FIB Extra 1 part 2

PR by neji

“Mistress, we’re finished.”

Today was the day of the birthday banquet for Doyoon. The inn where Heon and MoonWon were staying was bustling since the morning.

Yeori placed a mirror in front of MoonWon, and MoonWon looked at her reflection. Usually, MoonWon would smile at Yeori as thanks, but today, she merely stared at her reflection for a long time.

“Mistress, is something wrong?”

“No, you’re always so good at this, so there is nothing that’d be wrong. I just wonder if I should add a few more accessories to my hair.”

This was a first. Yeori tilted her head in confusion. Rather than having many ornaments in her hair, MoonWon liked to only have one or two.

“Mistress, if you do not like the hair ornaments, shall we change them? Rather than adding more, I think that will be for the best.”

It wasn’t that MoonWon did not like how Yeori had adorned her. It was just a matter of MoonWon’s heart.

She could not shake off the image of SeoHyang from her head. She recalled her bashful smile. She was an incredibly beautiful woman. Even a woman would find her pretty, so if a man looked at her, how much more would his heart waver?

“Huu.”

“Mistress?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s just keep things as they are.”

No matter how much she adorned herself, she would never be as beautiful as SeoHyang. Even though she knew they were different, due to recent events, she had a hard time getting rid of her from her mind.

After giving birth to Yuha, had she been neglectful when it came to her appearance? Even though Heon loved and treasured her now, if he saw her messy appearance, would he be disappointed?

“Master.”

The door opened, and Heon entered the room. Yeori and the rest of the servants took a step back. Heon came up behind MoonWon and smiled when he saw her reflection in the mirror.

“Beautiful.”

MoonWon smiled at Heon’s observation. But it only lasted a moment before she turned back to the mirror.

Reading the dark shadow cast over her face, Heon raised his hand. After Yeori and the servants had exited the room, Heon pressed his hand against MoonWon’s cheek.

He silently pulled her arm, and MoonWon obediently entered his embrace.

Heon gently stroked his precious wife’s soft back and whispered.

“By any chance, do you believe that I shared a bed with that woman?”

“No! That doesn’t make any sense!”

MoonWon shook her head in his arms. Heon liked seeing the amount of trust she had in him.

That was why he did not want to see her wilted and hurt.

“It’s definitely not that.”

“To me, the woman I married is the most important. Other than her, my view of women is still the same as it always was. I know it’s in the past, but it will not change easily.”

To Heon, women were disdainful, untrustworthy beings. Although this opinion changed somewhat when he met MoonWon, it did not mean he was so generous as to accept every woman in the blink of an eye.

To Heon, the women he accepted into his life were limited to MoonWon and the people around him. To him, the title of being the beauty of Ju or the best gisaeng of Ju held no importance to him.

“I only had something I wanted to ask her, and I was a bit unkind to her, but she ultimately gave me the answer I wanted. I’d like to tell you what we talked about, but… I just can’t tell you yet.”

“……”

“I haven’t done anything for you to worry about.”

“I know.”

Even though she knew Heon wouldn’t do anything like that, her heart didn’t seem to follow her head. Heon hadn’t been able to take his eyes off of SeoHyang, and it was strange that he approached her first to ask her something. MoonWon couldn’t help but hate it and feel sad.

“Then you’ll tell me what you asked her later, right?”

“I’ll tell you as the answer reveals itself. And… It wouldn’t be good if you look even lovelier than now.”

“Pardon?”

MoonWon understood Heon’s meaning and blushed, but he was dead serious. Just the thought of other men looking at MoonWon filled him with rage. Only a few years had passed since MoonWon had been able to escape JaeHoon’s obsession.

“Only my husband would think like that.”

Despite MoonWon’s words, Heon’s expression did not relax. Seeing him like this, MoonWon felt the unpleasant feelings melt away somewhat.

The only one he wanted and cared for was his wife. Only her. Heon’s love was still the same as ever.

“Husband.”

“Mm?”

As she began to feel better, MoonWon grew curious. Although it wasn’t anything important, she still wanted to ask him this just once.

“If another man looked at me the way you do…”

Before MoonWon could finish asking her question, she gasped. At this rate, Heon might catch this imaginary man.

