The thought had crossed his mind several times before, half-formed and small. In a certain light in certain moments from certain angles, the King had a devilish beauty to him. The horrendous sort of beauty that brought mankind to its knees. The kind that made sin look appealing.
That half-idea had been pulled to the forefront the moment the King had burst through the doors of his temple room: Furious, commanding, concerned. Min-jun had managed to push it down and conceal it well enough, reminding himself that it would not do to fawn over an enemy like this.
Oh, but the King looked sinfully gorgeous after sparring with Sun. Curls of hair escaped his neat topknot, giving him a rough look that shouldn’t have suited him so well. His robes had come undone, revealing a small expanse of toned torso. Ah, what a tease! Either take it off or wear it properly! It was most frustrating. Shit, he was coming over to him, those violet eyes positively glinting with mischief.
In a moment of weakness, Min-jun hid, stepping away from the window and putting his back to the wall. If his heart would stop beating so loudly, maybe he’d be able to make a calculated escape. The door. If he followed the edge of the room he’d make it outside without being spotted.
“Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly been struck shy, my love?” the King asked, looking infuriatingly smug. Min-jun felt his heart leap at the sound of that smooth, soft voice. Oh, even his voice was attractive now. Just fantastic.
Min-jun spluttered and laughed in disbelief, crossing his arms over his chest. His face felt hot. “Why would I be?”
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.
“Do I look handsome to you, my dearest Consort?” the King asked. “Does a man fresh from a fight do it for you?”
Of all the ridiculous –
Min-jun jumped in front of him, hands on the shutters, ready to close out this annoyance. The King reached him first though, his hands forming fists around Min-jun’s slender wrists. A little force and the King’s gentle grip could easily break those wrists. Now, they only pulled him a few steps forward.
The King smiled, but Min-jun knew he was mocking him. Gods, was it necessary for him to hold Min-jun’s hands so near his chest? “Come now, love, let’s not be so violent.”
“I’m not being violent,” Min-jun hissed, as he tried to wriggle away from his grasp. “You’re the one who’s using brute strength in this situation. Let go of me.”
“But you’ll just try to run away again.” The King’s lips – full and plump – pulled down into a pout. He brought Min-jun’s knuckles to those plump lips. “I can’t let you do that.” Contrary to his words, his grip loosened. Min-jun withdrew his hands with one swift motion, wiping them off on his hanbok. The King’s grin only widened at the gesture. Then, he propped himself onto the ledge of the window, swinging his legs over the side. It was them in this damned room again.
“What do you want?” Min-jun asked as the King drew nearer. A sense of unease settled in his chest. He was being cornered, and the memories from his brothel days stirred. Bodies used as cages.
“Nothing, my love,” the King replied, stepping back now. “Just testing new waters.”
Testing new waters. Now, there was a roundabout way of trying to hide one’s attempts at seduction. The comment stung Min-jun’s pride. He was the one who was supposed to be doing the seducing, and yet here they were, with the King as cool and collected as ever, and Min-jun red in the face, hot and bothered, sexually frustrated over some sweaty man. He was better than this. He should be better than this.
It must be because he’s pent up. Back when he worked as a courtesan, he laid with another man (or the occasional woman) at least a few times a day. Sometimes a couple at once. There was never a shortage of clients at his door, and Mother and the Madam had taught him to accept them all. Even as a detective, his sex life wasn’t this nonexistent. Yes, this sudden, burning attraction, it must be due to this recent abstinence.
But it wasn’t like he could go out to town to find someone willing to lay with him, not anymore. Now the only person he was allowed to make love to was this damned King.
Well, was that so bad? It didn’t seem like the King was particularly opposed to it. They could try it out if they were both willing. Not here, obviously. As fun as it would be to see Sun-woo’s face as his precious King was taken by this impure tempter, Min-jun didn’t want to erase any good will he might’ve built up with the shaman (which, considering he hasn’t tried killing Min-jun yet, must at least be budding). No, they would have to return to the luxury of Min-jun’s quarters, or perhaps even the King’s.
Min-jun gnawed at his bottom lip, as the scenario burned itself into his mind. He and the King entangled in an embrace, kissing, nails scraping skin, the King deep inside of him, or maybe Min-jun inside the King. Long nights in a dark room, surrounded by the scents of spices. And underneath that, the smell of sunlit earth. Oh, it wasn’t so bad when he thought about it. Sex didn’t equate to love, he knew that much. Min-jun could keep the two separate. And the King . . . who cared about the King anyway?
Enough! He couldn’t possibly follow through on that. What was this? Some sort of mind manipulation? Was there a Gifted who could plant thoughts in people’s heads? Min-jun would prefer that to whatever this was. That he would voluntarily think of the King, his parents’ murderer, in such a manner. Making love to the King for the sake of his mission, because the King and the law demanded it from him, was acceptable. That was what he’d expected. That was what Mother had prepared him for. He could never be so twisted as to make the first move.
“Min-jun.” Two cool hands cupped his face. The King stared down at him, eyes the color of bellflowers. “Are you overheating, my love? Shall I get you some water?”
Min-jun scowled and slapped his hands away. The King hardly reacted, wearing that same placid expression. He wasn’t that handsome, and he probably wasn’t that good in bed either. There was no point imagining something Min-jun could never lower himself to partake in. “I’m returning to my quarters.” Min-jun spun on his heel, heading for the doors.
“I shall pay a visit to Jangmi Villa later then.”
He opened the doors, not sparing him a glance. “Don’t.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” Of course.
Min-jun took a deep breath, as he leaned against the cool wooden frame. They were enemies.
Enemies, enemies, enemies. Gods, should he engrave it on the King’s forehead? Would that fool his traitorous heart?
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Heh, he’s finally coming around ❤️
Ha ha ha lol 😆 get him king lol love how I learn something new about a character after each Chapter. Smiling widely