Fake Concubine 29

After ​returning ​to ​Songdo, ​Song Seol’s mood ​remained ​at ​an ​all-time ​low.

In truth, he hadn’t ​been ​particularly cheerful while ​in Hanseong either. ​On ​a ​personal ​level, ​his ​bright nephew, the ​Crown ​Prince, ​had passed away ​at a young age, ​and another ​nephew was ​suspected of ​being the ​mastermind ​behind ​it.

No one had ​the guts ​to openly question Grand ​Prince Gwang-han, the only ​remaining prince. To begin ​with, there ​was ​no clear evidence. However, while physical ​proof was lacking, circumstantial ​evidence ​was ​overflowing, ​and ​Song Seol too ​found Grand ​Prince ​Gwang-han suspicious.

In the ​midst ​of this, the rumor he ​heard was ​truly ​bizarre. He heard ​that ​Lord ​Moon ​was ​looking for ​a ​bride for ​his daughter-in-law. Apparently, he intended to marry ​his son, a ​Scentless Eumin, to ​a woman to continue ​the family ​line.

To stubbornly try ​and ​continue the line ​of a family ​that wasn’t ​even ​particularly honorable. ​Normally, ​he would ​have ​simply frowned ​at ​such ​delusional greed. However, ​Song ​Seol could ​not ​ignore ​this ​rumor. Because Moon Hee-yul was at the center of the issue.

To try and attach a wife to his own concubine—it was an absurd notion.

Song Seol immediately set out to investigate the truth. Before long, he learned the full story. The person he had known as Moon Hee-yul all this time was actually Moon Hae-min, and while he was indeed Lord Moon’s son, he was not the legitimate heir.

In that moment, Song Seol was overcome by a profound sense of unpleasantness.

He had been thoroughly deceived for an entire year. And [stolen content]all because of the slippery Lord Moon. When [visit our site]he imagined what Moon Hae-min must have thought every time he foolishly called him ‘Hee-yul’…

…His anger subsided slightly. At the same time, he thought that perhaps it wasn’t that surprising.

The Moon Hae-min that Song Seol had seen was always calm. Even when something joyful happened, he would only smile briefly, and he never expressed dissatisfaction even when Song Seol intentionally treated him coldly. Furthermore, hadn’t he often seemed lost in other thoughts?

Those symptoms had worsened recently, and it was clearly evident that he harbored deep anxieties in his heart. Since it would be improper to pry when the party involved refused to speak, Song Seol had merely watched in silence, but he was not unaware of Moon Hae-min’s state. To think that those anxieties stemmed from such a reason… Indeed, it was enough to be distraught.

In other words, the reason Moon Hae-min had been unnervingly composed was that he had been prepared for the day his secret would be discovered.

Song Seol felt that Moon Hae-min was insolent, foolish, and detestable… yet he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. How much heartache must he have endured? It seemed that was why he appeared to love him yet couldn’t readily open his heart.

After a short but intense period of deliberation, Song Seol decided to cover up the matter. It wasn’t because he wasn’t angry, nor was it because he forgave Lord Moon. It was solely for the sake of Moon Hae-min, who would be the most affected if this were revealed to the world.

‘I will not hold the father and son accountable for the crime of intentionally deceiving the Grand Prince. I will not make an issue of whoever the real Moon Hee-yul forms a relationship with. However, I will keep Moon Hae-min by my side, just as I do now.’

Lord Moon accepted Song Seol’s proposal. Although it came with the premise that Moon Hae-min would live as Hee-yul and the real Moon Hee-yul would have to live in hiding, he did not refuse, as he desperately wanted to see the hand of a legitimate eldest son.

Throughout the journey back to Songdo, Song Seol imagined Moon Hae-min’s reaction upon hearing the news. First, he would be terrified. Then, with a face like a startled deer, he might repeatedly apologize. He had resolved that if the boy eventually shed tears, he would soothe him well…

“My Lord, Young Master Hee-yul has disappeared!”

That was the news he received as soon as he arrived at his private residence. Until that moment, Song Seol believed Moon Hae-min had simply lost his way somewhere.

Because he was unfamiliar with the geography of Songdo. Because there was no one by his side to guide him through unknown paths. Because he had no reason to leave the residence.

However, that misconception was shattered by a casual remark from Yoon Seung-hyeok.

“You’re asking if I’ve seen Young Master Moon? Hmm… I happened to run into him at the book rental shop a few days ago. For some reason, he seemed quite flustered…”

Once a clue was found, the rest followed swiftly.

Song Seol learned everything. That Moon Hae-min had manifested as an Eumin, was carrying his child, and intended to leave for Wonya. And that he likely intended never to return.

The rage that surged in that moment was incomparably more intense than the emotion he felt when he discovered ‘Moon Hee-yul’ was actually Moon Hae-min. And that rage had not subsided even today, eight days since he had captured and brought back Moon Hae-min.

“…”

Song Seol entered the detached house. At his signal, the soldiers guarding the door unlocked the latch. Song Seol stepped into the room.

“My… Ah, Husband…!”