She had merely brought it up, but Heon looked like he wouldn’t just be satisfied with catching this man. He would have to bury him, too.

“That won’t happen, Husband.”

“……”

“You’re by my side, after all. Something like that will never happen!”

After soothing Heon’s rage for a long time, the murderous gleam in his eyes finally dimmed. MoonWon had only brought it up because of all the difficult inner struggles she’d gone through lately, but she almost made a huge mistake.

“You don’t have to adorn yourself more than this. This is enough.”

Even though she knew that Heon only showed his true feelings to her, whenever she saw Heon like this, she felt like she was the only one who was being swayed.

“Here.”

When MoonWon saw Heon’s hand, she silently sighed.

It wasn’t that she hated being swayed by Heon. She couldn’t complain about something like this to him.

“Let’s go.”

“Watch your step.”

She was being too foolish.

Nothing had changed, but she was the only one who was worrying and feeling afraid. Even though everything was the same, she was the only one who felt doubtful and misunderstood.

“I’m sorry.”

Although she could have just let it go, she did not. Even though it was definitely Heon’s fault, rather than wait for him to bring it up, MoonWon apologized first.

As if to apologize in return, Heon pressed his lips against her forehead.

* * *

Doyoon’s eyes were closing during the boring banquet. However, his lips stretched into a bright smile when he saw MoonWon and Yuha.

His eyes urged them to come quickly before glaring at Heon as he spoke to MoonWon.

“There is no one else who can compare to Duke MyungHyun’s wife. Why didn’t you throw away your unpleasant husband and come with me? I would have prepared a special place for you if you did.”

Heon stopped mid-bow and his brow flinched when he heard Doyoon’s comment.

He had finally helped MoonWon shake off her sadness and managed to see her relaxed face. Now what kind of nonsense was Doyoon telling her?

“Are you planning to humiliate this servant, Your Majesty? Please stop saying such ridiculous things and do not make my wife waver.”

“I heard that you have neglected your wife and are now struggling to win the favor of a gisaeng. Everyone is saying the same thing. Are these merely ridiculous rumors?”

Heon realized what was going on and covered Yuha’s ears as he glared at Doyoon. It was his own fault for letting such rumors spread before they greeted him today.

Doyoon’s bored expression from earlier was nowhere to be seen.

Anyone could tell from one glance that Doyoon was having fun thinking of new ways to bother Heon.

“It seems that I will have to slit the throats of those who are spreading this rumor before I return to this banquet hall.”

“Aigoo, how scary. Are you going to draw blood on my birthday, Duke MyungHyun?”

He selfishly called them here and was having fun on the sidelines as he watched everything unfold. Heon was boiling with anger, but he pushed it down because he could not let it show.

As expected, the mediator to relieve the tension was MoonWon.

“Don’t you already know that Duke MyungHyun is not that kind of man, Your Majesty? I do not think people should be talking about me and the duke at your birthday banquet. After all, it is a very happy day, is it not?”

MoonWon’s firm but soft voice caused Doyoon to burst into laughter. This was why he couldn’t help but force Heon to come to this boring banquet against his will.

He was bored of all the yes men who agreed with everything he said like wooden dolls, and the ones who claimed he was their entire world while holding secret motives in their hearts were no fun.

That was why he was more glad than ever that he had decided to keep Heon and MoonWon close.

“Ah, Duke MyungHyun, MoonWon is too good for you.”

“Your Majesty, please stop joking.”

Although Heon hadn’t unsheathed his sword, the normally cold and sharp atmosphere grew even more tense. Even the onlookers who were avidly watching the back and forth between the two had to look away due to Heon’s fierce aura.

‘Even if he acts this way, there’s no way this guy can turn on me.’

Sitting on the throne of an emperor was needlessly tiring, and no matter how much he worked, the amount of tasks and duties never decreased. However, he would not have to lower his head to anyone else, and no one could get angry in front of him.

No matter how angry Heon got at Doyoon’s jokes, he could never take it out on him.

“I am very bored, Duke MyungHyun. Because you worried me with such baseless rumors, you must make it up to me.”

Despite Heon’s warning to not toe the line, Doyoon continued to enjoy taunting Heon.

He should have just abandoned SeoMoon and Ju altogether and lived in hiding with MoonWon. What honor or wealth was worth bowing to Doyoon and suffering like this?

