The Hated Male Concubine

Yihan’s eyebrows wriggled for a moment when he heard Yeonbin was about to carry on with his words. Yeah, that’s how you should move. You should let out a few fake tears while asking, ‘why do you treat me harshly when I did nothing wrong?’ While Yihan predicted that would be Hwawoon’s next words, Hwawoon said,

“Because I am a dull-witted person, I couldn’t know what I have done earlier to light your anger.” 

“…”

“If you could please give this lacking person an enlightenment, then I will make sure to never provoke your feelings with the same thing ever again.”

It was Hwawoon’s sincerity. Back when he met the emperor for the first time after he woke up in Yeon Hwawoon’s body or when he met the emperor in Suhwawon, Hwawoon could easily find out why he was angry, and based on that, he could choose what his next move would be. 

However, this time was different. He was sure he had somehow agitated the emperor’s feelings, but he couldn’t guess what had he done wrong. Therefore, Hwawoon dared himself to ask the emperor. 

Although there was nothing he could do with the past, Hwawoon didn’t want to lose the emperor’s trust more than this. 

It didn’t mean he wanted to return to the past. It also didn’t mean he wanted to make the things done by the old Hwawoon never exist so that his relationship with the emperor would be good. Hwawoon merely didn’t want himself to do things that would spark the emperor’s hate for him.

Hwawoon’s question made Yihan silent for a second. He was thinking about the reason he was feeling angry and uncomfortable at this moment.

Actually, the biggest reason that made Yihan uncomfortable was himself who thought Hwawoon’s smile under the tree to be beautiful even for a moment. Not the others but Yeon Hwawoon. He was ashamed to have such feelings for Yeonbin-Yeon Hwawoon, who always did unpleasant things anytime, anywhere. 

How could I have such a feeling? No matter how beautiful he is, it’s not like he has that face for a short time. Before, even when I was shoved with that great face of his, I could hardly remember if I ever thought of his face as beautiful because it was covered with his attitude. What on earth was different with his face today that made me admire it?

That was the thing that made Yihan very dissatisfied and unhappy, but he couldn’t say it to Yeonbin like that.

Then, the emperor’s lips gradually parted.

“… I don’t like you acting as though you have changed.”

The voice that was forcefully hiding the shaken feelings was very cold. The emperor’s words sparked breathtaking silence, and he continued his words for Yeonbin, who was calmly being slapped with his cold words.

“I’m saying that you’re taking advantage of someone’s death to hide your bad personality and put on some charade to be ridiculous, and I don’t want to see it.” 

The shoulders of the court ladies that were kneeling following Yeonbin were trembling noticeably. The emperor’s voice was low, but the meaning beyond his voice was so cold that the garden of Jeongan Palace, which was filled with the scent of flowers on a spring day, seemed to be blown with a winter breeze at once. 

Everyone who was present there and heard the emperor’s words thought that this time Yeonbin couldn’t hold back anymore. They thought he would cry, whining to the emperor, and said he was being mean. Not only Yeonbin, but everyone wouldn’t be able to endure this kind of insult.

Then, Yeonbin’s body moved. However, instead of standing up and holding to the emperor, he put down his other knee, politely put both his hands on the ground, arched his back and bowed his head, then said, 

“I deserve to get criticized for the mistake I did in the past, and it is no wonder if you’re afraid of me because of that. Therefore, how could I have any complaint with that, Your Majesty? By all means, I will accept the fair price for all of those…”

If they knew of his situation, then someone would ask him if he found it to be unfair. “You’re not even the one who did it. You have no relation with what the old Yeon Hwawoon did. However, don’t you feel frustrated and angry because you have to bear all his reputation and price for what he did?” Someone could ask him those. 

Nevertheless, Hwawoon thought that even those were his responsibility. Everything in this world wouldn’t be given without any price.

Originally, he should have died in vain without even having any chance to wish for the emperor’s attention. Had he not entered Yeon Hwawoon’s body, Hawoon would have already lost his life and disappeared while wandering around the netherworld, and he would never have had a face-to-face conversation with the emperor.

Although he didn’t wish for it, he took over someone else’s life instead, so how could he be picky to receive only the good things? Hwawoon had already decided to bear the price of all the things that Yeon Hwawoon did in the past.

“However…”