Fake Concubine 22

Only ​after ​realizing ​he ​had manifested as ​an ​Eumin ​did ​he ​finally become conscious of ​it. ​It was the ​scent of a ​winter ​breeze ​emanating ​from ​Song ​Seol.

It wasn’t that ​he ​hadn’t ​noticed the scent ​before. But back then, ​he had ​dismissed it ​as his ​imagination or ​simply ​Song ​Seol’s unique natural ​body scent.

‘I ​thought it was a ​body scent, but it ​was actually a Chromatic ​Scent…’

Moon Hae-min ​wrinkled ​his nose in regret. How wonderful ​would it have been ​if ​he ​had ​known ​this sooner? Then ​he would ​have ​realized much earlier ​that ​he had manifested as an ​Eumin, and ​that ​he was carrying ​Song ​Seol’s ​seed ​in ​his womb.

“What ​are ​you thinking ​about?”

Just then, a low voice suddenly spoke ​from behind him. ​Startled, Hae-min’s hand ​slipped. Since he happened ​to be ​holding a brush, ​a ​blot of ink ​streaked across the ​paper.

“O-oh, nothing…”

“If ​I ​had known ​you ​would be ​so ​flustered, I ​should ​have ​left you be.”

With ​a ​light chuckle, ​Song ​Seol ​sat ​in the seat Read on Read BL Novelsopposite him. Until a moment ago, [visit our site]he had been sitting in the seat of honor; Hae-min had no idea when he had approached from behind or when he had moved over there.

‘Get a grip.’

Hae-min scolded himself severely in his mind.

In contrast, Song Seol exuded composure. He gazed out the window at the falling maple leaves and murmured.

“Autumn will be passing soon.”

“Already?”

“Autumn passes earlier in Songdo compared to Hanseong. In exchange, winter arrives early.”

“Ah…”

Just thinking of that harsh season made him feel bleak already. He wouldn’t be alone in his body this coming winter, so what was he to do? There was more than one or two things he needed to prepare for.

“What is troubling you?”

“Pardon?”

“I ask because your complexion has been dark this whole time.”

“Well… I’m just afraid of winter arriving.”

Moon Hae-min gave a vague excuse. Since Song Seol knew he had a constitution that was highly sensitive to the cold, he wouldn’t think it was a mere pretext.

“Is there any need to fear something that hasn’t happened yet?”

“But it is something that will inevitably happen. I can’t help but be afraid. I truly hate winter.”

“Then, instead of worrying about a season that has not yet arrived, why not enjoy the autumn?”

Song Seol flung the window wide open. Immediately, a breeze imbued with the mood of autumn rushed in.

Hae-min took a deep breath. Doing so didn’t make the heavy worries weighing him down disappear, but strangely, he felt as if his heart had become a little lighter.

“I smell something burning on the wind.”

“The servants must be burning the fallen leaves.”

The acrid smell wasn’t fragrant at all, but it had its own kind of charm.

“It seems the scent of chrysanthemums is drifting in as well.”

“You’re right. I can smell it too. But, My Lord, do you not perceive any other scent?”

Since the topic was scents, Hae-min asked about something that had been bothering him. If he could smell Song Seol’s Chromatic Scent, then Song Seol should be able to smell his as well. He was worried that his manifestation as an Eumin might be discovered because of his Chromatic Scent.

“What scent are you referring to?”

“Um, I’m not sure exactly what it is. I just… wondered if you felt some kind of alien scent.”

At those words, Song Seol inhaled deeply. Hae-min regretted asking, fearing that Song Seol might actually detect his Chromatic Scent.

“I know of nothing other than the smell of burning and the scent of chrysanthemums.”

“Is that so? Then I must have been mistaken.”

Moon Hae-min felt relieved. Indeed, if he couldn’t even smell his own Chromatic Scent, why would Song Seol be any different? He had [Read on Read BL Novels]wondered, but it seemed he really did have a [Read on Read BL Novels]constitution that didn’t produce much of a Chromatic Scent.

‘Seeing as I can smell Song Seol’s Chromatic Scent, I don’t think I’m a Scentless Eumin…’

He decided he would have to look into this matter gradually. The moment he made that resolve, someone spoke from outside the office.

“My Lord, I have something to tell you.”

“Come in.”

Grand Prince Byeokran’s adjutant, Kim Nak-hui, opened the door and entered. He began to speak hurriedly but paused upon seeing Moon Hae-min.

“This is a matter of importance, My Lord.”

It was a tactful request for Moon Hae-min to leave. Taking the hint, Hae-min stood up. However, Song Seol moved before he could.

“I shall be back shortly.”

Saying so, Song Seol left the office with Kim Nak-hui. Left alone, Hae-min sat back down.

“…”

As he rewrote the report he had ruined earlier due to his slipping hand, Hae-min tried to guess what Kim Nak-hui’s business was.