Watching Heon boil in anger with glee, Doyoon gestured to a eunuch. The eunuch brought a box full of treasures and valuables and placed it in front of MoonWon.

“As the wife of Duke MyungHyun, you are always suffering because of him. This does not sit well with me, so please take this and do not reject it. It is my heartfelt gift to you.”

“How can I receive this, Your Majesty? Please take it back.”

The pile of precious jewels in front of her was not pleasing to the eye for MoonWon. Instead, it was rather intimidating. Due to the Emperor’s complete trust in MoonWon and Heon and his blatant favoritism, the number of people who were openly hostile to them was increasing. In such a situation, receiving such a grand gift was intimidating.

“Your Majesty, I cannot accept this. Please take it back.”

“They say that the rain that should be falling during this time of year has not yet come. Even if the seeds have been planted, I heard that they are not sprouting.”

When they heard the Emperor unexpectedly speak about the drought, the surrounding nobles all tilted their heads in confusion. However, MoonWon and Heon immediately understood Doyoon’s meaning.

“You claim that my wife is always suffering, but aren’t you putting more burdens on her shoulders?”

“Husband!”

Startled, MoonWon called out to Heon in a low voice, but Heon remained calm.

As the drought swept through the former territory of SeoMoon, the poor were increasing. The bamboo grove was supporting them to the best of their abilities, but Heon could not support the neverending stream of people who needed help.

They needed Ju to intervene. However, because of the various nobles who would protest if Doyoon showed any favoritism to SeoMoon, Doyoon could not do anything.

But if he gave MoonWon all the resources, MoonWon would distribute it accordingly. However, Heon did not like that Doyoon was giving more difficult work to his precious wife.

“Because your wife is incredible and gracious, I am not worried about how she will use this. I am personally gifting this to your wife, so she may do with it as she pleases. And Yuha, you should greet your godfather.”

Doyoon called for Yuha as if to change the subject. Realizing that she could not reject Doyoon’s gift, MoonWon passed Yuha to the approaching eunuch. The eunuch brought Yuha to Doyoon, and Yuha burst into giggles.

“As soon as he learns to talk, make sure he calls me Godfather-nim.”

“Your Majesty!”

Several nobles quickly bowed. Placing Yuha on his lap, Doyoon grinned as he looked back at MoonWon and Heon.

“If I just make Yuha my Crown Prince, it’ll make my life a lot easier.”

The nobles and MoonWon were at a loss for words at Doyoon’s remark. The bustling banquet suddenly grew tense.

The Emperor who had not yet taken an empress had just spoken about taking his adopted brother’s son as his Crown Prince.

“Your Majesty, I will allow only one perplexing joke from you today. Please stop now.”

When no one dared to step forward, the only one who went against Doyoon was Heon.

Although Heon was no longer exuding the murderous aura from a moment ago, his calm statement left no room for further discussion. Doyoon’s smile deepened.

Even if Heon could not bare his teeth and attack him, he was the only one who could stop Doyoon’s jokes from progressing further. This was one of the reasons why Doyoon liked to provoke him, but he did feel that enough was enough.

“I’ve prepared a special seat for the Duke MyungHyun couple. Wife of Duke MyungHyun, forget about everything and enjoy the banquet. As for Duke MyungHyun, be alert and ready because I may call for you at any moment.”

Heon sighed and quietly bowed.

After Heon and MoonWon left, Doyoon leaned back against his throne and let out a bored sigh. Although this was only the beginning, with every passing day, he grew even more tired. He’d thrown this banquet to silence the voices that urged him to take an empress, but it was needlessly long and troublesome.

“I don’t know why we’re doing all this on my birthday.”

Instead of replying, Doyoon’s guard merely lowered his head. Because Doyoon knew that the guard was a person of few words, he didn’t wait for a response and looked around the banquet.

Another bored sigh burst out of his lips.

“Should we just stay here for a little while longer and run away?”

“This is your birthday banquet, but you want to leave on your own, Your Majesty?”

“You can help me, right?”

His guard was a guard in name only. The guard was also someone who kept an eye on Doyoon so that he would properly carry out his duties. Either way, even if he did manage to escape, he’d still be trapped inside the Palace. The nobles and eunuchs alike hated it when he left.

