Warning: Brief mention of suicide.
When Min-jun awoke, it was to the scent of cooked meat and rice. Outside, night had already fallen, the lamps had been lit, and his bedroom had been drenched in warm light. The screen spread out behind him, its colors gaining an amber sheen. He’d been tucked into bed, the comforter snug around him, the quilted fabric soft against his skin. Ah, it smelled like earth. No, like the King.
Min-jun groaned, rubbing at his eyes. Without so much as a warning, a bowl was placed in front of him. The King had come to sit beside him, that soft smile still on his face. Was that a hint of smugness Min-jun detected?
“I’ll have you know I did it for completely selfish reasons.”
The King hummed, pressing a kiss to Min-jun’s temple, an arm wrapping around his shoulders. “Oh, certainly. My love.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Eat something, love,” the King said, placing the bowl in his hands. “You’ve been out for nearly a day now. You’re likely famished.”
Min-jun would’ve pushed it away had it not been true. After days of neglecting sleep and food (but not alcohol), he’d driven himself into a state of gnawing hunger. So, he brought the spoon to his mouth, chewing up the tender meat. Perfect, as usual.
“Hyun-woo made it back.”
The King pouted, leaning back at the screen. “You’ve only just awoken and you’re already uttering the name of another man.” He clicked his tongue, lowering his voice, hand slipping to rest on Min-jun’s hip instead. “Tsk, tsk, if I were a lesser man, I would’ve thrown him in the river already.”
Min-jun eyed him, daring him to even try. He jabbed the spoon back into the rice. “You wouldn’t.”
“No?”
“You need me too much.” Min-jun swirled the spoon a bit, mixing the food. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the King’s fond little smile again. It was foolish to seek comfort in the enemy, but Min-jun couldn’t help but reach out in search of reassurance. If not Mother, then the King would suffice. “Who knows? Maybe I’d off myself.”
“You’d take your own life for that man?”
Min-jun smiled. “I’d take my own life to spite you.”
That stunned the King speechless finally, suspicion first, mixed with something Min-jun wanted to claim was fear. “And your mission?”
Then, I suppose we’d really get to see if I’m so expendable.
Ah, he was speaking nonsense again. All of it. Nonsense.
Not willing to give the King the satisfaction of allaying his fears, Min-jun busied himself with his food instead. The King pouted and leaned back.
“Min-jun, you shouldn’t scare me like that.” The King poked his arm. “What if I decide to keep you under lock and key because of it.”
What were all these threats all of a sudden? Killing his loved ones, confining Min-jun, it all felt quite foreboding.
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.
“P kbeiv frmjqf.”
“Lww, lr atja j mtjiifcuf, ws ibnf?”
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“Qf’gf cba oilgalcu!” Zlc-pec wjamtfv Lsec-kbb’r lgxfv abcf klat tlr bkc. Qtfc la mjwf ab rbecvlcu jccbsfv, ofk qfbqif mbeiv beavb Zlc-pec. “Ccv kts jgf sbe ilrafclcu lc jcstbk? Qf’gf tjnlcu j qglnjaf mbcnfgrjalbc!”
“If it’s so private, then maybe you should keep your voices down? Or better yet, get out of my house. Don’t forget to pay us while you’re at it.” So testy. Tch.
The King gave him a curious look. “Pay them?”
Min-jun shifted on the bed, uncomfortable all of a sudden. “I told them I’d pay them twice what they’d usually get if they helped me find Mai.”
“It was triple!”
Min-jun groaned, covering his eyes with one hand. Warmth enveloped it, as the King pulled the hand away to fix him with that soft violet gaze. Goodness. He could get lost in those eyes.
Feeling spontaneous, Min-jun leaned in, pressing a chaste kiss to the King’s lips.
“My love?” the King whispered, a hand on Min-jun’s hip.
Could he make the King blush, Min-jun wondered. Could he make him desire Min-jun in a way that rid him of that composed facade he always wore? Arousal, Min-jun knew how to work around.
Min-jun let his tongue dart out between his lips, wetting them, as he leaned in to whisper in the King’s ear. “I expect my payment in a different form.” He let a hand smooth over the fabric covering the King’s shoulder. There. The King had paused, just for a second. Ah, but Min-jun couldn’t see his face.
As he began to lean back, an arm tightened around his waist, holding him close, as another hand made its way to the back of his neck. Right. The King could never let Min-jun have the last word in their heated little debates.
“I’ll hold you to it,” he whispered back, lips grazing his ear.
A frantic knocking at the door forced them to separate, as Hyun-woo swept past them to answer his guest, though not without giving them a glare as he passed.
“It’s you –” came Hyun-woo’s startled reply, followed by soft footfalls, as if that of a child.
“Hello, Mister. Where’s the other Mister?” A moment later, a boy with a ruddy face came skipping out of the hallway. “There you are, Mister!”
“Kang Hye?” Min-jun asked.
Kang Hye came to a stop in front of them. “Hello, Mister. Is this your boyfriend? Wow, you actually got better! Mister is really amazing, isn’t he, Mister’s boyfriend.” He tilted his head to the side. “Why are you both already in bed when the sun is still up?”
“You know my name, Kang Hye. You can use it.” Min-jun stood up, leaving the King’s warmth. “I was feeling a bit under the weather, that’s all.”
Kang Hye gasped, seizing his hand, looking for signs of the infamous Time’s Plague. He found none. The King must’ve gotten Mai to remove it. Still, Kang Hye gazed up at him with concern in his too-large eyes. “You’re not sick too, are you?”
“Oh, no, I was just a little tired,” Min-jun replied. “Nothing to worry about.”
