The next morning, Min-jun woke up to Cheol’s slumbering face. The pale light of dawn had only begun to peak through the curtains. At times like this, Min-jun could almost forget that Cheol was the King and Min-jun merely one of his consorts, however favored he might be. One of his hands moved to stroke Cheol’s cheek, light enough as to not wake him. He edged closer, their bodies nearly touching.
Cheol stirred, taking Min-jun’s hand in his own. He pressed it to his lips, light as a feather.
“Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning, Cheol-ah.”
At the sound of his name, Cheol’s eye fluttered open. He seemed surprised, his lips parted. Min-jun couldn’t help but lean forward to kiss him. Chaste and too short, the kiss lasted only a few seconds before he moved away again. It did not take long for the Cheol to respond. With two fingers beneath Min-jun’s chin, he guided him back for another quick kiss. Then another. Min-jun wasn’t sure which one of them deepened the kiss, but soon the Cheol had Min-jun lying on his back, pinned underneath him. Cheol cupped Min-jun’s face, his thumb brushing over his cheek. Min-jun sighed into the kiss.
To think, I might’ve lost all this. Had the King not arrived when he had.
The thought had Min-jun picking himself up off the floor, embracing Cheol with all his might. He struggled to catch his breath as Cheol’s arms wrapped around him.
“I know,” Cheol whispered. “I’m here.”
“Your Majesty,” a voice called from outside the room. “It is time for your morning study.”
“I’ll be right there,” the King replied. Min-jun pulled away from him, settling back on the bed. “And you also have a few matters to attend to.”
“Morning greetings.” Min-jun sighed. He did not look forward to seeing the Queen again after this matter. His injury and confinement had given him a good excuse to avoid her entirely, but now it couldn’t be helped. He’d already gone to visit the King. It would be rude to ignore the Queen after proving he was in good health. “You know, perhaps confinement wasn’t so bad after all.”
The King laughed, lightly, and it sent shivers down Min-jun’s spine. Gods, what had this man done to him? It was just a laugh.
“I thought you wanted to get along with her.”
“I do,” Min-jun insisted. “It is she who does not want to get along with me!”
The King wrapped a coil of Min-jun’s hair around his finger and brought it to his lips. Min-jun swatted his hands away.
“You’re distracting me.”
“Hmm? How so?” The King kissed Min-jun’s bare shoulder.
“I’m serious.” Min-jun sat up. “And now that the news has spread of my leaving the Palace.”
“It will cause an outrage.” Right. The King must’ve been dealing with the fallout of Min-jun’s disappearance since they’d returned. “And if news gets out about your capture . . .”
Min-jun’s stomach fell. His past as a Kisaeng was bad enough in their eyes. To have slept with so many men. He recalled the words of the false King from the marketplace.
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.
“Ktfgf jgf wjcs lc atlr Ujijmf atja kbeiv ugjrq ja jcs bqqbgaeclas ab tjnf sbe fzlifv, bg qgfofgjyis fzfmeafv.”
Ccv atfs kbeiv’nf remmffvfv ibcu jub, tjv tf cba tjqqfcfv eqbc j Blcu ilxf atlr.
Zlc-pec kgjqqfv tlr jgwr jgbecv tlwrfio, offilcu rlmx ab tlr rabwjmt. Kb atlcx atfs’v erf remt nlif ajmalmr. Qtja firf kbeiv atfs yf kliilcu ab vb?
“I see,” Min-jun said.
The King took Min-jun’s hand in his. “No harm will come to you while I live, my love.”
The butterflies in Min-jun’s stomach had returned, fluttering about. There was a tug on his heart, and Min-jun shook his head. How ridiculous.
Min-jun smoothed his hand over the collar of the King’s nightshirt. “Is that so?”
“Min-jun, what are you scheming?”
“I’m not scheming,” Min-jun said, leaning back against the King’s chest. He guided the King’s arms to wrap around his waist. Through the windows, he could see the blossoming plum tree and the beginning of a snowfall. He closed his eyes, stroking the King’s arm. “I was just wondering who will protect you while you’re so busy protecting me?”
The King chuckled. “The one who protects me is in my arms right now.”
“Indeed.” Min-jun pressed his ear to the King’s chest, listening to his heartbeat closely. “How the tables have turned.”
“Hmm. When I’m with you, even my own mind doesn’t seem so frightening.”
“Then I should stay by your side.” Min-jun lifted his gaze to meet the King’s violet eyes. He looked so beautiful then. “I want you to stay.”
The King cupped his chin. “You’re still injured, my love. You should be resting.”
“I’m perfectly well now. It’s practically healed.”
“The doctor will be the judge of that.” But still, the King pressed a quick kiss to Min-jun’s lips. “Besides, I want to savor my time with you, and right about now, I’m sure the head eunuch is about to lose his mind.”
“Your Majesty!” the head eunuch’s voice cried from outside the room once again. “You mustn’t do this!”
The King shook his head, although his lips curved into a soft smile. Min-jun could feel it as the King kissed him again, one last time.
“Don’t keep her waiting.”
Min-jun groaned but conceded. “I won’t.”
Another stolen kiss. One that left Min-jun breathless. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Now that was far better news. Something to look forward to.
“You had better.”
. . .
The other consorts were all gathered outside of the Queen’s quarters. It had been so long since they’d all been gathered together. Seo-yun was the first to approach him, and instead of a greeting, she pulled him into a tight embrace.
“What did you see?” he asked her, quietly.
“For a moment, I thought you’d died.” She released him, clasping his hands. “You need to be a little more cautious, Min-jun. A future without you would be dim.”
“Oh, trust me. I know.” The King had made that very clear. “I’ve learned my lesson.”
