Chapter 64: Special Side Story 3: A Love That Softens the Hardest Heart

Hwaun no longer curled up like a criminal over minor matters, nor did he hesitate to strictly punish those who did wrong when necessary. Just as he had fulfilled his responsibilities when he was a low-ranking guard named Ha-un, he was now confidently fulfilling his duties as the Noble Consort.

“It is all…”

Hwaun tried to answer the Emperor, but momentarily choked up with emotion. He caught his breath before continuing.

“Is it not all thanks to Your Majesty?”

“Thanks to me…?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Since you have never allowed me to feel insecure for even a single moment… even someone as weak-hearted as I had no choice but to become strong.”

Hwaun’s words struck Ihan’s heart like a massive tidal wave. Hwaun called himself weak-hearted, but Ihan did not agree. Even before he came to his side as Yeon Hwaun, he was already a man so brave that few in the world could match him. If anything, Ihan felt that he himself was the one who had spent so much time cowering and running away.

Yet, at the same time, Ihan loved the confession that his love had made Yeon Hwaun strong. The fact that Hwaun—who had entrusted his entire life to the Emperor’s favor—had never felt insecure about Ihan’s affection for a single moment brought him immense satisfaction.

Ihan’s lips parted. He had so much to say that it was difficult to bring any of it out. In moments like these, Ihan knew exactly what to do.

The Emperor applied strength to the hand he was holding and slowly pulled. The Consort’s body naturally followed. As a large hand cupped Hwaun’s pale cheek, Hwaun tilted his head into the touch and closed his eyes.

Soon, their lips met softly, and the Emperor pushed his tongue past Hwaun’s willing lips without hesitation.

Instantly, a sweet scent spread across the tip of his tongue. It wasn’t as if Hwaun were made of fruit, yet his mouth and tongue possessed an almost ecstatic sweetness. Heat flared within Ihan, and when he shifted his hand from Hwaun’s cheek to grip the back of his neck, Hwaun let out a small moan and trembled.

The Emperor’s tongue stirred roughly within Hwaun’s small mouth, stimulating the delicate flesh. He rubbed against the roof of the mouth before pushing deeper, causing Hwaun to lose his strength and clutch at Ihan’s robes for support.

As if that gesture were a signal, the Emperor—now burning with desire—hurriedly wrapped an arm around Hwaun’s waist to pull him closer.

“Mwa-agh!”

At that exact moment, a sharp, single cry rang out, and a tiny, insignificant paw smacked the Emperor squarely in the chest.

“What in the…”

Though the blow was weak, the Emperor was so startled by the unexpected attack that he instinctively pulled back. Hwaun was equally shocked. After a moment of wide-eyed confusion, Hwaun fixed a stern gaze on the cat in his arms.

“Now, On. What kind of behavior is this toward His Majesty?”

Of course, Hwaun couldn’t quite hide the smile playing on his lips or the lightness in his voice. The sight was so absurd that Ihan burst into a short laugh, pointing a finger at the cat.

“Look at this. He’s lost all fear because you coddle him so much.”

“Hurry and apologize to His Majesty this instant.”

Regardless of whether the Emperor glared or not, Hwaun continued to play along, teasing the cat to beg for forgiveness. The saying ‘like master, like cat’ fit them perfectly.

“Your Majesty, this lowly one has committed a great sin…”

When Hwaun eventually gathered the cat’s front paws together and mimicked a tiny voice to apologize on its behalf, Ihan could no longer hold back his laughter. He felt like shouting to the heavens because Yeon Hwaun was simply too adorable.

“Fine. How could I ever win against you?”

The Emperor’s laughter echoed—a sound that had become a cherished daily routine for the servants of the Noble Consort’s palace.

“Do cats truly like this?”

Ihan asked, peering intently at the object placed before him. Eunuch Oh bowed his head deeply.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have heard it is the finest snack for cats—tasty and nutritious.”

Eunuch Oh, who had entered the palace at age ten and seen all sorts of ups and downs while serving the Emperor, found the sentence incredibly awkward. Who would have thought he would become the Head Eunuch only to explain cat snacks to the Son of Heaven?

