At the mention of “Ungeom,” Doha opened his eyes wide. Hyunseo’s gaze turned cold at Doha’s reaction, his body noticeably stiffening.
As their lips parted, a thread of thick saliva stretched between them. His large hand caressed Doha’s lips.
“Tell him not to enter.”
Without taking his eyes off Doha, he spoke toward the door. The footsteps of the court official standing outside seemed particularly anxious today.
“But… Ungeom has been guarding the door since last night.”
“Then tell him to wait longer.”
“But, Your Maj—”
“Isn’t Ungeom’s place outside the royal bedchamber, not inside it?”
His low voice echoed through the room. Doha was dying of curiosity about the situation outside but couldn’t turn his head.
An intense, devouring gaze was looking down at him. His body was bound by that gaze, unable to move.
“This is my bedchamber and my consort. How dare someone like Ungeom think he could enter.”
His hand lifted Doha’s chin. Doha’s Adam’s apple bobbed prominently at the dangerously flickering look in his eyes.
“Isn’t that right, Flower Bin?”
His lips, turning his head slightly, instantly conquered Doha’s mouth. His tongue pressed more persistently than before, making Doha lose his senses.
“Haah…”
A soft moan escaped from between their meeting lips. As if urging him to make more sounds, Hyunseo laid Doha down on the blanket and bit his lip.
“Ah!”
Embarrassingly lewd sounds kept bursting forth. Doha wanted to hold back his voice for Dojin’s sake, who was standing outside the door, but under the persistent kisses, he completely surrendered.
Hyunseo seemed as conscious of Dojin as Doha was, his gaze shifting toward the door. The shadow that had been still since last night moved. Discomfort emanated from the shadow.
“Y-Your Majesty.”
Gasping for breath, Doha pulled away from the kiss. Only then did Hyunseo’s eyes return to him.
“What? Shall we continue like this?”
“Right now…!”
Doha’s eyes darted toward the door. Behind the court official, the largest shadow would be Dojin’s.
‘If I tell him Dojin is watching, he’ll be angry.’
After hesitating, Doha cupped Hyunseo’s cheek in his hand. Then, lowering his eyes submissively, he planted a brief kiss on his cheek.
“My body is still unwell.”
At the mention of his poor health, Hyunseo’s movements stopped. Simultaneously, his sharp gaze softened.
“Where does it hurt? Your head? Legs? Should I call the royal physician?”
“I’m just weary, that’s all. Please don’t worry.”
“No, it would be better to call the physician.”
His hands examined various parts of Doha’s body. When his hand moved down to Doha’s legs, a startled Doha hastily continued.
“Rest will cure it. Didn’t the royal physician say the same?”
It was a rare sight to see him flustered. The fact that mentioning illness could make him panic excited Doha.
Still hiding his pounding heart, Doha smiled brightly.
“It’s just fatigue. And I have good reason to be tired, don’t I, Your Majesty?”
Answer me if you have any conscience, Your Majesty. When Doha stared at him pointedly, Hyunseo cleared his throat and turned away.
“I’ll order medicinal herbs to be brought.”
Hyunseo’s ears were bright red as he said this. He seemed to be recalling the night spent with Doha. Doha could almost read his usually unreadable mind, and he was about to burst out laughing.
“And what will you do after I take the medicine?”
“…”
“Pardon?”
“…I’ll have to… prepare more medicine.”
His voice trailed off. He had been so resolute when ordering others not to enter, yet now…
The fluttering feeling toward him threatened to escape Doha’s lips, so he covered his mouth with his hand.
Only after lying down under the blanket Hyunseo awkwardly tucked around him did Doha close his eyes. Hyunseo’s hand reached out, clumsily patting him over the blanket.
“Don’t be ill.”
“This is the last time. There won’t be a next time.”
“Since you said it, you must keep your word.”
Soon, as Doha’s breathing became regular, he stopped his patting hand. Sunlight from the window was seeping onto the blanket.
It was a peaceful moment. One that would never come again.
After gazing down at the peacefully sleeping Doha, he slowly rose from his seat. He straightened his wrinkled dragon robe, adjusted his attire, and turned toward the door.
The shadow that was still guarding the door stood facing the royal bedchamber.
“Open the door.”
Through the opened door, Dojin appeared. His clothes, usually sharp and pristine, were terribly wrinkled. With a dark expression, Dojin bowed his head to him.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
After looking down at Dojin, he turned around again. Through the open door, Doha could be seen sleeping peacefully. A picturesque smile was etched on Doha’s face, as if he were having a pleasant dream.
He closed the door with his own hand, ensuring no one else could see. Until the door was completely shut, both men’s gazes never left Doha.
“I’m going to the main palace.”
Hyunseo’s footsteps fell heavily. The indigo dragon robe fluttered in the wind.
* * *
Knock, knock.
The sound of someone knocking on the door woke him from sleep. The room was dark; it seemed the sun had set long ago. Doha rose from the bedchamber, relying on the light of the small lantern Court Lady Kim had lit.
“There shouldn’t be anyone who knocks in this palace.”
As Doha muttered quietly, the shadow of Court Lady Kim waiting outside the door moved.
“Bin Mama, are you awake?”
“Yes, I’m tired and need to lie down a bit more.”
“Yes, the meal will be served when His Majesty arrives.”
“I understand.”
After a brief reply, Doha immediately went to the window. As soon as he opened it, a cold wind brushed past his undergarments. Since Hyunseo had removed his outer clothes, claiming he needed to reduce his fever, he was wearing only white undergarments.
“Come out.”
