Fake Concubine 82

“……My ​Lord.”

“Would ​you ​release ​your Chromatic Scent ​for ​a ​moment?”

“B-but, ​you ​are currently in mourning.”

It ​would ​be problematic if ​even a single ​trace ​of ​Chromatic ​Scent ​stained ​the mourning clothes. ​Song ​Seol ​seemed to realize ​this, as he did ​not press ​further.

“Strange. This ​is not ​the appropriate ​time ​to ​say such things, ​but I ​find myself liking you ​more and more.”

In an ​instant, Hae-min’s heart sank.

Of ​all times ​to ​confess. He had suspected stolen contentit inwardly, ​but hearing it [stolen content]directly ​from ​Song ​Seol’s ​lips ​felt different.

Song Seol’s ​affection felt ​hot, ​the complete opposite ​of ​his Chromatic Scent. It was ​intense enough ​to ​make him waver ​for ​a ​moment, ​even ​though he ​knew ​he shouldn’t. ​However, Hae-min steadied his heart.

He was Moon ​Hae-min, not Moon ​Hee-yul. Based on ​his past experiences, this ​fervent heart ​would cool the ​moment ​the man discovered ​his true identity. ​Therefore, this ​affection ​was no ​different ​from a ​baseless ​illusion.

“My Lord, ​I… ​I ​am not that ​great ​of a ​person. ​Nor ​has ​anything particularly special happened between us….”

“Nothing special? Teaching me how to control my Chromatic Scent, helping me when I took the wrong aphrodisiac, saving me just before I was mauled by a tiger, and spending a night together in the mountains—is that not enough?”

“……Now that you mention it, it has been quite eventful. But having gone through such things, you should actually find me more repulsive.”

“Well, I’m not so sure about that.”

Song Seol murmured as he let go of Hae-min’s hair.

“As I said, I like you for no particular reason. Perhaps we were lovers in a past life.”

Moon Hae-min fell into a heavy silence.

In reality, he and Song Seol had a deep connection in the past. They weren’t ‘lovers,’ but they weren’t just a typical Grand Prince and a concubine, either.

‘As I thought, my memories are slowly returning.’

Hae-min felt a calm certainty. It was the moment the lingering doubt that had been bothering him was finally put to rest.

“……Perhaps you are right, My Lord.”

“Is that so?”

Song Seol gave a faint smile. But that smile was fleeting.

“I must be going now.”

Song Seol spoke, his original expression returning. It was a look as dark as the early dawn sky and as bleak as the cooling weather.

“Please get home safely.”

Hae-min escorted him to the main gate.

Song Seol left the Moon residence without delay. Standing by the gate, Hae-min watched his retreating figure. Song Seol, dressed in mourning clothes, grew smaller in the distance.

He was a man always dressed in elegant silks, yet ironically, the last image Hae-min saw of him was in hemp clothes. It was the most modest look he had seen since first meeting Song Seol.

And yet, for some reason, Hae-min had a feeling he would not be able to forget that silhouette for a long time.

“Whew….”

Eventually, Song Seol [visit our site]vanished from [visit our site]sight. The moment Hae-min sighed and visit our siteturned around, he jumped in surprise.

“Hee, Hee-yul.”

Hee-yul was standing behind a pillar of the mill. His pale face, staring silently in this direction, was somehow almost frightening.

“Why are you standing there like that?”

Hae-min asked, approaching him with long strides.

“……Just because.”

“How long have you been there?”

“Not long. Don’t worry, Brother; Grand Prince Byeokran wouldn’t have noticed me.”

“Well, that’s….”

Even if Song Seol had seen Hee-yul hiding behind the pillar, he wouldn’t have even dreamed that he was the ‘real’ Moon Hee-yul.

Moon Hae-min scratched his cheek awkwardly. Since they had raised their voices at each other last night, facing him felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Brother, by any chance… what did you talk about with Grand Prince Byeokran?”

“Nothing much.”

“Really?”

Hee-yul’s eyes shifted. He seemed to be searching for whether the words were truth or lies.

It almost felt as if he were monitoring him. Hae-min found this trait of Hee-yul’s uncomfortable. However, the feeling of pity for Moon Hee-yul was greater.

“Of course. What else would I have talked about?”

“……Then that’s a relief.”

Hee-yul bit his lip hard. His bloodless, white lips turned dark red. It was worrying enough that he might actually draw blood.

“Hee-yul. ……Are you okay?”

At the cautious question, Hee-yul gave a small nod. Then, looking at Hae-min, he spoke carefully.

“Brother, I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“It’s okay.”

In truth, his chest still felt tight. Now that the apology was made, he wanted to have a proper conversation about what Moon Hee-yul was thinking and what his plans were for the future. But if he pressed for answers right now, their relationship would only worsen.

“You’re not angry, are you, Brother…?”

“Of course not. Why would I be angry?”

“I’m glad.”

Only then did Hee-yul smile softly. At that, the resentment toward his brother melted away. Though he had some frustrating sides, Hae-min truly wanted Moon Hee-yul to do well.

