CH 99

“Your Majesty…” 

Eunuch Oh called the emperor quietly. He was worried about the emperor’s heart because the emperor was sitting with a serious face without speaking again, but Yihan was still thinking without moving. 

Yihan didn’t like it, strangely. In his head, he knew it was natural for him to spend the night with Sukbi in Unhwa Palace after seeing if she was okay, but in his heart, he felt repulsed. How could he embrace someone else’s body when even tonight, Yeon Hwawoon would have to spend an uncomfortable night groaning in pain? He had no idea why the things that were natural for an emperor felt so cruel and immoral today. 

Eventually, Yihan opened his mouth again. 

“Let’s just go to Anjeong Palace.”

“…”

“I’ll stop by Unhwa Palace at lunch tomorrow.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“…”

“To Anjeong Palace!” 

Listening to Eunuch Oh’s voice spreading on the night road, Yihan closed his eyes. Hwawoon’s gentle face, asking him what color he liked, came to mind. People having a favorite color in their lives is so insignificant, so Yihan decided not to think of the next for now.

***

“Why didn’t you even grab him once?” 

Ahjin, who helped Hwawoon change his bandage and change into his pajamas, said to Hwawoon with a somewhat down face. Her master, who asked back, “Grab who?” looked like he really didn’t know anything. Ahjin, who had hoped for something with her hands clasped together outside, became even despondent. Ahjin continued, pouting her lips once. 

“His Majesty. It would be nice if he stayed at Jeongan Palace tonight…” 

“His Majesty? Why would His Majesty…?” 

Hwawoon, who did not even understand Ahjin’s words at once because he didn’t even think about it, blushed as soon as he realized the meaning. 

“Wha-what are you talking about? Why would His Majesty stay at Jeongan Palace?”

“What can’t he stay? Your Highness, you are His Majesty’s concubine. It is perfectly natural for His Majesty to spend the night at Jeongan Palace!” 

Of course, until now, she couldn’t even expect such a thing because the emperor’s heart had totally left because of Yeonbin’s wickedness, but now the situation had changed completely. They didn’t talk about it, but in fact, it had been a long time since the courtiers of Jeongan Palace were wondering when would the emperor spend the night at Jeongan Palace.

Ahjin, who carefully helped Hwawoon to lie on the bed, swiftly sat on the bed pretending to make the bed. Hwawoon seemed to want to avoid talking about the topic, but Ahjin did not seem to have any intention of doing so. 

“I’m saying this while we are on this topic. Your Highness, it’s time for you to think.” 

“About what…” 

“What do you mean by what? Now that you’ve gotten so close to His Majesty, won’t the day for you to share a bed come back again?” 

“Wait, that’s… No, it’s not time to talk about that now…”

Hwawoon felt everything seemed to be spinning at Ahjin’s sudden words. Share a bed? Hwawoon thought it was too early for that matter. How could he have already thought about it just because their relationship got a little better when the emperor had lived without even wanting to encounter Yeonbin for years? However, as if Ahjin didn’t agree with Hwawoon at all, she pouted her lips and said. 

“I’m not asking you to do anything right now. However, it would be nice if such a day comes as soon as possible. I’m just telling you that you should keep that in mind.” 

Ahjin continued with a light sigh, putting Hwawoon’s arm outside the blanket inside as if she had become a parent nagging at her son. 

“Just look at today. Of course, you couldn’t share a bed because you are not well yet, but you could have secretly shown that you would be more relieved if His Majesty stayed…” 

“Mhm…”

“And out of all things, how could you ask about Her Highness Sukbi?”

Even now, Ahjin was still dumbfounded to think of the fact that her master was worried about Sukbi while seeing off the emperor. It might have been different if he had gently grabbed the emperor’s hem instead at that time. It would have been better if he had told the emperor that he was having a hard time because he often had nightmares. There must have been a lot to talk about between the two people who were getting closer day by day. Alas, how could he disregard all those to only worry about Sukbi?

