IBPC | Chapter 6.5

Dubo was the one who spoke up, looking surprised at Heegon’s sudden appearance. Seoyul also turned to Heegon with a puzzled expression. Heegon took a moment to catch his breath, then slowly approached Seoyul. He stared at Seoyul intently for a moment before starting to take off his outer robe.

“……?!”

Seeing this, Seoyul took a step back, wondering what Heegon was trying to do. But Heegon simply draped his outer robe over Seoyul’s shoulders.

“Put it on.”

As he did, a warm sensation enveloped Seoyul, along with the scent of Heegon’s pheromones, wrapping around him like an embrace.

Heegon adjusted the robe and placed the ends in Seoyul’s hands. Seoyul obediently gripped the edges of the robe, and then Heegon took Seoyul’s other hand and led him outside.

“Let’s go.”

“……?”

Heegon led Seoyul out. Seoyul hesitated but allowed himself to be pulled along.

“Uh… where are we going?”

Seoyul asked, flustered, but Heegon didn’t answer. Instead, he held Seoyul’s hand and led him through the night air, taking him outside his quarters for the first time.

A few eunuchs followed at a respectful distance behind Heegon and Seoyul. But to Seoyul, it felt as if only Heegon and he existed in that moment.

As Heegon led him past the outermost gate of his quarters—a place Seoyul was never supposed to cross—Seoyul felt a shiver run down his spine.

Late evening, the quiet palace devoid of any signs of life. Only the sound of Heegon and Seoyul’s footsteps filled the air.

Running through the cool night air, Seoyul held Heegon’s hand and ran, and ran some more. After running for what felt like a long time, Seoyul finally realized.

Heegon was taking him to the Lantern Festival.

The moment he realized this, his heart began to race uncontrollably. Maybe it was because he hadn’t run like this in a long time, but the warmth of Heegon’s hand in his wasn’t just due to his emotions.

Seoyul tightened his grip on Heegon’s hand as he looked at his back. His body and mind felt overwhelmed, as if he couldn’t run anymore. Just as he felt this, Heegon’s pace slowed.

“……?”

The place Heegon had brought Seoyul to was a high fortress wall. As they approached the stairs leading up, the soldiers guarding the base recognized Heegon and bowed their heads. They stepped aside, and Heegon glanced back at Seoyul before starting to climb.

From then on, the eunuchs didn’t follow. Though he was starting to get out of breath, Seoyul leaned on Heegon’s hand and climbed, and climbed some more. When they finally reached the top of the steep stone stairs, the view from the top of the fortress wall unfolded before them. As they stopped, Seoyul’s legs trembled.

“Everyone, step down.”

Heegon gave the order to the soldiers guarding the wall. Soon, the soldiers cleared the area, and Heegon led Seoyul to the center of the wall. After looking around, Heegon pulled Seoyul, who had been following behind, to stand in front of him.

Seoyul swallowed his still-unsteady breath and stood close to Heegon. When he looked up, the venue of the Lantern Festival was spread out below them.

“…….”

It was far more beautiful than he had imagined, filled with countless lights.

This was the Lantern Festival of Jinha Kingdom, a historical event the kingdom had prided itself on for generations. No words in any history book, no illustrations in any record, could capture the brilliance and splendor of this sight.

Seoyul couldn’t take his eyes off it, blinking rapidly. It was far more magnificent than he had imagined. The dazzling lanterns. The gathered crowd. It was as if this place was more vibrant and lively than the brightest daylight.

Now, even his breathing seemed to fade into the quiet that settled around him. It was strange, considering how lively it was down below.

As Seoyul looked down, Heegon, who had been watching him, spoke in a calm voice.

“This should be enough. Even from here, it’s quite a sight.”

At Heegon’s words, Seoyul smiled quietly as he looked down. After staring for a while, he turned his head to Heegon.

“It’s so beautiful. You can see everything so well from here.”

A childlike smile. Seoyul beamed at Heegon.

“What about the wish lantern? The biggest one, is that it?”

Seoyul pointed to the center of the Lantern Festival and asked. When he turned to look at Heegon, their eyes met.

“…….”

“…….”

At that moment, the soft light rising from the Lantern Festival illuminated Heegon’s face. Half of it was shrouded in shadow, while the other half was bathed in light. It made Heegon’s already beautiful face even more striking.

Seoyul bit his lip, his eyes trembling. He quickly averted his gaze.

Heegon stepped closer to Seoyul and pointed to one of the countless lanterns.

“The one slightly to the left of the center. The brightest and largest one.”

After pointing it out, Heegon gently placed both hands on Seoyul’s shoulders.

“Everyone makes their wishes there. So you should too. Make your wish.”

At Heegon’s whisper, Seoyul tried to steady his trembling heart as he looked ahead.

A wish. …Right, a wish.

Seoyul gripped Heegon’s outer robe with both hands and slightly parted his lips.

My wish is…….

