IBPC | Chapter 7.2

After a long silence, Heegon, who had been watching the sunset, casually asked Seoyul. Seoyul, sitting trapped between Heegon’s arms holding the reins, glanced at Pacheon, who was riding his horse beside them. Pacheon, understanding the look, gave a slight nod.

Well, as long as he doesn’t reveal anything about future events, it should be fine.

Seoyul carefully chose his words before speaking cautiously.

“The economic and political situation where I’m from is different from here, so my answer might not be very meaningful.”

“…I see.”

“But…….”

“…?”

“You should first figure out what’s important.”

Heegon, who had been guiding the horse, looked down at Seoyul in response to his added remark.

Seoyul fell into thought for a moment. Then, he recalled a debate he had participated in during a group discussion in one of his history classes long ago. Come to think of it, the topic back then was quite similar to this.

“The system His Majesty reformed isn’t fundamentally flawed. But even the most reasonable system will fail if there’s no proper statistical data to back it up. It’s like giving a dog a dead end.”

“Statistical data?”

“Do you have an accurate count of the population and households?”

“That’s handled by the nobles who collect the taxes…….”

“Granting the nobility exclusive rights to collect taxes might be the biggest problem.”

“…….”

“If the nobles give six parts to the state and pocket four, the people end up paying ten parts in taxes. The state loses out, the people are exploited, and the nobles grow fat—that’s how it usually goes.”

Seoyul’s gaze drifted far ahead as they passed through a residential area after leaving the marketplace.

“You need to accurately determine the population first, and then appoint overseers to ensure the taxes are collected properly. Of course, the overseers should be middle-class individuals who side with the people.”

“But isn’t it wasteful to spend manpower and resources monitoring taxes that are already being collected? Moreover, if the nobles resist too strongly, it could destabilize the nation.”

“That might be true in the short term, but once the system is in place, it will ultimately strengthen royal authority. And I’ve never seen a nation fall because it reined in the nobility. A nation’s stability crumbles the moment the people start groaning in hardship.”

Seoyul let out a scoff at the end of his words. Heegon listened quietly before looking at Seoyul with newfound interest.

“What did you do before? Were you in a government position? You speak quite wisely.”

“I learned from history. The reasons nations rise and fall remain the same, even as times change.”

Someday, even the Jinha Kingdom, with its long history, would walk the path of rise and decline. But that was a story for the distant future.

Seoyul swallowed the rest of what he wanted to say. Heegon, too, seemed to mull over Seoyul’s words for a moment before looking up as something began to fall from the sky. Raindrops started to fall one by one from the evening sky.

“It’s raining…….”

Seoyul also felt it and held out his palm. A few drops of rain fell onto his hand with a soft patter.

“…?”

Heegon, who had been looking up at the sky, glanced around and gripped the reins with one hand. With his now-free hand, he shielded Seoyul’s face from the rain. Seoyul’s eyes widened as he looked at Heegon, but Heegon said nothing and continued guiding the horse.

Seoyul wondered whether he should push Heegon’s hand away or just stay like this, but the rain began to fall harder. Heegon then gestured toward Pacheon.

“It’s raining. Let’s hurry.”

Heegon, who had been shielding Seoyul’s face, withdrew his hand as the raindrops grew heavier and began to pour down. Instead, he took off his outer robe and draped it over Seoyul’s head.

“Ah… it’s fine—”

Seoyul tried to remove it, but Heegon pulled him closer, gripping the reins tightly. He then urged the horse to pick up speed.

“Fine, my foot. You’ve been in the bathhouse recently, and you think you won’t catch a cold so easily?”

Seoyul’s face flushed at Heegon’s whispered words.

That time…….

But he couldn’t retort, not with the horse’s speed increasing and his body swaying, nor with the warmth of Heegon’s embrace as he held him close under the robe.

Thump, thump—his heart raced uncontrollably, and Seoyul could only hold his breath.

⊹₊⟡⋆

It was a fairly large inn. Though not as spacious as Heegon’s quarters in the palace, the room they entered was decently sized. Seoyul glanced around curiously as Heegon, soaked from the rain, began removing his wet clothes and turned to look at him.

“There’s no proper place to wash up here, so just dry yourself off for now. We’ll only stop by one place tomorrow before heading back to the palace, so bear with it until then.”

“I’m fine.”

“Dry yourself before you catch a fever again. I’ve asked the innkeeper for some fresh clothes…”

Heegon stripped off his wet clothes and draped a dry cloth over himself. He then turned to hand a dry cloth to Seoyul but paused, his gaze lingering.

“…….”

Seoyul, who had neatly folded the outer robe Heegon had given him, was also quite wet. Though the robe had been layered, the soaked fabric had become transparent, revealing glimpses of Seoyul’s skin beneath.

