Fake Concubine 77

‘I ​wouldn’t ​do ​it ​with Song Seol ​either, ​but…’

As ​if ​reading ​his inner thoughts, Song ​Seol ​emphasized.

“It is a ​promise.”

“Then you must ​promise ​as ​well, ​My ​Lord. ​That you will ​not ​treat ​me recklessly, regardless ​of the situation.”

Moon Hae-min ​spoke quickly. ​This was ​an opportunity ​if there ​ever ​was ​one. He was ​in a ​position where he had ​to follow Song Seol’s ​orders anyway, so he ​might as ​well ​gain some small advantage. Of course, ​it was a promise ​with ​no ​real ​binding ​power, but it ​was better ​than ​nothing.

“Very well.”

Song Seol ​answered ​readily. At that, Hae-min felt ​a small—very ​small—sense ​of relief.

The rain ​showed ​no ​sign ​of ​stopping. Amidst ​the ​refreshing sound ​of the downpour, the sound of skin ​rubbing against skin ​blended in. Hae-min ​continued to stroke the ​angry member, ​its veins bulging, ​without ​any sign of ​discomfort.

After a while, ​he felt ​as ​though he ​had ​become impatient ​himself. ​He wanted ​to ​see ​the man reach ​his ​climax.

“…Ha.”

Finally, Song ​Seol ​ejaculated. ​The ​surging semen [stolen content]reached as far as the tip of Hae-min’s chin. Hae-min Read on Read BL Novelsunconsciously frowned slightly.

“…”

Song Seol raised a hand and wiped the semen away with his sleeve. Hae-min remained still, not knowing whether to thank him for this, when the man lightly caressed his cheek.

“Do not forget the promise.”

Just what did he take him for that he emphasized it time and again? Feeling somewhat absurd, Hae-min shot back sharply.

“Of course. It is only because you are my Lord; with which other man would I ever perform such an act?”

“Indeed.”

One might have been offended by the talk-back, but Song Seol instead looked satisfied.

“As expected, you are clever.”

“…I feel no particular joy in being praised as clever for such a thing.”

Song Seol let out a short, low laugh.

Suddenly, Hae-min noticed that his Chromatic Scent had grown fainter than before. It had been worth sacrificing his body—or rather, his hand. Though his lust might not be entirely gone, it had been relieved to some extent, so at the very least, he would not ravish him recklessly.

‘I’ve secured a promise that he won’t treat me recklessly…’

Even as he recalled it, it wasn’t a particularly reliable promise. Hae-min simply turned his head away from Song Seol.

Rainwater flowed along the eaves. With this much rain, the dust accumulated between the roof tiles must have been washed away cleanly.

How clean and beautiful would the world be after the rain stopped? Moon Hae-min inwardly looked forward to that scenery.

1. Hanseong

As soon as the monsoon season ended, the sweltering heat raged. But that exhausting summer eventually passed.

The season had turned to autumn. It was the time when the grains ripened.

During that time, Moon Hae-min’s escape plan had also ripened. He had secretly sought out a group to help him smuggle himself out of the country and had given them a down payment. Now, as long as Song Seol left his post, he could leave Songdo at any moment. He would finally be free.

Yet, for some reason, now that he had finished his preparations to leave, he felt restless.

At first, he thought he was afraid of an uncertain future. But that wasn’t it. Without realizing it, he had grown fond of Songdo.

Here, there was a market full of sights to see, a warm-hearted steward and maid, and Yoon Seung-hyeok, who praised his calligraphy.

‘And Song Seol…’

He was the same person as in the past, yet a different person. He had been quite affectionate back then as well, but had he not taken his body recklessly at the time?

But now he did not do that, and he had even helped him when [stolen content]he was in danger. Leaving such [visit our site]a Song Seol would be an act of betraying trust. Hae-min felt an lingering sense of unease and guilt.

‘What is the point of making every preparation to flee, when I haven’t prepared my heart?’

Even as he wavered, time flowed relentlessly.

And finally, the day arrived.

“Young Master Hee-yul, the Lord is calling for you.”

Late at night, the steward delivered the message. Hae-min stood up as if he had been waiting.

“I understand.”

His heart pounded. Since he had waited for this day, he should have felt relieved, but suddenly, fear washed over him. How could he be this nervous already? Moon Hae-min struggled to compose himself and stood before Song Seol.

“Hee-yul.”

“Yes.”

Hae-min observed his demeanor. As expected, Song Seol looked darker than ever. The deep shadow cast upon his face was not merely because it was midnight. Knowing the reason, Hae-min’s heart trembled.

