As expected by Hwan, Huiseo’s patience didn’t last very long.
As soon as the homeroom teacher entered for the afternoon closing period, he raised his hand high. And the words that followed from Huiseo were enough to plunge the classroom into chaos once again, just like in the morning.
“Please let me change seats.”
Huiseo’s words were tantamount to publicly rejecting Yuwon in front of everyone—Yuwon who had been unilaterally acting overly familiar with him. No matter what, the method was too cold-hearted, so not only the homeroom teacher and classmates but even Hwan, who had somewhat anticipated this, and Yuwon himself, the person in question, couldn’t help but be surprised.
The only one who didn’t bat an eye was Huiseo, who had said it himself.
“Um, Huiseo-ya. But still…”
The reason Huiseo gave to the homeroom teacher, who was troubled by the continuing awkward situation, was this:
“The person in front is too tall, so I can’t see the blackboard.”
So everyone’s gaze turned to Yuwon.
Considering Yuwon’s height, which was comparable to Hwan’s, it wasn’t completely nonsensical.
Objectively speaking, Huiseo’s height wasn’t particularly short either, but with Hwan next to him and Yuwon in front being so tall, if one were to exaggerate a bit more, it felt as if he was surrounded by them. Moreover, it was understandable that not being able to see the blackboard was a very serious problem for Huiseo, who was first in the entire school.
However, everyone couldn’t help but gauge Yuwon’s reaction.
‘When he made it so obvious that he wanted to become close.’
Though they didn’t notice any visible change in his expression, it surely couldn’t be a very pleasant feeling.
On the other hand, Hwan felt as if someone had poured cider down his throat that had been boiling all day long, no matter how much he pretended otherwise. He never knew that Huiseo’s cold and indifferent demeanor, which had made Hwan tear up several times before, would be helpful in this way.
Hwan couldn’t contain himself—he loved the current situation and loved Huiseo.
But then Huiseo added one more thing to Hwan.
“Since it’s come to this, should we move to the very front, *us*?”
He said “*us*.”
Right in front of that annoying bastard who looked like he’d eaten butter, as if showing off.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Hwan’s expression melted away.
Perhaps to prevent the homeroom teacher from simply switching seats between Huiseo and Yuwon, Huiseo had specified “the very front” first. It would probably be difficult to easily ignore.
If the other side used their power to approach, then this side would likewise use their power to escape. Of course, this side’s power was just a measly tail-of-a-mouse power—just some prince and a good student—so they planned to ask permission from and negotiate with whoever was in the front seats.
Anyway, if they escaped that far, it would be ridiculous for Yuwon to follow them again.
‘Would he really go that far? So pathetically?’
He might, but then they would make up some excuse to run away and humiliate him even more.
Next to him, Hwan was nodding his head repeatedly as if he would follow anywhere. They would have to give up most of the things they’d enjoyed with the advantage of being in the back corner seat, but it didn’t seem like a big deal right now.
Hwan felt a bit gleeful and deliberately packed his things noisily while glancing at Yuwon.
He too seemed flabbergasted by this situation. His posture, which had been sitting properly and pretending to be good and proper in front of Huiseo, had completely slouched as he let out a small snort.
“…Ha.”
They could feel his gaze clearly watching the backs of the two people hurriedly moving to the front seats.
However, contrary to their worries, after that, Yuwon didn’t make an effort to approach them or stubbornly follow them to the front seats out of spite.
That was fortunate.
Huiseo didn’t seem very interested, but Hwan at least felt greatly relieved.
***
After finishing all classes that day, in the car returning to the palace, Hwan acted spoiled and linked arms with Huiseo sitting in the seat next to him, then leaned his head on his shoulder.
Previously, Hwan had tried to look over some English vocabulary in the car and suffered from motion sickness for quite a while. Huiseo, who had been reading a book without feeling dizzy, looked at him questioningly as if wondering what was going on.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, you’re just cool.”
“…What are you talking about?”
He muttered it like a scolding, but it didn’t seem to be a bad feeling.
Considering that even though the large Hwan was leaning on him, which should be heavy and bothersome, he left him alone. Taking advantage of that mercy, Hwan buried his face a bit more into his shoulder like acting cute.
“…Ahem.”
Then, at Huiseo’s unnecessary clearing of his throat, subtle tension entered his shoulder. That was transmitted as is to Hwan who was leaning on him, and he could feel it.
‘Is he nervous?’
The corners of Hwan’s mouth rose silently at that thought. That tension couldn’t help but make Hwan very happy from his position.
‘…Be more conscious of me.’
