BIUM Chapter 7

 

Hwan, whom she thought had disappeared, was sitting on the tree behind Myung, watching Yiwon. 

 

Startled by his presence for only a moment, Yiwon stuck out her tongue at Hwan and made a ridiculous face.  

 

“Ahahaha!”  

 

“Y-Yiwon?”  

 

“M-My apologies, Your Highness. A bird passed by earlier, and its appearance was so strange that I… I couldn’t help but laugh.”  

 

At Yiwon’s words, Myung turned around, but there was nothing there. 

 

When he turned back, Yiwon was wiping away her tears with her fingers, her face glowing with a radiant smile.  

 

Yiwon, who had always been stiff and guarded, was laughing at him for the first time with complete vulnerability.  

 

His heart trembled, and he couldn’t look away. Though he had grown weary of women, Yiwon always felt new to him, as if it were the first time.  

 

He wished she would approach him first, just as the palace maids did.  

 

“Y-Your Highness?”  

 

“You’re lovely.”  

 

“Huh?”  

 

As Yiwon’s smile faded, anxiety swallowed Myung whole. The distance he felt from her had never been more unbearable.  

 

Just as he had expressed his feelings, he wanted confirmation from Yiwon too.  

 

Grabbing her, Myung cupped her chin and forced her to look at him.  

 

“Y-Your Highness!”  

 

“Stay still.”  

 

Myung lowered his head toward Yiwon, who stood frozen before him. She knew she shouldn’t push him away—this man was to be her husband.  

 

But somewhere in that tree, Hwan was surely watching.  

 

“I-I don’t want this!”  

 

Yiwon shoved Myung away with all her strength.  

 

As his face twisted at her rejection, she realized what she had done—but it was already too late.  

 

“I-I should go see my brother. Forgive me.”  

 

She didn’t even care what expression Myung wore. All she could think was that she didn’t want Hwan to see her like this any longer.  

 

Turning away, Yiwon fled without once looking back.  

 

🌙

 

Hwan, drenched in exhaustion, stared blankly at the corpse lying before him.  

 

Despite having so much, Empress Hong and Myung refused to relinquish anything. The more their greed was satisfied, the more people Hwan had to kill.  

 

‘Yiwon smiled at me.’  

 

It wasn’t anything special, yet Hwan’s eyes, fixed on the corpse, were darker than usual.  

 

He had teased her because it pained him to see her so stiff around Myung. But he never expected Yiwon to laugh so brightly at his antics.  

 

‘I’ve never seen her smile like that before.’  

 

“It wasn’t you. Damn bastard.”  

 

His cold, murderous gaze shifted to the long wound on the back of his hand. It was an attack he could have easily blocked.  

 

But at that very moment, the image of Myung approaching Yiwon flooded his mind. As if blind to Yiwon’s rigid posture and frightened eyes, Myung grabbed her and pulled her close.  

 

What if Yiwon hadn’t pushed him away?  

 

“Damn it!”  

 

What was so significant about a mere kiss?  

 

They were betrothed—there was nothing wrong with it. Yet, despite knowing that, rage surged through him.  

 

He had thought he could easily forget unpleasant things, but the memory of Myung’s actions—his hands on her—refused to leave his mind.  

 

“Young Master.”  

 

“Go to the imperial palace first.”  

 

Without waiting for a response, Hwan turned toward the Eun residence.  

 

Though covered in blood and wounds, he had no desire to face Myung’s triumphant expression right now.  

 

🌙

 

Since she couldn’t risk being caught by anyone in Eun, Yiwon could only practice her swordplay late at night.  

 

Her blade, which had been thrusting straight ahead, suddenly changed direction and sliced through the air. The sword, cutting through the wind, seamlessly transitioned into the next motion.  

 

After finishing her routine, Yiwon exhaled deeply, releasing the tension as if letting go of a heavy burden.  

 

“Haa. Ah!”  

 

Her breathing, steady and unbroken while wielding the sword, hitched wildly the moment she spotted Hwan standing in the room, covered in blood.  

 

Seeing Yiwon, Hwan stepped out of the room.  

 

“When did you arrive?”  

