IBPC | Chapter 17.1

Fortunately, Seoyul recovered quickly. Heegon took such meticulous care of him that even the court ladies were amazed.

From the sixth day, Seoyul occasionally left his room for walks, and after twenty days, he stopped taking the herbal medicine. Over a month later, he regained enough strength to take Leo for light trots again.

“Eat a lot.”

Today, after a light trot with Leo, Seoyul brought a bunch of carrots to feed him. As he stroked Leo, whose coat was becoming shinier and smoother by the day, Leo nuzzled against his hand.

“Want more?”

Seeing the feed trough almost empty, Seoyul was about to call for Dubo. But before he could, someone wrapped their arms around his waist from behind.

“…?”

Seoyul’s body was gently pulled back into someone’s embrace. Without turning around, Seoyul smiled, recognizing the scent near his ear.

“You’re here?”

Only after lowering his head to kiss Seoyul’s cheek did Heegon release him. Seoyul then turned to look up at Heegon. Heegon alternated his gaze between Seoyul and Leo, letting out a slightly deep breath.

“These days, you come here whenever you have a chance.”

“Just… for exercise. Pacheon also said it’s good to move my body now.”

“Don’t overdo it, though.”

“I can’t ride hard enough to overdo it.”

Seoyul laughed awkwardly. Heegon looked at Seoyul for a moment before speaking cautiously.

“Once I finish what I’m working on, I can take some time off.”

“…?”

“So, I was thinking of going to the summer palace in about ten days.”

“The summer palace…?”

“I thought we could rest there for a bit. Isn’t it too stifling for you here?”

Heegon raised his hand to stroke Seoyul’s cheek.

“It’s not far from here, and there’s a well-maintained arboretum. There’s also a beach nearby. Have you ever seen the sea?”

At Heegon’s words, Seoyul’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“I like the sea.”

“That’s great. Then let’s go and rest for a few days. Do you like seafood? You might get to try things there that are hard to find here.”

“Yes, I like seafood.”

“If there’s anything you want to eat, let Dubo know. I’ll have it prepared in advance.”

“I will. But…”

Suddenly, Seoyul looked at Leo with concern.

“I’m still not very good at riding Leo. I can only do light trots.”

“The path isn’t rough, so we can go slowly. If you get tired, you can ride with me.”

“Then… can we take Leo with us?”

“This guy needs some fresh air too.”

Heegon laughed, stroking Leo’s mane. Only then did Seoyul smile fully.

If it’s the summer palace near the beach, it must be the Namhaeng Palace that King Samun often used. Though the site is now gone, only the artificial lake with the arboretum remains, and I’ve visited it a few times for field trips.

It was spring then, and the flowers were in full bloom, making it incredibly beautiful. I wonder what it will feel like in this season.

A different era in the same space.

Seoyul was excited about that, but more than anything… he was looking forward to spending intimate time with Heegon without worrying about others.

Could this be called a trip?

Though he had left the palace with Heegon for a secret outing before, it wasn’t a pleasant memory, and this was the first time he was leaving the palace for rest, not work.

Seoyul reached out and held Heegon’s arm.

In ten days. From today, each day would probably feel happy.

⊹₊⟡⋆

“Send word to Namhaeng Palace. We’ll be going in ten days, so have them prepare.”

“I will convey your orders.”

“We’ll be taking only a minimal number of people, so select the best among the guards.”

“I will do so.”

After escorting Seoyul back to his room, Heegon was heading to the royal library. To quickly handle the tasks he needed to take care of for the time being.

As he walked there, Heegon instructed the eunuch to prepare for the trip to Namhaeng Palace. But someone blocked Heegon’s path.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

At the voice directed at him, Heegon slowed his brisk pace. Looking ahead, he saw the Left Minister approaching him. Heegon unconsciously furrowed his brow slightly before quickly hiding it. He then stopped his slowed steps and slightly lifted his chin.

“…It’s been a while, Left Minister.”

Heegon’s not-so-friendly gaze turned to the Left Minister.

No matter how much of a sly fox he was, Heegon had a grasp on him. The political flow centered around him as well.

Currently, the Left Minister held the most power in the court. His family had produced the Left Minister for generations, and he had King Eulsa’s trust in many ways.

Of course, it would have been nice if he had maintained a good relationship with him, but he did not support Heegon. On the surface, he didn’t support any particular prince. But those in the know were aware that he was secretly aligned with the First Prince. So, they were in a subtle rivalry.

Heegon concealed his discomfort and received the Left Minister’s greeting. And it was the same for the Left Minister.

