Court Lady Kim’s face turned pale. A new wedding? If he were to marry, who would it be to? The martial garment she was holding fell to the floor with a thud.
“Being born a man, one should traditionally have about four husbands.”
“Your Highness!”
Court Lady Kim screamed in horror, her voice echoing through the room. At her reaction, Doha burst into laughter like a mischievous child.
“It’s a joke, just a joke.”
Doha’s gaze shifted toward the door. The man who hadn’t looked back once since yesterday. The shoulders of the man silently guarding the door visibly flinched at the word “husband.”
“If possible, four would be nice, that’s what I mean.”
He was probably recalling the night when he had claimed to have a fourth husband. Cute fellow.
Doha, dressed in white undergarments, slipped his arms into a blue martial uniform. It was made of a lighter, thinner fabric than silk to enhance mobility. It was a simpler outfit than what he usually wore. Though the form was modest, being a martial uniform, it exuded more masculinity than his usual attire.
After wrapping a black belt around his waist, he put on a dopo of a darker color. Meanwhile, Court Lady Kim stroked Doha’s fine hair from behind.
“Your Highness, are you really going to tie it in a single knot?”
“Yes. Don’t use any accessories.”
His voice was firm. At Doha’s answer, Court Lady Kim tied his hair high in a single knot. After securing it with a black leather strap, she finally wrapped a silk band around Doha’s forehead. Feeling the pressure on his forehead, Doha raised his hand to adjust the silk band.
“I don’t need a headband either.”
“Your Highness, this at least cannot be omitted. With no hairpins or ornaments already…”
“I have my reasons, so please remove it.”
To follow the plan, he needed to depart from his usual elaborate adornment. Doha gazed at the bronze mirror placed in front of him.
Through the smudges, his delicate face was faintly reflected. To think I’ve grown accustomed to seeing my face in this dirty bronze mirror. Doha inwardly laughed at himself for naturally seeking out the bronze mirror.
“I cannot yield on the headband.”
“Court Lady Kim.”
“I cannot concede on this point. If you wish to go, you’ll have to step over me.”
Such a resolute voice over just a silk band. Knowing that no one could surpass Court Lady Kim in stubbornness, Doha sighed and touched his forehead.
“I can’t win against Court Lady Kim.”
At his words of permission, Court Lady Kim’s face brightened. The palace servants became busy once again. Doha closed his eyes as servants clung to his body, adjusting his clothes.
Whether in the modern era or here, waiting rooms were always tedious.
***
The hunting competition was held at the hunting grounds within the palace. With mountains behind and a lake in front, it was a scenic location where the royal family often went hunting.
As the hunting grounds were under Ungeom’s jurisdiction, Dojin led the way. Doha and Court Lady Kim silently followed behind.
Unlike usual, Dojin wasn’t wearing his black martial uniform but a military ceremonial outfit. He wore a black jeogori and pants underneath, with a teal-colored dopo on the outside. Since it was the first time seeing him properly dressed in military ceremonial attire, Doha couldn’t take his eyes off Dojin.
Especially his body.
The bright-colored clothes accentuated Dojin’s already large frame. His broad shoulders, thick sides, and bursting forearms were revealed with every movement.
It was a physique rare even in the entertainment industry. The kind of body that needed to be sculpted before filming an action movie. A body that required months of dedicated exercise to build.
“Flower Bin.”
Doha, who had been absentmindedly staring at Dojin’s body, stopped in his tracks, startled.
“Yes?”
Dojin had been silent since they left Siyeong Palace. This was the first time today that Dojin had spoken first, causing Doha’s voice to unconsciously rise in pitch.
“What is it, Ungeom?”
Clearing his throat, Doha approached Dojin. Only then did Dojin look at him.
“This.”
Dojin reached inside his outer garment and took something out. It was a small pouch embroidered with flowers. The pouch, about the size of a pinky finger, looked like a toy in Dojin’s large hand.
“Please take it.”
He forcefully placed the pouch in Doha’s hand. Having received it unexpectedly, Doha looked up at Dojin and asked:
“What is this?”
Inside the small pouch was a round container. It looked like the kind that would contain rouge. Doha took the round container out of the pouch, and Dojin turned his head away.
“…It’s an ointment.”
“Ointment?”
“Your hand… Isn’t it injured?”
Only then did Doha examine his own hand. The previous wound had pus sticking to it. It seemed that the wound had reopened and become infected every time he shot the bow.
“I didn’t even realize it had become infected.”
He hadn’t noticed the wound reopening due to being so focused on archery practice. Calluses and blisters were stuck between his fingers. As Doha looked down at his palm, Dojin placed his hand on Doha’s head.
“Apply it whenever you have time.”
“Thank you.”
“Each time you apply it…”
Dojin’s hand ran through Doha’s hair. Hair flowed between his fingers like a mirage. He momentarily gazed at the hair that seemed within grasp yet wasn’t.
“…”
Dojin’s teal-colored ceremonial outfit brushed past. As if revealing his desire to stay longer, the hem of his garment clung to Doha’s clothes before falling away. By the time Doha lifted his head, Dojin was already walking far ahead.
