‘The thing is, when I listen to stories, I forget what I need to do.’
After impulsively revealing the hidden name Yun, he hadn’t asked what he had thought to ask at their last meeting either.
‘I was going to ask why the birds rushed at him last time….’
It was partly because, unlike the first time, the birds hadn’t shown any particular movements during the tea time held in the garden, but originally he had always been weak when it came to those who reminded him of his mother.
‘It’s probably nothing.’
Seoho, whom he had observed several times and who was now conversing with the attendant, was an ordinary person aside from being from the same country as his mother.
Young children would sometimes apply fragrances or oils that attracted small birds when going out to the garden, so it must have been something similar to that.
‘Seeing how frivolous the attendant is, it was probably his idea.’
Since the place where his mother and Seoho lived was a world without magic or special powers, the attendant must have done something to please Seoho.
‘My thoughts wandered elsewhere again.’
Just as Yun clicked his tongue softly and was finally about to erase his stray thoughts and look around the room, a question burst out from Seoho.
“Puti, when do you think the reply will come?”
“What?”
Like the attendant who blinked blankly, Yun also put down the hand that had been languidly propping up his chin at the unexpected question.
Seoho tapped the desk with his hand as he spoke.
“He said he’d use magic to send it to the kingdom. But it’s taking this long even so?”
The attendant asked with a flustered face.
“…Have you been waiting for it?”
Just like the attendant, Yun had never thought that Seoho would be waiting for the letter either.
“Well, aside from my parents or school teachers, I haven’t really had occasion to send letters to adults. Should I say I’m a bit worried?”
Seoho let out a small hum and continued.
“Actually, I don’t really know etiquette and things like that. Since the reply is late, I’m wondering if I made some mistake. Was it rude to ask how I should address her?”
“It was a letter with no problems at all.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a relief.”
At the attendant’s assurance, a clean smile filled his face that had looked anxious. Yes, a clean smile.
Seoho’s smile, unlike the smiles shown by those who had schemes and secrets, contained only pure joy and happiness.
That’s why his gaze went to that smile like this. A smile hard to find among the nobles, among those around him.
As Yun was tracing the smile that remained as an afterimage, the attendant suggested.
“…If you’d like, shall I try to hurry the reply a bit?”
Then Seoho waved his hands.
“There’s no need for that. Isn’t it fun to believe a reply will come and wait for it? Being a little anxious and worried, but also looking forward to it.”
As he was following with his eyes Seoho’s appearance counting on his fingers while talking about the feelings of waiting for a letter as if humming a tune, the attendant rolled his eyes and casually said.
“How about trying to exchange letters with His Majesty? I’m sure he’d gladly accept.”
For a moment, Yun’s brow furrowed. Discomfort? No, this was displeasure. This letter was something others couldn’t intrude on…. Suddenly, Seoho’s face rippled greatly and blurred.
Yun, who had been startled thinking the magic had been dispelled, discovered his own hand gripping the teacup tightly and relaxed his grip.
In fact, the strength in his hand naturally loosened at Seoho’s answer that followed. As the tea that had been sloshing as if about to overflow slowly subsided, Seoho’s face became visible again.
“Why would I do that when we can talk right away? And I’m waiting for this letter because it’s with a stranger. A relationship where we get to know each other as the letters continue.”
Seoho shrugged his shoulders lightly and added.
“Maybe we need a bit of bond that people who share the same thing have.”
A bond only they could have. Yes, there was such a thing.
Someone from his mother’s country. And someone he wanted to become close with.
“…Seoho-nim.”
Seriousness settled on the attendant’s face. It was a natural reaction since neither the attendant nor the Emperor would welcome him and Seoho becoming close.
Then, noticing the attendant’s hardened expression, Seoho said not to worry.
“Ah, did that sound too serious? It’s not that serious of a talk.”
“Do you miss your original world?”
At the attendant’s direct question, Yun looked at Seoho again. Did he long for his previous world?
Yun stared intently at Seoho’s face beyond the teacup, which felt even more distant than seeing it with his own eyes.
‘If he says yes….’
His head tilted until his nose almost touched the teacup in order to thoroughly grasp every fragment of emotion that would show on his face.
“Like Rosetta, Puti is worried about that too?”