“Have you regained much of your strength?”

“……”

“I heard you suffered a harsh punishment for leaving the ritual ceremony.”

the Left Minister smiled gently, but there was a sharpness that he couldn’t completely hide. Heegon felt it but didn’t respond. the Left Minister then put on a sympathetic expression.

“Still, it’s fortunate to see you looking well. But you must always take care of yourself. Who knows, if your body weakens, your suppressed madness might worsen.”

As the Left Minister continued speaking, Heegon’s eunuch beside him became visibly anxious, his face reddening. But Heegon remained calm and took a few steps toward him. Heegon’s large frame cast a long shadow over the Left Minister’s body.

Heegon kept his head high, lowering only his gaze to look down at the Left Minister.

“I’m truly touched by your concern for me.”

A smile similar to the Left Minister’s appeared on Heegon’s lips.

“I’ll take your words to heart. However…”

“…?”

“Isn’t it better to act crazy when madness takes over than to go insane while in your right mind? I may be a madman when my madness flares up, but someone out there is constantly mad.”

A sneer directed at someone unknown. Heegon seemed to be referring to the First Prince, but there was a barb aimed at the Left Minister, who supported him.

The First Prince. There were so many issues that even listing the major ones would require more fingers than he had.

He had meddled with King Eulsa’s personal court ladies, caused trouble with the people while drunk during the Lantern Festival, ruined important diplomatic affairs and blamed his subordinates, executing them recklessly, and frequently hit other princes whenever he had the chance.

Heegon knew well what it meant to support someone who had been expelled from the Jinha Kingdom. They wanted a puppet they could control.

“Do you know what’s most important when riding a horse?”

Heegon posed a pointed question to the Left Minister. the Left Minister, not yet understanding his intent, didn’t answer. Heegon then raised his hand to press down on the Left Minister’s shoulder.

“Choosing the right horse is the first step. No matter how skilled a rider you are, if you choose a wild stallion, what’s the point?”

When Heegon provided the answer himself, the Left Minister let out a hollow laugh. He looked up at Heegon and bit the inside of his cheek.

“That’s true. But…”

“…?”

“No matter how excellent the horse, without a rider to care for it, what’s the point?”

The Left Minister retorted without backing down. Heegon showed a twisted expression before releasing the Left Minister’s shoulder.

“…Well, I’m the owner of the stable, so worrying about the horse is my concern.”

Heegon patted the Left Minister’s shoulder a few times before stepping aside.

“Then, I’ll see you again soon.”

And with that, he passed the Left Minister and continued toward the library.

“……”

The Left Minister turned and bowed to Heegon. But his gaze remained cold as he watched Heegon’s retreating figure.

Given his appearance and temperament, it’s not hard to understand why His Majesty favors him…

“If only he were a bit more compliant.”

The Left Minister clicked his tongue softly and turned away from the departing Heegon.

And so, the two moved in opposite directions.

⊹₊⟡⋆

The road to the summer palace was, as Heegon said, not difficult. There were no high mountains to cross, and the path was well-paved, making it manageable for Seoyul to ride Leo.

Heegon matched his pace to Seoyul’s, stopping occasionally to show or explain new sights along the way. Though the journey could have taken about two hours at a fast pace, they arrived at the summer palace after more than three hours.

Unlike the grand and overwhelming atmosphere of the main palace, this place had a simple yet serene vibe. Seoyul looked around the summer palace with curiosity as he followed Heegon inside.

The landscaping was as well-maintained as the main palace. No, the trees and plants were more natural, giving it a richer and more authentic beauty.

If we go further inside, we’ll reach the lakeside I visited during the field trip, right? The Namhaeng Palace of the Jinha Kingdom that hasn’t been destroyed looks like this. It’s more elegant than I imagined. They said it was the most cherished summer palace of King Eulsa, King Samun, and the successive kings of the Jinha Kingdom. It seems Heegon feels the same way.

“Do you come here often?”

Even at the entrance of the summer palace, Seoyul, who was already busy looking around, asked without looking at Heegon.

Heegon smiled at Seoyul and looked around as if reminiscing.

“I used to come here often with my mother when I was young. I haven’t visited much since she passed away…”

Heegon paused his gaze at a spot in the entrance garden, as if memories were tied to it.

Seoyul turned to look at Heegon at those words. Come to think of it, as they got closer to the summer palace, a bittersweet expression had appeared on Heegon’s face.

Feeling there was nothing he could say, Seoyul quietly approached Heegon and held his hand.