Min-jun awoke to the sound of someone softly calling his name. A woman? Su-jin?
“Your Highness,” the voice called again. Your Highness? Why would Su-jin call him that? She only ever called him by his name. It always sounded like she was smiling as she said it. This person did not sound like they were smiling. Oh. This wasn’t Su-jin at all, was it?
Min-jun opened his eyes and a young court maid with braided hair and a violet uniform was peering down at him. She bowed her head when his gaze fell on her. Beside her were a basin of water and a washcloth.
“Your Highness, His Majesty has asked me to tend to you. Breakfast will be served shortly.”
“Breakfast?” Min-jun propped himself up on one elbow and looked out the window behind him, which had been left open to let in the crisp morning air. The sun was climbing high in the sky. “What time is it?”
“It’s just past the snake hours, Your Highness,” the court maid said.
It was so late already? Min-jun stood up from the bed, pain filling his head as he moved too quickly. He stumbled a little and the maid quickly came to his aid, a hand at his back.
“Your Highness mustn’t move so quickly,” the court maid said. “His Majesty would be angered if you hurt yourself.”
Yes, that was what they all said. You mustn’t, Your Highness. Think of His Majesty. Tch, didn’t they have any other excuses up their sleeves?
“I would like to wash up before breakfast,” he said, stepping out of the bed. The floor was warm beneath his bare feet.
“Of course, Your Highness,” the court maid said. “The bath has already been prepared for you.”
“Oh.” They were so efficient. Still, having the court maid tending to him only reminded Min-jun of Jeong-eun and Chae-won. His heart ached. He was the reason they were being punished, after all. They must’ve been taken into custody. Min-jun would have to ask the King to free them, and then he’d deal with that meddlesome Hye-jin. How dare she use his own people against him?
The bath was even grander than the one in Jangmi Villa. The water smelled of rose petals and there was an assortment of oils and soaps for the body and hair ready for Min-jun to use. A beautiful, jewel-toned hanbok had been folded neatly on a small table near the tub, its gold embroidery shimmering in the light. Min-jun went further into the room, untying the ribbon of his shirt. He paused. At the edge of the tub, there was a bright red carnation waiting for him, and a note tucked underneath it.
How quaint. But his heart swelled nevertheless, as he lifted the carnation to his lips. The petals were soft against his skin and smelled as if the flower had been freshly cut just moments ago. There were no signs of wilting, no hints of death on the carnation. It was brimming with life. No matter how many times Min-jun saw it, the King’s gift still left him breathless.
He reached out with his other hand to take the note. He recognized the King’s handwriting immediately. A little messy, but elegant in a way one might not expect. The ink formed loving words, and Min-jun could almost hear the King’s gentle voice whispering them in his ear.
“To my love. Did you sleep well? You looked so peaceful as you slept, I could not bear to wake you. I had them prepare your bath with rose oil. I hope it suits your tastes. The breakfast will also be prepared to your liking, though I’m not sure how you can eat such spicy food in the morning!”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Zlc-pec fztjifv j ijeut ja atja. Pvlba. Lbk cffvifrris gbwjcalm mbeiv bcf yf?
“Ah, I believe I’ve talked too much. I have so much to tell you still, but let us save that for later. We have the time now. Sincerely, your foolish King.”
Ktja kjr jii? Zlc-pec rtbbx tlr tfjv ja atf ragjcuf vlrjqqblcawfca atja tjv ibvufv larfio lc tlr tfjga. Lf kbeiv rff atf Blcu ja ygfjxojra. Qts kjr tf jmalcu ilxf atf ibnfrlmx lvlba? Ktja kjr atf Blcu’r gbif lc atflg gfijalbcrtlq. Zlc-pec qijmfv atf mjgcjalbc jcv atf cbaf bc abq bo atf pfkfi-abcfv tjcybx.
Indeed. He did not care at all. For him to miss the King’s irritating presence? Ha! Absolutely not.
Min-jun nodded to himself, as he stripped off the rest of his clothes and sank into the rose-scented water. He wondered how the King would react if he knew the whole story of why Min-jun was so fond of roses. Would he be jealous to know they reminded Min-jun of Haneul?
