Fake Concubine 18

Even ​today, ​Moon ​Hae-min ​was working at ​the ​Songdo ​Government ​Office.

“My ​Lord, there seems to ​be ​an error in ​the grain import ​and ​export ​records.”

At ​Hae-min’s ​observation, ​Song Seol put ​down ​the ​documents he was ​reviewing and turned his ​head.

“Which part?”

“This ​part. Could ​the calculation ​be wrong? ​Because ​the ​import records state ​it like ​this…”

Hae-min pointed to a ​section of the ledger ​and added, “I suspect ​a mistake ​was ​made while recording the exports.”

“I see.”

“Rather ​than just fixing this ​part, ​I ​believe ​it ​would be better ​to re-verify ​the ​entire ledger. Shall ​I ​do so?”

“Very well.”

As soon as ​permission was ​granted, ​Moon Hae-min brought ​out ​his ​abacus. ​While ​he was ​matching ​the import ​and export records one by one, Song ​Seol spoke.

“It must ​be tedious.”

“No, not ​at all.”

Moon Hae-min was ​confident in ​his calculations. He ​found ​it quite pleasant ​to exercise his ​skills in ​something ​he was ​good ​at. Moreover, ​focusing ​on work ​allowed ​him ​to forget his ​cluttered ​thoughts.

“Capable people ​naturally ​end ​up ​taking on everything. You are handling not only your assigned tasks but also the work of others; in a way, your outstanding ability is the problem.”

“….”

The understated praise tickled Moon Hae-min’s heart. Hae-min stopped moving the abacus beads and covered his cheek. It was to hide an expression that was surely quite peculiar.

“Thank you…”

Regardless of everything, being praised by Song Seol felt truly wonderful. It was because he felt recognized for who he was. Since Song Seol was praising ‘Moon Hae-min’—the one who was quick with numbers and skilled with a brush—rather than the eldest son of the Geumcheon Moon clan, it wasn’t entirely a misconception.

“Grand Prince, it is I, Seung-hyeok.”

Just then, the office door opened. The one who flung the door open even before permission to enter was granted was none other than Yoon Seung-hyeok.

“I have arrived with the correspondence… Ah, if it isn’t Young Master Moon!”

Recognizing Moon Hae-min, Yoon Seung-hyeok greeted him with a bright smile. Hae-min returned the greeting.

“Hello.”

“Hello indeed. Have you been well?”

“Yes.”

In truth, it hadn’t been long enough since they last saw each other to be exchanging formal pleasantries.

At some point, Moon Hae-min had begun accompanying Song Seol to the Songdo Government Office. By coming and going, he naturally crossed paths with Yoon Seung-hyeok often, and they had met just three days prior.

After being firmly rejected during their first meeting, Yoon Seung-hyeok never again suggested selling the scrolls. Instead, he spoke to him affably whenever they met. As it is said that one cannot spit on a smiling face, after exchanging a few words here and there, Moon Hae-min had become quite close with Yoon Seung-hyeok. It had reached a point where he felt embarrassed for having rejected the initial request to be a conversation partner.

“This batch of correspondence is six days later than usual. I wonder what grand news is written in there to cause such a delay…”

Yoon Seung-hyeok spoke as he presented the bundle of letters to Song Seol. Receiving them, Song Seol cast a cold gaze at Yoon Seung-hyeok. It was a silent warning to stop acting frivolously and shut his mouth.

An ordinary person would have retreated without even being able to straighten their back, but the opponent was Yoon Seung-hyeok. He was fully prepared to engage in a chatter session.

“Oh, speaking of news, have you heard that story?”

“What story?”

Moon Hae-min asked in Song Seol’s stead, once again admiring Yoon Seung-hyeok’s sociability. He had heard before that since they were the same age, Song Seol and he acted like friends in private settings, but even considering that, his tact was truly impressive.

“Well, they say the only daughter of the head of the [visit our site]Muam Merchant Read on Read BL NovelsGuild fell for [visit our site]a male servant and ran away.”

“Such a thing happened?”

The Muam Merchant Guild was a massive organization known even to Moon Hae-min, who was not yet well-versed in the affairs of Songdo. As the only daughter of such a guild head, she would have lived more luxuriously than the daughters of most noble houses. To leave such abundance behind and flee—she must have loved the servant quite deeply.

“She fought with her father so loudly that the whole neighborhood knew, and then she packed her bags and left in the early hours of that day. The head of the Muam Guild tried to keep people quiet, but how could that work? Rumors of why they fought have spread far and wide.”

“Why did they fight?”

“The head of the Muam Guild tried to marry his daughter off to a noble family. I heard it was a noble house whose fortunes had declined…”

It was not uncommon for a wealthy merchant to marry into a fallen noble family. The merchant side could raise the social standing of their house, and the noble side could obtain wealth. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“Ha, a love so great that she would abandon her family! I am slightly envious. To experience such a grand love.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok admired, fluttering his folding fan. True to his status as a child of a wealthy house, the fan was exceedingly ornate.

