TM | Chapter 27

Kang Taegwon gently wrapped one arm around Yoon Sung’s shoulder, pulling the fragrant body he had held for a year closer. As the familiar warmth spread through his chest, he felt a sense of relief. He hugged him tightly with both arms, feeling reassured by the thought of having him back.

“Can you really adapt to that family? They’ve been connected to the royal family for generations. They won’t tolerate your free-spirited behavior. You’ll be criticized for every little thing, and if you’re lucky, you won’t be scolded for being uneducated. You’re neither clever nor quick-witted. How do you plan to endure such harsh treatment?”

Yoon Sung squirmed, trying to push away from his chest. In response to his timid actions, Kang Taegwon tightened his grip, preventing him from escaping.

“I’ve chosen you, so I’ll shield you from everything that happens in my family. I won’t blame you for not being able to do anything, so don’t worry. Just listen to me as you always have.”

Watching him quietly nestled in his arms made his fingertips tremble.

It was so easy. He couldn’t understand why he had spent sleepless nights worrying and fretting. Yoon Sung, who had been lowering his head, parted his lips and tried to pull away from his embrace.

“Don’t do this.”

“What?”

“…….”

“Didn’t I say I’d overlook the night you spent with Lee Seol? Don’t worry about it. I know it was an impulsive act because I hurt your feelings. I’m not petty enough to dwell on such things.”

“That’s not it. Nothing happened with Seol. But…”

“Nothing happened?”

Kang Taegwon’s eyes shifted to the bruise on his neck. Leaving such a clear mark and saying nothing happened?

Suddenly, anger surged within him. He forced his furrowed brow to smooth out. However, his gaze on the bruise was sharp.

Does it really matter? Just soothe him a bit, enjoy it, and then…

Kang Taegwon couldn’t continue his thoughts. The mark left by Lee Seol was too bothersome to ignore. It was an eyesore.

I’ll make sure this bruise disappears without a trace.

Kang Taegwon lowered his head to Yoon Sung’s neck. He opened his mouth wide to bite, but Yoon Sung twisted his body and slipped out of his embrace. He grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back into his arms. As he struggled to break free, he spoke his final prepared words.

“A marriage proposal came. It’s the second daughter of the Jeong family.”

“…….”

“I told Father it had to be you.”

As a concubine.

Father said to gently persuade you and keep you as a concubine. So I’ll tell you that Father opposes it because of your night with Lee Seol, and I’ll marry into the Jeong family. The plan is to take you in as a concubine when you have nowhere else to go.

Continuing his thoughts internally, Kang Taegwon looked down at Yoon Sung with confidence. His arrogant eyes sparkled between the shadows of the willow tree.

“Sung-i. I’m doing this for you, so let go of your anger. I’ll marry you as you wish.”

Despite his gentle whisper, Yoon Sung didn’t respond. He just hung his head, trembling slightly and breathing shallowly. Wondering why, Kang Taegwon carefully turned him around. Yoon Sung’s eyes, which had been staring at him, suddenly contorted. For a moment, Kang Taegwon couldn’t continue his thoughts.

Yoon Sung’s face, pushing away from his embrace, turned so pale it seemed almost white, and his reddened eyes were vivid. His tear-filled eyes looked like they might overflow at any moment.

Seeing Yoon Sung’s eyes filled with confusion, Kang Taegwon unconsciously tightened his lips. As tears fell from Yoon Sung’s eyes, his chest felt heavy, as if being pressed down. Startled by the unending tears, he patted his back.

“Why are you crying when I’m accepting your proposal?”

In a fluster, he repeatedly stroked Yoon Sung’s back, bending down to check his complexion. His reaction was too intense to be just from being moved. Holding him in his arms, he continued to stroke his arms and back. He thought the tears would stop eventually, but they only increased, soaking his chest. The wet clothes made his heart ache.

He had seen countless women’s tears when parting, but Yoon Sung’s tears were strangely piercing.

He was always a crybaby. As a child, he cried a lot when teased by friends, and as he grew, he cried over various things. He had seen Lee Seol comforting him many times.

Having never comforted a crying person, Kang Taegwon could only hold him and pat him, letting out a weak sigh.

