It was past noon when Min-jun visited the King again. Midday sunlight streamed in through the windows like ribbons, and though Min-jun shivered from the frosty air outdoors, indoors warm air chased away the autumn chill. The servants were gathered outside the King’s chambers in two neat rows. Upon seeing him, they seemed to brighten somewhat. It was the eunuch who bowed to him first, a relieved smile on his face.
“Your Highness,” the eunuch said, stepping forward. “Please talk to the King. He refuses to take his meal.”
“Refuses?” Min-jun asked. “What do you mean?”
The court lady beside the eunuch wore a pained smile. Yes, yes, the poor King. All that power and still he suffers. Hmph. “His Majesty often neglects his health in order to focus on his work. It has often led to illness when he’s driven his body to exhaustion.”
Tch, fool.
Min-jun massaged the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes as he spoke. “I’ll talk to him. In any case, inform the Royal Chef that the King and I will be eating together.”
They thanked him profusely, and the eunuch announced his arrival to the King. This time, when Min-jun heard the King’s voice, he could feel it warm his chest. He had never thought much of it, but the King’s changed so easily, from the man, Cheol, who loved Min-jun, to the King who ruled over all of them. Under all the little modulations and shifts, there were constants: something gentle in his voice, that even years serving as King had yet to take away from him.
When Min-jun stepped inside, he could barely see the King behind the stacks of papers and books on his desk. Stepping into the room, he noted that it was pleasantly warm inside it and that the flowers were blooming well. They added a pop of color to the room that welcomed those who looked upon them.
Min-jun went to sit beside the King and embraced him, placing his cheek against the King’s shoulder. In turn, the King pressed his lips to the top of Min-jun’s head, although his eyes quickly returned to the petition in his hand. The King was not one to simply ignore Min-jun in such a manner. Too busy to spare a moment with his consort?
“My King,” Min-jun murmured, contently. “Do you ever stop working?”
“On occasion,” the King jested, a sliver of a smile on his handsome face.
Min-jun raised a hand to brush over the King’s cheek. “Wise men know a healthy life requires a balance between work and play.”
“Having you by my side is all the joy I need.” The King kissed Min-jun’s hand. He was still distracted, and Min-jun was beginning to find it quite rude.
“Hmph.” Min-jun straightened, drawing away from the King, who only now spared him a glance. Served him right. Min-jun folded his arms over his chest. “I’m beginning to doubt your affections are true.”
The King’s smile only grew. It made Min-jun weary.
“Oh?” the King said, turning the page. “What makes you think that? What shall I do to prove my love for you?”
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.
“Well, first of all, you let the culprit behind my poisoning get away without even the slightest punishment.” Min-jun let himself fall onto his back, though his legs remained bent at the knees. The King looked down at him with that same expression that had puzzled Min-jun for months. It was so obvious now. He loves me. That’s love in his eyes, love on his lips, in his hands. What a thrill it was to feel loved like that.
“Rb wjaafg tbk sbe qea la,” Zlc-pec ktlrqfgfv, jr atf Blcu ygertfv bnfg atf megi bo tjlg cfjg tlr fjg. “P’w qlaloei.”
Ktf Blcu qijmfv bcf oiffalcu xlrr bc Zlc-pec’r ilqr, ufcaif jr j ofjatfg abemtlcu tlr rxlc. “Pa rffwr P’nf yffc j afgglyif teryjcv.”
“Pcvffv.” Zlc-pec qbxfv atf Blcu’r mtfra. “Dea P xcbk tbk sbe mjc wjxf la eq ab wf.”
The King raised a brow. How quickly he fell into these traps nowadays, almost as if he wanted to do so. Min-jun quite liked him this way.
“You shall share your meals with me,” Min-jun said. “Starting today.”
“Meals?” the King repeated. “Oh, love. I’m afraid I don’t have the time today –”
Min-jun pressed a finger to the King’s lips. “Woe is me, then. My husband won’t even share a meal with me. He must not love me as much as he says.”
The King gave him a look. One that proved to Min-jun that the King knew perfectly well what he was doing.
The King grabbed his chin. “Insolent.”
“I know.” Min-jun picked himself off the ground just enough to kiss the King on the lips. “But you must admit I’m quite persuasive.”
The King shook his head slightly, as if in awe. “In all my years, no one has ever cajoled me so.”
Min-jun tended to have that effect on people. “I can be meaner if you’d like.”
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, your meals are ready to be served,” the eunuch announced.
The King looked down at Min-jun, all good humor and sparkling eyes. “Now I wonder who would be so bold as to go against my direct order.”
“Curious, indeed,” Min-jun murmured, as the King loomed closer. Another kiss was pressed to his lips, tongue slipping into Min-jun’s mouth, brushing his bottom lip.
“I’ll deal with you later,” the King whispered, as Min-jun tried to catch his breath. Then the warmth that had engulfed Min-jun disappeared. The King righted himself, his posture returning to something a little more regal. Min-jun followed suit. At least in front of an audience, they had to act like a proper royal couple.
The King’s order rang clear in his ears. “Enter.”
The servants entered with trays upon trays of food, carried on lacquered red tables that they placed in front of the King and Min-jun. Spicy foods filled the plates and bowls on Min-jun’s spread to the brim, while the King’s was more balanced in terms of flavor: savory beef slices over a bowl of rice, grilled fish, fruit, and a warm bowl of gomtang. There was even a plate of flower-shaped honey cakes for him to snack on.
