Chapter 80: Three Days of Rain

Heavy rain poured relentlessly throughout the three days of the heat cycle.

The cycle finally came to an end only when the sound of Haeryeong’s sobbing was almost entirely drowned out by the noise of the storm.

During that time, the two of them remained confined within the dark, enclosed space of the bed.

Still unwashed and messy with bodily fluids, Haeryeong fell into a stupor first, followed shortly by Gangcheon, who fell into a deep sleep while holding him tight.

Within the bed, which had grown damp and sweltering from the continuous rain and their collective heat, Gangcheon sought comfort in sleep while inhaling Haeryeong’s scent.

It was a perfectly refreshing, deep slumber.

When Gangcheon woke again, the surroundings were silent, as if the rain had finally ceased.

As Gangcheon woke alone and sat up, a waiting eunuch prepared water for the bath.

“His Highness the Empress returned to his palace earlier this morning.”

The eunuch answered a question Gangcheon hadn’t even asked, judging solely by the Emperor’s expression.

‘How cold of him.’

‘Was it truly so difficult to wait just a few hours?’

‘To leave me here alone and return first.’

Gangcheon let out a chuckle, thinking that the Empress, who had clung to him throughout this cycle, must be feeling shy.

‘I shall have to tease him when I see him again at dinner.’

With that thought, he received assistance with his bath.

He had wondered if he would spend the entire day holed up with the Empress again, but since there was no one left to roll around with, he supposed he should return to his duties early.

Since the morning schedule was already over, he planned to head to the court in the afternoon.

While being dressed, Gangcheon summoned a eunuch and gave a command.

“Send word to the Consort’s Palace.”

“Tell him that if he has not yet had lunch, I shall join him.”

“I shall do so, Your Majesty.”

Since he had left the man alone for so long, Gangcheon felt he should meet him—both to soothe him and to settle their prior promise.

Postponing it wouldn’t create a clever solution, and making him wait a few more days wouldn’t change anything.

Since the thought had occurred to him, he felt it best to convey his intentions clearly.

A moment later, a court lady entered to deliver the reply from the Consort’s Palace.

“His Grace the Consort conveys that he shall wait for you with joy.”

Upon hearing the answer, Gangcheon summoned Manchul.

“I am going to the Consort’s Palace. Prepare the palanquin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The thought of seeing his face after so long was pleasant, yet he also felt a bitterness considering how disappointed the man would be once he heard the news.

But what could be done?

No matter how much he observed him, the man was not the right material to be the Empress.

If he had at least put in the effort to improve, it might be different, but for one who did nothing but lie down and wait for a promotion to fall into his lap, the position did not suit him at all.

Besides, was there not someone who suited the role much better?

Since there was no longer any reason to strip Haeryeong of that position, it was only right to settle the promise with Sirak.

Gangcheon did not doubt for a moment that this was the better choice for everyone.

Haeryeong offered only a faint smile upon hearing the news that the Emperor had headed to the Consort’s Palace the moment he woke up.

He had just arrived at the stables with Changcheon to see Nureongi for the first time in a while.

“The Consort has been alone for a long time; His Majesty must have been concerned.”

While soothing the horse that was thrusting its head forward in greeting, Haeryeong replied to Su-yong, who had shared the news.

Atop Su-yong’s arm, Changcheon was rolling his round eyes and tilting his head.

Su-yong looked at Haeryeong’s calm reaction and asked with curiosity.

“Does Your Highness not feel even a hint of jealousy?”

Haeryeong stole a sideways glance at him with narrowed eyes.

“Do you not know that such questions should not be asked recklessly?”

“How can a member of the Black Shadow Unit, directly under His Majesty, let his tongue slip so lightly?”

Haeryeong scolded him in a light tone while caressing Nureongi’s mane.

“Since I am currently under Your Highness’s jurisdiction, is it not fine?”

Haeryeong gave a look of disapproval toward the smirking Su-yong.

Since he looked exactly like the Emperor in that regard, a stern voice escaped Haeryeong involuntarily.

“If you are under my jurisdiction, you must be even more careful with your words.”

Only then did the man bow his head and answer seriously.

“My attitude was far too insolent. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“It is enough that you understand. What you must do is not seek my forgiveness, but ensure your future behavior is cautious.”

Haeryeong confirmed that the stable master had finished saddling the horse and immediately placed his foot in the stirrup.

As he pulled himself atop Nureongi, the horse let out a long, happy whinny and stomped its hooves.

“I intend to let the horse run for a bit. Wait here.”

“Yes, Your Highness. The ground is muddy, so please travel safely.”

Haeryeong urged Nureongi forward across the vast pasture.

The ground was damp after the rain that had fallen throughout the heat cycle, making the ride feel quite different from usual.

“The ground is like this, so it will be difficult for you to run with an easy heart. Run gently.”

The sensation of the hooves sinking into the mud was transmitted directly to Haeryeong.

He worried the horse might get injured by getting a foot stuck in the muck, but Nureongi ran lightly regardless.

As expected of a legendary steed, the horse possessed a grace that did not betray its reputation.

Nureongi galloped forward, his long legs stretching out as he kicked off the earth.

Aboard the horse, Haeryeong chewed over the events of the morning along with the story Han Su-yong had told him.

