“How long have you known?” Min-jun asked, fists clenching at his sides. “Does Mother know?” He knew the answer to that. Iseul never kept anything from Mother.
Iseul sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “She does.”
“Why . . .” He paused to breathe, to consider his words. “Why would she keep that from me?”
“She has her reasons,” Iseul reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Outside, people continued to pass by their tent, laughing, arguing, unaware of the two traitors a few meters away. “She always does. You were probably better off not knowing.”
“Better off?” Min-jun laughed, feeling spiteful and bitter as he brandished his injured arm. “Do you think I’d have this if I’d known? I could’ve died because of this.”
Iseul peered down at his hand. His own fingers wrapped around it, thumb rubbing into the skin of Min-jun’s palm. “Does it hurt?”
“I’m on medication.” Min-jun snatched his hand back. “The King had them treat me.”
Jealousy again, in the way Iseul rolled his eyes. “How kind of him. What else did he tell you?”
“He . . .” Revealed his power to me. Like a complete fool. Really, whatever was that man thinking? That he wouldn’t tell Mother about it? Min-jun lifted his eyes to meet Iseul’s waiting gaze. Patience had never been his virtue.
Why should he tell Iseul? The thought seemed ridiculous at first. Of course, he should tell them. They were his allies. They deserved to know about the state of his mission. And yet, they had kept such vital information from him for no apparent reason. Mother probably thought he’d overthink it, but overthinking would’ve kept him from going after Sun-woo. He could’ve prepared.
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.
And . . . and it was his mission regardless! Why would the King’s ability or gift or magic or whatever be relevant to Mother? Min-jun would be the one killing him. If the knowledge of magic had not been important enough to share with him, then the King’s ability would be his secret to keep.
“Taught me how to administer the medication. And to be careful from then on, because anyone can have a gift and even he didn’t keep track of the abilities of the palace staff.” It was all true, even if it wasn’t comprehensive. “That’s all.”
Iseul’s eyebrow twitched. He didn’t buy it but he wasn’t going to push him either. The corners of his mouth twisted up, and he took a few steps closer to Min-jun.
“I can tell you more about magic if you’d like.” He smelled like alcohol, and Min-jun’s body urged him to go forward. Their relationship had never been particularly loving. Min-jun didn’t think he’d ever loved anyone that way other than Haneul. With Iseul, physical pleasure came before any emotional connection. That had suited Min-jun quite well before, but the mood had been squandered long ago.
Min-jun placed a hand on Iseul’s chest. “I’m a married man, sir.”
“He’ll be a dead man soon,” Iseul replied. He leaned in until their foreheads touched, eyes shut. Min-jun didn’t bother closing his eyes. “Should I kill him?”
“What?” Min-jun asked.
Iseul reached for his hand but only hovered over it. “The one who did this to you?”
Too easy. Iseul’s assassinations tended to be hit and runs. The shaman would be dead in seconds, and Iseul would likely get away with it. Sun-woo might be the King’s friend, but shaman had too little status and power for any lengthy investigation. Kings, officials, nobles: they needed a more patient hand, like Min-jun’s. Iseul dealt with the weaker targets.
“No,” Min-jun replied. “I’ll deal with that man by myself.”
A gentle smile bloomed on Iseul’s face and a laugh slipped past his lips. “Your stubbornness will be the death of you.”
The cloth of the tent’s entrance shifted, and they both broke away from one another. Min-jun couldn’t be more grateful, though he had expected the intruder would be Sun. Instead, a man with white hair stood before him. And though his hair had greyed, his face remained youthful. He couldn’t be older than thirty. Quite handsome too, with a rough sort of beauty. Min-jun recognized him as another one of his Mother’s men. His specialization eluded him, but Min-jun felt goosebumps along his arms whenever he’d catch onto the man’s dark grey eyes. Min-jun’s gaze dropped to the man’s hands. Gloved. As usual.
“You couldn’t have brought someone who stood out more?” Min-jun remarked, a bit more snidely than he’d intended.
“We had a job to do,” Iseul said. “He was needed.”
Min-jun made his way toward the entrance, trying to not let his weariness show. “Well, I’m needed elsewhere too. I’ll be on my way, then.”
“Already?” Iseul asked, crossing his arms. “You’re cold-hearted, you know that? After all the trouble I went through to set this place up.”
“You set it up for our mission,” the other man noted, monotonous. There was a soft thud from behind him, and Min-jun smiled. Anyone who annoyed Iseul couldn’t be all that bad.
. . .
The entrance to the throne hall had been abandoned. The chairs and throne remained there, but all of the consorts had vanished. At least they hadn’t sent a search party from what he could see.
Min-jun walked along the edges of the crowd, drawing as little attention to himself as possible. He reached into his sleeve to pull out the fan he’d taken along. As long as he didn’t show his face, people would likely ignore him. Unless they recognized his clothing, in which case, he’d be bombarded with questions regarding everyone’s disappearance.
Upon reaching the staircase, Jeong-eun and Chae-won called out his name. They all but stampeded over the guards and other servants to reach him. They pulled him up the stairs, all the while chastising his tardiness.
“Where is everyone?” he asked. “What happened?”
“No one’s sure. The King returned and everyone had to follow him inside the throne hall,” Jeong-eun replied.
“He was asking about you. You should’ve seen the look on his face.” Chae-won shook her head. “You’ll think twice before leaving like that again. Honestly, your Highness, you’re smart but very foolish.”
Jeong-eun sighed. “I’ll have to agree with her on that.”
“Anything else you’d like to nag me for?” His hand wrapped around the door handle, but he waited for an answer anyway, daring them to say more.
“We don’t nag,” Chae-won said, crossing her arms. “You should meet Court Lady Oh, she nags.” She glanced at Jeong-eun. “But … I suppose that’s all.”
“Then, I’ll see you later.” He paused again. “And … I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone alone and made you worry.” Even if that was what he must do.
They relaxed, appeased by his apology, though in all likelihood, this wouldn’t be their last time discussing this transgression of his.
Min-jun pulled the door open and stepped inside. The air felt cool against his skin. Candles in lanterns on the floor lit up the hall. Another set of doors met him, and he pushed them aside as well. As soon as he entered, the eyes of the King’s advisors and consorts all fell on him. The King sat on his throne, elevated above the rest on a pedestal, while the others stood on the sides of the path running down the middle. Min-jun froze, unsure of what to do with himself now that he’d entered, his presence like that of an intruder.
The King stood, and then descended the steps of the pedestal. At a pace too fast to be a walk, and too slow to be a run, he made his way to Min-jun. Suddenly, the warmth of a silken embrace enveloped him.
“I hope you know how suspicious you look right now,” the King whispered in his ear, and then louder, for the rest to hear. “My love. You’ll worry me to death one of these days. Where have you been?”
He released him, hands still on his shoulders.
Min-jun let his own hands rest on the King’s. He allowed his face to loosen into something loving and sweet. “I was searching for you, your Majesty.”
I feel like Mother is just using Min-jun… 😭 is there a Murderous Muffin Protection Squad? I want to join
Welcome to the Murderous Muffin Protection Squad, we have snacks and watch Min-jun ruin his life from a safe distance.
Min-jun is definitely being used 😭
Can I join in? I’ve brought sweets!
Of course lol
Brain washed is the name lol Min Jun thinks he is so clever and now he believes himself untouchable! AyA
he’s got to hide all those insecurities beneath fifty layers of pretending to be unbothered. Thank you for commenting!