Chapter 34: Side Story 6: The Echo in the Hall and the Future of the Bloodline

“Ah! Ha-ng…! Ngh!”

Hwaun finally lost the battle against his own voice, letting out high-pitched cries of ecstasy. His inner vow to remain silent since this was the Hall of State had been swept away by Ihan’s relentless, violent movements.

Every place where their flesh met felt as if it were being branded with fire. Though he knew it was physically impossible, it felt as if Ihan’s member was reaching all the way to his throat. It was hot, stinging, and painful—but the problem was that this savage sensation was far from being only pain.

“Hng…! Ng! Ha-ugh…!”

In sync with the heavy thrusting that hammered against his insides, Hwaun’s moans began to shift in tone. The pillar of flesh filled his entire inner walls so completely that Ihan didn’t even need to search for a sensitive spot; he was rubbing and piercing every part of Hwaun’s pleasure at once.

“Ma-jesty, nngh…! Ah, please… it’s too… hng!”

“Do not provoke me further.”

“Haa…! It’s too fast… ha-ng! Ng!”

Ihan’s warning didn’t truly reach Hwaun, and Hwaun’s pleas, regardless of his intent, acted only as a provocation to Ihan. To the Emperor, Hwaun’s tearful voice crying that it was too fast sounded like an entreaty to go faster.

Ihan hooked Hwaun’s weakened legs over his shoulders. As the gap between his thighs narrowed, the pressure intensified. Ihan increased his speed, driving himself even deeper.

The fabric of the clothes they still wore was bothersome, yet Ihan loved the contrast of Hwaun’s snow-white skin against his own Black Dragon Robe. The orchid he had painted on Hwaun’s thigh had smeared completely during the struggle, but even that looked so ecstatically beautiful it took his breath away. With his flushed body exposed and his silk garments tangled around his arms like scattered petals, Hwaun was a walking aphrodisiac.

The Emperor’s member swelled even larger within the narrow confines of Hwaun’s belly as he reached his peak.

“Hmph! Ng! Ah-ng!”

“Una… Una…….”

The glans hammered violently against the back of the inner wall until it finally gave way. As he pushed into that deepest sanctum, the Emperor let out a boiling growl from deep in his throat and began to spill his seed inside Hwaun.

“Hng…… ah… ha-uu……!”

With eyes glazed and hazy, Hwaun trembled at the sudden rush of heat filling his insides. His own member, which had become erect again, was dripping with fluid.

Stimulated by the sight, Ihan continued to move his hips even before the ejaculation was finished. Hwaun shook his head frantically, overwhelmed.

“Stop! Don’t move… nngh…!”

“Una… look at me.”

“Your Majesty… my Lord…….”

Only then did Ihan release the legs draped over his shoulders. He leaned down to whisper against Hwaun’s cheeks and lips, kissing him softly. Hwaun blinked his tear-filled eyes, meeting his lover’s gaze. Ihan loved how Hwaun responded so affectionately even in this state; he loved him so much that even reflecting the whole world back at him wouldn’t be enough.

“I love you deeply…”

Confessing a sincerity that could never be fully expressed, Ihan entwined his tongue with Hwaun’s. Although the Emperor’s member remained firm and full within him, Hwaun willingly wrapped his arms around Ihan’s neck. He felt he could die happy as long as he was loved entirely by this man.

In the Hall of State, a place meant only for the solemn dignity of the empire, wet moans began to echo once more.

“In the end, my brother says he cannot come.”

Jeong-bin (Noble Consort Song-hyeon), who had arrived early and was waiting, pouted her lips and grumbled the moment Suk-bi (Noble Consort Bi-young) sat down beside her. Today’s gathering had been organized by the Empress, who suggested the Inner Court enjoy a play together for the first time in a long while.

Bi-young replied with a smile, “I heard the news on my way here as well.”

“Why did he have to feel unwell today of all days? I’ve been waiting for so long.”

“He has always been of a weak constitution, what can be done?”

Despite Bi-young’s answer, Song-hyeon continued to puff out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. Normally, Hwaun should have been here to enjoy the play. Except for morning audiences with the Empress, it had been a long time since the consorts had gathered for a leisure activity, and Song-hyeon had been looking forward to it for days.

However, news had suddenly arrived that Hwaun was unwell and resting at Jeong-an Palace. Song-hyeon narrowed her eyes, looked around to check if anyone was listening, and whispered secretly to Bi-young.

“This is all His Majesty’s fault.”

“Pardon?”

“I looked into it, and they say my brother spent time alone with His Majesty earlier, and immediately after that, he took to his bed and hasn’t been able to get up.”

I’m certain His Majesty pushed him too hard again.

Though Song-hyeon was somewhat immature, she knew better than to say the last part out loud, so she mumbled it. Still, Bi-young had no trouble guessing the nature of her complaint.

Compared to the past, when Hwaun would faint at the slightest provocation, his health had improved remarkably. However, it was true that he was still delicate compared to others. Especially during the change of seasons, his condition would often worsen, requiring extra care. Since the weather was currently transitioning from summer to autumn, things had been going well—until today’s sudden “illness.” It was natural for Song-hyeon, who cared for Hwaun like an actual brother, to be upset.

However, no matter how upset Song-hyeon was, she couldn’t possibly match the Emperor’s feelings. Bi-young quietly soothed Song-hyeon while imagining the Emperor’s face, which she could see vividly in her mind even without being there.

“His Majesty did not do it on purpose, so why say such things?”

“But…!”

“Do not overstep your bounds just because His Majesty is lenient with you.”

Bi-young’s voice turned heavy. Song-hyeon realized her mistake and bowed her head with a serious face.

“Suk-bi is right. I will be careful….”

“Let us not forget that the Emperor, the Empress, and the Noble Consort (Hwaun) are always generous and merciful toward us.”

“Yes, Suk-bi.”

Song-hyeon bowed slightly again. Only then did Bi-young relax her expression and speak in a softer tone.

“By the way… I heard you brought animals into Jin-nyeong-heon?”

True to her nature of not holding onto grievances, Song-hyeon’s face brightened immediately.

“Yes! I brought in a puppy and a kitten, and I lose track of time just watching them lately.”

“I should send over some gifts for them next time.”

“I would accept them gladly! They eat so well and are both so noisy—it’s like having little boys running around!”

Bi-young offered a faint, ambiguous smile at Song-hyeon’s words. The phrase “little boys” struck a chord in her heart.

Long before the Emperor began to cherish Hwaun, Song-hyeon had never been interested in court favor, and she was even less interested in producing a prince. Compared to other women her age, she was still young at heart and feared everything from pregnancy to childbirth and childcare. Thus, she likely felt no regret or fear regarding the fact that the succession was now a distant prospect.

Listening to Song-hyeon chatter about how cute the small animals were, Bi-young looked into her own heart. The reason she was suddenly thinking about children again was because of a secret message the Empress had recently shared with her.

The Empress had whispered that she was secretly searching for any imperial bloodlines growing outside the palace. Though she didn’t add further detail, Bi-young immediately knew what it meant.

The Empress intended to install a child she did not birth herself as the Crown Prince. Since realizing this, Bi-young had been contemplating what the existence of a child meant to her.

When she first entered the palace, she felt a compulsion to win the Emperor’s favor, bear a prince, and secure her family’s position. But after meeting the Empress and hearing her honest thoughts, Bi-young had hoped—and hoped again—that she would never bear a child before the Empress did.

As the days the Empress remained without child grew longer, Bi-young felt anxious, and she felt more relief than resentment at the Emperor’s choice to prevent the concubines from conceiving.