The owner of that laughter was none other than Adrian.
He, who at first couldn’t hide his flustered appearance at Hwan’s sudden impulsive action, for some reason was looking back and forth between Hwan and Huiseo and laughing loudly. Then after a moment, he too whispered softly in his country’s language in the puzzled Hwan’s ear.
“Just as I heard.”
It was a pleasant exclamation. Though it was something Hwan could never understand.
He then continued saying something more, vigorously patting the back of Hwan who he was hugging. Only then did he leave excitedly to find his seat, laughing heartily as if satisfied.
So instead, only Hwan was left behind, not knowing what was going on, just moving his lips.
“What, what is it? What did he say?”
As Hwan muttered like that, spacing out, Huiseo hurriedly followed behind and whispered.
“If you ever need my help, tell me. What does this mean? What on earth did you say?”
“Huh? No, just…. I didn’t say much….”
‘Help?’
At the story he couldn’t readily understand, Hwan had to stand there scratching the back of his head for quite a while.
***
Adrian. Even during the dinner, he looked at Hwan meaningfully and smiled several times.
‘…No, why exactly?’
It seemed Hwan’s impulsive action earlier had pressed some sort of ‘button’ of his, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. It didn’t seem to be in a bad sense, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t burdensome either, so Hwan put the dinner food set before him in his mouth somewhat unnaturally.
‘It’s funny that it tastes good despite all this though….’
He heard they had agonized over the dinner menu for four days.
Korean beef galbi roasted with sauce made from 360-year-old fermented soy sauce and stone pot rice topped with Dokdo shrimp japchae, grilled Geoje flounder accompanied by clear soybean paste soup, and sujeonggwa sherbet topped with sweet persimmon for dessert.
Thanks to such careful preparation, it was no exaggeration to say that everything that entered their mouths melted away without exception. Thanks to that, even the foreign guests for whom Korean food was somewhat unfamiliar seemed to be enjoying it without burden.
‘That’s fortunate.’
Not only the Sojubang palace servants who directly prepared that food, but everyone on the imperial family’s hosting side couldn’t hide their proud faces. Earlier Hwan had been indignant calling it ‘being treated like a pushover,’ but ironically, precisely because it was a setting completely unrelated to politics, the atmosphere was continuously harmonious.
So in other words, the only one uncomfortable at this event was Hwan.
‘I don’t want to get indigestion eating this delicious food.’
After watching for reactions, he eventually thought of Huiseo’s face as always as a way to navigate this situation. Actually, it wasn’t like Huiseo could do anything different about this situation either, but he thought it would be better than his inadequate self wracking his brain alone.
With that thought, Hwan glanced at Huiseo sitting at a distant table.
He wanted to call him directly, but suddenly doing so conspicuously was also unreasonable. So having no choice, Hwan ended up sneakily lowering his gaze and secretly wiggling his fingers under the table.
[why does he keep looking at me like tyat]
Though there were some typos, wasn’t it difficult to write like that without being noticed?
However, after a moment, Huiseo’s reply to the message sent with difficulty was truly merciless.
[How would I know]
Though there was a moment where he felt a bit choked up thinking it was excessively insincere, strictly speaking it was correct so there was nothing more to say. Hwan’s lips jutted out.
Mean Jeong Huiseo.
‘…This guy, he always seems to get colder when we exchange messages like this.’
When he slightly turned his head to look, he saw Huiseo sitting there with an expression as indifferent as that message. Watching such a Huiseo, Hwan narrowed his eyes for a moment, then focused on the sensation of his fingers under the table again and sent a few more messages.
[maybe he likes me]
[what should i do that’s kind of burdensome]
Of course it was nonsense, but he wanted to see Huiseo’s reaction.
More precisely, out of spite, he felt the urge to crumble that neat expression even a little. Even a face laughing in disbelief would be fine. Then, he thought this spiteful feeling could be relieved at least a little.
For that reason, Hwan, who pressed the send button, immediately watched Huiseo’s reaction with a sidelong glance.
Soon after, as if a message had arrived with a short vibration, Huiseo sneakily looked around watching for reactions and lowered his head. Just watching that action was funny and ticklish, so Hwan pressed hard on his lips.
‘I wonder what expression he’ll make?’
What will he say?
Out of curiosity, that time of less than a minute felt too long and anxious.
But contrary to Hwan’s expectations, unfortunately, Huiseo didn’t bat an eye even at that absurd message. He definitely checked the message, but he could hardly find any particular change in expression. Hwan was dumbfounded by this.
Not interested?
