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Join the Server“Our King wishes for a deeper bond with His Imperial Majesty of Yeoran.”
“A deeper bond, indeed.”
Gangcheon let out a smirk as he sat upon the dragon throne.
“Is the King of Yojin attempting to act as my matchmaker? However, I fear I cannot give an answer without first obtaining the Empress’s permission.”
Gangcheon turned toward Haeryeong, ignoring the envoy’s forced smile.
“Empress?”
Where Gangcheon’s gaze landed, Haeryeong was not just pale, but deathly ashen, his lips trembling violently.
His unfocused pupils were also vibrating so intensely it was impossible to even guess what he was seeing.
“Empress.”
Gangcheon tried calling him softly.
However, there was no answer; the trembling in the man’s pupils only intensified.
Furthermore, Haeryeong was gripping his robes on his thighs as if he were trying to tear the fabric apart.
‘Was he startled by something?’
It was a reaction as if he had seen a ghost.
“Haeryeong-ah.”
As Gangcheon drew closer, the man let out a sharp, terrified gasp.
“What is the matter?”
Moisture began to gather in his wide-open eyes.
He managed to blink, but then squeezed his eyes shut, biting his lip until it turned white.
“Haeryeong-ah.”
When Gangcheon whispered and touched the back of his hand to the man’s cheek, Haeryeong flinched in absolute shock and answered.
“Your… your servant… shall follow Your Majesty’s decision.”
Gangcheon was more concerned with the chill of the man’s cheek than the answer itself.
Despite having already drunk several cups of wine, the face was cold and damp, as if he were breaking out in a cold sweat rather than radiating heat.
“Why are you like this? What startled you so?”
Haeryeong lowered his finely trembling eyelids and exhaled slowly.
“Regrettably… your servant is unaccustomed to swords and was startled by the sound.”
“Oh dear. How can you be so faint-hearted; what am I to do with you?”
As he rubbed and soothed the man’s cheek, his complexion seemed to return slightly.
‘Was he truly startled by the sound of the blade being drawn?’
Still shivering, Haeryeong scanned the surroundings.
Only then did Gangcheon notice the gazes of everyone in the hall pouring toward them.
Everyone—from the Noble Consort nearby to the Yojin envoys, the officials enjoying the banquet, and the court servants busy attending to them—was staring in their direction.
Gangcheon gave a crooked smile at the faint air of shock spreading among them.
‘I’ve drawn so much attention; there will be trouble tomorrow.’
He had intended to pay more attention to the Empress specifically to provoke the Consort and the Minister of Rites today.
But just now, he had been so distracted he hadn’t even given that plan a thought.
‘Even I am this surprised; how must it have looked to others?’
Since it had resulted in even more provocation than expected, he should have been worried.
To the eyes of his enemies, the Empress would now appear as his clear weakness.
Even if not tomorrow, trouble was bound to erupt sooner or later.
Yet, as he touched those soft, white cheeks, nothing else could enter his mind.
What could be done?
The spy had not yet been caught, and the hunt was scheduled for tomorrow.
Fretting today wouldn’t create a solution, so for now, he decided to simply soothe the Empress’s startled heart.
As Gangcheon continued to stroke his cheek without pulling his hand away, the color of Haeryeong’s downcast eyes began to shift.
As a flush bloomed around his eyes, his face also grew warm.
“It seems you have finally calmed down.”
“Your grace is boundless.”
Even though he knew Haeryeong kept stealing glances toward the Yojin envoys, it was not easy to tear his eyes away.
The shimmering pupils, the reddened cheeks, and the temples—it felt as though they were all seducing him, refusing to let his gaze go.
Gangcheon let out a sigh and finally withdrew his hand.
It was difficult to settle his own lingering regret.
After a brief pause, Gangcheon posed the question he had intended to ask.
“It seems Yojin wishes to offer a concubine.”
Haeryeong lifted his downcast eyes, looking at him as if to ask why he was mentioning that.
“Did you not tell me before that I must obtain your permission?”
Since he had been hurt by the silent induction of the Consort in the past, Gangcheon felt he could not do the same this time.
More than that, he had no desire to take in any more concubines.
Thus, he intended to use the Empress as a pretext for refusal.
However, the Empress truly lacked even a grain of tact.
“How can you ask me regarding a matter of national importance? Please discuss it with your officials and reach a decision.”
‘I would rather die than deal with this.’
Gangcheon smacked his lips bitterly and turned toward the Yojin delegation.
Their expressions had already hardened completely, but Gangcheon wore a wide smile.
“So, who is this youth you wish to offer as tribute?”
