It's just the medicine that I take all the time. I'm not sick in particular."

Hwawoon answered Yihan's question in a low voice. Unlike Yihan's concern, Hwawoon did not seem to have added any excessive interpretation to the emperor's question. If it had been in the past, Yeon Hwawoon would have been clinging to him, saying, 'I can't believe you're very worried about me, Your Majesty'.

"…"

Yihan contemplated more because of that. In the past, he was fed up with Yeonbin whining; 'I'm sick here, I'm sick there'. Later, he even didn't worry about him, but now, when he said he was okay, he wondered what had changed that led him to secretly worry.

Right now, Yihan was even confused by the thought of whether Hwawoon's wrist that he held on painfully last night was all right.

His lips kept twitching on their own. He knew he didn't need to stir any trouble by asking that, but his lips kept moving as they pleased.

Are you okay? Is the wrist that I hurt last night okay? Did it hurt a lot? Did it bruise a lot?

He wanted to ask those. He wanted to worry. In fact, he wanted to let him know he didn't do that on purpose.

He was terrified by that now. All the senses inside him that were blocking him were allusively making Yihan afraid.

Yihan eventually rose to his feet, unable to say anything. He had to get out. He felt like he had to get out of this place right away.

"… there!"

Yihan quickly raised his voice, just in case Hwawoon said anything more to himself. Eunuch Oh, who had been waiting in the distance, immediately replied, "Yes, Your Majesty," and then Yihan looked at Hwawoon, who also stood up following him, while saying,

"We're going back."

"… Yes."

Right then, Eunuch Oh looked up at the emperor for a moment, but when he saw Yihan's expression, which looked like a frightened child, he just bowed and answered. To suddenly come and to suddenly go would be hurtful for the concubine, but it was meaningless to say that out loud because it was not the first time this thing occurred at Jeongan Palace.

"Your Majesty."

However, it was Hwawoon who held onto the emperor's escaping steps. For a moment, the emperor, Eunuch Oh, and even Ahjin all wondered if Hwawoon would cling to the emperor who was leaving the room without explanation just like in the past.

Hwawoon, who calmly walked a step closer to the emperor, opened his mouth.

"I don't know if I could ask about this, but…"

"…"

"Your Majesty, nothing happened to you, right?"

Then, looking up slightly at Yihan, there was a sign of concern on Hwawoon's face that no one could deny. He was worried about the emperor, not upset or humiliated by the emperor's attitude, which came and went at will without even tasting a sip of tea.

"Yesterday and today, you look very troubled."

Somewhere, there was a sound of something crumbling. It was a sound that only Yihan alone heard.

"At times like this, you must take care of your health more, Your Majesty."

Those were such ordinary words. Such words and worry were natural for every concubine to say. Then, why were the words said by Hwawoon just now so unfamiliar and heavy, pressing down on Yihan's ears, nose tip, and heart?

"…… Let's go."

That's why Yihan couldn't say anything else and eventually turned his body. He wanted to look back as he heard Hwawoon's voice sending him off, but he didn't do that. He couldn't do that.

Yihan was really afraid of all of this.

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Only when the late night appeared, did Hawoon finally return to the room located in the corner on the second floor of the inn. It was a room that was too narrow to be used as a guest room, so it was used to store sundries, but Hawoon had been using it since he started to work and live in the inn. As he sat for a while in the worn-out bed, he felt like the tiredness from the whole day surged up, so Hwawoon closed his eyes tight once and then opened them back. Today had been quite a hard day for him.

After letting out a short sigh while looking down at the floor, Hawoon's eyes turned to the moon through the window. Hawoon, who was quietly watching the moon for a while, raised up his body and followed the moonlight that flooded the floor to the window.

There was only a big moon in the dark night sky. Hawoon carefully opened the window, then he sat on the window frame, feeling the night wind swarming him as he took a deep breath. At the end of the day, when he had moved as if he had become someone's puppet, the sense of becoming a person spread to his fingertips.

Life had always been a matter of survival for Hawoon. He had no spare time for other things but survival. Hawoon only worked hard so that his body wouldn't starve—enduring and enduring the hard days.

For that reason, Hawoon had no dream. There was nothing such a big future he envisioned. Hawoon was enough with a life where he wouldn't starve and could sleep in a safe place.

Well, he had no desire to achieve a big target, but even if he had such a thing, it would be impossible for Hawoon to have a chance to achieve it. Thus, Hawoon was really content with his life now, where he could take good care of himself.

However, sometimes—really sometimes.

Hawoon tried to imagine a life with a dream—when he heard the stories exchanged boisterously by the guests of the inn. When he saw people dreaming about something more than making ends meet, he wondered how that felt. He wondered what kind of sensation of desiring something more than eating and living. Hawoon had been curious about such things for a long time.

However, the life that was allowed for Hawoon this time was only this far. Perhaps, until the day he died, there would be no such thing as him dreaming of a higher place he couldn't reach. Therefore, Hawoon only left it as a small curiosity in his heart, spending the night looking at the moonlight for a long time.

This was a story that happened before Hawoon met Yihan.

Opening his eyes wide, Yihan stared at the ceiling while laying down. He couldn't fall asleep.

He turned his body so that he faced his left side this time. It was boiling inside him. He couldn't fall asleep.

Again, he turned his body so that he faced his right side. His heart ran as it pleased, as though it was broken. He couldn't fall asleep.

"What on…!"

In the end, Yihan couldn't endure it anymore so he sprang up to sit, fuming while looking at the air. He wondered if he really had gone crazy. He was going mad because he had been in this state since returning to Anjeong Palace from Jeongan Palace, showing no sign of calming down.

He didn't visit Jeongbin. Did he only not visit Jeongbin? Yihan completely forgot his agenda to visit Jeongbin as he returned to Anjeong Palace. It was fortunate that Eunuch Oh told him about it first, if not, then he would make Jeongbin wait for him without notice.

"I'm really out of my mind…"

Yihan mumbled as he quietly stared at the creased blanket, which was like his heart. There were a lot of things and feelings he had experienced the whole night, but he couldn't understand them at all.

He was feeling anxious if he didn't see Yeon Hwawoon. He felt like getting annoyed but also feeling like getting angry for no reason. He even blamed Hwawoon for making him uneasy by saying such words, making him want to scold him the next time they met.

Alas, the situation turned worse when he saw Yeon Hwawoon. His feeling acted on its own when Hwawoon was in front of him, making him feel it was better if he could just get annoyed and angry. He couldn't explain the feeling he felt when he saw Yeon Hwawoon. He was only feeling in chaos.

Just like tens of thousands of colors engulfed a lump of fire. As if he was struggling to untangle the tangled threads—didn't know where the ends were, only the vague and dizzy emotions were entangled tremendously, making Yihan's heart pounded and uncomfortable.

Yihan eventually slammed back to the bed while groaning. In his mind, he wanted to run back to Jeongan Palace right away and ask, 'what have you done to me?', but he couldn't do something lame like that considering his dignity as the emperor.

Without properly covering his body with the crumpled blanket, Yihan turned to the wall and curled his back. Strangely, he felt a little sad, but he believed he could never be sad because of Yeon Hwawoon, so Yihan thought he was not sad at all.

Of course, lying in such a pitiful state might lead to a question of whether it showed the emperor's dignity, but anyway, Yihan wasn't sad at all. He just couldn't sleep.

"Anyway… it's fortunate that nothing happened in particular."

Before he went to sleep, Ahjin applied the ointment on Hwawoon's bruised wrist and then said that while blowing the wound. Looking at that, Hwawoon smiled quietly and soon asked.

"Fortunate? What?"

"I'm talking about His Majesty. I was really worried if His Majesty would hurt you again, Your Highness."

Ahjin answered as she pouted. Before the emperor came, she soothed the nervous Hwawoon by saying, "It's okay," and "It's only His Majesty visiting," but it seemed like she was worried about that inside. Delighted with her concern, this time Hwawoon burst into small laughter and said again.

"You are worried about everything. Actually, His Majesty didn't make this wrist become like this because he meant so."

"I know, but… however hard I think about it, I think His Majesty is too mean nowadays. Even though you're making efforts like this, Your Highness…"

"I have only made a little effort for a few days. You are the one who's weird to believe in me in a short time."

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32

Getting an unexpected answer, Ahjin looked at Hwawoon with her eyes wide open. Hwawoon pulled down his sleeve that was raised for applying the ointment and continued.

"Ahjin, you and the other kids of Jeongan Palace are too pure and kind. You guys are taking care of me despite my little efforts—considering how much I tormented you guys before…"

"Tha-that…"

"Therefore, I'm very grateful to you."

Hwawoon's words led Ahjin's eyes to quiver once again. Feeling that she might embarrassingly burst into tears just like the last time if this kept going on, Ahjin sniffled once and quickly tried to change the subject—remembering the thing she was curious about.

"Speaking of which, Your Highness…"

"Mhm?"

"So, Your Highness, you… what I want to ask is, are you now…"

"Why are you hesitating like that?"

Hwawoon looked at Ahjin and asked softly with an intention to make her at ease, but it made Ahjin speechless instead. She puffed her lips for a moment, then brought up the topic carefully.

"Your Highness, are you perhaps… don't like His Majesty like in the past anymore?"

This time, it was Hwawoon who was surprised and speechless. The very unexpected question made his thoughts blocked as if someone had rung a giant bell next to his ears. Meanwhile, Ahjin continued with her shoulders sagged down.

"So, what I'm saying is, you're not looking for His Majesty anymore… not sad even if he doesn't come… you don't even stop him from leaving…"

"Ah…"

"Of course, I know well that you're trying to not annoy His Majesty. Even so, I wonder if there's a big change in your heart…"

Humans were bound to change after experiencing a big event, and coming back from the brink of death was probably the biggest event humans could experience. Therefore, Ahjin now could understand that the drowning in the pond accident had made Hwawoon change this much.

