Chapter 114: A War God’s Embrace

When the Emperor galloped into the thick of the fray, Haeryeong buried his face in the man’s neck and squeezed his eyes shut.

Every time the Emperor’s arm swung, the chilling ring of the blade sounded as if it were carving through his own chest, making his body shrink back in terror.

Even while holding Haeryeong, the Emperor wielded his sword in all directions without hesitation.

The sheer spirit he exuded was enough to prove that his title as the “God of War” was no exaggeration.

With every whistling sound of the blade cutting through the air, Haeryeong curled deeper into a ball.

He could not even remember when he had started crying.

Haeryeong clung to the Emperor’s waist with both arms, forgetting even the searing pain in his shoulder.

The man was cutting down enemies to save him with the very same blade he had once used to kill him.

His mind understood the situation, but the fear etched into his body prevented him from thinking of anything else.

How much time had passed?

Unaware that the commotion had died down, he only snapped back to his senses when the Emperor’s lips touched the crown of his head.

When he lifted his tear-soaked eyes, the Emperor was looking down at him with a look of distress.

The fact that his expression was no longer as cold as frost provided not a shred of comfort.

The face splattered with droplets of blood looked like a yaksha, and it filled him with nothing but dread.

As Haeryeong stood ashen and speechless, the Emperor gently rubbed his hand against the Empress’s face.

It was the hand that had not been holding the reins; he had already sheathed his sword.

Startled by the movement, Haeryeong’s eyes darted to the side, catching a glimpse of a blood-stained sleeve brushing past.

“Oh dear. I intended to wipe the blood from your cheek, but I have only smeared it further.”

As he blinked, a hot tear traced a long path down his cheek.

The sensation was so vivid that it triggered the memory of the day warm blood had splattered across him.

Dizziness rushed over him in an instant.

As Haeryeong closed his eyes and swayed, he felt the Emperor’s arm wrap around his waist to steady him.

He placed a hand against the man’s chest, wanting to push him away, but his weak movement was utterly ignored by a single gesture from the Emperor, as it always was.

The Emperor unceremoniously let Haeryeong lean against his chest.

As his vision turned black and his consciousness began to flicker away, the Emperor’s low laughter drifted into his ears.

****

Suyong watched until the last two survivors were gagged before approaching the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, since it seems things are settled, shall we depart for the palace… Has the Empress been injured?”

His heart sank at the sight of the bloodstain on Haeryeong’s cheek as he leaned into the Emperor’s embrace.

The Emperor, who had been in a staring contest with the horse Nureongi, looked at Su-yong and let out a chuckle.

“It is my blood that stained him. He is so fragile that he lost consciousness simply from the shock of seeing it.”

At the words that sounded like a sarcastic jab, Suyong shook his head.

“If you speak like that in front of His Highness, you will surely be hated, Your Majesty.”

Having spent a long time by the Emperor’s side, Suyong understood the true meaning behind the words.

The Emperor was worried because the Empress was so weak.

Yet, he truly possessed a talent for speaking in the most irritating way possible.

Only the Emperor remained unaware that the Empress glared at him with eyes full of injustice every single time.

“What does it matter if he hates me a little in his heart? It is not as if it causes me physical pain. More importantly, this horse is being quite an eyesore.”

The Emperor was pulling Haeryeong closer to his chest, engaged in a battle of wills with Nureongi, who kept trying to thrust its nose toward them.

It was truly a sight to behold.

Nureongi kept leaning his head in to see the Haeryeong in the Emperor’s arms, and when blocked by the man, the horse would step back and blink its eyes.

Yet, the remarkable thing about the beast was that it would immediately try to push forward again.

The Emperor, on the other hand, was just as stubborn.

Whenever Nureongi let out a snort and stretched its neck out, the Emperor would intimidate the animal with a savage look.

He looked as though he feared the Empress in his arms might be snatched away by the horse.

‘Just what on earth is he doing with a horse?’

“Nureongi!”

Su-yong called out to the horse, figuring it would be easier than trying to stop the Emperor.

The horse flicked its ears one after the other, turned its head, and let out a light snort.

Then, it immediately refocused its attention on the Emperor and Haeryeong.

Su-yong stared at the two in a standoff with a look of exhaustion before finally stepping in again.

This was not a matter to be left unattended for so long.

What were they both doing, acting like this when the Empress—who was not accustomed to injury—could be in danger?

“Your Majesty, you must return to the palace at once so he can be examined.”

“I suppose so. Suyong, gather the survivors and return to the palace.”

