The palace servant’s head followed as Seowoo jerked it around. When Seowoo violently shook the servant’s head, pleading screams echoed throughout the room.
“Mama! Please spare me! Aaagh!”
“Acting like you know nothing with those wide eyes! How dare you covet what’s mine, how dare you!”
“Mama!”
Red veins stood out in Seowoo’s eyes. Doha had never made any effort. He never struggled to win Hyunseo’s heart, never worked to gain better honor, never planned or acted to enjoy more power and wealth. Unlike himself, everything was already at Doha’s side.
“You do nothing! You desire nothing!”
He was jealous. He was angry. The unexpressed anger accumulated, creating a sickness in his heart. Seowoo, who had been dragging the servant around by the hair, forcefully shoved them into the corner.
“Aaagh!”
The servant’s body was thrown onto broken porcelain pieces scattered across the floor. The sharp fragments dug into their delicate skin. When the servant groaned from the pain of torn flesh, Seowoo kicked their leg.
“What safety do you think you have to make such noise?”
“Huu, hic. Mama. Please spare my life.”
The terrified servant’s lips trembled. For the two weeks that the palace had been sealed off, the servants had been suffering trying to serve Seowoo, whose mood fluctuated even within a single day. Among the servants who caught his eye on bad days, some had left the palace dead.
Images of many people being dragged out flashed through the servant’s mind. The servant’s body curled up like an insect. It was to minimize pain when being struck.
“Please, please spare me…”
Looking at the cowering servant, Seowoo exchanged glances with Jinhee, who was standing behind him. Understanding his intent, Jinhee grabbed the servant’s arms and pulled.
“Remove them. And don’t forget to send them outside the palace without any trouble.”
“Yes, Mama. Do not worry.”
With practiced hands, Jinhee dragged the servant out of the room. Pleas for mercy echoed through Gyopung Palace, but no one came to help. In this precarious situation, few could afford to help others.
Seowoo held out both hands, and a servant rushed forward with silk cloth. He wiped his hands repeatedly with the silk, like someone who had touched something filthy.
“How many soldiers are guarding outside?”
“Two in the inner courtyard, two at the walls, and two at the gate. Six in total, Mama.”
It was a large number for watching over a concubine. The unexpected number of soldiers seemed to show Hyunseo’s vigilance, making Seowoo anxious again. He began biting his fingernails.
“This won’t do. I can’t stay locked up here forever.”
Tomorrow. Tomorrow was already the day he had promised to meet the Prime Minister. No matter what, he had to leave the palace tomorrow to meet him.
‘Otherwise…’
Blood from his fingernails stained Seowoo’s lips red. Whether or not he knew blood was on his mouth, Seowoo continued biting his nails.
Ah, that person was there.
Seowoo, anxiously rolling his eyes, stopped biting his nails.
“What happened to that person from the envoy?”
“I respectfully report that he is imprisoned in Siyeong Palace’s dungeon.”
“In Siyeong Palace?”
“Yes, Mama. It was by Flower Bin Mama’s order…”
Now that he thought about it, he remembered Doha’s order to imprison him in Siyeong Palace. Why Siyeong Palace? Why specifically the dungeon there and not just any prison? Seowoo stopped walking and found his seat.
Ordinary prisons were located in alleys where palace servants frequented, making contact relatively easy.
For this reason, those who committed serious crimes or plotted treason were typically imprisoned in Siyeong Palace’s underground prison.
People who might say things unfavorable to oneself, or those who knew too much, were mostly confined in Siyeong Palace’s underground prison. While that person had committed a serious crime, there wasn’t sufficient reason for him to be imprisoned in Siyeong Palace rather than Yongwa Palace.
‘Imprisoning him in Siyeong Palace means they’re afraid of him speaking out.’
Surely that person knew something about Doha. He must know a secret that shouldn’t be revealed, which is why he was imprisoned in Siyeong Palace’s dungeon where Doha could see him. After organizing his thoughts, Seowoo’s eyes flashed.
“Tonight. We leave Gyopung Palace.”
“What? But with His Majesty’s command, how could we…”
At the servant’s objection, Seowoo’s gaze sharpened. Having witnessed another servant being dragged away moments ago, the servant who met his eyes trembled, fearing the same fate.
It was a youthful face. Around this time, I also met the Prime Minister. Seowoo approached the servant and examined their face. A face that had known no hardship. With downy hair not yet fully grown, the servant peeked at Seowoo.
Noticing the servant’s movement, Seowoo’s gaze softened. He lifted the young servant’s chin and said:
“Listen well.”
“……”
“That above the law, there is yet another law.”
I didn’t know then, but I know now. The corner of Seowoo’s mouth turned up.
* * *
With each step, the jewels on the hairpin made a tinkling sound. The sound of jewels colliding was quite irritating, so Doha adjusted his hair.
“I told you not to wear excessive ornaments.”
“You’re going to the study, you should be dressed like this. That way, even a thousand years of anger would be soothed by looking at Mama’s face.”
Court Lady Kim said proudly as she admired the adorned Doha. He was a Mama who enjoyed dressing up. Even wrapped in expensive jewels or silks imported from the west, Mama’s gorgeous face was never overshadowed. Plus, there were so many colors that suited him.