“I do not want to risk my life, Your Majesty.”

“You can just say that you had no other choice because I ordered you!”

“I only have one life. I do not want to be reckless with it.”

Despite the guard’s lovely appearance, their speech was rough. Although Doyoon ignored everyone else’s wishes and paid them no mind, he only folded to his guard. This was why Doyoon was often seen with his guard.

“Even if you feel suffocated, this is a banquet in your honor, so you must stay.”

“Tch.”

Heon clicked his tongue at the guard’s firm remark. He looked very upset, but instead of running away, Doyoon stayed in his seat. Even though he knew he couldn’t do anything, he couldn’t help but feel bored.

“I should have kept Yuha here with me.”

The guard remained silent despite Doyoon’s grumbling.

* * *

“SeoHyang, sit here.”

SeoHyang looked down at her seat with displeasure. She was supposed to be sitting at a seat of honor, but the noble who told her he’d take her changed his mind right before the banquet.

When SeoHyang asked for the reason, the noble criticized her as he revealed that she had offended someone who she should not have touched.

‘He said because you helped him, he’d allow you to attend. I know how this is a blow to your pride, but do you want to ruin the brothel over it? There are already people who have cut ties with us because they do not want to offend Duke MyungHyun! Just lower your head and apologize.’

Another gisaeng had replaced her to perform at the banquet. Things were beginning to change quickly, and it looked like people were starting to jump ship.

Had Heon found out what she had done?

Although these people were raised like nobles, they were no different from little children. The fact that he had lost his nerve over someone like her was ridiculous. And as more people tried to stop her, she grew even more determined.

“How should I repay him for this?”

“Mm? Did you say something?”

“It was nothing, my lord. I can’t see the stage very well from here.”

The noble she was supposed to accompany today had taken one look at SeoHyang and turned away. No matter. Men were beings whose hearts changed direction with the wind, so it was only expected.

‘The banquet is so boring.’

Compared to her, the dancers on the stage were terrible. Possibly due to Duke MyungHyun, no one approached her. Ignoring whatever the noble next to her was saying, SeoHyang looked around the banquet. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed.

Although her insides were twisted up from what was happening, that woman was enjoying the banquet in a carefree manner with her child by Duke MyungHyun’s side. SeoHyang didn’t know what she was told, but the woman suddenly glanced at the Emperor before looking back at Duke MyungHyun. 

“Does he find that woman beautiful even though he already has her?”

All men claimed their ladies were beautiful and lovely at first. However, once they married them, they were all the same. To SeoHyang, who had seen many things over the years as a gisaeng, all marriages were the same.

However, the person who caught SeoHyang’s eyes was not MoonWon. It was Heon. Although he was bone-chillingly cold to others, whenever he looked at his wife, he was completely different.

“Duke MyungHyun’s wife is quite a lucky lady.”

Whoosh!

She thought it was merely the wind.

The wind stopped blowing with someone’s shout.

“Kyaa!”

When SeoHyang realized that the wind had been an arrow, men in masks began to flood the banquet.

“Kill the Emperor!”

“Kill anyone who gets in your way.”

The laughter in the air quickly turned into screams. The peaceful venue became hell in an instant.

“Ah!”

She felt something sting her cheek. Blood began to flow from the wound.

Despite their orders to target the Emperor, the assassins began to kill everyone they could see at the banquet with their arrows and swords.

“Protect His Majesty!”

“Save the guests!”

Guards had already surrounded Doyoon and the nearby nobles. In this situation, whether one was a gisaeng or not, if they did not have a title, they would die a dog’s death. As everyone ran back and forth, trying to escape, SeoHyang began to run when she suddenly felt someone grab and pull her hair.

“Let go!”

“SeoHyang! Save me! It doesn’t matter if you die, but I must live!”

“What are you saying… Aah!”

The noble held onto her hair and began to walk backwards to a door. Her dress ripped, and she became bruised from the crowd pushing her around. The noble held SeoHyang up to his front and panted for breath.

“Aaagh!”

SeoHyang screamed, but when she met the eyes of one of the assassins, she gasped. The assassin turned towards her and began to approach them.

“G-Go away!”