And that led Ahjin to suddenly get curious. If perhaps that event—the big event that changed Hwawoon this much—also affected Hwawoon's feelings toward the emperor. She wondered if the reason Hwawoon could change this much overnight was that he didn't have any obsession with the emperor like in the past.

Ahjin thought that even if the others didn't know, she had to precisely know her master's feelings. She had to properly know whatever that was. Ahjin was the one who served Hwawoon from the closest place, and by having a thorough knowledge about Hwawoon, only then could she help and protect him by his side.

"I…"

However, Hwawoon couldn't immediately answer Ahjin's question. It wasn't that hedidnot, but hecouldnot. He didn't know how he should express his heart.

That his feelings didn't change, but he was a different person; that from the first time, Yeon Hwawoon's feelings and Hawoon's feelings weren't the same. If he didn't tell her about the things that happened to him, then he wouldn't be able to properly explain his feelings. If the feelings of the previous Hwawoon were romantic feelings, the current Hwawoon thought he didn't know the feelings he had for the emperor now.

Hwawoon revered that person. He yearned and longed for him. He had a desire that he had never had, which was to get a little closer to the emperor, and he willingly gave up his previous life and threw himself into a completely different world. Then, could this feeling be called a romantic feeling?

At the same time, Hwawoon didn't dare to wish to get embraced by the emperor. He didn't even want to monopolize that person like the original Hwawoon did. He didn't want the emperor to only look at himself, and he didn't even get angry even if the emperor disregarded him. Then, could this feeling also be called a romantic feeling?

Hawoon's life was like a frog that kept crouching in a tiny well until a moment ago, so he was undoubtedly unfamiliar with his emotions.

After a long moment, Hwawoon finally opened his mouth.

"… I don't want to think about other things. For now, I only want to do my best to follow His Majesty's wish."

Hwawoon was tense for a moment in case Ahjin had another question because of his answer, but after hearing his answer, Ahjin suddenly made a determined expression and then nodded with her lips shut tight.

"Yes. Understood, Your Highness. I'll take it as that. Now, please quickly have a rest."

Fortunately, Ahjin didn't look like she would ask more about Hwawoon's feelings. Then, as Hwawoon laid his body on the bed, Ahjin thoroughly covered him with the blanket. While looking at Ahjin, Hwawoon had a thought about how betrayed Ahjin would feel if she knew the one she served courteously like this actually wasn't her master, but the untouchable whose class was lower than hers. Having that thought, he suddenly felt blue.

Then, instead of blowing off the candle next to the bed, Ahjin said,

"About what you said earlier."

"Huh?"

"That I'm weird for believing you in a short time…"

"Ah… hmm."

Inside the dark view, a warm gaze landed on Hwawoon.

"His Majesty only met you once in a while, but I… I have been by your side ever since you woke up, Your Highness."

"…"

"I'm the one who saw how much you have changed… That's why I believe in you."

Listening to that kind voice, Hwawoon contemplated. If perhaps, the thing he hid were to get disclosed someday later. If the fact that he wasn't Yeon Hwawoon, but Hawoon was found out.

"If anyone stayed close to you like me, they definitely couldn't help but believe in you, Your Highness. Even if that person is his majesty the emperor."

He wondered if at that time he would be able to protect Ahjin's trust, and the hearts the girls of Jeongan Palace gave him.

He wondered if he would be able to win as much heart as he had now from His Majesty.

The thoughts that seemed impossible crept through the darkness and disturbed his mind. Hwawoon could only give Ahjin a smile.

There was a strange atmosphere surrounding the Empress Palace where the concubines gathered to do morning greetings. As had always been the case recently, it was because of Yeonbin.

Originally, the attire of male concubines was freer than female concubines. This was because the previous emperor revised all the standards on the attire of the male concubine so that his weak lover would not feel uncomfortable or difficult because of the clothes.

The male concubines of this nation were able to wear pants outside if desired, and the front and back or both sides of the pants were added like a skirt to allow them to move freely. He also changed all the rules on headdresses, so that the male concubines were able to escape the pain of heavy decoration on their heads.

All of those were things that were realized for only one person.

But over time, it was almost impossible to see the clothes that only the male concubine could wear because the only male concubine, Yeonbin, enjoyed dressing in the same attire as the other concubines rather than the modified clothes.

However, without notice, Yeonbin was sitting wearing the attire of the male concubine, which he didn't wear in the past. In recent days, he had always been acting anew, but the way he sat in a completely different attire was enough to amaze everyone once again.

He was wearing white pants decorated with light embroidery of silver thread that glistened following his movement that tied tightly to each ankle, also, a sky blue outer clothes that had different colors, making feeling a unique atmosphere that couldn't be felt before.

Although the imperial palace was a place where many men beside the emperor stayed and walked around, there was only one person who had this atmosphere. At first glance, he looked like a beautiful gentleman dressed in fine clothes, and at the same time, he also looked like a concubine favored by the emperor. Therefore, the other concubines kept turning their heads and stole a glance at Yeonbin from the moment they met him at the Empress Palace.

"Yeonbin."

The one who called Yeonbin who was turning back after the morning greetings that were filled with that ambiguous mood was the empress. Hearing the unexpected call, Hwawoon turned back with a nervous expression, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty." The empress then spoke with a clear, soft voice.

"You look more healthy dressing like that. It looks good on you."

Hwawoon's eyes were opened wide. For a moment, he couldn't believe what he just heard. That was because the empress's words just now were the first positive words heard from non-Jeongan Palace people ever since Hawoon became Yeon Hwawoon.

It wasn't only Hwawoon who was surprised. Sukbi and Jeongbin, who had already walked far, also looked at the empress with a questioning glance. Nevertheless, the empress only nodded once with a calm expression to Hwawoon, who said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Hwawoon, who barely stopped the corners of his lips that were trying to raise at their will, soon made eye contact with Ahjin as he left the Empress Palace and burst his face with a smile he had held back.

"Her Majesty the Empress said I look good, right?"

"Yes, Your Highness! I clearly heard it!"

As Ahjin replied to him with a smiling face as well, Hwawoon's face turned even brighter. It wasn't particularly praise, and that word didn't have a lot of meaning, but he was excited to hear such positive words from the Empress, who was the most difficult person with the Emperor.

And then one person stopped before Hwawoon and Ahjin who were walking while smiling.

"Yeonbin. You look like you're in a very happy mood."

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It was Jeongbin, Songhyun, who never had a conversation with Hwawoon before. As Hwawoon turned his head at the voice that strangely sounded thorny, there was Jeongbin with a cute face continuing her words.

"Well, no doubt you must be happy because you stopped His Majesty from his way to my residence last night."

"Your Highness…"

The court lady next to her worriedly called Jeongbin, but Jeongbin, who was completely mad, ignored her and glared at Yeonbin.

Sukbi was the concubine who had the worst relationship with the original Yeonbin, but actually, the one who was ignored the most by Yeonbin was surely Jeongbin. Yeonbin always looked down on Jeongbin, who had the same rank, but her family was far lower than him. He wasn't the one to hesitate to do verbal abuse if the emperor's concubines weren't so few by sayinga barely successful person became a concubine,so he didn't bother to talk with her.

Yeonbin had such a strong spirit, so it was rare for Jeongbin to pick a fight first. However, perhaps because the attitude that Hwawoon had shown lately affected her, Jeongbin looked very determined today.

Therefore, Yeonbin, who wasn't the original Yeonbin, asked Jeongbin with a bit of a flustered expression—didn't know what she meant.

"Stopped His Majesty…?"

"Don't act like you don't know. Last night, His Majesty clearly said he was on his way to have tea in my residence, but you brought him to Jeongan Palace, didn't you?"

Hwawoon finally could roughly understand what Jeongbin was talking about. It seemed like the emperor, who suddenly visited Jeongan Palace yesterday, was on his way to Jeongbin's residence. Hwawoon quickly looked straight at Jeongbin and said,

"It was true that His Majesty stopped by Jeongan Palace for a moment yesterday, but that was also a surprise for me. I didn't lead him deliberately."

It was a very normal and nonchalant answer. However, Jeongbin rather became more flustered because of that 'normal and nonchalant answer.'

Although she came confidently, Songhyun actually was prepared to hear him speak loudly. She predicted that at least the words, "How dare you to come to argue when you couldn't serve His Majesty because of your lackness?" would spurt out.

Songhyun inwardly wanted to test the rumors about Yeonbin having changed, which recently had been making a lot of noise in the whole palace. Yeonbin's figure that she saw at the Empress Palace in the last days was clearly far different from before, but it was not easy to believe the almighty Yeonbin.

However, right now, Yeonbin, who was clearly in front of her eyes, was talking to Songhyun with a calm attitude and didn't raise his voice at all.

"His Majesty only stayed for a very short moment in Jeongan Palace and left. I didn't know the exact reason, but he looked very troubled. I guess he suddenly got reminded of something if he didn't go to your residence."

"No, that…"

"In addition, as you know…"

While Songhyun was perplexed by Hwawoon's answer, which was so polite and so plausible, Hwawoon continued in a very calm voice.

"Even if I want to stop him, is it possible for me to stop His Majesty from coming to you, Jeongbin?"

That was true. Yeonbin was the only one among the current concubines that was hated by the emperor, so even if he yelled at Songhyun for being nothing from an ordinary family, Yeonbin wouldn't win against Jeongbin in front of the emperor. Everyone would think the same.

The problem was the one who said that was Yeonbin. The one who said that fact was no one else, but Yeonbin. He didn't get angry, feel regret, or upset, just calm. Like someone who wasn't bothered by that fact.

"I'm sure His Majesty would come to you again and cheer you up."

Eventually, there was nothing much that could be said by Songhyun who was surprised, flustered, and even wondered if she was being mean to Yeonbin, who unbelievably said that with a very calm face.

"Tha-thank you for saying that, Yeonbin…"

The court lady next to her looked at her master with a dumbfounded expression. In the first place, Songhyun had no talent for arguing.

"Is there anything else you have to say?"

