Chapter 30

The rumor began to circulate that the Crown Prince spent a long night with this little princess from a faraway country and that he recently visited her room again.

This was the hot topic of the court ladies these days.

The Crown Princess succeeded in winning over that heartless Crown Prince?

It was only natural that all the women in the palace were very curious about Kyosul.

In addition to that, there was another ugly rumor getting around among them. The rumor was that she captivated not only the Crown Prince but also Prince Ruhae.

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“As you know, most of the wild rumors circulating in the palace are groundless,” said Dukwol, laughing off the rumors, but his black eyes sparkled when he continued, “But there is a real possibility that the rumors could turn out to be true.”

“As there are so many rumors about her, I was led on, too. When I looked at her in person, I was surprised. She just came of age, and she was pretty, but I wonder how such a slow-witted woman can win over any guy’s heart.”

Oran waved her hands, suggesting she could never believe her ears.

“But it seems true that she has won Bipaan’s heart. I hear the path from the Dongchon Palace to her residence can’t be smoother or shinier. I just wonder if this pretty woman has captivated his mind with her great sex skills.”

Even without watching her language, Oran now put out obscene words about the Crown Princess, but Dukwol turned his mouth up and whispered into her ears.

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“In other words, it looks like she pretends to be a pathetic woman in broad daylight then turns into a temptress at night. Wow, even I feel tempted by her upon hearing that.”

Opening her round eyes wide, Oran sneered, “You’re going too far. How can you show interest in another woman in my presence?”

“Are you now jealous because you might hear another possible rumor that even Dukwol has been captivated by the Crown Princess?”

Dukwol touched the tip of her nose gently. With a sullen face, she sat on his lap, with her broad skirt spread on the blanket.

“I’m a temptress during the night, as you know, but I can be a temptress even during the day.”

“Really?”

On hearing his hot reaction, she pursed her red lips and took off her outer garment. Then, she sat on his legs, bringing her waist closer to his chest.

“Don’t you think I’m more tempting right now?” she said, putting her arms around his neck.

Looking up at her face, he touched her elbows with his fingers.

“If you are willing to show me how horny you are, l want to make love to you right now,” he said.

As soon as he finished his words, she kissed him.

The moment their lips touched, the only sounds in his room were rough and hot breathing. They didn’t wait until they had taken off their cumbersome clothes.

Suddenly, lots of documents he piled on the desk fell to the floor. Her hips rolled against his. Then, she wrapped her legs around his neck, pushing her broad skirt up her waist. She reached out to grab hold of anything she could as their excited breathing echoed in the quiet of Sochon Palace.

***

Time passed idly. Since he met Kyosul and Bipaan in the back garden of the outer palace, Ruhae spent day after day without purpose. As his brief pleasure in the back garden was gone forever, he was bored every day. He felt every day was the same to him. He even felt breathing, sleeping and eating meant nothing to him.

His typical day was pretty busy. In particular, Ruhae was in charge of the most state affairs after Bipaan, as the Emperor recognized his abilities among other princes. Usually, he handled affairs related to justice, but he also handled some of the educational and cultural affairs.

The Emperor didn’t leave such a capable prince as Ruhae idle.

Taking a brief break from his heavy workload, Ruhae murmured to himself. “It looks like another day will be over while I’m snowed under with work.”

Stretching his back, he paused for a moment because he realized that he just spoke to himself.

He had a bitter smile on his lips.

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“Who did I talk to a moment ago?”

He leaned on the chair. Closing his eyes, he let out a deep sigh. Though he thought it was not a big deal at that time, he sometimes got enraged about himself when he looked back.

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“How stupid I was!”

Actually, he was too busy to get distracted by his own private matters. He concentrated on his official duty to stay away from such thoughts. He even tried his best to go back to the days when he didn’t know Kyosul, so he could restore his peaceful daily routine.

“I know how stupid I am.”

He knew what was going on between him and his wife Yomin. He didn’t see her for a long time. In fact, he didn’t have the nerve to look her in the face. He used to stop by her room in the South Palace until this past spring came. Though he didn’t sleep with her for a long time, he wanted to visit her on a regular basis out of courtesy. He wanted to stop visiting but that would break her heart. For some reason, he never felt sexually attracted to her, so he felt he was to blame, not she.

“It looks like you’re destined to live with books.”

That’s what Yomin said when she prettied herself up and came to see him in the South Palace and was rejected.

He just smiled at her despite her sneering.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve got too much work to take care of tomorrow.”

“You have been snowed under with work all the time, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, I’m busy every day.”

“It looks like you’re the only one dealing with all the state affairs of the imperial palace.”

“Princess Yomin!”

When Ruhae called her strongly, she flinched at that moment. No matter how much she felt hurt, Ruhae was the third in line to succeed the throne. As his wife, she had to show due manners and respect.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

Smiling awkwardly at her quick change of attitude, Ruhae shook his hand and said, “I think I just love books better than a woman. I feel more comfortable about the smell of books than that of a woman’s cosmetics.”

“I know it.”

Though she already knew it, it was shocking to him that she bluntly pointed it out in his presence. Ruhae’s gentle confession tore apart her heart like a fierce storm.

Biting her lips, she said, “I just wanted to…”‘

She looked up at him intensely, with her strained eyes fully reflecting her grudge against him.

“You and I are no more than a partnership formed through the manners of the Mok Kingdom.”

Having said that, she lowered her head to him deeply. The unusually colorful ornament bells she put in the back of her hair shook gently, making a jingle-jangle sound.

He just stared at her quietly. Until she adjusted her dress and left his room, he didn’t extend his hand and looked at her blankly, standing at a distance.

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Just one glance was all he could give to her. He couldn’t show any further feelings toward her.

“I already told you many times, Yomin. I’m sorry.”

But Ruhae now made friends with a woman that he felt much more attached to. He couldn’t control his longing for her. But even before his relationship with her was off to a good start, they had been caught by Bipaan and other people in the palace. He agonized that he had to give up on her even before he could start a serious relationship with her.

When he got distracted by her again, he couldn’t concentrate on the state affairs. The pile of scrolls on his desk seemed like pieces of paper that he had nothing to do with. While barely reading through the scrolls, he put down the brush, after all. He just closed the scrolls about the people’s petitions, half of which he hadn’t read yet.

When he stood up, the eunuch on standby bowed to him and opened the door.

“Are you going out, Your Majesty?”

“I’m going to the library briefly, so let me go alone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The eunuch opened the door then stopped at the wooden porch. Usually, it was customary for a prince like Ruhae to be accompanied by an entourage ranging from the eunuch and chief court ladies and other minor ladies, but Ruhae didn’t like such complicated practices, so he usually took a walk alone to sort out his complicated thoughts.

He headed for the library of the outer palace. The library was quiet with no people. Walking between the bookshelves, he suddenly stopped at one. He looked down before he knew. To her surprise, he noticed Kyosul sitting down with a pathetic expression and eyes closed.