Chaotic Nights — Chapter 92. Hostage

Translator: Atlas

Weekly Chapter 4/6

“There are rumors that you invite scholars to play with courtesans.”

Her husband cleared his throat at Heein’s words. Jihak smiled.

“The rumors spread pretty fast.”

“This isn’t funny, you know what they say?”

“But everything they say is true. I’ve gone crazy since I went blind.”

“Prince…! Why don’t you worry?”

She had a stern expression. No matter that he had abandoned the Crown Prince’s position, he should not completely lose his authority. Heein regretted the current moment.

Lee Hyungwoo held her trembling hand. He was concerned that she might upset the Prince again, as had happened previously.

“Eunha is to blame? Did she change your life? She seems like a danger to you. What prompted this transformation in you?”

Heein tried to control her emotions. Jihak smiled because this looked like a drama.

“I like what I am. A free person. I don’t know what’s bothering you. You seem to think I’m possessed, but I can’t even see clearly.”

“You threatened me with a dagger due to her.”

Jihak smiled with a relaxed expression, but did not offer them tea. Although his treatment caused her to feel humiliated, she did not want to give up on her brother just yet.

It seemed that the humble thing gave him the joy that precious things could not. But she believed that this emotion would disappear at any moment.

“Tell me. To maintain her presence in your life, I can assist you. I’ll ensure that the woman becomes your concubine, provided you refrain from any more imprudent actions.”

Jihak, who placed the pipe in the ashtray, sat down. Heein felt her blood run dry as he laughed with his head down. His shoulders slightly trembled.

“That means I’d have to get married.”

“Prince. I just want you to focus…”

“You still seem to think I’m a child, right?”

Lee Hyungwoo smiled with a nervous expression on his face.

“My wife always worries about the Prince.”

The smile disappeared from Jihak’s face.

“Every night someone tries to take my life. My eyes can’t even make out anything without help. It seems you want to take away your brother’s happiness. You are a cruel person.”

Heein covered her mouth with a hand because those words brought back memories.

“Prince.”

“Who do you think will be my true eyes? Through which eyes will I be able to observe my people? Blindness does not only affect visual perception. Don’t come anymore. I don’t want to repeat to you why I didn’t take your life.”

He expelled the ashes from the pipe.

“I assume you know her identity.”

“How could I forget? Those eyes captured my attention from the first time. Her cries pleading for his life are etched in my head.”

Jihak rubbed his temples.

“You are right sister, that girl is poison to me. I have chosen with my own hands the poison that will devour me. She is my beautiful misfortune.”

Heein found it hard to breathe. Lee Hyungwoo helped her up.

“I can’t replace your mother, but I raised you with a bigger heart. What’s the reason to bring someone who can hurt you into your home? That doesn’t make sense.”

A smile as faint as the moon appeared on his lips.

“The perfect hostage. I will inflict deep pain on those who have tried to harm me. I will never be a wise King.”

***

The fine brush glided across her skin. Yeom tried to endure the tickling.

“My God, Eunha! When do you finish? Why am I so ticklish?”

“Wait. You asked me to write your name. Don’t move.”

Then everyone waiting their turn scolded Yeom.

“I write fast, but be patient.”

“It’s hard. I’m itchy in that area, too.”

It started because Eunha attached meaning to Gari’s name. She tearfully asked her to write her name on her arm. Eunha wrote her name with the brush she kept in the kitchen when she did calligraphy.

Everyone began to ask her to attach meaning to their names. Eunha did not refuse, of course. She was happy to do so.

Finally, she wrote the last characters.

“What are you doing?”

The people quickly dispersed. It was Jihak who spoke. Yuljae, who had also appeared, slowly looked around the kitchen.

“Why was there so much noise?”

“I just wrote their names on their arms.”

Gari, who was resourceful, discreetly put the brush away. She felt lucky that Jihak could not see well. She covered the characters on her arm.

“Then write my name too.”

“Huh?”

He tilted his upper body in Eunha’s direction.

“Give it a try. I want to look at the result.”