It was a low voice like a growling beast. As the warning-laden voice settled low in the banquet hall, the officials quickly bowed their heads.
“Your Majesty…!”
Seowoo called out to him, but Hyunseo’s words remained unchanged.
“Now!”
Valuing their lives, everyone bowed their heads deeply. When it involved the Flower Bin, the flower of Siyeong Palace, lying prostrate was the answer.
Hyunseo’s affection for Doha was extraordinary, to the extent that he personally bestowed the title of “Hwa-bin” (Flower Bin). The name of the palace where the Flower Bin resided was Siyeong Palace—meaning “the time of the flower”—named by Hyunseo himself.
Since he had cherished him especially from the moment he entered the palace, no one dared touch the Flower Bin. From the title itself, his starting point was different from that of the Noble Consort who had no title.
However, the Flower Bin, Doha, was currently confused.
‘What the hell is wrong with him…’
I thought he was supposed to be the sweet type. He’s supposed to be the sweet type, writer…
Doha swallowed as he faced the man’s completely crazed eyes. Reflected in those black pupils was Doha’s image alone. No one else could be contained in his eyes.
Descending from the throne, he approached Doha slowly, never taking his eyes off him for a moment. His steps were leisurely, but resembled those of a carnivorous animal preparing to hunt.
The look in his eyes was that of one waiting for the opportunity to catch his prey.
“Your Majesty, your dignity…!”
Court Official Park, who was at his side, hurriedly tried to stop him, but Hyunseo had already approached right up to Doha’s face.
Having approached, Hyunseo grabbed Doha’s chin with one hand.
“Ah…!”
“You dare to undress in front of other men?”
Their gazes met intensely. Doha realized for the first time that one could suffocate just from someone’s gaze. He could neither avoid the eyes nor turn his head. Only Hyunseo’s face filled his vision.
The actor who had originally played Hyunseo had a puppy-like face. The standard face of a sweet male lead. A face with gentle eye lines like a puppy’s, eyes that formed half-moons when he smiled—just looking at him made you feel like a tail would be wagging gently.
But Hyunseo’s face before him… was closer to a predator than a puppy. A tiger or lion came to mind spontaneously. Just his presence was threatening.
“Have you truly gone mad?”
Forget puppy tails. His sharp face made Doha feel like he should lie prostrate and beg forgiveness. Just facing him was exhausting. Doha looked up at Hyunseo with difficulty, opening his eyes wide.
“If I’ve gone mad, then so be it.”
“What did you say?”
“Who wouldn’t go mad when they’re locked up in a palace and never even looked at?”
To a predator, a herbivore is just prey. One shouldn’t become prey from the start. No predator listens to what its food has to say.
As Doha ran his hands through his hair, the fabric barely covering his chest fell to the floor. Simultaneously, Hyunseo removed his royal robe.
Blue silk scattered in the air. Without hesitation, he wrapped the garment around Doha’s body.
“Your Majesty! That must not be…!”
To casually take off the royal robe and throw it away! The shocked Court Official Park urgently called to Hyunseo, but it had no effect whatsoever.
The blue royal robe wrapped around Doha’s body. A hardened jaw, likely from gritting his teeth, was visible before him. In contrast, the touch that swept over Doha’s body was attentive.
Is he really the sweet type after all? Doha opened his eyes round and looked up at Hyunseo’s face. His expression was that of a mad prince, but his face was that of a sweet prince. What kind of character was this?
“Do you think I brought you to the palace to undress anywhere?”
Hyunseo whispered in Doha’s ear. It was a very low voice. Just hearing his voice made Doha’s legs tingle, causing him to bite his lip.
He wanted to know a little more about Hyunseo. The current Hyunseo was different from the one in the script. There was a need to study his opponent.
Doha decided to make a bold move.
“…Now that I’ve undressed, you finally look at me?”
Like a wounded lover, like someone with very deep sorrow, he uttered in a trembling voice. Tears welled up instantly. His vision blurred.
“…Hwa-bin!”
With reddened eyes, Doha looked at Hyunseo and moved his lips once more.
“I did this… because I wanted to see you.”
“…”
“You said you would come to see me… but you never once took a step.”
Right on cue, as he closed his eyes, a tear that had been pooling fell. Acting pitiful was Doha’s most confident performance. Sure enough, he could see Hyunseo’s gaze wavering.
One more shot. One final shot remained.
When he delivered the final blow, his future plans would be determined by Hyunseo’s reaction. He would be able to figure out whether he was a hopeless mad prince, a mad prince with room for improvement, or a sweet prince pretending to be mad.
Just as Doha was about to part his lips.
“Your Majesty, it’s all my fault!”
Unable to watch any longer, Seowoo knelt in the middle of the banquet hall. Rather than voluntarily kneeling, it was closer to him having fallen while walking with a limp. Seated in place, Seowoo bowed his head so hard that a thud sound could be heard.
“I… I dared to help Bin Mama…!”
Hyunseo’s gaze turned to the kneeling Seowoo. Noticing Hyunseo’s eyes darkening again, Doha inwardly sighed. Then, with eyes filled with curses, he turned around.
‘What a bastard.’
Looking back, he saw Seowoo still bowing his head. A faint scent leaked from Seowoo. It was a very subtle scent, barely noticeable even to himself.
It was a really disgusting trick.
‘So it was you? The bastard who smiled at me at the end?’
As soon as he saw Seowoo’s face, the emotions from when they filmed the final episode surged. Being dragged out of the palace. Pain that felt like his heart was being torn apart. Betrayal. Anger. All at once, he recalled even Seowoo’s smile as he looked at him at the end. Doha’s face was consumed with anger.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
