CH 12.2

Ever since he woke up in Yeon Hwawoon’s body, everyone he encountered was just afraid of, annoyed, ignored, or even scared of Yeonbin. However, no matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem like the response Ahjin showed a moment ago was because she was afraid of him. It led Hwawoon to keep smiling, forgetting about the insult he received.

Was I feeling lonely? Hwawoon thought like that. Because everyone was busy avoiding him, this short time when he lived as Yeon Hwawoon made him feel lonely.

While having such a thought, Hwawoon felt for sure that he had gotten weaker. Nevertheless, he was living among people that only had negative feelings for him in this vast palace, on top of that, he was bearing all those while living in another person’s body. No matter how easygoing Hwawoon was, it was such a tiring thing to do.

Hwawoon continued to talk while still grabbing Ahjin’s arms.

“I’m fine. How could I say I’m upset when I’m being punished for what I did?”

“Your Highness…”

“Still…”

Slowing down his words, Hwawoon stared at Ahjin and smiled. It was such a bright smile that Ahjin never saw even back when he was still addressed as the young master to this day.

Ahjin lost herself in that elegant yet lovely face, and Hwawoon continued,

“Still, because you’re this upset for me, I… am shamelessly happy with that.”

I shouldn’t get tricked. I should never have a vain dream and believe in him because he can get his memory back tomorrow and return to his old self. 

Without knowing that Ahjin’s heart, which held such a resolution every night, was hopelessly crumbled under his face, Hwawoon only smiled.

***

“Your Majesty, is that girl more important to you than me?”

Yeonbin raised his voice as if he was ready to jump out and pull that girl’s hair. The emperor barely held his urge to leave Jeongan Palace at an instant and controlled his feelings as he drew a breather.

This was not even the first time Hwawoon was being ridiculous, but this was a very dumbfounding thing for everyone. Hwawoon was going berserk just because the emperor looked at a court lady that was guarding the door. Yihan never observed any court ladies like what Hwawoon claimed to be, but still, even if he did, what was the problem?

Every woman in this imperial palace was the emperor’s woman, and they only looked at the emperor. If the majestic emperor liked them, then not only the concubines but even the empress couldn’t disagree with it. Nevertheless, Hwawoon was currently throwing a fit just because he claimed Yihan was staring at a court lady and ignoring him.

“Hwawoon-ah.”

However, instead of mentioning a concubine’s etiquette and getting angry, Yihan calmly called his name in a sweet tone.

The fact that Hwawoon was sensitive with the emperor’s every move, and that he vented his anger to the court ladies in his palace was already widespread in this whole imperial palace. Yihan himself also knew about that. 

Even though as an emperor he could scold Hwawoon and told him to never do that again, Yihan knew that couldn’t be the wise solution.

Yihan was the emperor and the things he had to think about were always piling up. He couldn’t only pay attention to Jeongan Palace, and he also couldn’t meddle in by finding out who Hwawoon beat and harassed every day.

He could just scold Hwawoon and go back. However, if Hwawoon didn’t calm down, then during other days when the emperor did not stay at Jeongan Palace, those who were here might suffer more than before.

No matter how harsh did Hwawoon treat them, there was a difference in status between him and the court ladies—a master and slaves. Even if he was the emperor, there was a limit for him to blame and suppress Hwawoon with that.

That was why Yihan sweetly called Hwawoon’s name. After all, Hwawoon grew up in a loyal retainer’s home. The emperor believed he would change and follow him.

As Yihan called his name, Hwawoon was relieved at once and spoke in a rather calm voice. 

“… Your Majesty, it has been long since you called my name like that.”

“If you like it, then I will do it more often.”

“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”

“Hwawoon-ah, those who serve you in Jeongan Palace might be your hands and feet, but in a broad sense, they are also the people that I have to lead and rule.”

The emperor continued to talk to Hwawoon patiently in a soft voice.