The Nature of Possession

412 – EP.15 And they lived happily ever after.

***

People with six-headed bats ran. The government office’s furniture flew into the sky, and black dust flew.

The yard that had been filled with the smell of blood began to smell like screams and sweat. It was the smell of men.

Some clever or quick-witted people have already folded their hands and fallen prostrate at the edge of the commotion.

The soldiers of the few government offices who were not like that stood in front of Byeon Hak-do and swung their spears, but were soon caught by the spear poles, beaten, and beaten with clubs.

As the dust that had been flying around began to settle to the ground, the situation became clear.

The royal inspector naturally sat at the head of the table, and Byeon Hak-do took the seat where Chunhyang had been tied up.

“Sinners, lift up your heads.”

As the royal inspector with a heavy voice and the face of a tiger spoke, Byun Hak-do raised his face, his face flushed red.

“Elder… No! Your Majesty! I have been wronged!”

The sight of him drooling as if he was so upset reminded me of the scene from the incident last night.

“Do, Lien-nim.”

As I was watching Lee Do-won recite the negative aspects of Byun Hak-do, I lowered my head at the sound of a voice calling me from his arms.

Chunhyang, with her face pale and bloodless, her body swollen from beatings, and bruises with blue marks, was looking up at me with not a single healthy spot on her body.

“Chunhyang.”

Even in the midst of the commotion, the scent of flowers was strong. For some reason, my vision became blurred by the scent of spring.

One drop, two drops.

Tears fell on Chunhyang.

She asked me, catching my tears with her leaf-like cheeks, like a flower bud receiving spring rain.

“Your Majesty, why are you… crying?”

Chunhyang, her voice hoarse from screaming, forced a smile and reached out to me.

Yeah, I was crying.

“Chunhyang.”

I could only repeat the name, and could not say anything else.

Because the tears that suddenly welled up blocked my throat. I had to croak and feel an indescribable pain from the drowning-like outburst of emotion.

Funny enough, and sadly, I don’t know why I do this.

All I can do is shed tears.

Everything was chaotic and spinning, as if someone had put their finger in a calm dish and stirred it.

Where do these tears come from?

Could it be regret for breaking the rule of not interfering with my will?

Could it be a feeling of guilt about the relationships that I was unable to protect in some worlds and had to send off with regret?

Is this a lament about this tiresome cycle that keeps repeating itself?

If not that,

Is it because the body of this woman in my arms feels so light and pitiful that I am shedding tears?

I couldn’t figure it out.

Even with the tears streaming down my face and the pain that tore my heart apart, the fragrance of the flowers did not disappear.

Ah, it was spring.

***

Lee Do-won handled the work without any hindrance. He classified those who were classified as criminals and those who could not resist the criminals and thus joined them.

He determined the appropriate punishment according to the law of the land, and it was only natural that Byun Hak-do received the heaviest punishment.

However, there was nothing against Chunhyang among the charges against Byun Hak-do.

It was natural from the perspective of the times and from Lee Do-won’s perspective.

But it was just a pity, not a regret.

The important thing is that Byun Hak-do was punished and dismissed from his post as vice minister.

A new vice-minister would soon be appointed, and the vice-minister who heard the story of his predecessor would manage Namwon more fairly.

Actually, that wasn’t really important to me.

“Have you been there?”

However, what bothered me was that I felt like I was being played by Idowon.

“okay.”

I had a private meeting with him in Idowon’s room.

“Since when….”

“It’s been since I stepped down from my position as vice president.”

“Then from the beginning….”

“When someone who had been in charge of a region for a long time steps down, the successor often commits corruption. That was the reason I took on the position of inspector. Just to monitor corruption here.”

He stroked his beard. His expressionless face seemed annoying.

“Then, I guess the ledger I gave you was helpful.”

“Not at all. I did not use any evidence obtained through dishonest means.”

Lee Do-won denied what I said.

“I’ve been here for a long time, gathering evidence of injustice. That’s all.”

“In the end, you’re saying that Byun Hak-do would have been punished regardless of me.”

“Yes.”

I felt the strength drain from my limbs as I thought that this was something that could be resolved by just sitting still.

“Haha… It’s so vain.”

Unrefined words just came out randomly.

“So do you regret it?”

Lee Do-won asked. He must be talking about jumping in to save Chunhyang.

“It already happened. And even if I had known about it… maybe…”

Yeah, probably.

“No, definitely. He would have jumped in to save Chunhyang.”

“I see.”

Lee Do-won snorted, perhaps feeling uncomfortable.

“I will take my family and go up to Hanyang. The royal inspector’s work is not over yet.”

Rather, it is just the beginning, Lee Do-won added.

“Then there will be no one to manage this house, so someone must stay and take care of it.”

“father.”

“Do not call me father. I have never had a son who would marry a commoner.”

As he left the room, Lee Do-won said.

It was a remark that cut off the rich man’s connections, but I didn’t find it harsh.

“You’ll manage it until someone comes along who can find a house at a reasonable price.”

I could only stare at the door through which Idowon had left, and I could hear the sobs of my mother from afar.

***

Lee Do-won’s drive was considerable. He cleaned up everything in the house within a few days and went up to Hanyang.

Since there was not much furniture in the house, the things that were loaded onto the cart were not that many.

After seeing off Ido-won, who didn’t even pay attention to me, and my mother, who was sobbing and caressing my hand without saying a word, I sat on the porch of the empty house and looked up at the sky.

“You look lonely, my lord.”

Bangja sat down next to me and chattered.

“I don’t think you’re the master.”

I am no longer Idowon’s son.

“Once a master, always a master.”

But Bangja didn’t seem to care much.

“I see.”

I brushed aside Bangja’s words and turned my gaze to the sky again.

Dr. Sabak Dr. Sabak

Footsteps were heard along the wall.

Light footsteps coming closer and closer.

I slowly lowered my gaze and fixed it on the front door.

“Are you there?”

The voice of a young girl.

“Hyangdan-ah!”

The man sitting next to me was shot out the front door like an arrow.

Bangja, who grabbed Hyangdan’s hand, smiled broadly and giggled. Hyangdan blushed, embarrassed by Bangja’s appearance.

Behind Hyangdan, a woman appeared.

“master.”

I also got up from the floor and slowly walked towards her.

Neatly braided black hair.

Pure eyes. Skin like white jade.

Chunhyang, dressed up nicely, looked at me and smiled brightly.

“I’m here.”

It smelled like flowers.

It was spring.