SAFBIAN Ch 17

Chapter 17

 

Yungak scratched above his eyebrow as if embarrassed. It was a natural excuse, but Haban’s brow twitched and furrowed.

“Your studies, is it?”

“……”

As he listened to the trailing end of the words, Yungak wriggled his clasped fingers. With his heels crushed down in his shoes, he sluggishly rubbed the dirt. Even he knew it was a ridiculous excuse.

Earlier, Haban had gone to see Yungak, only to witness Yungak’s teacher conducting a lesson alone. Sitting earnestly before an empty cushion, giving his all.

Startled upon seeing him, the teacher had awkwardly stood up, prompting Haban to go in search of Yungak.

“Come with me.”

“…Brother?”

Haban unfolded his arms and took the lead. Yungak, who had planned to return to his quarters and catch up on sleep, now had a shadow cast over his face.

“Have you been studying diligently?”

“Yes.”

“And how is your teacher?”

“Very good.”

“Then, I suppose I may ask you a few questions?”

“No, sir. Your younger brother has yet to attain enlightenment, so that would be difficult.”

One must have learned something in order to be enlightened. It was a laughable statement.

The smell of alcohol and incense wafted from his entire body. Regardless of social standing, he seemed to care little for where he spent the night—who knew whom he had tumbled around with until morning?

Haban clicked his tongue at the pitiful sight of his younger brother.

“Even if you’d been submerged in a vat of liquor, you’d be less wretched than this.”

“I only wet my lips a little, but unlike you, Brother, I have a low tolerance for alcohol—what can I do about that?”

“As if.”

Whenever they drank together, he would down wine by the jug, all while shamelessly spouting lies.

As Haban scolded Yungak, his gaze momentarily shifted to the side. The fork in the long road stretched toward the Emperor’s palace.

The clouds drifting puffy over the rooftops resembled a fox crouching at his feet.

“So quiet.”

In a fit of anger, he’d ordered the creature to be taken away immediately. Wherever it had been thrown, the fox—once wailing with keening cries—was now completely silent.

When it was being dragged away, it had bared its teeth and caused a commotion. It even barked loudly while pawing at him with its ineffectual front legs. Most likely, it had been muzzled again.

‘Even so, it’s probably still somewhere in the palace. Since it’s a rare white fox, the court physicians will take good care of it.’

“……”

Yet, why did it still linger in his thoughts, even though he had no further business with the fox?

It used to irritate him to no end, shedding its white fur all over the place as it darted about. Now, having sent away that insignificant creature, the office felt strangely empty.

‘It must be regret.’

For something of his that he ultimately failed to retrieve.

‘I should summon the Empress Consort tomorrow.’

Haban sighed, his gaze pulling away from the gate guarded by two soldiers, while casually planning something that would appall the ministers if they heard.

“Brother?”

“It’s nothing.”

Haban walked right past the Emperor’s palace. Yungak tilted his head and cautiously called out to him.

“But Brother, where exactly are we going?”

“To your teacher. You still have classes left to attend.”

“R-right now?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“No matter how poor a student I am, in this state, it’s a bit…”

Yungak recoiled, aghast. He blew warm breath into his palms, and when the strong scent of alcohol hit him, he let out an awkward smile.

“So you knew, and yet still drank yourself silly.”

“Just a little. Just a little.”

Haban sneered at Yungak, who was vehemently denying it as if jumping in protest.

“In that case, I’ll have to keep a close eye on you.”

“Tsk. Come now, Brother. You’re far too busy to concern yourself with your younger brother’s trivial nightly indulgences.”

“If you were just some common man of the town, I wouldn’t care.”

Haban had no empress. Without an empress, it was natural that he had no heir, and all his other brothers were dead—Yungak was the only one left. Therefore, if something were to happen to Haban, the throne would fall to Yungak.

Yet despite this, he wasn’t even attending his lessons properly to become qualified, but remained so lacking.

“You’re here, Brother. What’s there to worry about?”

“As if you don’t understand a thing.”

“…Which is why you should marry, Brother.”

“If I marry and have a child, not only your position, but your life would be at risk. Do you truly wish for that?”

“……”

Yungak slowly came to a stop, having understood Haban’s meaning.

The reason there were no other imperial offspring besides Haban and Yungak was obvious. The imperial throne was always built upon spilled blood.

“…Forgive me. I’ve troubled you, Brother, because of my foolishness.”

Yungak blinked slowly with a softened expression. When he then smiled gently, the court ladies behind them sucked in their breath.

Indeed, the most beautiful face in the empire.

If only he could use that face to father a child somewhere—it would at least extend the royal bloodline. But despite his debauched behavior, he was unexpectedly strict in such matters.

