IBPC | Chapter 13.2

He gripped Seoyul’s shoulders tightly, but Seoyul bit his lip and raised his hand. With that hand, he grabbed his left ear. No, more precisely, he grabbed the earring hanging from his ear and yanked it out. The force was so merciless that the hook tore through his earlobe as it came off.

“……?!”

With a thud, the earring fell, and blood spread from Seoyul’s torn ear. Heegon’s eyes flickered at the sight. But Seoyul, with a face showing no pain, threw the earring into the darkness somewhere in the pond.

Splash, the small sound was all it made as the earring disappeared into the deep darkness.

Seoyul looked up at Heegon, who was at a loss for words, and finally opened his mouth.

“I’ll… go back somehow.”

“……”

“In the place where I lived, there’s surely a way to live even if you’re separated from the one you imprinted with.”

Seoyul began to tremble in Heegon’s hands. It was partly because he was submerged in the cold water, but also because he couldn’t handle the rising emotions.

“No, even if there isn’t, it’s fine. Even if I die leaving the one I imprinted with, it’s much better than living as an empty shell by your side!”

Seoyul screamed, his voice mixed with sobs, as if he were wailing. The intense emotion seemed to make Heegon’s consciousness fade.

“……?”

Seoyul, who was sobbing in Heegon’s grip, suddenly lost consciousness. His eyes closed, and his body went limp. As his head fell back helplessly, Heegon caught him in his arms again. He hurriedly raised his hand to cradle Seoyul’s cheek.

“Why are you doing this? How―”

Heegon desperately patted Seoyul’s cheek, then looked up at the people who had gathered by the pond. Heegon cradled Seoyul in his arms and began to hurry out of the pond.

“Bring Pacheon immediately, hurry!!”

Heegon’s urgent voice finally woke everyone from their slumber. It was still deep in the night.

⊹₊⟡⋆

While waiting for Pacheon to arrive, they placed Seoyul’s body in warm water. They washed him roughly, dried him off, and dressed him in new clothes. However, Seoyul still hadn’t regained consciousness.

Eventually, Pacheon arrived and began examining Seoyul’s body. For some reason, Pacheon spent a lot of time checking various parts of Seoyul’s body.

Unable to bear the wait any longer, Heegon spoke anxiously.

“Is he alright? He hasn’t eaten properly for days. He was submerged in cold water for too long…”

Pacheon glanced at the worried Heegon but remained silent. Then, looking at Dubo, who was also standing at the door with a worried expression, Pacheon whispered quietly.

“Please clear the area. Everyone outside as well.”

Heegon couldn’t shake off the ominous feeling at the request to clear even those outside the door. However, he gestured for everyone to leave as Pacheon instructed. The court lady attending to Seoyul, Dubo, and the eunuchs outside all vacated the area.

A quiet air lingered in the room. Pacheon sat with a complicated expression, looking at Seoyul. Then, suddenly, he stood up and approached Heegon.

“……?”

Pacheon stood silently, looking at Heegon, then slowly lowered himself. He prostrated himself on the floor, bowing his head towards Heegon.

Heegon, unable to understand what this meant, listened as Pacheon spoke more cautiously than ever.

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“……?”

“The child is carrying Your Highness’s seed.”

At those words, Heegon’s eyes trembled faintly.

Just now… what did Pacheon say…?

“What do you mean…?”

“The Eumin is pregnant.”

At the repeated words, Heegon’s lips quivered.

Seoyul, that child… is carrying my child…?

Heegon felt a sensation like the ground was tilting beneath him, a feeling of something rising within him.

He had never impregnated anyone before. Then he learned it was because he was a Simyangin. He was told he could only have descendants through an Eumin, who didn’t exist around him. So he lived believing that having descendants was not something life permitted him.

He thought he could ascend to the position of Crown Prince without issue by adopting a child, as long as he managed his erotomania. He lived only thinking about enduring and overcoming it.

But now… my child…

Heegon’s eyes turned to Seoyul, who lay there.

He had secretly hoped, knowing Seoyul was an Eumin, but also doubted whether it was possible. Yet, it was truly possible for him to have a child.

Having his own descendants—this was something he had always waited for. It was a dream he had. And it was what he most hoped and wished for from Seoyul.

“……”

But Heegon felt his mind growing cold instead.

“I’ll… go back somehow. …Even if I die leaving the one I imprinted with, it’s much better than living as an empty shell by your side!”

The eyes filled with hatred looking up at him. The words filled with malice, colder than curses.

These thoughts stirred uneasily within Heegon, making his heart race.

Heegon raised his hand with a face that showed no joy. He covered his mouth. Instead, he felt his emotions sinking deeper into an abyss.

Strangely enough.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Seoyul remained silent, simply lowering his head and cradling his abdomen.

“You are carrying the prince’s child.”

The words Pacheon conveyed to him once he regained consciousness. Perhaps because his body and mind were too exhausted, Seoyul didn’t even have the energy to be surprised.

Pacheon glanced at Heegon, then cautiously continued speaking to the silent Seoyul.

“You know that your being an Eumin is a secret to everyone. But if it becomes known that a man is pregnant… Do you understand what I mean?”

