Min-jun sat behind his desk as Jeong-eun told him of the rumors that had been catching since the King had whisked him away from the Palace. She called them rumors, but of course, most of the news was true. Who had spread it, Min-jun wondered. Was it a client from the brothel? Mother should’ve been able to prevent something like that from happening.
“Even the instructors and students from the Royal Academy are protesting,” Jeong-eun said, hugging herself. She had not changed. Her hair in the same braided updo, her blue hanbok free of wrinkles. “They threaten to do a protest if the King does not bend to their will.”
“The bastards,” Chae-won mumbled under her breath. She stood next to Jeong-eun, her arms crossed.
“And what of the seonbi?” Those virtuous scholars must have an opinion on this, after all. They had kicked up a fuss when the King had taken the crown for himself a few years back, suspicious of the Great Predecessor King’s sudden death. Imagine if he had killed his father and it had been known? Such filial piety. They’d have staged a coup.
“Many of them have come forward as well,” Chae-won said. “With the same old threats, too.”
Jeong-eun shook her head. “I cannot believe they could spew such filth about something they know nothing about. Lying is supposed to be against our virtues.”
“What if they were not lying?” Min-jun prompted, folding his hands in front of him. His trust in them hinged on their answer, but the traitorous part of him was biased. Please, please do not turn away from me. Deep inside, his heart trembled, not prepared for their faces to be filled with revulsion, for them to swallow their words and reject him, whether it be through silence or insults.
However, not even a flash of disgust flitted across their face. A bit of shock froze them over, but it was quickly replaced by that same indignant frustration. Min-jun felt a weight lift off his back. Ah, I needn’t have worried.
Jeong-eun rolled one hand into a fist, her blue sleeve falling further down her arm, and shook it toward the sky. “So? That doesn’t give them the right to stick their nose where it doesn’t belong?”
Chae-won nodded along. “They should’ve just minded their own business.”
“Honestly!” Jeong-eun said, spurred on by Chae-won’s agreement. She spun around, pacing around the room again, her feet stomping down on the pine floorboards. “Honestly, who do they think they are to tell the King who he should fall in love with? Any person could influence him poorly, but it’s obvious he’s as wise as ever.”
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.
He wasn’t that wise.
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“Gb sbe atlcx atf Blcu klii jugff ab la?” Jtjf-kbc jrxfv, wbgf ugbecvfv atjc tfg mbecafgqjga, fnfc lo rtf rtjgfv lc tfg jcufg.
‘Well’, he thought, picturing the King in his mind. His regal posture as he sat at his throne, his intelligent eyes taking the room apart, digging out every intention those officials held close. ‘What will it be, Your Majesty?’ Would he abandon and replace him as easily as Mother would have? When put up against a nation, Min-jun certainly paled in comparison. No, Min-jun would expect nothing of the King. Still, he decided to appease them.
“It will be alright.” He sounded so sure he might’ve fooled himself. “As you’ve said, the King is wise. He will not abandon me over petty threats.”
They both seemed to light up with pride at his words. Indeed, they must be delighted that the King had chosen their young master, of all people, as his favored consort. Jeong-eun bowed her head, hiding her smile. “Of course, the King is very fond of Your Highness.”
A bit too fond, if you asked him. But, if that fondness kept Min-jun from being exiled for the time being, then it would be best not to stir the boat too much.
‘It would appear that I will have to behave myself going forward.’
Not that behaving himself would save him should a protest really occur. The King had only recently won over the scholarly elite. He would side with them if their swords clashed. Min-jun might have to take things into his own hands.
He stood up and walked past Jeong-eun and Chae-won to the door. He’d assigned various tasks to the other servants to keep them occupied, just in case one of them felt particularly inclined to gossip that day. Only Sun guarded his door, vigilant eyes kept forward, arms crossed.
“Sun,” Min-jun called. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Without even being prompted, Jeong-eun brought Min-jun his coat. A simple violet durumagi that, like every other garment the King has bought him, fit his frame immaculately.
“It’s getting colder outside,” Jeong-eun said, as she finished tying the ribbon of his durumagi. “You must take care of yourself, Your Highness.”
