“I will keep that in mind.”
At the swift reply that immediately followed, a faint smile crossed the Empress Dowager’s lips.
From Huiseo’s perspective, it might be a story difficult to fully grasp, but in truth, the Empress Dowager cherished Huiseo in her own way. Especially in this regard. She was quite pleased with his attitude of understanding quickly without needing lengthy explanations.
“Have some. The tea will get cold.”
Only then did the pleasant tea time continue as originally intended.
The yakgwa the Empress Dowager offered was particularly sweet and bitter.
After they had shared a bit more conversation, including worried talk about Hwan’s recent school life and grades, Huiseo was finally able to receive permission to withdraw.
‘I should make him study more.’
The suffocating private audience ended, with an unspoken request following him to the very end.
When he finally opened the sliding door that had felt like a tightly closed iron gate when his back was turned to it, he immediately saw Hwan, who had been sitting firmly in place like someone whose bottom was stuck to the cold ground, spring up like a jack-in-the-box.
“Huiseo-ya!”
Hwan’s face, looking as if he might burst into tears at any moment, was so comical that Huiseo couldn’t help but burst out laughing instead.
***
Just like that, Hwan grabbed Huiseo’s hand and headed to his quarters as if fleeing.
The fact that the only place they could flee to together was nowhere far, just nearby, was pathetic, but even so, Hwan wanted to help Huiseo escape the Empress Dowager’s palace quickly.
His heart was so devastated that his hand gripping Huiseo’s was full of strength.
“I hate Grandmother.”
“Someone might hear.”
“I don’t like Grandmother.”
“Your Highness.”
Huiseo tried to stop Hwan, but it was futile.
Grandmother. Of course, it wasn’t exactly wrong, but it also wasn’t a title that would be good for others to hear. Moreover, he was even throwing a tantrum saying “I hate her, I don’t like her,” which made it even worse. Worried that other talk might spread and be misconstrued before reaching the Empress Dowager’s palace, Huiseo scolded Hwan once more.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“Who says I don’t mean it? It’s real!”
But Hwan, who was upset right now, seemed to find Huiseo unfair for constantly scolding him. He was so hurt inside he was practically boiling, so how could Huiseo not understand? Overcome with emotion, he raised his voice without realizing it.
However, just like before, he thought that in this situation, the one who should be most upset was Huiseo, and because of him at that, so it would be unreasonable to get angry at him instead. He quickly bit down on his lower lip.
Huiseo watched Hwan quietly and then continued in a soothing, low voice.
“She didn’t say anything bad. When I said you were sick, she was worried.”
‘Liar.’
The urge to call him out welled up inside, but thanks to Huiseo’s hand gripping his tightly, Hwan was barely able to calm his feelings. But soon he felt ridiculous and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
‘…Pathetic bastard.’
Even when he should be doing all sorts of tricks to comfort Huiseo, he was instead receiving comfort from him.
Suddenly stopping his hurried steps and turning to look at Huiseo, Hwan felt like tears would burst out.
‘What should I say to ease your heart even a little?’
He thought desperately, but then became scared that he might just upset Huiseo more than usual instead. Wouldn’t it be nice if he could at least speak smoothly? He had no decent way with words, was full of fear, and couldn’t even give proper comfort—the sight of himself was pathetic as always.
‘Even though it’s not like I can do anything grand for you instead.’
…I have absolutely nothing.
Hwan felt suffocated by the endlessly repeating sense of powerlessness.
It might sound like an excuse, but that was precisely why Hwan repeated his impulsive behavior once again this time. He was suffocating, and he couldn’t bear it without releasing the emotions surging up from below. Because of that, Hwan pulled the hand he was holding and embraced Huiseo into his arms just like that.
“What… Your Highness, ya!”
As expected, Huiseo jumped and was startled.
Though it was a short exclamation, he definitely heard “ya!” It was probably because he was so surprised that he said it without thinking. Actually, it made sense. Just this morning in the parking lot he had done this, and now again in the wide-open front yard of his quarters, he was pulling this stunt.
Moreover, right now there were more palace servants than usual, worried about what trouble Hwan might cause due to his twisted mood from the incident at the Empress Dowager’s palace, so there were more than one or two witnesses. Hwan thought Huiseo probably wanted to kick his shin right now if possible.
Hwan knew that.
‘I know. I know but….’
But he felt like he had to do something, anything, right now.
Just for a moment.
“Huiseo-ya. Really, just for a moment….”
Pleading like that, Hwan held Huiseo tightly with both arms. Then he buried his face in his shoulder. Only then could Hwan release the hot breath that had been stuck.