The empress asked, looking at Sukbi, who stood absentmindedly. Sukbi opened her eyes prudishly and stared at the empress, then said,

"I think your treatment of Yeonbin isn't like the usual, Your Majesty… Did I read that wrong?"

The empress laughed lightly at that.

"I think I should be the one to ask that… Sukbi, weren't you the one who couldn't say anything to Yeonbin today?"

Sukbi pouted her lips at once. She then approached the empress, sat in her original seat, then talked in a sulky voice as if she was complaining.

"Please don't get me started. No matter how much I sarcastically picked a fight, he accepted it by saying "Yes, Your Highness" with his head down and didn't even look at me. That rather makes me feel like I'm the bad one, so I don't want to talk with him anymore."

This time, the empress's laughter rang a bit louder. Despite that, Sukbi continued.

"Do you think it ends there? Let's say he could hold on by pushing down his fiery personality, but… if I look at his face, I strangely feel like I'm looking at a different person."

"A different person, huh…"

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There's obviously nothing different in his appearance, but why do I feel this unfamiliar and awkward… Do you also feel the same, Empress?"

The empress shut her mouth and thought over Sukbi's question for a moment. Yeonbin's troubled and dark expression when she said to never change if he was being sincere and to never get caught if he was lying flashed before her eyes. The Empress then said,

"Sukbi."

In an instant, Sukbi, who talked with a heavy voice and light attitude, straightened up her posture, lowered her head, and answered, "Yes, Your Majesty." Unlike the previous empress and concubines, they were usually quite friendly and intimate because the number of concubines was so small, but no one dared to speak when the empress talked with such a dignified voice.

With the heavy air in between, the empress's voice rang out.

"You and I are the ones that could be said to know the emperor the most and serve him from the closest."

"… That is more than I deserve, Your Majesty."

"But from now on, we may face a side of His Majesty that we've never encountered before."

Looking at Sukbi, who raised her head with a questioning face because she couldn't understand her, the Empress flashed a smile again.

"It seems like a great typhoon is approaching, so Sukbi, you need to be careful to not get swept away."

Sukbi, Biyoung, couldn't understand why she was reminded of Yeonbin's face earlier when she heard what the empress just said.

"Isn't that Yeonbin over there?"

Yihan, who kept stretching out his neck to look around as if he was looking for something ever since he sat on the palanquin, saw someone walking far ahead and then asked with his back straightened up. Eunuch Oh next to him slightly looked ahead and soon answered.

"Yes, Your Majesty. That is His Highness Yeonbin."

"Where did that weak person leave his palanquin and why is he walking?"

It was such a wonder why the one who welcomed him with a pale complexion after drinking a medicine last night left his palanquin and walked on his feet. Even though now wasn't a hot or cold season, it wasn't a short walking distance after all.Really, he always acts as he pleases.

"Don't stop and just keep walking by. I'm tired of looking at him."

Yihan quickly added while measuring the distance that slowly got closer. Eunuch Oh with his head down dared to bloom a slight smile without the emperor knowing. The reason was that originally, the emperor didn't need to pass through this way at this time.

The usual way heading to Anjeong Palace from Cheonggeon Hall wasn't this one. This way indeed could be used as well, but then, the detour to take wouldn't be a few. So, there was no reason to take this way—the way that must be passed by for going to Jeongan Palace from the Empress Palace—unless there was a special intention.

The emperor's palanquin was passing by this way despite that fact, entirely because the emperor asked. Eunuch Oh wasn't someone who couldn't guess Yihan's heart, which asked that, but saying he was tired looking at him and to just pass by. Of course, he didn't dare to speak about that to the emperor.

Then, Yeonbin, who noticed the presence that came closer, looked back and quickly kneeled down, greeting the emperor. Yihan held his head straight and kept looking ahead, but he couldn't stop his eyes from glancing sideways.

"… Stop."

Also, Yihan couldn't stop the word that suddenly jumped out of his mouth when the palanquin had barely moved past Yeonbin.

The palanquin only stayed still for a while. Yihan didn't give any order after stopping the palanquin. Hwawoon kept kneeling down like that. The emperor's palanquin didn't completely pass by him, and the emperor also didn't order him to get up, so Hwawoon couldn't rashly move his body.

Yihan clenched on the armrests as he looked ahead and then moved his eyes only, kept stealing glances behind. The palanquin was more ahead than where Yeonbin kneeled down, so he was frustrated inside as he couldn't see Hwawoon only by moving his eyes.

He indeed ordered to stop unconsciously, but when he remembered the words spoken by his mouth to just walk past, he felt embarrassed. He wanted to immediately give an order to move again, but when he thought that Yeon Hwawoon was right behind him, he couldn't say it at all.

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It wasn't like he didn't think of turning his head, but Yihan thought that as the emperor, this method was better than stretching his head to look behind. Soon, he spoke out.

"Put down."

"Put down the palanquin~!"

After glaring once at the hateful face of Eunuch Oh, who repeated his order with a loud voice when he was already embarrassed, Yihan then slowly put his feet on the ground and raised up his body.

He still hadn't turned back, but his heart already beat faster. All the senses in his body responded differently just by knowing that person was behind him. Yihan unknowingly let out a long breath as if throwing out the boiling emotions, then he slowly turned his body. Hwawoon was still there.

A step, then another step. Approaching Hwawoon slowly, Yihan soon stood before Hwawoon and said,

"… Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Hwawoon got up to his feet while lowering his head a bit. Finally, Yihan's gaze landed on the clothes worn by Hwawoon. The completely different clothes from the usual ones he wore immediately caught Yihan's gaze.

His appearance, which was like a beautiful gentleman appreciating the bamboo trees landscape before him, strangely made Yihan's inside tickle. After looking at Hwawoon for a while without saying anything, Yihan then parted his lips.

"What's wrong with your appearance?"

It was a question he asked after pushing down his feelings in case he asked strange questions ever again, but turned out, this time too, he let out a cold tone when he didn't mean to. While Yihan blamed himself inside because his mouth and actions always went astray whenever he stood before Yeon Hwawoon, Hwawoon answered,

"I was wondering if this way of dressing would look better for me, so I tried to wear the clothes I haven't worn all this time."

"…"

"… Is this perhaps uncomfortable for you to see, Your Majesty?"

Although he asked calmly, Hwawoon was also nervous about it inside.

These clothes were able to be found thanks to Ahjin remembering that there were these kinds of clothes in the past. She remembered it because Hwawoon kept asking if there were any clothes that were more modest while looking at Yeonbin's clothes. From Hwawoon's perspective, these clothes were surely comfortable, suited for a man, and didn't go against the law, so he immediately wore them. However, it was inevitable for him to be nervous about wearing it in front of the emperor.

Based on what Ahjin said, these clothes were never worn except for a few times when Yeonbin had just entered the palace.

Meanwhile, Yihan didn't give any answer to the question if it was uncomfortable for him to see. The question was too hard for him, no matter how he would answer it.

If he was asked if he was uncomfortable, then he surely was uncomfortable. It was strangely an appearance that caught his eyes, unfamiliar, and made him awkward. However, if he was asked if that uncomfortableness was something that was completely negative, the answer would be no.

With the clear-colored jade guan, half of the hair with reddish highlight was raised up and fixed with the hairpin, which ends were added with the flowing ribbon. Hwawoon's appearance was new. It was irritating, unfamiliar, making him feel awkward, also making him couldn't take his eyes off because it suited him.

Therefore, Yihan, who couldn't answer if he was uncomfortable, liked it, hated it, or said that it suited him, turned his head. He pretended to look around once and then changed the topic.

"Where did you leave your palanquin, and why are you walking?"

"Ah… I think I haven't moved much lately, so I left my palanquin on purpose on my way to give morning greetings to the empress."

Hearing Hwawoon's answer, Yihan looked in the direction of Jeongan Palace for a moment, then spoke again.

"…… The way back and forth between the Empress Palace and Jeongan Palace isn't short."

"I know. However, because this is still spring, the weather is warm, and my condition today is good, so it's not difficult for me."

"… What? Do you think I asked because I worry if it's difficult for you?"

"…"

"I asked because it just annoys me seeing you walking in the middle of the road."

Even though he already spoke with force as if something bothered him, Yihan added some hurtful words. If he spoke like that, then at least he should act confidently. However, after saying that, he strangely was uneasy, so he faced another direction, and then moved his pupils only. He heard the rustling sound from Hwawoon in his blind spot.

When he slightly turned his head, Hwawoon, who didn't look like he was offended by Yihan's words, lowered his head while saying,

"Is that so, Your Majesty?"

"…"

"I'll be more careful next time."

The calm voice softly moved past Yihan's ears, just like the spring air. The moment he heard that voice, the emotions inside him that were running wild until earlier turned into something heavy, and Yihan felt his heart touch the ground.

Yihan purposely talked badly because he wanted to get under his skin, but Hwawoon looked like he didn't get offended by the emperor's words. Although he did so, Yihan was wary in case Hwawoon would get hurt, but instead, he said he would be more careful and didn't look hurt at all.

In an instant, Yihan's heavy gaze stopped at Hwawoon's face. That's it—the problem was that calmness. That very side of Yeon Hwawoon that accepted whatever he said and whatever he did was the thing that made Yihan frustrated.

It was different. It was a side that was too different from Yeon Hwawoon before he drowned. Yihan really found this appearance of Hwawoon to be very unfamiliar, difficult, and kept invading his heart.

Therefore, Yihan suddenly thought he had to know about this unfamiliar Yeon Hwawoon. He wanted to know everything about the unexpected appearance of the one that he thought he already knew thoroughly.

Before, he ran away because he was afraid of the unfamiliar feelings. If he met him, he only ridiculed and insulted him. That was the easiest way to immediately avoid the chaos. Right now, and right here, Yihan once again felt the urge to ignore this feeling and pretend it didn't exist, but Yihan realized he would never escape from this feeling if he did so.