A long exhale, as Kang Hye clutched a hand to his chest. “Oh, good. It’s because you were working so hard to find a cure, right?” Kang Hye bent to the side to address the King. “He was up all night trying to save you. You must love each other lots!” He stretched out his arms. “Like, this much!”
Min-jun forced out a laugh. “Yes, yes, now, you must be hungry, Kang Hye.” Quickly, he herded Kang Hye away from the King before he could cause any more damage.
“But I wanted to talk more with Mister’s boyfriend –”
“Maybe later, Kang Hye.”
Kang Hye puffed out his cheeks, glancing back toward the King.
“Come now, my love.” The King stood as well, ignoring Min-jun’s glare. How dare he look so handsome when he was being such a nuisance? “There’s no reason we can’t talk over dinner.”
“Aw,” Kang Hye said, as he pulled on Min-jun’s durumagi, “he called you his love!”
Min-jun could only grin and bear it, as he was pulled along into yet another unfavorable situation.
. . .
That was how Min-jun found himself sandwiched between Kang Hye and the King, as the two engaged in some light conversation. Was this his destiny now? To be talked over as the King slowly corrupted everyone Min-jun knew to his side? How long must he endure being pulled along like a puppet on a string?
He shot another glare at the King. Just you wait, you bastard. Just you wait until I kill you.
Yes, killing him didn’t seem so bad when he insisted on being so irritating.
“I used the money Mister gave me to call for the doctor,” Kang Hye said, at one point or another, having long since finished his food. “The doctor said there was a doctor who knew another doctor who, eh . . . knew another doctor . . .” He trailed off, narrowing his eyes as he wracked his brain for the right words. “Who knew an artist who knew a scholar, hmm, who knew the cousin of a doctor who knew a doctor that could help her!” He paused, bringing a finger to his chin. “I think.”
“I see,” Min-jun said.
“Yeah, yeah.” Kang Hye bounced up and down in excitement. “So I’m going to go and bring them here! I’ll be just like you, Mister. I’ll save her, I know it!”
“Oh, Kang Hye, that . . . doesn’t seem the most trustworthy –”
“But didn’t you do the same thing? You took a chance.” He bent his arms, forming fists from his hands. “So I’m going to take a chance too!”
Min-jun sighed. Children were like sponges, absorbing everything, and Min-jun was notoriously a horrible role model!
“That’s very brave of you, Kang Hye,” the King said, unhelpful as always. “I hope your journey goes well.”
Min-jun turned to him. ‘What on Earth are you doing?’ he wanted to scream.
“Oh, love. I wasn’t much younger than Kang Hye when I started on my own journey. He’s a clever boy. He’ll be alright.”
But Min-jun knew the pain of losing a parent so suddenly. If Kang Hye went on this journey, he might not be able to say goodbye.
“How far will you be traveling,” Min-jun asked.
“Gaehwa City.”
Hyun-woo nearly choked on his drink. “Gaehwa City? In the mountains?”
Kang Hye nodded, cheerfully, unaware of the task he’d set for himself.
“Kang Hye, the mountains will be getting their first snowfall soon. It won’t be fit for you to travel there,” Min-jun insisted. He knew the treacherous winters of the northern mountains too well. Getting stuck in one of their snowstorms was basically a death sentence. Even his father didn’t dare to stray too far in the winter months. Moving closer to the capital removed those concerns.
“I won’t go alone,” Kang Hye said. “I’ll be going with the doctor.”
Oh yes, going along with a perfect stranger. That made it all seem better. “And what is this doctor’s name, pray tell?”
“Hmm, he said his name was Song.”
Min-jun’s hand tightened around the ceramic cup in his hands (tea, mind you. Even he had his limits and he wasn’t about to get drunk out of his mind in front of a child). That fucking bastard.
“I see. I hope it goes well, then,” Min-jun said, expression brightening. He didn’t want to frighten Kang Hye after all. “Oh look, it’s getting late. Come on, Kang Hye, let’s get you home.”
Kang Hye pouted. “But I don’t want to go home.”
“Hush now.” Min-jun placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sure your mother is worried about you.” When he stood, the King stood with him.
“I shall accompany you,” the King offered. Min-jun put a hand to the King’s chest.
“No.” Too abrupt, too wary. Min-jun urged himself to relax, fingers dropping back to hang at his side. “I will do this myself. You’ve just woken up. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
The King seemed reluctant but didn’t make any sign of trying to stop him. Min-jun gestured for Kang Hye to follow. The boy puffed out his cheeks again, but he grabbed a bun off the table and followed Min-jun outside. An autumn chill had taken the streets now, night had long since settled in.
“So many!” Kang Hye chirped, eyes cast toward the sky. Stars amidst wisps of smoke and clouds. The moon hung low in the sky tonight. A sense of unease rolled over Min-jun but he ignored it in favor of focusing on the child before him.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I predict five more before we finally get back to the Palace. If you liked this chapter, please leave a comment down below. Thank you!
Aaah Min-jun needs more love 😭
Mister and Mister’s boyfriend 😄. What a warm, cuddly chapter after the stressful search for Mai. I am such a sucker for meat and rice.
Min Jun actually showed affection to Cheol ❤️
Thank you for the sweet chapter. Next up more intrigue and trouble I’m sure
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
Awww, this was adorable – especially the King and Min-jun’s flirting (ahem, I meant not-flirting, because we wouldn’t want to be mistaken as having an interest in the other party, now, would we, Min-jun? 😉)! I love Kang Hye, too – he’s so cute (I adore that Min-jun’s collecting a little family). But what’s Song up to, I wonder? Does it involve Mother?
Thanks for the chapter!! ❤