[Warning Sexual Contents Ahead]
Although Sukh held the highest authority in the royal court beside Haneul and commanded the highest military power, his residence was not as grand as those of ministers with lower status.
His simple house, made of wood and stone, consisted of only three buildings: one for himself, one for his maids and servants, and one for guests. Though, in truth, he was barely home and hardly hosted any guests.
He stood in front of his own house, and the doorkeeper opened the door for him. He walked inside, greeted by his head maid.
"My lord, your friend is waiting for you in the family reception hall," Saran said.
"Thank you," Sukh replied, continuing towards his reception hall. Hearing Haneul's voice from inside, he sighed, turned, and walked back to his room instead.
Sukh took a bath and changed his clothes. He began to prepare his luggage, intending to leave at the first light of morning. He finished packing and was about to blow out the candle when the bedroom door was abruptly kicked open.
Haneul stood at the door, looking furious. "I've been waiting for you for three hours. Where have you been?" he demanded, his voice arrogant.
"I don't have as much free time as you," Sukh retorted calmly.
Haneul strode into the room and stared at Sukh. "You have so much time in this world to worry about other people's problems, but you don't have time to sit down and eat with me? What do you take me for?" Haneul's gaze was frantic. Then he looked over Sukh's shoulder and saw the prepared bag on the bed. His eyes darted back to Sukh, wild with agitation. "Are you leaving again?"
"Yes," Sukh confirmed.
"But you just came back," Haneul protested, disbelief in his voice.
"I'm your soldier, not your ordinary citizen," Sukh stated. "It's my duty to protect the borders."
"This responsibility can be given to other Bayarmaas," Haneul argued, his voice softening slightly. "You are not the only capable person in the family. Your uncles and cousins are just as capable as you." He reached out and grabbed Sukh's hands. "Don't take all these responsibilities on your own."
Sukh pulled his hand away. "For this kingdom, I must do this," he insisted.
Haneul was already angry with Sukh, and when Sukh pulled his hand away, his anger intensified. "You're not doing this out of duty… you're just trying to avoid me, aren't you?" He gritted his teeth.
"You know, and I know, my place is not here," Sukh said, his gaze unwavering.
"You're avoiding me because you don't want people to gossip about us behind our backs," Haneul persisted. "Why should you care? All your achievements, you gained them yourself. Your title was not given to you by me, but by the warriors who fought alongside you."
"Release those ministers," Sukh said, changing the subject, his voice firm. "It's not good to behead them."
"I have ordered them to be beheaded, and I will not go back on my word," Haneul declared, his jaw tight.
Sukh looked at Haneul. "Why do you need to behead them? Is there no other solution?"
Haneul sat down on the table and poured himself a cup of water. "No," he said, taking a drink. "They're talking bad about you in front of everyone in the hall."
"Just because they speak ill of me in front of others, you have to execute them?" Sukh pressed, his voice laced with disbelief.
Haneul put down his cup and looked at Sukh. "There is… as long as you are willing," he said with a smile, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He stood up and walked to Sukh. He pulled Sukh into his arms and held him tightly. "There is a saying: keep your loved one close but keep your enemy closer. I disagree. I want to keep my enemy close, but I want to keep my loved one closer—so close that even when I breathe, I could smell their scent."
Sukh looked out the window, seeing white snow fluttering in the wind. "Haneul… it's snowing." He broke free from Haneul's embrace, walked over, and closed the window panel.
Haneul wrapped his arms around Sukh's waist from behind. He kissed Sukh's right cheek. "It is snowing indeed…" He looked at Sukh's face. "You've gotten darker than three months ago when I last saw you."
"I heard that many people froze to death last winter," Sukh said, turning to face Haneul. "Tell your mages to stop the four seasons."
"Why?" Haneul asked, surprised. "Do you remember when we were trapped on Mount Tai, you told me that you liked the change of seasons?"
"Just because I like it, you don't need to make others suffer," Sukh replied, his voice firm.
"It doesn't matter to me who suffers," Haneul said, his gaze intense. "I only care about you."
"You are the king," Sukh countered. "You have to care about the welfare of this kingdom. Don't put all your attention on me."
"I have already dedicated seventy percent to the people and the kingdom," Haneul said, a hint of desperation in his voice. "So, I want to dedicate the remaining thirty percent to you."
"I don't need it," Sukh stated bluntly.
"Say it again, I will—" Haneul began, his voice rising in anger.
"What will you do?" Sukh asked calmly, cutting him off. "Remember, I am not afraid of your threats."
"You know I will never hurt you or the one you love," Haneul conceded, his anger deflating slightly. "So, you're not afraid of my threats."
Sukh turned around to face Haneul. He brushed the hair off Haneul's face and said, "Because I know that behind this angry face is a very dedicated King." He then turned to look out the window again.
