How To Kill A KingCh20 - Let The Knowledge Of How You Messed Up Fester Inside You

“You have an alarmingly high alcohol tolerance,” said Doctor Myeong-suk, as he held two fingers to Min-jun’s pulse. The doctor had forced him to sit up in bed while he inspected his body for signs of alcohol poisoning. “I suggest not mixing alcohol with your medication, though. You got lucky today. You’ll probably have no symptoms other than a terrible hangover. However, if it becomes a regular occurrence, you will probably suffer more than a hangover.”

“So . . . no alcohol at all?” he asked. OUf7cx

Myeong-suk shook his head. “Outside of foods with small traces of it, no.”

Min-jun should’ve kept his face blank and polite. After all, he’d been trying to stay away from alcohol during his time at the palace. This shouldn’t be much of an inconvenience.

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His rationality didn’t stop him from, in his drunken state, whining about the doctor’s well-meaning demand. Amidst his whining, he heard the King agree to the doctor’s terms, and Min-jun, in his infinite wisdom, grabbed him by the collar of his hanbok and threatened him with bodily harm for making choices without consulting him.

“Ah,” the King said, holding onto his wrists and looking over his shoulder toward the doctor, “he’s only joking. He gets like this when he’s irate. Don’t worry about it.” 0bmcwK

The doctor rose to his feet, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Min-jun stayed clutching the King’s collar. “Right . . . well, I’ll be on my way. Make sure he sleeps on his side. We don’t want him choking on his own vomit. And, if there’s anything else that comes up, please come talk to me. Though, preferably when the clinic is open.”

The doors shut. Breaking the silence, the King cleared his throat. “Can you release me now?”

Their proximity dawned on Min-jun with sudden clarity. Something sweet drifted on the King’s breath, and his violet eyes had darkened to almost black, with only the shadow of light from the lantern. He had a small dusting of freckles underneath his left eye, just barely darker than his tan skin.

Min-jun opted to take the King’s face in his hands, thoroughly displeased by what he saw.

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“The gall, you have,” he murmured, “looking almost as handsome as I do.”

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“Almost?”

“It’s a high standard. Not many people are as handsome as I.”

The King tilted his head to the side, pushing the weight onto his right hand, so Min-jun’s thumb grazed the skin under his eye. “I never knew you to be vain.” HOBg0J

“You haven’t known me for very long. I’d say you don’t know anything about me at all.” His hands drifted back to his neck. Perfectly snappable. He could probably kill him right here and now. Who cared if he got caught anyway? He only had one thing to live for.

Liar. Su-jin would be heart-broken, and worse, in danger. If the King had gone on several purges for lesser crimes over the past few years, why wouldn’t his subordinates? They’d kill everyone Min-jun had ever loved. The list wasn’t long, but it was invaluable. They were invaluable.

Min-jun’s hand traveled further down, all the way to his chest, where his palm spread just a little off-center. The King’s heart pushed against the skin, against Min-jun’s hand, his pulse edging to a faster pace than normal.

He snorted, bowing his head. “Am I making you nervous, my King?” KIo6nd

“I worry that any moment you might try to claw my heart out with your hand.”

Their eyes met. Min-jun sensed something there, in the movement of his eyes and the shape of his lips, even in the tension of his body. “No. I don’t think that’s what you’re worried about at all.”

He expected a soft pressure on his lips, or a hand reaching for him, his hips, his waist. A small confirmation of his suspicions, but the King initiated no contact. Min-jun backed away, perplexed. He was usually right about these sorts of things.

“Well, if you have nothing else to say,” he told the King, as he lowered himself to lie on his side, “I implore you to at least get your own bed to sleep in. This one’s too small.” j CYQe

The King hesitated for a brief moment as if he were considering his options. “I’m not going to sleep.”

Stubborn man. “Then the least you can do is stop staring at me. Go face the corner and ruminate on the meaning of life. Perhaps you’ll even grow a conscience. I have books in the other room if you’re bored with staring at the beautiful carvings on the walls.”

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He heard the King move around the room. Min-jun should add ‘surprisingly obedient’ to the list of his husband’s odd traits.

. . . rEX0z8

Morning arrived with a rainstorm, and Min-jun awoke with a headache and an inexplicable panic screaming in the back of his aching mind. He groaned while nausea crawled up his throat, slimy and tasting of twenty different varieties of alcohol. The pain of his injury, like fire, lit again, burned away at him. Where were his medications? What happened? Oh, he was familiar with this feeling. He just hadn’t planned for it to occur in the palace of all places. He couldn’t have been that stupid. As his memories returned to him, his groan turned to one of high-pitched mortification.

“You have quite a range,” the King said, appearing in the doorway with a cloth in his hands. “It’s a relief your mischief last night didn’t affect your beautiful voice.”

“No mocking, please. It makes me want to punch you.”

“That wouldn’t be good for either of us.” pjckvu

“No, it wouldn’t.” He sighed, disappointed. “What are you doing with that cloth anyway?”

“Cleaning up,” the King replied. “After you, might I add.”

Damn. He hadn’t even thought about the mess. How tactless. He jumped to his feet, intent to go help, but he only staggered over to the King. The pain in his arm grew stronger with each movement, as if his bones and muscles were bent out of place.

“You should rest,” the King said, holding out an arm to keep him from passing. “If you vomit, it’ll only be another thing for them to clean.” bf6K15

“I’m fine.”

Jeong-eun joined the King, a broom in her hands.“With all due respect, your Highness. You do not look fine.”

“You all work so hard already. I should help,” Min-jun said, dismissing the indignant expression on the King’s face. “Please, this is all due to my own gluttony and mindlessness.”

“As true as that may be,” Jeong-eun said. He hadn’t been prepared for her to agree with him. “You’re ill. In more ways than one.” She took hold of his sleeve. “Your injury must hurt. Take your medicine. It might help with the hangover as well.” VGtJph

Truly, he felt like he might pass out again at any moment. He hated to do it, but he listened to her. The King had been right. He wouldn’t be of much help in this state.

Min-jun returned to his bedroom, crossing over to a small drawer nestled below a window. On top of it was the medicine, still safe in its glass vial. With shaking hands, he tipped two drops onto his tongue and gagged. The taste was even worse after drinking.

The vial returned to its rightful place, and he forced its contents down his throat. The effect took hold in the time it took for him to return to bed. As he lay there, the pain in his arm dimmed to a mere sting and his headache cleared. He breathed, content. But, with his head cleared, an echo from yesterday returned.

“Your memories are quite sad.”  ciuHV1

“Who is that woman? The one in the purple?” 

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

He inhaled sharply, sitting up in bed. A slurry of curses flooded his brain. The usual coherence of his thoughts was lost in the ruthlessness of his anxiety. All but one.

Yun-seo’s gift is seeing the past. And possibly the future as well. A true oracle, a seer. She knew everything about him now. BkAFmn

The King sat down next to him. “You seem to be feeling better.” Min-jun stared at him. Do I look like I’m feeling better? He supposed anything was better than what he’d felt before. Yet, he could feel himself unraveling at the seams. “I have some questions for you.”

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6 comments

  1. So at least one more person knows… will she be added to his “hit list”? 🤦🏻‍♀️