When he had first opened his eyes, Haeryeong felt he simply could not face the sleeping Emperor in a normal state of mind.

That was why he had decided to return to the Empress’s Palace first.

Between the fact that they had been entangled like beasts and the memory of the Emperor stubbornly refusing to give his semen throughout the cycle, his heart kept sinking.

Honestly, he felt slighted by the Emperor’s consistent behavior despite his feigned affection.

Seeing as the man did not wish to produce an Imperial heir with him, it seemed his true favor still belonged to the Consort.

It hurt his pride that his constant inner mantra—not to have expectations—had been rendered useless so quickly.

He felt a sense of sorrow at how fast his resentment had surfaced despite his resolutions.

‘How can the human heart be this foolish and treacherous?’

The moment he realized that while he had resolved not to expect anything, he had been secretly hoping deep down, Haeryeong felt his heart crumbling.

He had returned to his palace as if fleeing, yet what was this?

He had headed straight to the Consort’s Palace as soon as he woke?

A laugh nearly burst out of him at the absurdity.

Haeryeong barely suppressed the urge to curse himself for being so pathetic.

When he realized from Su-yong’s question that the intense churning in his heart was actually jealousy, he felt like crying.

‘Why am I being so foolish?’

‘After everything I have suffered, why did I go and harbor expectations again?’

He felt ashamed and wronged.

He felt resentful toward the Emperor and hated him.

The fact that he even felt those emotions was proof that he had held onto hope, which only made him more miserable.

‘Must I not stop this habit of easily surrendering my heart to the Emperor?’

‘Has the time not long since passed to stop being swayed back and forth by his feigned tenderness?’

He was sick of it all.

He was fed up with himself for being dragged around like a fool, and fed up with the Emperor for toying with a person’s heart as if he were going to grant his favor.

Haeryeong bit his lip hard and shook the reins to urge the horse.

He hoped the cool wind raking over his body would carry away this foolish heart.

He hoped that by the time he stopped, his resentment toward the Emperor would be gone.

As he rode for a long while, other horses began to gather around Nureongi, running together as if in a race.

The horses surrounding him seemed focused only on the act of running, paying no mind to anything else.

Haeryeong envied them for that.

He wanted to run forward, looking only at what was in front of him.

Perhaps then this sense of injustice and sorrow would fade.

Perhaps then he could lay down all his worries and conflicting emotions.

That was all he wanted.

By the time he finished and his heart felt somewhat unburdened, Nureongi was drenched in sweat.

Haeryeong managed to soothe the excited horse, which was breathing heavily through its nose, and turned its head back.

He let the horse walk slowly on the way back to where Su-yong was waiting.

The sight of the animal trudging along with its head bowed felt so much like his own heart that he spoke without thinking.

“You do not want to go back, do you? Is that it?”

Nureongi straightened his neck and looked back at him.

Seeing the long neck snap around was quite amusing, and a laugh escaped Haeryeong.

Phee-hee-hng.

Nureongi let out a thin, short whinny, his muzzle quivering.

Perhaps it was only because it suited his own situation, but it sounded like an affirmative answer.

“I feel the same. I just want to go somewhere far away.”

Right on cue, the horse gave a vigorous nod.

A smile touched Haeryeong’s lips.

“Yes, yes. You feel the same way.”

As they walked and conversed in their own way, Han Su-yong came into view in the distance, holding Changcheon.

A sudden impulse to turn the horse back around struck him.

However, the impulse was quickly replaced by resignation.

Even if he didn’t want to, he had to return.

Haeryeong let out a long, heavy sigh and gave Nureongi a light kick.

“Let us return, Nureongi. At least someone is waiting for us; let us find comfort in that.”

The horse lifted its legs and let out a long whinny.

The moment its hooves hit the ground, Nureongi stretched his long legs and galloped across the pasture.

Perhaps it was the cool wind.

The heart that had been in such an upheaval had now grown cold and still.

‘If only it would never heat up again.’

‘How wonderful would it be if I could remain this peaceful, regardless of what the Emperor does or how he acts?’

After finishing Changcheon’s training and returning to his palace, Haeryeong spent the afternoon reviewing previous documents with the Vice-Director.

During that time, it seemed the Emperor had shared lunch at the Consort’s Palace before heading to the side hall.

For some reason, Su-yong kept providing updates on the Emperor’s whereabouts even though Haeryeong hadn’t asked.

The influx of information he didn’t want to know was becoming burdensome, but he told himself it was better than knowing nothing.

He felt it was better to just let it pass.

The afternoon flowed by quickly as he immersed himself in work to banish his intrusive thoughts.

Before he knew it, the dinner hour arrived, and the Emperor returned with the answer to the bet they had made previously.

“The answer arrived from the Gagakgo today.”

Haeryeong simply nodded, showing no particular expectation.

“Since the width of a river varies depending on where it is measured, we used Hanseong as the standard for Yeoran and Nagyang for Yeonseo.”

“Are you not excited for the outcome?”

Haeryeong, who had been eating with an indifferent reaction, paused and looked at the Emperor.

“I do not know.”

“You do not know?”

When the Emperor asked back in bewilderment, Haeryeong forced his stiff lips into a smile.

“Even if your servant wins, I do not know what I would ask of Your Majesty.”

“If Your Majesty were to win the bet, what is it that you would desire?”

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