They had dressed him in light, thin clothes for ease of movement during the secret outing, but…

Seoyul’s short, wet hair clung to the nape of his neck, droplets falling from it. Some rolled down his shoulders, while others clung to the edge of his jaw.

Seoyul wiped the droplets away with the back of his hand and looked up at Heegon. His eyes blinked slowly, still drenched.

As Heegon watched, he felt his mouth go dry, despite his soaked body. An unbearable desire began to creep up his throat.

“Will this do?”

Seoyul, unaware of how provocative he looked, approached Heegon with an innocent expression. The mismatch between his appearance and demeanor only fueled the fire within Heegon, though Seoyul seemed oblivious to it.

Seoyul noticed the dry cloth Heegon had been about to hand him and reached out to take it. But in that moment, Heegon’s other hand shot out and pulled Seoyul into an embrace.

“……?”

Seoyul, caught off guard, stumbled into Heegon’s arms. The wet fabric of Seoyul’s clothes pressed against Heegon’s bare skin. Seoyul’s eyes widened as he looked up at Heegon.

The gaze looking down at him felt familiar, and Seoyul offered an awkward smile.

“Uh… why?”

“…….”

“You’re not… serious, are you? We’re on a secret outing right now.”

“And?”

“And what? Of course—”

Heegon’s eyes had already taken on a dangerous glint. Seoyul couldn’t understand what triggered this man.

Seoyul placed a hand on Heegon’s chest and gently pushed him away.

“Besides, aren’t you planning to ride a horse tomorrow? If you don’t want me to collapse…”

Seoyul tried to back away with a wary look, but Heegon pulled him close again.

“Then I’ll make sure you can still ride the horse. Problem solved.”

“Huh?”

Before Seoyul could ask what he meant, he saw Heegon’s faint smile.

“Your… Highness.”

The bed was smaller than the one they usually shared in the palace. Heegon sat leaning against the wall at the edge of the bed, while Seoyul climbed on top of him, sitting face-to-face.

The wet clothes they had been wearing were now discarded on the floor, still damp, but their bare bodies had already dried.

“Ah…….”

Heegon held both their erections in one hand, stroking them together. His large hand and the heat of their hardened lengths rubbed against each other, overwhelming Seoyul.

“Ha… this… is a bit…….”

Seoyul bit his lip, unable to hold back his reactions. He gripped Heegon’s arm, which was moving relentlessly.

It felt too strange. Logically, it shouldn’t have been much different from when he touched himself, but the sensation of Heegon’s skin against his own was both slightly painful and oddly pleasurable.

But more than that, it was Heegon’s gaze that made it unbearable. Even as they touched each other, Seoyul felt exposed, as if he were being put on display. Heegon’s gaze always had a way of unsettling him, in more ways than one.

“Can’t you… stop?”

“Why? You seem to be enjoying it.”

“It’s just… feels weird… ah…….”

“You look plenty willing to me.”

Seoyul tried to push Heegon’s arm away, but Heegon only gripped his chin with his other hand, tilting his face up and stroking his cheek. Seoyul shook his head.

“I don’t… like this…….”

Seoyul hunched his shoulders, though it didn’t seem like he disliked it as much as he claimed. But his constant protests were starting to irritate Heegon.

Heegon watched Seoyul for a moment before stopping his hand.

“Then what would you like me to do?”

“……?”

“As far as I know, there’s only one thing you really enjoy.”

Heegon wrapped his arm around Seoyul’s waist, pulling him close. He stroked the soft skin under his hand before lifting Seoyul and laying him down on the bed.

Heegon then spread Seoyul’s legs, revealing the slick, wet entrance that had already been glistening. He reached down and gently teased it.

“Not there…….”

Seoyul flinched and tried to close his legs, but Heegon chuckled and lowered his head.

“Didn’t I say I’d make sure you could ride the horse tomorrow?”

“What does that… mean…….”

Heegon buried his face in Seoyul’s chest, licking and sucking at his nipples while pushing a finger inside him.

“Ah……?”

Seoyul’s chest heaved as he let out a short moan. His thighs tightened around Heegon’s body, but Heegon paid no mind, continuing to suck on Seoyul’s chest while thrusting his finger deeper.

“Ah, that… haa…….”

Heegon’s shoulders were dry, but his hair was still damp. Seoyul’s fingers tangled in Heegon’s hair as he gripped his shoulders, his breath hitching.

“Ahh…….”

Heegon’s fingers moved relentlessly inside Seoyul, twisting and scraping against his walls. At the same time, Heegon’s tongue swirled around Seoyul’s hardened nipple, sucking deeply and causing Seoyul’s hips to jerk upward.

“Ha… ah, stop…….”