Chapter 1: Prologue
Chapter Text
In Han Yoojin's lamentable and ephemeral life, day after day, he was usually awakened by two nightmares.
Sometimes they appear in chronological order as if forcing him to review the details of past situations; sometimes, they appear in intricately spliced fragments as if testing his familiarity with the characters. Either way, he engraves it in his mind because, with his eyes open or closed, it is all he has.
His first nightmare was his younger brother dying on the frontier. Not every alpha of appropriate age must join the army, let alone be a vassal of the principality. However, making achievements on the battlefield is the most direct way to build a reputation and gain territory, and this may also be accompanied by the impulse of youthful anger. As he stood on the city wall, holding the letter that had been delivered many weeks after he set out for the expedition, he squinted his eyes, trying to find the familiar black and blue flag among the white snow in the distance.
He, a useless Omega, inherited Haeyeon's fiefdom and was separated from his younger brother Yoohyun, who was more suitable for the title than him, just in exchange for the lord's protection and resources. Now, it seems like a good deal, using the infertile Omega to gain five years of survival in Haeyeon.
The greetings from home arrived late, but the obituary news spread quickly into the city without any hindrance. During the long and empty days in the monastery, he spent most of his time wondering whether his brother's quiet face was hidden under a birch tree in the silent snow he was gazing at when he stood on the city wall.
Usually, he would look at the narrow air vents on the wall. The white light that leaked into the humble room through the cracks in the stone reflected the breath of winter, which reminded him of the cold all the time and helped him imagine the distant snowy land over and over again in his nightmares.
But today was different.
Before Han Yoojin opened his eyes, he heard a burst of light bird song, accompanied by rustling leaves and the sunlight falling on his eyelids. When he opened his eyes, he did not see the familiar plaster and stone walls but the shadows of gauze curtains blowing in the wind. The sheets beneath his fingers were not rough, starched, thin linen sheets but a thin cotton cloth so soft that he almost forgot it was. He sat up and saw that he was wearing loose silk pyjamas, and when his feet trembled out of bed, his toes touched not the monastery limestone floor but the dark red carpet woven with gold thread.
It is undoubtedly early summer with its golden and brilliant sunshine. Perhaps his subconscious mind had changed its way of playing a trick on him. When Han Yoojin walked out of this gorgeous and comfortable bedroom where he had lived for five years, his legs trembled, but his steps were strong. Even his old limp disappeared without a trace as if he were still the healthy and young self. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but run in the corridor, ignoring the surprised looks of the servants, and ran straight to the room at the end.
The more realistic the dream was, the more frightening it was to him.
Han Yoojin shouldn't feel any effort. How could it be hard for a person to breathe in a dream? However, he could only hear his own heavy breathing. Han Yoojin stood before the finely textured oak door, reached out his hand, slowly pressed down the door handle, and faced his second nightmare.
The spacious study is surrounded on both sides by bookshelves that are so high that one wonders how many books they hold. Behind the desk is a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the castle garden. The morning sun gently falls on the shoulders of the man writing, giving him a golden outline. As if sensing his arrival, the Duke looked up at Han Yoojin, standing stupidly at the door, a child who seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
But not even God could blame Han Yoojin for his own dream. His bewilderment was understandable because he saw Sung Hyunjae again with both eyes and limbs intact.
His long-dead yet still-living husband.
Chapter 2: Ch1. The Arm
Summary:
Chapter 1: The Arm
"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him." (Isaiah 59:16)
Chapter Text
1-1
Sung Hyunjae's agreement to marry Han Yoojin is a topic that never gets boring in the social circle.
Any rumours seemed to naturally attach themselves to him, just like him himself, attracting attention wherever he went. It was probably effortless for him to pin this attention, along with other medals, on his lapel. Therefore, marrying a young male Omega, a decision that could almost be called a scandal, did not diminish his brilliance and even added to its mysterious and intriguing aura.
They all said that Sung Hyunjae accepted such a proposal out of pity. Han Yoojin also agreed with this statement. Otherwise, he had no other reason to convince himself that the Grand Duke of Seseong, who owned a larger and more fertile territory, would be willing to give up other better opportunities and be tied to the dying Haeyeon.
Even though Han Yoojin, as the eldest son, inherited fiefdoms, livestock, and brocade, this insignificant wealth was just a drop compared to Seseong's huge military expenses.
On second thought, this might be a good deal because who knows what kind of accidents might happen to the young Han Yoojin as he grows up, allowing the Duke to marry a more suitable spouse after doing all he can.
No matter how careful he was with the food he ate and the liquids he drank, he could not guard against dark shadows around corners and the embroidery needle in his sleeve. Even so, Han Yoojin still survived these five terrifying years. Han Yoojin's parents would probably not have expected this if they were still alive.
Like other noble Alpha couples in the kingdom, they followed tradition and continued cultivating the Alpha bloodline. The logic is straightforward. To produce excellent heirs, it is crucial to find an Alpha mate because only when both parties are Alphas can vigorous Alpha offspring be born. Unlike the careless commoners, the marriage market of the nobles is a contest for wealth and power. Under the influence of the primogeniture system, the birth of the firstborn son often lays the foundation for the future direction of the territory.
Everyone believes that Alpha offspring born to Alpha parents are superior to ordinary people in both physique and intelligence. Such purebred Alphas are very popular in aristocratic families for no other reason than that they are rare.
A serf of low birth would probably be confused and surprised to hear this. Since purebred Alphas are so excellent, why don't they give birth to more children? Such stupid questions would always come up from time to time in the noisy taverns, and the wise guys among the drinkers were mainly businessmen who had the opportunity to go in and out of the city. They would relay the rumours they heard for a compelling reason: even a healthy female Alpha could not guarantee a safe birth process, and what's more, the physical repulsion between Alphas often made them hate to touch each other.
These noble gentlemen are really troublesome.
What's wrong with Beta? Who doesn't have one or two Beta children in their family? One of them retorted loudly, spilling his ale in protest. Those children are all healthy and hardworking.
Isn't it good to be with Beta? What about Omega? They shook their heads and did not comment on the nobles' cunning and unnecessary nitpicking. The probability of giving birth to an Alpha is too low, so it's better to bear with it, put out the candle, close your eyes and be done with it. If you fail to give birth to an Alpha child, you will have to try again. If you were in this situation, could you accept having a Beta or Omega lord?
Han Yoojin's parents will have to try again.
Although secondary differentiation will only appear in adulthood, the perceptive Alpha nobles will instinctively tell them something is wrong when their children are born. Maybe it was the overly soft and fragile skin and the shorter limbs than normal Alpha babies, but the most important thing was still the inexplicable love he felt when he saw the newborn Han Yoojin. When the wet nurse came forward, his mother was unwilling to let go of the child, which was not normal for an Alpha family.
Having children is an obligation, not love. Love will add variables to the whole transaction, and variables and uncertainties will loosen the consolidation of power.
No aristocratic family was happy to see change. Maintaining their hard-earned property and territory required all their calculations and considerations, and they had no extra time to pursue the love praised by the countryside folk. Those fleeting temptations are confused by hormones for a moment, and those attractions that lack a solid foundation are just distractions. If they are easily confused by the noise of lust, how are they different from the uneducated, ordinary people who follow nature?
Of course, not every noble is so diligent. There are always some frivolous young men who neglect their responsibilities, indulge in pleasure, and give birth to several illegitimate children who are Beta or even Omega. Those children who appeared out of nowhere were also lucky. They did not have the inherent rejection and hostility among Alphas and could often obtain the guarantee of food and clothing from their aristocratic parents.
Even if they cannot obtain fiefdoms, their food, clothing, and basic education are enough for them to live a more comfortable life than ordinary people. Worse still, Betas who are eager to gain status and unwilling to fall behind others will join the military to prove their worth through blood and sweat.
Just like Omegas have another way of proving their values.
Before Han Yoojin officially met Sung Hyunjae, he had heard many rumours. The first time he heard this name was at a regular family dinner when the five-year-old boy stood next to his father with a glass of juice.
Thinking about it now, although his father had some guesses about his future sexual characteristics, he still blindly ignored them, which brought Han Yoojin some of the few moments of happiness in his childhood. The topics discussed by the adults that night were nothing more than recent territory gains, taxation and land acquisition, the kingdom's new policies, or foreign news.
Everyone tried to find out the juicy inside information under the pretence of being drunk, but most of what was exchanged was already old news that was well-known in the narrow social circle. However, Han Yoojin still remembers that night so vividly because of the fanatical atmosphere that people around him rarely saw.
That year, Sung Hyunjae led his troops to defeat the enemy camp. It is said that the hot-blooded young Duke charged on horseback alone, captured the enemy general with his treacherous chain weapon, and killed him with a single blow of his sword. Rumour has it that his agile chains are coated with a deadly poison from the Western Regions, emitting a light different from that of ordinary iron chains.
In his hands, the golden chain seemed to be full of life. It could accurately detect the enemy's position and wrap around their arms and throats before they were prepared. Even enemies who were good at wielding scimitars could not escape the entanglement.
Listening to their high-pitched, rapid voices and vivid descriptions, one would think they were in a tavern in a working-class neighbourhood.
In the days that followed, Han Yoojin briefly lived in an inn for a long time while evading pursuit and most of the time, he would fall asleep with such noisy and exaggerated country stories. But the future would be discussed later when he would have plenty of time to look back and indulge.
As a young boy, he had to focus on maintaining his composure. Even when he heard the adults discussing as if they were there how the troops broke through the city gates and blood splattered everywhere, how the soldiers' heads were shattered into pieces under the galloping horses' hooves, or how the cavalry dragged groups of prisoners into the city, he still maintained an engaged and appropriate smile, as if he was listening to them commenting on the taste of cheese.
Don't make a fuss out of nothing, and don't act like an unsophisticated lowlife. His father always warned him that people can easily smell your fear. And when they notice, they will swarm you and easily tear you to pieces.
Chains, blood, fear.
Han Yoojin's hand, which was not holding the water cup, grabbed the hem of his clothes at the back.
Don't act like a lowly person, and don't let people smell your fear easily.
Don't be an omega.
Chapter 3: 1-2
Chapter Text
1-2
The following year, Sung Hyunjae inherited the title from his father and officially became the Duke of Seseong.
His name reappeared when his younger brother, Han Yoohyun, celebrated his first birthday. Since the duchy sent condolences and rewards as usual when Han Yoohyun was born, their parents did not expect the Duke to come to Haeyeon to congratulate their second son when he turned one.
It is said that when Han Yoojin was born, the Duke at the time also brought gifts. After all, he was the heir to the fiefdom and the future knight of loyalty. Whether the child grew up as expected or not, it was worth celebrating. But Haeyeon was a border fiefdom after all, and the second son's birth did not need to attract too much attention. However, Sung Hyunjae decided to visit in person, which scared his parents.
From the first day after receiving the news, officials and servants in the castle were busy, fearing that there would be omissions. The city guards also sent more people. Soldiers wearing armour and swords guarded every entrance and exit. This scene did not look like a celebration but a strict defence against enemy invasion.
While everyone was busy, Han Yoojin ignored his companions' protests and pulled Do Hamin to practice his sword in the practice field. Do Hamin, the treasurer's son, was useful as a study partner in arithmetic class but unreliable in sword practice. However, because he ran slowly, he had to accompany Han Yoojin to the training field on the day of the celebration when all the children were either busy playing or trying to steal the banquet cakes in the kitchen.
Since starting the sword class, Han Yoojin has been enjoying it like every child who gets a new toy, and the dedication he puts in makes Do Hamin feel incredible.
Yes, the instructor's demonstrations are really cool every time. Being a knight sounds like an honour, but is it necessary to do it every day?
"Han Yoojin, oh, sir, I beg you. Do you have to practice today?" Do Hamin panted and raised the wooden sword, "Go see your brother, tease him or something."
"Yoohyun has fallen asleep. Don't bother him."
Then why bother me? The boy complained. I want to nap too.
"Hurry up," Han Yoojin raised the wooden sword and adjusted his stance: "Stop complaining."
If Do Hamin hadn't been tired but still had a little reason to stop him from rolling his eyes at the lord's son and walking away. He raised the hilt of the sword and slashed horizontally. Han Yoojin took a breath, gripped the handle tightly, and swung forward-
"Use the side of the sword." A strange voice sounded slowly behind him.
Han Yoojin's blade caught the attack, and a slight vibration was transmitted from the hilt to the palm. Even though he turned the hilt down in time to slow down Do Hamin's attack, the force he endured still made his palm numb. He couldn't help but step back and lower the wooden sword.
"First, the attack posture was too impatient, and second, the blocking was too slow." He was not their sword instructor, and the young man standing on the periphery walked into the practice field. "If you insist on bearing the opponent's attack, you will only get hurt." He looked down at Han Yoojin's right hand holding the sword and asked, "Does it hurt?"
"No, it's just a little numb."
Have you ever looked directly at the midday sun? The dazzling light at that moment was Han Yoojin's first impression of this man, not only because of his rare golden brown eyes but also because of his sharp eyes that penetrated everything as if he could even see the movement of Han Yoojin rubbing his fingers behind his back. He subconsciously avoided looking at his eyes and tried to find Do Hamin.
"Who is your swordsmanship instructor? He's not here?" Without Yoojin's hint, the other boy had already sneaked away to tip-off. It was one thing to be scolded by the instructor for practising swordsmanship, but it would be troublesome if the distinguished guests found out that they were practising privately without the instructor's supervision.
"It's me. I want to practice it myself. I want to practice more." He explained to the man. Although the man's clothes were not decorated or embroidered, the dark blue wool coat and the black sable collar on the cloak clearly showed his noble status.
"Isn't it a celebration today? I didn't expect that the heir of Haeyeon is so motivated."
"How do you know who I am?" Han Yoojin was wearing a training suit, just like all the boys of the same age in the castle. How did this man recognize his identity? He had no impression of the man in front of him. "Sir."
When he heard this, the man did not introduce himself according to etiquette but just bent down, "You look exactly like the Marquis and Marquis of Haeyeon."
This is true; many adults say so. But they usually add more comments. For example: Is he softer? Is his nose not so straight? Cheeks, are they rounder? He is a child. Yes, yes, he is so cute, only at this age. After differentiation, his facial features will be more firm, like what an Alpha should look like.
Han Yoojin waited for him to continue as they did.
The man just asked, "Where is your other companion? Going to tell tales?"
"He went to rest," Han Yoojin shrugged, "He got tired after a few practices."
"The master didn't rest, but the companion was tired first."
"Because I want to be a powerful Alpha."
The man showed a strange expression when he heard this, but the doubt was gone in an instant, silently, as if it was just a dazzling illusion brought by the sun.
"Are you looking forward to becoming a knight at a young age?"
"I'm not interested in knights. I just want to protect my brother."
"Isn't your brother only one year old? What dangers will he encounter?" Hearing this, as if his curiosity was aroused, the man half squatted down, holding his cheek with his hand and asked the boy.
"Yes. Have you seen him?" Yoojin put down the wooden sword and gestured with his hands: "He is only this small." He held his palms inward as if holding a soft and fragile air ball, "Like a kitten!"
"Small does not mean fragile, and big does not prove strong."
"What do you mean?"
"It means that with such a caring brother, Han Yoohyun of Haeyeon will definitely grow up safely and happily."
"Are you making fun of me, sir?"
"How dare a guest make fun of the host?"
"Are you here with the Duke?"
"You can say that."
Sure enough, Han Yoojin thought.
"Are you a knight?" Yoojin looked at the other's palms and thick calluses on his knees. It was the hand holding the sword. He heard that yesterday morning, a team of escort knights, ceremonial knights, flag bearers, attendant knights, secretaries, treasurers, doctors, attendants, and servants of all sizes accompanied the Duke into Haeyeon. Judging from the other's dress, he might be a high-ranking knight among the guards or a lord of another fiefdom.
"Well, I am a knight." The golden eyes narrowed slightly, "You don't believe it?" He waved his hand, motioning for Han Yoojin to give him a wooden sword for practice. "Your instructor should have taught you a complete set of attack and defence combinations? Since you want to practice, can you show me the basic movements first?"
"Hmm... I thought your defensive skills would be more flexible, but I didn't expect the practice to focus on attacking skills?" When Han Yoojin practised forward stepping and horizontal chopping according to his usual rhythm, he heard the man muttering to himself: "Or should I say that the body puts too much energy into attacking, but the defence seems unfamiliar..."
It's fascinating. Completely different from what I imagined. Before the differentiation, did the physical difference already affect the action? The unqualified sword instructor neglected his duties and seemed not to have noticed even the most basic differences. Han Yoojin glanced at the man and shook his head slightly. He was so nervous that he held the sword more tightly.
"Stop, relax. Your arms are too tense. You don't need to use your elbows. Look," the man stood up and drew a line on the ground before Yoojin's feet with the tip of the sword: "When you step forward, step to this position to drive your upper limbs instead of forcing your arms to move first."
He listened to the man's explanation in confusion. He still didn't know the man's identity, but if something really happened, he could always call for help from the soldiers patrolling the surrounding area. Han Yoojin didn't understand why this guest didn't rest in the room but was willing to stand with him in the dirty martial arts field before the banquet began. When Han Yoojin tried to practice according to the instructions of this guy who called himself a knight, he found that his sword-swinging movements became smoother, and he could even hear a tiny but sharp sound of wind.
It works!
"What about straight stabs?" Han Yoojin asked before the man spoke: "What about diagonal slashes?"
"I think it would be more helpful if you try to dodge and block more." The impromptu sword teacher said, "But if you want to practice, please go ahead."
No one expected that once they started, they couldn't stop. From the most basic practice combinations, stabbing, continuous attacks, counterattacks and jumps, Han Yoojin practised almost all the swordsmanship moves that a servant boy could have in front of him, some of which were even beyond the skills that Han Yoojin should practice at his age. The man leaned against the fence post, folding his arms across his chest. Without thinking, he could guess whose idea it was.
When Han Yoojin returned to his senses from a jump and slash, the stranger took away the wooden sword that almost slipped from his hand. "Proper rest is also an important practice." Only then did Han Yoojin realize how tall the blond man in front of him was, and his arms were so long that they could just rest on Yoojin's shoulders when they were hanging down. "You practised very hard today. Isn't there a banquet tonight? If you don't prepare, your parents will be apprehensive."
"But I'm not good enough. As you said, I should block faster." He looked at the man reluctantly, observing his practised wooden sword. An experienced swordsman can tell the user's operating habits from the wear marks on the blade. I hope he won't find any mistakes of mine, Han Yoojin thought to himself. There may be selfishness in his mind. Who knows when this impulsive guidance will happen again? If he finds that Han Yoojin has no talent and is just a noble child with an empty title, he will find it boring.
As if he could read minds, the man said: "Everyone starts practising from the most basic, practice, make mistakes, correct, and if you fail, it doesn't matter, just try again. Even the Duke is the same."
"The man who has never been defeated?"
"Yes."
"Some say he is the descendant of a god."
"I can assure you that he is absolutely made of flesh and blood."
"Some say he won't die."
"That would be terrible. I cannot imagine a better gift than death." The blond man murmured, turning to look at Han Yoojin, who was panting after the intense exercise. "It seems you have heard a lot about him."
"Everyone is talking about him."
"What else do you want to know about the Duke?"
"Can you answer without the Duke's permission, sir?"
"Well, I am answering what I know. What does it have to do with him?"
Han Yoojin paused for a moment as if thinking hard, and his small brows frowned. He said, "Then please answer my question, 'Knight who came with the Duke.'"
"Go on."
"Is the Duke's chain a snake?"
The man blinked. Yoojin noticed that even his eyelashes were golden. "What?"
"Everyone says it's not a chain; it's a snake." As if afraid that the man didn't hear it clearly, Han Yoojin slowly repeated, "It's a living snake." Seeing that he didn't respond, he continued to add: "Some people say that it's a weapon given to him by the Moon Goddess."
It even shines in the dark night.
"Or, it's the rope pulled by the boatman on the Styx."
Accompanied by the lamentation of souls and thunder.
"But I think it's a snake." Han Yoojin said confidently: "It must not be an ordinary weapon. Otherwise, why can it be so fast? It can attack anything immediately when it approaches."
Look at his serious look; what kind of rumours are circulating in this castle? The man finally couldn't help laughing. Feeling the dissatisfied look of another person, he quickly stopped laughing and coughed a few times. "Please let me tell Han Yoojin of Haeyeon a secret." He was a grown man but squatted in front of the child just to look directly at him. This ridiculous look made the words he said seem like a joke.
But strangely, he had long forgotten all these aimless chats in the past, but only these words lingered in Han Yoojin's mind.
"This is a secret that only Han Yoojin of Haeyeon knows." The man's voice was so soft that if he wasn't careful, it would disappear in the wind, "It's an ordinary chain."
It's an ordinary chain.
There is no divine power, aura, a blessing from the moon god, or lightning from the underworld. It has no life, just an ordinary dead thing.
"If it's just a chain, why is everyone so scared?"
"What a good question." He seemed to be thinking, "What do you think?"
"I don't know." This doesn't feel like a good answer.
"It doesn't matter if you don't know. Not everything needs a reason."
"What you said is different from the scholars."
To explore the root cause behind it. The scholars murmured. Everything has a reason, and there must be an effect for every cause.
"I have never liked those nagging guys."
Han Yoojin frowned, "But they are the most respected people in the city."
"I agree. But being respected doesn't mean what they say is right."
"What do you mean?" Yoojin asked in confusion.
The man didn't respond but looked up at the gradually darkening sky. The afterglow of winter cast a dark red light on his golden hair, like diluted clouds. Soon, as the decorative lights used for the ceremony in the castle gradually lit up, the sun disappeared.
"Like I said, practice, make mistakes, and correct. This is easy to understand for swordsmanship, but life is different. Don't believe it completely just because others tell you it's wrong, and force yourself to change yourself."
"No one wants to change me."
"I hope it's true."
The courtyard became colder after dusk, and he heard a call from the main building.
"I'm leaving. Will you attend the dinner?"
"I will."
"Will we meet again?"
"I can't promise, but I hope so."
When Han Yoojin stepped into the main building from the backyard, he noticed his instructor standing in the corridor. He didn't know how long the other person had been standing there, whether he had seen the sword-swinging practice, or how many conversations he had heard. The other person was pale, and when he saw Han Yoojin, his face, which was barely able to force a smile, was still stiff and pale.
And it didn't take him long to understand the reason for the other person's reaction.
Fear.
This is an emotion that Han Yoojin often sees.
Many years later, whenever he had to appear in public with Sung Hyunjae for social needs, people would have all kinds of expressions on their faces: flattery, compliments, jealousy, suspicion, and desire. However, under those disguises, the most naked was still fear. The fear of pure power filled the air, and he could easily smell it.
When he walked into the crowd with the man's hand, the Explorer Chain would be hung on Sung Hyunjae's other arm, the delicate and shining golden chain wrapped around his sleeves, and the sharp pendant fiddled with his fingertips.
Just like now.
When the Duke of Seseong walked into the banquet hall and accepted the greetings of the Marquis of Haeyeon and many guests, Han Yoojin, who was standing next to Yoohyun's cradle, saw that the weapon that frightened the enemy made the nobles nervous and discussed, and was excited by the civilians, was like a colourful golden snake coiled around his arm.
Noticing his gaze, Sung Hyunjae, in the distance, winked at Yoojin secretly. The golden pendant shone brightly under the gorgeous lights as if saying: Look. It's just an ordinary chain. Isn't it funny that everyone is so scared?
Chapter 4: 1-3
Chapter Text
1-3
Winter is a festive season. For Christmas, his brother's first birthday, and the New Year, Haeyeon was immersed in a joyous and festive atmosphere for many months. It was not until the New Year's mass that the festive decorations in the hall were gradually removed. Winter is also a time for recuperation. Everything is silent as if agreed. It is so quiet that he can hear the friction of the wind on the outer wall.
Han Yoojin thought he would see him again after the banquet, but he didn't hear anything from him. In fact, the former Duke rarely interfered with how the lords of his territories handled their internal affairs. He only routinely sent tax collectors to meet with Haeyeon's housekeeper and financial officer every autumn harvest season to confirm the taxes in his father's study. It is rumoured that some territories have complicated income and expenditure, and there are always lords who are greedy for small profits and swindle taxes, which will force the Duke himself and the senior financial officer to visit in person. So, no news from the Duke should be good, as it proves that Haeyeon has gained his trust.
But Han Yoojin can't understand why this is good at the moment. He has been trapped in the mansion for several weeks. The long January has ended, and the dark February has come in a flash. It will take some time before spring arrives.
Especially after the first birthday ceremony, everyone's attention revolves around Han Yoohyun.
Han Yoohyun, who has learned to walk and is more stable than other babies of the same age, only likes to run behind his brother. He can accurately find Han Yoojin's location. No matter which window sill Han Yoojin is reading, taking grammar lessons, or even sneaking into the kitchen, his little brother can always find him with his mysterious intuition and can slowly walk to his side no matter how long it takes.
He is a taciturn child. Even if the nanny teases him and encourages him to talk daily, Han Yoohyun ignores her.
According to the nanny, this is quite rare - children are close to Omega nannies (this is also the only reason she, as an Omega, can be close to aristocratic families). Influenced by friendly and warm hormones, young children are always more willing to get close to soft nannies. They retain the original instincts of animals and understand who will not and cannot hurt them. After all, in a noble family dominated by Alphas, no matter how much they cover up and adjust pheromones, the innate repulsion between each other is unbearable, even if they are as close as flesh and blood.