Hwan wanted to go one step further and whisper that.
Although it didn’t take very long to arrive at the palace, by the time they got off, Hwan’s chest swelled with pride when he noticed that not a single page of the book Huiseo was holding had been turned.
***
Finally, the future Crown Princess entered the palace.
Although the official wedding ceremony hadn’t been held yet, she had entered the palace early like this because she needed to stay in a separate palace and learn the palace customs. In other words, contrary to everyone’s concerns, it also meant that the procedures were being followed step by step properly.
Around that time, even Huiseo, who had had a dark complexion whenever Kang’s marriage was mentioned, seemed to have reached a stage of acceptance. Even recently, Hwan had gauged his mood several times, but now no matter who said what, there was no particular sign.
That was fortunate, but on the other hand, it was pitiful.
‘The imperial family’s reputation and such… Huiseo especially cares more about such things.’
Whether on broadcasts, on the internet, or even on the streets, whenever two or more people met, there were many explicit stories about this marriage, so the stress must have been severe.
Meanwhile, regarding Kang’s marriage, what kind of thoughts did Hwan have? Well. Of course, as a member of the imperial family, feeling bitter and dismayed was natural.
‘But still…’
Although it was a bit much to say from his mouth, considering they fought whenever their eyes met, honestly Kang was someone who had been good at everything since childhood, unlike himself. So he decided not to worry much.
Because he had done well without being told.
“…He’ll do well. Hyung will.”
Saying that, Hwan carefully pulled the head of Huiseo sitting beside him and leaned it on his shoulder. He wanted to comfort Huiseo. Perhaps knowing that feeling, Huiseo also obediently leaned on Hwan’s shoulder and nodded.
“…Yeah. I trust him.”
Leaning on each other like that, it felt like things might really be okay.
But then Hwan’s quarters became noisy.
The unsettled atmosphere of the court ladies waiting outside was transmitted to the two people inside the room. So Hwan and Huiseo, who had been looking at each other with puzzled faces for a moment, opened the window and poked their heads out.
“Is something wrong?”
But what do you know, the first thing they saw was none other than a court attendant from the main palace. He, who should be serving Father by his side, was here for some reason. And like someone who had run here in a hurry at that.
“Your Highness! You must go see right away!”
What on earth was this about? Hwan and Huiseo’s eyes widened.
***
They were so urgent about it that they were practically dragged away right there and heard the circumstances: it was because of an important guest who had just arrived at the palace a little while ago.
“A guest? What guest? But why am I going?”
“Well… you see. Your Highness.”
“Why? Are they my fan or something again?”
“No! Not a fan… probably?”
Hwan frowned at the vague story.
Listening a bit more, that guest was a ‘private sponsor’ who had recently donated a large sum of 100 million won to the imperial family.
“Private?”
Recent financial support for the imperial family was generally in the form of companies doing it as part of their social contributions, so it was very rare for an ordinary individual to hand over such an amount without any prior hint or anything.
‘In this day and age, pure support without expecting any compensation?’
Hwan was suspicious as soon as he heard this story, but anyway, given the urgent circumstances of the imperial family, it was difficult to refuse. So the imperial side also made inquiries with difficulty to find the other party and asked if there was any other way to repay them.
Then that sponsor firmly declined but reluctantly brought it up.
[If you really insist, could I possibly have the honor of visiting the imperial palace?]
At that respectful question, the imperial side also finally opened their hearts without a single doubt.
How could there be such an ungreedy person in this world? Since their desire was only such a thing, the imperial family had no reason to refuse.
Thus, they began preparations for the invitation in earnest, and in that process, the imperial side couldn’t help but be surprised once again. They had vaguely thought of them as a ‘middle-aged’ private business owner who respected the imperial family for some reason.
But according to the actual information received, his age was too young.
Not just young, but he was still a student and the same age as Third Prince Hwan.
‘No, how could such a young student… how?’
It was clear that it was an unusual situation.
However, they couldn’t arbitrarily refuse both the sponsorship and the palace visit now just because he was young. So having come this far, they reached the conclusion to meet him in person and hear what the circumstances were. They could deal with it afterward.
But on the very day he was invited to visit the imperial palace, Hwan and Huiseo’s names came out of this sponsor’s mouth. So there had been such a connection. That could be said to be exactly the reason why the two were urgently summoned.
However, when they actually faced that ‘admirable’ sponsor, Hwan and Huiseo couldn’t hide their bewilderment.
“Hello.”
Because the identity of the person greeting them with an innocent smile was Choi Yuwon.
