The moment Hyunseo spotted Doha falling, his heart dropped. Thud. He heard something breaking. The anxiety and guilt he had desperately suppressed began to overturn his mind.
“Flower Bin!”
Doha’s body cut through the air and fell to the ground. In an instant, his fine silk clothes were covered in dust. Doha’s pale face tilted toward Hyunseo.
Hyunseo ran faster than anyone else and placed both hands on Doha’s motionless face. The body temperature against the back of his hand was chillingly cold.
“Flower Bin, open your eyes.”
“……”
“Are you going to disobey the royal command so easily?”
“……”
“I can tolerate your insolence, just open your eyes.”
Hyunseo gathered the dust-covered Doha into his arms. His large hand caressed Doha’s face. He was so completely out of his mind that he didn’t even notice his own hand was trembling. In that moment, a thought that had been lurking in a corner of his mind escaped.
‘Was it right to leave him outside the palace?’
No. He could never let him go. The answer was simple. Even as Doha hovered between life and death, his selfish self could never put Doha down from his arms. If he couldn’t bear Doha looking away from him, how could he possibly send him outside the palace? It was unthinkable.
He stared at the bloodless, white face. Like someone peacefully sleeping, no sound escaped from Doha’s lips. Hyunseo’s grip tightened.
“If you’re going to die, let’s die together.”
“……”
“My life is already bound to you.”
Hyunseo pressed Doha’s face firmly against his chest. Cradling his head with both hands, he inhaled deeply. Thankfully, Doha’s unique sweet scent entered his nostrils. Evidence that Doha was still breathing.
Talking to Doha while taking deep breaths, he looked like a madman to anyone watching, so no one dared approach him. Unable to stand by any longer, Court Official Park approached Hyunseo.
“Your Majesty, I will summon the royal physician to Siyeong Palace.”
At Court Official Park’s words, Hyunseo’s frozen body moved. He rose effortlessly while holding Doha and surveyed the interrogation chamber with darkened eyes. His tightly closed lips parted.
“You’ve suffered much from this unauthorized interrogation.”
Unauthorized interrogation. In other words, Seowoo had opened the interrogation chamber without the King’s consent. It also meant he would not protect Seowoo in this matter.
Seowoo, still standing there with a shocked expression, met Hyunseo’s eyes. Just as he was about to open his mouth to explain himself—
“The Noble Consort shall not leave Gyopung Palace until further command.”
“Your Majesty! Confining me to the palace is too harsh a measure!”
Seowoo cried out, anxious about the punishment with no specified duration. His appointment with the Prime Minister was in two weeks. He needed to meet him at all costs to secure his survival. He quickly straightened his clothes and bowed his head, but Hyunseo’s cold gaze remained unchanged.
“What are you waiting for? Clear everything away.”
At Hyunseo’s command, soldiers waiting outside entered the interrogation chamber. Without sparing a glance at those being dragged away, Hyunseo silently left Gyopung Palace carrying Doha.
“This is… interesting.”
Eunsung’s head couldn’t stop turning until the two were out of sight.
* * *
Emergency, emergency. Upon hearing the news, the royal physician, Jihun, left the royal medical office with minimal preparations. Though he was out of breath, he couldn’t stop walking. The note sent by Court Official Park was alarming.
“Flower Bin Mama emergency. Everyone’s neck on the line. It’s up to you.”
It was known to all physicians in the royal medical office that His Majesty was particularly sensitive about matters concerning the Flower Bin. He would demand immediate examination if Mama skipped even a single meal, and would torment the physicians with various reasons like Doha losing weight, lacking energy, or having skinny limbs.
It was only natural that the physicians staked their lives on Mama’s health.
“All His Majesty’s doing.”
Most of Mama’s symptoms were lovesickness. Feelings of longing manifesting as physical symptoms. Everything could be resolved if His Majesty gave just a bit of attention and affection, but instead he only badgered the innocent physicians.
‘I heard he confined Mama to his chambers again.’
He had also heard about Mama’s confinement through Court Official Park. Because they both had the common trait of being caught between Mama and His Majesty, Court Official Park and Jihun were close friends within the palace. They got along especially well because they both entered the palace at a young age.
‘What to do with His Majesty who doesn’t know the first thing about romance.’
At this rate, Court Official Park, who wasn’t missing anything important, would be better at romance.
‘Sweet Court Official Park. I must save him.’
Jihun quickened his pace. His steps hastened to match his heart.
* * *
The Yongwa Palace he arrived at was cold.
What’s going on? Jihun mouthed to Court Official Park. Court Official Park indicated Doha with his eyes. Beside the dust-covered Doha, Hyunseo sat with a frightening expression. Seeing that he didn’t appear willing to move even slightly, Jihun spoke.
“Your Majesty, I need to examine Mama to make a diagnosis.”
It was an impertinent tone, but Hyunseo lacked the presence of mind to point that out. Until then, he had been holding Doha’s hand, but now he moved to sit beside him.
Jihun sighed as he saw Hyunseo still holding onto the wrist. Why did he torment Mama when he cared this much? He couldn’t even begin to fathom Hyunseo’s heart.
“Please release that wrist too.”
Jihun spoke firmly as he took out his examination tools from his bag. At those words, Hyunseo finally let go of Doha’s wrist.