He was afraid because he ran away. He was sure the fear kept getting stronger because he was frightened and ran away beforehand instead of facing it straight and making sure it was nothing. Therefore, Yihan decided to not run away anymore and face straight his feelings that were surely nothing.

After staring at Hwawoon for a while in silence, the emperor's lips were slowly opened.

"… I will go to Suhwawon now."

Yihan knew that what he said was so sudden, but he thought it wouldn't be hard to know the meaning behind it. Perhaps he realized the message behind Yihan's words, Hwawoon opened his eyes wide and quickly said,

"Yes, Your Majesty. Please don't worry."

"…?"

"I will immediately return to Jeongan Palace, so there won't be any case of you running into me in Suhwawon like the last time."

Yihan, who was subconsciously nervous, was shocked at the unexpected answer and then asked, baffled.

"… Do you really can't read the room?"

If he said that while borrowing Eunuch Oh's thoughts for a moment, then no doubt it wasn't Yihan who said that.

"Your Highness, please stop thinking about that now."

Jooah, the court lady of Jeongbin, Songhyun, who had been lying down in the bed since earlier, said that to comfort her. Then, Songhyun threw the blanket she held tightly as she raised her body. She then spoke while puffing her chubby cheeks.

"I must have looked very stupid, didn't I?"

"… You're not, Your Highness. There is nothing good about arguing with Yeonbin. You did well."

Jooah definitely warned Songhyun to not approach Yeonbin, but even so, she couldn't blame her master for not hearing her advice. She was worried that if her master provoked Yeonbin, she would gain nothing but curses, but fortunately, it ended well.

Well, it rather felt like Songhyun surrendered to Yeonbin, but Jooah decided to treat it as her imagination. While still looking down, Songhyun continued,

"You see… Yeonbin suddenly comforted me there… It strangely reminded me of my brother."

Jooah responded with a littleahat Songhyun's words. She felt she finally knew why Songhyun suddenly turned meek back then.

Songhyun as the youngest had an older brother that was quite older than her. He treated Songhyun gently ever since she was a child and their bond was strong. She talked about her longing for her brother much more than her longing for her parents, so it was obvious how attached she was to her brother.

"There's nothing similar between them…"

Songhyun muttered while pouting her small lips. Just like what she said, Songhyun's brother was far different from Yeonbin. Let alone as a brother, in the past, Songhyun never thought of Yeonbin as a man.

However, today, when she saw Yeonbin with an elegant look saying the emperor would soon cheer her up, she oddly was reminded of her brother who always hugged her whenever she sulked. Her heart sank at that.

"My brother is a very gentle person, so how could I compare him to Yeonbin…"

She kept thinking like that after she returned to her room. There was no way she could compare Yeonbin to her precious brother. She convinced herself such a thing was impossible unless something wrong happened to her head.

However, as she thought about it again, the kind face of her brother that would hear everything she said kept overlapping before Yeonbin's face she saw today. She kept thinking of Yeonbin, who she could meet at a close distance instead of her brother, whom she couldn't meet as she wished anymore.

Songhyun let out a long sigh and then laid down on the bed again. She felt she might really miss her family.

35

"…"

"…"

Only silence flowed between Yihan and Hwawoon. Yihan did so because he was really baffled by Hwawoon's answer, and Hwawoon still couldn't understand what Yihan was talking about. Then, it was Yihan who opened his mouth first with a very testy face.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Now quickly go back to Jeongan Palace and don't get close to Suhwawon."

"…"

"Because right now. I'll. Go to. Suhwawon. Alone."

Yeah. You must be planning to not leave my heart by making me uncomfortable like this.Yihan gritted his teeth as he turned his steps to Suhwawon, leaving Hwawoon behind.

His back stung out of worry if Hwawoon would really go back to Jeongan Palace, but he wasn't an easy emperor—who would turn back at this point.

"… Your Highness Yeonbin."

The one who called Hwawoon, who was cluelessly looking at Yihan's back that kept getting farther away, was Eunuch Oh, who oddly looked like smiling. As Hwawoon turned his head to look at him, he said,

"What His Majesty means is… he wants to take a stroll in Suhwawon with you, Your Highness Yeonbin."

"In Suhwawon with me?"

Hwawoon suddenly asked back with a higher voice because he was very surprised by what Eunuch Oh had said. The eunuch softly blinked his eyes and nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"But His Majesty…"

Slurring his words, Hwawoon's eyes reminisced about the last time he met the emperor in Suhwawon. That day, the emperor didn't even hide his displeased heart, even though they only met by chance. Therefore, he couldn't be sure if it was okay for him to follow the emperor.

Hwawoon once again looked at the emperor, who walked far without even taking his palanquin. Every time he took a step, the fluttering navy dragon dopo glittered under the sunlight. When Hwawoon swallowed his saliva because he got thirsty for no reason, Eunuch Oh swiftly moved to the side, opening the way, and said,

"Follow him, please."

Hwawoon still couldn't understand what was going on, but Eunuch Oh stayed next to the emperor for the longest and undoubtedly knew about his feelings better than anyone else. As he had no other pretext to refuse it, Hwawoon's steps soon carefully followed the path Yihan had taken first.

The fluttering sky blue clothes soon stood next to the emperor's dragon dopo. For now, Eunuch Oh decided to keep this for himself alone; the fact that if the emperor wanted it, he could walk even faster so that Yeon Hwawoon wouldn't be able to catch him.

"Oh? Isn't that His Majesty there?"

On his way back to the guard residence to have lunch after finishing his shift, Seocheon turned his head as he heard Domyung. Then, he saw the emperor moving away from the other side of the road.

Unless it was Jeongan Palace, those who patrolled around the outer palace rarely saw the emperor, even though they were in the imperial palace. Therefore, Domyung was already raising his head to see the emperor a little longer, even though he was already further away, but Seocheon wasn't interested in the emperor.

Seocheon entered the palace as a guard only to have a more stable income—there was no other special desire. He heard that they would give him food and let him sleep in the palace, so for Seocheon and others, who were in need of food and sleep, that alone was enough reason.

"…"

As he thought that far, just like a habit, he naturally remembered Hawoon.

Hawoon said the reason he entered the imperial palace wasn't for money or honor, but merely because he wanted to get a little closer to the emperor. The first time he heard it, Seocheon laughed loudly as though he had heard a very funny joke, but he quickly apologized as he saw Hawoon asking 'why are you laughing?' with eyes opened wide and a serious expression.

"Who's that next to him?"

Without knowing that Seocheon was lost in his own thoughts, Domyung murmured while still chasing them with his gaze and even squinted his eyes.

If it's not for the emperor. If that day the emperor didn't show his face in front of you. Then, would you still be alive somewhere there outside the palace?

While he stood absentmindedly next to Domyung and had such a thought, a name suddenly was heard in Seocheon's ears.

"… Is that His Highness Yeonbin?"

The moment he heard that name, he felt like a very sharp knife stabbed his ears. He could hardly breathe because of the very unexpected pain. Moving his chest painfully like a fish that had lost its breath, Seocheon looked at the place where Domyung was looking.

"Did you say… Yeonbin…?"

"His face can't be seen clearly, but there are red highlights in his hair. The clothes are also of a new form…"

Seocheon, listening to Domyung's words, stared silently behind him with a painful stare.

Yeonbin.

Yeonbin Yeon Hwawoon.

The one who survived alone owing to the death of another person.

Yeon Hwawoon, the very person behind Hawoon's death, was walking in the distance with the emperor.

One led Hawoon, who would have lived without looking at the palace for the rest of his life, to this palace, and the other one with his absurd behavior led the innocent him to his death.

Seocheon clenched his fists so hard that bruises could form, and did not take his eyes off them until the two became very small dots and disappeared.

Yihan and Hwawoon were walking together in the silent atmosphere. No one followed them because Eunuch Oh had stopped everyone far from them. There was no sound surrounding them other than the sound of their footsteps and the sound of birds in the distance.

Remembering Yeonbin, who closed his mouth until he talked first at the last time he visited Jeongan Palace without notice, Yihan deliberately talked in a brusque voice.

"Are you planning to never open your mouth first until I talk to you?"

Hwawoon, who was walking in silence while looking at his feet, raised his head with a surprised expression and looked at Yihan. Then, he let out a small exclamation sound and quickly continued,

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I thought you called me because you have something else to say, so I was waiting for you to talk."

"… When did I call you? You followed me on your own because I said I was coming to Suhwawon."

Hwawoon stopped his steps as he heard Yihan's reply. As Hwawoon tried to look at Yihan, blinking eyes with a stunned look on his face, the emperor also stopped walking and faced Hwawoon. He then spoke with a very brazen look.

"What? Am I wrong?"

Well, Yihan certainly felt his face turned hot after he said that, and it was true that he was a bit embarrassed, but anyway, he was trying his best to think he was right as he never told Hwawoon to follow him and Hwawoon was the one, who followed him at his own.

Then, right at that time, Hwawoon let out a light laugh in front of Yihan.

"… Yes, you're right, Your Majesty. I'm interrupting your time as I please."

When Hwawoon answered that in a voice with a hint of laughter, Yihan stared at Hwawoon's face. He couldn't take his eyes off the beautifully curved eyes and soft lips, so he couldn't even hear what Hwawoon was saying.

It wasn't even like it was his first time seeing Yeonbin smile at him.

He had already seen his face calling for him and then slowly drew a smile numerous times.

Feeling unfamiliar with the thing he saw in front of his eyes right now—Yeon Hwawoon's smile that was completely directed to himself alone—as if it was the first time he saw it, Yihan couldn't take his eyes off that face.

At that time, Hwawoon was thinking that this was a continuation of Yihan's kindness.

Hwawoon had already peeped at the face of the emperor, who was so troubled when he faced him under the moonlight that night. He had already guessed that even though the emperor didn't like him because of the mistakes done by Yeon Hwawoon in the past, the negative emotions toward the one who was determined to change remained a heavyweight inside the emperor's heart. For that reason, Hwawoon also regarded this moment as a continuation of that kindness.

