Fake Concubine 93

The ​next ​morning.

Moon ​Hae-min ​tidied his clothes. ​Even ​so, ​they ​were ​garments riddled with holes ​from ​flying sparks, but ​he tried his ​best ​to ​look ​as ​neat ​as possible. After ​tying ​his ​hair back cleanly, ​he stood before A-jeong’s ​parents.

“Oh, young ​Hae-min. What ​is it?”

“Thank ​you for ​feeding ​and ​housing me all ​this time.”

At ​Hae-min’s words, the two ​seemed to realize his ​intention. The mother nodded ​first and ​spoke.

“Are ​you planning to leave now?”

“Yes.”

Regardless of ​the bare floor, Hae-min ​performed ​a ​deep ​formal ​bow. visit our siteReceiving such ​a bow ​first ​thing in the ​morning, ​and not even on a ​holiday, [stolen content][stolen content]the ​couple ​waved their hands ​in ​fluster.

“Now, ​why ​are ​you doing ​this?”

“Indeed, ​it’s not ​as if we fed and housed you ​for nothing; this ​is quite embarrassing.”

“Not ​at all. I would ​have been ​in great trouble ​if ​you hadn’t helped ​me. I will ​not forget ​this ​kindness.”

He wasn’t ​just ​saying it. ​Hae-min ​truly intended ​to ​repay ​them if he ​could ​return to ​Hanseong ​and ​recover ​his money. Though that would only be possible if he didn’t get severely scolded by Song Seol.

“Goodness, he’s so polite, unlike the youths these days.”

“At least have breakfast before you go.”

The two pushed Hae-min toward the dining table. Although it was just cold rice from yesterday and bland seasoned vegetables, it felt like a feast to him.

“Eat.”

“A-jeong hasn’t woken up yet.”

“Eat first regardless. You must move early if you’re setting out on a long journey.”

Just then, A-jeong woke up, rubbing sleepy eyes. The father looked back and spoke.

“A-jeong, young Hae-min is leaving now.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

As if snapped awake, A-jeong’s eyes flew open. Hae-min spoke with a hint of apology.

“Yeah, it turned out that way. Sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

“Uh…”

A-jeong scratched the back of his head and sat at the table. Perhaps because the situation was so abrupt, he looked completely dazed.

Not many words were exchanged, but they ate in a warm atmosphere. Hae-min suddenly wondered if this was what a normal visit our sitefamily was like. A family that cherished [unauthorized copy]and loved one another. It was so utterly different from the Moon clan that he felt comfortable, yet envious.

‘I wanted to build a family like this someday, too.’

But that was already a broken dream. He had given up on it so long ago that it didn’t even feel bitter anymore. It simply felt natural.

After finishing the meal, Hae-min stood up. It was truly time to go.

“Thank you for everything.”

“Yes, we wish you a safe journey.”

“You remember the path I told you about before, right?”

“Yes.”

The distance from Yangju-mok to Hanseong wasn’t far, so even if he lost his way, he could find it by asking around. The same went for Grand Prince Byeokran’s residence. Since Song Seol was such a famous figure, it wouldn’t be hard to find.

In truth, the real problem wasn’t finding the residence, but getting inside. However, [stolen content]Moon Hae-min didn’t worry about that stolen contentfor long. Song Seol [visit our site]would surely let him in once he recognized him.

‘…Still, surely he won’t drag me to the Uigeumbu and throw me in prison the moment he sees me.’

Just as a bleak thought crossed his mind, A-jeong stepped forward.

“I’ll see you off.”

“Huh?”

“I have to go out to work anyway. I’m just seeing you off while I’m at it.”

“But it’s cold, you should stay inside…”

“Don’t refuse. I’m not going far anyway.”

A-jeong said as he slipped his feet into his straw sandals. Touched by the gesture, Hae-min nodded.

“Okay, then I’ll ask that of you.”

Since he had brought no luggage, there was nothing to pack. After bowing to A-jeong’s parents once more, Hae-min set out.

The sky was a cloudless, deep blue, and the weather was cold enough for ice to freeze. Hae-min felt anew that winter had deepened while he had been confined.

“Ugh, it’s cold…”

While not as cold as Songdo in the past, Yangju was still freezing. As he shivered, A-jeong spoke.

“It must be colder because your clothes have holes in them.”

“Yeah. But they’re warmer than they look.”

Hae-min replied, fiddling with his padded clothes. These were the padded clothes he had received from Song Seol; they had originally been as white as cotton. However, through everything he had endured, they had become stained and mottled. With small holes dotted here and there, the original cleanliness was nowhere to be found.

“Shall I lend you my jang-ot?”

“…Huh?”

“Wait a moment.”

A-jeong shifted the basket on his back to the front, pulled out a piece of cloth, and tossed it to him. Catching it reflexively, Hae-min saw that it was indeed a jang-ot.