‘No, I’m going to all this trouble to get some attention?’
Though disappointed, still, at the reply that arrived before long, Hwan thought ‘I’ll let it slide’ while primly jutting out his lips. Then that cheeky thought became a boomerang again and hit the back of Hwan’s head without fail.
[Yes]
……What?
‘What? That’s it?’
Greatly disappointed by the answer that went beyond deflating to completely draining, Hwan stared blankly at the chat window for a moment. Then after a bit, ttorong, ttorong, there were more messages coming up.
That’s right, that can’t be all. Just as he was thinking fortunately….
[Stop texting]
[Look forward]
By then, Hwan’s lower lip couldn’t help but jut out fully. There’s a limit to being indifferent.
‘How can you be so unbothered even after hearing someone say they might like me?’
Of course it’s bullshit. But still.
‘…Was it too obvious that it was bullshit?’
Just as Hwan, whose insides had become noisy, finally glared at the annoying Huiseo with sharp eyes. At another ‘ahahaha’ cheerful laugh heard from across the table, Hwan now couldn’t hide his somewhat absurd expression.
Unable to bear it anymore, he asked with his lips.
‘Why?’
Then he gestured with a somehow knowing, relaxed smile.
‘Okay.’
No, what’s okay? What does he know?
‘What?’
***
After finishing the eventful, question-filled dinner like that, it was time for the imperial family members to step back, yielding the brief spotlight, as the stage for the real protagonists was next.
Though they couldn’t hide their bitterness at being used as a front, they still didn’t forget to finish with smiles and greetings until the end. Hwan, who had been uncomfortable at this event all along, did so even more.
‘It’s finally over.’
With that thought, he smiled brightly toward the reporters gathered in front too.
‘Hurry up and take your pictures and go.’
But just before they really parted, Adrian, who until now had only been sending subtle glances toward Hwan, for some reason approached boldly. Then he suddenly held out his phone. At first he thought it meant to exchange numbers, but then he opened his mouth.
“Picture.”
“Huh?”
“Chigeo. Gachi.”
Take. Together. Though the pronunciation was clumsy, he said it clearly.
He knew he couldn’t speak Korean, but it seemed he had hurriedly learned it through an interpreter just now. It was a bit funny that he made such an effort just to take a picture with him.
But also, wasn’t it touching and commendable that he even asked in the other’s language? Even Hwan, no matter how annoyed he was, absolutely couldn’t refuse to take it.
“Okay.”
But actually it didn’t stop there, and at the words that followed, Hwan’s eyes opened wide.
“Huiseo. Gachi.”
“…What?”
“Won, tu, sseu-ri.”
At first glance, he wondered if this guy was dreaming the vain dream of taking a photo alone with Huiseo, not himself. But when Hwan pointed to himself, Hwan, and Huiseo in order and asked “Three? Together? Okay?” to reconfirm, he nodded readily.
Hwan’s mind spun quickly in an instant.
Because of the story related to ‘selfies’ they had shared not long ago at HwanHui’s Garden. He recalled how everyone lamented that though frustrated, they couldn’t refute Hwan’s comment that ‘Huiseo won’t take them.’ But what if. Even if it’s merciless Jeong Huiseo.
If it’s not him but another person who’s hard to refuse asking to take it?
Could he coldly reject it that much?
‘Absolutely not.’
An unbelievable golden opportunity was unfolding before his eyes right now. And Hwan was not someone who would miss that opportunity.
“Of course! Of course!”
Eyes gleaming, laughing loudly, he suddenly hugged the lovely-seeming Adrian in front of him like before—no, this time filled with sincerity. Not satisfied with even that, he whispered one sincere word, “Thank you!” and even patted his back before finally calling Huiseo happily.
Of course, Huiseo, who heard the situation, immediately made an unwilling face.
“Do I really have to be in it too?”
“Huiseo-ya. This is all diplomacy too? We have to finish well. They directly requested it from that side.”
“That may be so but…. But why is Your Highness so excited?”
“Huh? Isn’t it just your imagination?”
“Ha….”
Because of Hwan, who was excessively excited as if he had some other scheme, Huiseo’s eyes narrowed.
There wasn’t a single thing wrong in what Hwan just said, but ridiculously, that fact rather made him more suspicious. But in the end, because of that ‘not a single thing wrong’ logic, he couldn’t flatly refuse.
‘He definitely has some scheme.’
To be pushed back by logic by none other than Hwan.
Huiseo, filled with dissatisfaction, bit down on his lower lip.
Hwan was very satisfied with that sight.
