The king Doha knew was one who kept a queen and concubines, and occasionally shared his bed with one of the palace people. Since producing heirs was also one of a king’s duties, Doha thought that all kings were uniformly experienced alphas.
But what was this reaction?
This reaction like a virgin.
Doha had heard until his ears were calloused that alphas and omegas were inevitably drawn to each other. They went into heat from each other’s pheromones and formed relationships, and if that heat aligned well, they would imprint on each other and become mates—this is what Doha had learned throughout his life.
In terms of height, build, and physical conditions, alphas were overwhelmingly superior. With omega qualities like beautiful appearance and slender build, it was impossible to defeat an alpha. Since traits were determined at birth, they couldn’t be changed.
So Doha decided to place these superior alphas beneath his feet. No matter how excellent they were, it didn’t matter. It was the omega, Doha, who dominated them.
Hiding his timid and ugly self, he lived as a character from the scenario even in daily life. For alphas who wanted to freely manipulate him, he allowed it, and for alphas who desired a fragile and weak omega, he willingly performed as such. This daily life gradually made it impossible for Doha to escape from acting.
Only after becoming completely immersed in the character to the point of speaking lines and taking actions not in the scenario did he quit such daily routines.
Even after meeting numerous alphas this way, Hyunseo was the only alpha who pushed away an omega’s skinship. Whether his name was Yangin here or alpha elsewhere, they all had the same obsession with Eumin and omegas. Alphas were creatures whose lower bodies ruled their heads, so they all rushed to Doha; none pushed him away.
“How clingy do you think I was? This lowly one only came because Your Majesty called.”
So Doha decided to check. Whether this Yangin truly pushed him away. Doha subtly placed his hand on Hyunseo’s thigh from a slightly distanced position. He didn’t forget to speak his lines as if it was unintentional.
“Do you dislike it?”
“Haah.”
Hyunseo’s ears turned so red they looked like they might burn. Now his facial expression had also become rigid. With a harsh face, Hyunseo grabbed both of Doha’s shoulders. Being pushed back happened in an instant. Seeing Hyunseo move further away, Doha cried out.
“Your Majesty!”
“Sitting there is close enough.”
“It would be better if we were closer…”
“Listen to me half, just half as much as you listen to Court Official Park.”
Excuse me, but I want our bodies to touch. Regardless of Doha’s protests, Hyunseo continued using his chopsticks with a satisfied face. A spoonful of japchae entered Doha’s mouth. The slightly salty sweet potato noodles, the smoky aroma of pork, and the nutty flavor of perilla oil created a perfect trio that swept through Doha’s mouth.
Having starved for quite some time, Doha’s stomach churned when food entered it. As he chewed the delicious food, Doha’s thoughts naturally paused. Seeing Doha’s cheeks puff up, Hyunseo moved his chopsticks even faster. He brought over yukhoe, placed gangjeong on it, and added musaengchae. He put this complete course into Doha’s mouth.
Looking at the gradually emptying dishes, Hyunseo unknowingly wore a faint smile on his face. Not even realizing that he himself hadn’t taken a single bite.
* * *
Doha’s attempts continued afterward.
He tried placing his hand on his chest during dinner, but failed. He tried releasing his scent suggesting Hyunseo spend the night, but that too failed. He even clung to Hyunseo’s leg as he was about to leave the bedroom, but even that failed.
“Why is this so difficult…”
Lying on the blanket, Doha pressed his hand to his forehead. He thought he knew Hyunseo thoroughly since he had read the entire scenario, but that wasn’t the case. He was the most difficult opponent among all the alphas Doha had encountered.
“That bastard. How can he not release his scent even once when I’m doing all this?”
It was incomprehensible. Normally alphas would pounce at this level of seduction. He remembered hearing that suppressing one’s scent was against desire and required superhuman strength and control. Every time Doha recalled that phrase that seemed familiar from somewhere, his pride was mortally wounded.
“Do you dislike me so much that you have to try this hard?”
As he turned to the other side, a vase by the window caught Doha’s eye. The porcelain vase held a bright yellow flower. It was the flower Hyunseo had brought after returning from the royal council.
Though it wasn’t as dazzlingly bright as the one in his dream, Doha somehow couldn’t take his eyes off the flower. Looking at the flower reminded him of Hyunseo. Hyunseo descending the stairs with his royal robes fluttering. Hyunseo spotting a flower at the bottom of the Jijeongjeon stairs and thinking of him. Hyunseo personally bending to pick and caress the flower.
“What should I do?”
The flower held in those large hands kept coming to mind. As did the image of Hyunseo placing it in the vase with uncharacteristically delicate movements.
The day he brought the flower, Hyunseo placed the vase by the breezy window and looked down at the flower with satisfaction. He stroked the flower with the back of his hand and told Doha:
<I’ve brought a flower as you wished, so you should think of me too.>
From the petals to the small leaves below, he caressed it with slow movements. Though it was the flower that touched the back of his hand, somehow Doha felt as if he himself was being stroked, making his face flush red. Seeing Doha’s reddening face, Hyunseo chuckled.
