Chapter 23: Affection, Demanded

“Oh dear.”

The Emperor let out a soft chuckle and placed his hand on Haeryeong’s forehead.

The sticky sound of cold sweat being wiped by his warm hand made Haeryeong flinch and tremble.

“You certainly are a handful.”

“I find myself in quite a difficult position, as it seems I shall have to teach you every little thing from scratch.”

Despite his words, his expression looked quite entertained.

Wiping away the sweat soaking Haeryeong’s brow, the Emperor raised his voice toward the outside of the bed.

“Bring a towel.”

A moment later, from outside the bed, Iryeon’s hand carefully parted the canopy and offered a towel.

The Emperor took it and personally wiped the cold sweat from Haeryeong’s forehead and face.

He looked as though he were on the verge of humming a tune, appearing thoroughly pleased with himself.

“I am… deeply sorry.”

To have the Emperor personally wipe away his sweat was a luxury beyond compare.

The only problem was the discomfort in the heart of the one receiving it.

Haeryeong forced his limp arm upward.

“I shall do it myself.”

Seeing the trembling fingertips, the man let out a short laugh and spoke in a feigned tender voice.

“I doubt you can even grip a towel with those hands.”

“It is fine, so just stay still and receive my care.”

“I am sor—”

“Shall I issue an Imperial decree to forbid you from saying that word ever again?”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

“Sorrow, grace… they pop out of you at the slightest touch. Honestly.”

“Spouses are not meant to keep such a distance from one another.”

The Emperor, having finished wiping the sweat, tossed the towel outside the bed and pulled Haeryeong closer.

“Haeryeong-ah. Let us sleep now.”

Lying cradled in his arms, Haeryeong let out a small sigh.

‘When will this man return to his private quarters?’

‘Surely he doesn’t intend to stay here until the heat cycle begins.’

As his eyes suddenly grew alert and began to dart around, the Emperor whispered from above his head.

“Either sleep, or we can continue what we were doing earlier.”

“I am already asleep.”

At Haeryeong’s nonsensical reply, the Emperor’s body shook with laughter.

Unable to understand what was so funny, Haeryeong simply closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

As the tension left his body, sleep gradually pulled at him.

His frame, which had been as stiff as a wooden block, slowly loosened, and as his breathing deepened, the Emperor’s arm pulled him into a tighter embrace.

The man’s breath, still carrying traces of a chuckle, tickled his forehead.

Half-asleep and unaware of what he was saying, Haeryeong’s lips moved in a mumble.

“Stop laughing. It is irritating.”

****

When he woke in the morning, the Emperor’s expression was strange once more.

Facing a lukewarm look that seemed to radiate some unknown dissatisfaction, Haeryeong simply blinked his sleep-filled eyes.

“Do you have nothing to say to me?”

“Did you… have a peaceful night’s rest?”

“Not that.”

Haeryeong pondered blankly for a moment before quickly giving up.

‘What is his grievance the moment we wake?’

“I am not sure.”

“Ha.”

The Emperor let out a short, hollow laugh, while Haeryeong simply tilted his head in bewilderment.

‘Did I curse at him in my sleep?’

“Fine, let us just have our morning gruel.”

“Are you not attending the morning assembly?”

The daily assembly was quite early, and usually, he would leave the moment he opened his eyes, yet today he was lingering even during the morning meal.

The Emperor looked at Haeryeong with a crooked expression and asked back.

“Do you want me to get lost that badly?”

Haeryeong was momentarily speechless.

“It is not that. I only worried that the officials might be waiting.”

“If you are to be a wise ruler, you must not take state affairs lightly.”

“I can prepare for court here, so it does not matter if I am a little late.”

Haeryeong offered a faint smile to the man who seemed desperate to pick a fight, his spite practically clinging to him.

“Your Majesty. Did I perhaps make a mistake during the night?”

“Do you truly not remember?”

“Pardon…?”

‘Did I really blabber some nonsense in my sleep?’

As he shifted his wide eyes anxiously, the man let out a small snort.

“It seems you think everything is settled if you simply claim not to remember.”

“You remember neither our marriage nor last night. You certainly live an easy life.”

Haeryeong didn’t know what to do about memories that truly weren’t there.

While he wore a dejected expression from the sudden discouragement, the morning meal was brought in.

Placed directly on the bed, the tray held milk porridge that smelled of savory pine nuts, accompanied by water kimchi and several side dishes.

Being scolded immediately upon waking made Haeryeong feel bloated and his appetite vanished.

When Haeryeong didn’t approach the food, the Emperor paused with his spoon and sent him another sharp look.

“Are you not eating?”

Haeryeong looked at him with a sense of injustice for a moment before moving toward the tray and picking up his spoon.

