* * *
This scenario was rated for all ages by Company K.
Doha stopped in his tracks as he realized this fact. Court Lady Kim, who had been walking with her eyes down, bumped into Doha as he stood frozen with a surprised expression.
Could it be that they haven’t done it because it’s rated for all ages? Because of the viewing age restriction…?
“Mama.”
“……”
“…Could it be that you’ve forgotten?”
Court Lady Kim looked at him with a strange expression. Realizing that something important was hidden in that expression, Doha quickly masked his own face.
No matter how well he had memorized the scenario, there was no way to know what content had been deleted. Doha could hardly guess why they shouldn’t kiss or why their bodies shouldn’t touch.
“Mama, you’re the only one who can comfort His Majesty… how could you forget that!”
When no answer came, Court Lady Kim cried out with a shocked face. For Court Lady Kim to react this strongly, there must be some truly important reason between himself and Hyunseo. Something only Court Lady Kim, Doha, and Hyunseo knew secretly. What could be this tremendous reason that would prevent a eumin and a yangin from being together?
‘If I can’t read her mind, I’ll have to pretend to know.’
Having completely hidden his expression, Doha raised his head to Court Lady Kim.
“Court Lady Kim, lower your voice.”
“Mama, I’m just worried…”
“There are many listeners, so it’s better to talk later.”
At Doha’s words, Court Lady Kim looked around. This confirmed that it was a secret that others shouldn’t hear. He wished he could probe further, but with such an important reason, it was difficult to ask Court Lady Kim directly. After all, there’s no way Doha would forget an intimate reason shared only between Hyunseo and himself.
‘Then I should quickly erase the thought.’
“It’s not that I don’t know your sincerity. It’s just that it seems the time has come, and I feel sorry for His Majesty.”
A reason that disturbs and discomforts one’s sincerity but should be tolerated. A reason that only Doha must understand. Finding clues in Court Lady Kim’s words, Doha spoke vaguely. Fortunately, his calm, gentle speech didn’t seem awkward, as Court Lady Kim lowered her voice and bowed her head.
“I apologize. Perhaps my age is making my worries come first.”
Court Lady Kim bowed to Doha, not knowing that his intuition was correct. Needless suspicion. There’s no way Mama would forget that. Just as she was thinking about it, Doha changed the subject.
“How is that fellow doing in prison?”
It was time to probe Eunsung, who had been thrown in prison. He would have been locked up during the time Doha was enjoying with Hyunseo, so he should be perfectly ripe by now. Thinking about how his stiff face and free-spirited mouth would now be tamed made him smile involuntarily.
“Yes, Mama. As you instructed, we’ve only been giving him water.”
“And no one has approached him in the meantime?”
“Who would dare come to Siyeong Palace’s prison?”
The underground prison of Siyeong Palace. It was a terrible space, described even in the scenario. People who had been imprisoned for a long time and lost their minds were locked up everywhere, and the screams and ravings they let out were loud enough to be heard outside the underground prison.
Doha had deliberately ordered him to be imprisoned there. Moreover, he hadn’t allowed him a single meal. Only a little water for survival—that was the only food permitted to him.
A hand extended in a moment of desperation cannot be refused by anyone. That was the reason Eunsung had been driven to the brink. In the moment when the last flame of hope was dying out, Doha drove him to the edge of the cliff solely so that he could be his savior at that very moment.
‘It’s useless to call it selfish. I need to have at least one person by my side.’
One person skilled in both acting and information was enough for himself in this place. There couldn’t be more than one such identical character. So Doha decided to make Eunsung his ally. In a selfish and convenient way.
It felt good to think that the fellow who had spoken insultingly to him would now be licking the iron bars. A cornered mouse would see a cat as a god. Hoping that Eunsung would willingly surrender to him, Doha turned his steps.
“Let’s go underground.”
Court Lady Kim, with her head bowed, silently followed Doha.
* * *
Perhaps they had been given drugged food in anticipation of the visit, but the prisoners were unusually quiet today. Normally, these prisoners would have shaken the bars and screamed like animals. As light didn’t penetrate well, Court Lady Kim walked ahead, holding a torch.
Doha’s silk clothes, which didn’t match the prison, swept the floor. The hem gradually became stained with dust. Before he noticed the stains, Doha had already stopped in front of Eunsung’s cell.
“Court Lady Kim, wait outside. I have something urgent to discuss with this person.”
“Mama, that cannot be. How can I leave you alone in such a dangerous place as the underground prison?”
Court Lady Kim’s face was illuminated under the torch. She had a worried expression, like looking at a child left by the water. She gripped the torch tightly, as if to show her determination that this was absolutely not allowed.
“Don’t you know what kind of place this is, Mama?”
He knew exactly. It was like a beast’s cage where eumin spread their legs and yangin thrust into the air. Even when filming the drama, Doha couldn’t withstand the scene set in this place. It would have been edited out anyway since it was rated for all ages.