Best not to tell him then.
Min-jun leaned back against the side of the bathtub, glancing at the various bottles and vials nearby. He opened one of them and brought it to his nose. It smelled so strongly of peppermint that it made his eyes tear up. He tried another one. This one smelled a bit like cinnamon and made him cough.
After a long while of inspecting the various fragrances and even trying on a few, Min-jun left the bathtub and dried himself off. One of the court ladies came in to help him put on the beautiful robes the King had left him. He was swathed in silk dyed the hues of brilliant amethysts and sapphires. The King might be a fool but he was a fool with good taste. Ah, and they fit him perfectly, hugging his body and hanging loose where necessary. This hanbok must’ve been tailormade for him.
The court lady sighed, bringing her hands together as she finished tying his hair. “You look beautiful, Your Highness. You are certainly the finest jewel in His Majesty’s kingdom.” Jewel?
There was no mirror in the room, but Min-jun did not need it. He knew he was beautiful.
He was taken back to the King’s quarters. The whole retinue of servants stood outside the doors, marking the King’s return. They announced Min-jun’s arrival, and Min-jun, despite himself, felt a strange excitement bubble in his chest.
“Let him in.” The King’s voice only made his heart beat faster. Stop. Stop this madness. But no matter how his brain tried to reason with his heart, his heart ignored all propriety.
The King sat behind a small table filled with platters of food. Beside him another table had been prepared. Min-jun could smell the spices already.
The King stretched out one arm to Min-jun, beckoning him closer, and before the maids could even close the doors, Min-jun was already at the King’s side.
“I was just about to come find you myself,” the King said, pressing a kiss to Min-jun’s forehead. “Did you sleep well, my love?”
Min-jun hummed, saying nothing to suggest otherwise. He was too entranced by the food. Was it even grander than usual? The meat looked a tad more tender, the rice fluffier, the vegetables freshly picked. Without further ado, Min-jun picked up his chopsticks and began his feast. Right. I haven’t eaten properly the last few days either. Perhaps that’s why the King had prepared such an enticing meal.
“You haven’t touched the pomegranate, my love,” the King said when Min-jun was nearly done with his meal.
Min-jun stared down at the bowl of fresh-cut fruit, a feeling of distaste in his gut. “I don’t like it.”
“You used to adore them.” The King cocked his head to the side. “They were the only sweet things you’d eat back then.”
Min-jun’s stomach felt twisted suddenly. “I . . . well.” He picked at his food. “Bad memories, that’s all.” One of his clients once brought him pomegranates as a gift when Min-jun worked at the brothel. Come to think of it, his first time had been spent with that strange man. They barely exchanged a word during the whole affair, as Min-jun had been too afraid to say anything, and the man hadn’t been interested in much aside from Min-jun’s trembling body. It had not been the sort of romantic first night Min-jun had imagined before the brothel took him in.
Min-jun covered his mouth with a hand as nausea rolled over him. Damn. How could this happen to him now? It had been so long since that night. Get over it already. But it felt like his body was still stuck in that moment sometimes.
Vaguely, he heard the King tell a servant to take the pomegranate seeds away.
“I’m sorry, my love,” the King said, tipping Min-jun’s chin up. “I was thoughtless.”
Min-jun shook his head, though there was a pounding in his chest now. “I’m usually not like this. I don’t know what’s the matter with me.”
The King wrapped an arm around his shoulders, bringing Min-jun closer. It was like being in the embrace of nature itself. Min-jun pressed his cheek to the King’s chest, staying there a moment to listen to his heartbeat. The King, as always, was kind and accommodating, asking not why Min-jun had suddenly felt ill or where the memories behind his dislike of pomegranates stemmed from. His hand stroked Min-jun’s back, comforting him when the words could not be found.
“I’m alright,” Min-jun said, though he stayed put in the King’s embrace. It was nice. Warm.
