***
It had already been a week since Doha began learning archery. For that entire week, Doha had only been pulling bowstrings at the makeshift practice range that Court Lady Kim had prepared. It looked like all he had to do was pull the string, but even that required arm strength.
The problem was muscle strength. Doha’s right arm trembled as he pulled the bowstring with all his might.
“You must maintain the correct posture.”
Dojin, who had been watching Doha from behind, placed his hand on Doha’s right arm. As his body pressed close, Doha froze.
“Hold the bow more firmly, and lower your right hand a bit more.”
His touch reached Doha’s wrist. Gently wrapping around the wrist, he lowered the bow a little more. This man who couldn’t even touch him on other occasions was now uninhibited when teaching archery.
“Eyes forward.”
Dojin bent his waist to match Doha’s height. He drew close to the side of Doha’s face in an instant. With their breaths almost touching, Doha held his breath.
“You must pull with maximum strength in your right arm.”
The low voice echoed in his ear, but Dojin’s words were already inaudible. Doha couldn’t take his eyes off Dojin’s face. His gaze kept wandering to the tanned skin, the elongated eyes, and the cleanly defined nose. It was the distinctively solid impression of a Yangin, completely opposite to Doha.
‘He’s sexy.’
While Hyunseo had sharp features, Dojin was a handsome man with a solid, sturdy impression. He exuded a pillar-like feeling that seemed capable of protecting him from everything in this world, while simultaneously giving a sense of stability. Moreover, those arm muscles that bulged tautly whenever he gripped the bowstring. There were too many elements distracting from archery practice.
Even in the modern era, handsome men like Dojin were rare. The acting industry pursued prettily-featured faces like Doha’s, so actors with stronger features were seldom cast. By the time of his manifestation, it seemed like singers resembling Dojin had begun to appear in the idol industry.
It was all Dojin’s fault. The lack of improvement over a week, the rapid passage of time every night—everything. Discovering Doha’s gaze upon him, Dojin spoke.
“Will you be looking only at me when you shoot during the hunting competition as well?”
“Huh?”
“I ask because you’re only staring at my face.”
Oops, was it that obvious? Doha hurriedly flushed and lowered his head. Too blatant seduction would only create resistance. The other was Ungeom. Doha, being his master’s possession, would be taboo for Dojin.
The more forbidden, the more desirable it would be, though.
“N-no. I was just… wondering when I might be able to shoot like Ungeom…”
He had to act as if he were unskilled, as if he were someone awkward with his own emotions. The more his intentions showed, the more Dojin would distance himself. It wasn’t bad to appear somewhat foolish. Lowering the other’s guard was the priority.
With his face flushed red, Doha glanced furtively at Dojin.
“I-is this how it’s done?”
He lowered the bow even further than the position Dojin had set. With that movement, Dojin once again took Doha’s hands in his. Their hands overlapped on the bowstring.
“Think of the bow as brushing above your shoulder.”
“Like this?”
“Yes. Now look straight ahead.”
Dojin removed his hands from the tightly drawn bowstring. Though still trembling from the effort, Doha managed to hold the bowstring reasonably well. After adjusting Doha’s posture once more, Dojin brought an arrow from behind.
Having not even seen an arrow for the entire week, Doha’s expression was filled with anticipation. Catching a glimpse of the flushed face, Dojin nocked the arrow to the bowstring.
“From the moment an arrow is nocked, Your Highness can kill anyone.”
Slipping the arrow between Doha’s thumb and index finger, Dojin continued.
“A life hangs on the arrowhead, so shoot with care.”
“I can barely pull the string… I don’t have the temperament to kill anyone.”
Doha let out a small laugh as he turned his body toward the target. Court Lady Kim was anxiously pacing behind, watching the two pressed closely together. Being too far to hear their conversation, she was beside herself with worry.
What is Your Highness thinking? Being the most skilled archer of all and yet practicing archery? Oblivious to Court Lady Kim’s concerns, Dojin took Doha’s hand in his.
“It’s not just someone else’s life at stake, but Your Highness’s life as well.”
“…Even my life?”
“If you miss, the next arrow might kill you.”
His voice was resolute. Dojin’s fingers enveloped Doha’s thumb and index finger. As he slowly released the tension in his hand, Doha released the arrow with him.
With a whooshing sound, the arrow struck the target. Though not in the center, it was an exciting achievement compared to merely gripping the bowstring all this time. Doha turned to look at Dojin.
“Ungeom! Did you see that, Ungeom!”
Doha looked up at Dojin, smiling like a child. Behind Doha, a full moon appeared round and bright. Momentarily, Dojin was entranced by the beautiful face illuminated by moonlight. How did this man bewitch him so? Dojin’s Adam’s apple bobbed prominently.
The arrow had flown, but their hands remained intertwined. Not wanting to let go, Dojin squeezed Doha’s hand firmly once before releasing it. Masking his expression as though it had been accidental, Dojin answered in a composed voice.
“…That was just one shot.”
“One shot is still skill. Enough technique to protect myself.”
At the excited voice, Dojin silently picked up his bow. The bow that had seemed too large for Doha appeared like a toy in Dojin’s hands.
With practiced skill, he nocked an arrow and drew the string. The bowstring was pulled without a hint of gap, incomparable to Doha’s attempt. Dojin’s powerful forearm emerged from beneath his black martial attire. Having taken aim, he released the arrow.