“I simply find it foolish.”

“Who do you mean? The guild head? Well, since ancient times, no parent could win against their child; it would have been better to provide the servant with a decent position and then unite him with the daughter…”

“No, I mean the daughter.”

Suddenly looking around, Hae-min noticed that not only Yoon Seung-hyeok but even Read on Read BL NovelsSong Seol was [Read on Read BL Novels]listening to his words. unauthorized copyThough it felt a bit burdensome, Hae-min continued.

“Marriage is something arranged by elders; it is not something done for love, is it?”

“Well, that is true.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok nodded. At that moment, Song Seol cut off the idle chatter.

“Too much time has been wasted.”

“Ah, I shall take my leave now.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok bowed to Song Seol. Before leaving the office, he gave a nod of greeting to Moon Hae-min. Hae-min awkwardly returned the nod.

It felt as if a small whirlwind had swept into the office and then suddenly vanished. Thinking that such moments weren’t so bad, even if they were a bit distracting, Hae-min turned his gaze back to the documents. However, this time, it was Song Seol who spoke.

“Was it the same for you?”

“What is?”

Song Seol remained silent for a moment before asking again.

“Did you also become my concubine because the elders picked you?”

“Yes, of course.”

And were those elders ordinary people? It was a request from none other than Grand Prince Byeokran, accompanied by the suggestion of the King himself. Up to that point, Moon Hee-yul had been the target, but the one Lord Moon decided to send to Songdo was Moon Hae-min. Not a shred of Moon Hae-min’s own opinion had entered this process.

“Then, do you not love me?”

“My Lord…?”

Hae-min doubted his own ears. ‘Love’ was not a word Song Seol would typically utter, and the content was shocking.

“I beg your pardon… I am too foolish to 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 you… Yes, that is correct.”

It was an utterly natural answer. If even the only daughter of a merchant could not decide her own marriage partner, how much more so for royalty and nobility?

Furthermore, for Song Seol of all people to ask such a question was absurd. Was he not the one who harbored deep resentment over Lord Moon’s request to the late King to take a concubine? His decision to take Moon Hee-yul as a concubine was a form of revenge and mockery. Yet now, he was asking a question one would ask a lover.

“Is that so? You do not love me?”

“…Yes.”

Even if it were the truth, saying ‘I do not love you’ so bluntly stolen contentmade his heart uncomfortable. He could have avoided the situation with some Read on Read BL Novelspleasant-sounding words, but Moon Hae-min did not. Since he was already unauthorized copyhiding his identity, he felt it would be wrong to lie and say he loved Song Seol.

“I see.”

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Song Seol’s aura turned cold. The surroundings felt chilled, and the scent characteristic of an untimely winter wind seemed to brush against the tip of his nose.

“In any case, what does love matter?”

“….”

“Even without love, we can live by trusting and relying on one another.”

“You are correct.”

Soon, the atmosphere returned to normal. Moon Hae-min felt relieved. After all, Song Seol likely wasn’t sincere toward him either, so there was no reason for him to be hurt by a single comment about not loving him.

However, Moon Hae-min did not know why Song Seol, who brought him into the guest room that night, engaged in sexual intercourse more intensely than usual.

“Ah, …hng!”

He had already climaxed once. Yet, far from pulling away, Song Seol clung to him even more tenaciously.

A large hand gripped his thigh firmly. The softest flesh of his entire body was pressed down in the shape of a palm, and any attempt to close his legs was rendered futile.

“Wait a moment…”

He wasn’t saying he didn’t want to. He simply wanted to rest for a moment, but Song Seol overlapped their bodies as if even that brief respite was too wasteful to give. Moon Hae-min unconsciously shook his head.

“….”

Noticing the movement, Song Seol lifted his head. He stopped what he was doing abruptly and stared down at ‘Moon Hee-yul’s’ face.

Black hair, soaked in sweat, clung to white cheeks, and the corners of his eyes were flushed red. Against that, his jade-colored pupils.

He looked like a piece of celadon with water droplets on it. Those tears welling up at the corners of his eyes—they triggered a sudden, surging thirst. Song Seol swallowed hard and asked.

“Does it hurt much?”

“…Yes.”

“Even though you’ve been loosened this thoroughly?”

Song Seol pushed his index and middle fingers inside. One finger was already overwhelming, yet he suddenly inserted two. The surprised inner walls contracted sharply.

“Ugh…”

“You are greedier than you look. Seeing as you hold on tight and won’t let go because you want more.”

It was a mischievous joke. Feeling a surge of irritation, Hae-min snapped back.

“It’s because it’s overwhelming, overwhelming.”

“That cannot be. Have you not become this wet?”