Fake Concubine 90

“Yangjumok, ​huh…”

Hae-min ​muttered ​troubledly ​as he looked ​at ​the ​officials ​guarding ​the entrance to Yangjumok. ​While ​it wasn’t far ​from Yangjumok to ​Hanseong, ​to ​Hae-min, ​who ​lacked ​travel funds, it ​felt ​like ​a journey of ​a thousand miles. With ​no place ​to sleep ​tonight, he ​wondered if ​he ​might ​actually freeze to ​death.

‘What kind ​of unlucky thought is ​this?’

He was a man ​who had survived a ​freezing cold ​so ​severe that the sea had frozen ​over. There was no ​way ​he ​would ​succumb ​to something like ​this.

However, no ​matter ​how much he ​tried ​to summon his courage, the ​bleak reality ​remained ​unchanged. He wouldn’t ​die, ​but ​it ​was ​obvious he ​would ​suffer immensely; ​what was he to do? Just as ​he was letting ​out a series ​of desolate sighs, a ​voice spoke.

“By ​any chance, do ​you ​lack funds?”

A young ​girl asked him ​bluntly. Embarrassed ​that ​his situation ​had ​been seen ​through, ​Hae-min answered ​in ​a ​small voice.

“Yes, I ​have ​suffered a ​misfortune…”

“Oh ​dear.”

“…”

Should ​he ​ask this girl for help? Hae-min hesitated before hanging his head low. It was shameless; she had put aside her own work to help him descend the mountain, and he could not bear to impose on her further.

But now was not the time to worry about pride. To get to Hanseong, he desperately needed someone’s help. Ultimately, braving his embarrassment, Hae-min opened his mouth.

“Um…”

“Perhaps…”

By chance, they spoke at the same time. The two looked at each other and blinked. Then, Hae-min stepped back.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Ah, yes.”

The girl nodded and spoke.

“You seem to be in a predicament, and since we’ve met by chance, it must be fate. Would you like to stay at my house?”

“Pardon? Is… is that really alright?”

It was an exquisite and grateful offer, but it was so sudden that he felt bewildered. He almost wondered if it was a trap. However, the girl’s proposal was tempting.

“My parents welcome guests. Also, I’m not forcing you, but we are short-handed at home. It would be great if you could help with the work for a while.”

The girl added flatly that a relative who had agreed to help had unfortunately suffered a severe stomach ailment recently.

“We need a worker, and you seem to need travel funds, so wouldn’t it be mutually beneficial?”

“Ah! Yes, I would be most grateful.”

Hae-min nodded, his face brightening.

Of course, he hadn’t completely discarded the suspicion that the girl might be a bad person. But even so, Moon Hae-min had no other choice. If he parted ways with her here, he would have to wander the roads alone. That was dangerous in many ways.

“Then let us go.”

Suppressing the thumping of his heart—a mix of anticipation and anxiety—Hae-min followed the girl.

After a while, the steward reported the details he had secretly investigated.

The truth that finally came to light was nothing short of shocking.

‘It wasn’t Moon Hee-yul, but Moon Hae-min.’

The first emotion Song Seol felt upon learning this was a sense of emptiness. He thought he knew as much as one could know about Moon Hee-yul, but in reality, had he not been ignorant of even the most basic information? Despite the fact that he had cherished the man quite a bit.

For that, the shock wasn’t overwhelmingly large. Rather, Song Seol remained calm, as if he had experienced an accident that was bound to happen eventually. Perhaps it was because the situation hadn’t fully sunk in yet.

“What shall we do, Your Highness?”

At the steward’s question, Song Seol sank into thought. What did he actually want to do with Hee-yul—no, Hae-min? The situation was so absurd that a solution did not readily come to mind.

“What should I do.”

“Should you not cast him out immediately and hold Lord Moon accountable for his crime?”

It had been a monologue, but thinking he was being asked, the steward answered very cautiously. However, Song Seol remained silent.

The option of casting Hae-min out did not exist. Because he was his person. Whether he grew angry or handed out punishment, it was something to be done while keeping Moon Hae-min by his side; discarding him was not an option.

“…First, I must meet Lord Moon.”

“Shall I send a message to Lord Moon then?”

“No. Bring me a horse.”

He could not send a message and give Lord Moon time to visit our sitestolen contentescape. Above all, Song [visit our site]Seol himself was impatient.

Before long, the steward brought a horse. Mounting it in one leap, Song Seol galloped away.

A fierce wind tore past Song Seol. In that wind, the sleeves of his robe fluttered like storm waves.

Moon Hee-yul… no, Moon Hae-min. He had thought the man’s face looked as if it harbored some kind of story. He had thought the man seemed to love him, yet could not readily open his heart…

‘Then, do you not love me?’

‘I apologize… but I am foolish and do not understand the meaning of your question.’

‘There is no need to think deeply. It was a question as it is.’

‘…If you are asking if I do not love Your Highness… Yes, that is correct.’