This makes outsiders even more surprised at the intimacy of the two brothers.
In addition to the nanny, the only person in Haeyeon who can hold Yoohyun is his brother. Adults often joke that they didn't expect that children can also take care of babies. However, such unreserved trust and closeness make Han Yoojin always carry this little tail. If it is Latin or arithmetic class, he will pull a chair for Han Yoohyun to listen in, and if it is a more intense swordsmanship class, there will be a nanny and a servant to take care of him. If the adults hadn't been worried that the child would turn over in his sleep and cause an accident, Han Yoohyun might have stubbornly stayed beside his brother.
Like now, Han Yoojin was doing his math homework while holding the sleeping Han Yoohyun, and he looked excellent holding the child. At this time, there was a knock on the door, and the nanny and Han Yoojin looked at each other and quickly took the child away from his arms. If the lady saw him like this, she would lecture him. The voice outside the door was not the expected Marquise but the butler Seok Simyeong.
"Master Yoojin, I'm sorry to bother you. But there is a visitor, and I need you to come with me." After entering the door, the butler Seok Simyeong explained concisely: "It's Lord Kang Soyoung of Seseong."
Han Yoojin hurriedly put on a thick coat to go out with the maid's help and followed behind Seok Simyeong. He glanced at the serious-looking butler and slowed his pace to keep the same leisurely pace as his. He couldn't help wondering where he was going to take him. Usually, when external guests come, they wait in the reception room first, but Seok Simyeong doesn't stop when they just pass the room. The two left from the mansion's back door and came to a place that Han Yoojin had not been to yet.
Stables.
He was not allowed to enter the stables because he had not yet taken equestrian lessons. The horses here were all ridden by the officials and messengers of the mansion. To avoid danger, the children of the mansion were forbidden to approach. He never thought the butler would be the first to bring him here.
The stable door was open, and people were moving boxes one after another. Seok Simyeong covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief to avoid breathing in the dust raised by moving goods. He could only smell the dry scent of grass, and Han Yoojin couldn't help but take another breath to remember this smell.
Someone was already waiting for them inside. In addition to the servants and stable managers wearing Haeyeon uniforms, there were several unfamiliar faces, the most eye-catching of which was a blonde girl with a high ponytail. Hearing the sound, she looked at Han Yoojin and greeted, "Nice to meet you, Lord Han Yoojin of Haeyeon. I am Kang Soyoung of Seseong." Not everyone from the principality knows how to say hello.
"Hello, Sir Kang Soyoung."
She looked much younger than Yoojin expected. According to Seok Simyeong, Kang Soyoung was the deputy leader of the World Star Knights. Why did the deputy leader have to visit in person? Even if his parents were not here, Han Yoojin could imagine their panicked expressions after hearing the news. As if answering the question in his mind, Kang Soyoung suddenly showed a smile matching her age after finishing the polite greetings, and excitedly directed her companions beside her: "Hurry up and let it come over."
Following the order, the accompanying personnel brought in a chestnut Andalusian horse.
In the bright air coming in through the skylight, the mare walked into view docilely, her elegant limbs and shiny, smooth hair repeatedly showing that it was well cared for. Her dark eyes looked at Han Yoojin, and a wisp of white air gently blew out of her nose.
"Excuse me, what is this for...?"
"This is a gift specially assigned by the Duke to you. Of course, she is my baby, whom I take good care of and an excellent member of our herd. And these," she pointed to the box that the servant had just brought in from outside and took out the saddle, protective gear and whip of the child inside.
"I am very grateful to the Duke for his kindness. But I have not yet formally learned horsemanship…"
"That's perfect! Let's start learning now, right? Haeyeon's butler?" Kang Soyoung turned to Seok Simyeong, who was silent beside him, "Isn't he the right age? The sooner, the better!"
"Yes, I can ask the master to start arranging riding lessons after Master Yoojin's birthday next week."
Oh, yes, his birthday is next week.
"Come here. Please look at my posture and say hello to her! Like this."
Following Kang Soyoung's instructions, he slowly moved his hand to the horse's nostrils. She lowered her head as if she heard Yoojin's whispered greeting and sniffed the boy's palm. The breath was warm and a little itchy, but he resisted the urge to reach back. As if sensing his timidity, the chestnut horse tilted her head so that Yoojin's hand could touch its nose. So this is the touch of horse hair? Harder than rabbit hair, but smoother than fox hair.
"What's her name?"
"It's not yet chosen. What do you want to call her?"
This is difficult for Yoojin because he has never kept a pet, let alone named an animal.
"I need time to think about it."
"She is yours; you must take good care of her. Ah, I really don't want to let her go, but there is no way," Kang Soyoung almost lamented her nostalgia for the horse. Han Yoojin suspected that she might just hug the horse's neck and rub it if she could. "Before I leave, let me introduce you to her father and my good partner, Comet." The servant led another tall horse in. The most apparent difference was that Comet had a clear cross-star pattern on its nose.
"Please convey my thanks to the Duke."
"If you want, you can write to him yourself." Kang Soyoung climbed onto the horse and stroked Comet's soft mane, "and the new name you thought of."
"I will. Thank you very much for coming in person."
"It's okay. They are the children I personally took care of. Of course, I have to come and see what their new home looks like. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to write or let me know how she is doing. Goodbye, Lord Han Yoojin."
"May you have a smooth journey."
While the attendant in the stable was counting the utensils, Han Yoojin tried to reach out to the mare again. She was equally curious about Han Yoojin, and her dark eyes patiently observed the boy's movements, watching him stroke her nose and cheeks. Seeing that she did not refuse when Han Yoojin wanted to put his second hand, the horse's nostrils suddenly breathed into his face, scaring him to step back.
"It seems that she has accepted you."
Han Yoojin looked at the butler standing with his hands behind his back. "That is a display of trust from horses to people." He said, showing a shallow, decent smile, "Unlike people, horses communicate through their noses and airflow. This means that she respects and trusts you."
"Really?" Looking up at the horse staring at him, Han Yoojin felt the horse's warmth pulsating under his palm.
Nice to meet you. Thank you for coming to my side.
When he returned to the bedroom, he couldn't read any more, so he took a piece of paper and started thinking about the horse's name, as Soyoung said.
What should I call her? By color? Would it be Brown? Yellow? Thinking of the cool name Kang Soyoung had given to her horse, he crossed out the name on the paper again.
Spring was approaching as Han Yoojin struggled to think of the perfect name.
Chapter 5: 1-4
Chapter Text
1-4
As the weather warms up, early spring becomes more colourful. Outside the window, large patches of blooming red poppies flow like a bright red river through the moving carriage, and among them, clusters of wild lavender and white okra dot the vast and boundless grassland. The morning air is mixed with a hint of the unique sweet fragrance of wheat fields and orange blossoms.
The pregnant mother and younger brother stayed at the mansion, and only Han Yoojin and his father were in the carriage to the spring hunting party. This was not his first time participating in a hunting party. As early as the age of five, children from noble families can participate in routine hunting activities in spring and autumn. Compared with the grand autumn hunting, the spring event is more like a relaxed and simple opening ceremony, welcoming the arrival of the warm season and allowing people to stretch their muscles and meet and greet each other.
Over the past few months, he has grown taller and entered a growth period. The tailor made him a pair of comfortable and soft leather boots and hunting clothes. The excitement of the new clothes and going out made him feel less sleepy, even though he had gotten up earlier than usual.
"Are you so happy?" said his father, sitting beside him. Yoojin quickly put down his hand holding the window frame of the carriage and adjusted his sitting position. The Marquis glanced at his son, who was still constantly glancing at the scenery outside from the corner of his eyes, "This time is different from the previous two years. You will join the team. When we arrive at the venue, the people of the Helis family will give you instructions. They like group activities."
The implication is that this time, hunting is mainly for the sake of a group, and they don't want to see any particular person stand out. Although it lacks the entertainment of competition, it is conservative and safe for children's activities and a suitable decision for spring hunting.
"Will I go with you, father?" In previous years, he and his mother stayed in the observation area with a specific safety range from the hunting grounds to watch other adults hunting.
"You will go with the children of other families. They are about your age, so that you can make more friends." After all, all gatherings are to expand the circle of friends. His father continued, "The Duke of Seseong will also be there today."
"Really?"
"I hope you keep your distance from him."
Didn't he just say that he would stay with other children today? Why did he mention the Duke then? Han Yoojin didn't understand the relationship between these two things.
Looking at his absent-minded son, the Marquis said in his usual unquestionable tone: "Remember my words."
"Why?"
"He is too eye-catching. I don't want you to attract unnecessary attention. And," the Marquis's pause made the carriage fall into a strange silence. Han Yoojin waited for his father to speak, but the other man hesitated and gave up the intention of explaining, "You will understand when you grow up."
"When will that be?" Han Yoojin couldn't help but refute, but after getting a sharp look from the Marquis, he had to shut up after receiving the signal. He turned his head to look at the scenery outside the carriage. Still, he found that the initially charming scenery suddenly lost its magic and was just an ordinary plain that never changed.
This was the first time Han Yoojin experienced this emotion. Fortunately, this boredom did not last too long. The coachman stopped the carriage and announced that they had arrived at their destination, the De La Frontera wilderness of the Helis family.
The Heilis were a large family, and he could see crowds gathered under the tents from a distance. The family servants in brown hunting suits led them into the hunting camp, where many families from surrounding areas had already started chatting in groups. While his father talked to other adults, Han Yoojin slowly moved back and left the crowd. There was still some time before the event started, so he could take this opportunity to explore the camp.
As the host, the Heilis family set up several tents. In addition to the basic equipment area for weapons, the rest area for the family members, and the banquet area for socializing after hunting, the largest space belonged to the drinking area for hounds and falcons. Under the awning, several sturdy beagle dogs were surrounded by fences. Several Beta servants checked the falcons' anklets and drinking water to ensure the birds were in good condition. There were rumours that many of the Heilis' side relatives were married to Beta, which might explain their large family size.
There were seven or eight hounds in the rest area. They sensed Han Yoojin's approach and moved closer to the fence. Not only did they not bark, but some even wagged their tails. It was obvious that they were well-trained. In Haeyeon, dogs were rarely seen except for a few hounds raised by guards.
"It's amazing that they like you," said the girl leaning against the fence. "It took a long time to train." The girl in the blue hunting suit pointed to the circle of hounds: "These are our dogs. I'm Moon Hyuna from Breaker."
Yoojin shook her hand and introduced himself.
"Have you ever participated in group hunting? I haven't seen you before."
"This is my first time hunting at the Heilis's."
"Oh," the girl smiled happily. She was older and had a lot of hunting experience. "It's fun. They will introduce it later, but I can tell you first. This is my third year participating, and the process is almost the same every time. It depends on what task you are assigned. Usually, you use sticks or drums to drive the rabbits from the bushes to the adults. There are also hounds, but I am responsible for that. I hope you can come with me too. I rarely see them approach strangers for the first time. I've seen you walking around for a long time. Are you looking for something?"
Ten-year-old Moon Hyuna is half a head taller than him and talks nonstop. Han Yoojin was about to speak when he heard Earl Heilis Choi Sukwon calling for assembly. Everyone gradually approached.
The whole hunting activity is not complicated. The children will first drive the hares hiding in the bushes from the outside and force them into the ambush circle set by the hunters. When the prey enters the range, the adults will shoot it themselves. After that, they can enjoy breakfast.
Han Yoojin joined Moon Hyuna's group. He can now mount a horse without help from others, but he is still a little awkward compared to Moon Hyuna, who is very agile. Fortunately, he is not the only one. Noah also participates in his first year, and his sister stays in the hunting area with other nobles.
The sun is crawling on the edge of the mountains, and the unique humidity in the morning rushes into the nose, bringing a hint of coldness. After hearing the command, the hounds, led by Moon Hyuna, ran forward. The barking awakened the animals immersed in sleep, and they immediately came out of their nests and fled everywhere. Seeing this, other children drove away the hares with sticks. The children pushed the horses and shouted; some held drums and beat them, and some rang bells. Various sounds came and went for a while, making the quiet wilderness suddenly lively.
The long team gradually converged to the centre, and soon, all the furry four-legged figures fled into the marked range. At the same time, the first arrow from behind the woods hit the rabbit's fat hind legs, followed by the second, the third...
Then, the people of the Heilis family stepped into the hunting centre and cut the throats of the hares with hunting knives to bleed them. These prey belong to the participants together and will be made into stews for the guests later. As for the fur, the Heilis family will likely take possession of it. The other families knew that today was purely about participation. Each family had its hunting ground on its territory, and competing with the Heilis family was unnecessary.
The venue and tools were left for the servants to clean up, and everyone returned to the breakfast table set up in the camp. Hunting is like this: everyone stretches their muscles, eats, and drinks. The sky was still dark, and the sun loomed in the thick clouds. Moon Hyuna pulled Han Yoojin to the table and told him which pastries were the most delicious.
"I don't like sweets."
Moon Hyuna sighed as if to say: Ah, boy. "Then at least try this fruit tart? Our friendship is worth a tart, right?"
Father was chatting with other adults at the wine table. Han Yoojin reluctantly took a strawberry tart.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a red figure slowly approached from a distance.
The people chatting at the banquet table stopped talking and looked at the figure that appeared. Against the light, on horseback, was the late Duke of Seseong. He wore a dark red hunting suit with brocade cuffs and a collar decorated with family crest embroidery in gold thread. In addition to the iconic chain, a short hunting knife was at his waist. Outside the narrow pants, the simple lines of the high-knee horse-hip leather boots exuded a beautiful colour in the weak light. With his hands wearing dark goat leather gloves, pulling the reins, he rode slowly towards the camp.
As a repeat offender, most people were not surprised by his appearance. However, when his followers on both sides took the giant wild boar off the horse, it attracted attention without suspense.
The people of Seseong carried the prey and walked past the livid Earl Choi Sukwon.
Sung Hyunjae accepted the invitation to participate in the hunt but ignored the rules of the Heilis family and came to use the hunting grounds.
If the purpose was to provoke, he might look directly at the earl, but from Sung Hyunjae's behaviour of going to the table to take bread after getting off the horse, he did not mean to do so. The reason was simple: he did not take the other person seriously.
Just showing up was enough to do him a favour.
"It is so exaggerated and rude, don't you think?" Moon Hyuna took a sip of juice. "Indeed, only he dared to do this. Heilis still sends invitations in advance every year."
Yoojin was still eating a tower in his mouth and could not speak out of courtesy. However, as Moon Hyuna said, the strawberry tart is very delicious.
In the afternoon, the Helis family also arranged a wild boar hunting activity. The process was similar to the morning, except that the nets were set up in advance to lure the wild boars to the area where the hunters were. The skills of group hunting are not much different. As long as the actions are standardised in advance, the experience of the hunters does not have much impact. The only difference is the length of time spent.
But riding hunting is a different level of difficulty.
After this hunt, they were invited to several small events in succession, but Han Yoojin did not participate in every one of them. Daily subjects almost occupied all his time, and hunting was just one of many social activities. However, Han Yoojin began to understand why he needed to invest a lot.
Not long after they returned home, many portraits were delivered.
Han Yoojin recognised the red-haired Moon Hyuna from the portrait in his mother's hand at first sight. Seeing that he looked at this portrait the longest, his parents said Moon Hyuna from the Blake family was a good choice. The territory is located in the fertile inland, with rich agricultural and animal husbandry resources, which is a good match with the Haeyeon family situated on a major transportation route. The other family probably also saw the trade value brought by Haeyeon as the border of the kingdom, and adjacent to different territories.
Han Yoojin just thought it looked strange. The girl in this portrait is much quieter, utterly different from the lively and active person he saw on the hunting ground.
In addition to the portraits of the daughters of other families, there is also a map of the kingdom on the table. When listening to his father listing the territories and specialities of each family one by one, he suddenly wanted to eat fruit tarts.
Chapter 6: 1-5
Chapter Text
At the end of the summer, he wrote another letter to the Duke, along with a birthday gift from his parents. It was not until autumn leaves were everywhere that Han Yoojin, who had been wandering in front of the reception room for a long time, met Seseong's tax collector, who came for a routine visit. The accompanying courier delivered the reply to him. He hid the note in the palm of his hand, not daring to hold it tightly for fear of blurring the handwriting, but also afraid that if he had it loosely, the frivolous message would be lost in the crowds of people pouring into the Marquis's mansion.
From the territory to the mansion, from the coast to the farmland, everyone was busy running around to measure the year's harvest, and no one paid attention to the figure on the windowsill in the corner.
Sword training is about to begin. The shouts of his companions from the backyard sounded vague. Han Yoojin pulled up the curtains to block the corridor where servants moved.
He carefully unfolded the note. Contrary to his expectations, reading it did not take him too long. Less than half a page of words unfolded before his eyes.
Han Yoojin flipped the note back and forth, and after staring at it for a while, he decided to put the parchment close to the window glass to see if the sunlight would tell him the rest of the hidden, mysterious message. The blank backside showed a few words on the other side. Even upside down, the black ink was clearly visible: "The Breaker family is a fitting match for Haeyeon."
With a swish, the curtains behind him were pulled open. Do Hamin, panting, put his hands on his hips and said to the boy hiding on the windowsill, "You are here, my dear young master. Everyone is waiting for you." Halfway through his words, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Running in the corridor made him warm up. "You will definitely win in hide-and-seek."
"What is hide and seek?"
"It's just a game...if the person hiding is caught by the haunter, he loses." Do Hamin explained.
On the other hand, the haunter wins if he catches the one hiding. Han Yoojin nodded in understanding. It sounded like a game commonly played by ordinary people. He put the note into his pocket and listened to his companion's mumbling along the way.
When they arrived, the trainee knights at the training ground had finished their warm-up and begun throwing and defence training. The instructor throws wooden blocks, and the children must knock them down with swords to train their reaction ability and flexibility. As punishment for being late, after jogging around the field to warm up, Han Yoojin could still not join his companions in today's training and had to perform twenty basic sword swings alone. These are essential movements for every practice. He took out the wooden sword he used for practice and adjusted his posture on the other side of the field.
First, after confirming the front and back foot stance, hold the wooden sword high above your head, bend your elbows slightly, and let the tip of the sword point backwards.
Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart, "Dear Yoojin." Let your waist rotate, and the blade slashes down. "It was a pleasure to receive your letter." Step forward slightly with your front foot, keep the wooden sword on the right side, keep your balance and let the blade be parallel to the ground. "I was heartened to learn of your decision to become engaged to Miss Breaker." Swing your arms to the outside and strike. "This signifies your readiness to shoulder the responsibilities of your family." Complete the horizontal chop, "and for that, I am sincerely pleased."
Raising the wooden sword to shoulder height, the blade pointing downward, "The Breaker family is a fitting match for Haeyeon." You must maintain balance when completing the finishing move of the downward chop.
Then, place your sword in front of your chest with the tip pointing forward. "Use your arms to move your body," the voice said. The sunlight cast a layer of dazzling golden light on the outlines of all things, and the shouting of the companions behind him became blurred. "I look forward to witnessing your continued growth and progress." He made a straight stab, and after the fencing was completed... "Sincerely, Sung Hyunjae, Duke of Seseong." Repeat another round of actions.
"Adjust your breathing," the instructor called him, frowned at Han Yoojin, and put down the throwing props. The companions who were doing batting practice looked over. He said, "You can't do it like this ten times. Try again."
"Yes."
Han Yoojin put down the sword, exhaled and inhaled slightly, opened and closed his right hand, and relaxed his tense and numb fingers. He gripped the hilt again, his other hand resting on the base of the hilt.
Another basic sword swing, starting with an upward chop. Upward chop, horizontal chop, downward chop and straight stab. Repeat again. Summer seemed to have forgotten to take away the strong, warm sunlight. Even in late autumn, the sun was still scorching on the training ground, casting bright and dazzling shadows all around and creeping into the beams of the backyard corridor. The shadow under his feet also melted, twisted, and floated up along with the cries of its fellow creatures.
The instructor grabbed Han Yoojin's shoulders and stopped the boy from swinging his sword. "If you are not in the right state, don't practice today."
Proper rest is also an important practice.
He rubbed his fingers together and took a deep breath.
"I can go on."
The instructor shook his head. "Go back until you figure it out. I won't tell your father this time."
"I'm fine, I'm not even halfway through."
"But my abilities are limited. I cannot take care of you and train other students at the same time."
"But..." He opened his mouth to retort, but he swallowed his words when he saw the instructor's serious expression under his grey beard. Behind him, apart from the apprentice knights whispering to each other, even the older squires stopped their two-on-two combat training and looked over curiously.
"Knew it."
"Please arrive on time tomorrow. Hey, you! Go back and practice!"
Upon hearing the order, the children returned to the team. Only a few familiar companions, including Do Hamin, looked worried at Han Yoojin as he turned and left the practice field.
He missed the morning training and sat in the atrium.
The fountain made a splashing sound and the water wet his sleeves. If the etiquette teacher saw him looking unruly, he would inevitably scold him. The only thing to be thankful for is that the fencing instructor said he would not tell my father. But what grown-ups say cannot be trusted. With so many apprentices practising swordplay, there is bound to be gossip. Considering those scrutinising looks, Han Yoojin wiped his eyes and stood up from the fountain.
Those trainee knights were either sons of nobles from other territories or heirs of officials in the Marquis's mansion, and every pair of eyes was watching. The son of Marquis Haeyeon could not be seen slacking off. He can't be here.
As early as two hundred years ago, Han Yoojin's great-grandfather built this mansion with the wealth accumulated from doing business on the peninsula and purchased the title of baron, allowing the family to rise from the business gentry to the ranks of the nobility. Although they held titles, they obtained them differently from the old nobles, who traditionally obtained territories through merit. This made Haeyeon secretly ridiculed as a tax collector at the table - he could enter the nobles' room but had no place to sit.
The only way to change this disadvantage is to follow the long-standing tradition: marry an Alpha noble with a noble background or establish achievements in war.
This is not something that seven-year-old Han Yoojin should worry about.
Just finish your studies well, his father said, lowering his head to read the report from the territory in his hand. This is my only expectation for you.
Fencing, archery, horsemanship, reading, mathematics, and Latin. Etiquette lessons, social dancing, and the beginning of discussions about family marriage arrangements. People should study and live according to established traditions.
He didn't want to go back to the main building. If his parents saw him, they would definitely ask him what happened. The atrium was too conspicuous, classes were happening in the backyard, and he was fed up with the library.
Finally, he came here.
"Sir... why are you here?" The stable assistant, carrying a bucket of water, was startled when he saw Han Yoojin behind the door.
"Can't I?"
"No, no, it's just that your stable boy is not here, and it's not your riding training time," the brown-haired boy saluted quickly, "I'm cleaning the stable. If you don't mind the dirt... please be careful on the ground." The boy gasped simultaneously when Han Yoojin's leather shoes stepped into the mud.
"Please sit here." He hurriedly took out a wooden stool and shook off the straw crumbs on it. Han Yoojin quickly stopped him from wiping the stool with his sleeve.
"It's okay, I'm the one who disturbed you while you were working."
The boy's fearful look made him feel embarrassed. The library may be a better choice.
The short boy who was stopped lowered his head timidly, his hands tangled nervously in front of his chest, and he didn't dare to move an inch before receiving the following order from Yoojin.
"May I have your name?"
"Miguel, sir."
"Miguel," he cleared his throat, imagining how the adults would talk, "just keep doing what you're supposed to do."
"Yes."
The boy then picked up the bucket and brush and started working again.
The brush made a regular rustling sound on the floor. If Miguel saw dirt stuck on the floor, he would take a wooden shovel and dig it out after a series of thumps. After washing the faeces and mud off the stable floor with clean water, the stable assistant swept the old straw aside and replaced it with clean, fresh straw mats. Miguel rarely speaks and does things quietly. He occasionally stopped working and looked at Han Yoojin, and when he saw that there was no order from him, he went back to work. After a few times, he seemed to forget that the Marquis's son was in the same space with him and concentrated on cleaning.
After ensuring the space was clean, he led the horse out, stopped it in the brightest place in the stable, and carefully wiped the horse's face and body with a wet cloth. They lowered their ears comfortably and snorted softly, enjoying the cleaning.
The horses in the stable seemed to be very familiar with Miguel and would even come closer to him to let the boy wipe their necks.
"…Do you want to try it?"
"What did you say?" Han Yoojin asked in surprise.
"S-Sorry, please pretend I didn't... I just saw that you were very interested."
"I want it! Let me do it!" Han Yoojin jumped off the stool after hearing this.
"...Please comb the hair in this direction", Miguel said in a low voice, as if he was afraid of his boldness. He quickly lowered his eyes when he handed him the brush. But none of these prevented Yoojin from suddenly becoming excited. This was the first time someone had asked him what he wanted.
Since the two families began discussing the marriage, Moon Hyuna's visits have become more frequent. Han Yoojin would also go to Breaker's territory, but most of the time, Moon Hyuna came in a carriage. It was unknown whether it was because she was almost an adult and had more freedom, or because she was the youngest daughter, Earl Breaker took a laissez-faire attitude. At the age of thirteen, she was very much loved by the Marquis and his wife for her dignified behaviour in front of them. Han Yoojin's mother was delighted when she learned she could embroider the Virgin Mary. She couldn't wait to let them be alone to "cultivate their relationship."
When the door closed, the lady collapsed on the sofa and said, "I really hate embroidery."
"But you embroider very beautifully."
"Being good at it doesn't mean you like it." She tilted her head to look at the boy. "Do you know how annoying this is? You might be able to embroider it after sitting there for six or seven hours." Han Yoojin found it challenging to associate the active girl with his mother sitting by the window, embroidering.
