IBPC | Chapter 7.1

The lantern festival had long ended, but Seoyul was still sitting absentmindedly, staring at the lantern hanging by the window. Looking at it reminded him of Heegon, who had taken him to the fortress wall on the day of the festival. Though he hadn’t attended the festival himself, Heegon had still gone out of his way to show him kindness, and then…

That kiss they shared while holding each other for what felt like forever.

As the memory resurfaced, Seoyul bit his lip and held his breath. The tickling sensation deep in his throat was unbearable.
Stop thinking about it. It was just a kiss, nothing more…

He tried to console himself, feeling confused about his own emotions, when Heegon’s slightly raised voice reached his ears.

“Are you listening?”

Startled by the sound, Seoyul quickly tore his gaze away from the lantern. When he looked ahead, he saw Heegon frowning at him.

Ah, right. I was talking to Tae Heegon.

The realization brought him crashing back to reality. But what were we talking about again?

Seoyul glanced at Heegon with an awkward expression, and Heegon let out a sigh before reiterating the purpose of his visit.

“I’ll be going on a secret excursion in two days.”

“…A secret excursion?”

“I go out once every season to gather information from various places. This time, I’m thinking of taking you with me.”

Wait a minute.

Seoyul, who had finally started paying attention to Heegon’s words, slowly furrowed his brows.

Did he just say a secret excursion? That thing where you secretly leave the palace and come back? And he’s planning to take me along?

“You’re going outside the palace?”

“Yes.”

“But…”

Seoyul’s heart raced as he looked at Heegon with a puzzled expression.

He had always been forbidden from leaving not just the palace but even his own quarters.

“You’re taking me with you?”

“Yes.”

“Why? You don’t like me going outside, do you?”

“It’s not like your heat is acting up, but you never know. More than that, I feel more uneasy leaving you alone in the palace without me.”

“…Ah.”

“Do you know how to ride a horse?”

At Heegon’s follow-up question, Seoyul shook his head with a look that said, “Are you kidding me?”

“No.”

“We can’t take a carriage on a secret excursion… Then, how did you usually get around?”

Well, obviously…

“Buses or subways.”

“……? Where can you get those?”

“They’re public transportation.”

“……?”

“…Never mind. I can’t ride anything. Just assume that.”

Seoyul stopped himself, realizing how pointless his answer was. Heegon hummed, lost in thought for a moment, then lightly tapped the table in front of him as if resigning himself.

“Then it’s best if you ride with me.”

As Heegon seriously pondered the situation, Seoyul looked at him with a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.

A secret excursion? Outside the palace? He never thought he’d get to leave not just his quarters but the palace itself.

If Heegon is going out to handle some business, maybe there’ll be a little gap? Perhaps… I can look for another sorcerer?

Unbeknownst to Heegon, Seoyul’s heart swelled with his own secret hopes.

⊹₊⟡⋆

On the way out for the secret outing that Heegon had mentioned earlier, Seoyul, who had changed into the prepared clothes and followed Heegon with an excited face, immediately showed a look of dismay.

“Why are you coming along?”

He had thought that at most, a eunuch or a guard would accompany Heegon, but he never expected that Pacheon, of all people, would be joining them.

“I’ve always accompanied His Highness on his secret outings, haven’t I?”

Seoyul let out a long sigh as he looked at Pacheon, who shrugged his shoulders.

If Pacheon is coming along… it won’t be easy to look for other sorcerers. I thought I just had to avoid Heegon’s eyes, but now this sly fox is tagging along too.

“Aren’t you happy?”

“…No.”

“Why, were you planning to look for another sorcerer once we left the palace?”

“…?!”

Seoyul flinched and reacted as Pacheon leaned in slightly and whispered to him. Seoyul’s eyes widened as he looked up at Pacheon. Pacheon let out a low hum and narrowed his eyes.

“I can pretty much guess what’s going on in your head.”

“Th-that’s…”

“But don’t waste your energy. There aren’t any proper sorcerers around, and if there’s one I don’t know about, they’re likely a fraud.”

“That’s… that’s not it!”

“Hah.”

Pacheon burst into laughter and turned his body toward his own horse. Seeing this, Seoyul’s face turned red with the embarrassment of being caught and teased. Just then, someone’s hand reached out in front of Seoyul.

“Get on first.”

It was Heegon, who had brought his horse. Seoyul took a few steps back, slightly startled as Heegon’s black horse approached.

While the royal groom held the horse’s reins, Heegon stepped onto the mounting block first. Then, he took Seoyul’s hand and pulled him up to stand beside him before lifting Seoyul by the waist and placing him high up on the saddle.