“You carried something like this? No, but is it okay to lend this to me?”

He called it lending, but it was practically giving. When he asked with wide eyes, A-jeong replied nonchalantly.

“I call it a jang-ot, but I’ve used it as a straw mat more often than I’ve worn it. So it’s just as grimy as your coat, but it’ll block the cold regardless. Just wrap it around you.”

“A-jeong…”

A surge of emotion welled up. He felt almost sorry for having been wary of A-jeong when they first met, thinking he might be a wild animal or a dangerous person.

“Why are you so nice to me? Without any ulterior motive…”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I actually did have an ulterior motive.”

“…What?”

“Because your eyes are pretty, Oppa.”

Hae-min was momentarily speechless at the confession delivered with a grin. He had often heard that his eye color was unusual, but this was a first.

“Not that I intended to do anything about it. I just… for some reason, I couldn’t ignore you. You looked so pathetic when we first met.”

“W-well, that’s true.”

Even he thought he had looked like a complete beggar. In fact, he wasn’t much different now.

“So just take it. It’s a rag that’s embarrassing to even call clothing.”

“…Okay.”

Hae-min hesitated for a moment before stolen contentdraping A-jeong’s jang-ot over his shoulders. It was just a single [unauthorized copy]piece of visit our sitecloth, yet he felt a warmth spreading through his body.

The two parted at the entrance of Yangju-mok. In front of the jangseung totem poles guarding the district, Hae-min and A-jeong exchanged their farewells.

“Just go straight this way and you’ll reach Hanseong. Don’t take a wrong turn, and if you’re not sure, ask any passerby. Be careful.”

“Yeah, I will. You get back safely too.”

A-jeong waved his hand. Waving back, Hae-min turned around. From here on, he had to go alone.

‘Will I be able to make it to Song Seol’s residence safely…?’

A sliver of worry crept in, but Moon Hae-min shook his head to clear it. He walked with deliberate vigor. Considering the various things he had experienced recently, finding Song Seol’s residence was like a piece of cake. Therefore, he would surely arrive safely.

The Uigeumbu.

In this government office, where criminals were interrogated under the King’s orders, two Grand Princes had entered.

While the innocent Uigeumbu officials held their breath, Grand Prince Byeokran spoke.

“I heard you kidnapped my concubine.”

At the single sentence that stated it as a fact, Grand Prince Gwang-han realized that what he had done had been largely uncovered. In truth, he had suspected as much since he received word from the Uigeumbu.

Grand Prince Gwang-han first tried to play innocent.

“My, my. Have you lost a cherished concubine?”

“…”

“Your situation is truly pitiful, Uncle, but since when did the Uigeumbu handle private matters such as searching for a runaway concubine?”

“The Uigeumbu is an institution that protects the royal family. My household affairs are also the affairs of the royal family, and since that person is to become my official consort soon, what is the problem?”

“So, are you asking me for the whereabouts of your concubine, Uncle?”

“I am.”

Grand Prince Gwang-han’s lips twisted.

It had started from a light curiosity. He had become interested when he heard that his illustrious uncle doted so much on a certain male Eumin. And the fact that the Eumin happened to be the half-brother of his own lover made it all the more amusing.

Of course, kidnapping Moon Hae-min wasn’t for that reason alone. Grand Prince Gwang-han had intended to use Moon Hae-min as a bargaining chip if necessary.

But how could he have known that the boy would set fire to the thatched cottage and flee? A low-born thing who escaped as deftly as a rat—he had already been in a foul mood because of it.

“It is true that I met a lovely Eumin recently, but he is not your concubine, Uncle.”

At those words, Grand Prince Byeokran’s face hardened. The glare was terrifying, but only then did Grand Prince Gwang-han’s mood improve.

His uncle had always been an eyesore and a nuisance. To think that this man, who was as cold and rigid as a block of ice and rarely so much as batted an eyelid, could make such a face. A twisted pleasure surged from deep within his gut.

“Above all, that Eumin is no longer in my hands.”

“What did you do with him?”

“I do not know. A fire broke out in the house where I had placed him.”

“…What?”

“It is the truth.”

Putting on a mock expression of regret, Grand Prince Gwang-han shrugged his shoulders.

This feeling was like poking a fierce beast with a twig! The enraged beast might pounce, but even that was a source of pleasure for Grand Prince Gwang-han.

Goosebumps prickled all over his body. As expected, kidnapping Moon Hae-min had been the right choice. Although he couldn’t use him as a bargaining chip, he had managed to draw a reaction from Grand Prince Byeokran. He rarely felt this kind of thrill.

“Ah… a charred corpse was found in that house, but surely that couldn’t be your concubine, Uncle. Your concubine is currently doing well at Lord Moon’s residence, is he not?”

In an instant, Song Seol’s vision flashed white.