CH 89

One step. Another step. He walked slowly along the road in front of him. The stones touching Yihan’s feet, the flower beds, flowers, and trees filling the garden felt as if they were new to him. Yihan had never realized that Jeongan Palace was such a beautiful palace. 

“…”

The emperor’s steps stopped once again when he found someone standing at the end of the road. At the end of the beautiful palace, where the sunset hung long, Yeon Hwawoon, the most unfamiliar and new, stood. 

When he resumed his steps, the ground cried with a huge quake. The whole palace, the entire world, seemed to shake loudly. No, truthfully, it wasn’t the world. This only happened in Yihan’s heart, which made a loud sound and vibrated whenever he took a step. 

It was a sense that could only be felt when looking at Yeon Hwawoon. Yihan felt his heart keep fluctuating only in front of Yeon Hwawoon. Then, did that mean that the owner of the uncontrollable heartbeat is Yeon Hwawoon? Did Yeon Hwawoon really seize the emperor’s heart and make it run wild?

No, it can’t be. That shouldn’t happen. No matter how much he denied it, he couldn’t stop himself from walking forward on the shaky road. 

“Why are you coming out when you’re not feeling well?”

Yihan hurriedly grabbed Hwawoon’s arm, preventing him from kneeling to greet the emperor, who was finally right in front of him. He spoke in a very low voice, but couldn’t hide his excitement. 

Yihan thought while looking at Hwawoon’s face, which was looking at him with round eyes as though Hwawoon was flustered because he couldn’t give his greeting. 

Yihan still didn’t know the answer to everything. Why did the day feel so slow? Why couldn’t I stand until the night came and ended up coming here in such a hurry when the sun wasn’t even down? Why does Jeongan Palace seem so unfamiliar, and why does my heart keep beating when I see Yeon Hwawoon? Yihan still thought he could know none of the reasons. 

If he looked away without searching for an answer like that, he might not even realize what the problem was.

“Greetings, Your Majesty…” 

Looking lovingly at Yeon Hwawoon, who stubbornly greeted him even though he could not bend his body, Yihan stopped the deepening thoughts. The only thing that matters now was to take care of the injured Hwawoon so that he could be healthy.

***

“Your face looks a little better today.”

After propping Hwawoon himself, leading him inside, and carefully sitting him in the chair, Yihan said while examining his complexion. It seemed like Hwawoon’s previous fussing with Ahjin worked. He wanted to look as natural as possible, and it was a relief. Hwawoon drew a soft smile around his mouth. 

“I feel much better thanks to your concern, Your Majesty.” 

“Did you get the tea I sent you?” 

The emperor asked, glittering his eyes like a child who was impatient to get a compliment on the gift he sent. The question reminded Hwawoon of the excessive excitement and happiness he felt earlier, so he held his breath for a short time before opening his mouth.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The aroma was too good… I sincerely thank you for your grace.”

“I didn’t send it to hear thank you from you.”

“…” 

“I sent it with the hope that you will be in less pain and get well soon.”

Khm. Ahem. Yihan coughed in the middle several times while saying the short sentence. He wasn’t even talking nonsense, but he was strangely embarrassed and felt his face hot, so he couldn’t look at Hwawoon’s face properly. Hwawoon, who also could not look at the emperor properly and kept fiddling his fingers on the hem of his innocent clothes, replied. 

“I will… I will hurry up to get well.” 

“Very well. It’s good for a good night’s sleep, so make sure to drink it before you go to bed.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hwawoon said, hiding his thought that he couldn’t drink the tea at all because it was precious. It was the first gift he received from the Emperor, and it seemed like a waste to make it disappear after drinking it all, but he couldn’t tell the emperor straight away. 

However, Yihan, who was caught in worries that were completely different from Hwawoon, said something different. 

“Don’t give it to others, just drink it yourself.”

Hwawoon looked up at the Emperor with a somewhat surprised face at the unexpected words. And Yihan continued with a pretty serious face. 

“It’s precious, so don’t give it to anyone just because they came to visit, but just drink it alone.”

