28: Punishment from the princess

Sui tried to keep her worry in check, but she worried too much.

'Should I ask the princess if I can escort this kid back to the village? B-But I cannot leave the princess alone either. I don't think the princess would want to come to the village with me either. What should I do?'

Sui was busy thinking about a solution to her problem when the princess surprised her.

"Let's go! Sui, we will drop this kid off at his village before returning. We might as well start our investigation early before Minister Xiao makes his move."

Sui blinked at the princess with a stupid expression on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, only to close it the next second in surprise. 

'Did the princess just-! No, I should not question this situation. I am sure that the princess has her reasons.'

Somehow, Sui was having a hard time believing that the princess did this out of the goodness of her heart.

The princess puffed her cheeks out in protest, making her look almost cute.

Well, as cute as a 6-foot body filled with muscle mass and having blood splattered all over it could look.

"Hey, just what kind of person do you think I am? Even I have morals and human values. I just chose not to act on them when I don't need to."

The princess defended herself, but Sui was split between disbelief and amusement once she heard these words.

'Let's not…think about this anymore. It's a miracle, and I should not question this.'

"Of course! Our princess is the most compassionate person in our empire. There is no need for you to defend yourself."

Sui did her best not to flinch or sound sarcastic. But it was difficult with the content she had to say.

Even the princess looked like she did not believe Sui. But she did not say anything further and started walking.

The poor kid was terrified and hanging off the princess's hand.

Sui felt sorry for the kid and debated whether she should tell the princess to let the kid down or not.

In the end, the princess let the kid go once they neared the village, and they were welcomed by a hoard of worried people who tried to attack them.

"Princess, stand back. Let me take care of these people."

Sui took a protective stance in front of the princess and was prepared to parry any attack that came their way.

Even if the princess could take care of herself, it was Sui's responsibility to protect her.

"Hey, there is no need to-"

The princess started to speak, only for the kid to run toward the villagers and say a few words.

Anger and suspicion turned into surprise and embarrassment (even fear) once the kid finished speaking.

The village leader stepped forward first, and he bowed to the pair.

People had calmed down, but Sui remained alert and did not leave her position as the Princess's guard.

"I extend an apology from our village toward the Imperial Princess Yunjin! It is our fault for not recognizing the noble princess of our nation. I beg the princess to show mercy by only punishing me for our village's ignorance."

The man, who was likely the chief and the leader of this village, went down on his knees to please the princess.

He was hoping for a quick death that would only affect him.

His wife and kids watched him from the sidelines, and the leader felt sorry for leaving them behind.

 But he knew he was responsible for this village and its people. He could not let everyone down.

"Oh! So, you want me to show mercy after your offense? Why do you think I will show you any?"

The princess asked in a calm voice. 

However, that calmness was just a facade to hide the storm brewing behind her eyes.

Having that pair of cold eyes glaring at him was enough to make the village leader tremble.

"Princess, please forgive us for our offense. At least spare the kids!"

The leader pleaded, and Sui could tell it irritated the princess even more.

'I need to take care of this quickly, or the princess will get even more offended. Should I just finish this man off? But that would turn the princess's anger toward me. Ugh, this is a mess.'

Sui clenched her dagger and unclenched it nervously, and she was getting distracted.

That was why she did not notice those cold eyes looking at her curiously.

"Fine! I have decided. Sui, I will let you handle this. Whether this man should be killed or not - the decision is in your hands."

Once again, the princess handed the decision over to Sui.

It put all the pressure on Sui, and she wanted to decline.

'Why? Why would you do this again, princess? Do you think it is funny to put the burden of someone's life on my shoulders and watch me struggle? Fuck you! If you want to kill someone, then do it with your own hands. I am not killing anyone.'

Sui breathed a deep sigh before she moved toward the man.

Her dagger came down toward the man, and he closed his eyes in anticipation of his death.

However, the dagger grazed the skin of his eye instead of going into his throat.

The searing pain in the man's eyes jolted him, and Sui stood up once her work was done.

"You took his eye away instead of killing him. Isn't this too cruel of you to have done, Sui?"

The princess asked in an amused voice as she watched Sui standing up once her work was done.

The man was bleeding profoundly from his wound and the blood was getting everywhere.

"Of course not, princess. I decided to spare this man's life, however, his punishment could not be a light one. That's why, I decided to leave him as well as this village with a permanent reminder of what they did wrong."

Sui assured the princess, but even she did not believe her words.

There was no way the princess would ever take this excuse, but Sui wanted to try at least.

'I did what I could for these people. Now, the rest is up to the princess and her decision.'