As he called toward the window, Eunsung’s face emerged from below. His hair had grown longer, reaching the back of his neck. The remaining topknot was simply tied with a knot. Seeing him now looking quite like a palace servant, Doha added:
“You were a king in reality, and now you’ve become a palace servant?”
With a hint of a smile, Eunsung brought Doha’s hand, which was holding the window handle, to his mouth.
With a smacking sound, he kissed the back of Doha’s hand and said:
“I was worried about you, baby.”
“Worried? You didn’t even come looking for me at the hunting ground.”
“Even without me, there are plenty of men to protect you.”
A lustful touch slowly caressed the back of Doha’s hand. Eunsung’s fingertips on his skin tickled.
“Besides, it’s not your time to die yet, is it?”
At his words, which reminded Doha of the final episode, Doha pulled his hand away. Though he didn’t want to reveal his feelings, he couldn’t prevent his face from contorting.
“What are you talking about?”
“For it to be the final episode, there’s still a couple of months left, right? You’ll be alive until then.”
“What if I die before that?”
Doha shot back, glaring at Eunsung. His head was already complicated enough from meeting “Kim Doha” in his dream. Feeling Doha’s gaze, Eunsung grinned.
“Do you really think so?”
At his unexpectedly firm tone, Doha furrowed his brow. Was he testing him, or did he know something? To determine the truth, Doha’s eyes carefully examined his face.
“Will your precious king really choose you?”
As Eunsung said this, his gaze never wavered once. Rather, a confident smile was etched on his face.
‘There’s a high probability he’s telling the truth.’
What could it be? What grounds were there to doubt Hyunseo’s heart? As Doha, lost in thought, closed his mouth, Eunsung reached inside the window. Then he grasped Doha’s clothes ties.
“You’re exposing your bare skin so carelessly, that’s why.”
His hands were as beautiful as his face. The hand holding the clothes tie lightly twisted once. Instantly, a knot formed over Doha’s undergarments, and Eunsung nodded as if pleased.
“You should keep yourself properly covered, baby.”
Eunsung’s eyes curved into half-moons. It was the cute smile he used to make for the camera. True to his reputation as an actor famous for his eye-smile, his smiling face shone.
‘But why do I feel uneasy?’
Throughout seeing his smiling face, some corner of his heart felt uncomfortable, as if something was weighing on it. The information he had accumulated so far was sounding an alarm. That something was wrong. That he should reconsider.
Eunsung lightly tapped the perfectly tied knot with his fingertip. When the wind blew, both his topknot and the knot on Doha’s undergarments fluttered. As the cold wind invaded his clothes, Doha bit his lip.
“Stop beating around the bush and tell me.”
“When you speak so forcefully, it’s sexy. Can you use this voice more often?”
“Stop talking nonsense and speak plainly.”
He was smiling consistently, seemingly at ease about something. As much as Doha wanted to slap his cheek, he restrained himself. He could slap him after hearing the information. Doha reached out through the window and pulled him closer.
“Why do you think he will betray me?”
“Oh my, how forceful. Are you Mr. Force?”
As Eunsung spouted nonsensical words, Doha showed his irritation. His hand gripping Eunsung’s shoulder gradually applied more pressure. The increasing wrinkles on the fabric revealed Doha’s discomfort.
“Tell me quickly. Without unnecessary comments.”
It was almost time for Hyunseo to return. Since they hadn’t eaten dinner yet, it was still early evening, and he would come to the bedchamber as soon as the main palace meeting ended. Doha’s eyes flickered anxiously.
Even a cornered mouse will bite a cat. It was time to negotiate, asking for cheese.
Eunsung pressed himself close to the window. At the suddenly decreased distance, Doha inhaled sharply. Before he could shout at him to move away, Eunsung pulled at the knot. The tightly tied knot unraveled in an instant.
Between the loosened undergarments, Doha’s white skin was revealed. Eunsung’s fingertips, which had slipped inside the clothes, crossed the space between Doha’s chest.
“If something goes, something else must come, right?”
“…”
“We have a deal between us, don’t we?”
Each place his fingertips brushed turned red and heated. Both of them were so focused on the movement that not even the sound of breathing could be heard. The surroundings were quiet.
Doha, who had been still, finally raised his head. Then, with unwavering eyes, he faced Eunsung.
“I think you believe this would make me feel some kind of shame.”
Reciting in a low voice, Doha grinned.
“That’s not possible. I actually quite enjoy kissing you.”
Doha’s face, illuminated by moonlight, was provocative. The reddened eyes, the swollen lips, and the skin flushed from his touch all stimulated Eunsung.
With wide eyes, Eunsung exhaled, “Ha.”
“Fuck, you’re crazy.”
With rough hands, he pulled Doha closer. Through the window, their lips met. Hastily, he devoured Doha’s lips. As if compensating for days of inner torment, he bit, tore, and licked Doha’s lips repeatedly. Under the rough kisses, Doha’s breathing also quickened.
A scent leaked from the excited Eunsung. Doha frowned upon smelling it, but Eunsung didn’t even give him a chance to express his dissatisfaction.
‘If we continue like this, someone might discover us.’
Just as Doha was twisting his body to escape Eunsung’s embrace, a cold sound of a sword being drawn from its scabbard was heard from behind Eunsung.
Startled, Doha bit Eunsung’s tongue and pulled his lips away. Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Eunsung also grabbed his own lips and turned around.
They looked exactly like an adulterous couple caught in the act.
“Bin Mama.”
With a cold face like a husband coming to catch his wife, Dojin stood behind him. As if he would kill him at any moment, he pointed his sword at Eunsung’s neck. Dojin’s gaze, demanding an explanation, turned to Doha.
“Who is this man?”
This is insane.
With his head feeling like it was about to explode, Doha tightly shut his eyes.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
