SAFBIAN Ch 171

Chapter 171 (Extra 2.4)

It will be a bountiful year.

The midday heat showed no sign of easing. The blazing sun made fruit more luscious and grain more firmly ripened. Thanks to the occasional rain, there was no shortage of water.

While Haban was unconscious, he had feared that, spending the season confined to bed, the empire might not properly welcome early spring; yet Geumhu prepared thoroughly in his stead. Thanks to that, Haban’s worries were eased.

And now, within the emperor’s bedchamber, there was a secretive stir. Haban, at the urging of the physician and Geumhu, decided upon a trip to the summer palace. It seemed best for Dori as well.

However, apart from a small guard, there was no intention to travel with a noisy entourage dragging along palace attendants like Lady Jang or Eunuch Kim.

In a state of incomplete recovery, it might in fact be more dangerous. If possible, Haban wished to go unnoticed.

The first step of that plan was this.

A pair of golden eyes, peeking outside through a finger’s width of an open window, blinked slowly. Dori wondered where the young attendant sent by Haban might be.

‘They must not be discovered…’

When Lady Jang was angry, it was terrifying enough to make even a fox’s tail bristle. When she called, “Your Highness,” in that weighty voice, paused a breath, then spoke, it felt as if a heart fell to the ankles and rose again. How much more frightening for an attendant younger than himself to bear.

“You said you were tired, yet you won’t even close your eyes for a moment.”

At the calm voice, Dori turned his head.

Haban was sitting with his chin propped on the table. Dense, dark eyes clung with affection.

“I’m still fine.”

Dori withdrew his body from where he’d been kneeling on the chair and pressed to the window. The moment his feet touched the floor—zing—the legs tingled.

Unconsciously drumming his thighs with a fist, he drew Haban’s black gaze naturally. Yet Haban, saying nothing, withdrew his eyes and poured cold tea into a cup.

‘He let it slide once, but not a second time.’

If his legs showed discomfort again, Haban would summon the physician immediately.

Tap. Dori shut the window completely and turned around. Anxiously, he paced back and forth over the same spot. Waiting for the attendant’s return made him painfully tense.

While Dori did so, Haban lifted his cup. Even if young, could an attendant lack the prudence to know better? He would return on his own; Dori needn’t fret over every small matter.

To Haban, even that speck of given heart felt too precious. His lips, concealed by the teacup, set in a hard line. The cold tea, swallowed to calm the boiling within, felt especially cooling.

Shortly after, Dori scurried over. Realizing too late his haste, he took the last few steps with a feigned poise and light tread. Lady Jang’s lessons were showing, if only slightly.

Dori carefully called him.

“…Um.”

“You’ve been standing all this time—are your legs not sore? Sit and speak.”

Haban set down his cup and indicated the seat beside him.

Dori promptly set his rump on the empty chair. As if that wasn’t enough, Haban pulled the chair closer. Their thighs sat near enough to brush.

“You must be thirsty; drink this first.”

Haban filled a new cup and offered cold tea. Having finally brought Dori to his side, he would not set him loose back to the window.

At Haban’s attentive fussing, Dori’s lips fluttered as he hesitated, unable to say what he wished to say.

“…So, about that.”

Haban pressed his lips gently to the soft flesh that parted and closed again. The natural melding warmed the air.

Why was it?

Why did touch remain so insufficient, no matter how often?

While Dori’s eyes were closed, Haban pushed his tongue deeply between the moist lips. Damp breaths moved urgently back and forth.

“Mm…”

Flesh thrust as if piercing the throat, drawing a thin moan. Dori’s tender grasp on the fabric could be felt. Yet he did not resist, as though understanding Haban’s unease.

Satisfied, Haban tilted his head, ready to coil his tongue fiercely—

“W-wait…!”

Suddenly, Dori pulled away. He turned toward the window and let out a soft “ah.”

“They’re here! I think they’ve arrived!”

With keen fox senses, he recognized the footsteps from afar. Delight brightened his eyes and filled out his cheeks.

Haban deliberately nipped the soft lower lip. Yet Dori’s attention, rather than focusing here, completely shifted to the outside.

Annoying, but inevitable. Haban sucked once more on Dori’s saliva-slick lips and let him go. Perhaps worried Haban might change his mind, Dori quickly leaned back.

“It sounds like a single set of footsteps—seems he came secretly. Thank goodness.”

Only then did Dori cup the tea and sip. As expected, the nutty flavor was superb.