Seeing Moon Hyuna's face darken, he quickly found a topic to make her happy: "How is the situation in the capital? Did you go to the autumn hunt?"
"It's the same at the palace. I just found a more ornate chair to sit on while embroidering. Speaking of the autumn hunt, the Queen is very sad about that. Grand Duke Seseong is not participating this time."
"Doesn't he attend every year?"
"He was promoted to adjutant and is serving in the port of Luxentum."
Luxentum is far from the royal capital but quite close to here.
The Royal Autumn Hunt is one of the significant events in the social circle every year, and only qualified families are invited.
The Breaker family is small but has a long history. In addition, Moon Hyuna's hunting skills are beyond her peers, which makes her a frequent visitor on the list. She would share with Han Yoojin the trivia about the autumn hunting activities: the ranking of hunters' prey points this year, the Duke of Seseong was unsurprisingly always on the top of the list, which noble lords were competing for the ladies, and the boring fashion makeup that the dignified ladies were always talking about. "It's the same every year," she said. "Next time we go together, you'll see."
The so-called next time is simply when they officially announce their engagement, which will be Han Yoojin's tenth birthday party next year, making it a symbol of double congratulations.
Every marriage brings different values to both families. Ideally, Blake will be able to use Valencia's seaport through Haeyeon and enjoy convenient tariffs. The Haeyeon family will be able to appear on the invitation list of future high-ranking nobles, and the autumn hunt will be just one of the honours. Resource sharing, interest exchange, and all contracts must be carefully worded.
The parents were very particular about the conditions of their letters but were very friendly when they met. They always gave a piece of cake to Han Yoojin and a piece of pie to Moon Hyuna. They sat on the sofa chairs in the middle, acting as the most well-behaved children, listening to the adults reviewing and revising the documents. The dowry added a few acres of olive fields, and the betrothal gift added a canal pass. These verbal promises and written contracts were weighed on the scales of marriage.
If only I had wings or could run as fast as a horse, I could get away from here. The adults' conversation made him drowsy, and in his half-conscious state, he recalled the adventure he had after music class last week.
With the help of Miguel, Han Yoojin's wall-climbing skills have become more and more proficient over the past three years. At first, he simply sneaked out through the dog hole under the wall when the guards were not paying attention. Only then did he realize that many servants had secret passages that allowed them to come and go freely in the mansion. As his body grew and his arms became stronger, he simply climbed the stone wall and breathed in fresh air with the help of his companions.
Everything was so new to Han Yoojin.
The Marquis' Palace was built on a hillside in the Valencia area, overlooking the entire Valencia port. The walk from the mansion to the town centre is quite a distance. Han Yoojin, who usually travels by carriage accompanied by his parents, is exploring outside on his own for the first time. Even the city centre, which he has visited before, is a new world.
At first, Miguel was scared about this, fearing that the patrolling guards would catch him. Still, with Han Yoojin's encouragement and instigation, the boys even figured out the patrol routes and times, and after doing it several times, they began to become more casual.
From the end of the afternoon, music and etiquette classes, until there was some time before family evening prayer and dinner, Han Yoojin would run to the stable to watch Miguel work. If the cleaning work went smoothly and the groom was out on errands, the boys would take the opportunity to go out for a stroll and then sneak back to the mansion unnoticed.
If Han Yoojin wanted to go out, he only needed to report to the housekeeper or his parents, and they would not stop him. The premise is that the reasons must be stated appropriately. Not wanting to stay inside to study wasn't an acceptable answer, and any place was better than here.
The places the boys mainly frequented were a few, like the town garden, the snack street, the civic square, and Miguel's house.
Miguel's father, Pedro, is a stevedore working at the port, usually loading and unloading cargo for merchant ships at the Port of Valencia. Valencia is one of the ports with the most significant trade throughput in the entire peninsula. It is separated from the southern continent, rich in spices and silk, by only a strait. The frequent flow of traders also brings rich tax revenue to the Haeyeon family.
Occasionally, in the city centre, he would see Southerners, both men and women, wearing veils. This was nothing strange to Miguel because his mother was a Southerner. When Pedro went to work at the dock, Miguel's mother, Luisa, who spoke little Peninsular language, would take out whole-grain bread and figs to treat the playful children.
Louisa is an Omega. People say that the South is a society that respects Omegas. But she abandoned her original wealth, ran to the northern peninsula to start a new life with a man who did not speak her language, and even gave herself a foreign name. Han Yoojin's understanding of the South comes from the goods traded with his family, such as the exchange of olive oil for spices and wool for silk. Under the rule of the Haeyeon family, Valencia has its own set of rules for trading with Southerners.
Miguel's mother exudes a faint rose scent in every move she makes, and this scent... is very special.
Han Yoojin only smelled perfume at aristocratic gatherings, mainly because the Alphas used it to cover up their own scent to maintain social decency. However, the scented oil used by Louisa was intended to show a non-aggressive but unforgettable Omega scent.
Under the veil, Louisa has a pair of gentle eyes. She couldn't speak their language, so whenever Han Yoojin came to "visit", she could only express her intentions with a smile and simple finger gestures. Amazingly, this works better than words. When she embraced her returning husband, the emotions and smells she conveyed were richer than the conversation between the Marquis and his wife at the Haeyeon family's dining table.
However, Miguel's parents were a civilian couple, an ordinary, insignificant Beta and Omega. The Marquis and the Marquis of Haeyeon are a combination of noble Alphas. They have studied arithmetic and astronomy and are familiar with classics and Latin. The two cannot be compared at all. This is Han Yoojin's goal for the future. He looked at Moon Hyuna sitting beside him: they will become an excellent Alpha couple. But why did this, destined to be a perfect arrangement, make him feel a little disappointed?
The engagement discussions have come to an end, and both families have now reached a satisfactory agreement. The contract has been drafted, and they are just waiting to sign it at the birthday party with blessings. The Breakers returned to the territory after having their afternoon tea. Perhaps to mark this successful day, Han Yoojin was rarely allowed to take a break between classes.
When he arrived at the stable, Miguel seemed to have telepathic knowledge. He had already packed up his cleaning supplies and lingered at the door.
"Lord Yoojin..." Three years have passed, and Miguel still has his timid tone. Today, he sounded even more worried and couldn't hide his nervousness as he looked around. But Han Yoojin didn't pay attention. Finally getting rid of the long meeting, he couldn't wait to go to the city centre. "Let's go! The shift change is in half an hour."
"Okay," said Miguel from behind.
After a loud bang, he lost consciousness.
Chapter 7: 1-6
Chapter Text
The flow of time is ethereal, so people measure time by the shades of sky colour, the rise and fall of air temperature, and the movement of star disks to help distinguish the changes of time. But Han Yoojin, trapped in darkness, lost the concept of time.
When he woke up, there was only darkness before his eyes.
Where is this? Could it be that he had entered the void between heaven and hell, had he committed some sin, and was being punished by darkness?
His body vibrated along with the floor. Clank, clank, it's the sound of wheels rolling over gravel. He is in the carriage. The cold, rough wood against which his cheek rested felt like the floor of a carriage or a truck.
"Miguel?" Han Yoojin heard himself ask in a low voice. This proves that he can still speak and hear. A faint sob not far away responded to him. "Miguel...are you there?"
"Master Yoojin, I'm so so sorry..."
"Hey, hey, it's okay, Miguel." He swallowed. The side-lying position made his ears uncomfortable under the weight of his body. Han Yoojin tried to move his limbs, but found that his wrists and ankles were tied. His hands were tied with rough hemp ropes, making him unable to move. "Can you...untie me first?"
"No, no," the former companion sobbed with unusual determination, "They will find out... If they find out... then Mom," there was another round of intermittent crying. "Mom and Dad..."
"They will be fine." Han Yoojin said this with confidence, not knowing where he got it from. Maybe he just has this kind of inappropriate naivety. "It's okay, don't worry, Miguel."
Since Han Yoojin has been successfully kidnapped, they will definitely be fine. The two understood this fact in silence.
"Is there anyone else in the carriage besides us?" Although he had already guessed the answer, Han Yoojin still couldn't help but ask. After getting a "no" as an answer, his tense shoulders relaxed a little.
"Miguel...my parents will be worried if they find out I'm not at home." He hoped so. Han Yoojin lowered his voice and said, "They will find us. The sooner they find us, the more they can help Pedro and Luisa."
Miguel did not respond, and his sobs seemed distant and broken as the car shook up and down.
"Miguel, help me! Please!" He was still able to exert force with his abdomen and thighs. He didn't know if he was moving in the right direction. He hoped that he was dragging his body towards Miguel. "You don't have to untie me. They won't notice. But I have a way to get Haeyeon's people to rescue us."
"...How?"
"With my buttons."
After a long, anxious silence, Miguel asked, "What button?"
"Can you see? My clothes." In order to meet Moon Hyuna today, the maid specially picked a fine coat for him. "Pull off the front row of buttons."
"Sir, such a precious thing...!"
"It's okay, just pull it off." Han Yoojin's shoulders, which were twisted backwards, began to feel sore. He didn't know how long he had been tied up or where the car was going. "Pull them all off."
He heard the sound of clothes rubbing on the floor. Miguel might be trying to crawl over. If he was lucky, the kidnappers would trust Miguel and let the boy move his hands freely. But why can Han Yoojin trust Miguel? His heart was beating so hard in his chest that the sound almost broke his eardrums. Because he had no other choice.
The collar rubbed against his neck, and it looked like Miguel was following his instructions and pulling all the buttons off. Those specially ordered metal gadgets all have the Haeyeon family crest on them.
"Miguel? Miguel...are you listening?"
"Yes, yes."
"You...try to find out if there are any windows or gaps in the car." As the car moved, the air was still flowing. This means that there must be an opening inside the carriage that faces the outside.
"There's a crack in…in the door panel."
"Okay," Han Yoojin began to have a headache from the impact of the wheels, as if someone was hitting him on the back of the head with a Latin textbook. "Listen to my voice. When I say throw, throw a button out. Do you understand?"
"Do you understand?"
"……Yes."
"Throw one now."
The vibrations became less frequent, and it felt like they were no longer on the mud, and the steady speed of the car even began to increase. Where exactly are they taking themselves? Lying on the floor of the carriage, Yoojin pressed himself closer to the ground to feel the movement of the carriage. If the carriage turned a corner, he asked Miguel to throw another button, and if he heard the wheels clicking on the cobblestones, he asked Miguel to throw another button.
When Miguel finished throwing the metal buckles, the kidnappers also stopped the carriage. Han Yoojin's hands and feet were numb, and he almost stopped breathing when he heard the approaching footsteps. The carriage door latch was gently unlocked, and the door panel did not make any loud noise on the body of the carriage. It was obvious that the kidnappers knew that they were doing a dirty thing and needed to be careful to avoid attracting attention.
There were two people coming. A man dragged Miguel away first. He heard the sound of the boy's shoes rubbing against the floor and a voice saying, "Stand still." The thick accent did not sound like that of a local and seemed to be scolding the child for not being able to stand steadily because he was too tired from crying.
Then it was Han Yoojin's turn. At first, there was a gust of cold wind, and he finally left the carriage. The collar on his chest was pulled, and Han Yoojin felt his whole body lifted up.
The kidnappers spoke, and they were men.
"Didn't they say that all the noble children of the Northerners are Alphas? This one doesn't look like one at all."
"I can tell from his clothes that he is, there's no doubt about it."
"Really? Don't go to all that trouble to make a fake one."
He heard the sound of waves.
In this darkness, besides the sound of waves, there is also a strange fragrance. It smelled like house incense, a faint, spicy scent of frankincense and myrrh. Han Yoojin had smelled these scents several times in his father's study. They stood in front of the table, and his father held up the small glass jars and bottles, describing each smell one by one.
Rose, benzoin, ambergris, cloves and frankincense. These fragrances, which had never been encountered by the nobles of the peninsula, became very popular in the kingdom after being introduced from the southern continent. He then opened the glass bottle on the other side and let Han Yoojin smell the rose and orange blossom, benzoin and sandalwood, ambergris and pine wood. On the basis of the original, it adds a layer of complexity, sometimes with a light and sometimes with a strong fragrance.
These are perfumes suitable for the people of the peninsula that were blended by merchants by adding local plants and spices. So, you smell. Will the combination of the two make the originally monotonous floral scent more beautiful?
These perfumes will soon sweep the social circles and become the obsession of the aristocrats. Many nobles in the royal capital looked down on southerners. His father shrugged and put the glass bottle back into the small wooden box. But none of them knew where the rose water they were using came from.
Nothing can stop the smell. Once it flows into the air, it will quietly envelop you until you are completely unaware.
Han Yoojin took a deep sniff, trying to remember the smell. His eyes were covered by layers of the black veil, and his cheek was pressed against the wool carpet. His limbs were still tied up, but compared to the bumpy carriage, his body was at least safely placed on flat ground, which calmed his panicked thoughts a little. He heard the two kidnappers, one of whom was mumbling in a foreign language and seemed to be still complaining, and the other could only appease him back in the Peninsular language.
Are they going to send me abroad? Send to the south?
The kidnapping of noble children was not uncommon, and the kidnappers could usually demand a large ransom. Han Yoojin had heard the servants' gossip in the corridor, but he never thought that such a thing would happen to him. He just thought it was a terrible rumour passed down by word of mouth. The buttonless coat was open, revealing the thin shirt underneath. He began to feel cold.
Footsteps paced back and forth around him. What are they waiting for? Will they demand a ransom from Haeyeon?
He hadn't heard Miguel's voice since he entered the room. Was the boy taken away? Is he okay? Are they in collusion? Were his parents hurt?
The complaining and the sound of footsteps disappeared. The voice in Han Yoojin's head was so loud that he didn't hear the door closing.
Am I the only one left now?
He could shout and scream for help, but he was afraid that no one would hear him, even if he screamed at the top of his lungs, or worse, the kidnappers would cover his mouth and nose, and he would lose consciousness. Or suffocate to death. His palms were sweating, and he felt the places where he was tied up with hemp ropes were starting to itch. The world is still filled with darkness.
Haeyeon's people will definitely notice that he is missing, and when the family members prepare for evening prayers, Han Yoojin will not be found in the mansion. Or will they think this is another rebellion by Han Yoojin? Did his father really not know that he and Miguel had sneaked out so many times? Is this a form of indulgence and disappointment towards the eldest son? If not, why are the guards at the wall so lax?
How long had they been driving just now? Han Yoojin wondered, How far is this place from the mansion? Are they still in Valencia? The method he devised in a hurry to leave a mark with a metal button seems insignificant now. As the sun gradually sank and was swallowed by the night, the tiny silver buttons disappeared without a trace, like shells sinking to the bottom of the sea.
Will anyone come? Am I going to die? Darkness lurked beside him, waiting for Han Yoojin to beg for mercy. His mouth was dry, and water was flowing out from between his fingers, his trembling back and his eye sockets. His shoulders were numb, and he was pinned to the ground by a reversed elbow. When he twisted his body, his chin hit the ground, and he bit his tongue in pain.
The darkness is waiting, silently, calmly, and with more patience than Han Yoojin.
Is anyone here? Is anyone there? He finally couldn't help but shout out loud. Did he really shout it out?
Han Yoojin could no longer smell anything, and even the sound of the tide seemed to have receded. Could it be that everything was just his imagination, and this dark world was just a brief dream that appeared in his unconscious brain?
The shout fell into the dark abyss without a splash. When all the sweat and tears had dried up on the floor, the fear in his body seeped out. He collapsed in his own fear. Its cold cheek was pressed against his chest, and fear seemed to be listening attentively to the violent trembling coming from this small chest chamber.
Suddenly, sounds came from all directions. Fear raised its head, pricked up its ears, and looked around.
The sound of heavy objects collapsing violently hit the door panels, accompanied by human shouts, and rushed into the house like a wave. The door was kicked open, causing a vibration on the wall. The metal blade rubbed against the air, making two knocking sounds. Some limbs fell down, causing the sound of an overturned table. Someone let out a painful scream as if his bones were being crushed. More footsteps pushed open the door, and armour made clanging sounds like sharpening knives as they moved.
The darkness panicked and jumped away from Han Yoojin.
Who? Who!
A pair of strong hands grasped his shoulders. Han Yoojin was pulled up and made to sit upright on the carpet.
A different aura surrounded him. The black veil in front of his eyes was torn off in circles, and the hemp rope slid down from his wrists and ankles. His vision, which had not seen any light for a long time, was filled with fog. After a few seconds, he suddenly realised that it was the smoke from the incense in the room.
The evening light from outside the window slanted into the house, and in the golden light, it dyed Sung Hyunjae's white military uniform red.
Before he could figure out why the other person was here, his wrist was grabbed. Han Yoojin only then noticed that his hands were shaking.
"Han Yoojin is such a smart kid." This was the first time Sung Hyunjae had spoken to him after three years. In this strange and confusing situation, the man seems to have leisurely come to the teahouse to enjoy tea, rather than breaking into the kidnapper's hideout with the uniformed city police team. His warm hands gently opened Han Yoojin's clenched fist and scattered a handful of silver stars into his hand.
That's the family crest button on the coat.
While directing the city police members who untied the boy to search the house, Sung Hyunjae patted Han Yoojin on the back and said, "You are very brave. Haeyeon's hunting dog is very alert. Your father is on the way." He picked up the boy with one hand and said, "Let's go. It's time to go home." He looked down at the kidnapper who died from a violent hit to the head in the corner of the house, and heard the captain of the city police come to report: one is dead and the other escaped. The one who escaped was a Southerner, wrapped in a veil, who rode away through the back door on horseback, leaving a boy behind in the room on the other side.
In addition to dehydration, the back of the boy's head had signs of being hit hard and was red and swollen. Sung Hyunjae checked Han Yoojin's head, and after listening to the captain's report, he just waved his hand in vain and ordered him to let the team members drag the suspect's body out of the house, and called another team member to bring out the other boy. When he walked out of the house, Haeyeon's carriage was already parked in front of the door.
The Marquis got off the carriage and looked surprised when he saw the Duke of Seseong. But soon, after seeing Han Youchen, who seemed safe in his arms, his tense face slowly relaxed.
"Excuse me, but may I ask why you 're here, Your Highness?"
"I noticed the commotion while on my way to visit an old friend." He tilted his head, as if listening to the city police cleaning up the mess inside the house. "It must be a big deal to get the city police out, so I couldn't help but join in the fun. I didn't expect it to be Haeyeon's child."
"The Haeyeon family doesn't know how to repay your kindness." The Marquis said, looking at the child leaning on Sung Hyunjae's arms, "This is our negligence."
"I heard there was another boy in there."
"Miguel is the stable servant," said Marquis Haeyeon. "He often plays with the boy."
"Young Han Yoojin is too gullible."
"We have checked his background before, and there is nothing wrong with it."
"Isn't it a problem to hide southerners who don't have a pass?" Sung Hyunjae said, his golden eyes shining in the gradually darkening twilight. "Since this incident did not happen in the Marquis's mansion, it is a matter of public safety. Choosing this place to commit the crime will also make it easier to smuggle them out to sea."
"We will add more personnel for patrol."
When he was about to put Han Yoojin down, Sung Hyunjae found that the boy leaning on his shoulder had fallen asleep due to exhaustion, with his hands still tightly grasping his collar. It looks like the visit with my friend will have to be postponed, but he will surely understand. Sung Hyunjae thought to himself and exchanged glances with Marquis Haeyeon. The Marquis shook his head and sighed, then gestured for him to take a seat. Seeing this, Haeyeon's coachman opened the carriage door.
Chapter 8: 1-7
Chapter Text
1-7
Outside the window of his brother's bedroom, a light spot was approaching from a distance. The dusk of late autumn made everything shrouded in a faint blue light, and the surrounding outlines were unclear. Despite this, he recognised the marquis's carriage at a glance. Han Yoohyun climbed from the windowsill, opened the door with a thump, and ran downstairs. Before getting close to the stairs, he heard the sound of the mansion's door opening at the corner, and the crowd was buzzing. Mother and nanny, who were waiting at the door, hurried forward. In addition to his father, another strange man was at the scene.
Unusually, no one stopped Han Yoohyun from running. At the age of five, he was not tall and was almost drowned by the adults surrounding the hall. But he still tried to squeeze through those annoying legs and get closer to his brother.
The stranger was very tall, and one had to look up to see him. Han Yoohyun's eyes met his. In that brief encounter, the hairs on the back of his neck immediately stood up, and a disgusting feeling of rejection choked his throat as if he were being strangled by ten fingers, and it was difficult to escape. Instinctively yelled at his temples, accompanied by a burst of rapid breathing, and the blood in his body seemed to surge up, ordering Han Yoohyun to rush up and attack immediately.
However, it was only a moment, and the man indifferently turned his eyes away, carefully loosened his little hands holding his clothes, and handed the child hanging on his body to the nanny who had stretched out her hand and was waiting.
The nanny measured Han Yoojin's temperature with her hand, sighing and exclaiming. The mother's attention was anxiously shifting between the child in the nanny's arms and the men who had just exited the carriage. A series of questions kept popping up between the movements of the skirt. The adults carried the children upstairs to Han Yoojin's bedroom, and Han Yoohyun followed them back to his brother's room.
The adults gathered around the bed, and soon, the family doctor came in with a bag after being notified by the butler. The doctor checked Han Yoojin's face and limbs for any sign of injuries, opened his eyelids and measured his temperature.
"His head," the strange man said, standing aside with his arms folded, "has traces of being hit, and there may be other injuries sustained during the kidnapping manoeuvre."
The nanny helped the doctor adjust the pillow so that he could check Han Yoojin's head. Han Yoohyun had to stand on a chair to see his brother lying in the middle of the bed. He was pale, unconscious, and motionless. This was the brother Han Yoohyun had never seen before. He jumped off the chair and ran towards the bed, but before he could get close, he was stopped by his father. Han Yoohyun was pulled away and stepped back, struggling with dissatisfaction.
"There is nothing serious. First, please apply ointment to the young master's wound. After the young master wakes up, further examinations will be required. There is a phenomenon of dehydration, so he needs to drink more water after waking up."
The nanny next to him nodded repeatedly. After the doctor packed up and left the room, his father let Han Yoohyun go. As soon as he was free, he hurried to the head of the bed. His brother closed his eyes tightly, his body buried in the quilt, his chest heaving, and he was still breathing.
"Marquis Haeyeon, please come and talk with me." The stranger said.
Han Yoohyun was very happy that he was left with his father. When the man left the room, the whole atmosphere became lighter.
He didn't understand how others could not feel it and let the creepy pressure wander around here. Han Yoohyun found that the adults in the mansion were very dull and could not smell the pressure in the air. If it were Yoohyun, he would never let the dangerous breath approach his residence.
"Madam, please go to rest quickly. Let me take care of it here. Including Master Han Yoohyun."
The mother nodded, and her haggard face still carried the pain of a small postpartum. It is said that it was a younger brother who disappeared one day.
At that time, everyone in the mansion had been looking forward to it for a long time. Han Yoojin even pulled him every night to talk about his name if there was another younger brother, and Yoohyun would also be a brother. But Han Yoohyun didn't want a younger brother. It didn't matter if he had one or not. He was satisfied with the brother he already had. He only hoped that his brother would not be like this one day, disappearing suddenly like this.
Han Yoohyun climbed onto the bed and lay close to his sleeping brother. No matter how the nanny persuaded him, he refused to move an inch. Ultimately, they could only let him stubbornly hold his brother's hand and let the two brothers fall asleep.
It was already noon the next day when Han Yoojin woke up. The first thing he noticed was Yoohyun lying beside him in bed and holding his arm. He must have been worried after not seeing him for so long. Han Yoojin touched his brother's soft hair with his other free hand.
Everything seemed like a dream.
Staring at the dark blue bedspread above his head, was he really awake? Or was it another illusion played by the dark?
When Han Yoojin noticed a tiny flash on the bedside table from the corner of his eyes, he turned his head to look. In the sunlight, the silver buttons that were supposed to be sewn on his coat had bursts of light at the edges, as if whispering, and that voice said: He really went home.
According to the nanny, after accompanying his father to send Han Yoojin back to the Marquis's Mansion, the Duke of Seseong rode away before dawn. She heard he had other friends to visit and had to return to Lucentum.
Lucentum is about a day and a half away from Valencia. If the courier changes horses at the station, the letter will be delivered to the recipient more quickly. If Yoojin sends the letter now, the person may receive it when he returns to the station.
Han Yoojin sat at the desk and thought. After a long time, he locked the parchment and other unsent manuscripts in the drawer.
*
The kidnapping incident shocked many noble families. Many Alpha nobles in the north were worried that their children would become the next target. They knew little about Southern culture and had no intention of understanding it. The only action taken was to add more patrol officers.
As his birthday party approached, Moon Hyuna and Noah often visited him.
In addition to caring for the patient, she also had to confirm that her young fiancé did not become a fool due to a concussion during the kidnapping process. Although it was not without precedent, it was still not good for nobles to cancel their engagement. It's always good to be more cautious.
Every two weeks, Moon Hyuna would fiddle with Han Yoojin's head, looking left and right to confirm whether it was "intact". Compared with the girl's teasing, Noah's company was much better. However, the dark circles under the other person's eyes made Han Yoojin feel that he needed rest more than himself.
"I can't help it. My sister won't let me do it." Noah explained. His voice trembled slightly when he mentioned his fierce half-sister: "She said that if I don't strengthen my training, I will be the next one to be kidnapped."
Han Yoojin was extremely grateful that he had a well-behaved brother.