He was convinced that the emperor was troubled about kicking him out of Suhwawon last time, so he allowed himself to come to Suhwawon today. Therefore, Hwawoon couldn't help but laugh at his unchanging kindness from the beginning to the present.

However, when Hwawoon raised his head up after lowering it down slightly to finish off his laughter, he met with the emperor's face that came closer right in front of him. It was a frighteningly stiff, cold face.

He couldn't see how far away the courtiers, including Eunuch Oh and Ahjin were, and in the space filled with only the scent of distant spring, Hwawoon felt the breath of the emperor scattered at the tip of his nose. The dark pupils that were coming closer became a tremendous pressure, and Hwawoon bent his whole body. The emperor didn't hold him anywhere, but he couldn't move his body nor avoid his gaze.

It was an irresistible dignity of the absolute ruler.

"Your Majesty…"

As it was strange and difficult for him; as he couldn't bear that mighty and precious gaze with his status as a mere commoner;

Hwawoon hunched his shoulders, quickly lowered his gaze, and took a step back from the emperor. He took a step back, and although he didn't know what the reason was, he had made the emperor's mood worse, so he decided to plead for forgiveness. However, even before Hwawoon took half a step, the emperor's hand wrapped around Hwawoon's waist and pulled him so that he could not go away.

Yihan then opened his mouth at a rather closer distance.

"I never allowed you to step back."

Under the tremendous aura the emperor showed right in front of him, Hwawoon dared not move.

!Report Chapter

Yihan had long believed that Yeon Hwawoon's beauty was nothing special.

For a few moments after his first entrance to the palace, Yihan, of course, thought it was amazing how the man could have such a definite beauty, but it was only a momentary appreciation. To begin with, Yihan was not very interested in the appearance of the concubines, and the other concubines, who were women, were also beautiful people with their own charms, so the beauty that Hwawoon had never meant much to Yihan.

And then, as everyone knew, his outward appearance couldn't be more appreciated because of his temperament, which was so great that it even covered his appearance.

Since Yihan's feelings for the Empress and his concubines had nothing to do with their beauty, Yeon Hwawoon's beauty could not mean anything to justify his numerous misdeeds.

Thus, Yihan would deem this as a very strange thing. He would call it an incomprehensible thing.

He had already seen Yeon Hwawoon's handsome face again and again. After countless days, it had already become meaningless to Yihan a long time ago.

But why now? Why must it be now?

He wondered why he got very restless from looking at Hwawoon's face at a close distance.

He always made a fuss as if the world were shaking just by a word from Yihan, but recently, he was calm no matter what Yihan said and did, making Yihan disturbed inside. But now, seeing his eyes shaking in confusion while they were filled with only himself, a strange joy rose in the corner of his heart. Certainly, this was a feeling he had never felt before.

His curiosity arose. He also felt like he got thirsty. The flawless pale cheeks, the lips that were moist red as if something was put on them, and the hair with a mystifying color that flowed down on the thin neckline that looked like it would break if he held it with his hand. All of those disturbed Yihan's breath and distracted his gaze.

The flowers in Suhwawon spread a dizzying scent. No, it could have been someone's scent, not the scent of flowers, but Yihan kept biting his innocent lip to avoid thinking about it. What did he want to do, what he was trying to do? Nothing was clear.

"Your Majesty…?"

It was Hwawoon's voice full of wonder that awakened Yihan, who was shaking as if he were standing alone in a distorted world. Only then did Yihan, who came to his senses, realize that he was trying to touch Hwawoon's cheek with another hand that wasn't holding his waist.

"…!"

Yihan himself was more surprised than anybody else. He immediately retracted his hand and pushed Hwawoon, who was close to being completely hugged by him. As Hwawoon stumbled due to a sudden force, this time too, Yihan detained him without realizing it—reached out his hand and hurriedly caught him.

He felt like every emotion and action he had didn't move as he wanted.

Meanwhile, Hwawoon, who fortunately didn't fall, looked up at Yihan and asked,

"Your Majesty, are you okay?"

Yihan felt like shouting at Hwawoon. He strangely felt irritated as Hwawoon worried about him instead of blaming himself for being lost and acting selfishly.

In the past, it was all his task to soothe or get angry to calm down Hwawoon, who always easily got excited and did evil deeds. However, in recent days, in the relationship between the two, Yihan had been fickle all the time, and Hwawoon looked after Yihan's mood, so it was safe to say that their relationship was completely reversed.

"You don't look well. Your Majesty, should I call Eunuch Oh?"

Hwawoon asked while taking a step closer to Yihan. He seemed like a person who had already forgotten that Yihan had hugged his waist and tried to touch his cheek a while ago.

His heart ached because it seemed like he—Sung Yihan—himself alone was the only one who still cared about Yeon Hwawoon's skinny body in his arm, the breath scattered at the tip of his nose, his reflection in his light eyes, and the cheek that he unconsciously wanted to touch. Yihan then talked while trying to make up a stern voice.

"It's none of your concern. I'm fine."

Yihan was okay. He thought he was fine. He had to be fine because he had no reason to be not fine. Yihan then continued,

"… Let's go back."

"Your Majesty. Is there nothing else you want to say to me?"

"…"

"If you have something to say, then please tell me. I will follow it."

The reason why Hwawoon asked Yihan once more, who turned his body with a firm expression, was because there were many emotions that were hard to understand in the emperor's eyes that he faced a while ago. It was not just this time. Hwawoon had already faced Yihan, who seemed to be confused, many times.

Although he knew he had no right to, he got greedy. He knew it was even more absurd when he remembered he was Hawoon, who was less than a commoner. However, when that person was in front of him, when that person was at a distance where he could reach and touch, he came to hold a groundless desire to share his burden without realizing it.

When he met the emperor for the first time, he only wanted to get a bit closer. He thought he could do anything if he could stay in the palace where he stayed, even if it was so vast that he wouldn't even pass by him for the rest of his life. Now that he had taken the position of his concubine, which he dared not dream of, he kept dreaming more and more and became greedy.

It was probably because from the first time until now, the emperor was the only person who was like the future that Hwawoon dreamed of.

It was hard for him to hold back. He didn't want to hold back, even though he knew it was shameless of him. Hwawoon slowly knelt down on one knee in front of Yihan, who still had sunken eyes. As he heard Yihan asking, "What are you doing?", Hwawoon said,

"How can I guess the weight Your Majesty carries on and hope that you will share it with me?"

"…"

"But Your Majesty, I… I'd like it if you don't bear everything alone…"

Hwawoon knew that he had no right to say that. He knew that those words weren't something that he could say to the emperor. However, despite knowing so, Hwawoon wanted to say that. There must be many capable and good people next to him, so he thought it would be better for the emperor to share the burden rather than take all the things alone.

Of course, even if he didn't say anything, there were a lot of people who were smarter and worried more about the emperor than himself. He also knew his words wouldn't do any good. But still, Hwawoon wanted to convey his feelings with his own mouth.

Yihan was silent for a moment. Hwawoon couldn't check Yihan's expression because he was still on his knee, so he was holding his nervous breath. He felt like the emperor's cold voice was ready to pour down on him. He felt like the emperor was going to yell at himself,who are you to say that without knowing your place?

However, instead of such a voice telling him that he had no right to say that, Hwawoon saw a hand reach out to him.

It was a hand the emperor reached out to Hwawoon, who was kneeling down.

Flustered, Hwawoon looked up at Yihan without knowing it. Hwawoon could not easily guess the feelings reflected in Yihan's eyes looking down at him because they were still so deep, but the fingertips he was reaching out to Hwawoon were still there.

As if enchanted, Hwawoon then put his hand on top of the emperor's hand. The emperor's hand was big and hot. As Hwawoon's white and small hand was put there, the emperor's hand with prominent bones looked twice as big as when it was alone. As that hand wrapped around the back of his hand, Hwawoon held his breath unconsciously as if his heart was being squeezed.

The emperor, who slowly raised Hwawoon up, moved his lips like a man trying to say something. Hwawoon wanted to hear it quickly, but he also wanted to never hear it. He himself had no way of knowing which one he wanted.

The emperor, who repeatedly held his breath and exhaled several times, eventually talked.

"Let's go back now."

It was never an answer to what he said, but the fact that the emperor did not ignore or laugh at what he said was reassuring, so Hwawoon unwittingly tightened his grip. Let's go back. The words were so ordinary and meant nothing, that his heart suddenly became overwhelmed.

Let's go back.

Hwawoon had been through so many things until he heard these very ordinary words from the emperor.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A little more. Just a little more.When Hwawoon answered while pressing down on his surging desire, and withdrew his hand, the emperor looked at his hand for a while, which was now empty, and then turned around.

The two people were silent on their way to the place where Eunuch Oh and the other courtiers were waiting, but the worlds in their hearts were rocking quietly.

!Report Chapter

Your Majesty, does your hand hurt?"

Yihan, who was deeply lost in thought, turned his head while answering "huh?" with a stupid expression as he suddenly heard Eunuch Oh's voice. Eunuch Oh once again said with a worried expression.

"You have been looking at your hand since earlier…"

"Ah…"

"Should I call the doctor for you?"

It was not until he heard Eunuch Oh that Yihan realized that he had been looking at his hand. Delaying his answer for a while, Yihan repeatedly clenched his fist and still looked down at his hand.

He remembered the moment when the hand of a man that was as light as a wildflower tickled his palm. The fragility that seemed like it would shatter if he held it a bit stronger.

Was there a day when he regarded Yeon Hwawoon as fragile? Was there any moment he held his hand as gently as today? There were countless days when they were together, but now Yihan felt like he was meeting Yeon Hwawoon for the first time and doing something together for the first time, making his heart tickle.

No, it was not just Yeon Hwawoon. Not only with Yeon Hwawoon for the first time, but Yihan had never felt this awkwardness and ticklishness with the Empress or any other concubine. Yihan's face darkened as he clenched his fist at the feeling that didn't seem to leave him. He wanted to know where these unfamiliar feelings that he couldn't ignore anymore were headed, but at the same time, he also didn't want to know.

