A massive body completely blocked the doorway. He was so large that Court Lady Kim and Court Official Park standing behind him were obscured. Dojin, with his expressionless face, looked down at Doha.
The first things that caught his eye were the white skin unlike his own, the fine-textured hair, and the delicate features. His lips were pink as if painted with rouge, and his eyes were reddened as though he had been crying before falling asleep. Though his face was one that would stimulate a man’s heart, Dojin thought he lacked masculinity.
‘What do they mean by calling him the most beautiful in the world?’
True beauty comes from refined movements and a trained body. Doha’s body was merely slender with no trace of exercise. And what about his height? His head barely reached Dojin’s shoulder.
‘Though it’s the perfect height for embracing.’
Dojin frowned at his momentarily wayward thought. What was he thinking about embracing for? Why were his thoughts going in that direction? Dojin’s face hardened at these impure thoughts that kept arising. It was all because of that man. Things had become strange since seeing him. His senses numbed and his thoughts jumped to odd places.
From the moment he first saw Doha at the banquet hall, Dojin had caught his scent. For Dojin, whose senses were as developed as an animal’s, detecting scents wasn’t difficult. A sweet scent resembling flowers. A scent so sweet it made his tongue tingle.
Like tracking prey, Dojin followed the scent to find its owner. When he raised his head before the owner of the scent, he was already at the banquet hall. Doha, not noticing Dojin, was performing a sword dance, lightly stepping on the hall’s carpet.
Each time the sword cut through the air, Dojin blinked. It was too dazzling to look at. The steady breathing, the refined movements, the motion of the sword. All of it was new to Dojin, who had only wielded swords to kill opponents on battlefields.
The moving blade soon found its way between the spaces of Doha’s body. Each time the sword entered near the back of his neck, between his body and arms, or through his hair, Dojin held his breath.
‘Why would this person use a sword that could kill him?’
A sword was a tool for killing others. At the same time, it was a tool for self-protection. But Doha’s sword dance had something thrilling about it. The dance moves seemed to threaten the performer himself, the movements too precarious.
“Turn your head away if you don’t want to die.”
Only at Hyunseo’s words did Dojin realize the dancer’s identity. He was the Flower Bin who lived in Siyeong Palace. That foolish man who waited for his master like a planted flower.
Dojin disliked people like Doha. He despised those who showed no trace of masculinity, those who lived solely on their scent. Perhaps it was because he had spent his entire life on the battlefield.
Doha met Dojin’s gaze as he looked at him with impure eyes. His gaze was unwavering.
“Who gave you these orders?”
“His Majesty’s command to guard Siyeong Palace.”
Though he used honorifics, his tone was somewhat crooked. Doha closely examined his scarred face. Had he seen such a face during filming? He couldn’t remember clearly. The drama had centered on the main characters, with supporting roles and other characters having minimal presence.
Was he among them?
Doha slowly walked toward him as he completely blocked the door. He stopped only when he was close enough to touch him.
“If you’re carrying out orders, you should first state your rank and name, as is proper.”
Doha reprimanded him with an authoritative voice. Surprised by the unexpected rebuke, Court Lady Kim and Court Official Park entered the room with shocked faces. Not stopping there, Doha asked again.
“What is your name?”
“This humble one is Ungeom Park Dojin.”
Park Dojin. Such a name wasn’t in the script. Doha’s mind raced quickly. If it was a name he’d never heard, there were three possibilities: either he was someone outside the script, a character without lines, or a newly introduced character.
He couldn’t tell which was correct. Whatever the answer, he was an unknown figure to Doha. There was no information about him. Hiding his anxiety, Doha smiled at Dojin.
“Well then, Ungeom. My chest feels heavy, and I need to take a walk outside. Would you move aside?”
“I cannot allow that.”
The answer came back sharp as a knife. At such a resolute answer that showed no room for negotiation, Doha took another step toward Dojin.
“Wouldn’t it be fine as long as I don’t leave Siyeong Palace?”
“His Majesty ordered that you shouldn’t meet anyone.”
“…I will only take Court Lady Kim and Court Official Park with me.”
“That is also not permitted.”
It was a completely unyielding answer. Though they had not exchanged many words, Doha quickly grasped Dojin’s character from his tone, voice, and movements.