"The palace has issued an order to strengthen border patrols and restrict the entry of southerners." Moon Hyuna, who was always the first to receive news from the capital, said, "Many ports have been recruited. Is there any in your Valencia Port?"
"Father didn't mention it." Han Yoojin looked at the tea in the cup. This is chamomile tea from the south. "I think it should be the same now."
"Is this another war?" Noah asked. Although none of them knew what war looked like at their age, the atmosphere became solemn just by uttering the word.
Five years ago, the kingdom launched a massive attack on the pagans on the peninsula. The kingdom's iron cavalry destroyed most of the regimes or fled to the southern continent. During that time, Han Yoojin's father sighed every day. The Haeyeon family, which relied on foreign trade for its survival, suffered heavy losses in external funds once its foreign business was cut off, and it also had to continue to pay taxes imposed by the kingdom for the war. Fortunately, the balance was barely maintained through agricultural products and rice harvests from other territories, and it survived until the end of the war.
After a year of recuperation, the peninsula and the southern continent resumed business.
Life went on as usual after the war. Spices and silk from the south had long been an indispensable and precious resource for the nobles. Even the queen, who hated pagans, turned a blind eye and allowed the peninsula and the southerners to continue communicating. As long as the recovery and integrity of the Holy Land were ensured, the royal family would not pay attention to these petty activities.
Soldiers or merchants. This was the clear barrier between the nobles of the peninsula after the war.
Although news about the war spread everywhere, it still did not change the nobles' nature of pleasure.
Especially at the 10th birthday party of the eldest son of the Marquis of Haeyeon, the territory was filled with festive songs. The town was decorated with lights and colourful decorations, and the mansion's lobby was decorated with clusters of flowers and flags. The room had silver and dark blue flags symbolizing the Haeyeon family, adorned with wild roses, violets and lilies. In addition to the interweaving of lavender and snowdrops around the banquet table, it still exuded a rich floral fragrance even in February at the end of winter. The lobby was also filled with gifts from guests.
For his birthday this year, he received a new suit with the Haeyeon family crest from his father and an embroidery with the guardian angel and the Virgin Mary from his mother. Moon Hyuna gave him a hunting dog bred by the Breaker family. When she heard that Han Yoojin was going to name it Blackie, she laughed at him.
As for the gift from the Duke of Seseong…
In the afternoon, the priest witnessed the marriage between the Haeyeon and Breaker families. Amid the applause of the guests, he held Moon Hyuna's hand and signed the contract together.
After the ceremony, everyone began to enjoy a sumptuous dinner: fresh oysters and roasted cod caught in the morning, roasted venison and pickled pork with spices symbolising the abundant autumn, quail stewed with fruits, rows of white bread and rare apricot and pear preserves were served to the table in sequence. The laughter was mixed with the smell of wine and mead.
The invited bard played the three-stringed harp in the banquet hall and sang the adventure story of the knight Ai going to war. Under the crowd's cheers, he picked up his lute and played a serenade. Even the servants serving beside him couldn't help but sigh in immersion in the song.
"Hey," Moon Hyuna secretly poked Han Yoojin's cheek, which was supported by his hand, "If you want to pretend, do it seriously."
"What?"
She whispered in his ear, "You look too bored."
"I don't feel bored."
"You do."
"I..." Han Yoojin lowered his voice, "I just don't want to be rude."
"How can a party star not be happy on his birthday? Everyone seems to be enjoying it more than you."
"I'm not used to this kind of occasion."
"It's just like someone." The girl shrugged. "This song will probably be sung four or five times. Even if you sneak out now, no one will notice."
This sounded hurtful in a way. After all, this is Han Yoojin's birthday party.
"Where else can I go?"
"I don't know about that. Take a walk. Maybe there will be an unexpected surprise."
Han Yoojin sighed. He didn't expect to be kicked out of the table by his fiancée. He looked at the guests in front of him. Everyone was immersed in the music performance. No one paid attention to the main table. He slowly pulled out the chair and quietly left the seat.
The nights in winter get dark early, and the corridors are already lit.
Everyone is gathered in the bustling main building of the mansion so that there is only a cold moon in the outer room. Unlike the rest of the peninsula, Valencia does not snow in winter due to the protection of warm ocean currents, and the temperature remains comfortable. He has only heard of snow in paintings and stories and has never seen it with his own eyes.
If Valencia snows, it will likely be like this scene. Under the moonlight, a silver halo is sprinkled on the floor tiles, and sparkling water sprays from the water bottle of the stone goddess, making his golden hair fade and blend into the moonlight. In the starless night, Sung Hyunjae stood by the fountain and stared at the giant full moon above his head.
"It's our little birthday boy." Hearing the footsteps, he turned around and looked at Han Yoojin.
He greeted him with appropriate etiquette. The other man just smiled with his hands behind his back. This made Han Yoojin suddenly nervous for no reason. He said, "I haven't thanked Your Highness yet. Thank you for arriving on time."
"No need to thank me; your cleverness saved you."
"Why is Your Highness here alone? The guests are now enjoying the music in the hall."
"I'm not used to this kind of occasion." Sung Hyunjae thought, "Come to think of it, I haven't given the birthday star a gift yet."
"Didn't the Duke already give a gift?"
"The Duke gave what was his, and I gave what was mine."
Sung Hyunjae spoke very unreasonably and took out a dagger from his pocket.
It was too ordinary to be an accessory that a Duke of Shixing would own. The body was even more plain when taken from the soft, plain leather sheath. The bone handle and the sharp blade were all the decorations. There were no unnecessary carvings, inlays or splicing. When this dagger was forged, the owner seemed to have over-emphasized that it should be simple. It did not look like a noble ornament at all.
"This was my friend's weapon, and it protected me many times on the battlefield. Now I give it to you, young Yoojin."
"Can I accept it?" Han Yoojin held the dagger and suddenly felt it was no longer ordinary under the moonlight. This is a gift that has been blessed with blood. "Would your friend... agree?"
"Well, I think he would want you to have it, too."
"If I have it, what will protect the Duke?" As soon as he said it, he felt the idea was ridiculous. How could a great Duke only have one weapon? He also has a famous chain.
Sung Hyunjae probably thought so, too. He looked at the man standing by the fountain, but he saw an expression he had never expected to see on his face. He slightly widened his eyes and stared at Han Yoojin in surprise, as if he had never heard of such a question. Then he smiled with a strange sadness, "Adults have their own ways to protect themselves."
"Everyone needs help from others, whether they are adults or not." Han Yoojin added at the end, "I am no longer a child."
"Then use it to care for yourself, Han Yoojin of Haeyeon." Sung Hyunjae said, his golden eyes narrowed, almost gentle. "Happy birthday."
Han Yoojin had difficulty explaining how the world had changed since his tenth birthday.
After signing the marriage contract with Moon Hyuna, she had become accustomed to visiting him occasionally. After the kidnapping incident, the knight Kim Sunghan was appointed to serve Han Yoojin always. But the good thing was that he was now free to enter and leave the mansion at any time, whether in the town or the port.
"Can we put them down?" Han Yoojin asked. When they rode their horses and stood in the middle of the Civic Square, Kim Sunghan, beside him, shook his head with difficulty. He was not surprised by such a reaction. Han Yoojin raised his head and looked at the small figure hanging above the gallows, swaying like a marigold in the warm spring breeze.
But his world had indeed changed.
Chapter 9: 1-8
Chapter Text
Looking back, there are traces of the collapse of many things, all starting from tiny cracks, but he didn't bother to pay attention to those sounds. He remembered that the sky was blue, the breeze was blowing, the green shade was lush, and a leaf fell in the swaying, making a slight rustling sound when it fell on the grass. Han Yoojin stood with the funeral procession and watched the priest sprinkle a handful of soil on the coffin.
"Lord, please give her eternal rest and let the eternal light shine on her. May her soul and the souls of all believers leave, rely on God's mercy, and rest in peace. Amen."
After experiencing two miscarriages, the mother finally put down the burden and returned to the eternal embrace of those unborn flesh and blood. Everyone looked sad, like they should be. Han Yoojin held his brother's hand and listened to the priest's prayer.
The funeral did not last long. After covering the coffin, they returned to the mansion. Han Yoojin did not remember how he responded to the guests' condolences in the hall. After all, this happened when he was twelve years old, and it was a memory from a long time ago.
Memories always fade or distort into another form, patting his cheek unexpectedly every late night, making sure that the person who is left in the sorrow is still awake.
However, he did remember his brother's sweaty little hands, soft and cold in the early summer breeze. He looked down at Han Yoohyun, who was only a head shorter than him. How fast his brother has grown up. Yoohyun's face was as plain as the mourning clothes he wore. He was like a shadow in the crowd and would disappear with the shift of sunlight.
Another leaf fell.
When he sat by the window, he could no longer lie down his legs and hide behind the curtain like he did when he was a child. Han Yoojin had to bend his knees to sit on the narrow windowsill. The only thing that remained unchanged was that the servants who were busy with trivial matters paid no attention to this inconspicuous corner of the corridor, and the sounds and shouts of the boys in the backyard practising swords, as usual, were blurred and far away in the background.
Sometimes, Han Yoojin felt that her mother's ghost had not rested as the priest had said and was still wandering around the house. She sat on the sofa where she was used to reading and embroidering, looking out the window at the harbour in the distance. You can't hear the sound of the waves here, Han Yoojin thought. But she was still the same, insisting on staying there. Even when eating, Han Yoojin felt that her mother was still sitting with them in her usual seat, but the plate had been put away.
Father asked Han Yoojin to pay more attention to current affairs. With the release of the kingdom's conscription order and the document to expel foreigners, the sound of war drums became louder and louder. Many servants of the right age in the mansion responded to the call, hoping to join the Knights and fight for honour. Han Yoojin didn't know how devout these childhood playmates were to their faith, but when faced with the opportunity to make a name for themselves, no one was willing to let it go, and they weighed the honour in their hands.
Many ports were requisitioned and provided to the Royal Navy for war preparation. This directly affected the routes and loading and unloading of trade ships, and trade could only be reduced or suspended. Merchant sailors and helmsmen joined the army, and objects waiting to be shipped were piled up in warehouses. Dock workers began to be idle, and everyone could only wait for everything to return to normal. And no one knew when that would be.
This series of changes also affected Marquis Haeyeon's plan to remarry. Many servants were guessing which family the next Marquise would be from. Social activities among the nobles were still going on, and there were always Alpha girls who were suitable for marriage and beautiful to match. However, they have not heard the latest news yet, which makes people worry that as the horn sounds, the status of the Haeyeon family, in the eyes of the nobles, has plummeted.
One day in the future, you will inherit the position of the Marquis. His father told Han Yoojin that you should prepare yourself as an heir. Don't be idle all day and act childish.
So what? Marry a new wife?
You should not worry about that, the Marquis said. He put down the tableware; your mother has fulfilled her due obligations and mission. What do you have a grudge against?
Han Yoojin pushed his chair away and stood up. Everyone in the restaurant looked at him.
The servants on both sides looked back and forth anxiously between their master and the scattered plates. His father, who was sitting in the main seat, stared at him sternly. Yoohyun turned his head to look at his brother, and even his mother looked at him worriedly. Han Yoojin ran out of the restaurant without waiting for his father to speak because he had lost his appetite anyway.
When Han Yoojin came to his senses, he had already ridden so far away from the mansion. The brightly lit Marquis's Mansion gradually became a faint light behind him, swallowed by the dark tide of the night.
He lay on the horse; the wind was picking up speed, and the outlines and shadows in his vision were lost in the gallop, leaving only the smell blowing through his hair. The fleeting pine scent in the air, the smell of wet moss and soil splashed by the horse's hooves, the leather and the warm breath of the horse under him, and the salty smell of the sea tide.
Unlike other family members, Marquise Haeyeon was not buried in the cathedral in the city centre but chose this cemetery near the monastery. This monastery is inconspicuous. The only feature is that it is built on the edge of the sea cliff, where she can enjoy the light of the nearby sea and hear the murmur of the waves. She often visited this monastery during her lifetime and continued to dedicate herself to it in the most familiar place after her death. A light shone through the small monastery, illuminating the tombstone.
He looked at the inscription on the tombstone: "Faithful wife and loving mother". There was a bouquet of lilies on the tombstone, and the petals were hung with night dew, which seemed to have been placed there for some time.
Han Yoojin sat on a bench behind the monastery. He didn't know how long he had been sitting there. Until the horse stepped on the front foot, raised its ears alertly, and snorted like a white mist.
A beam of light crept into his field of vision, and Han Yoojin looked up.
The newcomer was holding a lamp, wearing the floor-length monk's robe of the monastery, and followed by a tall figure. Han Yoojin thought it was his illusion until the figure came forward, took the oil lamp from the monk's hand, raised the light high, and revealed unmistakable golden eyes. Only then did he slowly stand up from the bench.
"What a surprise, Yoojin of Haeyeon."
"I didn't expect to meet the Duke here either."
"What a wonderful encounter for you two," the monk said, "It's still a while before dawn; would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
"No, I have to go back."
"Walk with me."
Hearing two completely different answers, the monk said nothing, took a step back, and nodded. "Goodbye, Your Highness and Master Han Yoojin. May God bless you."
"You too, Dean. I will put the lamp in the old place."
Han Yoojin glanced at the man silently and saw him walking through the cemetery with the lamp in his hand, so he had to follow him.
"Is this the Morning Star?" Sung Hyunjae, who was walking in front, noticed the chestnut horse and asked. Hearing her name being called, she swung her tail in response.
"Yes."
"It's been a long time. Soyoung chose her at first sight."
I will also give that one the Morning Star. Han Yoojin thought silently, so you remember.
"Your Highness, are you here to mourn?"
"To see a friend."
"... I'm sorry for your loss."
"There is a legend among sailors that all dead people will wander in the place closest to the sea." Sung Hyunjae said.
They walked to a cliff not far from the monastery. The sea was calm in the early morning. "From here, you can see the vast coast of the entire kingdom, but I don't know where he will be."
He squinted his eyes and looked at the coast, still shrouded in morning mist, and the horizon was blurred. The ocean was too vast, too deep, and too empty. If a person sank, there would be no trace, like a handful of dust falling.
"He would be happy about your visit. Is today a special day?"
"... nothing special. I just have the habit of talking to his grave before going to war. In fact, there is nothing to say," Sung Hyunjae shrugged, "It's been boring all these years." The epaulettes of the uniform shone in the dim light. In view of the queen's love and activity in the war, everyone said that he would soon become the youngest commander of the Royal Navy in the kingdom.
"Is he... the owner of the dagger?"
"Yes. He originally wanted to be a clergyman, but he ended up following me to the battlefield."
Sung Hyunjae snorted, his tone light, but his face was not smiling, "He should really be left in the monastery to read the rigid scriptures and live a boring life."
"You said that..." Han Yoojin glanced at the monastery as if someone was watching them.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't expect Han Yoojin to be so devoted to God."
"... I just followed my mother's prayers."
"The Marquise was very pious. I'm sorry to hear that she's gone."
"There's nothing to regret," Han Yoojin replied, not knowing why he said that. "Everyone said that my mother had fulfilled her duty and returned to heaven where the God is. Then they started discussing who the next Marquise would be, even though my father was only concerned about money. Then, everyone forgot; no one remembered who she was, only that she was a marquise. "
"But Han Yoojin remembered, so that's why he came here, right?" Sung Hyunjae, who had been silent, spoke up, "As you said, I don't know her except as a marquise. But she brought Han Yoojin into this world, so I'm very grateful to her."
Han Yoojin stared at him blankly, humidity welling up from nowhere, and those unbearable tears began to slide from the corners of his eyes. He finally couldn't hold back his tears.
Sung Hyunjae held his shoulders, half squatted down, and handed over the handkerchief in front of his chest.
With an unstable centre of gravity, he grabbed Sung Hyunjae's sleeve, "Please, don't, don't tell my father," Han Yoojin grabbed the handkerchief with his other hand, sniffed, and said, his voice was choked and unclear, "Duke."
"The Duke boarded the ship early in the morning. He didn't know anything." Sung Hyunjae patted his back gently to calm him down. After Han Yoojin stopped choking, he led him to sit down on the rock.
"When I was little, my dream was to be a fisherman," Sung Hyunjae told him while sitting on a rock. "I felt very free, floating on the sea, far away from the mainland, and doing whatever I wanted. This is probably the reason why I ended up becoming a Navy, although real life is completely different from what I imagined."
"What a strange dream."
Duke Seseong is a fisherman?
Imagine another world where Sung Hyunjae is standing on a boat with a fishing rod or even casting a fishing net. Han Yoojin couldn't help laughing at the absurd scene and then coughed a few times because of his tears.
So what about Han Yoojin in another world?
What would he be like if he hadn't been born into the Haeyeon family?
"What about Han Yoojin?"
"I haven't thought about it." He just lives, survives, and breathes. "Do people have to have dreams?"
"Not really. It doesn't matter if you don't have them," Sung Hyunjae said, "but if you have something to desire, life will be easier to bear."
The two sat on the edge of the cliff. As the late dawn slowly peeked out from the horizon, Han Yoojin seemed to understand why his mother loved this place. Golden ripples brushed across the sea, and the thin clouds reflected were torn into threads by the wind just to retain the pink sky. He didn't know what his mother looked like before she became his mother. Han Yoojin didn't know her, but he wished he had known who the girl who went to the monastery every day to see the sea was.
If possible, he also wanted to see Han Yoojin in another world, to know what he looked like, what kind of life he lived, and what he longed for.
Han Yoojin did not ask what Sung Hyunjae's dream was now.
The only thing he was sure of was that he would become the Marquis of Haeyeon, just as his father said.
That day did not take too long to come.
As the saying goes, a few months later, the Marquis of Haeyeon was killed by thugs on his way out to buy things. Although the guards immediately rushed forward to hold the prisoner away, the sharp blade still accurately pierced the Marquis' heart, bleeding profusely and killing him on the spot.
The civilian had been drinking for many months after losing his job, and his hands could still be so steady to assassinate, and everyone was talking about it. It was strange to say that Marquis was not a person who went out often, and everyone rumoured that it was some kind of whim that made him go to an inconspicuous flower shop in the city centre to buy flowers.
The shop owner did not comment on the rumours. In addition to saying that the bouquets introduced into his shop were all from the best varieties in the domestic flower fields, he also mentioned that the Marquis had been patronizing them for a while.
Oh, then this must be a premeditated crime. The criminal must have been waiting for an opportunity to make a move. The investigating city police took notes. This case is difficult but not complicated. Facing this horrific incident, I express my deep regret. The judge announced that his family would confiscate their property and the criminal's body would be displayed for one month after being hanged as a warning.
After the accusation was nailed to the bulletin board and the body was abandoned in the cemetery outside the city, Han Yoojin became the new Marquis of Haeyeon.
Chapter 10: 1-9
Chapter Text
No matter how careful a person's plan is and how persistent his efforts are, there is always a gap between ideals and reality. Seok Simyeong understood this truth very early on.
Before becoming Haeyeon's steward, he was an illegitimate child of a low-ranking noble in his family's territory. Although he had noble blood, he could not inherit the family property or title. It was a great blessing given by God that he was not drowned by his father's first wife when he was born.
As a Beta, what made him most proud was that he had fought with the former Marquis of Haeyeon in the training ground, but what made him stand out in the end was not his swordsmanship - even though he, like every young man full of vigor, had the dream of becoming a brave and warlike knight - it was his "shrewd and intelligent" reaction ability, which made him stand beside the former Marquis of Haeyeon in terms of numbers, not as a knight, but as a butler.
Han Yoojin was not the lord that Seok Simyeong ideally expected to serve. Seok Simyeong still couldn't see the virtues in him enough to qualify for this role.
Han Yoojin had been too impulsive and aggressive since childhood, unlike his father and brother. Even when he reached an age where he should be steady and dignified, he still did things his own way and acted recklessly. Even though he had sensed that this day would come, the untimely death of the Marquis did not make the young heir mature and decent. On the contrary, his bad habits seemed to have become even worse.
As the second-in-command of the family, before the heir comes of age, the butler is in charge of all the red tape in the family, from finance and personnel to land and diplomacy. Naturally, the servants' gossip in the mansion cannot escape his ears.
Of all Han Yoojin's deviant behaviours, what concerned Seok Simyeong the most was not his extravagant and playful behaviour, such as taking two baths a day, missing sword training, or staying in the cliffside monastery. But it came from Kim Sunghan's report: Even now, he would still go to the town privately to visit the southerner for this purpose.
Many years ago, he bribed the executioner to take down the body that was initially to be dumped in a suburban cemetery and return it to the deceased's family. This cowardly kindness that went against social norms made Seok Simyeong worried about the character of the young heir, but the head of the family at the time did not say much, and the matter was left unresolved.
But a few months ago, Han Yoojin began to frequently visit the residence of the mother who had lost her son. That woman is not only from the South, but also an Omega. Even if Han Yoojin had not differentiated, it would have been horrifying and disgraceful if someone with ulterior motives had spread the scandal. Did he ever think about the situation this would put the Haeyeon family in?
Han Yoojin was either running to the town or staying in his bedroom, which made Seok Simyeong sigh deeply and rub his brows.
Don't think about these things for now. Now he should focus on today's mission.
As the agent in charge, he has recently voluntarily attended the trial of the most serious case in Valencia on behalf of the master.
The case today is a dispute over the inheritance of a barony in Valencia, or more specifically, a murder case between brothers.
The torches on the stone walls illuminated the solemn judge's bench, with audience areas on both sides for local aristocratic families. Seok Simyeong, sitting on a velvet chair, leaned forward to hear the judge's opening words clearly. "Today, we will hear a case of fratricide," the judge said. "The defendant is Rodrigo of Castro, who is accused of murdering his brother in an attempt to seize the family inheritance. Please bring the defendant up.”
The defendant entered the courtroom accompanied by two guards. The arrogant and disdainful look on the face of the middle-aged man made people feel that he was being escorted and greeted by the guards, and not a criminal accused of murder.
Baron Castro was found dead in his home. According to the testimony of the servants, he had a fierce argument with his younger brother, who came to visit him in the study, and in the end, he was killed by the ancestral sword hanging on the wall. The family martyrs probably never imagined the wealth accumulated from honour would lead to ugly betrayal. The custom of noble families fighting over family property is not new. To avoid fratricide, lords usually designate surviving relatives in advance to reduce bloodshed. However, the complexity of this case lies in the fact that the Baron who died shortly after taking the throne was a Beta.
Everyone knows that one man must be an Alpha to be a legitimate heir of noble blood. After all, both sets of parents are noble Alphas. Without the devil's interference, how could they give birth to an ordinary Beta child?
The defendant, Rodrigo, swore that his father was deceived by the woman pretending to be a noble and gave birth to this fake child. As time passed, the Baron's mother died while giving birth and could not testify, and the servants who had accompanied him could not be found. Castro's retainers all spoke with the same story.
There is always a gap between the ideal and reality.
As the trial entered intermission, Seok Simyeong leaned back on his chair cushions, having already seen the ending.
Then, the judge returned to his seat and announced the verdict: "The defendant's behavior is indeed against the law, but because the late Baron is an illegitimate child and should not have inherited the property, and the defendant has a more legitimate right to inherit the property under the law, the jury agrees to reduce the defendant's punishment." The judge paused and looked at the defendant: "The court sentenced the defendant to three years in prison as a punishment. The property will be redistributed to the defendant according to his legal inheritance rights."
The judge asked the noble representatives watching whether they objected to the verdict. No one said anything, the gavel fell, and the case was closed.
Although Baron Castro protested, he was taken away by the guards. He didn't need to be pessimistic. He only needed his retainers to take care of it, and the Baron would have all the food, clothing and other necessities in prison. During wartime, any victory celebration might have prompted a royal pardon. The Baron might have already boarded his car and returned home before the bedding in the prison was even warm.
When Seok Simyeong walked out of the court, the afternoon clouds were grey and low, the branches of the orange trees on the street swayed in the wind, and the air was filled with moisture. He was afraid that it would rain soon. When he returned to the Marquis's Mansion, Han Yoojin, in front of the door, had already put on his dark blue cloak for going out.
"The weather is unstable, and it may rain soon. Please let me arrange for a servant to do it for you."
"No need," Han Yoojin's face turned pale, but he shook his head firmly, "I must go in person. Butler Seok Simyeong, please move aside."
"Please be careful on your way." Seeing this, the butler took a step back respectfully. At the exact moment, Han Yoojin rushed out.
Seok Simyeong looked at the young man's back as he walked away and sighed helplessly.
The first drop of rain fell lightly and silently. When the second and third drops hit the glass, Seok Simyeong, buried in the table, raised his eyes and saw a continuous drizzle falling outside the window. Muffled thunder rumbled behind the grey clouds, flashing faintly. The dull air pressure captured, dragged and swallowed the light.
Seok Simyeong lit a candle so that he could continue working. In front of him was a notebook, which recorded the changes in the Marquis's mansion and the details of its income and expenditure.
Among the many expenses, the most complicated is personnel expenses.
Many years ago, to strengthen protection and patrols, the Haeyeon family had to incur an additional yearly expense, which Seok Simyeong felt was more harmful than beneficial. What good is more security when you have a recalcitrant teenager who keeps running away?
However, the Marquis and Marquis were worried that kidnappings would happen again, and the noble families at that time increased the number of personal guards, making this an inevitable choice. It is said that the Duke of Seseong instigated this. Seok Simyeong looked at this month's list and rubbed his temples.
