Fake Concubine 38

Song ​Seol ​offered ​several ​other pieces of ​advice. ​In ​the ​desolate ​winter evening, where not ​even ​the cry of ​an insect could ​be ​heard, ​only ​his ​soft, ​gentle voice drifted ​through ​the ​air. Moon Hae-min ​quickly became immersed in ​Song Seol’s ​guidance and ​followed it. ​Then, at ​some ​point… ​he felt as ​if he ​understood.

“It is done now.”

It ​wasn’t that he had ​gained the ability to ​control his ​Chromatic ​Scent at will, but this was ​the first time he ​had ​even ​grasped ​the ​feeling of it. ​As if ​to ​prove this, Hae-min’s ​Chromatic ​Scent diminished slightly. Though the ​scent of ​plum ​blossoms still lingered ​heavily ​in ​the ​room, ​it was ​a ​successful first ​step. Song Seol stroked Moon Hae-min’s hair ​as if praising ​him.

Startled by the ​touch, Hae-min flickered his ​eyelids open. ​Immediately, the candlelight ​stung ​his eyes. It ​wasn’t actually that ​bright, but ​his ​eyes had ​grown ​accustomed to ​the ​dark, making ​the ​light ​feel dazzling.

Moon Hae-min ​blinked. ​His long ​eyelashes ​fluttered ​busily, ​like the wings of a butterfly.

“Thank you…”

Mumbling his thanks, Hae-min squirmed, trying to extricate himself from Song Seol’s embrace. Song Seol neither held onto him nor actively let him go.

“Are you intending to return already?”

“Yes.”

Eventually, he managed to slip out of Song Seol’s arms. Fearing he might be caught again, Moon Hae-min slinked toward the door.

“Come again tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow… as well?”

“Yes. Why, do you find it disagreeable?”

“Yes.”

An honest answer slipped out inadvertently. Fortunately, Song Seol did not seem offended.

“Let us have dinner together then.”

Hae-min couldn’t fathom the psychology behind offering dinner when it was obvious he felt uncomfortable. He felt as if the dinner he hadn’t even eaten was already sitting heavy in his stomach, but he had no suitable excuse to refuse.

“I understand. Then, please sleep peacefully.”

As he turned to leave the guest house, Song Seol spoke to Hae-min’s back.

“It is a strange thing. When I smell your Chromatic Scent, I feel as if I am on the verge of remembering something.”

“What is it?”

“Something forgotten. Something so completely forgotten that I have even forgotten the fact that I forgot it.”

“…”

“I wonder if such a thing exists…”

Song Seol murmured to himself.

It was a stroke of luck that Hae-min’s back was turned. Otherwise, his expression—which surely betrayed his agitation—would have been seen. Hae-min replied, striving to sound nonchalant.

“I wouldn’t know, sir. But perhaps there is a reason for forgetting something? Perhaps it was something not worth remembering, or perhaps it was more beneficial to forget…”

“…”

“I believe there is no need to force yourself to recall it.”

No answer came from Song Seol. Moon Hae-min did not wait for one and simply left the room. It was somewhat rude, but he had a feeling Song Seol wouldn’t scold him for such a thing. As expected, he did not call him back.

The cold yet refreshing outdoor air greeted Moon Hae-min. Tomorrow would bring its own set of problems, but Hae-min savored the current sense of relief as he returned to his quarters.

‘I believe there is no need to force yourself to recall it.’

Was that truly the case?

In truth, calling Moon Hee-yul had not been solely to teach him a few tricks. Song Seol had something he wanted to verify regarding Moon Hee-yul.

The moment he first faced Moon Hee-yul—more accurately, the moment he first smelled Moon Hee-yul’s Chromatic Scent—a certain scene had flashed through Song Seol’s mind.

‘Ah, ah… My Lord…’

A scene blurred and smeared in flesh tones, as if glimpsed through hazy eyes. It was clearly a scene of someone’s sexual intercourse. And that someone was likely himself and…

“…”

Was it normal to recall a scene of intimacy with someone one had just met for the first time?

As Moon Hee-yul had suggested, they might have crossed paths by chance in the past. However, it was impossible to have ‘accidentally’ slept together and then completely forgotten the event.

Therefore, what he recalled should have been nothing more than a mere imagination… yet for some reason, Song Seol found that logical conclusion unsettling.

‘But perhaps there is a reason for forgetting something? Perhaps it was something not worth remembering, or perhaps it was more beneficial to forget…’

If, by some chance, he had forgotten Moon Hee-yul, which of the two would it be? Did he forget because it wasn’t worth remembering?

…Or did he forget because it was more beneficial to do so?

‘Moon Hee-yul, Moon Hee-yul.’

Rolling the name in his mouth, Song Seol frowned slightly. His mouth felt scratchy, as if he had swallowed a fishbone. It might have been a mere trick of the mind, but he had felt this way when he saw Moon Hee-yul being harassed by thugs in the market.