“Brother, I’m going to the village shrine to make a wish. Do you want to come along?”

“To the shrine?”

Hae-min pondered for a moment. He was currently busy enough just devising a way to escape. However, stopping by the shrine for a bit seemed fine.

“Sure, shall we go after breakfast?”

“No, let’s go tomorrow instead of today. I think tomorrow would be better.”

“Let’s do that.”

Moon Hae-min readily agreed. Since it was a request from Hee-yul, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

Thinking about it later, he realized it might be difficult to go out with Hee-yul.

Since he was publicly known as Hee-yul, he could run into trouble if he were seen walking around with the real Moon Hee-yul.

However, this problem was easily solved.

“Brother, let’s go.”

Hee-yul spoke, his head covered deeply with a jang-ot. Hae-min scanned him from head to toe. With the jang-ot barely revealing his eyes and a long skirt, Moon Hee-yul looked exactly like a young lady from a commoner’s house.

“Where did you get clothes like these?”

“I have my ways. Brother, don’t stare so much. It’s not like I enjoy wearing a skirt.”

“I wasn’t staring because it’s strange. I think it suits you well.”

Looking back, he himself had once escaped while cross-dressing. It was almost absurd that he hadn’t thought of ‘cross-dressing’ as a method sooner.

‘It suits him well.’

Hae-min thought, glancing at Hee-yul. Perhaps it was because Hee-yul was shorter and had a smaller frame than he did, but there was no sense of incongruity even in the skirt. At this rate, no one would recognize him as Moon Hee-yul.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Hee-yul began to walk, clutching his jang-ot unauthorized copytightly. To avoid Lord Moon’s eyes, the [Read on Read BL Novels]two of them left the main gate with quick steps.

Even after successfully leaving the residence, Hee-yul did not slow his pace. He walked briskly toward a destination, seemingly unbothered by the skirt clinging to his legs.

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“It’s better if we go and come back quickly.”

Hee-yul whispered in a voice as small as a mosquito’s. He seemed worried that someone might hear his voice and realize he was a man.

However, there were few pedestrians around. It was still very early.

“It doesn’t hurt to be cautious, but… by the way, which shrine are we going to?”

“Just follow me. There’s a place I visit often.”

Hee-yul moved his feet busily. As he unauthorized copysaid, [visit our site]he didn’t seem lost, as if he had indeed been there often. He walked and walked without hesitation.

Following silently behind, Moon Hae-min wondered how many times Hee-yul had come to the shrine. Had he come here so often because his heart was in turmoil?

“Ah.”

Just then, a cold droplet of water fell on his head.

Moon Hae-min looked up. He saw grey clouds covering the sky.

“Is it going to rain…?”

“Not snow?”

“Ah, is it snow?”

Hae-min reached his hand out into the air. A small snowflake landed on his palm.

“It must be sleet. The weather feels quite lonely.”

“Let’s hurry.”

Hee-yul urged him on when he paused to look at the sky. Moon Hae-min began walking again.

After some more walking, a guardian tree finally came into view.

Silk cloths of blue, red, yellow, white, and green fluttered on the branches. While the rest of the world was grey, only those five colors were vibrant.

“The shrine is that way.”

Hee-yul said, pointing in a certain direction. Turning his head, he saw a small wooden shrine.

“I didn’t know there was a shrine in a place like this. How did you know?”

“I just… You probably didn’t know, Brother, since you hardly ever go out.”

“I suppose.”

Moon Hae-min smiled bitterly. He rarely went out, and even when he did, he only visited places like the rental bookstore. Thus, far from knowing about the shrine, he barely knew where he was. It was almost embarrassing to say he had lived in Hanseong.

Hee-yul walked softly toward the shrine. Draping the jang-ot over his shoulders, he pressed his hands together and prayed.

Hae-min stood beside him. Looking over, he saw Hee-yul praying earnestly with his eyes closed.

Sleet landed on Moon Hee-yul’s eyelashes and then slid down. It looked so much like a tear that Hae-min felt a strange sensation in his chest.

‘Should I pray too…?’

Moon Hae-min pressed his hands together like Hee-yul and bowed [stolen content]his head visit our siteRead on Read BL Novelsslightly. Then, he murmured inwardly.

‘Mago, thank you for giving me a second chance. As you said, I will not look back, I will not regret, and I will simply walk my own path. And so… I will surely become happy.’

In truth, he wanted to pray for protection so he could escape safely, but his conscience pricked him. Had he not already received an incomparably precious opportunity from Mago? He couldn’t ask for more.

In the end, it all depended on his own efforts. Whether he hid deep in the mountains or crossed the sea to a foreign land, there were many ways to escape.

It was just that his heart felt restless at the thought of leaving behind those he had unintentionally grown fond of. He hadn’t realized that escaping while leaving a sorrowful Song Seol behind would weigh on him this much.

‘But rather than facing a Song Seol who would be enraged upon learning I am a fake….’

The reason for his escape had shifted slightly. It wasn’t that he disliked Song Seol, but that he didn’t want to see the man’s disappointment. It was a selfish but honest feeling.