Sensing someone’s presence, Moon Hae-min bolted upright. It seemed he had fallen asleep again after exhausting himself from crying. Such behavior, as well as his continued difficulty in calling him ‘Husband,’ was displeasing.

“Has there been any word from Hanseong? I wonder if Bok-deong-i is doing well…”

“No word has come.”

“Ah…”

“They say no news is good news, so the child must be doing fine.”

In Song Seol’s mind, this was a consolation. However, as soon as he said those words, tears began to stream down Moon Hae-min’s face.

“I am so worried if Bok-deong-i is safe. He is so small… he’s just a newborn who can do nothing but cry even if something bad happens. I wonder if there is someone by his side to soothe him…”

The one who could do nothing but cry was not the newborn, but Moon Hae-min. He had cried so much that the skin around his eyes had long been raw and red, and even his pleasant voice had grown hoarse. He had come after hearing that the boy was skipping meals, but it appeared he hadn’t even drunk water, let alone eaten.

“Husband, could you not at least tell me some news of Bok-deong-i?”

“Yesterday you begged me to take good care of the child, and today you ask for news. Read on Read BL NovelsAt this rate, visit our sitetomorrow you will ask to meet the child.”

“…”

Moon Hae-min closed his dry lips. He truly must have intended to ask to meet the child. Even though Song Seol knew that desperate heart, he pretended not to.

In truth, there was absolutely no need for Moon Hae-min to worry about the child. Song Seol had assigned a guard consisting only of elites to the child. The security at the Hanseong residence was ironclad, and there was even a wet-nurse court lady who cared for the child day and night. The child was likely living more comfortably than when he was by Moon Hae-min’s side.

Instead of explaining the situation, Song Seol asked.

“Why have you stopped eating?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose. Even when I really try to eat, it just won’t go down…”

“Is it not because you have no will to live?”

Moon Hae-min gasped. Had he hit the mark? Song Seol carefully observed the shadow flickering across Moon Hae-min’s face.

“No… How can you say such frightening things.”

I must live, if only for Bok-deong-i, Moon Hae-min murmured [visit our site]faintly. It [Read on Read BL Novels]wasn’t exactly [Read on Read BL Novels]the answer Song Seol wanted to hear.

“Then force yourself to eat.”

“…Yes.”

“I say this because you claim you want to live, yet you show no intention of doing so whatsoever.”

Since the answer was lukewarm, he instructed him again. At that, Moon Hae-min released a thick Chromatic Scent.

Having only recently manifested as an Eumin, Moon Hae-min was clumsy at controlling his Chromatic Scent. Conversely, Song Seol, who had been a yang-person since birth, was not only adept at manipulating Chromatic Scent but also proficient in discerning the meaning contained within it.

Chromatic Scent sometimes became a more direct means of expression than words. And right now, an irrepressible sadness dwelled within Moon Hae-min’s scent.

“Why, do you indeed not wish to live like this?”

There was no way Song Seol would fail to notice that dangerously pure inner thought. This time, he didn’t just hit the mark but tore right through it, causing Moon Hae-min’s pupils to tremble slightly.

Eyes like cracked celadon. Until recently, he had found the sight of those eyes brimming with tears beautiful, but not anymore.

“Look back. In the first place, I did not call for ‘Moon Hae-min’; visit our siteyou came [Read on Read BL Novels]to my side of your own accord.”

“…”

“Regardless, you will become the legal spouse, and the child will grow up magnificently as royalty. It is no exaggeration to call it a rise in social status. And yet, how can you…”

Would he not look happier than he did a year ago?

Song Seol truly could not understand. Moon Hae-min should not be despairing right now; he should be joyful and grateful. Even if he didn’t smile brightly and act moved, he should at least not be crying.

It was utterly incomprehensible. He felt that if he spoke with Moon Hae-min any further, he would inevitably end up losing his temper. Song Seol called a servant and ordered tea to be brought.

“…”

While the tea steeped, neither of them spoke. Song Seol was suppressing his anger, and Moon Hae-min was brooding over the words he had just spoken.

‘Why, do you indeed not wish to live like this?’

That was it.

It wasn’t a lie when he said, ‘I must live, if only [visit our site]for Bok-deong-i.’ Separate from that, Moon Hae-min did not want to live unauthorized copylike this. To be precise, he did not want to live as ‘Moon Hee-yul.’

Just because he was born as a concubine’s son didn’t mean he lacked a sense of self. Pretending to be Moon Hee-yul for a year had not been easy, and the thought of having to spend his entire life doing so already made it hard to breathe.

At least in the past, there was the hope that there would be an end eventually. But not anymore. Unless Song Seol changed his mind, Moon Hae-min would lose his own name forever.

‘Am I ultimately just a substitute for Moon Hee-yul?’

It felt bitter, as if bile were refluxing. At one time, he thought Song Seol recognized his own abilities. He had been under the illusion that what the man praised was not the legitimate eldest son of the Geumcheon Moon clan, but ‘Moon Hae-min,’ who was quick with calculations and skilled with letters.

But in the end, the only one who could remain by Song Seol’s side was ‘Moon Hee-yul.’ It was not Song Seol’s fault, and it was simply because the laws of Yeomyeong were strict, but he couldn’t help the surge of sorrow.