“Huh?”

As Seoyul flinched at the unexpected height, Heegon quickly mounted the horse behind him. The moment the horse lifted its front legs and started moving, the saddle shook violently.

“Whoa—”

Seoyul wobbled and trembled. Heegon immediately grabbed the reins and pulled Seoyul close, holding him steady. Seoyul, pale-faced, buried himself in Heegon’s embrace before pressing his body tightly against Heegon’s chest and looking up.

“I-I feel like I’m going to fall…”

Before Seoyul could finish his sentence, the horse shifted its body again, causing Seoyul to gasp and cling tightly to Heegon’s clothes. Heegon couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh.

“You won’t fall, so just hold on tight.”

⊹₊⟡⋆

“Are you sure?”

Jeokbin confirmed the information from the eunuch sitting in front of her. The eunuch nodded.

“Yes, officially, it’s said that he’s going out for a temple inspection outside the fortress, but he didn’t assign any guards. It’s clear that he’s going on a secret outing.”

“And you’re sure he took that thing with him?”

“Yes, I saw him personally putting it on the horse.”

At the eunuch’s answer, Jeokbin’s lips twisted into a smile.

Taking it along even on a secret outing. That’s quite unlike Heegon.

“Then send word to the people we inquired about last time, as quickly as possible.”

“I’ll do so.”

The smile lingering on Jeokbin’s lips grew increasingly sinister.

What’s so precious that he can’t even leave it behind for a moment? If it’s that important, I’ll gladly take it from him.

Jeokbin slowly smoothed the silk hem of her elegant robes.

⊹₊⟡⋆

They rode out of the palace and reached the heart of the capital. After dismounting in a relatively secluded area, a man greeted Heegon’s party.

On the surface, Heegon was a noble from a regional family who held a government position and had come to the capital to investigate the tax system. The man, unaware that Heegon was the Imperial Prince, was their guide for the day, tasked with showing him around the capital.

“Thank you for coming all this way. I’m Galjae, here to guide you.”

The man, who introduced himself as Galjae, bowed deeply and groveled. Pacheon stepped forward and handed him a small pouch containing valuables.

“Take good care of us. You’ll get the rest when the job is done.”

Galjae tucked the pouch into the folds of his clothes after briefly inspecting its contents. Then, he began walking ahead.

“Then, let’s head to the place you mentioned first. I’ve prepared a spot for us.”

Seoyul glanced around at the sparse surroundings and whispered to Pacheon.

“But aren’t there any guards at all?”

Pacheon leaned closer to Seoyul in response to his question.

“Well, His Highness doesn’t like to draw attention… and he doesn’t really need guards.”

“Ah… is that so? But still…”

“Don’t worry. If something happens, I’m here too.”

“…Are you good at fighting?”

“Well, I am a Yangin, after all.”

Pacheon smiled his characteristic grin as he glanced at Heegon’s back. He was about to add more when Heegon suddenly reached out.

“…?”

He pulled Seoyul, who was standing close to Pacheon, over to his side. Heegon’s cold gaze swept over Pacheon’s body. Pacheon awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose under that gaze.

Even if I say it’s not like that, you’re still so wary. And yet you claim you have no feelings for that kid. Our Imperial Prince is really something.

“Can’t be honest, can you?”

Muttering words that Heegon and Seoyul couldn’t hear, Pacheon began walking at a reasonable distance behind them.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Not long after King Eulsa ascended to the throne, he began reforming the nation’s tax system. His goal was to reduce the tax burden on the people, make conscription for labor easier, and weaken the power of the nobility. That’s why Heegon had gone on this secret outing today—to gauge the people’s reaction to King Eulsa’s tax reforms and to see if the nobility’s resistance was severe.

With their guide, Galjae, leading the way, Heegon probed the nobles’ true intentions and listened to the murmurs of the common folk in the marketplace. After spending the entire day like this, Heegon headed to the prearranged lodging without even having a proper meal. His expression looked somewhat complicated as he slowly guided his horse, likely due to the many complaints he had heard from the people in the marketplace.

“…….”

Seoyul, sensing Heegon’s inner turmoil, remained silent.

It was inevitable. The tax system of the Jinha Kingdom wouldn’t stabilize until the 7th century. Until then, both King Eulsa and his successor, King Samun, would struggle with the tax system. Although they would lead the kingdom into a period of peace, the people’s dissatisfaction wouldn’t completely disappear.

“How do they collect taxes where you’re from?”