Seeing Haeryeong begin to eat, the Emperor let out another short laugh and, without further comment, began to eat his porridge.

A sigh escaped Haeryeong; since the man was in a foul mood since morning, it seemed unlikely he would be allowed to go to the Office of Falconry today.

‘I suppose I was looking forward to it.’

He found it absurd that his heart was so lacking—that despite everything he had suffered, he still had expectations left.

Agonized, he was picking at his porridge when he stopped under the weight of the Emperor’s gaze.

“What is it?”

“It is nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing.”

Haeryeong glanced at him before dropping his eyes back to the tray.

Knowing the man wouldn’t look away until he spoke, Haeryeong stammered out his question.

“I suppose… I cannot go to see the hawks today?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Since Your Majesty seems displeased… I feared my actions might be seen as thoughtless.”

The Emperor laughed, his voice sounding a bit softer than before, and reached across the tray to rub Haeryeong’s cheek.

“Would I revoke a promise over such a trivial thing? Just what do you take me for, Empress?”

‘I take you for the world’s greatest swindler.’

Haeryeong stared at the Emperor before bowing his head deeply.

“I am sorry.”

The Emperor pulled his hand away and placed a piece of salted guts on top of the porridge.

“Is that why you were sitting there with such a pouty face? Because you were upset?”

“…Yes.”

“Since the Empress is acting so pampered, I shall overlook it this once. Finish your meal.”

‘Overlook what?’ Haeryeong thought. ‘You’ve already vented every bit of rage you had.’

He felt stifled by the injustice, but since he was still allowed to go to the Office of Falconry, he decided to let it pass quietly.

He feared that adding any more words might cause the man to revoke his permission.

Suddenly, the Emperor became quite tender, spending the rest of the meal placing various side dishes onto Haeryeong’s spoon.

Clear one moment, cloudy the next.

If only he could predict where that man’s temperament would flip, he could at least be careful; instead, it was like constant lightning bolts from a clear sky.

Sighs he couldn’t even voice continued to pile up in his chest.

After the meal was cleared and he rose from the bed, the Emperor finished his preparations for the assembly with the help of his servants.

Haeryeong, also ready, stepped out to see the Emperor off.

Before crossing the threshold of the Empress’s Palace, the Emperor suddenly turned around.

“Empress. The Office of Falconry is quite far.”

“I shall send a palanquin for you, so travel safely.”

‘Why is he smiling so sweetly again?’

Haeryeong lowered his eyes and bowed.

“Your Majesty’s grace is as vast as the sea; I do not know how to repay it.”

“If you are so grateful, then give me a gift.”

‘I should have known.’

Nothing ever passed without a price.

‘Is he like this with the Noble Consort as well?’

‘Does he demand something every time he sends those expensive gifts?’

A smile touched Haeryeong’s lips. ‘Of course not.’

The Emperor closed the distance between them and tilted his head down.

Since he wasn’t wearing his formal crown, his long hair slid over his shoulder and swayed in the air.

Looking at him, Haeryeong met the smiling gaze of the Emperor.

“Give me a proper farewell greeting.”

Haeryeong blinked. ‘How am I supposed to bow when he is sticking to me like this?’

Before he could step back and retreat, the man wrapped an arm around his waist and whispered again.

“The Empress is truly lacking in intuition. Would I have stopped my busy journey just to receive a mere bow?”

Haeryeong finally realized what he was demanding and swallowed hard.

“But… there are so many eyes from the servants.”

“Your shyness is part of your charm, Empress.”

The Emperor waved his hand to make the following servants turn their backs, then urged him with a beaming gaze.

“Now, is that settled?”

Since it was difficult to refuse any further, Haeryeong decided to just close his eyes and get it over with.

‘I decided to act like the Consort, so I should be able to handle this much.’ He told himself.

As he tilted his head and lowered his eyes, the man’s slightly parted lips filled his vision.

His breathing grew shallow with tension.

He pressed his lips against the man’s and squeezed his eyes shut.

The Emperor pulled Haeryeong in with the arm around his waist.

Unintentionally, Haeryeong’s lips parted in surprise, and the man delved inside.

Every time the wet, long muscle swirled through his mouth, a shiver ran down Haeryeong’s spine.

After entwining their tongues like snakes and sucking until the root of Haeryeong’s tongue ached, the Emperor finally pulled away.

He kissed Haeryeong’s forehead and whispered quietly.

“I shall be busy today, so I likely won’t see you until dinner.”

“If you bring back a beautiful hawk, show it to me then.”

“I shall do so.”

“Then, I will see you later.”

“Go safely, Your Majesty.”

Haeryeong remained bowed and held his breath until the Emperor’s entourage had crossed the threshold and the sliding doors were closed once more.

Otherwise, he felt a massive sigh would burst out of him.

He held his breath until his face turned red, again and again.