<Make sure to miss me every time you see the flower.>
<…>
<With the same heart as when I personally picked the flower.>
Watching Doha freeze at the unexpected situation, Hyunseo lifted a petal with his finger. In an instant, he brought his lips to the petal. As if kissing not the flower but Doha, his gaze never left Doha.
<I wonder where that bold Bin who spoke so audaciously has gone.>
With those final words, until Hyunseo left the palace, Doha couldn’t move from that spot. Normally, Doha would have retorted that he always thought of His Majesty, that he shouldn’t worry. But Doha’s mind had turned completely blank, unable to recall any words.
Except for Hyunseo’s words.
<You think of me too… You think of me too… You think of me too… too…>
Until he fell asleep, Doha recalled Hyunseo’s words. Thump-thump. Feeling like his heart might jump out of his mouth, Doha kept his lips tightly closed. Whether it was the lingering feeling of acting as ‘Doha’ or Doha’s own feelings, even Doha himself couldn’t tell.
Recalling that day suddenly made him feel wronged again. Clearly, he had the upper hand, but thinking back to that day, it felt like Hyunseo was the one moving the pieces.
“Not letting me touch him but playing with my heart, really.”
Maybe Hyunseo wasn’t a tender gentleman or a madman, but actually a fox. While having these absurd thoughts, Doha got up from his seat. This wasn’t the time. Opportunity isn’t something to wait for, but to create. There were countless ways to take the initiative.
Though he had returned to Siyeong Palace, it was still difficult to completely relax. He needed to completely drive out Seowoo, the Noble Consort, and capture Hyunseo’s heart to survive. Composing himself, Doha poked his head toward the door.
“Court Lady Kim, are you outside?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The door opened, and Court Lady Kim entered with hurried steps. The crown of her bowed head was now familiar. It had been about two weeks since he possessed this body. It had long become natural to treat senior actors dismissively.
“Did Court Official Park follow His Majesty?”
“No. His Majesty said he would go to the study, so I believe he’s at the royal medical office.”
“The royal medical office?”
What business would Court Official Park have at the royal medical office? Doha tilted his head. The lewd face of the royal physician briefly crossed his mind but was quickly forgotten.
“Shall I call for Court Official Park?”
“No. There’s no need to disturb a busy person. I plan to visit the study, so prepare accordingly.”
“Your Highness, the study is…”
Court Lady Kim trailed off with a worried face. As if knowing exactly what she was trying to say, Doha nodded with a benevolent expression.
The study was Hyunseo’s private space that no one else could intrude upon. Ever since a civil official was expelled after entering the private study, no one except Court Official Park had entered the study. Even Seowoo, who was desperate to meet Hyunseo, dared not intrude on the study.
“It’s alright. Surely he wouldn’t chase me away.”
“Your Highness.”
“Court Lady Kim, just make me look pretty. So His Majesty will think of me longer.”
I can’t be the only one thinking about him. Doha smiled coyly. Court Lady Kim bowed deeply toward her master, who was looking at her with a face full of schemes.
* * *
At that time, at Gyopung Palace.
Seowoo, who couldn’t take a single step outside the palace as ordered, was pacing around the room in anxiety. All the palace people were tense and unsettled because of their master’s restless movement.
“Has there still been no word from His Majesty?”
“Well…”
Jinhee, the court lady serving Seowoo, trailed off. Realizing from her weak voice that his wish was not fulfilled, Seowoo bit his nails.
Click. A sound came from the bitten nail. Seowoo’s face hardened as he glared at the tightly closed door.
“Why is he so cold only to me? Why!”
A voice tinged with resentment filled the room. It had been like that from the beginning. Even on the first day he entered the palace and met Hyunseo, he didn’t give him a single glance. Even when they drank the marriage wine together, even when they walked on the red carpet, he didn’t say a single kind word.
Consistently cold tone and gaze, an impassive expression revealing no emotion. That was all Hyunseo gave to Seowoo. There was neither compassion nor love in it. What was present for Doha but absent for Seowoo. That was Hyunseo’s heart.
Blood finally began to flow from the nail that had been torn by teeth. The bright red blood that ran down his fingertip fell to the floor. It was a strange sight, but no one dared approach Seowoo carelessly.
“What on earth is so special about him!”
As Seowoo swept down the porcelain displayed in the showcase with both hands, the porcelain fell to the floor with a loud noise, scattering into pieces. A palace person, startled by the loud sound, screamed.
“Kyaak!”
Seowoo’s gaze turned to the direction of the scream from behind.
“He had black eyes just like yours.”
Seowoo slowly approached the palace person. Though his steps were slow, the sight of Seowoo walking while dripping blood was enough to instill fear. Seowoo grabbed the trembling palace person’s head with a fierce hand.
“Aak!”
The palace person’s head bent abnormally. Tears welled up in their eyes, but Seowoo didn’t care and held and shook the head even more forcefully.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
