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Join the Server“You said you could not come. How are you here?”
“Why? Do you dislike that I came without word?”
Though Ihan had told him thousands of times not to, Hwaun was already kneeling to offer his formal respects. The Emperor hurriedly caught him by the shoulders, pulling him up with a playful grumble. Hwaun’s eyes curved into a soft, beautiful smile.
“How could that be? It is only because I am so happy to see you.”
“Master, I shall take my leave now.”
At that moment, Ajin, holding a protesting On who had been rubbing against the Emperor’s feet, bowed with a bright face. She had noticed her master’s mood seemed slightly heavy today, and she was overjoyed that the Emperor had arrived. There was no medicine more effective than His Majesty.
As they were ushered out, On let out an indignant mya-ak! at being separated from Hwaun, but Ajin didn’t hesitate to close the doors firmly behind them.
“That tiny thing… he has you all to himself while I am away. I don’t know why he acts so aggrieved to be apart for a moment,” Ihan grumbled as he naturally took Hwaun’s hand, leading him to sit on the edge of the bed.
Hwaun let out a laugh, finding it adorable that the Emperor of a nation refused to lose an argument with a cat. He stroked the back of Ihan’s hand soothingly. “Have you finished your duties?”
Ihan’s expression soured instantly. “There is still a mountain of scrolls to review.”
“Then why are you here…?”
“Because I missed you so much I couldn’t bear it. I came for a change of pace. I can only stay for a moment.”
“You look exhausted…”
Hwaun’s brow furrowed with worry as he reached out to caress Ihan’s cheek. Setting aside the disappointment of not spending the night together, he truly felt for the man burdened by the aftermath of war. Though they had won, the damage to the border regions and the loss of life required endless administrative labor.
“I have never considered the duties of an Emperor to be a burden, but…” Ihan caught the hand stroking his cheek and pressed a kiss into the palm. “I find myself acting like a child because I love how much you worry for me.”
“The heavens and earth know how hard you work. How could this be called acting like a child?”
“…….”
“You may lean on me as much as you wish.”
“…I see. I came here specifically to hear those words.”
Seong Ihan—not the Emperor, but simply the man in love—felt the day’s fatigue wash away in an instant. He pulled Hwaun into a gentle embrace. Their hearts beat against one another in a familiar rhythm. It was only here, as Seong Ihan the man, that he felt truly alive.
“May I kiss you?”
Ihan pulled back slightly to ask. Even though they had long passed the need for such questions, his polite earnestness made Hwaun’s cheeks flush.
“Can you not see that I am waiting?”
Hwaun’s fingers gripped the silk of Ihan’s dragon robes. Despite the many days they had spent together, his heart raced as if it were the first time.
“You are so beautiful, Wun-ah,” Ihan whispered.
In that pet name, Hwaun no longer saw the shadow of ‘Ha-un.’ It was simply him. It was the voice of a man who saw him exactly as he was—the soul born as Ha-un who would grow old as Yeon Hwaun.
Ihan leaned in, and Hwaun closed his eyes. Their lips met softly, carefully exploring one another. As Ihan nipped at Hwaun’s lower lip, Hwaun let out a soft, sweet moan.
That sound was the signal. Ihan pulled Hwaun closer, deepening the kiss, his tongue tangling with Hwaun’s in a slow, melting heat. No matter how many times they kissed, Ihan could never get used to the thrill. To him, Yeon Hwaun was a lifelong excitement that never faded.
When the weight of their bodies finally pressed Hwaun down onto the bed, he went willingly. He was ready to accept Ihan completely, right there and then. The sight of the strongest, most resilient soul he knew showing such total surrender always set Ihan’s blood on fire.
“Haah, ah…”
Ihan finally released Hwaun’s lips just as his hand began to slip beneath the fabric of Hwaun’s inner robes. Hwaun panted, his face flushed a deep crimson. Ihan peppered kisses across his cheeks, eyes, and lips, loathing the fact that he couldn’t stay.
“You must go, mustn’t you?” Hwaun asked, his voice dripping with the same longing Ihan felt.
Ihan nodded, smoothing back Hwaun’s disheveled hair. Looking at Hwaun’s face, Ihan thought again how much he resembled that pampered cat. He thought of his conversation with the Empress—the talk of taking more consorts to appease the ministers.
He had laughed it off. The ministers thought they were checking Hwaun’s power by sending their daughters, but they didn’t realize they were merely handing their children’s lives over to him. They truly did not know their Emperor.
“Wun-ah.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If… if it is alright with you…” Ihan hesitated. He, who ruled over all, hesitated only before this one man. “If you are not too tired…”
“I will wait for you.”
Hwaun answered before Ihan could finish. He felt Ihan’s heart clearly—the Emperor was worried about Hwaun losing sleep while he went back to wrestle with state affairs.
“I will rest comfortably here and wait, so no matter how late it is, do not hesitate to come to me.”
“…Very well. I shall do that.”
Ihan let out a soft laugh. The thought of returning to Hwaun’s arms gave him a fresh surge of motivation. As Ihan stood, Hwaun expertly straightened the Emperor’s robes.
Ministers might shout for stability and more consorts, but Ihan didn’t care. He knew Hwaun didn’t care either. No matter what political decisions were made, their bond was unbreakable. There was no longer a need for explanations or guilt.
“Close your eyes for a while. It will take some time,” Ihan said, full of affection.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Do not worry for me.”
Even as he agreed, Ihan couldn’t seem to let go of Hwaun’s hand. It was a childish attachment, but neither of them mind. Hwaun watched the face of his only love, knowing that while trials and joys would continue to cycle through their lives, he was no longer afraid.
“I will be back.”
Because he knew that no matter what happened, the place Ihan would always return to was right here, by his side.
“Yes. Please return safely, Your Majesty.”
Yeon Hwaun—the Noble Consort and the Emperor’s most precious treasure—offered his farewell. Ihan lingered for a moment before finally turning toward the door.
“The Emperor departs!”
As Ihan stepped out of Seo-jeong Palace, a boundless affection followed his footsteps. Ihan would work for the nation as its Emperor, but he would always return to be Seong Ihan for Yeon Hwaun.
This was the story of the man who loved with all his soul and became the most cherished Noble Consort of the Empire.
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore Grandmother, What Did You Leave Behind. Start reading now!
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