?’

He thought as he looked at it.

Could it be?

‘Is she involved in the troubles that have erupted in the North Sea?’

The moment he thought that.

Crack.

A rough sound came from his clenched fist.

It was a very unpleasant prediction.