CH 141

Staring down at the person prostrating before him, Yihan shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t believe the servants of Seojeong Palace were so insolent. Even if Yihan were here today to sleep with Yeonbin, how could a mere servant dare to stand in the emperor’s way? It was a crime worthy of being dragged away and put to death.

“All of you must think very poorly of me.”

“… Your-Your Majesty…”

“That’s fine. Get up.”

However, Yihan said that instead of punishing Ahjin. In addition, the emperor’s expression seemed to show that he approved of Ahjin rather than criticized her. Although her behavior was impious and disrespectful, Yihan was inwardly relieved that someone would go to such lengths for Yeon Hwawoon. Yeon Hwawoon seldom took care of himself, so Yihan was glad that someone like Ahjin was there to take care of him.

Besides, if Yihan really intended to punish Ahjin, Yeon Hwawoon would have come running and knelt down on the cold floor to take the punishment in her place. The last thing Yihan wanted to see was that. In fact, deep down, he knew he didn’t want to do anything that would make Yeon Hwawoon hate him, but for the dignity of the emperor, he had to pretend he didn’t know that.

Therefore, he had nothing to say about the foolishness of a mere servant.

Yihan just blamed himself and started back his halted steps. Ahjin followed him with an embarrassed look on her face, and Yihan asked her.

“Is he asleep yet?”

“Yes, Your Majesty… We haven’t told him that you’re here yet, just in case.”

Regardless of whether or not Eunuch Oh made an incredulous face when he heard Ahjin’s words, Yihan nodded in agreement.

“I see. All of you need not follow. I will call you if I need anything.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor, his expression and voice noticeably excited as he approached the bedroom, waved his hand roughly as he walked, not even looking at either Ahjin or Eunuch Oh. Usually, when the Emperor came at night, there were many things to prepare, such as drinking tables, food, and other things, but since the Emperor said that he had no immediate need for them, except for that one person, they just hid their smiles and withdrew quietly.

“How are you doing?”

After quickly stopping Hwawoon from kneeling, Yihan sat him down on the bed and asked. His voice was uncharacteristically hesitant. It was no wonder, considering that he was the reason Hwawoon had collapsed today. Hwawoon smiled lightly and replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m fine now, and I apologize for causing you unnecessary stress.”

“… That’s fine. It’s rather me who…”

“…?”

“I’m sorry.”

However, when the unexpected words of apology came out of the emperor’s mouth, the smile on Hwawoon’s face instantly disappeared. Immediately sitting a little closer to Yihan, Hwawoon asked in surprise.

“Your Majesty, why did you say that?”

“I… I really didn’t know… that…”

“Oh…”

“That you had such a hard time.”

Like a child who has done wrong, Yihan hung his head and whimpered. Hwawoon blushed bright red as he finally realized what the emperor was saying.

He had already heard the reason for his collapse from Ahjin. Even then, he had been too embarrassed to look her in the face, but hearing it again from the emperor’s mouth made him want to vanish if only he could. No matter how weak his body was, it was hard to believe that he had fainted from excessive sexual intercourse. Hwawoon didn’t know how to keep his head up if word of this were to spread through the palace, so he spent the rest of the afternoon in private subtly without the girls of Seojeong Palace. Thinking to himself that he had shown too many shameful acts in front of the Emperor, Hwawoon lowered his head and spoke in a very low voice.

“Well, it’s because my body is too weak, so Your Majesty… Mmm…”

“Khm hm…”

“It would never be for any other reason. Besides…”

The more he rambled on, the more embarrassed he became, but even so, something like this shouldn’t be the reason for the majestic emperor to apologize to someone like him. Hwawoon barely managed to speak, trying to ignore the heat rising in his face.

“Besides I… I don’t hate it…”

He didn’t just say it to lighten Yihan’s mood. It was Hwawoon’s sincerity that leaked out of his heart, which mushed when he was around Yihan, no matter how much he tried to control it. I must not do this. I shouldn’t be deceiving His Majesty like this. Hwawoon kept telling those to himself, but when the Emperor approached him, he couldn’t bring himself to push him away. It wasn’t simply because he was a concubine, or because it was against etiquette to reject the emperor.

The truth was, he didn’t want to push him away. If Hwawoon pushed away all the feelings of guilt and other external factors, what always remained in his heart was his affection for the Emperor. He enjoyed the warmth of his arms, and when he was in them, he felt as if his life could be of some value to the world.

Whenever he saw the emperor’s neat and pristine countenance painted with excitement, exhaling hot breath because of him, it would fill his heart with an immense sense of fulfillment that he would pay any price for. So how could Hwawoon blame the Emperor when he was the one who willingly served the Emperor without knowing that his body was getting weak?

“I… I did it willingly, so you have nothing to apology—”

However, Hwawoon could not finish the words that he said with great courage. Yihan, who was staring at Hwawoon with trembling eyes, was unable to hold back and pulled Hwawoon’s neck to kiss him deeply. Yihan thought that this was entirely Yeon Hwawoon’s fault. No one would be able to stand it if they saw their lover say that they were happy to be embraced by them with both cheeks flushed.

Hwawoon’s body flinched at the sudden intrusion, and as if to soothe him, Yihan wrapped his other hand around his waist and pulled him closer, gently stroking his back. A moan escaped Hwawoon’s lips, but Yihan didn’t let it escape their interlocked lips as he devoured it all.

“Ah… Your… Hht…!”

“…!”

It wasn’t until Hwawoon was out of breath and clutching the hem of Yihan’s robe with both hands that the emperor came to his senses and released Hwawoon from his arms. When he saw his shoulders heaving and his wet lips gasping for air, Yihan finally realized that he had been tormenting him again, unable to control his own desires.

Having never been so unreasonably lustful for anyone in his life, Yihan wondered if he had really lost his mind. This was why he had no right to yell at Ahjin about what she thought of him.

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

Hwawoon shook his head and said, “No, Your Majesty!” as he watched Yihan apologize yet again. His heart sank every time the Emperor apologized. He finally understood how Ahjin felt whenever he said thank you and sorry. Hwawoon collected his breath and was about to add that this, too, was nothing for the Emperor to apologize for, but Yihan beat him to it.

“The doctor said you need to recuperate for the time being, so I’m really, really not going to put you through any trouble now, so don’t worry.”

“Oh… So, are you going back now?”

Although Hwawoon was obviously pleased and grateful that the Emperor was so concerned about his body, there was something strangely wistful about his statement that he would not trouble him any further. Hwawoon asked, trying to ignore the unknown emotion that rose within him. The Emperor had come all the way here to visit him, who collapsed because of his poor health, so this alone was more than he deserved. Hwawoon sincerely thought so, but he couldn’t hide the slightest hint of regret in his eyes.

Then, Yihan, with a face that couldn’t be read, blinked and asked.

“Going back where?”

Hwawoon, likewise blinking, spoke again.

“… Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“That’s right. I should.”