There’s no use talking much with a man like this. His principles are firm, and he won’t bend his will. Since Hyunseo had given the order, he would follow it even if it meant his death.
‘The problem is that I need to rescue Eunsung by tonight.’
A promise made had to be kept. In this situation, he would take the direct approach. Doha pressed his body closely against Dojin’s. Dojin inhaled sharply at the contact of their skin.
“What are you doing?”
“Regardless of His Majesty’s orders, this is my palace. It doesn’t make sense that I can’t move freely in my own home.”
“…Sit down at once.”
Doha pushed against Dojin’s body with all his might. Despite clenching his fists and exerting his strength, only Doha’s body moved. Glaring at Dojin’s body that didn’t budge an inch like a rock, Doha changed his approach.
“Bin Mama! How improper!”
Court Lady Kim approached in alarm as Doha placed his hands around Dojin’s waist and applied force. Ignoring her, Doha grunted with effort, and Dojin, unable to endure anymore, said:
“I’ll commit a disloyal act.”
In an instant, Dojin lifted Doha’s body. Doha’s face came so close to his neck that they could feel each other’s breath. Dojin frowned as he felt the warmth on his neck each time Doha breathed, finding it excessively ticklish.
With heavy steps, he carried Doha to the bedchamber.
“Do you know whom you’re holding right now?”
Doha asked in a calm voice. Since he hadn’t expected to succeed, it was fine that he couldn’t get outside. Besides that… he had achieved an unexpected result.
“Aren’t you the Flower Bin Mama?”
Dojin’s ears turned bright red as he answered, contrasting with his expressionless face. Doha wanted to reach out and touch his ears. While one can hide their thoughts, they cannot hide their body’s reactions. Doha looked into the budding feelings within Dojin.
You’re a Yangin too.
With careful hands, he placed Doha on the silk bedding. Then, as if his duty was done, he returned to his post at the door. Doha addressed him as he stood like a pillar.
“I will attempt to go outside all night.”
“Then may I commit more disloyal acts?”
That man probably didn’t realize how provocative his words were. Seeing how he blushed at such light contact, this man seemed to have little experience.
‘Well, with a body like that, he probably had no time for lovers.’
Perhaps from the effort of carrying Doha, his forearms looked even thicker than before. Veins bulged prominently over them. Doha opened his mouth while staring at that remarkable body.
“If you tell me one thing, I’ll stay quiet tonight.”
“…What is it?”
Though he would go rescue Eunsung no matter what, that was for later. A rigid man like this probably wouldn’t know how to lie. Doha asked with a composed face:
“Where is His Majesty right now?”
“…!”
Court Lady Kim and Court Official Park, who had been restless all this time, froze. The reason for confining me here. Moreover, the condition that I shouldn’t contact other palace people. There was only one reason.
‘They’re hiding something from me.’
They didn’t want me to hear certain information. Whether through palace people or others.
“If you tell me just that, I’ll sleep quietly tonight. I won’t go out or speak with palace attendants, so you won’t have disobeyed your orders.”
“…”
“What will you do?”
People with strong principles had the weakness of not seeing other perspectives. He probably hadn’t thought about cases beyond his orders. That was exactly what Doha was targeting. Eventually, Dojin’s sealed lips opened.
“His Majesty is at the Noble Consort’s quarters.”
Court Lady Kim tightly shut her eyes.
* * *
Even after Doha left the study, Hyunseo couldn’t read a single line. After staring at the book for a long time, he finally closed it.
“Haa.”
His lower region, briefly touched, wouldn’t calm down. No matter how much he looked at the book or thought of other things, once aroused, it showed no signs of subsiding.
“This is maddening.”
He recalled Doha’s words calling his member a “brush holder.” The words saying it was longer than a brush holder, and the feeling of Doha’s hand stroking his thigh, wouldn’t leave his mind, driving him crazy. It had seemed calm before. Hyunseo glanced down at his aroused lower region.
It seemed his lower part wouldn’t subside until someone touched it. Of course, the person it wanted was Doha, but he couldn’t dare let Doha touch his monstrous thing.
There was only one solution.
Hyunseo’s hand moved down to his waist.