“If you do anything improper, I’ll kill you.”
“Your Majesty, I’m a physician, a physician. Do you think this is the first time I’ve held Mama’s wrist?”
Jihun glared at Hyunseo after speaking bluntly. Despite his impudent tone, Hyunseo couldn’t easily sever Jihun’s neck because his skills were the best in the palace. This was due to Doha’s frequent minor illnesses.
“…You’ve held it that many times, have you?”
I suppose missing one leg wouldn’t hinder your ability to examine. Hyunseo glared at Jihun’s leg. Trying to ignore the sinister voice, Jihun placed his hand on Doha’s wrist.
He held his breath and listened to the pulse. The chaotic sounds from inside the body were imprinted on Jihun’s fingertips. Oh my. Jihun’s hand moved to the inner part of the wrist.
“What is it? Is it serious? Is Mama alright?”
Court Official Park, unable to contain his anxiety any longer, asked.
“Just a moment.”
Jihun signaled for silence and concentrated on the pulse again. He was also confused by the changed pulse from before.
It was a distinctly different pulse, as if it belonged to someone else entirely. Although irregular due to bodily injuries, it was loud and rapid, unlike the weak and quiet pulse from before.
‘Court Official Park said he made dumplings for three days and nights, did his health really improve that much?’
Doha’s heart was beating vigorously, as if he had acquired a new heart. At this rate, there would be no need to worry about minor illnesses anymore.
Uncomfortable with Doha’s wrist being held for so long, Hyunseo grabbed Jihun’s arm.
“If you’re done checking the pulse, let go.”
Unable to withstand the fierce gaze, Jihun gently released Doha’s wrist. He would have liked to examine the pulse more to find out what happened, but he feared his legs wouldn’t remain intact if he did.
Jihun spoke to Hyunseo, who was still looking at Doha with a stern face.
“It seems he lost consciousness from the shock of falling down the stairs. There are no other injuries, but his wrists and ankles may hurt, so it’s best to limit movement for a while.”
“When will he regain consciousness?”
“As early as today, or within a few days at the latest. There’s no need for serious concern.”
Even at that moment, Doha’s closed eyes showed no sign of opening. His long eyelashes cast shadows below his eyes. Hyunseo caressed beneath them.
At this yearning touch, Court Official Park’s eyes welled up with tears. Sensing the mood, Jihun packed his bag, bowed his head, and withdrew.
“I will send medicinal decoctions to aid recovery, so have him take them with every meal.”
“I understand.”
Court Official Park nodded at Jihun’s hint. There was much to do to help Doha recover. Plus, he had to manage Hyunseo’s halted schedule. Court Official Park followed Jihun out of the chamber.
“Your Majesty, I will announce that all of today’s schedules have been canceled.”
“…Cancel not just today’s, but all of them.”
“Your Majesty, that is!”
Court Official Park jerked his head up at the unreasonable decision. He saw his lord’s shoulder silently guarding Doha, who lay still without the slightest movement. Seeing Hyunseo’s back radiating loneliness, Court Official Park couldn’t add another word.
“Yes. I will do so.”
Court Official Park bowed deeply. Realizing that staying by Doha’s side was most important to his lord, he left the chamber to do what he could. To be of any help to his lord.
The chamber was quiet after everyone left. Only Doha’s peaceful breathing echoed within. His small stomach rose and fell slightly with each breath.
Watching this, Hyunseo spoke in a low voice.
“I’ve been seeing you sleep a lot lately.”
For the past week, Hyunseo could only find courage at dawn when Doha fell asleep. When everyone was asleep, when even palace servants were nodding off, Hyunseo visited the chamber to watch Doha sleep.
“If it was going to be like this, I should have visited during the day, even once.”
It was too late for regrets now. Self-blame and regret were luxuries, Hyunseo reminded himself.
He suppressed his painful heart that felt like it was bleeding. He didn’t deserve even that. Hyunseo placed his hand on Doha’s face. The smooth skin touched his fingertips.
Outside the palace, he used to quietly look at Doha’s face like this. Since Doha was a sleepy child, he always fell asleep earlier than Hyunseo. Hyunseo would close his eyes while lying beside Doha, and when Doha fell asleep, he would open his eyes and look at him.
At night, he found the courage to look at his face. It was possible because they didn’t make eye contact.
<My heart races, so I can’t see your face during the day.>
<…>
<Your face in the sunlight is so dazzling… my heart aches.>
The thoughts in his heart that he couldn’t express during the day, Hyunseo only revealed one by one at night. There was no response, but seeing Doha’s face was enough.
Doha was his comfort and stability.
“Being like this makes me feel as if we’ve gone back to the past.”
Hyunseo stroked Doha’s hair just as he had outside the palace. The fine strands wrapped around his hand. On sleepless nights, Doha would ask to have his hair stroked.
How lovely he was, burrowing into his arms until he stroked his hair. A faint smile appeared on Hyunseo’s face as he stroked Doha’s hair.
“We can never go back to those days, can we?”
“……”
“Because I can never leave this palace.”
The momentary smile disappeared in an instant. Hyunseo stopped stroking with a face that had stiffened again.
At that moment, like a lie, Doha grabbed Hyunseo’s wrist.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