If possible, she wanted to raid every silk shop in the capital to make clothes for Mama. Wrapped in green silk, Doha looked fresh.
The green silk that reached up to the collar contrasted with his white skin, making his face appear even more radiant. The high-piled hair and hairpin highlighted his deer-like neckline, stealing the gaze of onlookers. Court Lady Kim secretly smiled as she noticed the ministers’ eyes drawn to Doha as they passed by.
‘Court Lady Kim is the same before and after my possession.’
Even before the possession, Court Lady Kim would always bring coffee or snacks to the waiting room and insist on eating. Because of her habit of pressuring people, Court Lady Kim’s nickname was “Maternal Grandmother.” It was a nickname that arose because, like a grandmother, she fattened up staff and actors, encouraging them to eat more even when they were already full.
‘She’s still a good person.’
Doha glanced back at Court Lady Kim, who stood behind him with a satisfied expression. When their eyes met, Court Lady Kim gave a kind smile. Though the clothing and speech patterns were unfamiliar, Court Lady Kim was still Court Lady Kim. Confirming Court Lady Kim’s warm heart somehow gave him a sense of relief.
His steps were light. It felt like everything would turn out well.
* * *
There was no one in front of the study. Whether ordered to leave or not, neither Court Official Park nor any palace servants were visible.
“You may withdraw now. He dislikes commotion.”
Doha whispered in a voice soft enough not to be heard inside the study. At Doha’s words, Court Lady Kim tactfully led the palace servants away from the study.
A place just for the two of them.
No servants, no Court Lady Kim, no Court Official Park.
‘Perfect weather for carrying out my plan, isn’t it?’
Doha smiled slyly. What man wouldn’t pounce on his wife in a private room? Especially one as pretty as this? Doha was confident. Confident in his face and body, and if there was no response, confident in pouncing on Hyunseo first.
With firm resolve, Doha stepped into the study.
“Your Majesty, are you in here?”
Knowing he would be rejected if he asked permission to enter, Doha spoke as he opened the door and stepped inside.
“Your Majesty?”
As soon as the door opened, the scent of wood permeated his nostrils. Then came the smell of old books and sunlight. It was a calming fragrance. Feeling his mind settle, Doha walked deeper into the study.
He walked slowly on his tiptoes, lest his footsteps cause disturbance. After passing several bookshelves filled with ancient books, he saw Hyunseo leaning by the window, reading a book.
‘Wow.’
Hyunseo’s face glistened in the sunlight streaming into the study. His hair, always neatly tied and knotted in a topknot, was now loosely undone and flowed over his shoulders. Perhaps because of this, he looked more languid than usual.
His slightly lowered eyes as he read the book appeared both intellectual and sexy. As if time had stopped, Doha stood still, gazing at Hyunseo. It was a breathtakingly beautiful sight. Hyunseo, who had been resting his chin on his hand, seemed to be struggling with something as he touched his lips with one hand.
With that movement, his wide sleeve fell downward, revealing thick arms. They were masculine arms with prominent veins. The bulging surface with veins extended from his arms to the back of his hands. Looking at Hyunseo’s thick, strong arms, Doha unconsciously swallowed.
As the wind blew, his fine hair fluttered. The eyes that had been resting on his chin while reading the book flicked towards Doha.
“How long does Bin plan to stand there?”
As if only now coming to his senses, Doha bowed his head. What was that? What was I entranced by? Doha’s eyes widened.
“I apologize.”
“That ‘apology’ again. I don’t want to hear it all the way in my study.”
Closing the book he had been reading, Hyunseo looked at Doha. Doha glanced at Hyunseo’s face, but he didn’t seem angry or displeased.
This seems promising enough to make a move.
Like someone checking for reactions, Doha rolled his eyes here and there. He looked at Hyunseo’s face once, then shrank back when their eyes met. It was harder to reject someone who seemed hesitant and inquiring than someone who was demanding.
“I’ll be quiet, so may I stay here too…?”
“No.”
“The way back is far. Please let me stay a little while. Please?”
Doha looked up at Hyunseo, blinking his eyes. Unable to withstand his imploring gaze, Hyunseo turned his head and sighed.
“Just this once. If you’re noisy, I’ll drive you out.”
When permission was granted, Doha’s face brightened. Turning his head away from the radiantly smiling Doha, Hyunseo opened his book.
‘How could he focus on a book with someone so beautiful?’
Though his eyes were on the book, all of Hyunseo’s attention was directed toward Doha. He could trace, without even looking, which bookshelf Doha moved from to which, where he lingered longer.
Before he knew it, Doha’s face was drawn on the pages of the book. Hyunseo’s hand, which had been about to turn the page nonchalantly, stopped. A fragrance, Doha’s fragrance, was flowing from inside the study.
‘This is maddening.’
The sweet scent filled the study. Perhaps because the space was small, it felt thicker and more concentrated than usual, which was quite troublesome. Hyunseo opened the window wide and frowned.
Turning his head, he could see Doha between the bookshelves. Each time he moved, the green silk rippled. Though only Doha’s clothes were swaying, somehow it felt like Hyunseo’s heart was moving along with them.
Doha would never guess how much those swaying, overlapping garments were stirring his heart.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