And perhaps Yun’s feelings affected the familiar, as the familiar approached closer to Seoho.
“I…”
“Seoho?”
But Yun couldn’t hear Seoho’s answer to the end. Between the door that swung open, cold blue eyes appeared.
Realizing the master of the territory had appeared, Yun quickly severed the connection with his familiar.
Though he had been boldly exploring the Emperor’s territory on his own, Yun knew where the line was that shouldn’t be crossed.
‘It wasn’t ordinary power.’
Hadn’t he glimpsed even a little of the Emperor’s power in the reception room?
At least when he was in the same space as the Emperor or the mage behind Seoho, he shouldn’t use his familiar.
‘Until I find what I want.’
So today, regrettably, was as far as he could go.
Yun raised his head that had been bowed as if burying his nose. He must have been so focused that his nape was stiff.
‘I’m paying too much attention.’
He also knew it wasn’t right to think of his mother in every aspect of the man. But he couldn’t just watch and pretend not to notice someone in a similar situation as his mother.
‘Help me…, someone help…’
If he remembered the image of his mother shedding silent tears while suffering from nightmares, absolutely never.
“Shall I approach a bit more actively?”
So that Seoho could open his heart wide and speak his true feelings. Fortunately, didn’t Yun have one appropriate means?
‘I should hurry the reply.’
***
“You’re back?”
As always, Rosetta, who had returned after reviewing work in the office, let out a small laugh seeing Seoho greet him while waving a letter with a face much more excited than usual.
“I heard you were looking forward to the reply.”
“Yes, it came faster than expected, right?”
“It did.”
It was a letter that arrived five days after Seoho sent his letter. He didn’t particularly think it came quickly, but he had no intention of raining on Seoho’s parade when he was happy.
After that meeting in the garden, Rosetta, who had been relieved that there were no special meetings between the prince and Seoho, had heard from Puti the day before that Seoho seemed more interested in the letter than expected.
And today, Seoho, who had received the letter he’d been waiting for through a servant, had an unprecedentedly bright face.
Even as he found himself smiling along with him at the face that bloomed brightly as if receiving a desired gift, he wanted to snatch that letter away right now.
‘What’s so great about that thing….’
Rosetta approached Seoho closely while firmly hiding the pitch-black emotions he could never show Seoho.
“You seem to have been waiting a lot—did you read it?”
Though he had stopped what he was doing at the news that the letter had arrived and hurried back to the room, Rosetta’s outward appearance was very calm. Ignoring his heart that was beating a bit faster than usual, Seoho’s answer came back to him.
“No, I haven’t opened it yet because I wanted to read it together. Rosetta was secretly interested too, weren’t you?”
Knowing he had been waiting for the letter, Rosetta was surprised that Seoho said he hadn’t read it yet.
Rosetta’s interest wasn’t the kind Seoho thought it was, but still, he liked that Seoho was considerate of him.
Rosetta moved closer to Seoho.
“Right. Let’s read it quickly.”
“Yes.”
Seoho let out a small breath as if nervous, then nodded his head greatly.
“Then I’ll open it.”
Would he make such a nervous and trembling expression if he sent a letter later too? Rosetta, who was having such childish thoughts, looked down at the letter again at the rustling sound.
Seoho neatly tore open the envelope and unfolded the paper. Rosetta leaned his head over Seoho’s shoulder to examine the letter.
And Rosetta’s face contorted as he confirmed the first sentence of the letter.
“It’s your writing.”
Though it was something he had already acknowledged when he heard the prince’s other name, this truly proved that the concubine of Iakos Kingdom really was from the same world as Seoho.
“…It really is.”
At Seoho’s slightly trembling voice, Rosetta turned his head to examine his profile.
His hand twitched at the sight of him not minding Rosetta’s presence close by at all, as if completely absorbed in the letter.
Without even a chance to stop himself, Rosetta surrendered to impulse. He wanted to be thought of most, wanted to always exist in one corner of his heart.
Rosetta kissed Seoho’s cheek right in front of him, filled with young and honest feelings.
Smack-.
When he kissed him while deliberately making a loud sound, the eyes that had been scanning the letter quickly turned to Rosetta.
“Rosetta?!”
