By Zephyria 
* * *
The Ten Thousand Waves Flute is an anomaly. Though it is said not to harm humans, it is strictly an anomaly, so it was impossible for it to have no effect on the person who sealed it. For that reason, to become the Sealed One of the Ten Thousand Waves Flute, one had to either be capable of self-purification—such as a high-ranking monk with great dharma power or a spiritually potent shaman—or be born with a rare constitution that was immune to Contamination.
Princess Gyeongsune was born with this very constitution, and for the sake of her father, who grieved the death of the previous Sealed One, she volunteered to become the new Sealed One of the Ten Thousand Waves Flute. Her father’s ambition was her own pride. That year, Joseon was founded, and six years later, the Princes’ Rebellion broke out.
Having lost both a son and a son-in-law, Yi Seong-gye forced his only remaining daughter to enter the priesthood as a Buddhist nun to save her. She was a woman who had made her father and brothers her pride. Thus, what must her heart have felt in the face of the despair that her husband and brothers had been slaughtered by the hands of her fifth brother, whom she had followed so devotedly?
There was only one word that could define the remainder of Princess Gyeongsune’s life: Han.
Her Han was so intense that it could overwrite the desires of the countless people whose wishes for world peace had birthed the Ten Thousand Waves Flute; it was so intense that it could lead the Vengeful Spirits of the Special Guard Unit, who had served Yi Seong-gye in his rebellion only to be executed, and those who had remained loyal to him across generations.
It would be a lie to say the previous Sealed Ones had no selfish desires, but the selfish desires of a single human could not be stronger than the collective wishes of the masses. However, Princess Gyeongsune’s coiled Han and the Vengeful Spirits of the Special Guard Unit corrupted a part of the Ten Thousand Waves Flute.
It would create a barrier that blocked the intrusion of anomalies and provided stability, but the Sealed One who served as the fertilizer for this would be of royal blood—that is, the bloodline of the hated enemy. New Sealed Ones who lacked the ability to purify themselves could not avoid the Contamination of both soul and body.
Yi Yeong became the Sealed One in 1830. Among the royal Sealed Ones throughout history, those born with a constitution immune to Contamination were extremely rare, and Yi Yeong was one of them. Had he not been, he would not have survived the last 200 years.
“You do not look well.”
“It is nothing. I simply did not sleep well.”
At the worried words of Kang Suk-young, who was delivering a report, Yi Yeong brushed back his hair with a feigned composure. Kang Suk-young pretended not to notice the slight tremor in his hand, as if even a light gesture were a burden.
The 26th and 27th days of the eighth lunar month. Every year, when the anniversaries of the deaths of Yi Bang-seok, Yi Bang-beon, and Yi Je arrived, Yi Yeong suffered from terrible nightmares. It was a horror as if the tragedy of his own kin being slaughtered was being repeated countless times.
The nightmares usually lasted only a few days, but this year, they had been tormenting him for nearly a month. It was likely because his soul and body were wearing thin. He had assured Jeil Heon that he could hold out until next year, but he might not even make it through this one.
Suggesting a brief rest to Kang Suk-young, Yi Yeong pressed his fatigued head. Having observed him for 200 years as someone who did not contaminate, the Ten Thousand Waves Flute waited for the next Sealed One to be a royal of the same constitution. The one predicted to be such was the son Lee Yeo-jin would bear, but…
‘Who could it be? The Head of department seems to protect him closely, or perhaps he has kept him far away entirely.’
The first person who came to mind was Yoo Jiha, whom he blatantly shielded, but Yi Yeong soon shook his head. Does Yoo Jiha not possess the true eye?
His contemplation stopped there. Red blood spread before his eyes, and his consciousness blurred into a haze.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Amidst Kang Suk-young’s horrified cry, the boy’s small body slumped slowly to the side.
* * *
“Mister!”
Spotting Jeil Heon, who had come to meet him at the subway station, Yoo Jiha waved his hand excitedly. Jeil Heon’s gaze, which had been sunken and distant, softened with warmth upon seeing him. Since he had gone to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress over the weekend to meet friends from high school, he had bought some famous baked treats as gifts.
“They’re delicious, right?”
“Yeah. They aren’t too sweet, they’re good.”
