Fake Concubine 39

‘…I ​can ​smell ​it.’

As ​he closed his ​eyes, ​his ​sense ​of ​smell became more acute. ​Thanks ​to that, he ​could faintly perceive ​Song ​Seol’s ​body ​scent. ​It ​wasn’t a Chromatic ​Scent, ​but ​the unique scent ​that any human naturally ​emits. It ​served as ​evidence that ​this sarangbang ​was ​not ​just a simple ​room. This ​was Song Seol’s domain, ​the place where he ​spent the most time. ​A place ​where ​he wrote, read books, and slept…

‘Now ​is not the time ​for ​such ​imaginations.’

Moon ​Hae-min ​reined in his ​thoughts as ​they ​began to drift ​in ​a strange direction. Perhaps it ​was because ​his ​eyes were closed, ​but ​all ​sorts ​of ​random thoughts ​were ​crossing his ​mind. Though, it was more likely because ​of his position, ​cradled in Song ​Seol’s arms.

‘Focus on the ​flow of ​will and think ​about ​following it.’

Recalling the ​tip Song Seol ​had given ​him, ​Hae-min focused ​once ​more. It ​felt ​as if ​he ​were ​almost catching a ​fluttering ​flower petal, ​or ​almost ​grasping ​the knack of it. He felt as though he would master the method if he just held on a bit longer, but the fact that he couldn’t was simply frustrating. Unknowingly, a small groan of distress escaped Hae-min’s lips.

Song Seol quietly watched this ‘Moon Hee-yul.’

Since he was sitting behind him, he couldn’t see his face directly. However, Song Seol could easily envision Moon Hee-yul’s features. There was no way he could have forgotten that face already.

Perhaps because he was an Eumin, he was the most beautiful man Song Seol had ever seen in his life. It wasn’t simply that he was pretty; it felt more like looking at a delicate piece of art. A piece of art that required an immense amount of effort to create, yet one that could easily be ruined by a single mistake.

His inability to control his Chromatic Scent and his somewhat clumsy way of handling social situations might be for that very reason. After all, works of art are not meant to be practical.

Regardless, if he had ever met such a person before, he certainly would have remembered. Yet, even while keeping him close and observing him, no clear memories surfaced, and even the strange sense of déjà vu was beginning to fade.

Moon Hee-yul’s Chromatic Scent also gradually dimmed. Had he roughly mastered the knack? Like a thick fog vanishing as soon as the sun rose, that deep Chromatic Scent subsided. Now, even though they were this close, the scent was not overwhelming. While the characteristic scent of plum blossoms still lingered, it was not enough to stimulate Song Seol.

While it was a good thing, for some reason, Song Seol felt a bit… a very small bit, disappointed.

“…”

Impulsively, he touched the rim of Moon Hee-yul’s ear, causing the other to flinch as if jumping.

“My Lord.”

“What is it?”

“…Must we be in this position to learn the knack?”

His voice trembled slightly, as if he had agonized over the question before asking. Song Seol answered honestly.

“Not necessarily.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Moon Hee-yul sprang up. He was like a rabbit fleeing a trap. Wondering if it was something to be so terrified of, Song Seol found it amusing rather than unpleasant.

“Why are you running away all of a sudden? As if you hate even touching bodies.”

“It is not ‘as if,’ it is exactly that.”

‘Moon Hae-min’ looked back at Song Seol and spoke clearly. Now that he had said it, it sounded rude, but it felt refreshing. He felt a sense of ‘come what may.’ He had already been at death’s door once; he had nothing left to fear. Besides, he intended to leave this place in about a year anyway.

“I believe I have mastered the knack now.”

“I see. You are still unskilled in controlling your Chromatic Scent, but at least you won’t get into fights while walking around the market.”

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Without another word, Moon Hae-min turned around. The sensation of the touch on his ear was so creepy that he wanted to wash it off immediately. However, someone suddenly grabbed his wrist.

He didn’t need to turn around to identify the owner of the touch. It was undoubtedly Song Seol. Moon Hae-min simply cast his gaze sideways, looking down at the large hand gripping his wrist.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Do not show your back to me.”

Song Seol spoke such an absurd thing with complete seriousness. Did he think he was some kind of king? While Hae-min grumbled inwardly, he soon remembered that while Song Seol might not be a king, he had been a prince.

‘Is that why?’

Turning one’s back in front of the royal body was an act of insolence. That was why high and low officials were said to step backward when withdrawing after an audience with the King.

Still, thinking that demanding such etiquette from him was excessive, he felt Song Seol’s index finger toy with his wrist.

“…”

The slightly raised fingertip scratched the tendon in the center of his wrist. It didn’t hurt, but it was ticklish and strange. Moon Hae-min defined that sensation as ‘unpleasantness.’

‘The wrist is a vital point.’