“……”

“For the time being, I will discreetly look after you. So you must also take special care of your body…”

Pacheon trailed off, looking at the dazed Seoyul.

Seoyul remained silent for a while.

“……”

Lost in thought, Seoyul eventually lifted his gaze, looking at Heegon with weary and burdened eyes.

“I’ll do as you wish.”

“……?”

“I’ll have the child. And I’ll start eating properly… I’ll do whatever is necessary.”

Seoyul spoke with a desperate plea, as if clinging to his last hope.

“After I have the child… please let me go.”

“……”

“Just promise me that.”

Seoyul pulled his legs up and hugged them with his arms, lowering his head between them. It was as if he couldn’t bear it if this request was denied.

Feeling the desperation in Seoyul’s plea, Pacheon turned to Heegon with a heavy gaze. Heegon, who had kept his lips sealed, finally spoke. But the words didn’t come easily.

“……”

After several moments of hesitation, Heegon finally gave Seoyul the answer he wanted.

“I promise…”

Even as he gave the answer, he wasn’t fully aware of what he was doing. It was like watching spilled water with a sense of despair. But what could he do now, having spilled it with his own hands?

Heegon felt foolish and pathetic.

“……”

Pacheon, who had been observing the two, was deep in thought with a complicated expression.

Though he had confirmed Seoyul’s pregnancy himself…

Pacheon looked at Seoyul with a hint of unease.

It seemed he needed to visit his shrine immediately.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Pacheon lit a fire at the shrine. He spread out the cloth for divination in front of the fire.

There was something that weighed on his mind.

He had been checking Heegon’s divination daily. He had never seen anything about descendants. Of course, it was news he had been waiting for more than anyone, but there had been no signs of it in Heegon’s recent divinations.

With a heart full of doubt, Pacheon checked Heegon’s divination again. He examined his fate in detail, but…

“…Still.”

It was the same. There was still no sign of descendants in Heegon’s fate.

Perhaps it was too early since Seoyul had just become pregnant. Or…

“……”

Pacheon stared at his empty divination with a worried look. After a while, he began lighting a new fire to pray for the safety of Seoyul and the child in his womb.

⊹₊⟡⋆

A hot heat was felt. It ominously enveloped his entire body. Heegon was watching a massive flame burning so brightly it hurt his eyes.

Right now, his residence was on fire. Yet, the surroundings were silent. There were no eunuchs to put out the fire, and no one was screaming. Heegon was the only one watching the burning residence.

Seoyul?

The thought of Seoyul’s presence dawned on him belatedly. Heegon turned his gaze from the flames and began to look around. Strangely, there was nothing but pitch-black darkness.

‘Seoyul― Min Seoyul!’

Heegon called out to Seoyul, cutting through the darkness. But no one answered. Growing more anxious, he looked back at the flames, and there he saw Seoyul’s face.

‘……?!’

In the blazing flames. Seoyul stood there motionless. When their eyes met, Heegon paused in shock, then rushed towards the flames.

‘What are you doing there?! Come out at once!’

Heegon approached Seoyul, but the distance between them wouldn’t close. So Heegon desperately reached out his arms towards Seoyul. But Seoyul looked at Heegon with a vacant expression, showing no sign of pain.

‘Grab hold, quickly!’

Heegon urged Seoyul desperately, but Seoyul smiled a smile that seemed on the verge of tears.

‘No.’

‘……?’

‘It’s better this way than to take the prince’s hand.’

With Seoyul’s final words, his body began to burn and turned into black ashes, disappearing into the flames.

Gasp―

Heegon swallowed his breath, feeling a pressure in his throat, and opened his eyes.

“……?!”

Haah, haah―

His own rough breathing echoed in his ears as the dark room came into view. Heegon stared blankly for a moment before hastily sitting up in bed.

Was it a dream…?

The sensation was so vivid it still felt hot, and Heegon touched his body. Realizing the stillness of the deep night, he took a trembling breath.

What kind of dream was that…?

Heegon covered his trembling face with both hands. He leaned forward, trying to shake off the lingering traces of the dream.

‘It’s better this way than to take the prince’s hand.’

Even in dreams, that child sees me like that.

Heegon held his breath in the darkness, feeling tormented. Yet, until the break of dawn, nothing seemed to improve.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Seoyul got up from his seat. He wasn’t as lively as before, but he was eating decently, and his physical condition had somewhat improved. However, he still spent most of his time staring blankly out the window.

Seoyul looked at the vase that Dubo had placed by the window and found himself thinking the same thoughts every day.

Am I really pregnant? How is it possible for a recessive omega to get pregnant? Was it because of the knotting last time…?

Seoyul lowered his gaze to his own body. It didn’t feel real, and he still couldn’t fully believe it.

Can I give birth? Will I be able to get proper care here? I’m already scared. I’ve only heard about omegas giving birth, never seen it around me.

Seoyul wrapped his hand around his abdomen.

Despite the rising questions and worries, there was also a sense of relief.

But they promised to let me go once I have the child. This time, I got a promise directly from Tae Heegon. He should at least keep his word.