The Queen’s quarters were silent when Min-jun entered. She sat near the King with the young doctor’s assistant by her side, her hands tucked into her jacket, which was the same color as plum blossoms that were about to fall. Outside, the leaves fluttered with the cool, brisk autumn wind.
“How is he?” Min-jun asked, joining them on the opposite side of the bedding. Though he was almost certain that the King would live, his heart seemed to take that sliver of uncertainty and wouldn’t let it go, causing the uncertainty to grow in his mind. What if he dies? What if I’m left alone? He gently tapped his knuckle against the King’s forehead. It was still warm to the touch. The King turned toward him ever so slightly, muttering his name as coherently as he could manage. Min-jun smiled despite himself, exhaling a laugh. “Well, I suppose that’s a good sign.”
The Queen watched him and he noted that the jealousy she’d once shown him seemed to have faded a bit.
“I’m sorry,” she said, as Min-jun settled back into his spot.
“For?”
“Well . . .” She paused, biting her lip. “For everything, I suppose.”
“I quite disliked being slapped, for one.” Min-jun tried to lighten the mood, for there was nothing more difficult for him to deal with than a pitiful enemy. The Queen remained pitiful, however, eyes downcast, bottom lip trembling. Min-jun sighed, running a hand over the teal tassel at his waist. A gift from the King, of course. “I understand that you love him. Love makes us all do foolish things sometimes. And sometimes we can even be cruel in the name of it.”
“It wasn’t love,” the Queen replied, quietly. “I just hated you for taking my place in his heart.”
“Your place?”
The Queen smiled, though it quickly turned into a tearful, bitter grimace. “This is all they raised me for all these years. I had never considered the possibility that the person I was destined for would be destined for somebody else.”
“Destiny is a strong word,” Min-jun said. If anything, destiny had worked against them for a long time. It was only by sheer force that they were able to find each other again, through the murkiness of strange spells and scattered memories. “I like to think we had more choice in it than that.”
“You love him well, Your Highness,” the Queen whispered. “If only you’d been born a woman. It could be you in my place.”
Min-jun smiled. “I’m happy with the place that I do have. It’s more valuable to me than a thousand of your thrones, my Queen.”
A tinge of pink touched the Queen’s cheeks. Perhaps it was the cold air. Quickly, she changed the subject. “Do you think the King will wake?”
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 is strong,” Min-jun replied. “He will wake up soon. I’m sure of it. So you should get some rest as well, my Queen. The King will not wake any faster thanks to your staring at him.”
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. . .
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The antidote had to be administered three more times. The doctor and his assistants fluttered about with acupuncture needles and bitter herbs. And then when the hour came for them to administer the antidote again, Min-jun would take a bowl of the medicine and carefully bring it to the King’s lips as the doctor helped prop the King up on the bed. Min-jun recalled, vaguely, that the King had done the same thing for him when he’d been sick with the snow peony poison.
Eventually, the King stirred, letting out a muffled moan. He turned onto his side first, leaning on his elbow. Min-jun reached for him without thinking, helping to steady him. Their eyes met, and the King’s gaze quickly flitted around the room. The physicians nodding off, the bowls of medicine, the cool water that they’d dipped towels into, and a variety of different herbs and poultices that were to help ward off illness. Understanding flickered over his pallid face. He sat up straight, reminding himself of his status no doubt. The Queen had woken up and stared at the King in nearly euphoric relief. Min-jun watched and his heart clenched.
“It seems I’ve caused quite a panic.”
“It’s good you are healthy again, Your Majesty,” the Queen said, bowing her head. One would never think of them as a couple with the amount of distance between them now.
The King nodded his agreement. “How long have I been asleep?”
Min-jun stood up abruptly. Emotions welled up inside him, a consequence of sleeplessness and the fear of losing a loved one. He wanted to yell at the King for his foolishness. He wanted to berate him for not being quite as immune to poison as he’d claimed. He wanted to apologize for ever forcing him to be with the Queen. If I’d known . . . If I had only known . . . He would’ve kept the King from leaving that day. He would’ve told him to never step into the Queen’s quarters again. He wouldn’t have let him risk his life for something as petty as propriety. Because it was proper.
His throat closed up before he could say anything more. He could feel tears welling in his eyes. Damn it all. He couldn’t cry. Not in front of all these people.
“Well, I’ll take my leave then.” He bowed quickly and left the room without another word.
“Min-jun?” the King called after him, surprise evident in his voice.
Min-jun could hardly hear him. He was already passing through the hallways, intending to get as far away from the King as possible. There was a weakness within him that hadn’t been there before, as if he’d stamped it out until the King had woken up again. Until he’d known that the King was safe.