Wasn’t it a crucial area where the artery passed? There was a reason warriors targeted the wrist when suppressing or attacking stolen contentan opponent. He didn’t need to look far [visit our site]for an example; Moon Hae-min himself had once slit his own wrist when he had made a grim resolve.

Surely, Song Seol hadn’t grabbed his wrist for such a purpose. Moon Hae-min knew that much. Rather, Song Seol’s purpose was likely a secret and intimate… or, depending on the perspective, a gesture that could be called affectionate.

The scent of a winter breeze brushed past the tip of his nose. Song Seol, who was experienced enough to teach others how to handle Chromatic Scents, could not have leaked his scent by mistake.

‘Could it be…?’

A sinister premonition made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. However, without showing his panic, Moon Hae-min carefully pulled his wrist away from Song Seol’s grip.

“Yes, I shall not show my back to you in the future.”

He worried about what would happen if he were grabbed again, but fortunately, he wasn’t. Moon Hae-min gave Song Seol a short bow and left the sarangbang.

As soon as Moon Hae-min arrived at his quarters, he shut the door tightly. As if a beast would barge in at any moment if he didn’t. Only after leaning his back against the door, as if using it as a doorstop, did he feel a bit at ease.

“Whew…”

Whether it was just his imagination or not, it felt as if Song Seol’s Chromatic Scent was clinging to his own breath. Hae-min shuddered. It wasn’t because of the cold, but because of a sense of crisis.

If Song Seol viewed him as an object to satisfy his desires again.

“…”

He couldn’t be certain that it wouldn’t happen. Nor could he trust the words, ‘I have no hobby of plucking flowers with loose scents.’ Had Song Seol not already broken a similar promise in a spectacular fashion?

One should never blindly trust a person’s assurance. Among them, the words of a yang-person filled with lust are particularly untrustworthy. As his thoughts reached that point, something suddenly occurred to him.

‘Perhaps his Heerak-gi has arrived.’

Heerak-gi. Yes, that was the problem. Just as the autumn equinox brings longer nights than days, there exists a Heerak-gi for yang-persons, a period when instinct becomes stronger than reason. During that time, a yang-person is no different from a beast whose only purpose is to leave his seed in the world.

“What do I do…”

If Song Seol was in his Heerak-gi, it was no small matter. There was no easier prey in this house than himself. Even if Song Seol laid hands on his concubine, who would criticize him? Even Moon Hae-min himself would likely only be able to reproach him by saying, ‘I thought you had no hobby of plucking flowers with loose scents?’

‘Do you know that the scent of plum blossoms is carried by the wind every night?’

Song Seol’s words suddenly came to mind. Looking back, that might have been a warning. A rough, yet ultimately kind warning not to stimulate him.

Hae-min murmured in a faint voice.

“…I cannot spend the night with him.”

The sensation of being forcibly embraced by Song Seol was still vivid. It was a terror that might never be forgotten for the rest of his life. He could not endure such a thing again.

Furthermore, it would be a disaster if he became pregnant again. Moon Hae-min had no confidence in either giving birth to or protecting a child. If he faced a situation like last time, he would commit the worst mistake again.

“Ah!”

Just then, a brilliant plan flashed through his mind. It was reckless, but he had no luxury to weigh the risks. Without hesitation, Moon Hae-min flung the door wide open.

The cold air rushed in as if it had been waiting. Although the floor was still warm, it would soon turn freezing. Nevertheless, Moon Hae-min did not close the door or cover himself with a blanket.

“Ugh…”

While shivering from the cold, he braved the biting wind. He would undoubtedly catch a cold this way, but that was exactly what Moon Hae-min wanted.

‘Surely he wouldn’t embrace an Eumin with a cold.’

No matter how much of a yang-person in Heerak-gi he was, he would have at least that much discernment. Far from embracing him, he wouldn’t even come near for fear of catching the cold. Then, he could naturally escape Song Seol’s clutches. Praising his own ingenuity, Hae-min thought of this as the tactic of giving up the flesh to take the bone.

Strictly speaking, it was a case of giving up the flesh and taking nothing, but Moon Hae-min did not avoid the cold. Either way, as long as he could protect his ‘bone,’ it was enough.

Cough, cough! Cough!

Moon Hae-min coughed repeatedly. At this, the maid attending to him said worriedly,

“Young Master, please drink some warm water. Drinking warm water is best when the coughing is severe.”

The maid helped Moon Hae-min sit up. Hae-min willingly accepted the help.

“Here it is.”

“Thank you.”

The maid handed him a cup. Because it contained warm water, the cup was hot to the touch. Moon Hae-min enjoyed the warmth for a moment before tilting the cup.

The water, warmed to a pleasant temperature, flowed smoothly. While drinking, a cough suddenly erupted from deep within his lungs.

Cough, cough!

He hurriedly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Fortunately, he hadn’t spilled much, not enough to soak the blanket.