Fake Concubine 79

“Now, ​speak. ​Why ​have ​you returned to ​Hanseong? ​Surely, ​you ​didn’t ​take after your mother ​and….”

“I ​did not run ​away.”

Hae-min cut him ​off ​firmly. ​Lord ​Moon’s ​eyebrows ​twitched at being ​interrupted, ​but ​Moon Hae-min remained ​indifferent.

“I came with Grand ​Prince Byeokran. ​You must ​know, My ​Lord. The ​Crown ​Prince….”

“Yes, ​I know.”

Lord Moon ​let out ​a heavy, sorrowful sigh.

“What ​in the world is ​happening to this society…!”

“…….”

“If ​things turn ​out ​this way, Grand Prince Byeokran will…. ​If stolen contentthat happens, [Read on Read BL Novels][stolen content]what ​is ​to ​become ​of ​our Hee-yul?”

Lord Moon ​muttered. It ​sounded ​like a question, ​but ​it was a monologue directed ​at himself. ​He ​seemed to be ​in ​the ​midst ​of ​fierce deliberation ​and ​anguish.

Though he ​was his biological father, Moon Hae-min was ​not close to ​Lord Moon at ​all. Nevertheless, he could ​see right ​through the man’s ​thoughts.

He ​was worried that ​Grand Prince Byeokran’s ​position would ​grow. ​If the ​Grand ​Prince’s power ​increased, ​it was ​only ​natural ​that Lord Moon’s ​own ​power would ​diminish. ​Above ​all, ​the uncertainty of Hee-yul’s future was likely giving him a massive headache.

“I would like to ask you as well. What should Hee-yul and I do?”

Lord Moon glared at him. But that was all; he couldn’t bring himself to shout. In the past, he would have scolded him severely.

Hae-min felt once again that the atmosphere of the house was not as it used to be. The furniture in the guest room, the scenery outside the window, and the people were all the same, yet something was different. It felt as if a damp shadow had seeped into every corner. It wasn’t just because of the weather.

“What has happened in the meantime?”

At those words, Lord Moon and Moon Hee-yul exchanged glances. Hee-yul’s lips parted, but it was Lord Moon who spoke first.

“Since things have come to this, the only way for everyone to survive is for you to stay in Grand Prince Byeokran’s good graces.”

“……Excuse me?”

He thought he understood Lord Moon’s thoughts until a moment ago, but it seems he was overconfident. Far from understanding his inner intentions, he didn’t have the slightest clue. Hae-min let out a hollow laugh, utterly baffled, and asked.

“No, how did you reach such a conclusion? Didn’t you tell me to just endure it because Grand Prince Byeokran would send me back soon?”

“You insolent brat, how dare you raise your voice before your elder? You should be prostrating yourself in reflection!”

“What exactly should I be reflecting on?”

“You ask because you don’t know? Did you not bewitch Grand Prince Byeokran? I don’t know what tricks you used, but this disaster happened because you gripped the Grand Prince’s affection and wouldn’t let go!”

“My Lord! What on earth are you talking about?”

He was beyond appalled; he was infuriated. Bewitch? Gripping his affection and not letting go? He wondered if he was even the type of person capable of such a thing in the first place.

“That is why I told you to stay quiet as if you were dead! Why did you have to make such a fuss! Just how much did you run wild for such scandalous rumors to reach all the way to Hanseong!”

“I do not know what rumors you have heard, but you are mistaken, My Lord.”

“Mistaken? Ha, mistaken! You, who were Read on Read BL Novelsoriginally [unauthorized copy]an ordinary person, returned as an Eumin, and you [stolen content]still call it a mistake?”

“…….”

“You must have received plenty of Grand Prince Byeokran’s Chromatic Scent every single night! That is why you manifested at this age!”

Moon Hae-min turned pale.

Having adapted to the life of an Eumin, he had forgotten for a moment that until just a year ago, he had been an ordinary person. Since he had become an Eumin overnight, it was understandable that Lord Moon would misunderstand. No, in fact, since he had received plenty of Song Seol’s Chromatic Scent in the past, it couldn’t be called a complete misunderstanding.

“The Grand Prince and I are not in a relationship to discuss affection.”

However, this much was truly a misunderstanding. Hae-min insisted firmly, but it didn’t work on Lord Moon.

“Now you are trying to deceive me. Rumors are rampant that that cold-blooded man personally hunted a tiger for his concubine—is that a lie too? Or! Is it a lie that you sold your scribbles as literature just to make a bit of pocket money!”

“…….”

“Why can’t you speak! You were chatting away quite well with that open mouth of yours, so what? Have you run out of excuses already?”

Lord Moon roared. Even after a long time, that volatile temper remained unchanged. Nor did his habit of Read on Read BL Novelsventing his [Read on Read BL Novels]anger on an unworthy concubine’s son.

Hae-min kept his head slightly bowed and silently endured the insults. He had forgotten for a moment that this was the extent of his position in this house.

