Fake Concubine 43

‘I ​was ​helping ​Song ​Seol around this ​time ​in ​the ​past, ​too…’

In terms of importance, ​the ​present was more ​critical than back ​then. ​In ​the ​past, ​he ​had merely handled ​miscellaneous ​chores, ​but now he ​had become Song Seol’s ​right hand.

As ​he wrote ​whatever Song ​Seol dictated, ​there ​were ​several times when ​he had ​been startled to accidentally ​learn of grave matters. ​At this rate, his ​firm resolve ​to ​‘not build a connection with Song ​Seol this time’ was ​becoming ​meaningless.

“By ​the ​way…”

Song ​Seol murmured as ​he reviewed ​the ​documents Moon Hae-min ​had ​transcribed.

“What a truly remarkable talent.”

“…”

“You ​keep up ​with ​the speed of ​my ​speech, ​yet ​your ​calligraphy remains ​flawless. ​Even the ​parts written in haste possess a sense ​of vigor.”

At Song ​Seol’s praise, Moon ​Hae-min offered a polite ​response.

“Thank you.”

If ​it had been ​in ​the past, he ​would have been ​genuinely delighted. ​He ​might have ​blushed ​like a ​child ​dreaming sweet ​dreams, ​oblivious ​to the ways ​of ​the world.

But ​he ​was ​no ​longer that person. For Moon Hae-min, who wished to live unnoticed and then leave abruptly, the very act of catching Song Seol’s eye was burdensome, even for a good reason.

“How is your wrist? Is there any improvement in the sprain?”

“I’m not quite sure.”

Moon Hae-min stole a glance at Song Seol’s wrist. The wrist glimpsed through the wide sleeve seemed far removed from anything as fragile as weakness or injury.

‘It looks like it’s already healed…’

Even if it wasn’t fully recovered, it didn’t seem to be at a level where he couldn’t even hold a brush. However, since he claimed there was still no improvement, what more could be said? He had no choice but to quietly play the role of Song Seol’s right hand.

“Let us go to the provincial office together tomorrow.”

“To the provincial office? What would someone like me do there?”

“What do you mean what? You shall hold the brush in my stead.”

“…”

“You are my right hand, so it is only fitting that you accompany me.”

Not his ‘right arm,’ but his ‘right hand.’ He wondered what this vaguely honorable title was supposed to be. Perhaps those inner thoughts leaked onto his face, for Song Seol asked:

“Is helping me perhaps tedious?”

“Ah, no. Not at all.”

“Then… is it uncomfortable?”

He was struck speechless.

He knew he should answer that it wasn’t, but the words wouldn’t come. Moon Hae-min subtly shifted his gaze to read Song Seol’s expression.

‘Did he find out?’

Song Seol seemed to have noticed that he found him incredibly uncomfortable. He felt a pang of regret, but then thought it might actually be for the best. This way, Song Seol would stop calling him to do this and that.

However, Hae-min’s assumption was proven wrong.

“Endure it, even if it is uncomfortable.”

“…Yes.”

Normally, one would say, ‘If it is uncomfortable, you do not have to come,’ but Song Seol was, as expected, peculiar. It was so absurd that Hae-min momentarily forgot his discomfort.

A returned time, and a returned place.

Moon Hae-min looked around the office with complex eyes. From the arrangement of the furniture to the ink-scented air, everything was familiar. It was only natural, as he had visited this place often in the past.

Why did that familiarity feel so strange now? Moon Hae-min paused his writing for a moment, lost in thought.

“Moon Hee-yul.”

Song Seol called him. It seemed he could not stand to watch his right hand idling. Hae-min moved his hand again.

“Let us take a short break.”

Unexpected words were spoken. Despite that, Moon Hae-min continued to work.

“I will finish copying this and then rest.”

“Do it leisurely so you do not overstrain yourself.”

“How could I overstrain myself with this much?”

“One never knows. It would be troublesome if your right hand were to fail after mine already has.”

Song Seol spoke while pointedly lifting his right hand. It was a hand that still looked perfectly robust. Grumbling inwardly about where on earth the injury was, Hae-min set down the brush. Since he was told to rest, he intended to do so.

However, Hae-min’s rest did not even last fifteen minutes. A call was heard from outside the door.

“My Lord, it is I, Yoon Seung-hyeok. I have brought the reports.”

“Enter.”

Before he could even be surprised by the familiar name, the sliding door opened. As soon as Yoon Seung-hyeok stepped into the office, he scanned the surroundings. Upon spotting Moon Hae-min, he beamed. His expression seemed to shout, ‘Here you are!’

‘Could it be that Yoon Seung-hyeok remembers me?’

Though he knew it was impossible, he flinched. Meanwhile, Yoon Seung-hyeok approached Song Seol.

“These are the reports that arrived today. However…”

He turned his gaze toward Moon Hae-min. Just as before, it was a level of [Read on Read BL Novels]clear [Read on Read BL Novels]interest that made it impossible not to misinterpret.

