Fake Concubine 17

“Ah, ​I ​only ​say ​this because I ​feel ​it ​would ​be ​a waste; I am ​by ​no means scolding ​you or pressuring ​you, ​so ​please ​do ​not ​misunderstand…”

As the atmosphere ​grew ​heavy, ​Yoon Seung-hyeok hurriedly ​made excuses. Hae-min shook ​his head ​with a ​faint smile.

“Not ​at all. ​I ​am ​simply grateful that ​you view ​my skills so favorably.”

“Haha, ​anyone with a discerning ​eye would naturally admire ​your talent, ​Young ​Master. Even His Highness the Grand ​Prince…”

“Seung-hyeok.”

Song Seol called Yoon ​Seung-hyeok’s ​name ​in ​a ​low voice. Yoon ​Seung-hyeok immediately ​stopped ​speaking. He was ​a ​man who seemed to possess ​a keen ​sense ​of tact one ​moment ​and ​be ​completely ​devoid of ​it ​the next.

“Um, ​then how about becoming my companion for ​conversation?”

“A companion… for ​conversation?”

Moon Hae-min doubted ​his own ears. He ​could at ​least understand the ​suggestion ​to sell his ​calligraphy, but what ​on earth ​was ​this?

This time, ​even ​Song Seol ​did ​not hide ​his ​displeasure. ​Despite this, Yoon ​Seung-hyeok ​asked with ​a ​smooth, ​smiling ​face.

“You said you would not sell your writing, but you visit our sitedid not [unauthorized copy]say you would [unauthorized copy]not make a companion, did you?”

“No…”

“While reading the books you transcribed, I also read the footnotes you added. Through them, I glimpsed that you are someone with a profound and interesting perspective on the world. I found myself wanting to become close to you without even realizing it. So, what do you say? Shall we converse often?”

“You speak of things that could lead to disaster.”

Hae-min spoke coldly, his expression turning stern.

“Though I am a man, I am an Eumin and the concubine of Grand Prince Byeokran. For you to ask the concubine to be your companion right in front of her husband—what kind of situation is this?”

In truth, Moon Hae-min was merely surprised by Yoon Seung-hyeok’s unconventional proposal; he wasn’t particularly offended. However, Yoon Seung-hyeok did not seem like the type of person who would understand gentle words. He felt he had to speak this bluntly to prevent any more absurd suggestions.

“Would you have asked me to be your companion if I were the legal spouse?”

“I have made a mistake.”

For the first time, Yoon Seung-hyeok’s expression hardened. It was not out of anger at being rebuked, nor was it embarrassment. Yoon Seung-hyeok truly felt the weight of his blunder.

“Now that I hear it, I am ashamed that I made such an inconsiderate request. However, this was merely due to my own foolishness, and by no means was it intended to disregard you. Therefore, please do not feel slighted, Young Master.”

“…I do not feel slighted,” Hae-min replied in a small voice.

This was the first time he had ever scolded someone. Just as he visit our sitewas inwardly struggling with how to conclude the unauthorized copyinteraction, Song Seol stepped in.

“Have you finished your business?”

“Yes.”

“Then you may leave.”

“Yes, Grand Prince.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok rose from his seat. He bowed to Song Seol and then bowed his head to Moon Hae-min. Moon Hae-min returned the gesture with a polite nod.

“I shall take my leave.”

Soon, Yoon Seung-hyeok left the guest house. Hae-min couldn’t take his eyes off the man’s retreating back, wondering if it was alright to let a guest leave without even seeing him out. For some reason, he felt uneasy.

“Hee-yul.”

Turning at the call, he saw Song Seol holding a teacup. He lightly swirled the cup in his hand, creating a small vortex in the tea.

“Unexpected.”

“What is?”

“That you do not sell your writing.”

“…”

“Can you not tell me the circumstances?”

The conversation returned to the uncomfortable topic. Regardless, Hae-min didn’t understand why everyone from the bookstore owner to Song Seol found it so strange that he didn’t sell his calligraphy.

“I find it unexpected as well.”

“What is unexpected?”

“That Your Highness shows interest in such a trivial matter.”

Song Seol brought the teacup to his lips. His masculine Adam’s apple bobbed, and Moon Hae-min reflexively swallowed hard.

“I told you before that the more I look at you, the more it seems you are not a flower.”

“Yes, you did. You also said you would have to find out what I am like.”

The sudden remark brought back the memory. He wondered once again how he appeared in Song Seol’s eyes.

“You are a butterfly.”

“…A butterfly?”

“Yes. A butterfly that longs to fly away somewhere.”

Just then, a yellow butterfly fluttered in. The butterfly flew aimlessly, moving toward the folding screen, then toward the book chest, and then toward the window. Hae-min’s jade-colored eyes trembled like the movement of the butterfly.

