The following morning, Seo Yul made a decision.
He would avoid the king.
It was a sensible decision. A necessary one.
After all, he couldn't understand why His Majesty had stayed beside him all night. He couldn't understand why the king had held him so carefully, as though he were something precious. And he certainly couldn't understand why remembering it made his heart beat so strangely.
Perhaps the king had simply pitied him.
Yes. That had to be it.
Seo Yul nodded to himself, satisfied with his explanation. Then he remembered the king's arm around his waist. His face burned.
He immediately covered it with both hands.
"This is ridiculous," he whispered.
"My lord?" Seo Yul nearly jumped out of his skin. Yun Hee stood at the entrance, holding a tray of breakfast. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No."
"You seem rather red."
"I am perfectly fine."
Yun Hee looked unconvinced but wisely said nothing. She placed the tray before him.
"His Majesty sent these." Seo Yul's fingers stopped moving.
"What?"
"Breakfast. The royal kitchen prepared it especially for you." He stared at the tray.
There was warm rice porridge, a small plate of seasoned vegetables, and a cup of his favorite tea.
Seo Yul slowly lowered his gaze.
Why would he remember something like that?
"Did His Majesty say anything?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Yun Hee smiled faintly.
"He only instructed the servants to ensure you ate properly."
"Oh."
Seo Yul picked up his spoon.
He tried very hard not to smile.
He failed. And then, remembering whom that smile was for, he immediately returned to his usual expression.
Yun Hee noticed everything. She simply pretended not to.
The king had intended to visit the Eastern Wing that morning. He had even dismissed two meetings to make time for it. Yet when he reached the corridor leading to Seo Yul's quarters, he stopped. Through the open courtyard, he saw Seo Yul walking with Hwan Jae. His younger brother was talking animatedly, gesturing with his hands while Seo Yul listened. Then Hwan Jae said something that made Seo Yul laugh. It was a small laugh. Brief and quiet. But it changed his entire face. Hwan Seong had seen Seo Yul frightened. Silent. Sick with fever. He had seen tears gather in those eyes, even when the boy tried desperately to hide them. But he rarely saw him laugh. The king stood motionless. He should have been pleased.
Seo Yul was recovering. He was spending time with someone he trusted. He was beginning to feel comfortable in the palace.
So why did the sight leave something unpleasant twisting inside his chest?
"Brother!"
Hwan Jae noticed him first. He bowed, and Seo Yul immediately followed. The laughter vanished from Seo Yul's face. "Your Majesty." There it was again. That careful distance. Hwan Seong's gaze settled on him. "Are you feeling better?" "Yes, Your Majesty. I am grateful for your concern." The answer was polite. Perfectly polite.
And somehow, it irritated the king more than it should have.
"You need not speak as though you are addressing the entire court whenever we meet." Seo Yul looked startled.
"I apologize, Your Majesty."
Hwan Jae glanced between them.
What happened here?
He had never seen his brother so strangely dissatisfied with an apology.
"Anyway," Hwan Jae interrupted cheerfully, "I was going to the library. Would you like to join?"
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Hwan Jae blinked.
The king cleared his throat.
"I have matters to attend to."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Seo Yul replied.
Hwan Seong looked at him for another moment. Seo Yul kept his eyes lowered. Finally, the king turned and walked away.
Hwan Jae watched him disappear around the corner. Then he looked at Seo Yul. "Did you quarrel with my brother?" "No." "Did he scold you?" "No." "Then why does he look like someone stole his favorite sword?" Seo Yul stared at him. "I wouldn't know." And he genuinely didn't.
That afternoon, Lady Baek So-Hwa received an unexpected invitation. The Queen Mother wished to see her. She arrived at the Queen Mother's residence dressed in pale pink silk, her hair adorned with delicate pearls.
The older woman welcomed her with tea.
"I hope you are settling comfortably into the palace."
"Very comfortably, Your Majesty. Your kindness has made my stay a pleasure."
The Queen Mother smiled.
"You have been spending time with my son?"
"Whenever His Majesty permits it."
"And how does he treat you?"
So-Hwa lowered her eyes modestly.
"His Majesty is considerate."
It wasn't a lie.
The king had never insulted her. He had never treated her cruelly. But consideration was not affection. And she was beginning to understand the difference.
The Queen Mother set down her cup.
"Hwan Seong has always been difficult to approach. He has little patience for matters that do not concern the kingdom."
"I have noticed."