Ever since I heard about the Lantern Festival… no, ever since I came here, there’s been one thing I’ve wished for every day.

I want to return safely—

That wish had always been there. But for some reason, it didn’t come to the surface easily.

I want to return.

I want to… return.

At the end of that wish, something heavy lingered.

Seoyul slowly turned his gaze from the lantern back to Heegon. When he looked at him, he saw Heegon, who had been watching him all along.

“Did you make your wish?”

Heegon was smiling softly at him. That smile made Seoyul’s mouth feel dry, and a lump formed in his throat. At that moment, a surge of emotion overwhelmed him, and he felt flustered. So, Seoyul forced a smile.

What’s wrong with me? Why does my heart race every time I see Tae Heegon lately?

“Yeah, well……”

Haha, Seoyul let out a short laugh and lowered his head slightly.

“…….”

Heegon looked at Seoyul and slowly wiped the smile from his lips.

A gentle evening breeze brushed through Seoyul’s hair, which had grown a bit longer. The ends of his hair swayed softly, and the breeze carried Seoyul’s faint scent to Heegon.

Just like it had on the first day.

Suddenly, Heegon remembered the day he first saw Seoyul. The first time he caught his scent. It was thin, like a thread, but it felt like an unbreakable thread of fate.

“……?”

Noticing Heegon’s silent gaze, Seoyul raised his head slightly. Their eyes met again.

“Your Highness?”

As if asking if he had something to say, Seoyul called out to Heegon. But instead of answering, Heegon released Seoyul’s shoulders and moved his hand to Seoyul’s chin. When his fingertips touched Seoyul, Seoyul’s eyes trembled.

But this time, Seoyul didn’t look away. Instead, a flushed emotion bloomed across his cheeks like a lotus flower.

“Seoyul, that child. He’s been growing more and more beautiful lately.”

Heegon had once dismissed Pacheon’s words as mere exaggeration, thinking it was just because Seoyul had been thin and frail. But now, it seemed he couldn’t deny it anymore.

Since that day, Seoyul had begun to carry something that captivated Heegon’s gaze. When he looked up at Heegon with that face, it was hard to look away.

Heegon stroked Seoyul’s chin with his thumb. As he pressed down gently, Seoyul’s lips parted slightly. Heegon, who had been staring at the gap, slowly lowered his head.

“…….”

Seoyul blinked rapidly and froze. This wasn’t the first time, nor was it the most intense moment they’d shared. But why was his heart racing so fast?

Seoyul closed his eyes as Heegon’s lips approached his. At the same time, Heegon’s face brushed against Seoyul’s cheek, and then their lips met.

In the cool night air, their cold lips touched cautiously. Heegon pressed lightly against Seoyul’s lips, then gently bit them as he parted his mouth slightly. Heegon’s saliva moistened Seoyul’s lips, and their softened lips brushed against each other repeatedly.

Heegon released Seoyul’s chin and instead cupped it, lifting Seoyul’s head slightly. He tilted his head further and parted Seoyul’s lips, slipping his tongue inside. Seoyul’s shoulders tensed.

Seoyul’s short, broken breaths. Along with them, Seoyul gripped Heegon’s clothes tighter. Heegon’s exhale brushed against Seoyul’s cheek, mingling with his own breath.

As their kiss deepened, Heegon, unable to resist Seoyul’s scent, wrapped one arm tightly around Seoyul’s waist. Seoyul stumbled and was pulled into Heegon’s embrace. He let go of Heegon’s clothes and instead wrapped his arms around Heegon’s shoulders. As a result, the outer robe Heegon had draped over Seoyul slipped down and hung over Heegon’s arm, which was holding Seoyul’s waist.

“…Your Highness.”

When their lips parted briefly, and they caught their breath, Seoyul looked up at Heegon with damp eyes and called out softly. But Heegon didn’t answer and instead sought Seoyul’s lips again.

On top of the high fortress wall. The shadows of the two figures lingered in the darkness, refusing to fade.

⊹₊⟡⋆

“What are you looking at so intently?”

Seated beside Gangmu, another Imperial Prince called out to him.

At the voice, Gangmu, who had been gazing at the fortress wall, quickly lowered his eyes and cleared his throat with a quiet, “Ahem.” A fleeting trace of embarrassment crossed his face before it softened into a faint smile.

Seeing this, the Imperial Prince sitting next to him chuckled as well.

“What’s with you?”

At the question, Gangmu raised a hand to cover his mouth slightly before responding.

“It’s nothing. Just… nothing at all.”

“……?”

“It’s just… it seems that hyung-nim has found his spring as well.”

As Gangmu murmured the words as if talking to himself, the other Imperial Prince frowned in confusion.

“What are you talking about? Spring has long since passed. It’s been over for a while now.”

Despite the mildly chiding tone, Gangmu paid no mind. Instead, he lifted his gaze once more, looking toward the fortress wall. And with a quiet smile still lingering on his lips, he mused to himself.

“Well… I suppose spring just came a little late for hyung-nim.”