As he nearly emptied his cup, the young attendant spoke from outside.

“Your Majesty.”

“Enter.”

At the emperor’s leave, the doors opened to either side. The young attendant entered holding a bundle in his arms. His shoulders trembled faintly with night dew.

‘Nights aren’t even hot anymore—why is that?’

How often would a young attendant face the emperor? Not knowing it was because of Haban, Dori tilted his head.

The bundle’s width was about the breadth of the attendant’s shoulders. It could only contain clothing for two adults. But up close, the parcel seemed surprisingly large.

Fortunately, the attendant placed the thick bundle on the table without staggering and, at Haban’s gesture, quietly withdrew.

Dori waited until the door shut completely before turning his head. Haban had already loosened the knot and was spreading various garments out.

Naturally, they were far beneath imperial garments in make, but the fabrics looked costly, the colors fine and the weave soft. Filled with curiosity, Dori stood at Haban’s back.

“Hmm.”

Picking up the item at the very bottom, Haban made a conflicted sound in his throat.

The softly pink-dyed cloth was clearly a woman’s skirt. Dori puckered his lips.

“…I’m a man.”

“I know.”

Haban soothed him gently.

“And a fox.”

“As if I wouldn’t know that.”

“Then why this…”

A fox’s hearing was keen. While flitting about the palace, he would catch ministers whispering that His Majesty must take an empress. Even when they coughed and pretended to compose themselves upon spotting him, they could not hide their uncomfortable gazes.

Haban, emperor of an empire, certainly bore responsibility for an heir. Dori, disheartened, poked the pile of clothes with a finger.

“It was packed by mistake. The attendant must have erred. Shall I call him in and scold him soundly?”

“…No.”

What fault could the young errand-runner have? The one who prepared the garments must have erred.

Even so, at times like this, it was impossible not to be upset he was not a woman and that he had not yet forged the mating bond with Haban.

Dori’s eyes drooped weakly.

“It doesn’t matter what you are; it’s because you are you that I chose you. Don’t entertain useless thoughts.”

Haban carefully smoothed the melancholy from Dori’s eyes.

His firm tone, different from before, eased Dori’s hurt. Still a little prim, Dori lifted the pink skirt to his body.

“…Does it suit me?”

“Wouldn’t anything suit you?”

“Even so, I won’t wear this.”

At his unhesitating answer, Dori’s heart eased completely, and he tossed the skirt behind him.

Well, not now, but if Haban ever wished it someday, perhaps he could wear it once. He tried to hide it, but he felt Haban’s hint of disappointment.

Meanwhile, Haban divided the remaining clothing into two piles. The sizes differed clearly, so it was easy to tell. From the smaller stack, Haban handed garments to Dori and continued:

“Hurry and change into these as well.”

“Are we really going to do this? …Haban, is it truly alright?”

With a stack of folded clothes in his arms, Dori rolled his eyes toward the door.

Eunuch Kim and Lady Jang, who should have been standing guard outside, were absent. Haban had deliberately sent them on errands so they would not detect the suspicious plan. By now, the two—having gone to different places—must have realized they’d been tricked.

“They’ll return in time. What’s the problem?”

“Still…”

Dori hesitated, but Haban, unconcerned, began changing first.

What the young attendant had brought were plain clothes, entirely different from imperial garments. Even dressing himself, he did so accurately and naturally, without fumbling—no novice at it.

In no time, Haban finished and adjusted his attire.

“If we don’t hurry, we’ll be late.”

At last, Dori, too, hurried to prepare to leave.

He wore only a single ornament in his high, gathered hair: a piece Haban had gifted him two days prior. It resembled a broad bracelet, a round, gently curled gold piece; the delicate craftsmanship and the red gemstone at its center pleased him greatly.

“Ahh, I can breathe.”

Dori rolled his stiff neck from side to side.

It felt as if he had just set down a heavy jar of water he’d been balancing on his head for ages—so stiff he thought his neck would snap.

Until a moment ago, he had tied his hair tightly so that not a single strand fell, hanging all manner of luxurious ornaments upon it.

Lady Jang had said his attire must match the emperor’s favor. Thus, Hongi and Cheongi, excited, made a daily fuss each morning choosing accessories.

‘What does that have to do with anything…’

Dori sighed.

Of course, he still liked gleaming jewels and splendid ornaments. But not to the point of pinning them all over his hair.

At last, for just-in-case, Dori tied a pouch of silver and copper coins firmly at his waist.