"Oh Jinsung."

After a while, the emperor called Eunuch Oh's name.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the eunuch bowed down and answered, another short silence flowed, and then Yihan said,

"Tell this to Jeongan Palace."

"…"

"From now on, you can freely visit Suhwawon."

A chilly sensation hovered inside his fist. Yihan couldn't bear to shake it off.

"Your Highness. What is the meaning of this?"

Ahjin approached Hwawoon and then asked in a voice that tried to hide her excitement. Meanwhile, Hwawoon was looking at where a eunuch had left.

Someone from Anjeong Palace had just visited him. It was a message telling that the emperor himself allowed Yeonbin to visit Suhwawon. Feeling that his fingertips were somewhat numb, Hwawoon tried to clench his fist without realizing it, and Ahjin continued to talk again.

"Doesn't this mean that… His Majesty now believes in you, Your Highness?"

Although the volume was low, it was a voice that couldn't hide her excited heart. She never showed it because she was afraid to make Hwawoon sadder, but Ahjin was the one who worried about the situation of her master, who was shunned by His Majesty, more than anyone else. Therefore, her expectation seemed to be rising unknowingly at the sudden change in the emperor's attitude.

Hwawoon, who smiled lightly because Ahjin was cute, shook his head slowly and then parted his lips.

"Rather than believe in me… Anyway, I'm sure he sees my efforts in a positive light."

"Uhm…"

"He's initially that kind of person, isn't he? It seems like it had been weighing on him that he treated me badly ever since… ever since I drowned in the pond."

As he spoke, Hwawoon recalled the emperor who was with him in Suhwawon today. He came closer to him while holding his waist firmly, and then stared at him with his eyes, which were as dark and deep as the abyss as if trying to penetrate his soul.

His heart dropped in an instant as he thought of those eyes. At that time, he couldn't feel it because he was flustered, but looking back on those eyes now, the feelings felt by Hwawoon were more like fear than excitement or expectation. It was because the emperor's gaze at that time seemed to be ready to reveal all the lies he had in detail.

Hwawoon had been imagining the emperor's voice asking him with a cold face,Who are you, who dare to pretend to be Yeon Hwawoon?

"But… Anyway, he must have said this because His Majesty saw your efforts in a good light. It's a good thing, Your Highness."

"… Yeah, it must be so."

"It is, Your Highness. Just wait and see. Soon, His Majesty will surely visit you again."

It was a night when Hwawoon's heart sank heavily as he quietly smiled because he couldn't bring himself to show anything else to Ahjin, who was excited with joy.

Hwawoon woke up to a cry coming from somewhere. It was dark all over the place as though the candles were burnt out, so he had to remember where he was for a while. The life of Hawoon, which could be regarded as both short and long like the blink of an eye, the sense of that day, which was as cold as death, and then the life of Yeon Hwawoon that he faced after that rose and disappeared.

The sound of crying came to his ears once again as Hwawoon's eyes began to get used to the darkness. At first, he thought he had just misheard the sound of the wind, but the sound that was heard again was so obvious that it could no longer be confused.

Hwawoon slowly rose to his feet in the dark. As he thought about it, no matter how dark the night was, it was too dark and serene all around. Usually, the girls on duty were guarding the door even at dawn, so when he woke up from sleep, he rarely felt this lonely, but what happened today was as if he were left alone in a world at night.

"Ahjin…?"

That sense of incongruity made his spine chill, so Hwawoon raised his voice a bit and called Ahjin, but there was no sound coming back from outside. Normally, anyone, not only Ahjin, should have come right inside as they heard Hwawoon's voice, but there was no presence felt even if he held his breath and paid close attention. Even at that moment, the unidentifiable cry kept coming to his ears.

Eventually, Hwawoon slowly came out of the bed as he couldn't wait any longer. Summer was approaching, and no matter how cold it was at night, it was never too cold. But today, strangely enough, his whole body was cold as if he was feeling the chill, so Hwawoon slowly stepped out of the bedroom with his body slightly hunched.

"Ahjin? Seoseo…?"

Hwawoon walked away, calling out the names of the girls of Jeongan Palace. He walked past the living room until he was about to reach the front door. However, let alone anyone responding to him, he saw no one, so Hwawoon clenched his fists in nervousness. There was a strong feeling that something was wrong. The courtyard of Jeongan Palace, where even the moonlight could not be seen properly as though the clouds were dense, was unfamiliar as if it was his first time seeing it.

He walked, following the cry. It wasn't that he wasn't scared, but strangely, he felt like he had to. Although there was nothing to be sure about who was crying, what they were crying for, or whether there was any danger, Hwawoon was under pressure to follow the sound.

Perhaps, it was because he felt the cry was somehow familiar. He couldn't guess whose it belonged to, but strangely, it sounded like a voice he seemed to know well. One step, then another step. The shaky footsteps of Hwawoon moved along the sound of leading him like that, and soon the place where Hwawoon arrived; the place where Hwawoon was led to and stopped;

It was the pond in Jeongan Palace. The place where Yeon Hwawoon threw himself into, where Hawoon jumped in to save him, and the very place that became the starting point of everything as Hawoon died at the same time he lived a new life as Yeon Hwawoon.

Hwawoon slightly squinted his eyes. There was someone sitting near the pond. The moment he saw them, he realized that they were the owner of the crying that he had been hearing. He immediately knew that they woke him up and led him to walk here alone.

"… Who are you?"

Hwawoon asked in a trembling voice. The desire to run away and to come closer to comfort them came to him at the same time. That person was still sitting by the pond, crying with their head down, and there was no answer to Hwawoon's question.

"If… if you tell me what happened, I'll try to help you…"

He didn't know who they were or why they were crying, but he was sure there must have been a grave reason for them to cry alone on such a dark night. Hwawoon said that while approaching them a little more—tried his best to calm down his fear and urge to run away.

However, when Hwawoon finally came closer to a distance where he could properly guess their figure—just when he thought he was so familiar with the way that person shook their thin shoulders and cried sadly, the person, who had been lowering their head, raised up their head to stare at Hwawoon.

"…!"

Hwawoon almost screamed. He almost fell to the ground. In an instant, the suffocating and biting cold wrapped around his body as if water had filled up everywhere. Just like a drowned man who couldn't breathe properly, Hwawoon gasped and stepped backward.

The one who sat near the deserted pond, shedding tears deep into the night, was none other than,

Yeon Hwawoon.

Not Hawoon, but the previous Yeonbin, who was no longer in this world, Yeon Hwawoon.

"No… No…!"

Hwawoon screamed and rose from his seat. At the same time, tears poured down on the soft blanket covering him. Hwawoon held the disheveled blanket tightly with both hands, bent his back, and exhaled a painful breath. His chest ached as if someone had ripped off his heart.

It was Yeon Hwawoon. The one he saw in the dream was no doubt Yeon Hwawoon. Although now they had the same appearance, Hwawoon instantly knew that the person he saw in his dream wasn't him, but Yeon Hwawoon from the past.

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It was suffocating. All the organs inside his whole body seemed to be squeezing out. It wasn't caused by anyone else. It was the pain of the guilty conscience that Hwawoon had.

Hawoon died in vain after saving Yeon Hwawoon. Most would only sympathize with Hawoon. Death of no value. Not a great man, but only a low life that died to save Yeon Hwawoon. That was how the world viewed the death of Hawoon.

But Hawoon knew that was not entirely true; this was not that simple.

Everyone knew about Hawoon's death. Although they might not have been deeply sad, the guards who lived with Hawoon would have known. And although he would have been forgotten in later days, the noble emperor knew that one life had disappeared from saving Yeon Hwawoon.

But, what about Yeon Hwawoon's death? The world didn't know about his death. No one knew of his death—not only his parents but also the people of Jeongan Palace who had always lived with him, and also the Emperor, who meant the most to Yeon Hwawoon in the world.

And the only person in the world who knew about Yeon Hwawoon's death—Hawoon—was shamelessly taking over Yeon Hwawoon's body and enjoying what he should have enjoyed instead.

"Hic… Hic…"

He didn't want this. Hawoon never wished for this. However, could he be free from all responsibility just because he didn't want it? He could not honestly say that he was not Yeon Hwawoon. And could he, who pretended to be Yeon Hwawoon, be confident to say this didn't happen because he wanted it?

It was the guilty conscience that had been hanging on Hwawoon's back all along.

Whenever the girls of Jeongan Palace smiled at him. Whenever Ahjin treated him with a bright smile.

Whenever the kind emperor treated his efforts generously. Whenever those things happened.

Hwawoon felt proud and happy while being weighed down by the same weight of guilt on the other side.

"Your Highness! Your Highness Yeonbin!"

At that time, Ahjin, who heard Hwawoon's cry, turned pale and ran inside. Seeing Hwawoon curled down and crying, she was so surprised that she almost fainted. She pulled him into her arms and shouted out.

"The doctor! Call the palace doctor! Hurry!"

"Ahjin… Hic… Ahjin…"

"Yes, Your Highness. I'm Ahjin. Your Highness! Take a breath. Follow me and take a breath, Your Highness!"

Hwawoon thought he saved Ahjin's world. Thinking that as Hawoon became Yeon Hwawoon, Ahjin became a little happier and could live like a human being. Hwawoon regarded that the same as a ray of light for him, who was spending each day fighting the guilt.

However, Hwawoon thought again as he listened to Ahjin's voice that was looking for the doctor while soothing him with a tearful voice. If Ahjin found out that his existence was a lie. If she knew that the person she followed and served was actually a lot lower than herself. Then, could all this remain a good thing for Ahjin?

He wondered if that perhaps was more shameful for Ahjin than to be insulted and beaten.

"Your Highness, hold there a bit more… Soon… Soon, the doctor will come…"

As he closed his eyes as though fainted, he thought of Yeon Hwawoon's face, crying while looking at him with a very sad look. Then, he remembered the emperor's strong yet kind hand that was reaching out to him, but that touch would never have been a touch for his humble existence.

