Min-jun let his head fall back, his body going limp. His palm lay flat against the dagger in his robes, waiting. He wondered for a brief moment if the man would stay true to his word. Moist breaths fell against his ear, and Min-jun had to urge his body to remain still even as the man drew ever nearer. Ha. It was just like with the clients from the brothel. Just let him have his fun. Though, now, the fun was a little more murderous.
“My masters favor the old ways of learning.” The man whispered, his grip loosening around Min-jun’s neck. “It appears that you didn’t quite make the cut.”
Old ways of learning?
Oh, he’d figure it out later. If he had to spend any longer in this position, the man might actually succeed.
With as little movement as possible, as to not alert the man still pinning him down, Min-jun slipped the dagger out of its sheath and twisted it into the flesh between the man’s ribs. He pulled it out just as quickly, not willing to lose his only weapon in this fight. Letting out a pained groan, the man lifted one of his arms to the wound. Now. Min-jun crawled out from under the man, praying the injury would distract him long enough for Min-jun to put some distance between them.
Unfortunately, the man had a high pain tolerance. Before Min-jun could reach the door, he was pulled back by the collar of his hanbok and slammed against the wall. All the air was knocked out of him at once, leaving him gasping for air.
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” the man spat. He pulled at Min-jun’s hair, jerking his head back, craning his neck at a painful angle.
Min-jun lifted his hand to swing the dagger at the man’s arm, but this time around, he wasn’t so lucky. The man dug his nails into his wrist, pulling Min-jun’s arm back and twisting it. The dagger fell to the floor with an echoing clatter. There went his only chance at surviving this on his own.
The man pushed Min-jun back against the wall, allowing no room for movement, never mind escape. Something sharp dug in between Min-jun’s shoulder blades. Fuck. There must be some way out of this situation. Should he call for Mai? No, he couldn’t put her in harm’s way. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so quick to make the King leave. Min-jun might not have drawn out their pursuers, but at least he wouldn’t be dead.
Foolish boy.
“Enough games,” the man sneered.
His mind went into a panic, unable to find solace in the situation. No matter how he turned, it seemed to only conjure up one conclusion. Don’t want to die. Don’t want to die. Don’t want to die. Please, somebody . . .
“I agree.”
Min-jun didn’t have to turn around to know who had spoken. Relief washed over him, and with it, a light laugh. The panic seemed to ebb away just like that, just by the knowledge of the King’s presence. He almost pitied his assassin. The King didn’t deal in light punishments, after all.
As for the man, it would appear he had frozen with fear. Now, all Min-jun had to do was figure out how to escape without accidentally getting impaled by the knife at his back. With his mind cleared, and the King at his side, Min-jun considered his options. He shut his eyes, contemplating. Ah, that might be a little too risky. And yet, almost certain to prove effective.
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.
Min-jun stepped back, the knife digging into his skin.
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The man stumbled back, a hand going up to massage his chin. High on adrenaline, Min-jun took the opportunity to swing his elbow into his face.
As expected, the King stood behind them, covered in blood, watching with a sort of awed curiosity as Min-jun continued to ceaselessly beat the man in front of him. Min-jun kneed him in the groin, watching him double over in pain. Ha! Served him right, being so touchy-feely with him. Blood began to drip from the man’s nose, as he muttered a string of colorful insults under his breath.
“You little bitch,” he said, thrusting his knife toward Min-jun, forgetting that there was a rather irate King watching the scene. The knife missed Min-jun’s face by a hair’s breadth. Min-jun stumbled back against the wall. A sharp blade passed through the man’s chest, and he fell to the ground between them in a crumpled, bloody mess. The King stood behind him, and my, how furious he was. It looked good on him. Min-jun lowered his gaze.
Min-jun raised an eyebrow, failing to find any remorse for the man at his feet. Perhaps, some people did deserve this fate.
The King wasn’t done, however. He sunk the tip of his sword back through the man’s chest, wriggling it around.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to play with your prey for too long?” the King asked, bent at the waist to loom over the frightened man. “Had you not been so intent on tormenting my consort, you might’ve succeeded.”
He lifted his sword, tilted his head to the side, and then sunk it into the man’s leg instead. That got another strangled, pained moan out of him, and a jeering smile out of the King.
“Then again, without your friend to distract me, your escape would not have been very fruitful anyhow.” And he would’ve made the man suffer until he begged for mercy. Min-jun could tell by the look on his face, the gleam in his eyes, the tension in his jaw. The King chuckled, brightly, withdrawing his sword for the last time. “You should be glad, then. That you didn’t succeed.”
He was talking to a dead man. Satisfied, the King lifted his gaze to Min-jun, and the cruelty melted away. No time was wasted in closing the distance between them. The King gathered him up in his arms, embracing him so tightly that the dull soreness in Min-jun’s body turned painful.
“Wait,” Min-jun protested, pushing his fists up against the King’s chest. “You’re covered in blood.”
“As are you.”
“I don’t want to get covered in more blood.”