Yoo Jiha felt proud as he fed a cannelé to Jeil Heon in the driver’s seat. Though he was nibbling at it like a hamster, Jiha felt happy seeing him eat the desserts he had bought. He figured this was exactly why he earned money.
Wanting him to try another flavor, he held out a financier, and this time Jeil Heon kissed his finger with a distinct mwah sound.
“It’s delicious.”
What… what is delicious? The financier? Or me…?!
“Ah, Mister, you’re delicious too.”
“Hmm? Which part of me?”
Since they were in a place with only the two of them, where they didn’t have to worry about passing ghosts overhearing, Yoo Jiha attempted a blatant, crude, and low-brow flirtation. The fact that it wasn’t a part he had actually tasted yet wasn’t that important.
“The, the dick.”
“…How about we delete the word ‘dick’ from our future conversations?”
Yoo Jiha’s eyes narrowed playfully.
“Then Mister, from now on, don’t sprinkle chili powder when you eat, don’t eat gochujang, and basically don’t eat anything with chili in it.”
“Mister is full just by watching our Jiha eat, so I could starve for the rest of my life.”
Seriously, that mouth of his. Instead of the distant mouth, Jiha slapped his forearm. It felt more like hitting a piece of iron than a human body, but regardless.
“I feel like if you fell into water, only your mouth would be floating.”
“I actually heard that yesterday; how did you know?”
“Did you provoke the Director again?”
“About a week after we met, I think. I heard it then.”
Knowing Kang Suk-young’s personality, it was truly marvelous that he had endured for a whole week. Perhaps he was shy because it was their first meeting. Yoo Jiha broke off a piece of a financier for Jeil Heon, who ate very little and took small bites, and unleashed the chatter he had suppressed for two days.
“Oh, by the way. Did something happen to you over the weekend, Mister?”
“Nothing happened, why do you ask?”
“Your expression looked a bit off earlier.”
At the question asked just in case, Jeil Heon’s complexion darkened again, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the steering wheel tightened. However, before Yoo Jiha could even realize the change, he instantly regained his composure and smiled brightly.
“It’s because I missed you so much I couldn’t sleep.”
“Gosh, seriously, how would you even live without me, Mister?”
“…I wonder. How would I live without you.”
Pride as a cute younger boyfriend filled Yoo Jiha’s chest. The topic returned to the events of the weekend, and joyful conversation overflowed throughout the car.
It was just as the sedan arrived near the hill leading up to Pilgyeongdang. A call came in for Jeil Heon. Upon answering, Jeil Heon’s expression stiffened; he parked by the roadside and stepped out to continue the call.
When Jeil Heon returned a moment later, his face was quite serious. Consequently, Yoo Jiha’s heart began to throb with anxiety.
“I have to go to the office right now. I’ll drop you off at Pilgyeongdang, so absolutely do not go outside. Even if I call you and tell you to come out, it won’t be me, so ignore it. I don’t know if Teacher Yeo-song is there right now, but try to stay by the teacher’s side if possible.”
“Is… is something wrong?”
“I don’t think it’s a big deal, but just in case.”
Perhaps feeling he had sounded too serious, Jeil Heon soon wore a smile.
“It’s a call from the Enforcement Division asking for a hand because there’s an issue with the company’s barrier.”
He spoke as if telling him not to worry, but his time belonging to the Annihilation Execution Department was in the past. While he occasionally dealt with Aberrations directly in the Aberrant Realms, he had never officially performed duties as part of the Enforcement Division. Yet, for the Enforcement Division to request help directly meant that the situation was one where mobilizing all available personnel was insufficient.
His heart began to pound violently. He tried to hide his anxiety, but Jeil Heon was faster, cupping his face with a warm hand and pressing his lips to his forehead.
“You know that I don’t die even if my head is cut off.”
“…Still, please be careful.”
“I will.”
With that, he softly captured Yoo Jiha’s trembling lips. Gently, until the trembling subsided and a warm heat seeped in.
“I promise I will.”
Wrapped in the tenderness that repeated like a vow, Yoo Jiha hugged him tightly. If human longing could shape an anomaly and grant the true eye that perceives the essence of an anomaly, he hoped his own longing for Jeil Heon’s safety would dwell within him as well.