Min-jun rolled his shoulder. The King had been even tougher on him the night before, and though Min-jun had managed to stay awake a while longer, he eventually drifted off as the two of them laid in bed. He’d soaked in a sweet-smelling pain reliever that the King had brought him personally, but it had only slightly alleviated the soreness all over his body. It had gotten worse with a night of rest.
“Your Highness, Lady Mai has followed us out,” Sun whispered from beside him.
“I know.” Min-jun glanced over his shoulder. Mai stood on the steps of Jangmi Villa, hands wringing the fabric of her skirt. “Is there something on your mind, Mai?”
Mai shook her head, a small pout on her face. Min-jun kept his gaze on her. He had to look up from his place on the path, which was now bathed in leaves of orange and yellow. The servants had yet to clear it, but truthfully, Min-jun might prefer it this way.
“Would you like to accompany us to the Academy?” Min-jun turned to face her fully.
“Women and girls who aren’t servants are not allowed in the Academy unless they’re granted permission by the King,” Sun said, his tone nearly one of warning.
“Why bother the King with such a trivial matter?” Min-jun said. Though, perhaps breaking the rules of the Academy on the first day was not the best first impression.
Oh well, he’d worry about it later.
“Come along then,” Min-jun said to Mai. “We can’t be all day about it. The Academy opens its doors at jinshi.”
Mai could hardly keep down her smile as she walked down those last few steps to join them. She wore gloves on her hands, taking precautions as to not cause an outbreak in the Academy. A few servants here and there Mai could cure, but an entire school? And one made up of noble students, whose parents would quickly make a fuss. It would be far too much work.
Min-jun watched as she took her place next to Sun. She must’ve expected this outcome from the beginning. Should’ve told him sooner, really.
This would be good for her, though. It couldn’t be healthy for a child to be restricted to just the Inner Palace all day, hardly ever speaking to people who didn’t directly serve her. Perhaps she’d make some friends, provided said friends weren’t two-faced or cruel.
. . .
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.
The Academy was a large building lifted upon red pillars. The slate tiles of its roof gleamed in the sunlight from regular polishing. The students had yet to arrive, taking in the final minutes of blissful sleep before they returned to the day’s work. Min-jun wished to speak to the instructors first, without the clutter of students to distract them. How would they react? With contempt? Would they try to scare him off? Min-jun was prepared for anything.
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Fear?
What in the world was going on?
Min-jun tried to move closer to one of the scholars, but he only backed up a few steps in response and bowed deeply.
“Y-your Highness. May your st-stay here be pleasant.” And then he ran off, as if Min-jun had threatened to slice his head. Someone must’ve told them to keep their distance. But who? Perhaps, the King . . . but no, why would the King do such a thing?
“Your Highness,” a voice from behind him spoke. Min-jun turned to look at the man. He stood a head taller than Min-jun, with sleek black hair gathered in a topknot on his head. He wore the blue uniform all scholars wore at the Royal Academy. What a gentle gaze.
The man bowed. “Scholar Kim Ha-jun, at your service.”
Ha-jun.
The name sounded familiar somehow. Oh. No, that couldn’t be. Plenty of people carried the name, Ha-jun. The likelihood of them reuniting like this was slim. This Ha-jun couldn’t be Min-jun’s Ha-jun. What would he be doing here anyhow? He was no nobleman’s son, but a petty thief. Then again, they had only known each other for a short while.
And yet, the scholar seemed rather familiar. Something in the look of his eyes and the slope of his jaw, and the way his lips curved up into a smile.
“Is there something wrong?” the scholar asked, still bowing slightly.
“Oh, no,” Min-jun said. “Please rise.” He turned his attention back to the cowering scholars around him. “I suppose you wouldn’t mind telling me why they are acting so strangely?”
The scholar laughed, lightly. “The King gathered all the adult scholars and instructors and gave them quite the scolding yesterday. In the middle of that scolding, he threatened them with execution should they get within six feet of you. I think they took it to heart.”
“And you did not?” Min-jun asked.
“I believe our King is wiser than to follow through with such a thing. He was only being cautious. If he threatens us over something so trivial in the beginning, we’ll be warier of actually causing you harm.”
“You were not among the scholars that day.” It was a guess, but Min-jun figured there was no harm in asking.
“I was not.” Ha-jun gestured for Min-jun to walk in front of him. “I had no intention of condemning a man I had never met. Though, now that I’ve heard of the feat you accomplished that day, I fear I lost the chance to witness something quite interesting.”
They walked through corridors that smelled of pine wood and parchment, passing by open windows and their dark green frames, and scholars who jumped out of their way, no doubt remembering the King’s warning. Normally, Min-jun wouldn’t dare follow a stranger like this, but with Sun and Mai there, he felt secure enough to keep his paranoia in check. Even if Ha-jun had something up his sleeve, he’d have trouble doing anything with them around.
“You’re young for a scholar,” Min-jun said. Now, that he had made sure that no danger would come to them, he could proceed with his own questioning.
“Let’s just say I was a very precocious child,” Ha-jun replied. “Although I was not of noble birth, one could say that made me want to pursue this path even more.”
So, he was a commoner. “You must’ve been very determined.”
“Yes, very determined. And very petty.”
‘Pettiest of them all.’
Oh come now. That was certainly a coincidence. Min-jun glanced at the man walking alongside him. Or was it?
It didn’t matter either way. Min-jun all but belonged to the King for as long as said King was alive. He might be an assassin and an ex-courtesan, but he wasn’t unfaithful.
“Who is the lady joining us?” Ha-jun asked, taking a look over his shoulder. Mai was quick to hide behind Sun.
“My ward. She wished to see the Academy.”
“I see. Well, the old scholars won’t like that very much.”
Min-jun brought his fan to his chin as he pondered the statement. “Perhaps I’ll have to ask my husband to threaten them a bit more, then.”
“Foul play? Perhaps you are as devious as they claim.”
They came upon a set of large double doors. On either side, guards stood, watchful. Ha-jun knocked twice and announced their arrival. A clatter sounded from the other side. Something like falling books.
“LET HIM IN!” came a frantic voice, followed by a cough as the Chief cleared his voice. “Let His Highness enter.”
“He’s terrified,” Ha-jun said, smiling gleefully.
“I can tell.” The King must’ve done a number on him.
Ha-jun opened the door for Min-jun, who walked in with every intention to be at his most likable.
A/N: Leave your complaints in the comment section below! I just had to add in another rival (tho is he, really? Min-jun isn’t very interested in him.) I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know if you want to see the scene where Cheol threatens the scholars because I would be more than happy to write the drama heheh. Thank you for reading!
….. elmo leaving gif
Wait, don’t leave! There’s fluff on the horizon, I promise!
Well this ha-jun guy is playing dangerously…
rip Ha-jun, you were short-lived.
Thanks for commenting!
It would be interesting to see them getting scolded kkkk ψ(｀∇´)ψ
Thanks for the chapter!
I hope you like seeing them get scolded heheh. Thank you for commenting!
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
Thank you for commenting!
King flex is too cute. Min Jun one down rest of academy to win over
Thank you for chapter. IMHO you should have included King threatening scholars
Cheol wasn’t about to let the scholars just do whatever they want. idk about you, but I believe in Min-jun’s ability to win over an entire academy 🙂
Thank you for commenting!
A petty thief, a king’s consort and a plague carrying child walk into a school… 😄 So funny to think of the scholars all skittering away like cockroaches!
They’re right to be afraid, all three of these people could have them killed. I’m glad you liked the scholars scrambling to get away from our group lol. Thank you for commenting!