Each time you apply it, please think of me. That was probably what he had wanted to say. Guessing Dojin’s unfinished words, Doha carefully placed the medicine container back in the pouch.
It was a feeling that couldn’t be shown outwardly. That sentiment was conveyed completely. After quietly gazing at Dojin, Doha eventually hid the pouch inside his chest.
They continued walking. Dojin led, and Doha followed. Both Dojin and Doha knew who was waiting at the end of that path.
***
The banquet hall at the hunting grounds.
Everyone took their seats in front of the banquet hall overlooking the lake. It was a gathering to pray for good fortune before the hunting competition.
With a long table in the center, the Chief State Councilor sat on the right, and Lord Kim sat on the left. As officials arrived, they chose whether to sit on the left or right based on who was seated at the front.
“Lord Kim, you’re not the sort who should be here, are you?”
The Chief State Councilor, dressed in brown martial attire appropriate for officials, asked. His tone was clearly provocative.
“If I didn’t come, who else would sit here?”
Lord Kim, Doha’s father, replied with a hearty laugh. The Chief State Councilor frowned at Lord Kim’s dismissive joke. When he closed his mouth, the thick discontented flesh on both cheeks stretched out.
“You visit the palace quite often for someone without an official position.”
“Though I hold no official position, I am His Majesty’s father-in-law. What reason is there for me not to come?”
“If you’re a father-in-law, you should discipline your son properly instead of letting him show his face everywhere… tsk tsk.”
Lord Kim’s laughter ceased at the word “son” from the Chief State Councilor’s mouth. The atmosphere, which had been peaceful enough for quiet conversation, though not exactly cordial, froze. Even the ministers sitting on the Chief State Councilor’s side glanced nervously at Lord Kim.
“What did you just say?”
Lord Kim called out to the Chief State Councilor in a low voice. It was inappropriate for Lord Kim, who had neither official position nor title, to address the Chief State Councilor as “you” so informally, but no one raised an issue with it.
Unlike the Chief State Councilor, who filled his storehouses and increased his wealth by collecting taxes from the people, Lord Kim came from a prestigious family that had been part of Shinguk since its founding. From the number of guests visiting his home to his reputation, connections, and public support, there was nothing in which the Chief State Councilor surpassed Lord Kim.
The Chief State Councilor raised his voice to hide his momentary hesitation.
“‘You’? Did you just call me ‘you’? How dare you address me, the Chief State Councilor, as ‘you’?”
“If your ears are functioning properly, you would have heard correctly.”
“What?”
A strong nasal breath erupted from the Chief State Councilor’s nostrils. With an intensity that made it seem like he might storm out at any moment, the minister sitting next to him grabbed his arm.
“Your Excellency, please calm down!”
“But Lord Kim started it!”
The Chief State Councilor shouted, glaring at Lord Kim with a contorted face. No matter how high his authority, it was unthinkable for Lord Kim, who held no official position, to act this way toward the Chief State Councilor.
Just because he was fortunate enough to place his son next to Hyunseo. How his arrogance reaches the heavens. The Chief State Councilor pointed a finger at Lord Kim and opened his mouth.
“With such an incompetent father, isn’t the son incompetent as well!”
Lord Kim, who had been holding a wine cup, set it down with a loud thud. The father might be incompetent, but my son is not. The hand holding the cup trembled violently.
Seeing his hand, Jeonghyeon grabbed Lord Kim’s forearm. All the ministers watched the two, expecting Jeonghyeon to restrain Lord Kim.
“Father.”
Jeonghyeon called out to Lord Kim with a trembling voice.
“Don’t hold back. How dare he speak of our Doha!”
The words that burst out were not what the ministers had expected. No sooner had the words fallen than Lord Kim overturned the table with a crash.
“How dare you speak about my son!”
The wine cups that had been on the table rolled across the floor. Both the ministers sitting on Lord Kim’s side and those on the Chief State Councilor’s side rose from their seats in unison.
“Your Excellency!”
“What are you all doing!”
Everyone in the palace had heard of Lord Kim’s love for his son. However, they hadn’t realized it was to the extent that he would charge forward without regard for anything. The ministers, alarmed by Lord Kim’s agitated state as he stamped his feet in excitement, hurriedly restrained him.
“Well done, Father!”
Jeonghyeon, the immature eldest son, clapped and encouraged the fight between Lord Kim and the Chief State Councilor. Dressed in a colorful dopo, as if he had collected every silk garment available.
“How dare a mere Chief State Councilor insult our son?”
“A mere Chief State Councilor? Lord Kim, if your mind has gone, don’t leave your house. Is there a higher position than the Chief State Councilor in the court, that’s what I’m asking!”
“Position? Is the Chief State Councilor number one just because of his position? You’re simply setting aside our His Majesty, I see.”
Despite being restrained by the ministers, the verbal battle between the two middle-aged men continued unabated. The Chief State Councilor, who maintained an immensely grave atmosphere in court, and Lord Kim were both remarkably petty in their war of words.
While the two men stamped their feet and spat at each other, Doha stood in front of the banquet hall, looking down at the scene.
What a mess.
Doha stared blankly at Lord Kim, who was supposed to be his father, Jeonghyeon, who was clapping and laughing, and the Chief State Councilor, whose nostrils were flaring.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
