Chapter 47: Amnesia Side Story 1: Even if I Lose You Again and Again

“Why is His Majesty not waking up yet?”

Hwaun asked, his eyes bloodshot from staying up all night by the Emperor’s side. The imperial physician, finished with taking the pulse and drenched in a cold sweat, bowed deeply as he replied.

“Noble Consort, there is no major issue with His Majesty’s physical body. He is merely in a deep slumber due to the exhaustion that has accumulated recently. You need not worry too much.”

“Is that so…?”

The physician’s voice was steady and full of conviction, yet Hwaun’s eyes remained clouded with anxiety as he gazed at the Emperor.

Not long ago, an unexpected heavy snowfall had caused significant damage to several provinces. Greatly troubled by the suffering of the people, the Emperor had devoted every ounce of his energy to resolving the crisis, going days without proper sleep. As the physician said, the exhaustion must have been unimaginable.

However, Hwaun could not rest easy. The reason the Emperor had lost consciousness was not merely fatigue, but an accident. Hwaun was tormented by the thought that the accident had been caused by him.

Although the Empress and everyone else had comforted him, saying it wasn’t his fault, Hwaun’s heart felt as if it were being torn into a thousand pieces every time he looked at the unconscious Ihan.

“If only I hadn’t insisted on riding a horse…”

Finally, a deep word of self-reproach spilled from Hwaun’s lips. Unable to watch any longer, Eunuch Oh spoke up cautiously.

“Your Highness, why do you blame yourself so? If His Majesty heard you, he would say it is not right. Since they say there is nothing wrong with his health, please put your mind at ease.”

Eunuch Oh was just as worried, but he knew that if Hwaun’s health failed as well, the Emperor’s burden would only grow heavier once he woke.

Yet Hwaun could not respond; he only stared at Ihan. The moment the most precious person between heaven and earth threw himself to save him kept flashing before his eyes, making his heart drop over and over.

No matter how he thought about it, Hwaun felt it was all his fault.

The incident began with Hwaun’s horse riding. Having received the best care in the Imperial Palace, Hwaun’s health had improved beyond comparison. Accordingly, he had begun consistently learning swordsmanship and horsemanship.

Swordsmanship had been an interest since he was ‘Ha-un,’ but horsemanship was a recent pursuit. Hwaun wanted to ride side-by-side with the Emperor during the spring hunt next year.

The trouble occurred just yesterday. The Emperor, Ihan, had spent hours without moving, processing petitions that poured in from all over. Eunuch Oh, fearing for the Emperor’s health, had earnestly requested that he take a short walk.

Fortunately, Ihan had agreed. His intention was to have a late breakfast and catch a glimpse of Hwaun’s face, which he hadn’t seen all day.

At that time, Hwaun was practicing his riding. Eunuch Oh intended to inform Hwaun so he could greet the Emperor, but Ihan told him to leave him be—he wanted to see the Consort riding.

The riding habit specially made for Hwaun, the only beloved male concubine, was not much different from a male warrior’s attire. At Hwaun’s request, flashy decorations were minimized, and the colors were unified in deep navy or black. Yet, once Hwaun wore it, it seemed to take on a new kind of beauty.

Indeed, the palace was already buzzing with rumors about how elegant and beautiful the Noble Consort looked in his riding gear, like a noble young master.

Among those most captivated by the sight was, of course, Seong Ihan. Knowing that Yeon Hwaun was originally ‘Ha-un,’ Ihan particularly adored the moments when he showed his martial side.

There was even a “tragic” story that on the first day Hwaun wore his riding habit—which the seamstresses had labored over for days—the garment ended up torn and ruined in the Emperor’s bedroom, eventually being discarded.

Thus, Ihan wouldn’t miss a chance to see Hwaun ride. Excited to see Hwaun’s skills improving by the day, Ihan momentarily forgot his administrative worries.

The accident happened unexpectedly. Hwaun, focused on his training, heard that His Majesty had arrived and hurriedly turned his horse. Under the clear winter sun, Hwaun looked breathtaking in his navy riding habit. Hwaun, too, smiled brightly at the sight of the Emperor.