“Something urgent has come up that requires me to visit Hanseong.”

“May I ask what the matter is?”

Song Seol remained silent for a moment. Then, he answered in a voice heavier than the silence.

“The Crown Prince has passed away.”

He had already known, but that didn’t make it any less devastating.

The anxiety surging in his chest rose like a great wave. The cause of this agitation was not simply the fear of fleeing. He felt pity for the Crown Prince, who had passed away overnight, and guilt toward Song Seol, who would soon discover his true identity.

Song Seol, completely unaware of such complex inner thoughts, continued silently.

“It will take some time to hold the state funeral and ancestral rites, and to fulfill my duties.”

“When do you plan to leave for Hanseong?”

“I will depart as soon as dawn breaks today.”

“I see… Please travel safely.”

“You are coming with me.”

For a moment, his thoughts stopped.

Only after a long while could Hae-min barely squeeze out a voice.

“…Pardon?”

“You are going to Hanseong as well.”

“B-but My Lord, I…”

Far from Hanseong, he was supposed to be leaving Yeomyeong…

Those words rushed up to his throat. Moon Hae-min managed to utter a desperate excuse.

“I… I am not the primary consort, am I?”

“Can a concubine not even set foot in Hanseong? There is no such law. We may not be able to enter the palace together, but we can enter the city together.”

“However, I believe there is no need for me to accompany you…”

“No, you must go to Hanseong with me.”

Hae-min was stunned by the firm answer.

There was no room for negotiation. Song Seol truly intended to take him to Hanseong, even by force. At this rate, all the plans he had painstakingly built would crumble.

“My Lord…”

“Do you not miss Hanseong? Would it not be nice to meet your family after a long time and see the faces of your hometown friends?”

Song Seol suggested enticingly. However, this was a lure that didn’t work on Hae-min at all. It was precisely because of that family that he was trying to flee.

“Why do you insist on taking me?”

“Just because.”

“Pardon?”

It was an absurd answer. Unlike Hae-min, whose eyes widened, Song Seol added bluntly, like a rock.

“Just because I have a feeling that I should.”

“…”

A shadow fell over ‘Moon Hee-yul’s’ pale face. He looked as if he couldn’t understand at all. It was only natural. In truth, Song Seol himself could not logically explain why he had such a feeling.

It was simply an instinctive sense of crisis that reared its head. A feeling that he must never let Moon Hee-yul out of his sight.

“I told you before. That you are not a flower, but a butterfly.”

Song Seol’s butterfly was [unauthorized copy]constantly looking for unauthorized copyan opportunity to fly away. Even if he seemed docile, Song Seol could feel it.

It wasn’t because Song Seol was quick-witted. It was because Hee-yul was always looking toward a distant place. It was a fact he could realize just by exchanging a few words. He became more certain when reading the reports Hee-yul wrote, and absolutely convinced when seeing the expression on his face as he looked at the sea.

That ‘Moon Hee-yul’s’ nature was freedom, and that he possessed wings to fly high into the sky.

“I remember. But did you not also say that you did not wish to keep a butterfly by force?”

“Is it by force for me to accompany you? Do you truly dislike going to Hanseong that much?”

At those words, Hee-yul hesitated. He bit his lower lip slightly, his face looking as if he had been stung by fire. Even though the surroundings were dark, Song Seol could read that expression in detail.

“…Yes. To be honest, I do not wish to go to Hanseong. Do you still intend to take me?”

“Yes.”

Song Seol hadn’t expected Moon Hee-yul to go to Hanseong humming a tune, but he hadn’t known he would be this stubborn either. Song Seol tried to guess the reason.

Surely it was because of Lord Moon. He had said he was the cherished eldest son, but from what he had observed over the past period, the relationship between father and son was not that affectionate. At most, a single letter was all they exchanged. Thus, he couldn’t think of any other reason. Surely he didn’t have an old lover hidden away in Hanseong.

“…”

Song Seol narrowed his eyes. As expected, he had to take Hee-yul to Hanseong.

The methods for keeping a winged creature are unauthorized copyobvious. Either put it in a cage or tie a string to [Read on Read BL Novels]its ankle. Otherwise, one has no choice but to tear off its wings.

Since he could not put Moon Hee-yul in a cage, tie a string to his ankle, and certainly could not tear off his wings, he had to take him along.

Song Seol’s resolve hardened. He commanded Moon Hee-yul.

“Return to your quarters and get some sleep for now. You will be tired if we are to depart as soon as dawn breaks.”

Song Seol had no inkling of how shocked his butterfly was by that command.