“You are constantly looking for an opportunity to fly away. Am I wrong?”

He should have said no, but the words wouldn’t come. It was because he had been hit exactly where it hurt.

“I am not scolding you, so there is no need for that expression.”

Moon Hae-min quickly corrected his face. It seemed his agitation had shown.

“I am…”

“Do you think I do not know your heart?”

“…”

“Having lived freely as the eldest grandson of a prestigious family, only to manifest as an Eumin late in life—it must be suffocating.”

At those words, the facade of composure he had managed to maintain cracked.

‘You know my heart? You?’

Song Seol had been born as a prince of Yeomyeong. Although he had not been appointed as the Crown Prince, he would have grown up enjoying the wealth and glory of royalty. After his coming-of-age ceremony, he had been granted a princely title and 225 gyeol of land; there was nothing lacking in Song Seol’s life.

Of course, Song Seol might have had his own struggles, but they were incomparable to those of Moon Hae-min. Yet, for Song Seol to act as if he understood his feelings… it might have been intended as kindness, but to the receiver, it felt like deception.

Unable to calm his stirred and complicated emotions, Hae-min could only breathe sharply. Then, Song Seol quietly met his eyes.

“Furthermore, you entered not as a legal spouse but as a concubine, earning the ridicule of the world. That part is entirely my fault.”

“…”

“So, it is only natural that you wish to fly away somewhere.”

This was another misunderstanding, albeit in a different direction. It was true that Moon Hae-min wanted to fly away, but it wasn’t because he was dissatisfied with being a concubine.

Unaware of this, Song Seol declared, “After informing His Majesty, I will take you in formally.”

“…Pardon?”

Of all the things he had heard today, this was the most shocking. For a moment, his head spun and his ears rang. Barely regaining his composure, Hae-min squeezed out his voice.

“To… take me in formally, you mean…”

“I mean that we shall formally tie the knot as husband and wife.”

“…”

Moon Hae-min was reflected in Song Seol’s black pupils. His face was etched with bewilderment. He knew he should correct his expression this time, but his facial muscles would not move as he wished.

“Your Highness…”

Song Seol did not answer the call that sounded like a moan. He simply drank his tea with a composure that was almost cruel.

That day, for the first time since arriving in Songdo, Moon Hae-min sent a letter to Lord Moon.

There were many words of resentment that came to mind, but he did not write a single one. He also did not write that Grand Prince Byeokran intended to make ‘Moon Hee-yul’ his legal spouse.

‘When can I return?’

That was the only purpose of the letter.

A month later, a reply arrived. Moon Hae-min opened the letter with trembling hands.

“…”

Lord Moon’s reply was as brief as the letter Hae-min had sent. ‘Refrain from rash actions and wait. I will call for you when the opportunity arises. You should be able to return by this winter at the latest.’ Those three sentences were all.

“Haa…”

Looking down at the rough handwriting that reflected Lord Moon’s personality, Hae-min let out a sigh that felt as if the ground were sinking. This winter—it was far too late. He didn’t know if he could keep his identity hidden from Song Seol until then.

No, in truth, he had temporarily set aside concerns about that. Right now, he was more worried about the fact that Song Seol wanted to make him his legal spouse.

‘He said he would take me in formally after informing His Majesty…’

Once Song Seol had made up his mind, it was something that would eventually happen, even if not immediately. Moon Hae-min bit his lip hard.

Actually, he didn’t entirely hate being with Song Seol. In terms of daily life, it was far more comfortable now than when he lived at his family home. Under Lord Moon, he had to walk on eggshells, but beside Song Seol, his abilities were recognized.

However, all of this was only possible because Moon Hae-min was pretending to be Hee-yul. Even while having pleasant conversations with Song Seol, the mere thought of that fact made his heart sting as if it had been scratched.

Once Song Seol realized the truth, he would be furiously enraged. The trust he had in him would be shattered. Perhaps what he truly feared was the latter more than the former. Just imagining the disappointment of the first person to ever acknowledge him left him feeling desolate.

‘Would I have been this distressed if Song Seol had treated me poorly instead?’

The comfort he had obtained for the first time in his life was this precarious and fragile. Before those shards could pierce his heart, Moon Hae-min wanted to end this masquerade.

Spring melted away like a haze, and summer arrived. While the winter had been exceptionally harsh and bitter, the summer in Songdo was cool. Thanks to that, Moon Hae-min enjoyed a pleasant summer without shedding a single drop of sweat.

Even as summer passed and autumn arrived, none of the problems troubling Hae-min’s mind were resolved. There was no word from Lord Moon, and Song Seol did not retract his declaration that he would ‘take him in formally.’ Nevertheless, Moon Hae-min continued to spend his days in a precarious peace.