“They’re all asleep from the drugs, so it’s fine. Court Lady Kim, you worry too much.”
Doha said as he gently took the torch. He pushed Court Lady Kim’s shoulder towards the exit and added:
“If you’re really concerned, stand at the entrance. I’ll come right out as soon as I finish talking.”
At his promise to come out soon, Court Lady Kim turned her reluctant steps. She seemed increasingly worried, looking back several times as she walked to the entrance. Doha waited patiently until she was out of sight before finally opening his mouth.
“Why don’t you come out now? I know you didn’t take the drug.”
When he tapped the iron bars with his finger, Eunsung walked out from inside. Except for having lost weight, his face was more intact than expected. His annoying smile and composure were still there. With a grin, Eunsung sat close to the bars and placed his hand near them.
“What brings Mama all the way here? Thanks to you, all my companions are asleep.”
But he couldn’t hide his trembling hands. Whether it was due to not having eaten, or from insufficient water, his hands holding the iron bars were shaking. Doha placed his hand over Eunsung’s trembling one.
“You’d be better off not putting on such pathetic airs.”
“Well, without my composure, I’m a man with nothing.”
Eunsung’s hand, which had released the iron bars, turned over beneath Doha’s. Flipping his hand, he interlaced his fingers with Doha’s. It was a grip strength incomparable to when he had held the iron bars.
“Having nothing, I’d like at least you to be mine.”
Eunsung grinned. Unlike his previously gentle, puppy-like smile, it was quite a villain-like smile. He seemed to have heard through the grapevine that Eunsung had taken on a villain role for his next project. Doha tried to pull his hand away, but he wasn’t strong enough to overcome Eunsung’s strength.
“Want to starve more? Won’t you let go of this?”
How does a starving man have such good strength? Doha tried moving his hand in various ways, but it was beyond his ability to escape from Eunsung’s large hand. Only after pinching Eunsung’s hand hard with his other hand did Eunsung release his grip.
“Is it appropriate for a royal concubine to be so violent?”
“You’d better stop that pathetic manner of speech.”
Doha quickly pulled his hand out of the interlocked fingers and glared at Eunsung. He still seemed to have plenty of strength left. Should I have starved him more? As he scanned Eunsung’s body up and down, Eunsung covered himself like a shy woman.
“Even though I’m a criminal, if Mama desires my services… I would gladly…”
Exasperated by Eunsung, who was even blushing his face, Doha let out a mocking laugh.
“Take it easy, will you? I don’t have time for jokes right now.”
“Haha, alright.”
Reverting to his original manner of speech, Eunsung burst into laughter. Seeing his clear laughter, Doha revised his plan. This person would never submit to him. No matter how much he was starved, beaten, or tormented, this crazy person would clearly never see him as salvation.
‘I forgot that his thinking is different from ordinary people.’
It was a mistake to try to predict a madman. His face was already revealed, and there was nothing more to see by pushing him further. Having changed his mind, Doha spoke:
“Let’s make a deal, you and I.”
If persuasion didn’t work, he had to at least make a deal. The person who held power was already determined, and who had the upper hand was clear. Doha intended to use these to make Eunsung his person.
“If you stay here like this, you’ll die soon. You’ve seen Hyunseo, right? He’s not the gentle Dajeong from the scenario…”
“There’s only one thing I want to do with you.”
Before Doha could finish speaking, Eunsung opened his mouth. This bastard was a bomb every time he opened his mouth. If he could, he’d reach through the iron bars right now and hit that mouth. Suppressing his feelings, Doha continued his explanation.
“You, the envoy is pretending not to know right now, and there’s no news from your country either. You’ve become like an abandoned duck egg on the Nakdong River, and I’m telling you this knowing…”
“So you’ll do it with me?”
“Hey, you son of a bitch.”
Unable to hold back any longer, profanity spilled from Doha’s mouth. When the explicit curse shot out, Eunsung burst into laughter as if that was what he had wanted to hear. How interesting. He pressed his face right up to the iron bars. Eunsung’s eyes gleamed dangerously.
“If you’re not giving yourself to me, I have nothing I want to trade.”
A subtle scent was released from Eunsung. Unlike his crazy personality, it was a subtle scent resembling grass. A scent that calmed the mind. Doha inhaled. Had this guy’s scent always been this good?
“You seem to like mine.”
Eunsung reached his hand through the iron bars. Doha was so completely focused on the scent that he didn’t even feel the hand touching his cheek. Somehow Eunsung’s scent was different. It seemed similar to the scent he had smelled on the filming set, yet completely changed.
“I’m fine doing it here.”
“……”
“The iron bars are narrow, but if we press close…”
As if measuring the size, Eunsung narrowed his eyes and spread his fingers.
“Would it fit?”
“Hey, you crazy bastard!”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
