* * *
With Hyunseo’s image as the last thing he saw, Doha’s vision went dark. In a place where nothing was visible, Doha desperately called Hyunseo’s name. But no matter how much he called, there was no answer.
He walked endlessly through the darkness. Neither the highland town where he first met Hyunseo, nor the cabin where they spent seasons together was visible. Having grown tired of calling for Hyunseo, he stood still in the darkness.
<You said you’d stay by my side, where did you go?>
The more he walked, the more strength drained from his body. Losing strength while wandering in a dream was too obvious a cliché. And that cliché…
<I might die without seeing you.>
Doha, slumping to the ground, muttered in a self-deprecating voice.
<Should this count as overwork, or death from joy?>
To be having such useless thoughts in a situation where he might die. Doha let out a small laugh.
<Before dying, I’d still like to see his face.>
His heart had already deepened while spending time together in the dream. The fact that he was unconsciously picturing Hyunseo’s face in the darkness proved it. The dimples that formed beneath his eyes when he smiled. The affectionate gaze, even the strong arms that had held his waist—he wanted to see them all. He missed him so much that he felt he could cry now.
Now he didn’t even have the strength to support his legs. At some point, Doha’s body collapsed to the side. As he lay on the ground, exhaling roughly—
— I thought you were smart, but it seems you’re not as smart as I thought?
It was the voice that had called him into this dream. Doha, without even the energy to get angry, rolled his eyes. He still couldn’t see the owner of the voice.
<If you have something to say, come out and say it. Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused me?>
— Trouble? Can’t I even do this much to you?
A voice mixed with laughter echoed from all directions. Doha blinked and listened carefully to the voice.
— You know who I am.
Since first possessing this scenario, he had long thought about it. Who the owner of this voice was. And why they had called him here in the first place.
Someone who knew all of this scenario. Someone who knew the story outside the scenario. Someone who harbored resentment toward Lord Kim.
Recalling the voice, Doha suddenly raised his head.
<You’re Kim Doha, aren’t you?>
The only person who met all those conditions was Kim Doha within the scenario. Now he seemed to understand why the voice speaking about Lord Kim contained hatred, why the voice that sometimes surged up borrowed his mouth.
The voice, which had been laughing at Doha’s words, became quiet.
— Yes, I’m Kim Doha. I brought you here.
The voice straightforwardly admitted its identity. It was as clean a surrender as the ‘Kim Doha’ in the scenario.
— I gave you my body, so only my voice remains. And even this voice will soon disappear.
<Disappear?>
— Yes, before my voice disappears, I showed you the past because I have something to ask of you.
A bitter tone permeated his words. After a long pause, the voice continued. This time, the sound came from right beside Doha.
— Make this scenario end happily.
The voice was close, as if sitting beside him. With all his might, Doha turned his head to the side. In the darkness, it seemed like a figure was visible, but also not. Wondering if their eyes were meeting, Doha reached his hand into the empty space and said,
<This scenario has a sad ending. You know that too.>
— That’s why I’m asking now. You could change the ending.
<According to Eunsung, the scenario can’t be changed?>
— He couldn’t change it because he was an outsider, but you’re different. You’re inside my body.
Doha frowned at the voice’s baseless request to change the ending. Not content with bringing him here at will and showing him the past as they pleased, now they wanted him to change the ending.
<Why should I comply with your request?>
Doha asked with a snort.
<Are you asking me to live happily with Hyunseo using your body? For your sake?>
He had no intention whatsoever of volunteering for a stranger. It was a world where taking care of oneself was hard enough. The corner of Doha’s lips twisted upward.
Then, as if to soothe him, warmth touched his fingertips. ‘Kim Doha’ held Doha’s hand earnestly, like someone praying. The slow voice continued.
— That’s not a happy ending.
Yellow lights, like fireflies, began to gather around Doha’s hand. The light took the shape of a person. Doha blankly stared at the person created by the light. Is this Kim Doha? As if reading Doha’s mind, the light nodded.
— My happy ending is different.
<Then what would make a happy ending?>
Looking at the light, beautiful enough to hurt his eyes, Doha asked. Tell me what you wished for so desperately that you called me here. After hesitating briefly at Doha’s question, the voice continued.
— My happy ending is…
At that moment, the light began to scatter gradually. Like dandelion seeds blown by the wind, the light faded into the darkness one by one. In between, ‘Kim Doha’ whispered to Doha.
It was a weak, low whisper like the wind.
— My happy ending is when Kim Doha is happy.
With that final whisper, the gathered light completely disappeared. As Doha opened his mouth to call the voice in the darkness, his closed eyes suddenly opened.
“Flower Bin!”
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Hyunseo’s frightening face.
* * *
It took time for his vision to become clear. Doha blinked at the dazzling light.
Even without being able to see clearly, Doha could recognize the person sitting before him. Hyunseo’s voice, expression, body—he remembered all of it. Doha called his name with dry lips.
“Hyunseo.”
At the soft voice, Hyunseo’s head turned quickly. Meeting Doha’s eyes, he held both of Doha’s cheeks.
“Are you coming to your senses!”
It was a face he had never seen before. His face, usually composed at any time, was tinged with urgency. Doha placed his hand on Hyunseo’s furrowed brow and said,
“Where… am I?”
“My chambers.”
So I managed to reach Yongwa Palace without dying. Doha smiled weakly while stroking his brow. Seeing his feeble smile, Hyunseo’s expression hardened. Soon, a cold chill emanated from him.
It was a cold expression he had never seen before. He hadn’t made such an expression even before getting caught up in the Pleasure Period, or when Doha went to the Noble Consort of his own accord. Looking up at his face, Doha asked,
“But why does Your Majesty have such a frightening expression?”
“What?”