“What if His Majesty went to Unhwa Palace after he heard that?” 

“That would be a good thing…” 

“Your Highness!” 

Looking at Ahjin raising her voice and staring at him as if glaring as soon as he finished his words, Hwawoon pulled the blanket up under his nose. Hwawoon had never seen such a stern and fierce expression on Ahjin’s face. With a small tiger-like face, Ahjin continued. 

“Of course, it’s good that you’re getting along well with other concubines. They are like that, too. But Your Highness, please don’t ever forget. In this palace, it is His Majesty’s favor that determines the situation of the concubine.” 

While saying it, Ahjin felt strange that she was saying this to Hwawoon. Yeon Hwawoon of the past was a person who almost risked his life for that favor and made the emperor’s mind even further away, but Yeon Hwawoon of now was acting as if he was not greedy at all for such things. Such a thing was unfamiliar even to Ahjin, who thought she had adapted to her quite a different master.

Then Ahjin looked at her master, who was looking up at her with wide eyes like a small animal in fear. Not only she couldn’t find his old self, which was like a yaksha, she was also scared that someone would snatch and eat him if she let him out somewhere. 

Ahjin, who suddenly felt that she had pushed her master too hard, said in a somewhat softened voice. 

“… I’m not asking you to hurry up and think about it. You’re doing well enough now, and His Majesty has opened his heart to you. You’re not feeling well, but this servant has been so rude to you, Your Highness. I’m sorry.” 

“No, it’s fine. You’re saying that because you’re worried about me.” 

“Yes, Your Highness… First of all, focus on recovering your body, and you can do the rest step by step. I’ll always be with you.” 

Ahjin’s voice was filled with only affection and concern for Hwawoon. It was not only her voice. Hwawoon could feel Ahjin’s heart for him in the eyes looking at him, the hands carefully covering him with the blanket, and whatever she showed. 

Hwawoon, who was still not used to the unconditional affection someone showed toward him, felt ticklish in his heart for no reason, so he wiggled his toes under the blanket and nodded.

“Yes. Thank you, Ahjin. As you said, I’ll just think about getting better for now.” 

“Yes. Now, I’ll turn down the light, so please have a good night’s sleep. You must have been tired from sitting down for a long time today.” 

“Uh-huh. You too, sleep comfortably today, okay?” 

“Yes, Your Highness.” 

Recalling Ahjin, who would sleep near his bedroom after saying yes as well today, Hwawoon looked at Ahjin, who quietly stepped back after leaving only one candle. 

Lying quietly in a room where he became alone, many things came to his mind and disappeared repeatedly. Little by little, he got used to sitting face-to-face and talking with the emperor. At first, his heart dropped like a sinner just by making eye contact, but today, he didn’t only ask the emperor what color he liked but even said he would wait for his answer. He had never imagined that there would come a day when he had such a trivial conversation with the emperor. 

His heart beat pleasantly. He wondered what color the emperor would like. Would he like gold that shines brightly like in his golden robe? Wouldn’t he love the greenness of the leaves since he liked the garden? There are 10 million beautiful colors in the world, so Hwawoon felt he could stay up all night just by thinking about them.

It was fun to think of that person and anticipate his taste. He was so excited to think that he might hear the answer directly from that person, leading him to want to run out right away. What does His Majesty like and dislike? What does he enjoy doing and what not? Thinking that he could get to know those things one by one in the future, he was excited enough to ignore everything else. 

Then, he suddenly remembered ‘share a bed’ that Ahjin said and he felt hot all over his body. He thought it was too far from him no matter how much he thought about it, so he hurriedly erased those words from his head each time he remembered it. Hwawoon felt enough now. If he could stay close to the emperor, talk to him from time to time, and stay with the girls of Jeongan Palace, there was nothing more he could hope for. 

I shouldn’t covet what I’m not allowed to anymore. Hwawoon closed his eyes tightly as he made a resolution. It was a night when he couldn’t sleep easily.