Just as Yeon Hwawoon in his dreams did, Hwawoon couldn't hold back his tears.

"Your Majesty."

Eunuch Oh's voice was heavy. He just went out of the bedroom for a while to hear the news whispered by a young eunuch. Yihan had been waiting for his words ever since and had his heart turned heavy as he saw the eunuch's dark face and voice. Eunuch Oh then continued,

"His Highness Yeonbin…"

"Why? Did Yeonbin do something again?"

He asked in a brusque manner so as not to get his anxious feeling caught. Like a person trying to deceive himself, Yihan tried to ignore the uneasy premonition that suddenly came in. He wanted to say that he didn't care even if anything really happened to that person. He wanted to argue like that, saying he didn't care about anything that happened to Yeonbin.

"… It is said His Highness Yeonbin is unwell, and the doctor hurried to Jeongan Palace early in the morning."

"…"

"The people from Jeongan Palace said he was in great agony and then collapsed…"

He didn't hear Eunuch Oh's voice till the end. This was because his heart had been tightening hard since the moment he was told that Yeonbin was sick, turning his effort to control his mind in vain. Even though he knew he didn't have to pay attention every time Yeon Hwawoon was sick because it happened more than 200 days a year, the moment he heard it, Yihan was so shaken that he felt dizzy. This was also the first time for him.

"What… what did you say…"

He tried to speak nonchalantly but failed. Yihan's voice was helplessly trembling.

Did he look unwell?Yihan quickly combed through his memories and recalled Hwawoon's figure he saw in Suhwawon.Did he look in pain? Was there any sign of him feeling unwell?I didn't notice anything different from usual because Yeonbin's face is always pale, and his body is always thin, but was he holding back the pain?All of Yihan's thoughts were mixed by the sense of time that felt like flowing backward.

He recalled Yeon Hwawoon stumbling when he pulled him into his arm and when he pushed him away. He wondered if that was a sign.In the past, Yeon Hwawoon always lived with the word 'sick' in his mouth, and Yihan came to not believe it. After he announced to everyone that he would change, never even once he say he was sick in front of the emperor.Then, was he actually hiding the fact that he was feeling unbearably sick at that time?

Just because he said he didn't believe him. Just because he intimidated him by saying he wouldn't be played by his sick play. He wondered if that was why Yeon Hwawoon pretended not to be sick in front of him.

Yihan unconsciously took a step. It was not a thoughtful step. It was also not that he thought he should visit Yeon Hwawoon.

"I… I'd like it if you don't bear everything alone…"

Yihan recalled the brazen remark Hwawoon uttered to himself. Yeon Hwawoon's fragile shoulders as he desperately said he wanted the emperor to not burden everything alone.

Therefore, Yihan, the emperor of one nation, who was also a man to Yeonbin, Yeon Hwawoon, suddenly thought of this.

Then, who's there for Yeon Hwawoon? Who's there for Yeon Hwawoon, who took the difficult road, and decided to change in the face of everyone's contempt and ridicule? The numerous gazes and scorn he has to deal with, the emperor's refusal; with whom could he share his burden?

"Let's go to Jeongan Palace."

That came out unwittingly. He didn't even make up his mind in advance to say that, but words flowed out like an instinct, and his feet had moved first before that. Meanwhile, Eunuch Oh stopped Yihan.

"… Your Majesty. It's time for the morning assembly."

"…"

"The ministers are waiting for you."

Yihan clenched his fists tight and glared at the eunuch, who was bowing in front of him. He didn't do anything wrong, but without knowing it, fire lit up in his heart for a moment. He almost yelled to order him to move away.

Why? What was that for? It had been a long time since Yeon Hwawoon's sickness became something trivial, but what was the difference this time? Why was the emperor hesitating to walk, and glaring at the innocent person even when there was something he clearly had to do first?

"Someone must have been informing the Empress Palace as well, so the Empress would take care of him first. It's not too late to go to Jeongan Palace after you finish your duties, Your Majesty."

Eunuch Oh once again persuaded the Emperor who stopped and did nothing. Even though Yihan was thinking this was something that didn't even need the eunuch to persuade him, he couldn't figure out why he couldn't move his steps easily.

What is more important to the emperor than the work for the nation? Does something like that exist in the world? Why was Yihan so reluctant to put off Hwawoon for a while? Why?

"… We're heading to Cheonggeon Hall."

After a long time, the emperor spoke, exhaling a very stiff breath. The palm touched by the fragile and cold hand of Hwawoon, which was as weak as if it would be crushed if he held it strongly, stung again, but Yihan tried to pretend not to know and walked his way.

The early morning air was as fresh as it could be, but the breath of the emperor was heavy. Throughout the journey to Cheonggeon Hall, no one dared to guess the emperor's mind.

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Did you say you're heading to Jeongan Palace, Your Majesty?"

"Yeah. I'll stop by there before lunchtime."

"But Your Majesty…"

Seon opened her mouth with a face full of hesitation, which was not like the usual herself who rarely objected to the empress's order. The empress, Jaran, quietly stared at Seon and smiled.

"What is it?"

"That… Your Majesty, it's not the first time Yeonbin has been making a fuss about being sick, so is there any reason for you to go?"

"Erm…"

"It must be a trick to bait His Majesty, so will he welcome you if you go there?"

Seon's voice was still full of deep distrust toward Yeonbin.

If she was asked if there was any court lady directly serving the concubines that didn't have bad feelings toward Yeonbin, Seon was confident that no one in any palace would be displeased with Yeonbin as much as she was.

What is an empress? The empress was the mother of all people, the only emperor's proud wife, and the head of the internal court. She was a noble person who should not have been disrespected even by the son of a meritorious person.

So, how was Yeonbin's attitude to the empress? Far from treating the empress with respect and dignity, he did not know his place and dared to go against her; he betrayed the tolerance and mercy the empress showed him. His ego pierced up to the sky.

The Empress seemed to see him differently due to the changes Yeonbin had shown in recent days, but Seon still thought he could not be trusted.

"Then, isn't this a good thing?"

Seon, who tried to dissuade the empress once more because no matter how much she thought about it, she didn't want the Empress to go to Jeongan Palace herself, was blocked by the Empress' words that flowed a little earlier. As Seon asked back, confused by the unreadable meaning, "pardon?", the Empress continued, raising her body in an elegant manner as usual.

"Since I can check how Yeonbin will treat me, the unwelcome guest."

Seon, who was looking at the eyes of the empress, which were distant like a waterway whose depth was completely unknown, soon bent down.

Those who did not know used to say that Jaran was too soft for an empress. She was quiet and honest, so she was lucky to be in charge of the internal court at a time of peace. If it wasn't for that, she wouldn't have been able to spread her influence because she lost to the favored concubines. However, it could only be said by those who didn't know, and everyone in the internal court, who faced the empress up close, knew how frightening Jaran really was.

If Yihan was like the sun, Jaran was like a vast ocean. The sea was originally vast and deep even when there was no storm, and just like how it was always a scary and difficult object for all sailors, Jaran was also someone, whom people had no choice but to bow down in awe even if she was calm at the moment.

"Prepare herbs that are good for recovery. I'll bring it in person to Jeongan Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

What does the Empress have in mind about Yeonbin now? Seon, who could not fully estimate it due to her humble nature, only answered with her head down.

It was a time when he deeply realized what it felt like when the time had stopped forever. As he was an emperor, he knew that there was nothing he could put before the nation, but even while discussing important political situations with his ministers, vain thoughts flowed in through a very small gap.

When he took a breath for a moment. When he closed his eyes deeply because he was tired. When the wind blew and he suddenly looked out of the window. When those happened.

At those times, Yihan thought about Hwawoon. Yeon Hwawoon, who had shown a different side since he survived from the brink of death. Yeon Hwawoon, who treated his subordinates with a gentle expression, calmly endured everyone's rejection and returned the emperor's contempt with kind concern.

Also, Yeon Hwawoon who was sick at this time. Yihan kept being reminded about Yeon Hwawoon.

The unrivaled Sung Yihan had another thought while doing the morning assembly? Everyone who knew Yihan wouldn't believe it.

"Is there no other news from Jeongan Palace?"

"There's no other news coming, Your Majesty."

"… Let's go."

The emperor's steps leaving Cheonggeon Hall were in a rush. In fact, Yihan wanted to run to Jeongan Palace. He rather felt like riding a horse. He was restless because the time to get on the already prepared palanquin was frustrating.

"Hurry up!"

Eunuch Oh, who recognized the emperor's mind, raised his voice so much, but since many people were carrying the palanquin on their shoulders, they couldn't go as fast as running. Yihan nervously bit his lips and grabbed the armrest several times to soothe his desire to jump right away.

It didn't even occur to him that it was a strange feeling. Even though he knew that he couldn't understand this feeling and action because he had never experienced it before, he was busy thinking about Yeon Hwawoon, who was sick, so he had no chance to argue about it.

He felt like he had to check Yeonbin's bluff with his own eyes right away. He thought he could be relieved only when he saw with his eyes that he had made a trick to bait the emperor by collapsing for something trivial.

Then suddenly, Yihan realized that he was hoping that this commotion from Yeon Hwawoon better be a bluff as before. He got chills on his spine. Yeon Hwawoon's act of making up for the pain by taking medicine to lead Yihan to Jeongan Palace was one of the acts Yihan most despised. How many times did he turn around and get angry at Hwawoon for that?

But now, rather than him being sick for real, he hoped he was lying to him like in the past.

Without any warning or sound, Yihan's world was turning upside down. It was a very quiet disaster.

The Empress, Jaran, was sitting on Hwawoon's bed and staring at the still unconscious Hwawoon. Tears were gathering around Hwawoon's eyes, as though he was sick or perhaps having a bad dream while he was fainted.