A conversation from long ago came to mind. When was it… He really couldn’t remember when. As he tried to recall, a tedious headache surged.

‘Is that so? You do not love me?’

‘…Yes.’

Hee-yul’s calm voice, and even the bitterness that spread through his chest the moment he heard those words, were vivid. Yet, to think he couldn’t remember the timing of the conversation. It was frustrating enough to make him explode.

‘In any case, what importance does love hold?’

‘…’

‘Even if we do not love, we can live while trusting and relying on one another.’

What had he said then? He believed he had answered, ‘You are correct.’ Even if asked the same thing now, he would answer the same way.

Regardless, they could be together. Even if they didn’t love, even if they didn’t trust or rely on each other. Song Seol could be with Moon Hae-min, and he would continue to be.

Upon arriving at the Moon residence, Song Seol dismounted and knocked on the main gate. The servant who came out upon hearing the sound was startled to recognize Grand Prince Byeokran.

“A-Aren’t you the Grand Prince who visited not long ago…?”

“Guide me to Lord Moon.”

“Your Highness, please wait a moment.”

The servant bowed and fumbled nervously. However, Song Seol’s patience had worn thin. He strode toward the guest house.

“Wait, …Your Highness!”

When he flung open the door to the guest room without permission, Lord Moon, who was sitting before a dining table, jumped in surprise. He spoke flusteredly.

“Your Highness, what is the meaning of this discourteous behavior?”

“Discourteous behavior?”

Song Seol glared at Lord Moon with a cold, mocking sneer. Indeed, feeling guilty, Lord Moon’s shoulders flinched.

“Had you sent word, I would have prepared to welcome Your Highness…”

“You must already know the purpose of my visit.”

A look of dismay crossed Lord Moon’s face. Soon, as if resigning, he closed his eyes tightly and spoke.

“I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness. Hee-yul… my foolish son, I too am searching for where he is, but not yet…”

“…What?”

Song Seol furrowed his thick eyebrows. This was another unexpected situation.

“Are you saying Hae-min has left this residence?”

“Hae-min? …Your Highness!”

Lord Moon turned pale. His face looked as if the sky had collapsed. It seemed he had only now realized his shallow trick had been discovered.

“Where did you hide him?”

“I swear by the heavens, I did not hide him. That boy left the residence abruptly without a word!”

“Do you have no inkling of where he might be?”

“I-I am sorry. I am also searching everywhere, but…”

“I asked if you have even an inkling.”

“…Yes, I have none.”

No satisfactory answer came. Song Seol grit his teeth and questioned.

“How long has it been since Hae-min left?”

“T-That is…”

“Do not hesitate; answer me straight.”

An aggressive Chromatic Scent flowed from Song Seol. As a yang-person, Lord Moon was helplessly crushed by it. Within the Chromatic Scent that felt as if it were strangling his windpipe, he stammered a reply.

“It has been ten days as of today…”

“…He hid himself very well.”

Song Seol laughed coldly. He had hidden for ten days to avoid his father’s eyes… For someone who looked so delicate, he was quite resourceful. Then again, wasn’t Hae-min more spirited and clever than he appeared?

“Did he leave anything behind?”

“Yes, yes. He left without leaving so much as a note. Even his luggage remains intact in his room…”

He wanted to punish Lord Moon immediately, but understanding the situation was the priority. Song Seol barely managed to suppress his anger.

“Guide me.”

At those words, Lord Moon hurriedly unauthorized copyled the way. stolen contentSong Seol visit our sitefollowed him into ‘Moon Hee-yul’s’ quarters.

It was an ordinary room. There was nothing particularly striking or strange. After scanning the room indifferently, Song Seol gazed at the luggage placed in one corner.

Neatly folded clothes, a brush case, and a money pouch. They all seemed to belong to Moon Hae-min, looking familiar to Song Seol. There was even that hateful turtle-shaped paperweight.

“…”

Song Seol picked up the money pouch. Feeling a heavy weight in his hand, he opened it to find it full of money. It seemed to be the money Moon Hae-min had earned by selling calligraphy. Song Seol toyed with it and muttered.

“To disappear while leaving his money behind. Isn’t that strange?”

“I think so too…”

Lord Moon answered in a voice that sounded as if it were crawling away.

In truth, he too found Hae-min’s absence extremely suspicious. At first, he thought the ungrateful brat had run away, ignoring the grace of being raised. But if he had truly intended to flee, wouldn’t it make more sense to steal not only his own money but also the family’s wealth?

Perhaps he had been harmed by a wild animal. Of course, [stolen content]this was merely Lord [visit our site]Moon’s own speculation, and it was an atmosphere where unauthorized copyhe dared not utter a word to Grand Prince Byeokran.

Grand Prince Byeokran seemed immensely enraged. A threatening Chromatic Scent flowed from him, enough to make one’s knees tremble. Lord Moon fumbled, swallowing his excuses.