Had a heinous crime occurred? Or had a serious lawsuit been filed? While many things came to mind, nothing felt exactly right.

In any case, it was likely a matter that had little to do with him. Putting his thoughts aside, Moon Hae-min focused on writing the report.

Song Seol, who had said, ‘I shall be back shortly,’ did not return to the office.

Instead, a servant he sent delivered a message: ‘He told you to return to the private residence first.’

Thus, Moon Hae-min left the Songdo Government Office alone. Since he had always been with Song Seol whenever he visited the office, walking the path alone felt awkward.

‘It must be a very important and urgent matter. I wonder what it could be…’

The curiosity he had suppressed reared its head. This wasn’t out of simple interest. If something major happened in the world, the repercussions would eventually reach him. It might be undue anxiety, but wasn’t this a time when one had to be cautious and wary of even the smallest pebble? For that reason, Hae-min’s heart remained anxious even after returning to his quarters.

And late at night, Song Seol returned home.

“Hee-yul.”

“Yes.”

Responding to the call, Moon Hae-min observed his demeanor. Song Seol looked darker than ever before. The deep shadow cast over his face was surely not just because it was midnight. For some unknown reason, Song Seol was clearly filled with grief.

“Something has come up that requires me to visit Hanseong urgently.”

For a moment, his thoughts stopped.

Hanseong. Did that mean it wasn’t an incident that occurred within Songdo, but something far larger?

“May I ask what the matter is?”

Song Seol remained silent for a moment. Then, he spoke in a voice heavier than the silence.

“The Crown Prince has passed away.”

This time, it truly felt as if his mind had stopped working.

Moon Hae-min could not utter a single word. He could only look at Song Seol with trembling eyes.

“It will take some time to hold the national funeral and ancestral rites, and to fulfill my duties. Therefore, I cannot promise when I shall return.”

“Yes…”

That was only natural. Since it was the Crown Prince and not some distant relative of the royal family, the funeral rites alone would take at least a month. Adding the time to handle other affairs, Song Seol would have to be away from Songdo for a long time.

His heart pounded. He had already been worrying more as his due date approached. Whether he fled or gave birth, it would be much easier if he could just avoid Song Seol’s eyes. Although it stemmed from a sorrowful event, from Hae-min’s perspective, this was no different from an opportunity granted by heaven.

Song Seol, who could not have dreamed of such inner thoughts, asked.

“Will you be able to manage alone in the meantime?”

“…Yes, please do not worry about me.”

“If you were the legal spouse, you should naturally accompany me, but…”

Song Seol murmured like a sigh.

“No, that is a meaningless hypothesis.”

“…”

“Still, it is a pity. You must miss Hanseong as well. It would have been nice for you to meet your paternal family after a long time and see the faces of your hometown friends.”

“No… that is not the case.”

His voice came out choked. It was the truth, without a single shred of lie, but Song Seol seemed to think it was a needless denial. Pity mingled in the gaze Song Seol directed at Moon Hae-min.

“You say you are fine, but I, who am leaving you behind, am not fine.”

“…”

“However, since I am the one who brought about such a situation today, who is there to blame?”

It sounded less like something said to Moon Hae-min and more like a monologue to himself.

Thump, thump, thump…

His heart beat heavily, [unauthorized copy]as if weighted by a pendulum. This time, it was [Read on Read BL Novels]not out of [Read on Read BL Novels]relief, but because of guilt.

“How can you say such things? You are a more wonderful and kind person than anyone else, My Lord.”

Song Seol was a good man. He did not do things that went against morality and he respected Moon Hae-min.

On the other hand, how had he been toward him? He had hidden his identity from the start, and even though he was carrying his child, he hadn’t breathed a word. He even intended to never show Song Seol the child’s face… He was a wicked man, unlike any other in the world.

“I have often been called wonderful, but this is the first time in my life I have been called kind.”

Song Seol smiled slightly. Lacking the face to meet that countenance, which was like white moonlight, Moon Hae-min lowered his head. However, thinking that this might be his last meeting with Song Seol, he raised his gaze again.

“When do you plan to leave for Hanseong?”

“I shall depart as soon as dawn breaks today.”

“I see…”

“There is no need to see me off, so go inside and rest.”

There was nothing more to say, and it would be wrong to [unauthorized copy]hold back someone who was about to embark visit our siteon a long [stolen content]journey. Yet, strangely, his feet would not move.

“…My Lord.”

Hesitating, Moon Hae-min gathered his courage and barely managed to speak.

“Please stay healthy.”

Just one phrase; this was the only sincerity Hae-min could convey. To this, Song Seol replied.

“Yes, I shall return in good health. So you, too, keep yourself healthy.”

“…Yes.”

Until the very, very end, he was a lie to Song Seol. With no way to settle his guilt-ridden heart, Moon Hae-min eventually dropped his head low.