 

“Just now.”  

 

Yiwon approached Hwan, who was staring blankly at something. Following his gaze, her eyes widened.  

 

“It’s a keepsake my mother left me.”  

 

“I saw it last time too.”  

 

“She made it when I was born. It’s my most treasured possession.”  

 

As the only daughter of Eun Geonmyeong, her clothes and accessories were always the finest and ever-changing—yet she never removed this keepsake. 

 

It had caught his eye before, but he hadn’t known it was from her late mother.  

 

Losing interest in the ornament, Hwan turned his attention to the sword in her hand. Though it looked worn, it was actually crafted from tough leather, polished to prevent hand injuries.  

 

Even that leather was frayed now.  

 

“Show me.”  

 

“Huh?”  

 

“You were practicing, weren’t you?”

 

At the sudden request, Yiwon bowed her head. Though she had practiced every night, she wasn’t yet at a level to show Hwan.  

 

“I’m not ready to show you yet.”  

 

“Seems you’ve forgotten—I’ve seen you when you were far worse.”  

 

“…”  

 

“Start over from the beginning.”  

 

Switching to a longsword, Yiwon moved exactly as she had during her practice. 

 

Hwan, sitting cross-legged on the floor, followed her movements with his eyes. His gaze, which had always traced the path of her sword, today kept straying—not to the blade, but to her.  

 

He watched her focused eyes, her lips pressed tight as she controlled her breath. He followed her small feet as they moved precisely as he had taught her, then drifted to the skirt that fluttered like scattering petals.  

 

“How was that?”  

 

Only after hearing her voice did his thoughts halt. When Hwan raised his head, Yiwon tilted hers, studying him curiously.  

 

The newly realized emotion swallowed him whole, making his heart tremble.  

 

“Is something wrong…?”  

 

“Lovely.”  

 

A casually spoken word, yet it sent Yiwon’s face burning red. She had heard it countless times from Myung, so why did it shake her so deeply now?  

 

The moment she turned her head to hide her expression, she caught sight of the bandage wrapped around his wrist. The blood staining him wasn’t his own—yet the bandage was soaked through.  

 

“Are you hurt?”  

 

“Not my blood.”  

 

“But the bandage is seeping.”  

 

“Hmm. Well, maybe just a little?”  

 

Before he could finish, Yiwon spun around and rummaged through a drawer. Just as he was about to ask what she was doing, she grabbed him and forced him to sit.  

 

When Hwan tried to lean away, her small hands clutched his bloodied sleeve as if refusing to let go.  

 

“You need treatment!”  

 

It might have been habit, but Yiwon always bowed her head when hiding her emotions.  

 

Yet this time, she didn’t avert her gaze. Realizing this small fact, Hwan couldn’t escape with just a dismissive word.  

 

As he stayed still, Yiwon quickly wiped the remaining blood from his hand and treated the wound.  

 

“What kind of orders does Myung keep giving you that leave you always injured like this?”  

 

“Things that bastard doesn’t want to do himself.”  

 

“Huh? Why would you… Why do you obey those orders…?”  

 

“My mother. You asked me not long ago why I stay by his side, didn’t you?”  

 

A simple answer, but it was enough.  

 

If Yiho was the person Yiwon had to protect, for Hwan, that person was his mother. Though Geonmyeong and Myung never explained their work, she vaguely understood that politics was never clean.  

 

But while the two remained unbloodied, Hwan’s body kept accumulating wounds. Even after finishing the treatment, her heart remained heavy.  

 

“It’s because you look at me like that, that Myung approaches you.”  

 

“What?”  

 

“When a woman looks at a man like that, it drives him mad.”  

 

The moment she looked up in surprise, Hwan closed the distance and caught her chin. Faster than Myung ever had, he leaned in.  

 

When their lips, chilled by the night breeze, met, their heated breaths tangled. The sensation of another’s soft, warm lips was awkward—but unbearably sweet. 

 

As she parted her lips slightly, Hwan’s exhale filled her mouth.  

 

Even as she grew breathless, she didn’t want to pull away. She clung to him as if begging him not to let go, but when Yiwon swayed from lack of air, Hwan finally broke the kiss.  