Yoon Sung covered his mouth with his hand, stifling his sobs as he sat down. Kang Taegwon bit his lip, unsure of what to do.

“…Why are you like this? Really… I understand your feelings, so stop crying. I’ll take care of Lee Seol, so don’t worry.”

He crouched down to comfort him. Then he wondered why he was doing this and straightened his posture. Waiting for Yoon Sung’s sobs to subside, he eventually crouched down again when he heard him sniffle, examining his face with concern.

Tears welled up in Yoon Sung’s large eyes, falling drop by drop. When he wiped them away with his hand, Yoon Sung turned his head. Feeling awkward, Kang Taegwon straightened up and finished his prepared words.

“My heart is firm, so trust me and follow.”

As Kang Taegwon spoke, a spring breeze blew, rustling the willow branches. His firm voice mixed with the sound of the willow leaves swaying in the wind. Yoon Sung’s heart felt like it was being torn apart.

When he first heard Kang Taegwon’s voice, his heart sank at the thought of marrying him. His low voice lingering in his ears melted the sharpness inside his chest. Clutching his crumbling heart, he thought of his fiancé, Lee Seol. His lips trembled, unsure of what to say.

He said he told Father about me.

He said it had to be me.

He said he’d accept my proposal.

Why didn’t he say so sooner?

Why didn’t he accept my proposal sooner?

An indescribable resentment welled up from deep within. It had only been two days. If he had just waited two days, this lifelong bond would have resolved itself. Or was it because he saw me in Lee Seol’s arms that he chose this… Was it a marriage arranged by Lee Seol?

His complicated emotions plunged his heart into the ground. What should he do?

Was he happy about his decision? Was he hurt about having to reject Lee Seol? Like the willow leaves shaking violently, his mind was in turmoil, and his vision blurred, making him dizzy. His heart ached from the tumultuous emotions.

He turned him around to face him. Looking up at his eyes, his heart sank. Seeing the desire in his gentle smile reminded him of Lee Seol’s eyes, which couldn’t hide his passionate desire.

Yoon Sung’s eyes contorted mercilessly. His eyes reddened with humiliation.

If you’re going to hide your expression, at least do it like Lee Seol. How can you talk about marriage with such cold eyes, with such a cold gaze? How can you say you’ll marry me with such a heartless look?

Do you hate me being with Lee Seol that much? Enough to bring up marriage just to separate us!

The tears he had held back poured out. He hated himself for being so moved by his words that he wanted to tear his insides apart. His strength drained, and he crouched down. Unable to stop the tears, he hid his face between his legs.

When Lee Seol proposed, he cut his palm to show his unwavering trust. If I refused to marry, he planned to marry the second son of the royal prince and leave for Cheongguk. But he didn’t want an unwanted marriage, so he said he’d drink poison on the wedding day, kill his husband, and come back alive.

He could die.

He said he’d drink poison to come back. He threw himself off a cliff, refusing to become a concubine. For Seol, marriage was something worth risking his life for. It’s not like you, doing it out of a twisted sense of charity.

Wiping away his tears, Yoon Sung opened and closed his eyes tightly. He was no different from Kang Taegwon. He had casually accepted Lee Seol’s proposal. He must have looked at Lee Seol with those cold eyes and agreed to the engagement.

Bad. Mean.

How could he be so pathetic? Using Lee Seol without even knowing his place. Not recognizing the heart of someone who had looked at him for so long. Seol was even thinking of running away if they couldn’t marry. He was ready to abandon his family to be with him…

Thinking of Lee Seol made his tears feel like a luxury. He barely stopped the flowing tears and looked up at Kang Taegwon. His insides twisted at the sight of the imposing figure who had taken his heart. The one who tore his heart with harsh words and humiliated him with insincere eyes still looked impressive.

How can you make me feel so miserable? Why do you want to marry me when you don’t even mean it? Is it because of Lee Seol? Do you hate losing him to me, a mere piece of flesh? Is it because you can’t have Lee Seol, so you won’t let anyone else have him?

Even with a dagger in his chest, he couldn’t say he hated him. The words that he’d marry me echoed in his ears, and his heart soared with excitement. Wanting to escape the dangerous emotions, he slowly stood up. But as soon as he took a step, he was grabbed by the arm.