It was a different feeling from the wounded pride one feels upon witnessing their concubine being harassed. In the first place, at that moment, Song Seol hadn’t even thought of pride or reputation. Anger had surged within him as if he had witnessed a close, long-time friend being insulted. Even though Moon Hee-yul was merely a male Eumin brought in to disgrace Lord Moon.

In fact, not only Song Seol, but Moon Hee-yul himself didn’t seem to consider himself ‘Grand Prince Byeokran’s concubine.’ It was certain that he didn’t harbor a single shred of affection for Song Seol. That was understandable since they hadn’t married for love, but he didn’t know how to interpret the way the boy didn’t even bother to hide his ill will. Moreover, wasn’t that ill will more akin to ‘resentment’ than simple dislike?

Resentment is different in nature from other forms of malice. Resentment is an [Read on Read BL Novels]emotion one can only harbor toward someone who has committed some act against stolen contentthem. One can dislike a stranger for no Read on Read BL Novelsreason, but it is rare to resent someone for no reason.

That was why it was even more puzzling. He and Moon Hee-yul were clearly meeting for the first time, so why did he feel this sense of déjà vu, as if they were old acquaintances? And why did Moon Hee-yul avoid him so vehemently?

He looked so pure and fair, yet every time he saw those large eyes glancing at him sideways, it wasn’t even funny. He wondered if Moon Hee-yul realized that such behavior was like a rabbit trying to be threatening.

Song Seol let out a short laugh as he recalled the image. The lingering scent Moon Hee-yul had left behind wasn’t half bad.

Though he was insolent, Moon Hee-yul was an intriguing subject. Song Seol suspected he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off him until he had figured the boy out completely.

Inwardly, Moon Hae-min hoped Song Seol would forget their appointment. To be honest, was it even an appointment? It was a demand, a plan conceived by Song Seol alone.

As is usually the case, Moon Hae-min’s wish went unfulfilled. Around dinner time the next day, Song Seol sent word through the steward.

“His Lordship wishes for you to join him for dinner.”

“Oh dear… what shall I do. I have a stomachache and cannot eat a thing.”

Moon Hae-min clutched his stomach ostentatiously. Perhaps it was because he had never told such a lie in his life, but even to him, the acting felt incredibly awkward.

The steward seemed to feel the [stolen content]same, wearing [Read on Read BL Novels]an expression that seemed to say, [stolen content]‘What kind of person is this?’

“If that is truly the case, I shall inform His Lordship.”

“Yes, please convey that well for me.”

Moon Hae-min added a frown, pretending to be in pain. But he realized he shouldn’t have gone that far; the steward’s gaze had become even more suspicious.

Regardless, the steward withdrew. Hae-min stopped pretending to have a stomachache and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Phew.”

Song Seol would likely realize he was making excuses. But what could he do? Surely the man wouldn’t force someone with a stomachache to sit and eat.

‘If he did, I’d actually end up sick…’

Facing Song Seol was still overwhelming. It was because every time he saw his face, bad memories resurfaced. For Moon Hae-min, those memories were not from the distant past. In the sense that they still painfully bound his heart, they could perhaps be called the present.

While it might be impossible to shake those memories entirely, he intended to avoid Song Seol at least until the pain dulled.

However, Song Seol was stolen contenta remarkably stolen contentpersistent man. Late into the night, he sent the steward once again.

“Young Master, His Lordship summons you.”

Moon Hae-min, receiving the unwelcome summons, was stunned. He had just lain down for bed.

“In the middle of the night?”

“It is not yet late enough to be called the middle of the night.”

“Regardless, should His Lordship not be retiring to his chambers as well?”

“He has no intention of retiring immediately, which is why he called for you. Please, let us go.”

This time, it seemed the stomachache excuse wouldn’t work. In the end, Hae-min rose, feeling like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

An exceptionally pitch-black winter night.

While the entire estate was sunk in darkness, only the guest house remained brightly lit. Moon Hae-min stepped inside.

“Your technique seems to have improved since yesterday.”

Those were Song Seol’s first words upon seeing Moon Hae-min.

He was dressed more comfortably than usual. He wasn’t wearing his gat, only a hair pin, and wore a wide-sleeved durumagi.

“It is thanks to you, sir. I believe I now understand a bit of how to control the Chromatic Scent.”

“Good. Let us maintain this momentum and practice again today.”

“…”

Hae-min considered protesting but decided against it. Now that he had come this far, resistance was futile.

Eventually, just like yesterday, Moon Hae-min leaned back against Song Seol. He called it leaning, but it was no different from being held in his arms. He wasn’t a chick being hugged by a hen, so what on earth was this bizarre arrangement?

‘Does it absolutely have to be in this position…’

But since he was being taught the knack of controlling his Chromatic Scent, and Moon Hae-min was a complete novice in the field, he had nothing else to say. He had no choice but to remain quiet, assuming this position was effective for a reason.