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East Wind
Sitting under the main hall’s floor, smiling broadly while polishing Juhwan’s shoes, Jeonggwan appeared so cheerful that several times a day people asked if something good had happened to him lately. Though no one believed his resounding reply that nothing had happened, knowing that Jeonggwan could be made happy with just one piece of candy, people simply assumed he had enjoyed some tasty food somewhere. Only the perceptive Sukhee guessed that something must have happened between him and the seven-cheok-tall young master.
There were two more people—Juhwan and Taekun, who normally did not exchange a word, were somehow sitting on the raised floor of the men’s quarters, talking while occasionally glancing over at Jeonggwan in the distance. It seemed to be quite a serious conversation, as Juhwan’s expression was unpleasant, while Taekun appeared to be trying to persuade him, his eyes revealing a certain urgency.
“I beg you…”
“How do I know what you’ll do? I’d rather have Jeonggwan stay here, even if it’s a bit harder for him. At least I can always hear news of him. His family is also here, so it’s safe—”
“If he comes with me, I can make him happier. I’ll make him smile for the rest of his life.”
“…”
“So please, I’m begging you.”
Juhwan let out a deep sigh. He had been thinking it would be good for Taekun to take Jeonggwan, but he hadn’t anticipated it happening like this, and conflict arose in his heart.
Juhwan turned his head once more to look at Jeonggwan, who was blowing on his shoes and polishing them until they shone. If he were to enter the palace, would it be better for Jeonggwan to remain in this house, working and living an ordinary life married to a commoner servant chosen by his father, or to follow Taekun, traveling to various places, seeing a wider world, and living the life he wanted?
What Juhwan had wanted was for Jeonggwan to enter Taekun’s household, not work too much as he did now, receive Taekun’s love, bear Taekun’s children, and become a concubine living comfortably in the back quarters. That was realistically the most comfortable life possible for someone born as a lowly servant. But now that Taekun was to marry the daughter of the Right State Councillor, as Taekun said, Jeonggwan wouldn’t even be a concubine—if it became known in that household that Taekun cherished Jeonggwan, they might make him disappear without a trace. The rumor that her daughter shared her husband with someone lowly could not be allowed to spread.
Upon hearing this, Juhwan had thought he should absolutely not give Jeonggwan away, but Taekun seemed to love Jeonggwan more deeply than expected, as he had come to ask Juhwan to let Jeonggwan escape with him, giving up everything. He said he had already diverted enough wealth to ensure they could live without hardship for life and just needed to take Jeonggwan with him. This gave Juhwan a headache.
Jeonggwan was indeed a lowly servant. However, he had been like a younger brother to Juhwan since childhood, so even after entering the palace, Juhwan wanted to hear news of Jeonggwan. He wanted to have him visit with his mother occasionally to see his face, reminisce about their shared memories, and comfortably hear news from outside the palace. But if Jeonggwan went with Taekun, he would never know Jeonggwan’s whereabouts.
In truth, sending Jeonggwan to Taekun was the right thing to do. Taekun was willing to abandon everything and leave with Jeonggwan—how much happier could he make him than now? The reason Juhwan was hesitating was purely selfish. The selfish desire not to part with Jeonggwan, who was his closest friend, his family.
“…I’ll ask Jeonggwan first.”
“…”
“If Jeonggwan says no, what right do I have to decide?”
Juhwan closed his eyes tightly, then opened them as he stood up. Taekun also raised his head, following Juhwan, his eyes shining as if imploring him.
Juhwan was unusually slow to retire tonight. He kept asking Jeonggwan to massage his shoulders, rub his legs, comb his hair. Jeonggwan was restless with desire to go meet the man, but he couldn’t leave after saying good night to Juhwan, who seemed so troubled.
“Young master, is something wrong?”
“…Sigh.”
“Tell me. Let me listen to your troubles.”
As Jeonggwan often listened to Juhwan’s concerns and occasionally offered solutions, he urged Juhwan to speak up. He greatly wanted to hear the concern and then leave the room. At that moment, after hesitating several times, Juhwan finally spoke, calling to Jeonggwan.
“Do you know where I’m going to be married?”
“Where are you going?”
Far away. Very far away. Juhwan’s voice, mixed with a sigh, echoed in the room. He had expected Jeonggwan to respond with an innocent face, saying he would follow his young master anywhere, no matter how far! But for some reason, Jeonggwan’s face hardened as he asked, “How far? You’re not going to Tamra, are you?”
“Tamra would be better. At least we could taste tangerines there.”