The King, however, seemed more interested in reading a petition than in eating his food. Min-jun snatched the offending document away from him.
“I’m almost finished now, my love,” the King said, reaching for the petition. “Min-jun –”
The King’s words were pushed back into his throat as Min-jun shoved a piece of beef in his mouth. “Your Majesty is not a very good listener.”
The King chewed his food, though he seemed reluctant to do so.
“See, doesn’t it taste good?” Min-jun asked, smug as can be. “It’s important to eat regular meals, Your Majesty. Come now, don’t give me that look. This will be good for me, too. I have a habit of skipping meals as well. You do not wish to see me starve, do you?”
With a sigh, the King picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. The battle was won.
They went on like that, exchanging words from time to time, and Min-jun thought the King seemed content, if not happy. At the very least, he was in a good mood. Min-jun picked at the fermented vegetables in one of the shiny black bowls on the table in front of him. It was mostly cabbage, with a few slices of radish cut into it, and was fragrant with a generous helping of gochugaru and other spices. Now, how should he bring up the question of his court ladies?
“What’s on your mind?” the King asked, as he stole a piece of cabbage from the bowl and popped it into his mouth. He coughed a bit, his cheeks tinged pink.
“I see your palate hasn’t changed a bit,” Min-jun said, though his heart felt strangely light. All those days spent by the riverside, listening to the gentle water as they exchanged their favorite foods. The King, though Min-jun supposed back then he was just the Crown Prince, had barely been able to swallow Min-jun’s offering of his mother’s famously spicy stew. And after nearly coughing out a lung, the Crown Prince fixed his posture and carried on as if nothing had happened, insisting that he was alright, as he took a bite of the honey cakes he’d bought. He complimented the stew profusely afterward, telling Min-jun how talented a cook his mother must be. Min-jun had replied that his mother, in fact, only knew how to cook a few things, and forced Min-jun’s father to cook most days. Min-jun shook his head at the memory. What nonsense they’d gotten up to as children.
“I’m alright,” the King said, clearing his throat. And just as he had in Min-jun’s memory, the King righted himself and reached for the honey cakes on that polished platter. “My question still stands.”
Now, Min-jun decided, or else he’d let the moment slip by. “I want you to free Jeong-eun and Chae-won.”
“Who?”
“My court ladies.”
The King nodded in understanding. “I see. The ones who poisoned you. No, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“What? Why not?” Min-jun asked. He leaned on the palm of his hand and fixed the King with a glare. “What have you done to them?”
The King took another honey cake off his plate. “Nothing. The court ladies had cooperated with us, so the interrogation only lasted a short while. Even so, I cannot allow them to return to their posts. They’ve already poisoned you once.”
“Yes, because of your little henchwoman!” Min-jun said. Tch, even when they weren’t enemies, the King never ceased to frustrate him. “How can you punish them like that, and let her off without so much as a warning.”
“Min-jun –”
“I’m not finished!” Min-jun shouted. “Chae-won and Jeong-eun are both loyal to me –”
“Loyal enough to put poison in your tea, certainly.”
Min-jun slammed his hand down on the table. “I will not accept any court ladies you send to replace them. I will not allow them to suffer for the sins of that woman.”
“You seem to dislike her quite a bit,” Cheol said, tilting his head to the side as he studied Min-jun’s expression. “I suppose it’s to be expected, though it is unfortunate.”
“I wish to see them,” Min-jun compromised. “At the very least.”
The King pursed his lips, still hesitant. Then he let out a slow exhale and raised a hand to brush over Min-jun’s cheek.
With a resigned tone, he said, “very well.”
“I also want full access to the Investigation Bureau’s records.”
The King raised a brow but quickly conceded. “Mmm, I’ll let them know to let you in when you arrive.”
Oh certainly, infiltrating one of their most secretive and sensitive agencies was acceptable, but reinstating Min-jun’s court ladies was a step too far. Tch, having to ask for permission was such a pain. Min-jun preferred begging for forgiveness.
A/N: I’m finally done! Not Min-jun criticizing Cheol for having a terrible diet when he himself hardly eats enough. Anywho, if you liked this chapter, please leave a comment down below!
I know she’s your friend of long ago but you can’t be that protective of her after what she’s done… and what she did to min-jun’s parents (unless he doesn’t know yet?? Or did i misunderstand last chapter?)
No I think you’re right about her being responsible for what happened to them. Sun called it a betrayal and Hye-jin asked him not to tell. Cheol already knew about the poison so it had to be about his parents right? So, if Cheol doesn’t know yet, and that was the last obstacle for him Min-jun to love him back, do you think he’ll figure it out from Min-jun loving him back? Whew that was a mouthful .
As with many characters in htkak, cheol may be smart but he’s also good at deluding himself. He will not bring it up until he is forced to smh. that’s why him and mj are made for each other
Min Jun taking care of hubby so cute
Thank you for chapter
Casually wondering if spicy food symbolizes anything here 😆. Maybe the king will start liking spicy food after he finally gets Min-jun naked. They both seem to be enjoying the word Husband. I hope they always eat together, for so many reasons ☺️.