Was it because Hwan’s feelings were conveyed? Or was it because Huiseo was also tired from what had just happened?
Unexpectedly, Huiseo, who he thought would push him away immediately, waited quietly.
That wasn’t all. After hesitating for a moment, he then gently buried his face in Hwan’s embrace and softly stroked his back. It was so surprising that Hwan briefly thought this might be a dream.
He was moved.
Huiseo probably didn’t know just how much comfort that action gave to Hwan’s anxious heart.
“…I’m sorry.”
Thanks to that, Hwan finally gathered the courage to whisper so that only Huiseo could barely hear. Then Huiseo whispered back just as softly.
“I know.”
With that one short phrase, Hwan felt like all his sorrow was understood. And he hoped that this time would be even a little bit of comfort for Huiseo as well. This warmth transmitted by being close together, the strength of his two arms holding him firmly.
Though it was meager, no matter how much he searched, this was all he had.
‘Please, even if just a little….’
Just as he was about to hold Huiseo even tighter with that earnest feeling—
“That’s why we can’t be doing this right now.”
Suddenly saying that, Huiseo pulled himself together to a startling degree and slipped out of Hwan’s embrace like a nimble squirrel.
Because of that, Hwan’s arms, which had just been holding him so tenderly, flailed ridiculously in the air. But Huiseo’s eyes, already burning with some inexplicable determination, didn’t seem to see that at all. Only Hwan, unable to easily follow this sudden change of attitude, was surprised and stammered.
“Sud-suddenly? Why? What? What do we have to do?”
“I can’t let this go like this. Of course, I have to make up for it.”
“Make up for it?”
“You said you’d do anything this morning, didn’t you?”
“…Huh?”
“I mean, didn’t you say that? Your Highness?”
Did I…? Did I say that?
Hwan, becoming somewhat anxious about what might come out of that small mouth, bit down on his lower lip, wanting to retract what he had so confidently said this morning before even a day had passed.
He didn’t give him time to think how much he regretted that short embrace. Really.
***
Since they couldn’t just keep standing in the front yard, the two quickly moved locations. After all, they needed to hear in detail about what Huiseo had suddenly planned with gleaming eyes to make up for things.
So the place the two headed was inside Hwan’s quarters.
The quarters newly built for the princes at the former site of Jipgyeongdang looked unmistakably like a classical palace from the outside, but the inside was quite different.
There was a desk and chair for sitting and studying, a tall bed, and even a computer.
Effort to harmonize everything as much as possible could be seen in the antique wooden furniture with curved beauty and traditional embroidery and decorations placed throughout, but it was surprisingly modern enough to not be much different from other boys’ rooms of the same age.
Even though the imperial family upheld tradition, they were still people living in this era. Of course, the fact that it was the room of a mere prince, neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince, also allowed for more freedom.
Anyway, in the middle of Hwan’s room that looked like that, Huiseo spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Lost points should be made up with points, of course.”
“…Points?”
“Yes, points.”
As expected, bad premonitions never miss—an ominous word had appeared.
This morning too, when Hwan asked what he wanted him to do, “perfect score on the English vocabulary quiz” had immediately popped out of Huiseo’s mouth. So he had thought that this time too, the thought process would likely follow a similar path….
‘Did it really need to be this on point?’
From around then, Hwan’s gaze was already wavering, but Huiseo paid no attention and picked up a book from Hwan’s desk.
“Right. Let’s do this one this time.”
But the cover of that book had an even more shocking word written large on it.
“…Math?”
“Math.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“I’m serious though.”
…No, not that!
“Not math!”
Hwan threw himself onto the bed in horror as if he’d seen a terrible goblin. Then he even pretended to wash out his ears as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have and rolled over, but it was futile against Huiseo.
“Get up.”
He quickly came over, sat down beside him, and smacked Hwan’s back.
But Hwan’s attitude remained stubbornly unchanged. Though he usually tried to accommodate anything Huiseo said, this really was too much.
“Say something that makes sense! There are things that are okay to do and things that aren’t!”
“50 points or above.”
But suddenly Huiseo uttered those meaningful words, so even Hwan, who had been stubbornly refusing to listen to anything, seemed inwardly curious and glanced back at Huiseo.
50 points or above?
“…If I get above that, what? What is there?”
Of course he thought it was difficult, but his lips were twitching with a bit of expectation.
“If you don’t, I won’t speak casually for two weeks. Your Highness.”
Heartless Jeong Huiseo completely shattered Hwan’s small hope.