“And what lesson is that?”
Min-jun smiled widely, all good humor. “That the King is utterly hopeless without me.”
Seo-yun sighed, tapping her fan on Min-jun’s shoulder. “You don’t seem very remorseful.”
“The Queen is approaching!” one of the servants called. They opened the grand doors to the Queen’s quarters, and Lady Ok-jeong, well, Queen Ok-jeong stepped out into the sunlight, head held high. Her hair gleamed like polished ebony, set in coils atop her head. Her skin was as flawless as Min-jun’s, smooth as jade, her lips pink as the elaborate hanbok she wore. Her blue skirt swayed in the wind, reflecting the light like lanterns on the sea. Eyes black and gleaming like gemstones. Beautiful in every sense of the word.
It was a shame the King didn’t love her. Such beauty deserved to be loved in return. Pity her that Min-jun outshined her in every way that mattered to the King. Min-jun’s pity only extended so far. He would never loosen his grip on the King’s heart. That belonged to him entirely.
They bowed to the Queen, who glided down the steps, walking into the center of the group. A court lady, middle-aged, walked behind her. Her face was scarred. Min-jun couldn’t help but think she seemed familiar.
“Lift your head, Consort Hui.”
Min-jun did so, confused. He faced the Queen, but before he could even process the look of disdain on her countenance, her palm struck his left cheek. It stung for a moment. Min-jun was stunned speechless, not meeting her gaze. It had been so long since someone had struck him like this. His clients would sometimes hit him when he got too ‘mouthy’. The Head Kisaeng rarely needed such excuses. She’d beat them whenever she liked.
Snap out of it, he told himself. Don’t be a fool. You’re not a kisaeng anymore. But the pain in his cheek brought memories of something worse. He was frozen.
“What is the meaning of this?” Yun-seo yelled at the Queen, despite the difference in their status.
“How dare you raise your voice at me,” the Queen spat. “You’ll do well to remember your place, Consort Eui.”
“Huibin has done nothing to deserve such treatment, Your Highness,” said Yun-seo. “How will you explain yourself at the King’s feet when he finds out you’ve treated one of his Consorts like this!”
“You know how much the King values Consort Hui’s company,” Seo-hyun came to her lover’s aid. “How could you do something like this?”
“It’s because the King is blinded to his faults that I must do this,” the Queen replied. “Otherwise he will continue to do as he pleases. Leaving the Palace, putting yourself in harm’s way! It’s as if you do not value the King’s affection at all! You have a responsibility to serve the King and stay by his side. Have your forgotten that? I should have you whipped for your insolence.”
“Min-jun?” Yun-seo put a hand on his arm, concerned. She’d never seen him like this before, but she knew . . . she knew all too well what he’d been through. His memories had showed her enough. The beatings, the ways those men had treated him. Things like this . . . he’d been taught to just put his hands down and take it.
“And now you feign ignorance!” The Queen raised her hand again. This time she held none of the cold calculation from before. She was furious. She wanted him punished. Min-jun knew that tone of voice all too well.
Sun stepped between them just in time, stepping away from the rest of the servants. He caught the Queen’s wrist with ease and pulled her away from Min-jun.
“How dare you put a hand on the Queen,” she hissed.
“My orders are to protect Consort Hui from all harm.” Sun released her. “Do the King’s orders mean nothing to you, my Queen?”
“Sun.” Min-jun took hold of Sun’s sleeve. “That’s enough. Let me speak to her.”
Sun stepped aside, albeit reluctantly. He was still tense, ready to stop the Queen if she should raise her hand against Min-jun again. Foolishly, a part of Min-jun yearned for the King now, but who knew how he’d react to something like this? Despite everything, Min-jun didn’t want any harm to come to the Queen.
He bowed to the Queen again. “Greetings to Your Highness. I know you have grievances with how I conducted myself a few weeks prior. I regret that I made the King suffer, but I do not regret my actions.”
“Such insolence.”
“The people of Saro were in danger. I had no choice but to save them,” Min-jun said. “Surely, as the mother of this nation, you understand the desire to keep your children safe. It is something we all share.”
The Queen seemed upset still, but she turned around on her heel with a huff and headed back inside. Yun-seo took hold of Min-jun’s hand, staying behind as the other consorts followed the Queen inside. Seo-hyun stayed behind and observed them from a few steps away.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Yun-seo asked him. “You look pale.”
He patted her hand, forcing a smile. “I’m alright, but I fear your meeting with the Queen will be dreadfully uncomfortable with me around. I’ve done my greetings, as the King had asked me to. I’m sure the Queen will be happy to have me out of her sight.”
“Min-jun,” Yun-seo murmured. It was clear that she wanted to convince him to stay, but she could not bring herself to force matters.
“Shall we leave, Your Highness?” Sun asked.
“Yes.” Min-jun let go of Yun-seo’s hand. “Let us return to Jangmi Villa. Call the doctor. I need to get my wound inspected. I have a point to prove to the King.”
A/N: Thank you for reading. If you liked this chapter, please leave a like, comment and subscribe.
Queen needs to come to terms with her jealousy. She is just a figurehead
that’s true 😭
Author its truly been so long I missed you 🥺🥺
Thank you for the update ❤️❤️
thank you for the comment! I’ll try to update again soon ❤
urgh just wake up girl, don’t you understand that treating min-jun like this won’t help your situation at all?
ok-jeong needs a wakeup call smh
Is she happy for an excuse or mad that he didn’t die 🤔. I’m relieved Min-jun has allies in the harem.
she’s angry that he’d risk his life when the king loves him so much, but also happy to finally have an excuse to slap him across the face