The King chuckled, good-natured and affectionate once more. He pulled away, his hands coming up to cup Min-jun’s face, smearing the blood on his cheek. He looked almost pained, seeing Min-jun like this.
“Let us wash up before we go. I’m sure none of us will want to stay here anymore.” The King glanced to the side, toward the girl standing in the doorway. Shortly after the King left for the second time, Min-jun had asked her to stay away from his room. Mai might be Gifted but she was far from invulnerable, and he would not have a child’s blood on his hands. There might’ve been a lie or two involved, but Min-jun has never been above lying. Not when another person’s life was at stake.
Mai, however, did not share his sentiments.
“There was no plan, was there?” she asked, voice shaking.
“Ah, well . . .” Min-jun averted his gaze, trying to keep his voice light. “It wasn’t exactly communicated verbally. But His Majesty has always had impeccable timing.”
She stepped forward, ready for another fit of rage. “You could’ve died!”
“The man was horridly incompetent at his job,” Min-jun reassured, raising his arms placatingly.
Now she turned on the King. Min-jun sighed, thankful that Mai was dishing out her verbal abuse a little more evenly this time. “And you! How could you leave him when you know he can’t defend himself.”
Min-jun frowned, indignant. Ha! He’d defended himself quite well, thank you very much. Now she was just being rude.
“I think he did well, all things considered,” the King said. At least one of them saw sense.
The King tilted his head to face Min-jun fully. Behind that sweet smile, Min-jun could swear he could sense some underlying annoyance, perhaps even anger. “Though, it’s important to acknowledge that had he not told me to go back then, I would’ve never left him alone to fend for himself.”
Why did Min-jun suddenly feel like he should apologize? For what? He’d done nothing wrong!
Min-jun looked between his two traveling companions, appalled. This wasn’t fair! Had he not acted this way, their pursuers would’ve never shown themselves. Surely, they understood that much. He stumbled back a few steps. The King placed both hands on his shoulders, and Min-jun flinched. The bruised skin was still painful to the touch.
He must change the subject quickly.
“As interesting as this conversation is, we shouldn’t waste any more time. I will go wash up first.” Yes, very good. Commanding, no room for any doubt. He’d go bathe and when he came back, this would all be forgotten.
“Hmm, first?” the King asked, resting his chin on Min-jun’s shoulder, his arms wrapping around Min-jun’s torso. “If it’s time you’re concerned about, how about we go together, my love. It’s been too long since we’ve spent some time together.”
Min-jun clenched his jaw. Bathe together? His body was still sore in many places, and likely marred with bruises and cuts. If the King saw them, who knew what his reaction would be? Clearly, the attack had angered the King. To see the evidence on Min-jun’s body would only make him more furious.
Mai paled at the King’s suggestion to Min-jun, wrinkling her nose in disgust. “So gross.” Without another word, she left them to their own devices. The room was quiet for a moment, as Min-jun’s body sank deeper into the King’s embrace. Ah, he swore it had a mind of its own sometimes. He lost himself in the King’s scent – more forest-like than usual.
Min-jun sighed, his fingers absentmindedly stroking the King’s arms around him. They really did slip into their routine so easily. Mai’s words echoed in his mind. Was he really such a fool that he would truly fall in love with his enemy? And, did it even matter if he did? It wasn’t like the two were mutually exclusive. He could kill the King and want him at the same time.
“Could you perhaps refrain from being so crass in front of the child?”
“Crass? Everything I said was of pure intentions,” The King said, pressing a kiss to Min-jun’s jaw, just below his ear. “It is you who seems to have other ideas, my love. Besides, you must admit it was an effective way to get us some time alone.” Another kiss, a little lower this time. “You’ve bruises all over your neck.”
“I know.”
The King’s arms tightened around him. “I dealt with him too quickly.”
How sadistic.
“I’m quite certain the punishment you dealt him was painful enough.” Min-jun separated himself from the King and glanced at the bloody mess that was his attacker. “What should we do with him?”
“Leave him. Someone will come to pick him up eventually. I doubt these were the only two assassins sent after us.”
Min-jun nodded, his mind returning to the assassin’s words. “He said something about his leaders. That they’re fond of the old ways of learning?”
“I see,” the King replied, lifting a finger to his chin in thought. “I will have Hye-jin look into it.”
“Yes, she seems to do most of the work around the Palace.”
The King pouted. “I do plenty of work as King.”
Min-jun tossed him a doubtful look, before spinning around to walk toward the door. The King followed after him, aghast.
“I do!” He clicked his tongue. “Min-jun!”
Cheol proudly watching Min Jun beat the crap outta arrogant assassin. Loved this scene
Thank you for chapter
😍
I have a weird feeling that Hye-jin will enjoy mentoring Mai. Also, don’t you love it when the king gets super mad at someone hurting Min-Jun, who doesn’t seem to hate it ? It’s a relief to see him accepting comfort and strength from his royal husband.
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
Father and daughter teaming up to scold the other father is so nice ☺☺
Mai is so funny. “defenceless” “so gross” XD