The year is already halfway through, and summer has not brought Seok Simyeong any comfort. It only reminds him that it will soon be the season for paying autumn harvest taxes. This is the fourth year that Seseong has granted a tax grace period. If he must say who in the world Seok Simyeong least wanted to see, it would be the tax collector of the principality.
Although there are signs of easing the domestic maritime ban, it will still take longer to resume complete trade activities. Unlike Haeyeon, which was constrained by the war, the Breaker family, who made a living from agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry, still maintained a steady cash flow. In Seok Simyeong's imagined plan, the ideal situation is that after Han Yoojin separates, he will have his coming-of-age ceremony and marry Moon Hyuna. Breaker's generous dowry will be able to solve Haeyeon's urgent needs.
Patience. Patience is a virtue that is hard to find.
Seok Simyeong put down his quill and looked at his study. Thirty years had passed since he first stepped into this room. How many butlers have worked hard and devoted themselves to Haeyeon on this red cypress desk? Be patient in tribulation. He secretly prayed that Haeyeon would grow stronger with his help.
The guards told him that Han Yoojin did not return to the mansion until the bells for evening prayer rang. He was drenched in the rain and went back to his room without having dinner.
After Seok Simyeong instructed his servants to prepare hot water for the young marquis to wash, he returned to the table. The candle was half burned. The flame clinging to the wick alone, reflecting his blurry face in the dark window.
Cumulus clouds cover the North Star. Haeyeon is now like a ship without its captain. Although he holds the rudder, he doesn't know where to go and can only pin his hopes on the invisible and silent fate. At the end of Seok Simyeong's field of vision, heavy rain fell and strong winds howled.
At night, during prayer time, the sound of the cathedral bells was lost in the sound of rain. It seemed as if God had finally decided to answer Seok Simyeong's prayer. When he closed his notebook and was about to return to his bedroom, he heard the maid's hurried and urgent voice outside the study.
When he obtained permission to enter the Marquis's room and saw the family doctor with a sad face beside the bed and the wet nurse who was holding the little Marquis's hand tightly and constantly comforting him with soft words, Seok Simyeong realised once again that there is always a gap between ideals and reality. But he had not anticipated this would be an unbearable gap: Han Yoojin had differentiated as everyone had hoped, and he was an Omega.
Chapter 11: 1-10
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
His nostrils were filled with a sweet smell of decay that even heavy rain could not wash away. Hiding under the cloak, Han Yoojin knocked on the door three times, grabbing his collar to ensure his face was covered. He swallowed, turned around and looked at the deserted street, rubbing his fingers in his fists nervously, trying to suppress the urge to knock on the door again.
He didn't wait long in the rain before he heard footsteps approaching from behind the door. The metal doorknob was opened carefully, but the slight friction sound still caused Han Yoojin to shiver. The woman, who appeared in a black veil, went through the crack in the door. Her large, bright black eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. After confirming nothing was unusual, she stepped aside to let the damp boy enter the house.
Unlike the cold and damp outside, the room was filled with a warm fragrance. The rich agarwood and frankincense filled the nostrils, and a familiar rose scent wandered gracefully through. Han Yoojin looked at the busy back of the woman taking spices from the shelf, and his tense shoulders relaxed.
He knew he was safe and everything would be alright.
"How many times?"
Han Yoojin, who was taking off his cloak, stopped, hesitated, and said, "...the third time this month."
"That won't work." The woman, who had already opened the wooden box in her arms, closed the medicine box in front of Han Yoojin's surprise, "Come back next month."
"...what?" He couldn't believe his ears. Seeing that the woman was about to take the spices back, Han Yoojin quickly grabbed her hand on the wooden box. "Please, I need it," he said hastily, then took a deep breath and slowed down his tone. "I'm not, I shouldn't be," his throat was dry, and every word that rolled in his mouth made him feel painful, "... can't be an Omega."
Louisa stared at the boy. She slowly stretched out her cold palm and placed it on his heaving chest, then moved it to his abdomen. She shook her head slightly and said firmly, "It's unnatural. Next month."
"I'm fine, I'm really fine. I have been fencing every day for the last week without getting tired, and even better, no one noticed - please, Louisa, only you can help me." He placed a shaking hand on the woman's fingers, clasping the hand that had warned him, "I can continue."
"It's unnatural. It won't work." The southern woman frowned, not understanding his stubbornness. "It's poison," she said. As if she were afraid that he didn't understand, Louisa continued to press her hands heavily on Han Yoojin's abdomen. Her dark eyes penetrated all his confusion and helplessness, staring straight at him, "Poison."
The sound of rain awakened Han Yoojin. He lay on the rough straw bed, his mind silent momentarily before remembering that he was in a hotel. This is the tenth day of our trip to the capital.
In the end, he couldn't convince the woman to give him the medicine.
But it doesn't matter, I remembered them all. Han Yoojin thought silently that every time he visited Louisa's residence, he took the opportunity to observe the woman's perfume-making skills and steps, and memorise those difficult southern words. He knew that one day, Louisa would no longer provide him with medicine.
Poison. Before leaving, the woman's firm, prophetic words rang in his ears. Han Yoojin covered his face. Even though he had swallowed this month's potion, he could still smell the disgusting odour from his wrist, and every breath made him suffocate. Suffocation is not sinister, so he can sleep well without being bothered by this appalling smell.
Making potions is not as easy as imagined. Even though Han Yoojin can recite the names, smells and proportions, obtaining supplies from the south has become increasingly complex. Fortunately, the family still had familiar traders willing to take the risk and supply him with goods during the maritime ban due to past friendship and the lure of high prices. During this process, Han Yoojin initially thought that the butler Seok Simyeong would be the biggest obstacle. Still, he did not expect the man to agree to Han Yoojin's request without hesitation, and even took the initiative to find and contact those smugglers.
Seok Simyeong's efficiency was fully demonstrated at this moment. He even reorganised the servants in the mansion. The purpose was to reduce personnel expenses, but they all had a tacit understanding. Han Yoojin had never expected that the master and servant would become accomplices in this matter.
It was not until daybreak that the male servant knocked on the door of his room and came with a bronze mirror, face wash water with spices, and washing tools.
"My Lord, are you sleeping well?"
"I guess so."
"This humble inn is not as nice as the bedding in the mansion, but don't worry, we will arrive at the capital today. I heard that the royal city has already hung flags for celebration."
The male servant accompanying Han Yoojin received a generous severance pay and returned home. The young Beta servant who replaced him had just arrived in Haiyan recently. He was about the same age as Han Yoojin and more talkative.
Rough linen sheets and straw beds are not a problem. When the servant wore Han Yoojin's dark blue robe embroidered with the Haeyeon family crest, the sleep-deprived and tired face in the bronze mirror revealed every night's sweat and awakening. Sadly, a pair of lifeless black eyes under the decadent black hair, coupled with the faint rotten, spicy and sweet smell, a stale ghost in a tomb stared at Han Yoojin.
"The tailoring of the new clothes is very suitable for you, my Lord," the servant said as he smoothed the wrinkles of the robe, "especially with your handsome and delicate features and bright eyes. Miss Breaker will be delighted to see you. I can't imagine a couple in the city who would attract more attention than you two."
"May I have your name?"
"I am Park Hayul, Master Yoojin." His smile was shy and joyful, as if after serving for ten whole days, he was so happy that Han Yoojin had finally noticed him. His eyes were full of expectation, shining. "It is a great honour to accompany you on your journey."
Han Yoojin looked at the other's young and beautiful face and smiled bitterly, "Attracting attention is the last thing I want to do. You can go now. Tell Sir Kim Sunghan that I will be downstairs soon."
"Yes."
Kim Sunghan and other guards were ready outside the inn's stable. It was a long drive from Valencia to the capital, and if they wanted to arrive before the celebration, they could not delay the journey. Long-distance travel is a laborious task, especially for border lords like them who are far away from the royal city. So even after receiving the invitation letter from the palace, Han Yoojin had no plans to leave. It was Moon Hyuna's letter that urged him to go.
"Dear Yoojin,
Hope all is well with you! I was very worried when I heard that you had caught a cold. Although I cannot visit you, I believe my fiancé is in good health and will recover from the illness soon.
You must be aware of the news that has been abuzz in the kingdom recently - to celebrate the triumphant return of our great Royal Navy, the overjoyed Queen has ordered a seven-day celebration ceremony that will take place across the country. Of course, we all understand who she wants to celebrate. By the way, the Duke's birthday is coming soon. (The word "birthday" is highlighted with a question mark.)
Do you remember you asked me what the royal city looks like every year? This is a great opportunity, see it for yourself!
Noble families and ordinary people in the kingdom can participate in the event. I hope you can come along for the palace feast and music and spend time with me.
Kind regards,
Moon Hyuna
The fiancée was embroidering in the palace out of boredom.”
During the long and tedious journey, every time Han Yoojin read the letter with frayed edges from being rubbed by his fingers for a long time, he kept repeating to himself: Moon Hyuna, his warm and considerate friend, if she knew Han Yoojin's actual situation, would she still smile at him as always? Han Yoojin wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer.
As he rolled up the parchment to put it in his arms, he discovered another soft and silky touch hidden in the lining of his clothes. When did he bring this? After hesitating, the young man took out the silk handkerchief.
The embroidery thread on the handkerchief exudes a beautiful lustre in the morning light. Unlike thick parchment, this light cloth held in Han Yoojin's hand was like a whisper outside the window. If he didn't hold it tightly, the wind would blow it away, like an empty dream with no details forgotten after waking up.
But everything is still vivid in his mind and has not faded with time. He should place this memory in a more appropriate place.
By the way, what was the name of the servant this morning? He can't remember. While Han Yoojin was frowning in thought, Kim Sunghan, who was waiting beside him, rode to the window and reported to the young marquis that they were gradually approaching the royal city. Following the direction the knight pointed, the towering royal city gradually appeared in their sight.
To enter the royal city, which stands on the top of a mountain and is surrounded by the Tagus River, one must pass through three heavily guarded stone gates. They could see a long line of carriages waiting for inspection notices from a distance. These were the people coming to participate in the celebration.
In the procession, the grooms pulling the carriages were dressed in magnificent uniforms, and the horses lined up side by side were covered with gorgeous decorations and bells, making crisp sounds as they moved. Each carriage was hung with a satin flag embroidered with the family crest, sparkling with gold and silver. In the sunshine, it is like a golden stream, carrying laughter and joy.
"Is your new toy among them?"
"Don't know what you are talking about." Sung Hyunjae, standing at the balcony's stone railing, retracted his gaze and glanced at the princess who had been leaning against the pillar for a long time.
Ruka Feiya was wearing a light purple tulle dress. When she stepped out of the shadows, the beads on the hem of her skirt danced with her steps, like violets blooming in the wind. "When can you let me see him? I'm very curious."
Duke of Seseong ignored her and turned to walk into the palace. The princess, following behind him, reached out to grab his sleeve, but he shook her off with one hand.
"Why are you so boring? Life at sea has made you boring." Ruka Feiya was not angry. She put her hands behind her back and smiled, "Don't be so stern. My mother has been looking forward to your return for a long time. When she heard you were back, she was ready to celebrate with great fanfare."
"I received the schedule."
"You've made a good party boring. Aren't you looking forward to it? The tournament, the dance?"
"I'd rather stay on the cruiser."
"Or a duel?"
"That would be interesting, if someone dared."
The footsteps of the two men echoed in the empty marble hall. When the doorman saw them approaching, he turned and knocked on the door to inform the eunuch in the Queen's study.
"Don't get too excited. There are many ladies here. You won't want to scare them. But," Ruka Feiya put her finger on her cheek and pretended to think, "someone who gets scared so easily is not suitable to join our game, right?"
"It all depends on what the Queen wants."
"You want to be a good and obedient nephew now? So, what kind of person is he?"
All she got in response was a cold back and the heavy sound of a door closing. Ruka Feiya hooked her hands behind her back, hummed with a smile, and murmured in the corridor with a brisk pace, "If you don't want to tell me, I will find it myself."
Notes:
Hi, I am back from the trip :D
After two years, they're finally meeting each other again.
Chapter 12: 1-11
Chapter Text
Han Yoojin has many memories of Sung Hyunjae.
Whenever someone asked, the first thing that came to Han Yoojin's mind was always that day. If he had not been overwhelmed by the low-quality alcohol and physical pain, he would have started like this: Oh, the Duke is a great hero admired by everyone!
Carols were played throughout the capital, and the streets and alleys were filled with praises. And if he were conscious, he would even remember the bright and dazzling golden flag hanging high in the sky. It seemed God had decided to make this the perfect day. The bells rang to welcome the Duke of Seseong as he stepped out of the carriage, walked through the cheering crowds on both sides, and stepped onto the velvet red carpet in the sunshine.
Hey, this brat is bragging again. The drinkers burst into laughter. It happened several years ago, and you just made up this story. We don't know whether you are telling the truth or not.
Since I did my best to lie, it wouldn't be too much to buy me another drink, right? Han Yoojin smiled and drank the beer in one gulp.
In that time when colours were still vivid, Han Yoojin stood on both sides of the cathedral with other nobles dressed in gold and silver. Rose petals were floating in the fragrant breeze, and in the bright red rain, the Queen and clergy were already waiting at the door to welcome the Crown Prince into the church for a thanksgiving mass.
The kingdom had not held a grand event for a long time, and when the royal family announced the entire seven-day celebration plan, the whole country was jubilant. Expecting a respite from the long war and the news of victory already spreading to various towns and cities excited the capital's citizens.
"I don't know where our country gets the money to hold these banquets. Look how happy these fools are." When the other nobles followed the procession into the cathedral in order, Han Yoojin heard whispers behind him.
"Do you need to worry about this? Our Queen knows how to expand financial resources." Another young voice responded: Not to mention the generous amount of captives and compensation this time, even the little prince of the mainland was sacrificed.
"What's the use of a spoiled pagan?" his companion retorted. "I say we should spread the spirit of the Holy Lord and put an end to future troubles."
"Be quiet and don't talk nonsense here." A sudden drop of cold air silenced the idle chatter along with this hoarse warning.
Inside the cathedral, the light was dim. Countless candle holders were placed in every corner of the corridor, and the candlelight danced on the granite tiles, guiding everyone forward. Rows of stone pointed arches and rib arches on the ceiling support this magnificent place of faith. The thick stone walls block out the scorching summer heat outside, allowing every step in this solemn temple to be clearly seen and even breathing to stand still.
Light shone in from the rose window, casting colourful bands of light on Sung Hyunjae. The nobles present stopped and waited at a distance from the altar; only the Duke continued to move forward. As he moved, the crisp friction sound of his armour made a sound, signalling the time of entering eternity.
In the icon above the altar, St. George is holding a spear, wearing armour, and standing majestically on a dying dragon. On the other wall, the Archangel Saint Michael tramples on the devil, wields a sword for justice and light, and looks down upon all living beings with his cold marble eyes.
The royal family waited to the left of the altar. A pair of light grey eyes under the golden crown watched everything with satisfaction. Queen Novalunaea stood in front of all the members. In the king's continued absence, she was the supreme ruler of the kingdom. She nodded to the Chief Bishop, who held his crosier.
The bishop stood in the centre of the altar, flanked by several archdeacons and deacons who assisted him in the ceremony. They held scriptures, incense burners and holy water bottles, their expressions solemn.
His deep voice echoed in the cathedral: "Dear brothers and sisters, today we gather here to thank God for the victory he has given us. We offer thanksgiving to God and pray for the brave Duke, may God's blessing be with him."
Then the bishop looked at the Duke kneeling before the altar and waved the incense burner. Amidst the rising aroma, the melodious voices of the choir dressed in white seemed to reach the towering vaults. You conquered death for the world and reopened the gates of heaven for believers.
He walked up to the Duke, raised the golden cross, and gently placed it on his shoulder. He whispered a blessing: "May Almighty God protect you, grant you courage and wisdom, and continue to win in the future battles, fighting to the end for the Lord in heaven and the Kingdom on earth." He sprinkled holy water on the Duke's armour and chanted: "May this holy water wash away all filth on you and protect you from the invasion of evil. May God's grace be with you."
Amidst the hymns and congratulations, the Duke of Seseong stood and turned to face the crowd. On the stained glass windows on both sides, classic totems telling the story of martyrdom and obedience reflect light, like a dream, and the armour outlined with gold thread flickers in the candlelight.
Han Yoojin, who was in the crowd far away, felt that the quiet figure surrounded by the holy images had a creepy beauty, like a dead object.
After the ceremony, the bishop led the rest of the group down from the altar. They lined the side aisle to pay their respects to the royal family. The Duke of Seseong walked down the marble steps, followed slowly by the Queen, and the other princes and princesses left the hall in order according to etiquette. The moment the door opened, cheers poured in like a tide. People gathered to praise in the square outside the cathedral, and the celebration began.
The royal city, which expands with the cathedral as its centre, has countless intricate stone alleys winding around it. The dark orange walls are decorated with geometric totems and glazed tiles, making it more exquisite than ordinary towns.
The noisy crowd made way for the nobles, and the alleys were so narrow that only one carriage could pass through. After the guests left the cathedral, various vendors gathered in the market again.
Outside the car window, he saw fruits, vegetables, meat, pottery, and textiles hanging in the stalls. He also heard the cries of leather and ironware sellers. Many were nautical compasses and measuring instruments sold to celebrate the victory.
These were cheap, vulgar things that would not interest aristocrats. Han Yoojin lowered the curtain and listened to Moon Hyuna and her palace friends talking about what to wear for the dinner, letting the carriage drive them to the castle at the highest point.
According to the schedule provided by the palace, in addition to banquets and dances, there are martial arts competitions and equestrian performances every day. But for those idle people not interested in fighting skills, chatting is a better way to pass the time. Moon Hyuna mentioned more than once in her letters how boring this was, so when Han Yoojin saw that his fiancée could join the topic seamlessly, he couldn't help but admire her.
"Oh, those special guests here, huh?"
"Leon's princess feels like she has the best chance."
"Because she's the most beautiful?"
"She's beautiful, for sure. The point is, Leon is our country's most stable diplomatic partner."
Seeing the two people approaching with wine glasses, one countesses whispered to Moon Hyuna, "We are discussing who will be the next victim."
"Victims of what?" Han Yoojin asked, looking at everyone gathered on the sofa in the corner, as if they were discussing some secret.
"We're a bit tired of talking about this, right? There's nothing more to say?" Moon Hyuna frowned, obviously not wanting to participate in this topic. She stepped back and wanted to push Han Yoojin towards the dining table.
"Marquis Haiyan's territory is close to the border, so naturally, this boring gossip from the royal city will not reach the Marquis." The earl's daughter, who started the conversation, smiled at Han Yoojin, "Perhaps it is still fresh in your mind."
"It's okay to talk about it. I just want to know how you spend your time." Han Yoojin held Moon Hyuna's arm and smiled in response.
"We're speculating whether Her Majesty the Queen will choose a new match for the Duke this year," said a man holding a glass of wine. Judging by his attire, he was in the army, and it was he who had just mentioned Leon. "The one with the highest odds right now is Princess Marie of Leon. Welcome to the table."
"Ah, a new round."
"…Has this happened before?"
"It is said that there was a marriage in the past, but the young lady died inexplicably before she even reached adulthood."
"Anyone who gets too close to the Duke doesn't always end up well. Rumour has it the Queen has several ways to deal with this," the well-informed Countess said with a confident air of irrefutable evidence. "That's probably why the Queen assigned Your Highness to take over the navy. There's no way you can cause any trouble aboard ship."
"Could it be possible that the Queen could poison everyone?"
"Why not?" someone shrugged. "That's why the ladies of the Peninsula don't dare mess with him anymore."
"This time, we'll choose a foreign princess, and she'll even bring a generous dowry."
"I don't think the Queen would allow foreign powers to interfere. Take Princess Mary, for example. Her grandmother was the Queen of Britannia."
"It's not a bad idea to appoint a noble child from within the country, pick the most pious and loyal one..." No one explained who was loyal to whom.
The army general stopped talking midway.
"Why do you look so grim? Don't worry, I already have you, don't I?" Moon Hyuna took the initiative and hooked her hand around his. "Your Highness, the Duke is not my type either. Let's go."
"That's a shame."
Hearing the familiar voice in his memory, Han Yoojin's shoulders shook, and he turned to see the Duke of Seseong standing behind them.
"It seems you are all very concerned about other people's private lives." The half-closed golden eyes slowly swept over everyone present. When he was in the same room with other nobles, people would be surprised to realise how tall the Duke of Seseong was.
Even Han Yoojin, who had grown taller, still had to look up to see the light shadow of his drooping eyelashes. "As you all said, we are fortunate to host many foreign friends to share in celebrating victory. Please do not let boring old things affect your mood. I hope you will concentrate on enjoying this celebration and tonight's banquet. Miss Breaker," before leaving, he greeted Moon Hyuna next to him familiarly, "...Marquis Haeyeon." He paused momentarily while looking at Han Yoojin and then nodded in greeting.
"As oppressive as ever. Those pheromones."
"If you have nothing to be humble about, why hide it?" Some people silently agreed, but the vast majority dispersed as if they had received a warning.
Moon Hyuna took a deep breath and said in a tone of "I told you so," "This is life in the capital."
"I can't imagine how you've endured these past few years."
"It's better to be the gossip listener than to be the topic of gossip. This palace may seem large, but no one can escape it."
*
At the welcoming dinner, the Queen raised her glass with her slender fingers, first congratulating and praising the Duke for his heroic performance in the naval battle, and then introducing the foreign guest who came from afar to the guests.
She had light grey hair that shone with a silvery sheen under the candlelight of the chandelier. Even after so many years, the Queen, once praised as the goddess of the moon, still retains her charm. While the speech was going on, her only legitimate daughter, Princess Ruka Feiya, sat beside the Queen, fiddling with the rim of the cup with her fingers and tilting her head to look at the protagonist of the celebration. Seeing Sung Hyunjae staring straight ahead with an expressionless face, and only smiling and nodding when his name was mentioned, she boredly called for the servants to pour wine.
The court musicians began to play. After the guests toasted, they took their seats one after another.
The only sounds in the hall were the whispered conversations of people sitting next to them and meat being cut between plates. As the amount of barbecue and mead in their stomachs increased, the crowd began to make noise and cheers. Several courageous men and women walked hand in hand to the centre of the dance floor and danced to the music.
Han Yoojin leaned against the table's edge, looking at the dancing crowd, his hands clapping to the rhythm involuntarily. Noah, who sat at the same table with him, probably drank too much mead and started complaining about his sister. It was obvious that the special training for the selection of the Knights was not going very smoothly. Moon Hyuna just poured him another glass of wine.
The noise and cheers grew louder as the alcohol got to them. The firewood crackled in the fireplace, and the burning charcoal was mixed with the incense of sage, making the smell in the hall stronger and stronger. Han Yoojin sniffed, and in an instant, the aroma of rosemary and thyme from the grilled lamb skewers and venison pieces swarmed over him.
The smell of sweat from the crowded bodies. The salty taste of pepper is still dancing on the tip of the tongue, and the aroma of citrus and almonds adorning the fruit plate is wafting. The hot cheeks and the alcohol smell of the people around. Lavender, molly and roses are also decorated everywhere in the banquet hall...
"Yoojin? What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, I... need to breathe." He stood up with one hand covering his mouth and nose, and the other holding the table to maintain balance. "It's too stuffy here, I'm just going to go out for a while…"
"Let me go with you."
"No need, I can do it alone." He ran out of the banquet hall through the back door without listening to Moon Hyuna's response. Han Yoojin avoided the crowd in the arcade, walked around the atrium, and finally walked towards the empty terrace.
The night wind blew, and looking down from the windowsill, scattered lights were scattered throughout the royal city. Every household was fast asleep after the night prayer time, and the world was quiet and silent. He gripped the stone railing and breathed in the cool night, slightly soothing his alcohol-induced hearing and smell.
"Is the banquet boring to you?"
Han Yoojin was so scared that his shoulders shuddered, and he was about to jump up. He held his chest, almost thinking his heart was going to burst out of his mouth. Or he should cover his mouth first, Han Yoojin thought, I'm about to vomit. The wine was restless in the stomach.
"Your Excellency, are you interested in scaring people from behind?"
He had drunk so much mead that his breathing was ragged. The tongue is not his own. Han Yoojin wasn't sure whether his voice was as thin as a mosquito's or as loud as the roof tiles. At least from Sung Hyunjae's expression, the volume was clear and audible, or perhaps the other man was standing close enough that even a whisper could be heard.
...What did I just say? He has grown much taller in the past two years, so why does he still have to look up? He stared at Sung Hyunjae, as if doing so would give him the answer.
"My fault for scaring you."
"I wasn't scared; Your Highness doesn't need to apologise." This was not the answer Han Yoojin wanted, so he decided to continue gazing at the night view of the royal city from afar. Even though the stars were blurry under the night sky, he tried hard to blink his eyes to see clearly.
"I also want to apologise for not recognising the Marquis the first time during our meeting this afternoon."
"Oh." Oh, Han Yoojin thought, why? But he didn't ask; instead, he asked aloud: "Can you recognise it now?"
"I remember your back now."
"Then I have to be wary of the Duke." Stop scaring people from behind. He wanted to say that, but his itchy throat only made him cough a few times. Having said that, Han Yoojin still used the last bit of his rationality to maintain his composure and turned to face Sung Hyunjae. He just didn't want to show his back, his neck and the back of his ears, which were red from the alcohol anymore.