With a sound, Dojin’s arrow precisely split Doha’s arrow.
“The arrow that protects and the arrow that kills are the same.”
Dojin spoke to Doha, who was staring at the target with his mouth open.
“Remember that.”
“Hm?”
“I wish for Your Highness to remain unharmed.”
Why all the men around him kept telling him not to get hurt was both understandable and confusing. Do I look that precarious? Doha pondered, mulling over Dojin’s words. Still, it wasn’t something to be ignored. The hunting competition—an event where weapons were officially permitted—carried that much more risk.
Excuses like ‘I was hunting’ or ‘I accidentally shot an arrow’ were common lines in the palace consort power struggles. Doha grasped the bow again, recalling dramas he had watched.
“Until then, my teacher should instruct me well.”
Doha turned to look at Dojin with a playful expression. Dojin stood frozen with his bow, staring back at Doha. His eyes widened as if in surprise.
“Teacher?”
Surely… is it because of this title?
“…Please don’t call me that.”
His voice was low, as if suppressing something. At the word “teacher,” Dojin’s ears turned bright red. Though his expression remained composed, he couldn’t hide his ears. Looking up at Dojin, Doha burst out laughing and said:
“Teacher.”
Dojin couldn’t understand why a title he had heard dozens, hundreds of times from others was now causing such turmoil in his heart. As his body temperature rose, he irritably swept his hair back. The navy blue band holding his hair fluttered in the wind.
“Teacher. Are you hot? You’re sweating.”
“I told you not to tease me.”
“But isn’t it human nature to want to tease more when told not to?”
Doha, laughing brightly, aimed his bow at Dojin. As the improperly drawn bow pointed at him, Dojin let out a small laugh and pulled on the bow.
With that touch, Doha’s feet became entangled. Before he could react with an “Oh!”, Doha’s body was already falling. In an instant, he landed in Dojin’s arms.
“Ah…!”
Without realizing it, Dojin extended both arms to embrace Doha. Nestled in his arms, Doha lifted his face with a small moan. His face was flushed bright red—a color like a well-ripened fruit, visible even without the moonlight.
“Teacher.”
Doha whispered, looking up at Dojin. Dojin’s gaze moved to Doha’s finely shaped lips. His eyes kept being drawn to those lips, redder than the face. Feeling Dojin’s gaze on his lips, Doha gently clutched Dojin’s clothes.
“Will you… teach me archery?”
Even knowing it was mischief, he couldn’t help but be swept away by Doha’s words. Like a wave, Doha overturned his heart. He shook and upset the resolve Dojin had struggled to maintain. Who would have thought that this small Eumin would be more challenging than an army of millions? Dojin hadn’t known this when fighting on the battlefield.
Dojin silently nodded. Having received permission, Doha smiled with satisfaction and grabbed Dojin’s hand. This time, Dojin’s hand was below and Doha’s hand overlapped on top.
Doha interlaced their fingers and pulled the bowstring.
“Do you usually grab any man’s hand so boldly?”
The action he had done without thinking made only his heart chaotic, which felt unfair. Dojin’s eyebrows rose high, as if displeased. To his question, Doha smiled slightly and replied:
“Any man’s hand, you say?”
“…”
“It’s my teacher’s hand.”
After finishing his words, Doha slowly rubbed Dojin’s hand with his thumb. It was a gesture expressing interest in the other person, but unfortunately, Dojin did not recognize what the action meant. He only found it strange that his body was growing hot and the energy within him was running wild.
Disappointed by the lack of response, Doha shook his head.
‘Still far off. This will be a long journey…’
Damn it.
How could the men here be such protected species? It was like a walking museum. Unintentionally conserving energy as if preserving electricity, Doha inserted an arrow into the bowstring with all his might.
***
Even while walking down the corridor toward the sleeping quarters, Dojin continuously expounded on Doha’s posture.
“You must place one foot forward. If both feet are positioned at the back, you won’t maintain balance.”
His pleasant, deep voice echoed through the corridor. Doha nodded as he walked in step with him.
“The bowstring should be kept low, and it’s better to pull until your shoulder hurts…”
“Teacher.”
Sensing a presence behind them, Doha called out to stop Dojin.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I think I need to meet Court Official Park for a moment.”
“Now?”
“Yes, it won’t take long, so please wait for me in front of my chambers.”
Dojin’s gaze lingered on Doha’s face, as if gauging his intentions. After a brief moment, Dojin gave a short bow and walked past.
Watching Dojin’s figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Doha whispered:
“Come out now.”
Before his words were finished, someone grabbed Doha’s wrist firmly. With considerable strength, Doha’s body was dragged into another corner of the corridor. Arms as large as Dojin’s embraced Doha. As Doha inhaled sharply, the person who had pulled him covered his mouth with a palm.
“It’s better to stay quiet, Your Highness.”
The man embracing him whispered in Doha’s ear. It was a familiar voice.
“Mmph, you?”
Doha whispered with unclear pronunciation as his mouth was covered. At those words, the man pressed his hand more firmly over Doha’s mouth.
“Ha, your breathing sounds are making me excited again.”
There was only one person who would utter such outrageous words in this solemn palace. Ji Eunsung. He had certainly come to collect his due.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