As Haban watched Yungak’s changing expression, he called out to one of the court attendants standing at the rear.

“You there.”

The court lady approached quickly without lifting her head.

“Escort Yungak back to his quarters.”

His robe fluttered broadly as he turned away.

As Haban walked off into the distance, Yungak wrapped an arm around the court lady’s waist and leaned against the wall of the building. Her youthful face flushed a bright red, as if the downy hairs on her cheeks might show.

“Your name?”

“H-Hohyun, sir.”

“Ah, Hohyun. As Brother just said, you’re to escort me to my quarters, but I’m far too tired to walk right now.”

“Sh-shall I fetch a physician for you?”

“Mmm, no. I think I’ll be fine if I just rest here for a moment.”

“Pardon? But, sir, I…”

“There’s no need to worry. Who would dare object to an order from His Majesty?”

Yungak wrapped his arm around the palace servant’s waist, pressing their bodies closely together. When he grasped the servant’s smooth chin and met their gaze, the servant’s eyelashes fluttered downward.

Yungak pulled open a nearby door and, as if laying the servant down, pushed them inside and climbed atop them. His fingers, fumbling through the brightly colored court robe, slipped past the underclothes and found bare skin with precision.

At that, the servant flinched with a sharp gasp. Yungak could feel the soft area below gradually hardening as it responded to the stimulation.

‘Not bad.’

“I-If you keep doing this…”

The servant’s lips trembled as they held down the ceremonial headpiece with both hands, afraid it might fall off their head.

All palace servants were considered the Emperor’s property. In other words, if they were caught forming personal bonds or engaging in any physical relationship, they could disappear without a trace.

“You must not have been in the palace for long?”

“Th-That’s correct.”

Yungak narrowed his eyes. Had this newly arrived servant, supposedly unfamiliar with palace customs, already been assigned to serve the Emperor up close without even knowing he might turn a blind eye to this kind of behavior?

‘So it’s begun already.’

It was about power—an attempt to claim the vacant space beside the Emperor. The ministers, who had hesitated because of Haban’s ruthless reign, were finally beginning to sneak their children into the palace.

‘They must’ve been busy trying to gauge each other’s intentions, and yet they’ve already gotten this far behind the scenes.’

Yungak looked down at the servant with renewed interest.

A delicate, seemingly innocent face paired with naive behavior—everything was crafted to provoke desire, save for the fact that he was a man incapable of bearing children.

Most likely, they were aiming for a concubine’s position. And only after this child succeeded would the true candidate be brought in.

The Emperor could have as many male or female concubines as he wanted, but the position of Empress could only be filled by a woman—because a man could not bear an imperial heir.

‘Fools.’

The servant, now fully undressed, covered his eyes with the back of his hand in embarrassment. Because of that, he didn’t see the twisted smile curling at the corner of Yungak’s mouth.

‘What use is it to become the concubine of an Emperor who’ll die soon anyway?’

Yungak poured oil from a gourd in excess and slid his fingers in.

It had been fifteen days since the fox had been left unattended.

Jipyeong walked down the corridor with an expression full of annoyance. The sword at his waist swung heavily, as if it were part of his body.

‘At this rate, the fox really will die! Please, at least ask His Majesty to rescind the order, or suggest giving it something else to eat!’

Haewon, the palace physician, had come to plead with him several times.

The idea that a fox was being picky with its food—what an absurd notion. Wasn’t fine meat enough? Just what more could it possibly want? Then again, perhaps it was to be expected from such a rare white fox.

Of course, as far as Jipyeong was concerned, an underling’s request was easily ignored. But he had gone out of his way to seek out Haban because of the chill that lingered in the imperial office.

A headstrong emperor and a chancellor who matched him in stubbornness—it was like a constant battle between spear and shield, and the tension was exhausting.

‘This is why I can’t stand complicated things. I’d much rather face someone sword-to-sword.’

Jipyeong rolled his neck to loosen stiff muscles.

The fox was being kept in the most remote and secluded part of the palace. The concern was that if other servants caught sight of the white fox, it would cause a stir, for better or worse.

Jipyeong, who had lived his whole life wielding a sword and had no interest in books, couldn’t understand. If commotion was such a concern, then why not just kill it outright? Why bother with this?

‘…Hmm. Maybe there really is something special about that fox?’

But then again, if there were, the Emperor wouldn’t have left it so completely unattended.

At any rate, since no other servants were allowed near the fox except for Haewon, Jipyeong had no choice but to check on it himself.

He opened the door abruptly, planning to glance at the fox and return with a report that all was well.

“Nggh…”

But the state of the fox was anything but normal.