"That is why I chose you. You are intelligent, patient, and understand your responsibilities."
So-Hwa bowed her head.
"I will do my best not to disappoint you."
The Queen Mother's expression softened.
"Good. I want you to become someone he can rely on." For a moment, So-Hwa said nothing. Then she lifted her eyes. "May I ask Your Majesty something?" "Go ahead."
"Does His Majesty often visit the Eastern Wing?"
The Queen Mother's fingers stilled around her teacup.
"Why do you ask?"
"I noticed that Prince Seo Yul has been receiving considerable attention from the royal household." She spoke gently, as though the matter were nothing more than casual curiosity. "I wondered whether there was a particular reason."
The Queen Mother's expression grew unreadable.
"Seo Yul is a prisoner of war. His circumstances are unusual."
"Of course." So-Hwa smiled. She had received no answer. But she had learned something far more useful. The Queen Mother was watching Seo Yul, too.
That evening, Seo Yul sat alone in the library.
Hwan Jae had been summoned to the training grounds, leaving him with a book he had been trying to read for nearly an hour.
He had reached the same paragraph six times. Every time, his thoughts wandered.
To the king's visit. To the breakfast. To the way Hwan Seong had looked at him that morning. And, most embarrassingly, to the previous night. Seo Yul shut the book.
"This is becoming a problem," he muttered.
"What is?"
Seo Yul nearly dropped the book.
King Hwan Seong stood at the entrance.
Seo Yul scrambled to his feet and bowed.
"Your Majesty."
The king entered, his expression unreadable.
"I asked you a question."
Seo Yul hesitated. "I was referring to my inability to concentrate on my studies."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hwan Seong looked at the book lying on the table.
"What are you reading?"
Seo Yul showed him the cover.
The king pulled out the chair beside him.
"Sit."
Seo Yul obeyed, keeping a careful distance.
Hwan Seong noticed.
He noticed the way Seo Yul kept his hands folded in his lap. The way he refused to look directly at him. The way every small movement seemed carefully considered.
"Have I frightened you again?" the king asked.
Seo Yul looked up in surprise.
"No, Your Majesty."
"Then why are you avoiding me?"
The question silenced him.
Seo Yul's fingers tightened around the edge of his robe. He couldn't possibly explain. Because you held me all night. Because I keep remembering it. Because I don't know why I wanted you to stay. Instead, he lowered his eyes.
"I would never dare avoid Your Majesty."
Hwan Seong leaned back in his chair.
"Look at me, Seo Yul."
Slowly, Seo Yul obeyed.
Their eyes met.
For one suspended moment, neither spoke.
The king wanted to ask whether Seo Yul remembered waking in his arms. He wanted to know whether the boy had been frightened. Whether he had regretted it. Instead, he asked the only question he could manage.
"Have you been eating properly?"
Seo Yul blinked.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Sleeping?"
"Yes."
"Taking your medicine?"
"Yes."
The king studied him.
"Then why do you look as though you are waiting for me to punish you?"
Seo Yul's lips parted. No answer came.
Because the truth was that he didn't know what the king wanted from him anymore.
And not knowing frightened him. Hwan Seong finally stood.
"Continue your reading."
Seo Yul bowed his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The king walked toward the door. He had nearly reached it when Seo Yul spoke.
"Your Majesty?"
Hwan Seong stopped. Seo Yul seemed to regret speaking almost immediately. Still, he gathered his courage.
"About last night..."
The king turned around.
For the first time that evening, his expression changed.
"What about it?"
Seo Yul looked down at his hands.
"Why did Your Majesty stay?"
Silence.
Hwan Seong could have given him a simple answer.
Because you were cold.
Because you were ill.
Because you needed someone.
All of them were true.
None of them was the whole truth.
"Because you were shaking," he finally said. "I couldn't leave you like that."
Seo Yul slowly nodded.
"I understand."
But he didn't.
Not entirely.
And when the king left, Seo Yul sat motionless for a long time, trying to understand why a perfectly reasonable answer left him feeling strangely disappointed.
Neither of them noticed Lady Baek So-Hwa standing beyond the open corridor.
She had come looking for the king.
Instead, she had heard enough to understand that something was changing between them.
Her gaze followed Hwan Seong as he disappeared into the darkness.
Then she looked toward the library.
Toward Seo Yul.
Her expression remained pleasant.
But her hands tightened around her fan.
She had come to the palace intending to win the king's heart.
She had not expected to find someone who might already have a place in it.