The servants bowed as he passed and he paid them no heed. Sun followed him without a word. It wasn’t until he reached the safety of Jangmi Villa that he let the tears fall. He kneeled on the floor of his bedroom, his breath coming out in shallow sobs.
. . .
Evening came and Min-jun left the safety of his quarters. In his haste, he hadn’t even bothered to make sure the King had properly recovered. Had he returned to his quarters to rest? Or had he gone to the Throne Hall to continue his meetings with the courtiers as if nothing had happened? The wind had become warmer since he’d last gone outside. The smell of autumn leaves soothed him.
“Are you feeling better, Your Highness?” Sun asked as they left the Jangmi Villa.
“Mm,” Min-jun replied. “I suppose.” More than anything, he felt exhaustion creeping in. His eyes felt sore from crying, his throat hoarse. He would have never imagined he’d cry like this for the King of all people. When had he become so quick to show such emotions? His time before the Palace looked so bleak now, as if he’d made his way through each day feeling numb.
The King’s servants had gathered outside the Pavilion where the King stood, looking out over the water. In his hand, he held a rose. There was a strained expression on his face. Perhaps he was still tired from the poison? It was plausible. That sort of potent combination could leave lingering side effects for days, even weeks. Min-jun would have to keep an eye on him. The King had an annoying tendency to overwork himself.
Min-jun approached the pavilion, his gaze on the figure of the King. The servants allowed Min-jun to pass without being announced, bowing their heads. His steps on the pavilion were quiet, but still, the King turned toward him, the rose’s stem held loosely in his hand.
The King smiled at him. His lips had returned to their usual pink color, and his face was flushed from the cool wind. His violet eyes twinkled, lovely as ever, brimming with a soft sort of tenderness that made Min-jun’s chest feel tight, although he should’ve gotten used to it by now.
His body moved on its own, closing the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around the King, placing his cheek against his shoulder.
“I’m here,” Cheol whispered. “I’m alright.”
Min-jun let out a breath, caught between a laugh and a sob. “I know.”
Cheol took Min-jun’s face in his hands, his thumb gliding below his right eye. “I’m sorry. I let you cry alone.”
“Sun was there.”
“Sun isn’t the type to offer comfort.” They heard the man in question cough somewhere off to the side, affronted by the accusation. “No offense.”
“His presence is a comfort in itself,” Min-jun said. “I’m sorry I ran away.”
The King tucked Min-jun’s hair behind his ear. “Hmm, it’s alright. I assumed you didn’t want them to see your tears. The Queen was quite touched by the display. I think you might’ve finally gotten through to her.”
“About that,” Min-jun started. “You . . . really should be more careful with your drinks. The Queen deceived you so easily.”
“Is that so? Has my consort had a change of heart?” The King leaned in, kissing him chastely on the lips.
Min-jun placed his hands on the King’s chest but did not move to push him away. “I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard. I’m sorry. I’ll never ask you to entertain her whims again.”
“I don’t think she’ll ask me for anything again. This experience has stricken her, and . . .” The King cupped his cheek. “Your love seems to have convinced her to step aside.”
“I never spoke of love,” Min-jun murmured, though he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his lips. He looked down at the King’s chest, smoothing out the fabric of his hanbok.
“No?” the King replied. “Your actions speak for themselves. I would’ve died had it not been for you. Many times now.”
Min-jun nodded, trying to regain some of the defiance he usually boasted, but he felt as if he were clay between the King’s fingers, soft and pliable. “Aren’t you supposed to be immune to poison?”
“I’m not invincible, my love.”
“You should be.” Min-jun buried his face in the King’s shoulder. He wanted to stay like this, knowing that they were both safe. If only you hadn’t been born to be a King.
“But I won’t leave your side so easily,” the King whispered, “so do not worry too much, my love. I will stick by you until you grow sick of me.”
“I wouldn’t let you,” Min-jun replied, lifting his gaze to the King’s face. “Your heart is mine. It will beat until I tell it to stop.”
The King’s smile turned into a grin. “My consort is imperious.”
Min-jun nodded, firmly. “One of us has to be.”
The King’s thumb brushed over Min-jun’s bottom lip. “I have no choice but to listen, then.”
Min-jun’s lips curved into a smile as the King leaned in for a kiss. Crisis averted, he let himself forget all else, lingering in that moment with his King.
A/N: Thank you for reading! If you liked this chapter, please leave a comment down below.
finally!!! now what if the queen became one of his bestie 👀
As much as it hurt to see Min-jun break down after the fact, it was also funny to think of him knocking on Cheol’s forehead while he was unconscious ☺️. I’m glad the queen has settled down and dropped her delusion about getting rid of Min-jun. Just think, if she had succeeded before, he wouldn’t have been there to save Cheol from her ignorance 😳. I hope the maid who ran to get Min-jun has been promoted!
thank you for the chapter! it made my day a little brighter 😘