"I hope not." Sung Hyunjae tilted his head, leaning against the fence, looking at Han Yoojin. "You've found this observation deck and seem very familiar with the palace." Then he pointed at the town, as if reading a star map. "It's a pity that now's not the right time. If it were dusk, it would look completely different."
"I'm just walking around. I don't even know where I am. I just think it's quieter here."
"That's because I haven't done my best to entertain you." Duke of Seseong asked, his face in his hands. "Is this Han Yoojin's first visit to the capital?"
His expression is really the same as when we met that time. Han Yoojin thought about the undisguised curiosity in those beautiful eyes and some indescribable emotions. The alcohol made his head feel dizzy, and he suddenly felt inexplicably proud of his discovery. Some things won't change.
"Yes."
"Please allow me to be your host and introduce this city to you sometime. Its beauty goes far beyond this."
"Is the Duke going to be a tour guide? I can't afford such an honour."
"It won't cost Han Yoojin a penny. Of course, if you're satisfied afterwards, please don't hesitate to tip me."
"That depends on the service."
If Han Yoojin were to hear his rude and disrespectful answer again, he would probably wake up in shock and contempt. But such trivial worries can be left for tomorrow. Leaning his elbows on the fence, he took another deep breath, letting the familiar night air soothe the heat of his consciousness.
Chapter 13: 1-12
Chapter Text
Early in the morning, bleachers for the tournament were set up at the ground, along the imperial palace's outer walls, and with tents for the knights to rest. Numerous nobles and foreign guests from across the kingdom, drawn by the famed competition, also camped along the riverbank. Colourful family banners fluttered, and servants busied themselves cleaning their masters' armour and weapons, carrying supplies, and lighting bonfires.
Han Yoojin and his companions had risen late, delayed by the welcome dinner and the alcoholic drinks of the previous night. As they rode into the camp, the horns announcing the start of the tournament had already shaken the air. Missing the Queen's opening ceremony would be disrespectful, so the three of them headed straight for the tournament grounds. Moon Hyuna hurriedly ordered attendants to hand over the reins and mount their horses.
While conducting their duties, they bumped into a belated guest. A deep voice shouted at them before they turned and noticed the newcomers. It was a young master in a resplendent red robe, accompanied by his knights, whose entrance was blocked by Han Yoojin and his companions.
"Why don't you greet His Highness Sigma?" The armoured guard stepped forward, his hand on his sword, and asked gruffly.
Clearly, they had the bad luck to encounter a lone royal family member. Beyond a polite greeting, they barely had time to explain before being silenced by a "Whatever."
The blond boy was far more indifferent than the guards' aggressiveness. He glanced at them casually, uninterested in who they were, and walked towards the royal stand without a glance back.
Accompanied by music, all the royal family members took their seats. Princess Ruka Feiya, Queen Novalunaea, and Duke of Seseong sat from right to left. The boy sat on the carved chair to Sung Hyunjae's right. Sitting together, they looked alike. At the outermost edge sat Prime Minister Diarma and the other royal guards.
The king's chair remained empty.
The boy named Sigma might be one of the Queen's nephews, resembling Sung Hyunjae. Amid the band's cheerful performance and the audience's excited cheers, the boy's indifference was undeniable if Duke of Seseong maintained a falsely polite smile.
He must be bored with not being able to compete in person. Han Yoohyun sometimes shared a similar expression. He looked about Yoohyun's age. It would be nice if Yoohyun could come and watch the competition, Han Yoojin thought. He'd been away from home for two weeks and wondered if his brother had been doing well.
Soon, the jousters began to appear. The knights donned their finest armour and protective gear preparing for this long-awaited celebration.
Besides the nobles and knights of the peninsula, many foreign guests also participated in the jousting tournament.
The most eye-catching figure was Sir Sisio of Amatras. A confederate of the kingdom to the east, he made a dashing appearance in a crimson cape. The lion head relief on his breastplate announced his title, "Lion King." Rumour has it that he is obsessed with wild beasts and exotic birds, with a particular fondness for lions. Today's match might reveal whether he truly deserves the title or if it's simply a hobby. Then came Sir Chloe, the only Beta Knight, whose humble origins have earned her fame. Count Choi Sukwon was also present; the Heilis family was always present at any occasion where they could covet great wealth.
Not only did the prize money go to the victor of the jousting tournament, but he also received the armour and cavalry of the defeated. Furthermore, as a rare celebration, at the opening ceremony, the Queen generously stated that the winner could make one request that would be granted, provided it did not violate the laws and institutions of the kingdom.
The competition was a three-round elimination system. The audience enthusiastically cheered the names and titles of the knights in their support. The knights lived up to the expectations, their horses charging against each other, their lances cracking and shattering. Amidst screams, applause, and shouts, the competition lasted an entire day. The dust kicked up by the horses filled the air, turning the arena into a muddy mess.
Clad in jet-black armour, Sir Rauchitas charged in and out three times, his sharp, swift lances blasting through shields and knocking his opponent off his saddle, sending him tumbling. Blood flowed from the crevices of his armour onto the muddy ground. Rauchitas paraded around the arena, receiving the audience's roaring applause.
Someone picked up a stretcher and carried the groaning wounded man to the tent area. Another attendant came over to turn over the dirt to cover the blood. The next round of the game continued. The smell of blood lingered in the air. Han Yoojin heard the Prime Minister's applause from the stands.
Sir Choi Sukwon killed Sir Chloe's horse during the attack and was disqualified. Chloe later switched horses, but Sir Sisio's mighty spear snapped her shield in two. The impact knocked her sideways, sending her and her horse crashing. Fortunately, her agility saved her from being crushed by the horse, prompting cheers.
As the youngest participant, Knight Kang Soyoung of Seseong was greeted by the crowd's exultant cheers upon her appearance. At just twenty years old, she clad in gleaming silver armour, her brown horse, Comet, draped with her domain's golden and red banner. She had defeated Sir Jorren of Amatras and other knights of the kingdom. As a seasoned vice-master of the Order, she inflicted pain on any opponent who underestimated her due to her age.
After shattering her opponent's shield again, the victorious knight drew her reins toward Han Yoojin and the others. After not seeing her for years, Soyoung, now without her helmet, beamed with a bright, energetic smile. As the horse approached, he noticed the knight clutching a red rose. Amidst the excited whispers and whistles of the crowd, Soyoung handed the rose to the young man.
"Beautiful one, even though I don't know your name, I will follow my heart and dedicate this victory to you."
Moon Hyuna chuckled softly. Noah, blushing as he accepted the rose, stammered his thanks. Fresh romances are always a favourite, and the maids present were filled with admiration and envy, leaving Noah even more flustered. He clutched Han Yoojin's arm, the taller boy attempting to hide behind his friend. From the corner of Han Yoojin's eye, Sung Hyunjae also caught a glimpse of Soyoung's gesture, softening his previously distant expression.
But Kang Soyoung's arrogance didn't last long. During her semifinal match against Rauchitas, her lance exploded. Quickly reacting, she gripped her horse's belly, dodging the flying wooden lance fragments, reining in her steed for the second round. The two knights, black and white, clashed in the arena. Rauchitas's black lance again knocked Soyoung's shield away, resounding on the muddy ground.
Beside him, Noah tensed, his once rosy face drained of colour. Han Yoojin gripped his shoulders, whispering soothing words, his palms sweating nervously.
The black-armored knight returned to the starting line. Everything happened in an instant. He charged forward, his cold lance striking Kang Soyoung fiercely. The overwhelming impact sent her flying backwards, landing hard on the ground, her helmet and limb armour clanging.
Fortunately, it was only the sound of metal clashing.
In the blink of an eye, Kang Soyoung scrambled to her feet, having fallen from her horse. She removed her sweat-soaked helmet and bowed to her opponent and the audience. A gasp of shock turned into a sigh of relief, followed by enthusiastic applause. Even in defeat, Soyoung, having won the audience's favour, wore a smile as she returned to camp, supported by her attendants, to rest.
"Only Sisio and Rauchitas remain," Han Yoojin said, looking at the scoreboard. He heard the referee instructing his attendants to re-pave the ground. After a brief rest, the two knights would begin the final round.
Noah remained silent, gazing anxiously at the camp. Moon Hyuna remarked that it was difficult to decide who to support, considering one was a foreigner and the other was the knight who had defeated Soyoung. Most of the audience shared her sentiment, ultimately waving the flag symbolising the kingdom.
At first, Rauchitas used cunning flank attacks to knock Sisio off his saddle. But in the final two rounds, the foreign beast, unwilling to be outdone, finally struck back, charging forward, his lance shattering the black shield.
It was hardly a satisfying revenge. Sisio had defeated Rauchitas.
Amid the crowd's roars and the announcement of victory, he walked towards the royal stand, helmet under his arm. Without any courtesy, he looked up at the royal family members in the chairs with an arrogant look. Except for Diarma, who looked displeased, the Queen's face was calm and emotionless.
"Brave Sir Sisio," the Queen, seated in the centre, said, looking at the young man. "This has been a wonderful contest. As promised, I will prepare a generous prize for the victor as a reward."
"Your Highness, you also promised another reward."
"Yes, I haven't forgotten. Tell me," the Queen leaned back in her chair. "What do you want?"
Sisio shifted his gaze from the Queen to Sung Hyunjae beside him and spoke forcefully, "I request a duel with the Duke of Seseong."
His words caused an uproar. Amid the commotion, the Queen responded calmly, "That depends on whether the Duke is willing to accept your challenge."
"I've heard the Duke is a renowned warrior within the kingdom. I've always wanted to spar with him." Sisio's wheat-colored hair dripped with sweat. Even after a long day of horseback riding, his voice remained resounding, clear enough for the spectators to hear. "You wouldn't be afraid of a friendly request from your allies, would you?"
As expected, the Duke, sitting in his chair watching the match all day, raised a brow, finally pausing to tap his fingers on the handlebars. He hummed in response to the unexpected invitation, offering a nonchalant smile. "Come on, then."
After a long day of activities, the contestants and the spectators were exhausted. The duel between the two was scheduled for tomorrow morning, allowing for ample preparation.
At dusk, the camp was filled with the aroma of barbecue. A large wild boar, stuffed with spices and fruits, was roasted on skewers over the fire. Sausages and garlic hung to the side, roasting, their dripping fat sending sparks flying.
The distinguished nobles gradually returned to the palace, and the remaining foreign guests, territorial retainers, and family knights set up camp there. They had feared attracting attention as they walked through the camp, but surprisingly, no one noticed. Most of the people were immersed in the taste of beer and barbecue. Faced with hunger, even the nobles were powerless against the unruly knights.
The Seseong tent was easy to spot. A swallowtail banner hung from the crimson and gold satin atop it. A lightning bolt streaked through the clouds. The family crest, a lightning bolt on a red background, could be seen from half a mile away.
At first, Noah worried that their visit would be too abrupt for the Seseong people, but the other two ultimately dragged him into the camp. His hesitation was even more apparent when he reached the tent, and the words "I'd better go back" were almost vomited out of his mouth. He would have turned and run if Han Yoojin and Moon Hyuna hadn't held one of his arms. Of course, even with the three of them, the Seseong tent wasn't easily accessible to outsiders. Seeing the two knights guarding the door, Noah actually breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you here to see Soyoung? Come in." The Duke happened to emerge from the tent. Upon recognising them, he casually lifted the curtain and let them in.
Soyoung, half-sitting on the bed with her hands buried in the quilt, brightened upon seeing them. She looked pretty healthy. "Wow, did you come to see me specially? Even Noah is here! I'm so touched!"
She seemed to have learned Noah's identity from the other knights and affectionately addressed him by name. Besides not bothering with the injured, Noah, who hadn't yet inherited a title or been knighted, was indeed inferior to Kang Soyoung in status. He put away his tearful expression, greeted the Duke and Kang Soyoung, and said with concern, "Sir, I hope you're all right."
"Nothing serious, just a little dizzy."
"You stood up immediately, which was very brave."
"That hurt quite a bit... I had just finished greeting Noah, and I fell off my horse. How embarrassing! I need to train harder." Kang Soyoung spoke with unabashed joy, showing no sign of embarrassment. The exchange of humiliation in the arena for this conversation was more satisfying to her than the actual victory itself.
"Sir Rauchitas's spearmanship is indeed top-notch, and you're no less capable," Sung Hyunjae, standing nearby, remarked. "But this kind of competition is nothing compared to the actual battlefield; it's just a show."
A performance in the name of honour, where blood and death could be spilt at any moment, Han Yoojin thought. And Sung Hyunjae, the centre of the celebration, was clearly not amused.
"It's truly humiliating to think the victory went to a foreigner."
"Your Excellency, aren't you going to fight for the kingdom's glory tomorrow?"
For some reason, this remark irked the Duke. Without a response, he swung open the curtain and walked out, leaving the crowd staring at each other in bewilderment. Han Yoojin followed him out of the tent, stopping before the campfire. Dark had already fallen, and laughter and playfulness echoed through the other tents, with faint choruses of folk songs audible.
"Listen," Sung Hyunjae said, sensing Han Yoojin's approach without even turning around. "This is what we call a knight in today's world."
"Your Highness holds Sir Soyoung in high regard."
Sung Hyunjae was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "She wasn't much older than you when she joined the Order. She's always been passionate about poetry and legends, always following the minstrels."
"After hearing those stories and deeds for so long as a child, anyone would dream of becoming a brave knight and taking risks."
"What about you? Is Marquis Haeyeon also fascinated by such stories of great men?"
"No, I'm not interested. I just want to stay home peacefully with my brother."
Besides, Han Yoojin couldn't be a knight even if he wanted to. Not anymore.
As if remembering something funny, Sung Hyunjae chuckled softly, his voice becoming softer. "You did say that."
Flames danced before their eyes, and they stared at the single light source. Sung Hyunjae continued, "It'll take her two weeks to pick up a sword again. This time will give her some peace of mind." This explained why Kang Soyoung had kept her arm hidden under the covers before them. Presumably, the collisions today still left her with a severe wound.
"Yoohyun did the same thing once. He hurt his arm during duel practice and tried to hide it and pretend it was fine. How could I not know? If he stayed there for ten days or half a month, he'd probably be bored to death." If it were Han Yoojin himself, he would probably lose his patience and still want to run out and ride a horse. But his obedient young brother was different. He obeyed without hesitation when he knew his brother wanted him to rest and recuperate.
"If I remember correctly, Han Yoojin's brother is ten years old this year? He should be an apprentice knight?"
"Yes, but the coach now arranges for him to practice with the squires." He couldn't hide his pride when talking about Han Yoohyun. "Yoohyun is making rapid progress. He's a gifted child."
"Han Yoojin really cares about his younger brother."
"He's my family, after all. And since he's been waiting for so long, I wonder if he'll be lonely. What if he gets hurt during practice again? That's when I really want to go back." Han Yoojin turned and saw Sung Hyunjae looking at him. "Your Highness, what are you laughing at?"
"I didn't expect Han Yoojin to miss home so soon. It seems the capital doesn't appeal to you at all."
"Are you going to break your promise, Your Highness?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"Shouldn't the tour guide arrange that?"
"Knowing the guests' preferences is also important."
"...the market," Han Yoojin blurted out without thinking, then realised he'd answered too quickly and couldn't help but add, "I passed by the square earlier and it seemed quite lively."
"The Central Square is usually where vendors gather, and it gets even more grand during festivals," said Sung Hyunjae, a local. "Tomorrow, after lunch, will be a good time."
After the duel, after fighting for the false glory of fame.
The servants added firewood to the campfire. After a burst of rapid burning, the blazing flames slowly died under the night breeze.
Chapter 14: 1-13
Chapter Text
The sun blazed down on the tournament arena. Even after being freshly paved, the sand was still muddy from the previous day's trampling by the war horses. The spectators surrounding the arena remained as they had been yesterday: one side for the Peninsula nobles, the other for invited foreign guests.
Sisios's attire matched his appearance: a red robe of satin and gold, a helmet adorned with plastic leather and feathers, arm armour carved with grinning lion heads, and countless red dots gleaming on his plastron. Only after he came into view could they see they were ruby inlays. Compared to his grand display, Sung Hyunjae, who entered the arena later, was clad in platinum armour emblazoned with thunderous clouds, wielding a longsword and a gleaming shield.
"Aren't you going to take off your chains?"
"No need."
The burly Sisio struck first, swung his heavy sword with a powerful arm, and slashed at Sung Hyunjae. Sung Hyunjae dodged, the blade grazing his ear with a terrifying piercing sound. However, his expression remained calm, maintaining his usual stance, sword gripped, awaiting his opponent's move.
Seeing this, Sisio launched a series of fierce attacks, his heavy sword whirring through the air. A flash of silver light flashed, and the Duke swiftly stepped back. The two swords clashed, a metallic hiss.
Some distance from the actual centre of the fight, the stands were packed with people eager to witness the Duke's combat prowess. Han Yoojin had never seen Sung Hyunjae in combat before, and all descriptions of him were hearsay, exaggerated, and suspicious.
In past battles, Sung Hyunjae had been bestowed with many prestigious titles, enough for a lord and noble to intimidate his enemies. On the actual battlefield, most nobles served as commanders. Their only real opportunity to wield a sword was in tournaments like these, where they enjoyed controlled combat.
Yesterday, before leaving camp, Han Yoojin asked him how he would prepare for the duel. But Sung Hyunjae told him he wouldn't do anything.
What kind of confidence was this? Or did he simply not care? He didn't care about the duel, his opponent, or himself.
Every time Sisio thrusts his heavy sword high, Sung Hyunjae swiftly dodges or blocks, as if anticipating his opponent's every move, effortlessly avoiding the blow.
This back-and-forth fight might have seemed dull, but no one complained. Every eye in the audience was glued to the clash. As if figuring out his opponent's pattern, Sung Hyunjae turned defence into offence, thrusting hard. Sisio was caught off guard by the counterattack and tried to block the blow with his shield before losing his balance.
Seizing this moment, the Duke began swinging his sword, each strike precise, forcing Sisio back. Fueled by his continued failures, Sisio thrust his shield forward, attempting to knock him down. Unfortunately, a deft sidestep was missed, and Sisio's balance was momentarily lost. In that instant, Sung Hyunjae spun, his sword blade piercing Sisio's leg with lightning speed.
The blow elicited a low roar of pain from Sisio, and his legs gave way, sending him crashing to his knees. A brief pause allowed him to take a deep breath, his eyes narrowed, and he looked up at the platinum armour before him.
Sung Hyunjae waited patiently for him to stand up or surrender. The crowd around him roared with applause and deafening amazement.
"He could clearly finish his opponent quickly, but he chose to drag it out," Moon Hyuna commented, frowning. "It's like he's putting on a show."
What a contradiction. Last night, by the campfire, he had spoken of the duel with a sense of boredom, but now, after dozens of exchanges on the field, it seemed as if he was toying with his opponent, unwilling to let it end. Han Yoojin looked at the cheering crowd around him, their excited sweat dripping, their rapid, tense breathing, and most of all, the almost terrifying enthusiasm glimmering in their eyes.
Although it was just a friendly match, the crowd anticipated the thrill of blood and death from beginning to end.
In the arena, Sisio increased his tempo. As the Duke dodged another fierce blow, he spun and slashed sideways with a backhand. Clang. The swift strike, the tip of his sword, slashed through his arm armour and struck the underlying chainmail. The impact sent Sung Hyunjae back a step. Panting, Sisio seemed to glimpse a smile beneath his helmet.
They stared at each other. Ha, so now is the time to get serious? Sisio's mood swung between rolling his eyes and bursting into laughter. Seeing Sung Hyunjae struggling to manoeuvre his arm, he finally grinned and tightened his grip on the hilt. Alas, this was only the last chance to reciprocate.
Though less agile than before, the cold blade thrust unhesitatingly pierced Sisio's chest. Even as Sisio struggled to raise his arm, Sung Hyunjae's fierce thrust pierced the armour. With a muffled grunt, blood gushed out. The sword struck Sisio's shield with lightning speed, sending it flying.
Then, with a whirlwind movement, the sword's tip reached Sisio's gorget. He paused, feeling a chill running down his spine. Death was only inches away.
Sung Hyunjae didn't press his advantage. Instead, he stood still, the tip of his sword pointed at the ground. Sisio gasped and nodded in defeat. The duel had been exhilarating, and though he felt resentful, he still smiled, holding his sword. The audience applauded, their flags waving like waves, cheering for victory.
Han Yoojin watched as the referee outside waved his hand, signalling the duelists to step forward. Sisio, following duel rules, handed over the greatsword. It was no longer his weapon, but the winner's trophy. Of course, if the weapon was valuable to Sisio, he could redeem it with money. The attendant respectfully accepted the iron sword and withdrew. The two duelists shook hands. Sisio headed for the rest tent, but Sung Hyunjae disappeared in the opposite direction.
After the music began, the royal family left in order, and the crowd also dispersed, heading for the luncheon.
A long lunch table had been set up in the camp, and waiters were busy piling it with grilled meats and pies. During the meal, the guests of Amatras seemed utterly unfazed by the outcome of the duel, continuing to drink and merry enthusiastically with the others.
Even though injured, Kang Soyoung didn't miss the duel. But she was more interested in Noah's favourite food than in discussing her lord's performance. No members of the royal family were in attendance.
Han Yoojin left the table after half a beer. He wandered around the camp, but couldn't spot Sung Hyunjae. It shouldn't take him long, even if he needs to change clothes.
"I found you."
Han Yoojin turned abruptly, but it wasn't the person he was looking for.
Princess Ruka Feiya, dressed in a floor-length gown, stood before him, a crude patchwork, entirely out of place in the camp's lively atmosphere. He bowed according to etiquette, wondering why the princess wasn't at the banquet but wandering around the tents like him instead.
"I've been observing you for a long time. You're truly fascinating, and I admire you."
Han Yoojin frowned in confusion at the sudden compliment. "Your Highness?"
Ruka Feiya smiled sweetly and placed her hands on Yoojin's shoulders. They were so close, her light hair rustling in the wind around his face. Her delicate, refined face leaned close to his. She asked gently, "Where does your courage come from? An Omega who dares to venture out alone among Alphas?"
Han Yoojin's face remained expressionless, but his racing heart betrayed him.
"Did I guess right?" The princess's sparkling purple eyes shone with interest. "Don't worry, I don't mean to expose your little secret. How could I possibly upset the guests? Games are more fun when there are more people."
Han Yoojin wanted to move away from her, but as soon as he moved, Ruka Feiya followed closely, her steps as light as a dance, her hands firmly clasped around his shoulders.
"Tell me, how did you hide your scent? Why can't I smell you?"
"I don't understand what you're talking about. I have an appointment with the Duke, so please excuse me."
"Don't rush. He can't go anywhere anyway." A cold, slender finger stroked Han Yoojin's jaw. "Don't be so hostile. Can we be friends? I'm sure I'll be more interesting than my cousin."
"What do you mean?"
"I have a lot of interesting ideas, like..."
"What happened to Sung Hyunjae? Where is he now?!"
Ruka Feiya was rudely interrupted, but she didn't get angry. She gave him a forgiving smile, as if Han Yoojin's panicked voice had satisfied her, and she decided to show mercy and let it go.
"Well, he's lying down."
"What?" Han Yoojin asked in astonishment.
Arm, arm... It was that sword. He remembered Sisio's greatsword, the upper arm Sung Hyunjae had clutched as he left.
"That's not too serious," Ruka Feiya tilted her head, looking at him with a smile. "It probably won't kill him, but it's a shame to lose that arm. Ah, my cousin is so amazing, even if he only has one hand left, no one can compare to him, right?"
"You're the first person I shared this information with. In return, how about telling me your little secret?"
Han Yoojin couldn't remember how he rode back to the palace.
As he left the camp, passing servants saluted and greeted him. If he encountered a noble he'd met before, he'd stop to exchange pleasantries, praising the morning's spectacular duels and remarking on the dazzling display of swords and sabres.
At first, he walked slowly, chatting with people in the corridors. But then, as if his feet couldn't bear it anymore, they took on a sense of their own and broke into a run. He rushed to the wing of the palace chambers assigned to him, some distance from the main halls, but still within the palace.
He knelt, pulled his suitcase from under his bed, and knocked on a hidden door. A plain wooden box appeared within the ornate leather case. He pulled a key, barely a finger's length, from his bosom and unlocked the small metal lock.
Like the container itself, the contents of the wooden box looked unremarkable: a collection of dried twigs and leaves, some ground to powder, others still in their original form. No one knew this contained a garden of wild weeds.
Several bundles of leaves were bound together with hemp rope; they were the herbs he had prepared beforehand. Han Yoojin internally complained that he had tied the ropes too tightly. As carefully as he had tied them then, he was now just as rough, fiddling and pulling at the few grey-green herbs, causing several fragile leaves to break.
Han Yoojin surveyed the items at hand, looking at them repeatedly before finally, resignedly, pulling out the handkerchief pressed against the bottom of the box and wrapping the herbs and the shattered fragments.
He had untied several bundles, but seeing how little was left on the handkerchief, he simply pulled out all the dry twigs and leaves with their thin, pale yellow roots. Finally, he had enough herbs, and holding them in his palm felt like a boost of confidence. Han Yoojin didn't pack up his things, but grabbed the wrapped herbs and ran out of the room.
The Duke's chambers were easy to find; the constant stream of servants entering and exiting indicated their location. Besides these attendants, guards stood guard at the door, vigilantly watching anyone approach. Han Yoojin hesitated at the corner of the corridor, pacing anxiously, but fearing his footsteps would draw attention, he forced himself to hold back.