Her feet moved faster than the noble’s, but they went limp with fear. Although she was ill-tempered, she hadn’t lived such a bad life. Even though she could only see the assassin’s eyes, she felt that he was smiling.

“S-stay away!”

When he drew closer, the noble holding onto SeoHyang began to tremble. Using her as a shield, the noble moved back even faster, but they soon hit a wall.

“P-Please save me.”

She cried out helplessly, but no one could hear her. When the assassin raised his sword above his head, the noble pushed SeoHyang at the assassin.

“Ah!”

When SeoHyang fell right in front of the assassin, he began to lower his sword. Staring at the sword drawing closer, SeoHyang closed her eyes.

She should have been kinder… She had only realized this fact when she was at death’s door.

She had forced her way into the banquet, and now she was going to die. She was so unlucky.

“Ugh!”

Before she could feel the blade plunge into her skin, she heard a man’s groan.

When she opened her eyes, the assassin in front of her began to bleed as he fell to the ground. His blood sprayed over her silk dress and face, but she did not dare move.

Meanwhile, another assassin began to charge at her.

She heard the wind, and an arrow struck the assassin who had come up to her.

“Ah!”

She followed the direction of the arrow, and her eyes widened.

The woman whom she had believed to be naive and ignorant of the world was nowhere to be seen. Surrounded by guards, MoonWon’s fingers continued to pull at her bowstring. Whenever she let go, an arrow would fly through the air and hit an assassin with precision.

Wherever MoonWon’s arrow went, there was a palace servant or eunuch in danger.

“What are you doing?!”

SeoHyang flinched when she heard MoonWon’s shout. Meanwhile, an assassin broke through the guards and brandished his sword at MoonWon. SeoHyang wasn’t sure when she put down her bow, but MoonWon quickly grabbed a sword and held it up to block the assassin’s attack with Yuha still in her arms.

Clang!

MoonWon bit her lip at the assassin’s strength, but she quickly swung her sword at an angle and slit the assassin’s throat. As if he were used to this, Yuha remained in MoonWon’s arms and did not cry. Instead, he tightly held onto MoonWon.

Without wiping the blood off her face, MoonWon turned to SeoHyang and yelled.

“If you want to live, come here!”

She no longer hesitated or felt any fear.

SeoHyang looked at MoonWon and ran with all her might.

* * *

The assassins who had come to kill Doyoon did not even make it a hundred paces to the throne. They were all eliminated. As the nobles all declared that they must find the main culprit, Doyoon silently gazed at Heon.

Heon was rummaging through the corpses and pulled out a jade token. When he saw this, Doyoon’s eyes sharpened.

“Isn’t the Emperor of SeoMoon being quite clumsy?”

Despite Doyoon’s taunt, Heon’s eyes remained calm as they gazed at the jade token. However, his hand tightened around it. As his fierce desire to slit JaeHoon’s throat overtook him, he quickly buried it.

“It is not yet time.”

When Doyoon heard this, a faint smile twitched across his lips. Even if Doyoon hadn’t revealed his true plans, Heon had already caught on.

Heon wanted to gradually rip JaeHoon’s throat for MoonWon, and Doyoon thought it would be a good idea to let him do it in time. However, even though he knew how he felt about MoonWon, Doyoon wanted to wait a little longer. SeoMoon had not completely collapsed just yet. 

Having Ju forcefully absorb them and having them slowly collapse on their own were two completely different things.

“It won’t take long, so be patient for a little longer.”

Calming his rage, Heon turned to MoonWon. Having cleaned off the blood from her face, MoonWon held Yuha and gave him a faint smile. Although this was something that would have terrified anyone else, his strong wife had passed through it with grace.

“I believe my patience is wearing thin, Your Majesty.”

He could deal with this frustrating situation on his own. He did not want to bring MoonWon into it at all. If things like this kept happening in MoonWon’s life, he didn’t think he’d be able to follow Doyoon’s orders.

‘Everything has a price.’

Doyoon claimed that the time had not yet come, so he had held back his true feelings. However, he would not meet JaeHoon in a banquet like this. He’d meet him at the battlefield. A mistake would always repeat itself. He was only storing his anger and would release it when the time was right. 

He would be the one to slit JaeHoon’s throat. And that day would come sooner than later.