“I will. Thank you, Jeong-eun.”
His eyes focused on the sleeve of his violet gown. The hue was strikingly familiar. Where had he seen it before? Perhaps on one of the palace uniforms, or in the tapestries . . .
The King appeared in his mind, the slight smile curved on his full lips, his sharp jawline, the soft curves of his face, and finally, eyes, violet as lavender blooms. Min-jun shook his head clean of the thoughts, dropping his arm to hang at his side.
“Your Highness?” Sun prompted. Min-jun whipped his head up, snapping out of his trance. Sun now waited for him a little ways away.
“Ah yes, my apologies. Let us be off.” Gat in hand, Min-jun followed Sun outside. The stars glinted faintly up above, the crisp autumn air mixing with woodsmoke. Jeong-eun wasn’t exaggerating when she’d said there was a chill in the air.
“Winter will be harsh,” Sun said, making conversation for once. They passed the arched entrance of the garden. Most of the flowers had lost their blossoms, withering now as frost-bitten mornings approached. “Though, for you, it’s probably nothing.”
Min-jun watched the path underneath his feet, the stones smooth beneath the soles of his leather shoes. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the mountains, so I’ll likely suffer the same fate as all of you.”
“You must take care not to take ill, then, Your Highness. His Majesty would never let me live it down.”
Min-jun smiled, despite not finding any humor in the situation. “His Majesty would? You flatter me.”
“The maiden was right,” Sun told him. His gold eyes stayed affixed to Min-jun, following his movements, observing the shifts in his expression. Tch. None of the King’s friends could keep their calculating natures to themselves. “He is fond of you.”
“And I am grateful for His Majesty’s kindness.”
Sun grimaced. “Lies flow off your tongue like honey. It’s irritating.” He said no more, for he knew as well as Min-jun that eavesdroppers abound in the Palace. They walked onto the bridge, a bubbling creek beneath them.
Min-jun leaned against the barrier and gazed down into the water. His face, unmarred despite all that Song had put it through, stared back at him. Ha, did he always look so tired? He turned his attention to Sun instead. There was no moon tonight to guide them, only the lanterns of the villa and the stars above. Sun stood behind him, most of the details of his features – little scars on his face, the wrinkles forming around his eyes and between his brows – were obscured, but his eyes glowed gold. Such power was vested in one man.
“Sun, how long have you and the King known each other?”
“The King and I?” Sun had to pause and think it over, his head tilted up toward the heavens. “I believe, by tomorrow, it will have been ten years. I met him when he was still a young boy. Although Hye-jin and Ji-won knew before even me.”
“And in all your acquired knowledge, do you have any idea how he’ll react to the recent petitioning?”
Sun smiled, warmth in his gaze. The love for his King was clear as he spoke. “Cheol doesn’t abandon those loyal to him.”
Cheol? It felt strange to hear someone say his name. Names were for people, after all. Using a person’s name indicated a sense of familiarity few had with the King. To most, he was but a symbol, a great force that might come down and consume their lives and livelihoods at any moment, as was the case with Min-jun. Yet here was a man who knew him before he was a King. Perhaps he hadn’t even known him to be the Crown Prince. Right. The King had once been a regular commoner, just like the rest of them.
But he was not Cheol anymore. He was the King. And Min-jun was his consort, to be used and discarded at his leisure. Heart pounding in his head, his hand clenched the cold stone of the bridge. I will not allow you to replace me, Your Majesty.
A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you’re having a lovely week so far. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get this chapter to you yesterday. My life for the past few days had been a little chaotic lol. I’m all good now, and hopefully we’ll get a Saturday chapter as we usually do. If you liked this chapter, please leave a comment down below! Thank you!
Min-jun sounds like he’s turning into a yandere with this last line 😂😂 it kind of gave the same vibe as “if I can’t have you I’ll kill you”
Oohhh… so threatened at the thought of another consort loving the king? With all his physical experience, Min-Jun still no frame of reference to gauge a real relationship huh? I’m betting that his past encounters were very clinical and indifferent.
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️