His patience was short-lived, as he soon spotted his target. Han Yoojin caught sight of the royal healer, who had just emerged from the chamber to rest, nearly tripping over the hem of his robe.
"Sir, how may I be of assistance?" the elderly healer asked kindly, but his darting gaze made it clear he had no desire to engage in further conversation with this young man of unknown origin.
"How is the Duke's injury?" Han Yoojin detected a faint scent of blood coming from him, perhaps from freshly bled-out patients.
"How did you learn of this?" the healer demanded. Han Yoojin gritted his teeth, a sense of foreboding. Before the other person could ask more questions or leave, he quickly handed over the handkerchief he was cradling.
The therapist took it suspiciously, lifted a corner of the cloth, and saw a familiar herb. Suddenly, a realisation dawned on him. He sniffed it, and the unique, pungent aroma startled him. He exclaimed, "It's the Sword Grass! Wonderful! This herb is perfect for detoxification. Ever since the ban, it's been hard to find in the country, and the medicine store has been out of stock for a long time..."
"Do you think it will be effective? Is the quantity sufficient?"
"Of course, of course. I'll take care of it right away." The therapist was delighted, even looking at Han Yoojin with respect. Before returning to the room, he paused again, his respectful tone laced with curiosity. "Where did you get this herb? I can confirm it's genuine and of high quality. I'd like to know the source. I'm sure the other lords would be interested, too."
Han Yoojin can't find a word.
How could he explain the herbs he held, sourced from the barbaric southern continent?
"Well..." Han Yoojin hesitated for a few seconds, then finally said, "Just say it was given to him by Mary from Leon."
"I understand. She truly deserves to be our knowledgeable foreign friend." The healer nodded, thanked him, and returned with the precious herbs to the room.
The heavy, exquisite oak door closed before him.
Chapter 15: 1-14
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
There's no such thing as a completely impenetrable wall, and the palace was no exception. Princess Mary's story of her miraculous herbal remedies spread throughout the palace in just one night. She might not have known the origins of the rumours, but that didn't stop her from enjoying the admiration she received from the crowd.
If previously, due to etiquette, everyone had restrained their curiosity, now that the news had spread, the ladies were now unabashedly enthusiastic about the gossip. Moths buzzed around a burning torch.
At breakfast, Mary seemed initially puzzled by the attention, but throughout the meal, she readily accepted the flattery and compliments, answering every inquiry.
The white bread prepared by the palace kitchen was exceptionally soft, but it couldn't change the monotony of the taste. After enjoying two slices with their wine, Han Yoojin and his friends left the hall.
While waiting for them at the gate, Kang Soyoung revealed she'd heard the latest gossip. "Last night, many people in the camp were discussing Sir Sisio's sword. It's a deeply dishonourable accusation."
"What else do you know?"
"Sir Sisio believes it's a false accusation. The squire who served him yesterday reportedly confessed in prison to the murder. Sisio requested that he interrogate the traitor who had damaged the friendship between the two nations, but Her Majesty felt it inappropriate to do so during the celebration."
"What does the Duke think?"
"He believes the matter requires further investigation," Kang Soyoung said, opening the car door with her one remaining hand. "But let's not dwell on that today; we're going out to have fun!"
The market in the city square was indeed as grand as the Duke had promised. They'd only glanced at it briefly on the first day, but the number of vendors far exceeded their expectations as they approached. In the central open space, street performers dressed as southerners and royal soldiers performed acrobatics, puppet shows, and music, attracting a large crowd.
Besides Soyoung, other family guards were accompanying them. Amid the clamour, Moon Hyuna, who was already a head taller than him, took his hand to prevent him from getting lost. This made Han Yoojin feel like he had a new sister. If Yoohyun were there, he would have been genuinely worried about his brother getting lost and would have needed to hold on to him.
Soyoung walked ahead, clearing the way for them. Her movements remained swift and agile, even with one hand bandaged and immobilised. Perhaps due to her extensive experience, the vendors in the imperial city were not uneasy at the sight of them; instead, they shouted even harder. Several even enthusiastically offered them freshly baked pies, clearly treating her as a regular customer.
Besides the stalls selling prepared foods, fruits and vegetables, there was a dazzling array of utensils and spices. When they passed a pottery stall, the owner, demonstrating the durability of his bowls, invited them to gently tap on them, listening to the melodious, crisp sound.
But nothing could compare to the knife and weapon stalls, even in a secluded corner of the market. Armour and swords hung beside tents, gleaming in the sunlight. Daggers and short knives were displayed in front of the stalls, along with standard farm tools like sickles and hoes. The short, dark-haired middle-aged man, the owner, looked more like a trader than a blacksmith, boasting about his Toledo steel sword to a young customer.
Soyoung leaned in to see the price and was shocked. She retreated and complained to Han Yoojin and the others, saying the owner was selling ordinary steel swords as fakes and then selling them at such a high price, suggesting he was explicitly trying to rip off outsiders.
"Why don't you look somewhere else first, while I see what he's selling? I'm a bit curious," Noah said. He assured them repeatedly that he wouldn't let the owner fool him into buying anything before they left.
Flourished silks, linens, and woollen fabrics were piled high on the nearby fabric stall. Soyoung took a fancy to a plain silk square scarf.
"It's the perfect size for a handkerchief," Moon Hyuna said, looking closer as if hinting at something.
Kang Soyoung blushed sharply and put the scarf back. "I, I know nothing about embroidery."
"Noah wouldn't mind if it was ugly."
"Miss Breaker, please stop teasing me."
"Giving flowers in public but not a handkerchief? How strange, my lord."
"What's so strange about that..."
When Han Yoojin returned from the nearby jewellery and instrument shops, he saw these two ordinary girls playing and joking with each other. He bought a hair accessory for Moon Hyuna, perfect for her tied-up hair.
After they finished shopping and circled the market, ready to return to Noah, the brown-haired young man lingered in front of the weapons dealer. Seeing him merely browsing, the shopkeeper lost interest and became indifferent, but he didn't chase him away. He allowed him to examine the carvings on the dagger and then fiddle with the longsword, admiring the blade's pattern.
Most of the people who came to the market were commoners looking for food or to see the sights, and the actual customers who frequented the ironmongery stalls were few and far between. Noble knights typically commissioned their familiar artisans to craft swords and protective gear for them. Such fancy items as those found in the market were simply unattractive, so it's no wonder Kang Soyoung wasn't interested.
"But that guy has good taste. Everything he picked up was genuine, something rarely seen in the shop," Noah admitted sheepishly. Rather than being interested in the merchandise, he lingered to observe the young man, to see what he might buy.
"Maybe he won't buy anything in the end."
"He likes the look of that dagger. He's been looking at it over and over again. I was getting a little impatient watching him from the side."
"He's probably hesitant because he can't afford it, but he can't let it go." Moon Hyuna observed the young man's simple attire. He didn't look like someone who could pull out a large sum of gold coins, let alone this shop with ridiculously overpriced items.
"Or I can help him negotiate the price with the owner. The price is unreasonable," Soyoung volunteered. Before Noah could grab her, the knight approached the shopkeeper and asked how much he wanted for the dagger.
"Please wait, sir. I was the one who picked out this dagger first." The young man, still eyeing the longbow, immediately turned around, clutching the scabbard, his expression as if he were afraid Kang Soyoung would snatch it away.
"Sir, I've been watching you for most of the morning. If you like it, go ahead and take it. Otherwise, I'll let you choose something else that suits you."
"I'll pay for it. I have enough money." Upon hearing the shopkeeper was serious about selling, the young man quickly pulled out all the coins from his wallet.
"That's not enough."
"It's enough". Han Yoojin stopped the man from rummaging through his purse. "Don't you know how much the items in your stall are worth?"
"Sir, this dagger is genuine Toledo steel. Look at the intricate carvings on the blade and the high-quality ivory handle. It must be worth several gold coins."
"This dagger is genuine, but the rest of your shop isn't," Han Yoojin pointed casually. "You're selling fake goods during a celebration and bragging about it. Do you think customers can't tell?" He glanced at the guards waiting by the stall. "Or do you think this level of quality is enough to celebrate the Duke's victory?"
"No, no, of course not. How dare I..." The vendor paled at the mention of the Duke's name. Seeing that he was travelling with a knight, he hesitated, not daring to provoke or say another word.
Han Yoojin didn't wait for him to stop shuddering before continuing, "This gentleman has good taste. He can tell the quality of your merchandise at a glance. As someone who knows the value of this dagger, doesn't he?"
"Yes, this customer does have good taste..."
"So is this enough?"
"Yes, yes." The shopkeeper nodded rapidly, hurriedly pocketing the coins on the counter, fearing that Han Yoojin wouldn't even let him take the money if he was a step too late. The shopkeeper turned to Soyoung and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, sir. That customer came first, and I saw he liked the dagger. You heard what he said, so I had no choice but to sell it to him."
"It's okay. I was just looking at it," Kang Soyoung laughed. "I was trying to help you bargain. I didn't expect the Marquis to be so quick to react. If only Your Highness were here. I'd love to see his face when he heard you using his name to haggle with the vendor."
Yes, if he were here, what would his expression be? Perhaps they wouldn't even see this shop, Han Yoojin thought. But he wasn't here.
Overhearing their conversation, the young man, both grateful and timid, kept offering thanks. His name was Myeongwoo, and he was an apprentice at a blacksmith shop in the imperial city.
Although the shady shop was charging a premium for its goods, Myeongwoo's offer was indeed small, and thanks to Han Yoojin, he'd gotten a bargain. He knew his limitations and stated that while he was still a humble apprentice, he was absolutely willing to serve them if they needed anything in the future. Han Yoojin felt embarrassed by his overly earnest gratitude.
"You look happier. That's great," Kang Soyoung said to Yoojin as they boarded the carriage back to the palace after bidding farewell to Myeongwoo at the market. "I saw you looked rather glum this morning, and I was worried about how I'd explain to His Highness if you were still unhappy back home."
However, Kang Soyoung's worries were unfounded, as the Duke didn't mind.
They arrived at the palace just in time for a scheduled poetry performance. It was the fourth day of the celebrations, and the palace had invited many of the Peninsula's most renowned musicians and poets to compose on themes of battle and celebration. This was a different kind of competition, replacing dust and horse hooves with music and poetry.
The protagonist of the morning's rumours sat at the main seat in the hall, his expression unassuming, unlike any who had endured the rumoured life-or-death struggles. The perfunctory applause made one wonder what his true thoughts were.
At dinner, Sung Hyunjae was surrounded by Royal Navy petty officers, who alternately discussed the situation on the Peninsula and chatted with the other female guests. He lingered suspiciously long with Princess Leon, raising questions about whether the odds on the bet actually reflected reality.
On the fifth day, Sunday, everyone went to the cathedral for early morning Mass. Returning to the palace hall in the afternoon, fresh gossip emerged. Rumours circulated that the two attendants had committed suicide by poisoning in prison. This cowardice infuriated Sisio, who had yet to plead his innocence before the judge. As a foreign guest, he couldn't demand a trial by combat, as per Peninsular tradition. Caught between a rock and a hard place, he clung to Duke Seseong, insisting on a resolution—whether compensation or a trial; the matter couldn't remain unresolved, tarnishing the reputation of Amatras. Sung Hyunjae disappeared again during lunch.
It was already nightfall when Han Yoojin saw him again.
The dining tables in the hall's centre were pushed aside, transforming the space into a dance floor. For the next two nights, everyone enjoyed music and dancing to their heart's content, until the seventh day, the Duke's birthday, marked the final celebration. Of course, with the stakes being raised, many hoped the final night would genuinely be a wedding announcement that would rejoice the nation.
Perhaps having seen Kang Soyoung out with them, some nobles approached Han Yoojin and Moon Hyuna, gathering information over drinks—whether any charming young lady had caught the Duke's eye, or any gossip within the Knights' Corps. However, they ultimately discovered that the disillusioned Marquis Haeyeon and Miss Breaker knew nothing of this—their last encounter with the Duke in person had been over two days earlier.
One thing these bored nobles were right about: they had indeed not seen each other for several days. After the heavy door closed, Han Yoojin had heard nothing from Sung Hyunjae. Seeing him so calmly present at the banquet made him wonder if Ruka Feiya's claims were exaggerated. But then, recalling the therapist's overjoyed reaction, the contrast left him bewildered.
Han Yoojin held his wine glass, pinched the stem with his fingers, and approached the familiar figure.
"Marquis Haeyeon." Sung Hyunjae heard his voice and turned to greet him. "I'm surprised you found me."
"Why are you hiding here alone?" He looked at Sung Hyunjae, confused, standing on the terrace. Strangely, he, who people always surrounded, was now alone. "Did I disturb you?"
"No, you came at the perfect time."
"What do you mean?"
"I have a humble request. Would you be willing to rescue me from this boring party?"
Light streamed from the banquet hall, slicing the shadows along the corridor before disappearing into the night garden. They strolled among the blossoms. The vibrant pink and yellow roses during the day now faded to blurred outlines, leaving only the lingering fragrance.
"Did your outing go well yesterday?"
"The market was lively, and Sir Soyoung was very responsible, unlike someone else."
"I didn't expect the Marquis to be so strict."
"The person who broke the appointment didn't reflect on his actions."
"Then how should I apologise to Yoojin?"
"...I know you were injured."
"Well, news spreads quickly within the palace."
The night's chirping of insects suddenly grew louder, making the silence seem deafening. Han Yoojin looked down and saw that from beneath the stone bench, the moonlight stretched their shadows like two winding rose vines.
"Is there something you want to ask?"
Sung Hyunjae's voice held a unique patience, as if he'd been prepared for it, making Han Yoojin feel that he would wait forever if he didn't speak.
"Nothing, I just want to know...is the wound serious?"
"It's just a small wound. A day of lying down should heal it. Besides, didn't Yoojin give me all the medicine?" Han Yoojin's shoulders trembled. He looked at the shadows beneath his feet and heard Sung Hyunjae continue, "I can't keep you waiting too long."
"I..."
"Now I owe Yoojin two favours."
The summer night breeze was cool, and Han Yoojin's feet couldn't help but sway gently. He said, "Remember to pay me back. Don't forget again."
"How about this? I'll give you my birthday wish."
"Who would do that?!"
"Because it's my wish, I have the freedom to decide. Okay, Han Yoojin's wish is my wish. Hurry and make it before the deadline."
"Wishes won't come true this way."
"Tell me, what does Han Yoojin want?"
"...I hope the Duke doesn't go somewhere I can't find him."
"Does Yoojin think I'm hiding from you?"
"Sometimes, I feel like the Duke is always playing hide-and-seek."
"Really? What's that?"
"It's a game." As soon as he said that, Han Yoojin suddenly felt incredibly silly. He was so grown up, yet he still mentioned a children's game. But Sung Hyunjae was waiting intently for him to speak.
Unable to resist that look, he explained, "It's... there's a haunter who's responsible for finding all the hiding children. The first one to be found loses; if the haunter finds everyone, he wins."
Sung Hyunjae murmured, "It's a game the haunter wins."
"Is that what you think?"
"Although I've never actually played it, if you ask me, the game's fun lies in the tension and anticipation of waiting to be found. Right?"
"Anticipation?"
"One hides while secretly watching. Isn't that just the hope of being found?"
"So... do you want me to find you?"
Sung Hyunjae cupped Han Yoojin's cheek with his fingers and answered.
With their first kiss, Han Yoojin swallowed his shadow.
Breaths mingled, noses brushing against cheeks. He opened his mouth, letting the unfamiliar tongue tentatively brush against the roof of his mouth. The tongue, moistened with saliva, became smooth and soft, and the visitor quickly became accustomed to the small, warm space. He couldn't help but let out a cry of lack of breath, but it wasn't air he needed.
Han Yoojin grasped his neck and chin, groping his way through, finding a path only he could discover. His fingers pierced his earlobe and weaved into the roots of his hair. He wanted to peel back the light and shadow, peeling back the layers of disguise and flesh to reveal the underlying desire.
"Be gentle, I won't run." A laugh clung to his lips. Sung Hyunjae gently stroked his back with one hand, patting Han Yoojin's arm soothingly with the other. His movements only tightened Han Yoojin's grip, squeezing his neck as if with all his might. His fingers, trembling with nervousness, pressed against sweaty skin, a wet, sticky, salty sensation. Sung Hyunjae's pulse pulsed against his palm, trembling, giving Han Yoojin the illusion of mastery.
Every time Sung Hyunjae kissed him, he'd retaliate by grabbing his hair, ears, or cheeks, his nails scraping against the skin, leaving indentations like his signature. Sung Hyunjae's tongue slid lightly across his teeth, making Han Yoojin irritated and wanting to bite. More complaints threatened to come out, but in the end, he merely asked, "Why didn't you come to me?"
"Don't you want to win, Yoojin?" He heard the man's voice buried behind his ear, echoing from Han Yoojin's chest along with the pounding sound of his heartbeat. "You should have come to me, right?"
"I'm not playing games."
"Me neither."
"You're lying."
"I wouldn't lie to you."
"Then how have you been able to find me, all this time?" Han Yoojin pressed his forehead against his, confusion and curiosity flickering behind his dark lashes.
"Yoojin wanted to be found, didn't you?"
But they hadn't agreed on whether the haunter wanted to catch the child or whether the child wanted to be found by the haunter.
Han Yoojin opened his mouth. "Because..." His words paused. Once a terrifying hypothesis began to brew, it could only continue to expand and swell. The behemoth growing in his mind pressed against his vocal cords and throat, and a suffocating, low moan escaped him. "...You know. You already knew I was..."
No, no, start over. He had to start over.
He tried to break free from the embrace, like a desperate man seeing a wave crashing over him, kicking and swishing in vain, flailing his limbs and slapping the water.
"Shh, shh, it's okay. No need to speak it out."
Could the imagined, overwhelming tide be so warm? The tears that kept welling up in his eyes were gently wiped away by his fingertips, leaving no trace on Han Yoojin's cheeks. His breath against his eyelids was too hot, and he couldn't help but close his eyes.
"It's just the two of us here, no one else. So, Yoojin, just decide what you want and what you want to be."
"But I..."
"I just want you to be happy." His fingers gently stroked his face and hair, just as Han Yoojin wanted.
"I don't believe it." The kiss swallowed his words, so Han Yoojin repeated, "I don't believe it."
"What don't you believe?"
"I don't believe you won't leave," he said, cupping Sung Hyunjae's face, opening his eyes and staring at the shadow. "I don't believe you're real."
If Sung Hyunjae showed a look of sadness at this, the kind Han Yoojin hoped he would, he wouldn't see it.
Because he would never be Sung Hyunjae's Yoojin, without a title, rank, or responsibilities.
Because when he woke, the candles in the darkened room had long since gone out.
Clinging, hot, sticky sweat clung to his fingers, arms, and lower body, sliding down his bent knees and over his legs. Fresh from the imaginary sea, he lay on the bed for a moment, waiting for his racing heartbeat to subside. Then, dragging his limbs, he slowly found the edge of the bed and rolled out.
Han Yoojin reached out, groping for the wooden box in the darkness. He expertly unlocked the latch and, relying on memory, gathered the still-unground branches in his hand. The herb rubbed against his teeth and tongue, emitting a familiar, soothing bitterness. He swallowed it with his saliva, then another.
Only when his stomach protested did he cough and set the herbs aside, resting his forehead against the edge of the bed. He let the night breeze from the narrow window caress his spine, drying the sweat that clings to the roots of his hair and causing a rash. Han Yoojin closed his eyes and dozed off again.
In his quiet, self-contained dream, he heard the dim blue sky creep into the room. Soon after, birdsong heralded the arrival of morning light, dispelling all illusions and dreams.
Notes:
Now when I look back at this chapter, I still quite like Shadow Hyunjae :)
Chapter 16: 1-15
Chapter Text
The afternoon sun blazed brightly. After morning prayers, the royal family and the parliament debated the "accident" caused by Sisio. The Prime Minister argued that the matter should not be left unresolved. Even though the other party was a friendly nation, the seriousness of the incident was no less than a provocation. Had he not known Sisio's character, he would have followed Dilma's instigation.
After confirming that there was no malicious intent, the two parties settled the matter with compensation: Amatras agreed to provide the territorial rights of the waters around its outer islands, close to the pagan continent. Even though Amatras ostensibly took no part in the war between the peninsula and the mainland, it tacitly granted them an advantage in shipping.
In the end, Sung Hyunjae's injury was well worth it. It was a pity that the two attendants committed suicide before they could finish their confessions. The mastermind was quite skilful.
Even though the bruise on his arm was slightly painful, Sung Hyunjae got out of bed that night. The next day, he listened to the boring poetry recitation and danced as planned. He also did not miss the prayers in the cathedral for several consecutive days. After all, he did not want his absence to confirm the rumours of "serious injury".
He sat with the Queen on the balcony, reading his birthday speech. Besides the opening address for tonight's dinner, there would be a public address tomorrow morning on his birthday. The clerk had already prepared the draft for him, and only a few minor revisions were needed.
"Looking at their smug expressions. It is a shame to be in the same room with these lowly Alphas."
The Duke of Seseong saw the Queen gazing at the garden below. He followed her gaze, squinting, and vaguely made out several young ladies from prominent families. They were chatting and admiring the flowers with other nobles in groups of three or four, mostly discussing trivial matters of elegance. As the subject of recent rumours, he knew what everyone was talking about.
"It's just some herbs; they think they're a good match for you. How ridiculous," the Queen fanned herself.
"It's just a rumour," Sung Hyunjae said, lowering his head and crossing out another sentence from his speech: "Glory to God." "Rumours are only valuable when spread; otherwise, they are useless."
"This kind of rumour will tarnish your reputation."
"I don't think Lady Mary is capable of that. My reputation isn't that fragile."
Hearing Sung Hyunjae's rebuttal, the Queen fanned herself in frustration, seemingly helpless at his slowness. "People will compare you two. The inferior will only drag you down."
"I remember Lady Mary was of noble birth, even having a Britannian grandmother."
"You know I'm not talking about that girl."
"Then I don't know what you're talking about." Sung Hyunjae rolled up the parchment and handed it to the attendant beside him. "After all, she's the one who saved my life by giving me the herbs."
"People only talk about what they want to believe."
"Rumours have their own truth," Sung Hyunjae shrugged.
Before he rose to leave, the Queen spoke again. "Three dances, make your choice." Her voice was soft and delicate, yet her words were heavy and stern. "I know they're not worthy of you, but I believe you'll make the best choice." Her grey eyes fixed on him. "My wonderful little moon."
Three dances—that's easy to say, as if Sung Hyunjae's future wouldn't be decided after the music ended. Year after year, it's become tiresome. It's even worse this year, with the ceremony extending to seven days. The Queen's torture techniques are truly refined and ingenious. And like mother, like daughter. Ruka Feiya's nonsense is even worse.
"The security guards are too lax. Aren't you planning to replace them?"
At the dinner, she seemed specifically looking for trouble with Sung Hyunjae. Given the large ballroom, she approached without a trace of embarrassment.
"I didn't realise you were so concerned for my safety."
"It's so cruel to exclude me."
"You'd show up anyway."
"Don't be so mean."
"It's not your turn to say that."
"I wasn't the one who saddened the little boy. Look at his distraught expression. It's so heartbreaking."
Sung Hyunjae didn't take the bait or glance at her hint. He filled his glass and decided to end the conversation.
"You should develop some appropriate hobbies."
"Like you?" Ruka Feiya smiled and clinked glasses with him without authorisation. "That's the expression I want. Happy birthday."
After getting rid of the troublesome Ruka Feiya, his task tonight wasn't tricky. After several toasts, Sung Hyunjae looked at the blurred-out faces of the noble ladies and couldn't help but think that perhaps Mary was a good choice, given the rumours already spreading...
"I have something to discuss with the Duke."
A familiar voice chimed in. Perhaps it was punishment for his revisions this afternoon; God had decided to work against him. Duke Seseong turned and smiled at the person he least wanted to see.
"If Marquis Haeyeon doesn't mind, he can speak directly here."
"It's about an agreement. It seems I was overthinking it. The Duke isn't worried about gossip."
What agreement? Sung Hyunjae wondered. Could it be about the market? He had clearly asked Kang Soyoung to do it for him, and she reported that they had all enjoyed their outing.
He could have refused or delayed this conversation with Han Yoojin, but Ruka Feiya's earlier voice somehow burrowed into Sung Hyunjae's mind. He stared at Han Yoojin's slightly pale face.
Amidst the crowd's speculative gazes, the Duke promised, "You are indeed very considerate." He followed Han Yoojin out of the hall, leaving the whispers behind.
They walked towards the rose garden where the group of nobles the Queen had disdained had lingered that afternoon. The night had fallen, leaving only shadows of the roses, their precious and delicate beauty obscured. The trees, neatly trimmed by the gardener, stood in neat rows, forming a dull fortress around the garden.
Sensing his silence, Han Yoojin asked, "How is your injury, sir?"
"It was just a minor injury, before everyone started talking."
"So you could have kept the appointment, but decided to break it?"
"I didn't expect you to be so strict. Did I disappoint you?"
"A little."
"Then why did you come?"
"Because the Duke looks so pitiful, it's tempting to help you escape this boring party."
The Duke of Seseong scoffed. "The truth may surprise you, but I actually enjoy parties."
"Your Highness is even more of a liar than I thought."
"Does Han Yoojin think he knows me better than I do?"
"I've only met you a few times, so I can't say I know you well."
"It's already much more than the average person."
"So you've decided to start cutting back, huh?"
Sung Hyunjae placed his wine glass on a stone bench by the corridor, hesitating whether to sit down. But after seeing Han Yoojin's expression, he decided to sit down. "What makes Han Yoojin think that way?"