“Has this lowly one done something wrong again?”
At the innocent voice that seemed to know nothing, Hyunseo let out a hollow laugh. Then he seized Doha’s wrist, which had been caressing his brow.
It was a rough gesture, but with just enough force not to hurt. Suppressing his anger, since he couldn’t be angry at someone who was ill, he whispered in a low voice,
“Do you know how long you’ve been asleep?”
“Wasn’t it just a short nap?”
He thought he had slept for about a day, since it was midday when he collapsed at the hunting grounds. At Doha’s words, Hyunseo ground his teeth.
He spat out the words as if chewing them.
“Two days, two days.”
“…Two days?”
“Yes, two days. Do you know how much I wanted to die during those two days?”
He didn’t know how he had managed to run to the palace while carrying Doha. Hyunseo had only run and run, his mind filled solely with the thought of saving Doha.
When he finally showed Doha to the royal physician, Doha’s body was already cold. The pale face and cold body were not those of a living person.
‘I can’t let him go like this…’
To warm that body, Hyunseo continuously massaged Doha’s limbs. Despite the palace people’s attempts to dissuade him, he didn’t stop.
Recalling Doha’s deathly pale body, Hyunseo’s jaw hardened. It was a memory he never wanted to recall. To hide his crumbling expression, he imprisoned Doha in his arms.
His arms wrapped around Doha’s shoulders. A warm heat, different from before, transmitted through his body. He had realized over the past two days how warmth could sway one’s heart.
And the fact that he couldn’t live even a little without Flower Bin.
“I would wake up while sleeping to place a hand on your cheek.”
“…”
“Because if you died, I would have to follow you. If I were even a little late, I might not be able to find you.”
Hyunseo’s body was trembling as he spoke of death. Doha wrapped his arms around Hyunseo’s waist as he exhaled roughly and said,
“Your Majesty.”
What should I do with this man who says he would follow me in death? He rubbed his back, hoping to calm him, but Hyunseo’s trembling body showed no sign of stopping.
“I was so anxious, afraid of losing you even in death.”
“…”
“Afraid that you would go far away, I…”
The heartfelt confession burrowed into Doha’s heart. Thanks to it, waves began to form in his previously calm heart. He had never given his heart to anyone else, not even once. With his wavering heart, Doha stopped the hand that had been rubbing Hyunseo’s back.
His throat seemed to be choking up, as Hyunseo’s Adam’s apple bobbed greatly. After steadying his voice, he spoke.
“Stay by my side.”
“…”
“No matter what happens, stay by my side. Even for dying, get my permission.”
With a touch full of obsession, he grabbed Doha’s hair. This caused Doha’s face to be lifted upward. Gripping his hair just enough not to hurt, he met Doha’s eyes.
“Of course, I would never allow it.”
His eyes reflected a determination to never let go again. He looked down at Doha with pitch-black eyes. Tears that had formed at some point flowed from Doha’s eyes. As if the falling tears were precious, Hyunseo kissed the path the tears had taken.
As Hyunseo continued to kiss his cheek, Doha, his heart tickled, moved his head.
“…I will stay by your side, I will, so please stop.”
“Liar.”
“When have you seen this lowly one lie?”
“Having come back from the brink of death, you’re quite the talker.”
Holding Doha’s face to prevent him from nodding, he planted kisses. Each time his lips touched, Doha’s heart wavered unbearably.
‘What’s wrong with me.’
Doha clutched his chest, his heart pounding since earlier. Each time their eyes met, his face grew hot, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
Thump thump, the sound of his heart beating—he was afraid it might leak outside. The great actor Doha knew what it meant to miss someone even while looking at them.
That which the protagonists often mistake for an irregular heartbeat. That which goes through an irregular period for a while.
‘Crazy, is this love?’
Astounded by his own thoughts, Doha pushed his lips inward. Noticing the disappearing lips, Hyunseo narrowed his eyes.
“What are you doing?”
After a quick glance, Doha answered with his lips hidden.
“Mmm, mmmm.”
“Saying don’t kiss you?”
“Mm.”
Doha’s face, hastily nodding, was cute. The way he had pushed in his lips looked adorably childlike. Unable to take his eyes off Doha’s face, he said,
“Do you think hiding your lips will stop me?”
“Mmm?”
The corner of Hyunseo’s lips rose in a grin. Simultaneously, his lips, which had been touching Doha’s face, began to move gradually downward. His lips, which had traced Doha’s jawline, headed toward his collar in an instant. After kissing the intimate spot inside the collar, Hyunseo moved his lips.
Then, with an alluring gaze, he bit the ribbon of Doha’s garment. Looking up at Doha from below, he whispered softly.
“If you want, try untying the ribbon once.”
His voice lay low in the room. His upward gaze was filled with heat.
“Your Majesty!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Doha released his lips. Having been bitten for so long, his already plump lips were enticingly swollen.
Hyunseo’s gaze stopped at the glistening lips. Just as Doha was about to hide his lips again with an “oops,” Hyunseo devoured them.
His tongue urgently pushed into Doha’s lips. The hot tongue smoothly caressed inside his mouth, seeking Doha’s tongue. The moment their tongues met, Hyunseo’s scent poured over Doha.
“Hmph.”
Doha’s toes curled at the rising heat. Unconsciously pressing his waist closer to him, Doha held his breath.
Noticing this, Hyunseo detached his lips.
“Breathe, you need to breathe.”
Then, lightly holding Doha’s chin, he kissed him again. Hot breath transferred from one set of lips to another. Doha, lifting his head, moved following the tongue.
Just as Hyunseo was embracing Doha’s waist so tightly it was suffocating and pressing their bodies close—
Court Official Park, standing outside the door, announced loudly.
“Your Majesty, Ungeom has arrived.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