"Sukh," Haneul said softly, his voice full of raw emotion. "When I was being chased like a dog, you were the only one who didn't abandon me. When I had nothing to eat, you were the only one who would cut your flesh to feed me. When I needed someone the most, the one who never leaves me is you. So don't deny the effort I want to give you." He rested his head on Sukh's shoulder. "I made a new law three days ago."
"What new law?" Sukh asked, curiosity piqued.
"In Tanzang, all citizens can marry whoever they like without gender discrimination," Haneul announced, a hopeful look in his eyes.
Sukh knew that Haneul had enacted this law because his next move would be to issue a decree for Sukh to marry him openly. He turned around to face Haneul. "I won't marry you," he said, pulling himself away from Haneul.
Haneul turned and looked at Sukh wildly. "Why not?!" he shouted, gritting his teeth, his face contorted in pain and anger. "Why not?!"
"You are clearly legalizing same-sex marriage, so you have an excuse to marry me into the palace," Sukh explained, his voice urgent. "If you do this, your citizens will abandon you. A kingdom can only be strong with the support of its citizens. You have forgotten the First King's story? It was because of his greed and cruelty that he was ultimately doomed. When our ancestors fought against him, it was his courtiers and people who opened the gates of Tanzang to welcome our ancestors."
Haneul turned his head away, refusing to look at Sukh. "I don't remember," he said angrily, though the lie was evident.
Sukh gently turned Haneul's face back to his own and lightly kissed Haneul's chin. "No matter where you are or where I'm going, I want you to know that my love for you and my loyalty will never change." He touched Haneul's left chest, directly over his heart. "You don't need to declare to the whole world when you love someone deeply. As long as you know, I know, and Heaven knows, that's enough."
Haneul lowered his head and kissed Sukh's lips, deeply and passionately. "Sukh… I want you to know that I can hurt anyone, even the Emperor of Heaven, but I will never hurt you."
"Go back and rest," Sukh murmured, his voice soft.
Haneul still refused to release Sukh from his embrace. He said childishly, "It's so cold outside… I don't want to go back… I'll just sleep here tonight."
In the early morning, there were three soft knocks on the door of Sukh's bedroom. "What is it?" Sukh asked.
"My lord, the guards in the palace are here to escort your friends," Saran's voice replied from outside.
"Let them wait a moment," Sukh said. He turned around and saw Haneul still asleep beside him. "Haneul… wake up."
Haneul yawned and asked, groggily, "It's… morning?"
"Your people are waiting for you," Sukh stated.
Haneul turned around and pulled Sukh back into his arms. "Let me hug you for a while. I don't know when I can hug you again."
"Okay," Sukh conceded. "I'll be back in two months."
Haneul lowered his head and began kissing Sukh's neck, slowly trailing down to his nipples. He sucked Sukh's nipples gently.
Sukh gasped. "Don't… it still hurts," he murmured, a mix of pain and pleasure.
Hearing Sukh's rapid breathing, Haneul was further aroused. He slowly reached for Sukh's member and began stroking it, teasing Sukh's nipples with his tongue and lips simultaneously.
Haneul looked up at Sukh, saw his flushed face, and chuckled lightly. "Are you feeling good?" he whispered.
Sukh bit his lower lip and clenched his teeth, trying not to make a sound. "Stop…" he moaned, a muffled sound. "Your people are waiting for you… ah… ah…"
Haneul's voice was husky with desire. "If you don't want them to wait, then release quickly…" He accelerated the speed of his stroking, and his tongue movements also quickened. "Tell me, are you feeling good…"
Sukh covered his mouth with his hand, the sounds escaping him nothing but muffled gasps. After another twenty strokes, Sukh ejaculated.
Haneul looked at his cum-stained hands and smiled. Looking at Sukh's face, he grinned. "I like the way you climax. I like your heavy breathing even more."
"Are you happy now?" Sukh asked, panting.
"Not yet," Haneul replied, still smiling.
"Don't let others wait for you, it's not good," Sukh insisted.
Haneul jumped on top of Sukh and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Oh, my beloved, a man who would never bow to anyone, yet moans pleasurably under my arms. I love you so much."
Haneul spread Sukh's legs apart and slowly inserted his member into Sukh. Sukh's breathing began increasing rapidly. His breathing only made Haneul more excited. Haneul then pushed his whole member all the way into Sukh's body and began to thrust slowly as his tongue entwined with Sukh's.
Haneul panted heavily in Sukh's ear. "Do you feel good?"
"Yes…" Sukh moaned.
"Do you want another orgasm?" Haneul asked as he kissed Sukh.
"Yes…"
Haneul smiled; he was still thrusting deep inside Sukh. He asked, "Do you want me to dig deeper and harder? Huh?"
"Yes…"
"Say it, my love…" Haneul urged, his voice thick with desire. "I want to hear it from you."
"Yes… I want you to dig deeper and harder," Sukh moaned, his body arching into Haneul's thrusts.