The Hated Male Concubine

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Yihan stared down at Yeonbin, who hurriedly kneeled to greet him, and clenched his fists inside his sleeves. For a moment, Yeonbin’s hair that hung down following his head was blown by the wind, and perhaps because of the glow that emanated following its movement, his appearance looked ethereal.

Looking at his eyes that lowered down softly along with his long and lavish eyelashes that trembled as if he was nervous, the emperor thought back about Yeonbin’s appearance from a moment ago.

He deliberately visited this place all of a sudden. He was sure that if he were to announce his visit, Yeonbin would prepare and play another act. Therefore, he broke in without announcing himself because he wanted to know what Yeonbin was doing. 

From the moment he entered Jeongan Palace, the emperor blocked every mouth he met and he quickly and stealthily came to the garden where Yeonbin was.

And right at that place, Yihan saw Yeon Hwawoon under a magnolia tree.

Hwawoon was wearing a very simple attire—an appearance that Yihan had never seen before. He, whose long hair was naturally hung down and scattered by the spring breeze, was looking at the flower that bloomed beautifully. In addition, he was smiling with a fair face.

The moment he saw that face, Yihan was so surprised, as if lightning struck him. Not to mention his steps, all of his movements, stopped automatically. The reason was that in all these times, Yihan never saw Yeon Hwawoon make such a face.

Yeah, that was very shocking.

Suddenly, he felt like all the senses in his body had turned sensitive. The scent of all kinds of flowers filling the garden filled his lungs and made him feel overwhelmed. In addition, the sunlight that fell over Yeonbin’s head under the magnolia tree was so bright, it blinded him. At that time, when Yeon Hwawoon smiled softly, Yihan even felt like he heard his breathing. He wondered if that was the trance that he had only ever heard of.  

Finally, when Hwawoon touched the tip of his nose to the magnolia flower—making such a beautiful and elegant expression that was hard to believe, Song Yihan, who never felt any fear, couldn’t hide the fear that somehow surged in his heart.  

Therefore, Yihan clenched his fists hard and let out a sharp voice. He prayed that the feelings he felt at that moment would disappear with that.

“I never knew that you’re really enjoying your life in Jeongan Palace.”

“Your Majesty… I came outside because the weather is nice.”

Yeonbin, who looked surprised for a moment because of the emperor’s sudden visit, quickly composed himself and spoke with a calm voice. Yeon Hwawoon, who always made a fuss whenever he saw His Majesty’s shadow near Jeongan Palace, couldn’t be found anywhere.

Yihan strangely felt unpleasant about it, so he stared down at Yeonbin’s head. Meanwhile, Eunuch Oh slightly came closer to him and gave him a hint.

“Your Majesty, Yeonbin is still kneeling.”

“I know.”

Eunuch Oh quietly said that because he judged that it was not a good thing for the emperor to keep a concubine kneeling in front of young court ladies. Alas, the emperor remained firm. Knowing there was nothing more he could do, Eunuch Oh only bowed and stepped back.

Then, the emperor asked,

“Are you dissatisfied because I kept you kneeling?”

Yeonbin originally had a weak body, but he was also a crybaby. In the past, he would already whine to the emperor that his knees were hurt. Therefore, the emperor also didn’t like his appearance when he was calmly kneeling in front of him.

And Yeonbin answered,

“It is natural for a concubine to greet Your Majesty by kneeling. How dare I to be dissatisfied with it?” 

It was a neat and tidy voice without any hint of coquetry. 

I know he didn’t change. I know that it is impossible. The emperor still found Yeonbin, who deceived and tricked him, to be laughable. He felt that himself, who fell for Yeonbin’s scheme for a moment, was pathetic.

The emperor bit his lips once because he felt like Yeonbin’s smile from a moment ago kept lingering before his eyes, then he spoke again.

“Then, are you saying that you’re fine to stay kneeling like that until I give you my mercy?”

“If you give me such an order, then I would only follow it. However, Your Majesty…”