Min-jun was summoned to the King’s quarters that evening. Bathed in rose-scented water, dressed in violets and deep blues with silver embroidery, Min-jun felt quite ready to meet the King again. He would heal whatever wounds had opened up between them and get the King to lift the confinement.
His servants followed close behind him as they walked down the path to the King’s quarter. The sky was clear and the air cold and crisp. Min-jun could count the stars as he walked, like pearls gleaming on a dark tapestry. Before he could make his way into the building, he stopped just outside of the courtyard, his eyes pulled to the plum tree, moonlight catching in its petals and weaving in and out of branches. But it was not the plum tree that kept his attention there, but the man standing before it.
“Your Majesty?” he called out, walking toward him. Slowly at first, but then the King glanced over his shoulder at Min-jun, and his pace quickened. “How long have you been here? It’s cold.”
“Hmm? Are you worried about me, my love?” The King turned to him fully. His cheeks and fingertips had turned pink from the cold.
“Honestly.” Min-jun sighed, taking the King’s hand. For once, it felt cold. “You need to take better care of your health.”
The King smiled, lifting a hand to caress Min-jun’s cheek. “I can hardly feel the cold now.”
Hmph. They hadn’t even made up and he was already flirting. Min-jun quelled his own desire to reciprocate and backed away, crossing his arms. The King let him be. He had returned to his normal self now, patient as ever.
“Is it true that Sun asked to be punished?” Min-jun asked.
The King put his hands behind his back. “He’s always had a tendency to shoulder too much blame.”
“You should’ve stopped him,” Min-jun snapped. He had planned on apologizing, but alas, it did not come naturally to him. The King would have to work a little harder to earn it.
The King stared down at him. “He kneeled outside the Throne Hall for two days and two nights. I was worried he’d catch his death in this cold. He’s resilient but he’s not invincible.”
“Tch, you should’ve dragged him back to his home so he could rest properly,” Min-jun replied. “Instead of having him beaten.”
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.
The King drew closer and took Min-jun’s hands in his. Min-jun thought about rejecting his touch but decided against it. He’d hear him out. That was what he’d come here for, after all.
“I am sorry,” the King said. He kissed Min-jun’s knuckles and Min-jun couldn’t help but step closer, as the King continued to tug on his heartstrings. Goodness, he’s beautiful. “I let my fear cloud my judgment again. I had promised you that we’d be equals and I’d broken that promise.”
Zlc-pec lcafgaklcfv atflg tjcvr, jcs jcufg tf’v tfiv lc tlr tfjga wfialcu jkjs. Ktf Blcu afcvfv ab tjnf atja foofma. Cr lgglajalcu jcv mbcoerlcu jr tf wluta yf, tf jikjsr wjcjufv ab rbbatf Zlc-pec’r kbecvr lc atf fcv.
“P kjr jirb kgbcu,” Zlc-pec rjlv. “P ifoa klatbea j kbgv, fnfc atbeut P xcfk atf vjcufgr bo vblcu rb. Ccv atfc P rjlv jii atbrf atlcur . . .” Lf kbeiivc’a vlu eq atf Blcu’r qjra pera sfa. Cii lc ubbv alwf.
Min-jun leaned his forehead against the King’s chest. He was embraced so readily as if they’d never fought in the first place. It was the first time Min-jun had been held like this in months. Perhaps this was all he’d craved for a long time now. He breathed in the King’s scent and shut his eyes.
“I’ve missed you,” the King whispered in his ear. “I’m sorry that I’ve been so absent.”
“And here I was thinking you’d gotten bored of me,” Min-jun teased.
“Nonsense.”
Min-jun laughed, wrapping his arms around his waist. “I’ve missed you, too.”
They stood like that for a moment, finding comfort in each other’s presence.
“Could you remove my confinement, then?” Min-jun asked. “I feel I might go insane if I have to stay inside any longer.”
The King moved away from him and his hands settled on Min-jun’s arms. For a moment, it seemed as if Cheol would object but then his shoulders relaxed and he nodded. “Very well.”
A wave of relief washed over Min-jun. He’d smoothed things over with the King and earned back his freedom and things had gone even better than he’d hoped.
“On one condition –”
“Condition?” Min-jun asked, his temper rising again.
“Next time you want to do something dangerous, let me know,” the King said, touching his cheek again. “I don’t want you to feel as if you’re alone in any of this.”
Min-jun raised a brow. Two could play at that game. “Only if you do the same for me. If something weighs on your heart, let me know? I know you’ve been dealing with everything on your own, but you don’t have to. Even as a King.”
“Agreed.” The King took his hands again, brushing over Min-jun’s fingers. “You’re cold, my love. Let’s get you inside.”
And so, Min-jun let the King guide him into his quarters, their hands intertwined. It had been so long since Min-jun had been in the King’s bedroom. It looked much the same as it always had.
“Prepare some tea for us,” the King ordered the servants. They nodded and the King entered the room behind Min-jun. The doors closed.
Min-jun glanced around the bedroom, and then his eyes caught on a painting depicting a sparrow taking flight. What artistry. The strokes were delicate yet sharp and defined.
“Who painted this?”
“The Queen.”
“Oh.” Min-jun set the painting back down on the table. It was passable, he supposed.
He turned back to the King, who seemed lost in thought as he stared off into the distance. Thinking again. How tired he looked. Worn and exhausted, as if he could collapse at any moment. How could they have allowed things to come to this?
Without a second thought, Min-jun crossed the room and wrapped his arms around the King’s waist, pressing his cheek to his back.
“What’s weighing on your mind?” Min-jun propped his chin on the King’s shoulder.
“It’s nothing,” the King said.
Min-jun raised an eyebrow. “Cheol.”
“Right, right, sorry,” the King replied, clearing his throat. “Force of habit.”
“So?”
“They’re happening again. It’s as if history is repeating itself. Kidnappings, arson, theft, corruption in the provinces, and apyeom running rampant. I thought I’d cleansed our country of such pain, and yet . . .”
“They’ve returned,” Min-jun whispered. “That’s what has kept you busy all this time.”
The King took his hand. “I’m sorry, my love.”
“You are a King before anything else. I knew that long before I decided to marry you.” Min-jun had the King turn around. His hands reached up to caress the King’s face. “But you will not be able to save this country if you treat yourself like this. Cheol-ah. Let’s just rest for tonight. We both need it.”
The King nodded, and a small sliver of a smile curved on his lips. That would do for now.
An arm snaked around Min-jun’s waist and the King pulled him close so that their faces nearly touched. Min-jun wrapped his arms around the King’s neck, sighing contently. For now, their worries could wait until tomorrow. For now, they had each other to embrace.
A/N: Sorry for the late update, I’ve been super busy this month. Not my best chapter but I hope you all enjoyed it anyway! Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment down below if you feel so inclined!
✨ communication ✨
Oh, it’s so nice to see both of them together after a long time apart.😢💗💗
Thank you for updating with a new chapter even though you were busy
Resolving the rift between them is the best chapter 😌. I hope they work together to clean up their country –after we all get some rest now that we’re all relieved and happy.