They wouldn’t have brought just anyone.
Likely a son or nephew of the Yojin King.
“He is the youngest prince of our Yojin.”
“Aha.”
Gangcheon propped his chin on his hand with a bored look.
“Then I shall decide after consulting with my ministers once the Founding Festival has concluded.”
He would stall for time and then refuse when the delegation prepared to return.
Gangcheon waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs behind him to take away their gifts.
Even after the Yojin delegation withdrew, envoys from several other nations presented various tributes.
After dealing with them indifferently, it was finally the turn of the envoys from Yeonseo.
‘It would have been fine if they had come first.’
This order, too, had been arranged by the Empress.
Gangcheon had permitted it, but seeing the Empress’s face brighten so noticeably made him feel a bit of regret.
If they had greeted him first, the Empress would have smiled much sooner.
“Lee Heamyung, the second son, and Lee Heasu, the third sister of the King of Yeonseo, present our greetings to His Imperial Majesty of Yeoran. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the invitation to this great national event.”
Waiting until they finished their long, prepared greeting, Gangcheon rose from his seat and walked around the table.
He immediately grabbed the hand of Heamyung, who was just lifting his head after finishing his bow.
“You have worked hard on your long journey. Had you arrived earlier, I would have personally greeted you with a grand welcome, and I regret that I could not. I feel even more regretful that our greetings are shared so late.”
The two wore troubled expressions on their faces, which looked as innocent as Haeryeong’s.
Gangcheon led them closer to the banquet table and called for Haeryeong behind him.
“The Empress is meeting his family after so long, yet the seating is too far; what shall we do? I shall have seats arranged here, so please, do not be shy and join us.”
Before Haeryeong could decline, Gangcheon ordered the nearby eunuchs to arrange the seating.
As he led the two, who were looking at each other in bewilderment, back to the newly prepared seats, Haeryeong offered a flustered yet joyful smile.
It was a shame he wasn’t smiling at the Emperor, but seeing him smile at all was good.
It was a truly strange feeling.
Watching the family converse warmly, he felt the gaze of the Consort sitting beside him.
Gangcheon lifted the wine ewer toward Sirak.
“I have failed to pay you much mind today, Consort.”
Sirak didn’t even pick up his cup, simply staring intently at Gangcheon’s face.
“Why do you look at me so?”
“Your servant was staring because I wondered if you were truly the Emperor I knew.”
Instead of pouring wine for the Consort, Gangcheon filled his own cup and let out a chuckle.
Before lifting the cup to his lips and swallowing the liquid, Gangcheon whispered:
“Have I changed? If that is how you feel, perhaps you are right.”
Though sweet wine had been prepared for the Empress and the Consort, the liquor felt bitter as it went down his throat.
‘Have I changed?’
If he were to ask himself, it seemed so.
However, far more things remained unchanged.
Gangcheon believed that if anything had changed, it was his relationship with the Empress or the Consort, not himself.
Gangcheon actually wanted to ask Sirak: who was the one who had truly changed?
And if the man were to answer that he himself had not changed, then Gangcheon was curious about what his heart had been like from the very beginning.
Why had he come to him? What kind of plot had he hatched with the Minister of Rites?
There was a mountain of things he wanted to ask, but they were questions that could not be voiced.
Gangcheon gulped down those questions along with his wine and gave a bitter smile.
Then, he suddenly spotted the back of the Empress’s head as he turned away from him to smile at his brother.
‘How can you be so stingy with your smiles for me, yet act so excited with them?’
His mouth felt dry for no reason.
The banquet continued until late into the night.
Sirak, who had been sitting stiffly with a look of displeasure, withdrew to his quarters before sunset.
Haeryeong had been joyfully exchanging cups with his siblings from Yeonseo until late evening, his face now as red as a chili pepper ripened in the autumn sun.
Gangcheon ordered Head Court Lady Yang to gather him up and take him to the Great Hall.
After that, he continued to enjoy the banquet with those who remained.
No, it wasn’t enjoyment, as he wasn’t having fun.
He was merely keeping his post because he was the host.
However, there was one thing.
Hearing stories of Haeryeong’s childhood from the drunken Heamyung was quite entertaining.
As Heamyung and Heasu told stories he never knew, Gangcheon tilted his wine cup with a subtle smile on his lips.
Even without snacks, their stories served as a side dish, ensuring his mouth was never bored.
Looking at the two of them, the three siblings were so identical that he could see exactly how Haeryeong had grown into such a stiff and formal person.
You’ve got to see this next! Illusionary Dream will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Illusionary Dream
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