“Did you like the note I left you,” the King asked. Min-jun raised his gaze to him briefly and paused to memorize those violet eyes. They were cold in hue, but when they were on Min-jun, they were impossibly fond and warmed Min-jun from the inside out.
Min-jun snorted, dipping down to put his cheek to the King’s chest again. “I should’ve known you’d be so sentimental.”
“Since you did not throw it at my head right away, I suppose that means you liked it.”
“I didn’t say that.”
The King hummed. His fingertips brushed over Min-jun’s nape, sending a shiver up Min-jun’s spine. “Hmmm. Then, perhaps I shouldn’t do it anymore.”
Tch. Sneaky bastard. Min-jun clenched a hand on the King’s robes. “Do as you wish.”
The King let out a dark chuckle at that, one which sent the blood rushing to Min-jun’s cheeks.
“Believe me, my love. I shall.” With that promise, the King cupped Min-jun’s chin and tilted his head up. Their lips met in a tingling kiss. Min-jun reacted quickly and brought his arms around the King’s neck, straddling his lap. The King’s kiss felt like a smile against Min-jun’s lips now. Cocky, aren’t we? With a tad more boldness than usual, Min-jun ground their hips together. He was quite the expert at such things. Min-jun pressed against him, just as their lips parted. A strangled moan escaped the King’s throat. Min-jun couldn’t help but let a soft laugh slip between them.
Clearly, the King thought such behavior could not go unpunished. With one hand on Min-jun’s bottom and the other wrapped securely around his waist, the King placed Min-jun down on the floor. He was on his back now, with the King’s lips on his and a wandering hand under his shirt.
“Still feeling arrogant?” the King mumbled against Min-jun’s lips.
“Bastard.” But it was half-hearted and followed by a whimper and so it lost all its meaning and the King’s violet eyes twinkled with mischief. Min-jun’s chest felt strangely full.
The King kissed him again, deepening the kiss at once as his fingers continued to explore Min-jun’s torso, taking note of every hitched breath and jolt of his hips. Min-jun arched his back, wanting for more, though he knew the King would not give it to him.
“Your Majesty,” he breathed as they parted, lips sticky with saliva. “You are so very cruel.”
“I could say the same about you,” the King said, as he nipped at Min-jun’s collarbone. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave a mark.”
I don’t mind if you do leave a mark. It was a little irritating how the King treated him with such care. Min-jun was no porcelain doll, after all.
“Let’s take a walk,” Min-jun suggested. He wasn’t sure if he could take much more of this madness before, well, before his body began to act of its own accord. If the King could feel Min-jun’s arousal . . . that would be too embarrassing. Min-jun would never be able to live it down.
“A walk,” the King said. “A splendid idea, my love.”
The King got off of him, and Min-jun missed his warmth terribly. He missed his callused hands raking over his torso. He missed the feeling of his lips and mouth and tongue. He missed the closeness of their bodies as the King teased him relentlessly. But above all those emotions, he felt relief. Thank goodness the King hadn’t taken things any further. Thank goodness his King always listened to Min-jun’s pleads.
The King took Min-jun’s hands and helped him up. “I have something to show you.”
“Show me?” Min-jun asked, but the King was already pulling him out of the room. He seemed . . . excited about something.
A/N: Will their sexual tension ever find release? Idk. I hope you all enjoyed reading, and if you did please leave a comment down below.
More sweetness! I adore the interaction between these two
Thank you for chapter
I love writing fluff for them. Cheol is so whipped that it makes it easy to write.
MIN-JUUUUN!! Damn that random stab in the middle of the fluff 🥲🥲
What’s fluff without a little angst?
All King and no Cheol? Interesting. Whoever he is, he’s smart enough to avoid the subject of what Min-jun lived through after losing his first love and his parents. It’s hard to figure out what to say about your past, right? You have to balance what they don’t want to know against what someone else will gleefully tell them 😄.
Cheol might be a little smart after all, but he’s still 95% simp.
I’m already frustrated for them, just do it already ahhh..
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
I want them to do it too 😭. Soon, hopefully
Woooooo fans self
I’m glad it had that effect lolol