In that instant, the horse—startled by something—began to bolt. The animal was so frantic that no one could easily intervene. If they acted rashly and the Consort was injured, the consequences would be dire.

But one person moved faster than anyone else: Seong Ihan.

“Una!”

The moment he saw the horse rearing, Ihan ran toward him. His followers tried to stop him in horror, but it was no use. In that moment, he was not the Emperor of a nation, but Yeon Hwaun’s lover. The logic of a ruler who puts the state and people first vanished.

There was no thought of the Emperor’s safety being the nation’s safety, nor the judgment that an Emperor should not risk himself for one person. There was only the terrifying fear that Yeon Hwaun might be hurt or lost.

Just as Hwaun, unable to hold on any longer, was thrown from the horse, Ihan lunged with all his might and caught Hwaun in his arms.

“Your Majesty!” “Noble Consort!”

The area turned into chaos. Blood dripped from Hwaun’s arm, which he had injured during the fall.

But there was a bigger problem. Ihan, who had fallen while shielding Hwaun, had lost consciousness. Even in his unconscious state, his arms were locked tightly around Hwaun, as if desperate to keep his lover safe.

“Your Majesty, please… please wake up…!”

Hwaun’s desperate voice, on the verge of tears, echoed through the air. But despite the scream-like plea of the one he loved so dearly, the Emperor did not wake.

“Highness… you must close your eyes for at least a moment. At this rate, you will collapse too.”

It had been two days. Seeing Hwaun standing guard over the Emperor without a wink of sleep, Ajin finally began to urge him.

Hwaun’s torn arm was not a light injury and required rest. Seeing him neither eating nor sleeping made Ajin frantic with worry.

“Eunuch Oh is here, so please sleep for even half an hour, Highness. Only then will you have the strength to continue nursing him.”

“I am fine, Ajin. You should go and rest. You haven’t slept properly because of me.”

“How can I rest when you are like this? I am sturdy, but I worry for your weak constitution.”

Ajin made a dejected face. Though Hwaun’s health had improved, it was impossible to completely overcome his natural frailty. Hwaun still fell seriously ill from time to time, and especially in winter, the lack of sleep was dangerous.

“I am fine.”

Naturally, Hwaun did not budge. Ajin hadn’t actually expected him to leave the Emperor’s side.

“Highness, then do this.”

Eunuch Oh, unable to watch any longer, stepped in. Knowing the Emperor’s heart better than anyone, he feared the “storm” that would brew if Hwaun collapsed before the Emperor woke.

“We will all withdraw, so please lie down beside His Majesty for a while. It is as if His Majesty is merely sleeping, and if you are close by, it will surely give him strength.”

By law, this was unthinkable. No matter how favored a concubine was, to enter the bedchamber without permission and dare to climb into the Emperor’s bed was a crime punishable by death—for the concubine, the eunuch, and the servants alike.

Yet, Eunuch Oh, the most loyal servant who knew the laws better than anyone, was the one suggesting this “arrogant” act.

“Please do so, Highness.”

None of the servants present were shocked. Even Hwaun, who usually treated the Emperor with the utmost etiquette, listened calmly.

This was the result of the affection Seong Ihan had shown. A vast, clear love that everyone in the palace was certain of—a love that no one doubted or questioned. The favor was so absolute that no one questioned Hwaun’s status as a “special exception.”

Hwaun looked around the room. The Emperor wouldn’t wake, and the Consort wouldn’t sleep, meaning their followers couldn’t rest either. Hwaun finally nodded slowly.

“…Very well. I shall take my rest with His Majesty, so all of you may withdraw.”

Relief flooded Ajin’s face.

“You’ve made a good decision, Highness. I will bring your sleeping robes at once.”

Ajin knew Hwaun wouldn’t fall asleep easily even in his robes. But simply lying down was better than standing rigid all night, and for that, she was grateful.