Seowoo sat on the floor, supporting himself with his slender arms that looked as if they might collapse at any moment. Tears streaked across his beautiful face. His beautiful features, now wet with tears, looked even more pure and delicate.
As if aware of this effect, Seowoo slightly tilted his head toward the ministers. Just enough for everyone to get a good look at his face.
“I entered the palace empty-handed and have never coveted what belongs to Your Majesty. Even when Your Majesty’s heart was with me, I never once uttered a word of resentment.”
It was a subtle emphasis suggesting that His Majesty’s heart being with Doha was a thing of the past. Only Doha seemed to notice the nuance in his tone, while everyone else simply listened attentively to Seowoo’s words.
“Even when you commanded me to wear formal banquet attire to the archery hunting competition, I accepted with a joyful heart.”
“Noble Consort, it seems you are the one who misunderstands…”
“Hic, the court ladies suffered so much to make that formal attire in time…”
Seowoo interrupted Doha’s words, wiping his tears as he replied. Faced with such brazen audacity, Doha was left speechless. It usually took a certain level of absurdity before he’d find himself at a loss for words. But this—claiming to have received formal attire that was never actually given—left him completely unable to respond.
He couldn’t even use the plan he had prepared.
‘This is all Jin Hyunseo’s fault.’
According to the original plan, he should have been sitting between Jeonghyeon and Lord Kim, using their support to defeat Seowoo. The plan had been ruined from the moment Hyunseo placed him on his lap. With the seating changed, the plan naturally had to change as well.
‘I had everything planned out. All hyung needed to do was sit back and watch.’
This wasn’t just a case of spilling soup on a finished meal—the entire table had been overturned. With a hastily revised plan, flaws were inevitable. A plan crafted in such a short time couldn’t possibly be perfect.
And Seowoo skillfully exploited those small flaws.
Seowoo stealthily glanced around at the ministers and court officials in the banquet hall. There appeared to be at least three times as many people as had been in the interrogation room. With rumors still circulating within the palace about him pushing Doha, this gathering of many people presented the perfect opportunity to make up for his previous mistake.
Squeezing out even more tears than before, Seowoo asked in a sobbing voice:
“Hic, sob, are you doing this because I spent one night with His Majesty?”
“…That’s not it.”
“T-that one night wasn’t my choice but His Majesty’s… Hic, if it was for Your Majesty, how could I not comply… Sob.”
Seowoo, who had been whimpering, suddenly swayed and dropped his head to the floor. His body collapsed onto the stone floor.
“Noble Consort!”
As if on cue, the Chief State Councilor rose from his seat and rushed to Seowoo. He quickly grabbed Seowoo’s shoulders to support him.
“Your Excellency! Your Excellency!”
It was a dramatic scene. With the roles of villain and hero completely reversed, even Doha couldn’t help but admire the performance. The two people, working in perfect harmony, were now looking at Doha as if they were the wronged victims.
The Chief State Councilor, supporting Seowoo against his shoulder as if holding a precious relative, opened his mouth.
“Flower Bin, this behavior is unacceptable.”
“…”
The Chief State Councilor’s greedy cheeks sagged toward the floor. He raised his eyes and said:
“Don’t you know that jealousy is the greatest enemy of the inner palace?”
It was a statement that lumped all of Doha’s actions together as jealousy. Doha frowned at the Chief State Councilor’s words. If he wasn’t careful, he could end up taking the blame for both the alleged banquet clothes gift and the false accusations against Seowoo.
He needed to choose his words carefully. Neither further attacks nor excuses would work. While Doha was deliberating what to say, an unexpected voice rose from below.
“Do you have evidence that the paralytic poison was only used on the court lady?”
It was Lord Kim. He who had been quietly observing the situation finally spoke up. When he asked in a voice weighted with authority, all eyes turned back to the Chief State Councilor.
“Evidence?”
“Paralytic poison is a serious crime just for bringing it into the palace.”
“Are you daring to suggest punishment for our Noble Consort?”
When things didn’t go according to plan, the Chief State Councilor’s face immediately twisted in anger. As he asked in a fuming tone, Lord Kim let out a small laugh and replied:
“If there’s no evidence of how the poison was used, then naturally.”
“…”
“Isn’t that the rule of law that the Chief State Councilor so favors?”
The situation was turning around again. After the topic shifted from formal attire and jealousy to paralytic poison. When things didn’t go as intended, Seowoo pressed his hand against his forehead.
“Your Excellency! Are you alright?”
The Chief State Councilor, not missing this opportunity, changed the subject. With an exaggerated tone, he inquired about Seowoo’s wellbeing as he supported him. Watching the two exchange words as if performing a comedy sketch, Doha felt like giving them a “Couple of the Year” award.