“So this is the young master of the Geumcheon Moon clan!”

It was something he had heard in the past as well. Moon Hae-min realized once again that even if the timing and situation changed, a person’s fundamental nature did not.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Yoon Seung-hyeok.”

“I am Moon Hee-yul.”

“I have only seen your calligraphy until now; I am delighted to finally meet you in person.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok spoke fluently with a bright expression. Since he had already experienced this situation once, he wasn’t surprised. Moon Hae-min greeted him calmly.

“I am also pleased to meet you.”

“Wow, truly…”

Yoon Seung-hyeok looked at Moon Hae-min with sparkling eyes. It was rude, but because his gaze was so clear, it wasn’t unpleasant.

In truth, Hae-min already knew what kind of man Yoon Seung-hyeok was. He knew why he showed interest in him and even what he desired.

“I have truly wanted to meet you, and that day is today.”

“Were you looking for me?”

“Yes!”

He seemed to be inviting Hae-min to ask why. Moon Hae-min did so.

“For what purpose?”

“Well, you see, admiring your calligraphy has become my greatest pleasure lately.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok’s eyes flashed. For a moment, it almost looked like madness. In any case, he was a man who wasn’t malicious, but had a peculiar and eccentric side.

“Thank you for viewing it so favorably.”

“How could I merely view it favorably? Every time I saw your writing, I felt a desire to become close with you. So, what do you think? Shall we converse often?”

This, too, was a situation he had faced in the past. At that time, Moon Hae-min had snapped back with a stern face.

‘You speak of a grave matter. Though I am a man, I am an Eumin and the concubine of Grand Prince Byeokran. To ask to be a companion to that concubine in front of his husband—what kind of situation is this?’

It wasn’t that he found Yoon Seung-hyeok’s proposal [Read on Read BL Novels]offensive. He had unauthorized copyspoken harshly on purpose, thinking that was the only way to make him back off. But now, a thought occurred to him.

In truth, it might have been because of an inferiority complex.

Moon Hae-min had a secret, strong pride in his calligraphy. Therefore, he couldn’t have been pleased with Yoon Seung-hyeok calling Young Master ‘Moon Hee-yul’ a master calligrapher or saying he wanted to possess his writing.

‘I just took my anger out on him for no reason…’

To others, it would have seemed like a justified protest, but Moon Hae-min alone knew the truth. What he had truly found uncomfortable was not Yoon Seung-hyeok, but his own position.

“Young Master?”

At Yoon Seung-hyeok’s call, Moon Hae-min snapped out of his old memories.

“Ah, yes.”

“If I have said something rude, please forget it. I believe my excitement got the better of me and I have committed a discourtesy.”

“Not at all.”

Moon Hae-min smiled faintly.

It didn’t matter anymore. Whether he was Moon [stolen content]Hae-min or Moon Hee-yul, he was someone who would leave [unauthorized copy]Songdo in about a year anyway. He didn’t want to be on edge over such matters.

“I lack eloquence, so I do not know if I can be a good conversation partner. But if you are fine with that, let us talk occasionally.”

“Of course I am!”

Yoon Seung-hyeok was purely delighted. As a handsome man with a gentle impression smiled broadly, it felt as if sunlight were pouring in. As if infected by him, Moon Hae-min’s lips curved upward as well. Just then.

“Yoon Seung-hyeok, you must be short on time if you wish to finish the calculations within the deadline.”

A voice like frost cut in.

Startled, Hae-min looked back at Song Seol. For some reason, he looked cold. He wasn’t frowning; he was merely expressionless, yet a chill seemed to emanate from him.

“Yes, Your Highness. I shall take my leave.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok also seemed to sense Song Seol’s displeasure. He quickly exited the office. Slide, thud. The sliding door closed.

Thus, the reunion with Yoon Seung-hyeok ended anticlimactically. And so, all that remained was…

“I told you to rest because you looked tired, yet you seem perfectly fine.”

For some reason, Song Seol was grumpy.

‘I told you I didn’t need to rest…’

Swallowing his frustration toward him, Moon Hae-min turned his eyes back to the documents.

After that day, Moon Hae-min began frequenting the Songdo provincial office with Song Seol. Like a thread following a needle, the right hand followed the master. He had tried his best not to get entangled with Song Seol, but the current situation, where they had become a pair, was bleak.

Whenever he went to the provincial office, he ran into Yoon Seung-hyeok several times. However, they barely exchanged greetings; there was never an opportunity for a conversation. This was none other than because of Song Seol.

He would pile on a mountain of work, and as soon as it was finished, he would add just as much more. Thus, there was no leisure to act distracted.

‘At this rate, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call me his brain rather than his right hand.’

Perhaps not Song Seol’s entire brain, but half… no, a quarter… While grumbling inwardly, Hae-min moved his hand busily. The characters flowed smoothly from the tip of his brush.