However, since the ‘Emperor’ himself was looking at said cat snack with the gravity of a military strategist, Oh could hardly complain.

“Hmm. It doesn’t look like much. It smells fishy.”

The Emperor squinted suspiciously at Eunuch Oh. The eunuch bit his lip. He hadn’t invented the snack, nor had he made it, but there was no use pointing that out.

“It came from the most knowledgeable source, so there can be no mistake.”

Eunuch Oh simply bowed deeper. He wasn’t curious why the Emperor, busy with affairs of state, was suddenly fussing over cat snacks. When his dignified master acted this way, there was only ever one reason.

Jin Gwi-bi, Yeon Hwaun.

Only that one person could turn the Emperor of Great An into such a man.

“Audacious fellow.”

Eunuch Oh, lost in his thoughts, was so startled by the Emperor’s sudden growl that he nearly fell to his knees. But the Emperor wasn’t looking at him.

“The more I think about it, the more I suspect he is faking his illness. He clearly knows that if he acts sickly, the Consort will pity him and stay by his side all day.”

“Ah…”

Eunuch Oh was speechless. So, the Emperor was currently complaining that a cat was being manipulative. ‘Complaining’ was a generous term; he was effectively competing with a cat for the Noble Consort’s affection. It was utterly absurd.

“But since the Consort is so worried, I suppose I must feed him this to help him recover his strength. It seems even animals suffer in this heat…”

Eunuch Oh shook his head slightly. Of course. Despite calling it a “fake illness,” his master was clearly worried about the tiny creature.

But just as he was about to smile at the sight of the Emperor being so benevolent toward an animal, Eunuch Oh’s expression turned serious. The Emperor, staring into space, suddenly looked quite somber.

Eunuch Oh didn’t hesitate to ask. “Why do you look so troubled, Your Majesty? Is there another matter?”

“No matter. It’s just…”

The Emperor paused, letting out a soft, somewhat bittersweet laugh.

“When I think about it, is he not pitiful? If he had lived a normal life and started a family, he might have had a beautiful child who looked just like him. Instead, because he met me and entered the palace, he is pouring all his love into a mere cat as if it were his child. I cannot help but feel for him.”

Eunuch Oh was, to put it bluntly, flabbergasted.

People would do anything to secure a position as the Emperor’s favored consort, yet here was his master, speaking as if that position were a burden to Hwaun. Thousands of women—and their fathers—would be stunned to hear such a thing.

At the same time, Eunuch Oh understood. It wasn’t that the Emperor didn’t know the prestige of the position; it was that his love was so deep he wished he could give Hwaun everything the world had to offer, even the things the palace could not.

“Your Majesty, why would you think such things? The Noble Consort would be very upset if he heard you.”

“Haha. He certainly would be.”

“Besides… Your Majesty, did the Noble Consort not enter the palace of his own will because he loved you so deeply from afar? Would such a man have ever sought a family with someone else?”

The Emperor’s gaze snapped back to Eunuch Oh. The shadow in his eyes vanished instantly.

“True… that is true. He is a man who has only ever known me his entire life. He wouldn’t have looked at anyone else.”

His dignity vanished as he beamed, lifting his chin with a satisfied expression.

“Precisely, Your Majesty. So do not worry, and simply continue to cherish him.”

“Yes. I must.”

The Emperor began carefully packing the cat snacks into a box, mumbling to himself. Though he looked far from a dignified ruler, Eunuch Oh bowed with a lighter heart. It was better than him being worried.

“Master, why are you eating so little today?”

“I think the heat is just taking away my appetite.”

At Hwaun’s nonchalant answer, Ajin pouted. He had been worried about his master falling ill in this extreme heat, and seeing him eat less only increased his anxiety.

“The heat is truly terrible. Even if you have no appetite, you must eat a bit more…”

“Nothing will happen if I eat a little less for one day. Don’t worry so much, Ajin.”

“But…”

Despite Hwaun’s kind words, Ajin couldn’t relax. He knew he didn’t have to worry about Hwaun collapsing as often as before, but…

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