 

“You didn’t pull away.”  

 

His burning gaze was fixed solely on her. This was nothing like the Hwan she usually knew. Her mind screamed that this couldn’t go further, but her heart refused to listen.  

 

“Hwan, are you married?”  

 

“No.”  

 

“Do you have someone to marry?”  

 

“Impossible.”  

 

Yiwon grabbed his collar and pulled him closer.  

 

“Then it doesn’t matter if I go mad, does it?”  

 

“What?”  

 

“I want more!”  

 

She pressed her lips to his again, just as he had done, parting his lips to steal his breath. 

 

Startled at first, Hwan soon wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.  

 

She didn’t know how long they kissed. Only when her lips were swollen red, her face pale from lack of air, did Hwan finally release her.  

 

“What the hell do you take a man for?!”  

 

“There’s no rule saying only men can make the first move. Besides, I wanted to confirm something.”  

 

Myung made her uncomfortable just by being near—but Hwan didn’t. She didn’t dislike the kiss that came without permission—on the contrary, her heart felt like it would burst with joy.  

 

Though it lasted only a moment, Yiwon had already taken this man into her heart.  

 

“Did Hwan dislike it when I approached you first?”  

 

She should stop now. This much was enough to protect herself to some degree. 

 

Even if he hadn’t taught her, Yiwon had basic skills and talent.  

 

For Hwan, who had to leave the palace, this situation was troublesome. But instead of telling her to stop, Hwan kissed her. Though it was uninvited, Yiwon welcomed him with all her strength once again.  

 

“Don’t smile at Myung like that.”  

 

“Isn’t it because Hwan makes such expressions that I do?”  

 

“Still, don’t smile at him.”  

 

“Understood. …I’ll only smile like that in front of Hwan.”  

 

As if vowing to keep her promise, Yiwon beamed brightly. Hwan stared at her smile, utterly enchanted. She was so beautiful he couldn’t look away.  

 

Hwan, cupping her flushed cheeks as if revealing his emotions, pressed his lips to hers once more.  

 

🌙 

 

“Hwan.”  

 

The scab that had formed over the wound on his hand had fallen off, leaving only a trace behind.  

 

Lately, the conflict between Pyo and Empress Hong had intensified, so Hwan spent nearly every day handling tasks assigned by the empress.  

 

“Mother.”  

 

“May I come in for a moment?”  

 

“Of course. Please, have a seat.”  

 

Chief Court Lady Jung’s brow furrowed briefly as she noticed the bloodstains in the water Hwan had used to wash. 

 

Seeing her expression, Hwan pretended not to notice and moved the basin behind him.  

 

As his duties piled up, so did the wounds on Hwan’s body, and the scent of blood never faded.  

In the past, the overwhelming despair would have left him paralyzed, but these days, even that despair felt welcome.  

 

‘Didn’t I tell you to take care of yourself? Don’t act recklessly, and if it’s dangerous, run away!’ 

 

Whenever he got hurt, Yiwon would tend to his wounds with an expression that looked like she might burst into tears. After treating him, she would offer her lap, telling him to rest, and those brief moments of respite felt as peaceful as a dream.  

 

The stiffness Yiwon showed around Myung melted away when she was with Hwan—she always smiled brightly for him.  

 

‘Mother called me ‘Won.’ I don’t hate the name Yiwon, but I wish Hwan would call me Won.’  

 

“Hwan. Have you met a woman?”  

 

The pleasant thoughts swirling in his mind came to an abrupt halt. Though Hwan belatedly tried to hide his flustered expression, he couldn’t deceive his mother, Chief Court Lady Jung.  

 

“H-How did you know? Did Myung or the Empress—”  

 

“Am I not your mother? I only had an inkling—I wasn’t certain.”  

 

“Well…”  

 

“It’s a good thing.”  

 

Chief Court Lady Jung stepped closer and gently clasped Hwan’s scarred hands.  

 

Hwan said nothing, but she already knew everything. Yet, knowing and being unable to help only made her feel utterly powerless.  

 

All she could do was pretend not to notice and stay by his side—that was the extent of what she could offer.