"What makes you so sad…"

Jaran's voice was low and heavy, and the emotion behind it couldn't be easily known. She seemed to be nonchalant, but also sympathetic to Hwawoon, and seemed curious and wary at the same time.

Hwawoon, who was lying with a pale face, looked like the weakest person in the world and seemed to be able to evoke a desire to protect from anyone. Jaran was thinking that was the power held by Hwawoon's fragility.

Their emperor was a soft-hearted man. He was a strong man to the strong, but infinitely weak to the weak, and despite being the noblest in the world from the moment he was born, he knew how to look after the lowest place in the world.

She came to think of this now. If only Yeonbin of the past had been a little clever in front of the emperor and naturally showed him his inherent weakness. Even if it wasn't love, the emperor might have at least not kept him afar and completely cut him off.

Therefore, Jaran was looking at Yeon Hwawoon now. She was wondering if Yeonbin realized what she had known a long time ago. She wondered if he was lying down and crying with such a pallid face was all planned.

"…"

Tears gathered around Hwawoon's eyes and then flowed down his cheeks. Jaran, who was looking down at his pitiful appearance, soon slowly took her hand to Hwawoon's cheek.

Whether he truly meant to change or not. Fake or not. Either way, Hwawoon had now changed, and the Emperor looked at the changing Yeon Hwawoon. She wondered how would the emperor, who was no different from a young boy in regard to the feelings of love, accept such a fragile, one-sided, and reckless romantic emotion. How would he understand it? How would he handle it?

Also, she wondered what she could gain through him.

Jaran's finger wiped Yeonbin's tears that slowly flowed down. Yeonbin's skin felt cold and soft. When Jaran slowly touched where the tear she wiped once again,

"… Empress."

A voice rang behind her back. It was Yihan, their emperor.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Get up."

When the Emperor entered inside, the Empress immediately left Hwawoon's bed, kneeled down, and greeted him. The Empress's voice was low and careful, as though she worried Hwawoon would wake up. The Emperor's gaze soon moved behind the Empress to Hwawoon, who was still closing his eyes.

Lying down with a pale complexion while being covered in a blanket, Hwawoon looked like a person who was not even breathing.

"You've worked hard since the morning."

"It's nothing, Your Majesty. It's natural for me to take care of the concubines as the empress."

Responding, the empress saw the emperor's gaze slowly moving from Hwawoon to her fingertips. It was her hand that was sweeping Hwawoon's cheek a while ago. The emperor slowly approached the bed and then spoke in a careful voice.

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40

"Did you hear about Yeonbin's condition?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. It's nothing serious, but because his originally weak body was in shock after he fell into the water. On top of that, he has been feeling uneasy and uncomfortable lately, so he lost his energy. For the details, please ask the doctor."

"It's fine as it's nothing serious…"

On the surface, the emperor replied as if he were not interested in Yeonbin's condition, but there was a vivid concern on the emperor's face as he examined Yeonbin's face again. Seeing that, the empress pulled her lips up for a moment, then stepped away from the bed and said,

"Your Majesty, I will take my leave now because I have other work to do… Will you stay a bit longer for Yeonbin, who is still unable to regain his consciousness?"

"… I'm questioning whether there's a need for me to stay when the court ladies will surely take care of him, but… I'll stay for a moment because you're so concerned like this. You can go back, Empress."

The emperor's feet took a step closer to the bed. He talked as if he had no choice because of the Empress's request, but the Empress wasn't the one who couldn't notice the true feeling in his voice.

"Then, excuse me, Your Majesty."

"… Yeah. You've worked hard, Empress."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The empress, who bowed to the emperor and was walking out, stopped for a moment and looked back before passing the door. She saw the emperor sitting very carefully on the bed, where Hwawoon was lying down, like a person who had never done such a thing before in his life.

As always, life is bound to be directed to a place that no one can expect, and it seems that even such a noble emperor cannot avoid it.

Thinking about it, the Empress continued her paused steps. Indeed, it was an unpredictable day.

"Did you say His Majesty went there?"

When Sukbi asked, Jeongbin-Songhyun, who sat across from her, nodded eagerly.

"He hurried as soon as the morning assembly ended."

"Hmmm…"

Songhyun usually followed Biyoung like a sister, and Biyoung too, took care of Songhyun as she would to a little sister. The two people's palaces were at a close distance, so they usually visited each other. Today too, Songhyun immediately went to Unhwa Palace even though it hadn't been long since the morning greetings ended.

Biyoung's expression darkened after she heard what Songhyun said. It was because she thought the emperor was often with Yeonbin recently.

It hadn't been long since the emperor said he would visit Jeongbin's residence, but ended only visiting Jeongan Palace, and yesterday, he walked with Yeonbin in Suhwawon. Then today, the Emperor, who used to not care about Yeonbin being sick, went to Jeongan Palace as soon as he heard the news. The Emperor had never shown this much interest in Yeonbin.

"… He's not truly sick, right?"

Songhyun, who was moving around her eyes to examine Biyoung's mood, murmured in a rather somber voice. Biyoung then replied, looking somewhere on the floor with eyes that were still deep in thought.

"This trick is nothing new. This time, too, he must be doing it because he wants to lure His Majesty."

The reason why Biyoung's expression was still complicated even though she said that lightly was that the emperor went to Jeongan Palace despite that fact.He must have known about it. His Majesty the Emperor is the one who knows best that he's only faking a sick.However, the emperor went to Yeonbin as soon as the morning assembly ended. Biyoung suddenly felt her head dizzy as she thought about the meaning behind it.

Then, Songhyun muttered low with a still gloomy look.

"But… It's true that Yeonbin has a weak body…"

Biyoung's gaze immediately landed on Songhyun's face. Finding the cute face was filled with worry, confusion then flashed in Biyoung's eyes. Biyoung said,

"Are you worried about Yeonbin now…?"

Songhyun answered while fretting.

"Eh? No! No way! Unnie, what are you talking about…! You know best how Yeonbin ignores me. How can I worry… worried about someone like Yeonbin! Never! I will never!"

"…"

"Never!"

Songhyun, who flapped her hands and repeatedly said, "never," seemed very suspicious to anyone. Biyoung squinted and quietly stared at Songhyun.

"I'm really not…"

Songhyun once again argued under Biyoung's gaze that didn't leave her. Jooah, the court lady close to Songhyun, sighed secretly because Songhyun's appearance was obviously the opposite.

"…"

Yihan carefully sat at the end of the bed and looked at Hwawoon's face, holding his breath in case he made a loud noise. All the way to Jeongan Palace, Yihan tried to imagine Yeon Hwawoon complaining to him, saying, 'How can you come now when I'm so sick?' but Hwawoon, which he finally saw, was laying down without knowing that the emperor was here.

Not to mention his face, his lips were so pale and made his heart seem to collapse. There was no Yeon Hwawoon in Yihan's memory that looked as sick as he was now. Even Hwawoon, who suffered from taking medicine to deceive Yihan, was not this bad.

Yihan, who was still looking at his lifeless cheeks as if they would crumble if he touched them, suddenly recalled the scene he saw when he just arrived at Jeongan Palace. The scene when the Empress was touching Yeon Hwawoon's cheeks.

The moment he saw it, an unknown feeling arose. That feeling was definitely similar to anger, but because he couldn't know the reason for him to get angry, the emperor stopped Eunuch Oh from announcing his presence and watched them for a while.

Was it because of the empress?Yihan tried to think so. Even though that person was his concubine, he was also a man, so he wondered if he was not happy because the Empress touched another man.

"Yeah. That's possible…"

Yihan's gaze was still on Hwawoon's cheeks as he muttered to no one knew who. His fingertips flinched unwittingly. He was curious why the Empress touched that cheek. To be exact, he rather wanted to know the sensation she felt through her fingertips. He wondered if it was as soft as it looked. Would his skin be damaged and rough because he was emaciated? The trivial questions that he had never had bubbled one after another.

"…"

There was a sound of clothes rustling. The emperor's hand was moving very slowly toward Hwawoon's face. As if he was facing something he had never seen in his life. Like dealing with a being he was very scared and afraid about, but couldn't help to approach because it was very mysterious.

The emperor's fingertips; a certain feeling he reached out for the first time in his life.

Something that was too careful yet clumsy finally reached Hwawoon's cheek.

Yeon Hwawoon hated Jeongan Palace. Those who didn't know his inside would say he was lucky to stay in such a beautiful place despite getting no affection from the emperor, but Hwawoon was sometimes caught up in the intense urge to burn all of this mere palace if he could.

Jeongan Palace was the fruit of an emperor's love for a concubine. It was a token of affection for the emperor's only lover, whom neither the empress nor any concubines dared dream of. The emperor built a huge and beautiful palace that was second to none of the buildings inside the imperial palace and dedicated it to his lover, proving the depth of his love. Therefore, Jeongan Palace was the emperor's heart.

Thus, Yeon Hwawoon sometimes felt like this space was laughing at him. Presumptuously occupying this place without even getting a bit of the emperor's heart. Yeon Hwawoon seemed to hear such ridicule wherever he went in Jeongan Palace.

On such a day, he couldn't stand it without bullying anyone to tears. So they wouldn't dare laugh at him; he wanted to make a strong example so that no one could ignore him. He hated those insignificant with the name 'subject' that buy the emperor's sympathy, and he couldn't understand the emperor who blamed himself for bullying those lowly things.

What are they? What on earth are those who deserve to die if their master wants to? Yeon Hwawoon treated those lower things even more viciously whenever the emperor raised his voice at him for them. Only then did they dare not look down on him with the emperor's sympathy on their backs.

Thus, as time went by, the emperor gradually reduced the days he went to Jeongan Palace.

Yeon Hwawoon hated Jeongan Palace. He hated to see the wide wall, the fine garden, and also the wide and beautiful pond. Everything in Jeongan Palace reminded Yeon Hwawoon of the Emperor's love that one day could be grasped by someone, but he never could.

That was why Yeon Hwawoon could not stay comfortably anywhere in Jeongan Palace.

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