“I assumed as much and spared only two. I have sent the signal, so the cleanup crew will be out shortly.”

The Emperor let out a short laugh of approval and turned the Imperial Steed away from Nureongi.

In the meantime, the other members had securely bound the two assassins—including the one suspected to be the leader—so they could not commit suicide, and loaded them onto horses.

Suyong followed the departing Emperor and quickly mounted his own horse.

He set off for the Imperial Palace along with the others.

Up ahead, Nureongi continued to gallop side-by-side with the Imperial Steed.

The horse kept thrusting its muzzle forward as if it wanted to bite at Haeryeong’s coiled hair, only to retreat under the Emperor’s glare, repeating the cycle over and over.

Watching the scene, Suyong let out a sigh.

He felt he could now understand why the Empress had shown such partiality against Nureongi.

Who would like a creature that pestered them so?

‘The Emperor needs to understand that feeling too.’

Judging by the way he was trying to pick a fight with a horse without backing down an inch, it seemed he was already beyond hope.

‘I only hope he does not take his frustration out on the Empress later after being hated by him.’

Those around him seemed to be thinking the same, as the murmur of their conversation reached his ears.

“His Majesty certainly cherishes the Empress.”

“Indeed. It is the first time we have seen him act like that.”

“I do not know much about what kind of person the Empress is, but surely he is better than the Consort, so is this not a good thing?”

One of the members who had been talking turned to Suyong.

“Suyong, what do you think? You were the one monitoring the Empress most closely.”

The fact that Suyong had become the Empress’s man was known only to Seokhwan and the Emperor.

Suyong chuckled at the members’ words and watched the Emperor’s back as he continued to play with the horse.

“He is a person a hundred—no, a thousand times better than the Consort.”

The member who asked nodded and let out a sigh.

“But looking at that spectacle, it does not seem like things will go smoothly… I just hope the fallout does not hit us later.”

Another member stepped forward and laughed heartily.

“You have a point. They say the one who has tasted it knows the flavor best, but does our Majesty even know what he is eating?”

“That is why he just picked up whatever was available, and that turned out to be the Consort.”

As the conversation began to drift toward lewd jokes, the oldest among them stepped in.

“Hey! Watch your tongues. You will be in for it if this reaches His Majesty’s ears.”

Everyone fell silent for a moment, but one man persisted.

“I am only speaking the truth. It is not as if I said anything wrong. He has always been a late bloomer in that regard, which is why he could not escape the clutches of that fox-like gisaeng musician.”

Suyong clicked his tongue softly as he watched the members exchange looks and laugh.

To be honest, the Emperor lacked experience in such matters far too much.

Suyong could pride himself on knowing this best, having stayed at the Empress’s Palace for a long time.

The Emperor had picked up plenty of talk in the military and could act slick and suggestive, but was he actually doing a good job?

Every time the modest Empress recoiled in shock, Suyong had to struggle to suppress the urge to send the Emperor a telepathic warning.

Furthermore, the biggest problem was that the Emperor likely believed he was being tender in his own way, even while the other person was clearly repulsed.

To the recipient, would a man who looked like he enjoyed making them cry truly seem tender?

In that sense, it was true that romance was something best handled by those with experience.

What was the use of being confident in all things and having peerless martial arts when one lacked even a speck of intuition?

Moreover, having lived on the battlefield since childhood, the Emperor was naturally unaccustomed to dealing with women or Eumin.

He was proficient at handling soldiers, but how could romance be the same as leading subordinates?

In the military, if ordered to do something, one follows orders regardless of their opinion; but romance was an entirely different beast.

Was romance not a much more sensitive matter where human emotions were intricately intertwined?

Feelings are built on a single word—resentment piles up, joy accumulates, and emotions become woven together—yet the way the Emperor acted only made Suyong shake his head.

‘He should have returned to the capital much sooner.’

It was a point that was pointless to argue now, but the Emperor truly was too inexperienced.

Since he had spent his entire youth only on the battlefield, it was, in a sense, a natural outcome.

Was that not why he had fallen so completely for that fox-like Consort wagging his buttocks?

‘He should have gained some experience beforehand.’

Near the borders, there were several brothels that catered to soldiers.

After a difficult battle, the Emperor—who was then a general—would naturally provide meat and wine to the camp.

He did not make a major issue of those who slipped out to enjoy themselves, merely offering a verbal warning.

At those times, some of the more reckless ones would try to entice the Emperor, but the man was as immovable as a rock; nothing worked.

He liked his wine but seemed to have no interest in women, to the point that rumors of him being impotent had circulated secretly back then.

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