Beneath the hand pressed to his forehead, Seowoo’s face was visible. He appeared to be thinking hard. Others might not notice, but Doha could see it clearly—the expression of someone trying to figure out how to overcome this situation.
‘That won’t work.’
After the opportunity Lord Kim had created for him, Doha couldn’t let it slip away. He hurriedly spoke up:
“I seem to have misunderstood the Noble Consort out of fear when I heard rumors about paralytic poison.”
“…Your Majesty.”
“I-I couldn’t help but be afraid. There would be enough palace ladies who died from that poison to cover this entire palace and more…”
Stammering as if truly frightened, Doha lowered his head. He fidgeted with his hands placed in front of his waist. This anxious appearance gave more weight to Doha’s words.
“I, I of course trust the Noble Consort, but…”
“You believe I tried to assassinate Your Majesty with paralytic poison, is that it?”
The voice was firm, with no trace of the previous sobbing. Though still leaning on the Chief State Councilor, Seowoo’s face had turned cold. If you’re going to act, commit to it all the way. Inwardly whispering this, Doha slowly nodded.
“I’m a fearful person, after all.”
“If I truly intended to assassinate Your Majesty, I would have poisoned your drink.”
At the word “assassinate,” several men’s faces hardened. Among them, what Doha could feel was Hyunseo’s mood as he held him even tighter. Seeing the two pressed together, a grinding sound escaped from the corner of Seowoo’s mouth.
“Jinhee, bring all the wine.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
At the command to bring wine, the Chief State Councilor’s eyes widened.
‘The situation has changed, that’s what I said. Did they bring the same wine?!’
He looked at Seowoo with eyes full of shock. With the smuggling of paralytic poison already exposed, serving poisoned wine would be nothing short of suicidal.
Whether aware of the Chief State Councilor’s gaze or not, Seowoo waited for Jinhee with a composed face. Finally, when Jinhee arrived carrying a thick jar with both hands, Seowoo slowly raised his body from where he had been leaning.
“If I drink all of this wine, will you believe me?”
Doha looked at the jar filled with wine. The sunlight reflected off the full wine, making it sparkle. It was a translucent white wine made from rice.
There was no poison in the wine. Whether it had been switched or not, judging by how confidently Seowoo spoke, it couldn’t possibly be poisoned. If Seowoo remained fine after drinking the wine, Doha would be the one to lose face.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to stop Seowoo, the Noble Consort, holding the jar with both hands, gulped down the wine.
“Your Excellency!”
Wine spilled from the corners of Seowoo’s mouth. The liquid ran down his facial contours and soaked his robes. As the thin fabric became wet, Seowoo’s body was visible underneath.
Seowoo’s neckline as he tilted his head back to drink, his slender body revealed beneath the wet clothes—just as the ministers were clearing their throats at the rising improper thoughts, a voice sounded from behind Doha.
“Enough.”
Hyunseo, who had been quietly observing as if he wouldn’t intervene in the consorts’ quarrel, opened his mouth. As soon as his command was heard, Seowoo immediately removed the jar from his lips.
Having gulped down the wine without even taking a breath, Seowoo coughed. Painfully clutching his throat, he lowered his head.
“Is this, proof, enough?”
“Yes, that’s sufficient.”
At Hyunseo’s answer, Seowoo’s gaze turned to Doha. Looking at Doha, who was still nestled in Hyunseo’s arms, he spoke:
“Then, Your Majesty, cough, please have a drink as well.”
Right on cue, Jinhee presented a wine cup. It was a white porcelain cup with red flowers engraved on it. Seowoo filled the cup with wine and held it out to Doha.
“Please, go ahead.”
Looking at the wine cup, Doha instinctively knew. That Seowoo had been putting on this entire show for this very moment.
It was an offer that couldn’t be refused. If he didn’t accept the wine cup, he would become the jealous consort.
Slowly, Seowoo walked toward Doha. He ascended the steps with the same light steps that Doha had used during his sword dance. This time, it was Seowoo’s sword pointed at Doha.
“Please accept my sincere gesture.”
Doha stared at the wine cup thrust right in front of his nose. Even though he knew it wasn’t poisoned, he couldn’t understand why his heart was so restless. Doha’s instinct, built up over time, was sounding an alarm. Warning him not to put his lips to this cup.
As if he’d never been crying, Seowoo smiled prettily. He was as beautiful as his once-famous reputation suggested. Although there was something twisted about the smile, even that was charming.
‘There’s no choice now.’
Seowoo and Doha locked eyes. Just as Doha, smiling broadly as if to say he wouldn’t lose, was about to reach for the wine cup—
A hand suddenly shot out and grabbed the wine cup. It was the same hand that had been wrapped around Doha’s waist all along.
“That sincerity, I’ll accept it.”
Before anyone could stop him, Hyunseo brought the wine cup to his lips. In one go, he downed the wine. His thick Adam’s apple bobbed.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