That’s true… If not Tamra, then where are you going? Jeonggwan waited for Juhwan’s answer with an increasingly anxious face, fearing that if it was too far, he would no longer be able to meet the man.
“…You cannot go.”
“…Pardon?”
“You cannot follow me, Jeonggwan.”
“…Why not?”
However, an unexpected answer came from Juhwan, and at that moment, Jeonggwan felt half disappointed, half relieved. Being unable to follow Juhwan would leave him alone here, which seemed too sad, but instead of that sadness, he could see the man. Yet naturally, the desire to follow Juhwan if possible was stronger. He could ask the man to come to wherever Juhwan was going, but having only ever served Juhwan all his life, Jeonggwan couldn’t imagine a life without him.
“I’m going to the palace.”
“…What?”
“I’m going to the palace. It’s the Crown Prince consort selection, but it seems likely that I will be chosen.”
“…Crown Prince consort? You, young master?”
Wait, what is this? Why would young master become the Crown Prince’s consort? Jeonggwan’s mouth hung open, unable to close. It was something he had never imagined—Juhwan entering the palace.
“Yes. That’s why you must stay here.”
“…”
“Or…”
“…”
“Would you like to go with Jung Taekun?”
A man standing at a crossroads stared intently at the side gate of the Kyung family compound in the distance. Unable to sleep easily today, perhaps because the second son of the Kyung family whom Jeonggwan served couldn’t fall asleep easily, or perhaps because something had happened to Jeonggwan, the man’s heart began to burn with anxiety as he gazed endlessly at the gate.
Six days ago, after sharing his first kiss with Jeonggwan by the river, the man felt he would die if he couldn’t see Jeonggwan for even a day. So, ignoring Court Eunuch Jung’s hints that he should stop going out, the man secretly left the palace as soon as it got dark and came looking for Jeonggwan. Today too, he had thought that Jeonggwan would come running with a bright smile and embrace him after just a short wait, but since Jeonggwan showed no sign of appearing, it was natural that the man’s patience was wearing thin.
The desire to forget about disguising his identity, to break into the house, bring Jeonggwan to the Crown Prince’s palace, and keep him by his side, had come to the man hundreds of times a day. With Jeonggwan not showing a single strand of hair until this late hour, it was only natural that the man was on the verge of madness.
“Captain of the Royal Guard.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…Do your footsteps make noise when you walk on roof tiles?”
“…Pardon?”
“Go right now and check if anything is happening inside—”
“Your Highness, the gate is opening in front.”
Unable to wait any longer, the man was about to order the Left Guard who was secretly following him for protection to step on the wall and check if something had happened to Jeonggwan. At that moment, the firmly closed side gate of the Kyung family opened, and from inside appeared Jeonggwan, whom the man had been waiting for so desperately.
“…Haah.”
Seeing Jeonggwan appear completely fine and looking as usual, the man’s chest heaved with relief, while the Left Guard quickly hid in the darkness to avoid being seen by Jeonggwan.
As Jeonggwan approached in the moonlight, the man released his hands from behind his back, expecting Jeonggwan to fall into his arms as usual. But somehow, as he came closer, Jeonggwan’s expression became clearly visible and did not look good.
“…”
Had something bad happened? The man’s face clouded with worry. He had thought that Jeonggwan was late because the second son of the Kyung family had fallen asleep late, but judging by his expression, something was definitely wrong. Wondering if Jeonggwan had been scolded for sneaking out at night, the man couldn’t wait in place and approached Jeonggwan, but—
“…Is something—”
From Jeonggwan, who had by now come striding close, came a sharp voice along with a reproachful look toward Junjae.
“Young master.”
“…”
“The name of the Park family’s eldest son is Myeonghun.”
When Juhwan had asked, “Would you go with Taekun?” Jeonggwan had replied that since he couldn’t follow him to the palace, he would stay here because he had found someone he loved. When Juhwan was startled, asking when this love interest had appeared, Jeonggwan had said the person was the eldest son of the Park family.
‘Park Myeonghun? You matched eyes with Park Myeonghun?’
‘…Park Myeonghun?’
‘Are you talking about the Park family of the Minister of Military Affairs?’
‘Yes… but he’s not Park Myeonghun, he’s Park Junjae.’
‘Junjae? No. The second son is Jihoon, and the eldest is definitely Myeonghun. Isn’t the youngest Seonghun? Their generation name is ‘Hun.”
‘What? Then…’
Then who was the man—who was Junjae—that he pretended to be the Park family’s eldest son and played with him?
“Young master, who exactly are you?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