“Tsk, honestly…. This is why you can’t hide bloodlines. To offer nothing but excuses the moment you open your mouth, just like your lowly mother. Did you inherit the skill of seducing yang-persons from her as well?”

When he finally brought up his mother, Hae-min’s vision blurred with rage. Moon Hae-min clenched both fists tightly. The moment he opened his lips, unable to endure any longer, Moon Hee-yul shouted.

“Father, you’ve gone too far!”

“Hee-yul!”

“Your words are excessive. Why bring up things that happened so long ago?”

Lord Moon cleared his throat. It seemed that even he felt he had gone too far just now. Of course, that provided no comfort.

Suppressing his anger, Moon Hae-min addressed the points one by one.

“Now is not the time for a wasteful argument. My Lord, do you truly intend to keep me by Grand Prince Byeokran’s side? Is that why you sent such a letter previously?”

“Yes. There is no other way.”

“If you confess the truth and correct the wrong now….”

“Don’t say such dangerous things!”

Despite having calmed down slightly, Lord Moon jumped up.

“What are you planning to say? That you intend to step forward now and say, ‘I am actually a mere concubine’s son, neither a nobleman nor anything else’? Why don’t you realize that if you do that, not only you, but Hee-yul and I will be in great trouble!”

“Since you know that so well, why did you send me to Grand Prince Byeokran?”

“Ah, did I know that the illustrious Grand Prince would fall so deeply for a wretch like you!”

Lord Moon shouted, his face turning red and blue. As expected, it was Hee-yul who tried to stop him.

“Father, please calm down. Brother, you stop too.”

“…….”

At this rate, the verbal sparring would never end. Letting out a weary sigh, Hae-min pressed his [visit our site]hand to [Read on Read BL Novels]his [unauthorized copy]forehead. He had to focus on the main point.

“Setting me aside, what about Hee-yul? He probably can’t even go outside; he can’t live like this for the rest of his life.”

“Hee-yul must first find a bride and have a child. Thinking about the future comes after that.”

“……My Lord, by any chance.”

Have you lost your mind?

The words climbed up to his throat. Now, he seriously doubted Lord Moon’s mental state.

First, how could he find a bride in this situation? Second, what sin did the woman who would become the bride commit? Third, it was questionable whether he could even have a child, and fourth, even if a child were born, that child’s life would be pitiful. Fifth, to believe there was a future after all this….

By Moon Hae-min’s standards of common sense, all of it was absurd. Nothing about it made sense. This wasn’t solving the problem; it was making it more tangled.

“Do you truly believe that is a good way?”

“It may not be a good way, but it is the only way. What else can be done?”

Lord Moon was a brick wall. He was completely impossible to reason with. unauthorized copyGiving up on persuading him, Moon visit our siteHae-min turned his gaze to Hee-yul.

“…….”

Meeting Hae-min’s eyes, Hee-yul slowly shook his head. He wasn’t sure if it meant he opposed their father’s will or if he felt it was inevitable. However, it was clear that Moon Hee-yul was also frustrated by the situation.

“Hee-yul.”

“Let’s talk later, Brother. Later.”

Moon Hee-yul whispered in a voice that was barely audible. At that, Moon Hae-min swallowed the numerous words surging up. It seemed that no words would be of any use right now anyway.

‘I really… feel like I’ve returned home.’

The atmosphere was like a shattered plate, but that made it feel more familiar. That, more than anything, exhausted Hae-min.

Slumping his shoulders, Moon Hae-min wished, ‘I want to go home.’ He was already home, and it wasn’t that he wanted to return to his quarters in Songdo, nor did he have any other home to go to. He just… felt like going home.

Deep in the night.

The darkness was exceptionally thick today. [stolen content]Even the lanterns unauthorized copylit all around could not drive it away.

On such a day, Song Seol walked deep into the inner palace.

“Your Majesty, Grand Prince Byeokran has arrived.”

The eunuch announced. Soon, the door opened silently, and Song Seol entered the main hall.

The hall was as silent as if it were submerged in water. A space so grand it could not be taken in at a single glance. In that place, where high and low officials and palace servants usually came and went, there was now only one supreme being sitting on the dragon throne. Song Seol paid his respects according to the etiquette between a sovereign and a subject.

“Your Majesty.”

He could not bring himself to ask if the King had been in good health.

The last time he had seen him was last Lunar New Year, and in that short time, many changes had occurred in the King’s countenance. The wrinkles had deepened, the eyes had turned a murky gray, and above all, the eyebrows were white as if frosted.

“Seol, you have come.”

Seol—it was a friendly call, just like when they were children.

The age difference between the King and Song Seol was a full nineteen [Read on Read BL Novels]years. Thus, the King unauthorized copywas more of a father figure than an older brother to Song Seol. Having already been a proper Crown Prince when Song Seol was born, he had looked after [unauthorized copy]Song Seol like his own son after ascending the throne following the previous King’s passing.

Seeing the King so immersed in grief, Song Seol felt nothing but misery.