Hwawoon actually couldn’t understand those words. In fact, there were not many people coming in and out of Jeongan Palace except for the Emperor. Jeongbin came to visit once last time, but Hwawoon didn’t think that would often happen in the future. The same was true for Sukbi. The reason she came to visit recently was that he was hurt by the incident that day, not because he was close to Sukbi.

Therefore, the one who could come to Jeongan Palace and drink tea would be the emperor, and even that would not happen often after Hwawoon got well. Thus, it was natural for Hwawoon not to understand why the Emperor said that. 

“Do you understand? I gave it to you, so drink it alone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” 

Hwawoon, who answered despite not understanding because the Emperor repeatedly asked, couldn’t imagine it. That Yihan was saying this while vividly recalling the last time he encountered Jeongbin at Jeongan Palace. 

In Yihan’s opinion, it was too obvious. If anyone came to visit Jeongan Palace, Hwawoon would take out all the good things he had and treat them. And if it was the best tea given by the emperor, it seemed obvious that it would be the first to be served by him. 

After hearing Hwawoon’s answer several times, Yihan’s gaze, looking at Hwawoon in satisfaction, suddenly stopped on Hwawoon’s lips. When he first saw him, he was only relieved that he looked better than yesterday, but when he saw him again, he thought his lips were redder, so Yihan blinked several times and stared at the lips.

Is he dressed up? That thought sent chills down his toes. The person who was injured severely and was still suffering insisted on dressing up. Why? Why did he do that? To dig into the reason, even the most tactless emperor could only come up with one conclusion. 

Because he said he would come. Because he said he would go see him at night. That’s why Yeon Hwawoon led his sick body and dressed up. Solely for him to see. 

It was something obvious. When the emperor said he would visit a concubine, dressing up and welcoming him was also the custom, so there was nothing special. Nevertheless, when Yihan pictured Hwawoon brushing his hair for him and putting on color on his lips although it was light, he felt like stomping his feet because he didn’t know what to do.

Trying to endure his immodest feelings, Yihan opened his mouth again calmly as if he felt nothing. 

“It must be hard to lie down all day.” 

“… Actually, it is. Therefore, tomorrow, if I’m feeling well, I’m going to take a short walk at Jeongan Palace.”

“Already? Isn’t it too early?”

“It’s just a few steps, so it’ll be okay.” 

There was no need to talk in detail, but it was still somewhat awkward for Hwawoon to sit face-to-face with the emperor, so he talked honestly without realizing it. Yihan, who heard Hwawoon’s words, lowered his gaze as if he were lost in thought for a moment, remained silent, and soon spoke as if he had made a big decision. 

“Then first, ask the doctor, and if he says it’s okay to walk a little.” 

Yihan, who suddenly stopped talking, said again with a determined expression as Hwawoon waited for his words. 

“Then tomorrow… Let’s walk around Jeongan Palace with me.” 

“With you, Your Majesty?”

“Why? You don’t want to?”

Hwawoon asked back reflexively as it was hard to believe what the Emperor had said, but Yihan naturally shrunk, wondering if Hwawoon was surprised because he didn’t want to walk with him. Hwawoon shook his head at the emperor’s question.

“No, Your Majesty. No way. However, you are busy, so…”

“I will come tomorrow evening like today, so wait for me. Don’t walk alone and get hurt more.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty.” 

He tried to answer calmly, but his voice seemed to contain a joy that was hard to hide, so Hwawoon hurriedly bit his lips after his short answer. If he let his guard down a little, he thought he would laugh foolishly. He wondered if he could enjoy such luxury just because he was injured once. He was already looking forward to tomorrow night. 

“Your Majesty.” 

At that time, Eunuch Oh, who was waiting outside the room, came carefully inside and called Yihan. Simultaneously, Yihan looked very dissatisfied and scowled at Eunuch Oh. In fact, Yihan already knew why Eunuch Oh came in. Even if he was upset inside, it was to be expected, so Yihan had no choice but to give up immediately. Yihan, who did not bother to answer Eunuch Oh, said, looking at Hwawoon again.