"Your Highness is always elusive, making it hard to find."
"Han Yoojin makes it sound like hide-and-seek."
A flicker of surprise crossed Han Yoojin's eyes. "What?"
"Don't you know? It's a simple but fun game."
"Have you ever played it?"
"Of course. It was a long time ago."
"You prefer being the hiding one?"
"Han Yoojin will definitely be a good haunter."
It was strange. This was the finest wine in the palace, yet it was so bland. He drained the glass, then rested his chin on his hand, staring at the uneasy-looking boy before him, for some reason suppressing his excitement. "After all, you're quite good at finding people."
"Your Highness is quite cunning. Do you intend to remain hidden forever? You'll lose."
"Han Yoojin is wrong about that. As long as you hide long enough, you win. You might call the role a haunter, but haunters must be in plain sight and visible to others in the game. Haunters win because the ones hiding want them to win."
A vulnerable, naked haunter, letting his emotions hang freely.
And he doesn't like losing.
What time is it now? Should he return to the banquet? The bell hasn't rung yet, and the young man before him looks frail in the moonlight. Sung Hyunjae could have offered him his cloak, but he didn't. Looking back, he probably hoped the conversation would end quickly, while there was still hope.
Han Yoojin coughed and sat down nearby. "It must be tedious, hiding like this in silence."
"Sometimes, if you want to win, waiting is necessary, no matter how tedious it is."
"Since Your Highness is so experienced, please tell me how to win."
Sung Hyunjae only smiled and said, "I heard Han Yoojin defended my reputation at the market."
"... Soyoung told you, didn't she?"
"Was the market fun?"
"It was very lively, and I saw many interesting things." Han Yoojin took a deep breath. "I have something for you, sir. Since you didn't have the chance to go, I brought something back."
"Ah, Han Yoojin is the first to give a gift."
Gifts from various families had been arriving for over a month, but this was the first gift he had personally received.
"This isn't a competition."
"If it were, you win." Sung Hyunjae took the metal disc from him. The thin disc, barely the size of a palm, looked more like a talisman than a formal measuring instrument. It was an astrolabe. Even with many years of seafaring experience, not every sailor had an astrolabe; it was usually given to experienced navigators for interpretation.
"This is a unique gift. Han Yoojin has excellent taste." He gently spun the brass mesh disk.
Sailors use it to align themselves with the stars, discerning their bearings and understanding longitude and latitude—Sung Hyunjae held the disk up before his eyes—to guide a person home. How could he not understand? The moment he took it, he grasped its meaning.
But even with the starlight shining, the waves remain treacherous. The astrolabe is only useful on stable land or a calm, windless sea. For a wanderer who has deliberately exiled himself, there remains no home.
After a moment, Sung Hyunjae snapped out of his thoughts.
The sudden silence around him struck him as strange. He set the disk down and glanced at Han Yoojin beside him. He was startled to see the young man hunched over in pain, his face buried in his knees, trembling all over.
"What's wrong, Han Yoojin?"
Sung Hyunjae stood up, initially bewildered, but quickly regained his composure. He tried to check for breathing and heartbeat, but before he could even touch him, Han Yoojin started coughing violently.
He'd been coughing constantly. Could it be a cold? A lung problem? Several scenarios flashed through Sung Hyunjae's mind, and from the depths of his consciousness, a most ominous answer crept forward, halting him.
Don't get any closer. His instinct warned him.
"Can you lift your head? Can you hear me?"
Han Yoojin shook his head and covered his mouth, refusing Sung Hyunjae's help. But his coughing showed no sign of abating; it intensified, making it impossible for him to straighten himself. Seeing him cough so violently, one worried he might vomit his internal organs.
Sung Hyunjae couldn't stand standing there any longer and decided to reach out and rub the boy's back. But a rich aroma first wafted into his breath, like someone forcing a shattered honeycomb down his throat. With every swallow, the thick taste of honey surged through his teeth and trickled down his lips...
Sung Hyunjae glared at him. Suddenly, a strong premonition stopped him, but Han Yoojin was quicker than him, exerting all his strength to grab the hesitant arm.
"I got you."
As he caught the unconscious Han Yoojin, he saw the boy smile.
Chapter 17: 1-16
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
What a difficult week! The therapist sighed.
When he saw the Duke, ignoring the stunned gazes of the crowd, rushing towards the inner courtyard with the unconscious young man wrapped in his cloak, he sensed something was amiss. Before he could speak, he was engulfed by the overwhelming rage directed at him.
The uncontrolled pheromones, like a thunderbolt, pierced the therapist's consciousness, leaving his head buzzing, his vision swirling, and his nose filled with the smell of blood. A nosebleed was imminent. For a moment, he couldn't even comprehend what the Duke was saying; only the scarlet stain before him was horrifying. "Your Grace, the blood on your clothes..."
The guards on both sides were sensible. They quickly opened and closed the door, trapping the chaotic rage within, leaving the poor, dazed therapist alone to face the Duke. Seeing the man unable to stand upright, the Duke finally softened his oppressive aura, perhaps simply because his attention was diverted to the young man on the bed, and he had no time to pay attention to the therapist. This man looked familiar, and the therapist could finally breathe and start thinking.
Just an Omega in heat, nothing special beyond that. The therapist thought, thankfully, His Highness has some self-awareness. After placing him on the bed, he immediately distanced himself and leaned against the wall.
The therapist initially wanted to state his diagnosis directly, but seeing the man's agitation, he sensed he was dealing with someone important. He then gave the patient a thorough examination, taking his temperature, breathing rate, and pulse. After doing everything he could, he said, "Your Highness, I think this man is simply experiencing a normal heat period."
"You sound uncertain."
The therapist swallowed, his hair standing on end in the face of the storm. "No, I'm quite certain everything is normal. It's all right, Your Grace...would you like to sit down first?"
"Normal? Then why is he vomiting blood?"
Who's vomiting blood? The therapist stared blankly at the Duke's bloodstained gown. Glancing around, he saw a tiny streak of blood at the corner of the young man's mouth, and suddenly realised what was happening. But he was more worried about the one standing than the "patient" on the bed. "Your Grace, please sit down first. I'll explain."
Sung Hyunjae pulled a chair and sat at the corner of the bed. His tense demeanour still made everyone in the room nervous. The therapist could only cautiously offer a towel, "Would you like to wipe the blood off your hands first, Your Grace?"
"Stop talking nonsense." But he took the towel anyway. The therapist waited a moment, observing the man's expression. The volatile emotions made the pheromones piercing and carried a heavy, rusty smell. The therapist suppressed the urge to open the door and flee, taking a deep breath.
"Your Grace, did you run all the way here carrying him? ...The blood on you... That's probably from the wound on your arm that opened and seeped out." The therapist tried to suppress the confusion in his tone, unwilling to provoke the man further. He didn't want to suffer another mental torture. He said calmly, "As for the man's vomiting blood, my humble guess is that he may have taken an overdose of medication on an empty stomach, which caused him to feel unwell and upset. If you're willing to tell me, I would like to know what happened before that?"
"His breathing suddenly accelerated, and he started coughing incessantly, unable to speak. Then... he lost consciousness."
"Judging from his physical reaction, he must have been taking medication for some time. This isn't a unique case. All medications have side effects. If he didn't take them on time this time, the reaction was just a bit more severe." This was especially true for Omegas. The therapist was not surprised; they often took undiagnosed medication without a proper diagnosis. Such patients were familiar to him.
"So severe that he fainted?"
"…Perhaps he's physically unwell? Stimulated?" He pondered, unsure what the other person wanted to hear. "He's not eating properly. Many omegas, stressed out before their estrus period, may eat less or overeat. This is quite common."
"He's not an ordinary omega."
"Yes, that's right. Your Grace." Regardless of what Sung Hyunjae said, the therapist agreed, as long as it would help the other person calm down. Then, cautiously lowering his voice, "All we can do now is wait for the master to wake up naturally. Could I arrange for one or two attendants to standby for him, just in case? I'll be back regularly to take care of him. Please take a rest."
"I want to see him wake up."
"Your Grace, I'm worried not just about your physical condition, but also about..." the therapist said awkwardly, "...being here can also affect you mentally. After all, even without physical contact, pheromones can still..."
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
Though he had vowed to do everything he could for his patient's safety, the therapist finally shut up, concerned for his own life. As a precaution, he instructed the servants to prepare a change of clothes and cleaning supplies before leaving the bedroom. He decided to wait until after the evening prayer bells to return and check on Sung Hyunjae. As for the patient in bed, a good night's sleep would be good for everyone.
After the therapist left, the room fell silent. Sung Hyunjae buried his face in his hands, still smelling blood. It was from an old wound on his arm, he thought, not Han Yoojin's. But he couldn't help but sense the lingering warmth between his fingers. His pulse and heartbeat quickened. Sweat formed on his neck, his saliva increased, and his pheromones became more aggressive... These were all obvious signs that he was gradually being affected. Sung Hyunjae didn't even think twice before carrying Han Yoojin through the corridor, heading straight for the palace's inner halls.
How many people had witnessed them?
The sky wasn't dark yet, and the lights in the ballroom were still bright.
There was still room for manoeuvre, a part of him said calmly. He should return to the hall now, where the crowd awaited his speech. After the talk, there would be that long, tedious dance—three dances, and in the blink of an eye, a glass of wine, it was all over.
As Ruka Feiya had said, his guards were truly obedient. No orders, no rumours. He was ultimately curious about Han Yoojin's reaction, and that curiosity had led them to this situation.
Comprehension told him to follow the therapist's advice and get out of the pheromone's range, preferably by leaving the room directly. But Sung Hyunjae remained seated in his chair, unable to move.
Outside the city, bells began to toll. A shadow from the narrow window crept in, its long silhouette sharply dividing the room into two. Candlelight was the only remaining light source: one where Sung Hyunjae sat, the other by the bed where Han Yoojin lay.
A moment later, the bells died down, and the room returned to silence. Then Sung Hyunjae stood up, stepped over the shadows, and approached the bed.
He first touched Han Yoojin's forehead with his fingers, and the fever seemed to subside. Perhaps it was because Sung Hyunjae's body temperature had risen so that he couldn't feel the difference. Han Yoojin's cheeks were smaller than he'd expected.
In truth, he hadn't had much opportunity to observe him closely over the past few days. His impression of Han Yoojin often remained stuck on that small figure of the past. Sung Hyunjae subconsciously assumed that he would have grown from a teenager to a young man over the years. He had no specific expectations or imagination about this—he had never considered what Han Yoojin would look like when he grew up.
Only then did he realise that his cheeks were still so soft. So light to hold. Those shrewd black eyes were closed, his breathing steady, and he wondered what kind of dream he was having.
He was just too smart, Sung Hyunjae thought, a kind of smartness that excelled at being cruel to himself. Pale lips, a pointed chin—perhaps he shouldn't have assigned Kang Soyoung. She was definitely either circling the blond young man or talking about weapons and guns. There were so many delicious foods in the market, why didn't they try anything?
The fragile throat was tinged with pale blue blood vessels. As long as Sung Hyunjae exerted force, he would wake up from his dream.
He withdrew his hand. There was a knock on the door, and the servants, stooping low, hurriedly placed clean clothing before retreating. Perhaps the oppressive atmosphere in the room had sharpened their sense of danger, or maybe it was the sheer terror of the bloodstained Duke. They feared that the Duke's appearance would leave an indelible memory if they looked up.
The man's utterly disfigured appearance, unprecedented in the face of his enemies, had killed anyone who had seen it.
During this time, the healer returned once more. Seeing that Sung Hyunjae had followed his advice, stripping off his bloodstained clothing, donning a clean shirt, and still maintaining a minimum of sanity, he breathed a sigh of relief. After confirming the wound had scabbed over, he instructed the Duke to remain calm. If Han Yoojin woke, notify him immediately for further examination, and that it was best to minimise the time they spent alone together.
Why? Sung Hyunjae asked.
"Because I've seen so many people, under the influence of pheromones, say things they regret or make decisions they regret." Feeling the Duke's sharp gaze, the therapist inwardly cursed himself for being too talkative, then quickly added, "Of course, you can't be compared to ordinary people." With that, he quietly left the room, just like everyone else.
This was the beginning of a long night; on his birthday, it also signalled the end of summer.
Before Sung Hyunjae woke up, he felt the weight of a gaze. Having sat in a chair all night, his shoulders were stiff and numb. He opened his eyes in the aching position and saw Han Yoojin, already awake in bed, leaning against the headboard, staring at him.
The morning light shone on the young man, and in his still-unfocused gaze, his face was fair and charming.
"Is it fun?" Han Yoojin's voice was calmer than he'd expected. "Watching an Omega put on airs, pretending to be an Alpha for so long."
Lack of sleep made his forehead throb. Rubbing his temple, he tried to soften his tone. "The therapist said you need to rest. We can talk after you've recovered." As Sung Hyunjae rose from his chair, the wound on his arm twitched, and he hissed in pain. He started to walk towards the door.
"If you leave now, you'll never hear what I will say next. Aren't you curious?"
The man paused, feeling Han Yoojin's gaze like damp sweat on his skin, slowly trickling down. Strangely enough, when Sung Hyunjae realised he'd turned back, he'd already sauntered to the bed and pulled a chair closer from the corner. "What do you want to say?"
"You noticed it from the beginning, right?" Han Yoojin asked, tilting his head. "You knew I was an omega, that I would be an omega."
"Some guesses, some suspicions. I don't know any more than you do."
"How did Your Grace find out?" Although it was a polite word, Han Yoojin said it like a command. Sung Hyunjae realised he'd managed to hold his temper and respond; he should have left long ago.
"Intuition." He noticed Han Yoojin's eyes narrowed in alarm, and added, "And compared to others, in our past interactions, Han Yoojin's scent is incredibly clean." Something is most conspicuous when it's absent, like a deliberately blank space. "But you did manage to deceive the others, which is commendable."
"Soon, or perhaps they've already learned of my Omega identity, the Breaker family will cancel the engagement without hesitation."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"Because it was Your Grace, not anyone else, holding an omega in heat, right?" Han Yoojin said detachedly, as if that person wasn't him. "And your actions, which you haven't concealed, have made it known to everyone."
"It was just an accident."
"Is it that I was triggered to split right when Your Grace appeared? How strange."
"You must have split before, just temporarily suppressing it through some means." Sung Hyunjae didn't intend to be drawn into his accusations, but he leaned forward involuntarily, as if he were close enough to smell the faint scent of the herbs Han Yoojin was chewing and swallowing. "Is it medicine? There are indeed many rare and precious herbs in the south." He noticed Han Yoojin's hands clutching the sheets, confirming his suspicions. "The circulation of these medicines is not permitted within the country."
"If anyone knew about it, it would be a crime punishable by law."
"Your Grace is truly knowledgeable." Han Yoojin nodded calmly in agreement, his dark eyes devoid of emotion. This made Sung Hyunjae feel that he would not like what he would say next, and Han Yoojin obviously knew this too.
"With a disinherited omega and an underage second son, our Haeyeon family is practically at the end of its rope. Not to mention the debt," Han Yoojin said, his tone light, as if he were preparing a joke to kick off a dinner party. "But many people must be curious about what a noble omega looks like. It's a rare selling point—" He paused. The sudden increase in pressure in the air made it hard to breathe, and invisible currents pricked his skin. Han Yoojin grasped his bare arm, which had no wounds, yet felt like it was burning.
"You think I'd let you do that?"
"You won't let me do that?—Or won't you?"
That deliberate misinterpretation—those adorable, trembling eyes, forced to remain calm—
Listen to what he was saying. He was actually using himself to threaten Sung Hyunjae. Seeing that senseless expression, Sung Hyunjae covered his face, as if he couldn't bear even a glance. After a moment, a voice, half laughter and half resignation, uttered, "You've always been a clever child."
"Is it fun to tease me? Are you happy?" Han Yoojin whispered. If he hadn't deliberately let Sung Hyunjae hear the tremor in his voice, then his grip on his hand betrayed his will. If he looked up now, Sung Hyunjae would have seen his expression. What would it be? Those soft fingertips rubbed the back of his hand, listening to the sound of skin against skin.
"Did you get what you wanted?"
"Tell me?" He grabbed the slender wrist with his backhand. The thin, soft skin, the delicate, trembling muscles, the fragile wrist bones beneath, the pulsing blood was all in Sung Hyunjae's hand. It was all his. Han Yoojin snapped back from his momentary stiffness and tried to withdraw his hand, but he couldn't.
"So, does Han Yoojin know what he wants?"
He raised his head and looked at Han Yoojin. It wasn't just black. When Han Yoojin's pupils dilated in surprise and caught his reflection clearly enough, they took on a deeper, richer shade of honey. "With a powerful position and a guarantor, no one would dare touch you. Is that what you want?"
He released his hand.
"I cherish Han Yoojin," Sung Hyunjae said, shifting into a more comfortable position, leaning back and crossing his arms over his folded legs. "But I don't believe you can hold the position you desire right now."
"How do you know if you don't try? Even products have an evaluation period. Maybe I'm a better fit than you think." Han Yoojin stared at him without hesitation.
"So confident? Isn't Han Yoojin worried I'd refuse?"
"The door was closed, but not locked. Your Highness could have just left, and he wouldn't have spent so much time chatting with me. Aren't the guests waiting outside?"
This reminded Sung Hyunjae that he hadn't left this room since last night.
"Then let them wait," he murmured. "In just a few days, you've given me more excitement than I've had in a year."
"Do you hate it?"
"I like it so much, how could I hate it?" His words were as sweet as ever.
The bells rang for morning prayers. A commotion erupted outside. An inner voice urged him to leave, but strangely, Sung Hyunjae decided it would be nice to sit by the bed. He'd wait for sunset, for the moon to rise, for dawn to break, until eternity. Han Yoojin, staring at him, didn't share the same sentiment. He seemed eager for the man to leave, and in a tone that made him feel sad, he asked, "Is there anything else, Your Grace?"
Indeed, there was something else—Sung Hyunjae wanted to smooth his furrowed brow, to figure out how to draw the lines of that alluring nose, to cup his cheeks and hear the worries swirling in that tiny head—
Another long pause passed before Sung Hyunjae rubbed his aching temple as if waking from a dream. Some unspoken magic compelled him to dawdle. Before leaving, Sung Hyunjae said, "Since I gave it to you, it's yours."
Han Yoojin stared at the handkerchief on his knees, then returned to his side, without saying a word. He didn't even glance at Sung Hyunjae.
Only after the door was completely closed did he finally seem unable to bear it anymore. He grabbed the handkerchief the other man had left behind and covered his mouth and nose. Finally alone, he slumped over the bed and held his breath, as if that would allow him to forget the uncontrollable, disgusting, sweet scent emanating from his body.
The commotion disrupted plans; at least no one in the palace had the energy to instigate celebrations.
What should have been a grand birthday celebration ended abruptly with a closed-door conversation between the Duke and the Queen.
Exhausted, Han Yoojin saw the healer twice afterwards. The healer glanced at the remaining herbal shavings at the bottom of the box and instructed him to eat more, sleep more, and balance his fluids and spirits to avoid unnecessary tasks. Perhaps the overdose of medication had truly been eliminated; this was the first dreamless night he had had in days.
According to his "new friend," the Queen was displeased with the news. Many of the expensive glass and ceramic sculptures gifted by friendly nations, having lost their precious value, were smashed to the ground, their shards shimmering like stars. However, Han Yoojin wasn't there, so he didn't see the fury Ruka Feiya had described. To her laughter, it sounded like a story from another land, far removed from his own.
The celebration ended, and the servants were busy packing their belongings. It wasn't until he boarded the carriage that Han Yoojin realised he was finally going home.
*
The following year, after Han Yoojin's coming-of-age ceremony, Sung Hyunjae arrived as promised. The twelve-horse carriage, a symbol of the royal family, shone brighter than the sun. He dressed in his formal commander's uniform, the golden tassels on his shoulders swaying with his steps, the medals and jewel pendants on his chest gleaming sharply. He stood before the Marquis's residence, holding a large bouquet of red roses.
Han Yoojin and his butler and secretary met him in the study. After all, this wasn't their first encounter.
Haeyeon had prepared the necessary documents for this negotiation in advance, detailing the family's demands in the new marriage contract. These included: maintaining the autonomy of Haeyeon's territories after the marriage; exemption from additional taxes paid during the war; an extension of the interest grace period; and, in the absence of an heir, the income and power of Haeyeon's territories would pass to his second son, Han Yoohyun. Furthermore, because this contract overlapped with the existing marriage contract, a settlement fee had to be paid to the Breaker family. Beyond the amount specified in the existing contract, the Breaker family had the right to demand additional compensation, details of which would be detailed in a separate agreement.
Haeyeon drew up this contract, so the Duke of Seseong could propose amendments and add new requirements. Han Yoojin, seated at the head of the household, waited for Sung Hyunjae to speak about his demands. As the butler explained, Sung Hyunjae glanced at the parchment, his expression unfazed, as if he had already anticipated the terms of the agreement. "I have no objection to the contract; the current version will do."
Before Seok Simyeong, who was in charge of the negotiations, could open his mouth, Sung Hyunjae suddenly changed the subject: "But there's another condition." He placed a crimson velvet box on the table, revealing a pair of ruby earrings.
"You can consider this an engagement gift," the Duke explained. "These are heirloom jewels, worn by every Duke's consort. That's all I ask."
The earrings were simple, unadorned. A closer look revealed a small, delicate family crest glimpsed behind the brilliant rubies in the golden base.
"What a burdensome gift," Han Yoojin remarked. The earrings twirled in his hand, feeling light and effortless. He thought, ironically, when he counted all the gifts Sung Hyunjae had given him, the smaller they were, the heavier they felt.
"Gifts that carry weight are the most effective," the Duke said softly.
He picked up the quill and signed the contract. As Han Yoojin took the contract, his fingertips felt the strength of his signature, piercing the paper. He also inscribed his name and title nearby. If his father knew, he wondered if he would be pleased. Sitting on the other end of the sofa, Han Yoojin finally looked like an heir. He had to make a choice.
With both parties reaching a consensus, the deal was done, just like any other transaction in life.
The Breaker family was naturally informed of the new engagement and the cancellation of the old one. Afterwards, Moon Hyuna came to visit him.
They strolled on the lawn behind the mansion, accompanied by Blackie. The once palm-sized puppy had grown into a sturdy hound, like all the other hounds trained by Moon Hyuna's family, with a glossy black coat, long limbs, agility, and, most importantly, unwavering loyalty.
The conversation began, as usual, with trivial matters of life, but they soon addressed the topic lingering on their minds.
Sung Hyunjae was quite efficient. Shortly after the engagement, he dispatched an envoy to meet with the Breaker family. This meeting had troubled Moon Hyuna's father for a long time, but he couldn't let his dog bite the Duke, so he had to see that annoying guy with all his heart.
The meeting primarily focused on the details of the breach of contract and compensation, and neither side engaged in much debate or procrastination. Afterwards, Earl Breaker regretted his actions and thought he should have increased his claim against the Duke of World Star. After all, the wasted years of youth were gone forever. The incident became widely known, and as victims, the Breaker family still received sympathy from the public.
"Is there anything I can do to compensate you?"
"No need. The money the Duke gave me is more than enough. The Breaker family has no reason to complain."
"When I heard you were sick, I was truly worried. Not just as your fiancée... but also as your friend."
"Hyuna..."
"Seok Simyeong is very tight-lipped. He's truly a conscientious butler, unwilling to reveal anything." Moon Hyuna squatted before the hound, tickling its ears with her fingers. Blackie loved this. Every time Moon Hyuna stroked its ears, the hound would drop its guard, stick out its tongue in delight, and turn its belly out.
"I'm sorry I kept this from you."
"It's not your fault. You made the choice you wanted to make. Isn't that the way everyone does?" She shrugged and let Blackie lick her hand.
"Actually, being an Omega doesn't really matter. Father will nag you for a while, but he's always loved you, even though he's constantly arguing with Lord Haeyeon about the betrothal gift, causing us to fall asleep on the sofa several times. But you..."
"I remember."
"Really?" She lowered her head, her voice weak. "You remember."
Only the sound of the wind rustled between them. Moon Hyuna patted the hound and put her hand away.
"I won't bother you any further. I have many things to attend to at home. Please excuse me." She stood up and bowed politely, not forgetting to compliment him, "The earrings suit you very well. Your Grace."
With these farewells, Lady Blake's straight back and newly cut hair faded further and further from view under the bright sky. She gradually became a dark shadow, never turning back. The shadow was reduced to a blurry speck, and even the speck disappeared.
The hound crouched at his feet, whimpering softly, but without his master's command, it made no move. "Blackie is smart," Han Yoojin thought, "but I wonder how much he truly understands. And how much more do I know than he does?"
People said Sung Hyunjae accepted such an offer out of pity. Han Yoojin agreed; otherwise, he had no other reason to convince himself that Grand Duke Seseong, with his vaster and more fertile territory, would willingly forgo other, better opportunities to be bound to the lingering Haiyan.
They envied Han Yoojin for having obtained the title and wealth that everyone dreamed of without any reason, and complimented him on his luck, which made him the wealthiest person in the entire kingdom. However, amidst all this flattery, Han Yoojin felt that he had lost more than he had gained.
Chapter 1 Completed
Notes:
Chapter 1 ends here. I'll adjust the number of chapters and ratings after I finish Chapter 2 and begin translation.
Thanks for reading this far!
If you like this story, please let me know. Feedback is always welcome.
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