GMLS Ch 42

Lanterns were hung early in the outer passages and courtyards. At the news of the Emperor’s arrival, the eunuchs and maids moved about busily. As Muryun entered the courtyard, he asked as if in passing.

“Come to think of it, you and I have never crossed swords. My body feels stiff, how about a match?”

“How could I possibly dare against the august-”

“If you win, I will grant you any one wish you desire later.”

“-I accept your words and will do my utmost.”

“Then wait here for a moment.”

After saying so, Muryun reappeared dressed in martial attire. With his hair tied up with a topknot pin and wearing a hero’s headband, he looked just like he did five years ago. A perfect ‘Master.’

“Let’s use wooden swords. This should be enough to get into the spirit of it.”

I nodded dumbly, like some simpleton. I remained in that half-dazed state even up to the moment the duel began. I only came to my senses when Muryun’s sword rushed right in front of me.

Thwack!

The wooden sword held a sharpness comparable to a real blade. In an instant, we exchanged three blows and created distance. I moved based half on instinct. My eyes were of no help. Everywhere my gaze fell was a deep, lush green.

But even in a world so full of life, Muryun was unparalleled.

Thwaaack!

The sunset pressed down on the edge of the ridge, and twilight painted the entire world red, like a bursting ripe persimmon. That deep color also stained Muryun. His jet-black pupils took on a reddish hue.

Whoosh!

In the moment my gaze was stolen by that light, the tip of Muryun’s sword came to rest under my chin.

“You shouldn’t let your eyes wander during a duel.”

“My apol… ogies.”

He withdrew his sword. It was my defeat.

“I have lost.”

“Had you not been distracted, you would have won.”

No. I would have lost even if I had been completely focused on the duel. How could I win? How could I dare to even think of matching him in a duel? He was my eternal Master. He was someone who made me want to offer something, even when I had already given my all and had nothing left to give.

“What on earth were you thinking about? Let me hear what is more important than a wish you could have won from me.”

I was thinking of you. But since I couldn’t say that out loud, I mumbled, and Muryun’s eyes narrowed.

“Your hesitation only piques my curiosity. This won’t do. I must hear it, so speak quickly.”

“……The sunset.”

“The sunset?”

“Yes. I was thinking that the sunset was beautiful.”

Yeo Yullyeong had told me. You have no talent for hesitation, so if a situation arises where you absolutely must speak, cut out only the most important truth and present that. So, from ‘I thought you, bathed in the sunset, were beautiful,’ I neatly removed only Muryun.

He looked as if he didn’t quite believe me, but he didn’t press further.

“Hmph. Well, fine. We’ve worked up a sweat, so we should wash. I’m going to the bath.”

Sweating from just that little bit of movement? Is it because the day is hot?

I tilted my head in confusion. A top-tier martial artist could easily control their body temperature with their internal energy. This applied not only on freezing cold days but also on hot days like today.

‘Well… maybe he wanted to sweat.’

But I didn’t think much of it and immediately followed Muryun.

In the east wing of the main palace where the emperor resides, a huge bathhouse is installed. The only person who can use it is the emperor.

“You’re covered in dust too, shouldn’t you wash?”

“Ah, yes. Then I will go and wash while you are bathing.”

If I had to pick the best thing about Muryun becoming emperor, it was this. That there were many people to protect him, even without me. It was different from the North Palace days, when I was the Captain of the Guard, yet there wasn’t a single royal guard. Besides the Imperial Guard and the Milyeong Army, there were others specially selected as ‘guards’ who took turns protecting his closest vicinity.

So, I could leave his side with peace of mind. I no longer had to keep my senses on high alert towards Muryun’s location while sleeping in my own quarters. But then… I heard something completely unexpected.

“Just wash with me.”

“Pardon?”

“The bath is spacious enough, anyway.”

“Pardon?”

As I kept asking back, Muryun placed a hand on my shoulder and grinned.

“It’s an imperial command.”

⊹ ࣪ 💮⊹₊

The bath was outdoors.

About a third of it was covered with a tiled roof supported by pillars, allowing for hot spring bathing even on rainy days. The tub, though for the emperor’s sole use, was extremely large, and the small, landscaped garden was beautiful. Behind the high walls, the Imperial Guard would undoubtedly be lined up.

And I was in that bath, hugging my knees and huddled up. How on earth did it come to this? My hands and feet felt like they were trembling. Even though I was sitting in the hot water, the chill wouldn’t go away.

“This is nice.”

Muryun said, sitting languidly. He was beyond calm; he exuded an air of leisure.

I doubted if he truly felt the same way I did. If it were me, I couldn’t be like that. Even now, I was concentrating with all my might, worried that my lower body might react.

“Do you like sunsets?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes. I like them.”

My first reply came out as a squeak. I even misspoke the next part, making a formal mess of the word ‘like’. Muryun chuckled softly.

“Then what was the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen in your life?”

It was a romantic question. My answer, on the other hand, was worldly.

“It was one I saw at a festival. It’s right around this time of year, in fact.”

“Ah, you mean the ‘Suryeonje Festival’. It certainly was around this time.”

He hummed and then said.

“So you like festivals too.”

“Yes, I do.”

I answered readily. I knew all the major festivals held in the capital city by heart. Even so, there were only about two a year. One was the midsummer night’s ‘Suryeonje Festival,’ and the other was the early winter’s ‘Winanje Festival.’

“The moment you step onto a street where a festival is held, you can feel a different kind of air. Excited voices can be heard from all around. There are almost no negative emotions.”

That place was a different world.

“It’s a festival, everyone thinks, and they set aside their gloomy and sad feelings and laugh, saying, let’s just enjoy today. The reason the guards let most minor problems slide is to protect that atmosphere.”

The colorful fabrics stretched overhead. The sunset-colored lanterns hanging on every house. The children darting between the legs of adults and the sound of their laughter.

“That atmosphere, I just loved it so much.”

Recalling that time, a smile naturally formed on my lips. After a moment of silence, Muryun asked.

“Did you go to the festival with the Shangshuling?”

“No. Heukwol took me.”

“……That son of a bi……”

……What was that just now? Did he swear? Did Muryun just swear?

“That’s a shame.”

As I stared blankly in shock, Muryun spoke as if nothing had happened. His expression was ordinary. I decided I must have misheard and nodded my head.

“There is no festival this year. Not just this year, but it’s scheduled to be cancelled for two more years. Because the former Emperor passed away.”

“Ah.”

“Why. Are you disappointed?”

“Rather than disappointed, I think I feel a little lonely.”

Because it might have been the last festival of my life.

I see. So there’s no Suryeonje or Winanje Festival. As I lowered my gaze to the gently swaying surface of the water, I heard a clicking of a tongue from beside me.

First swearing, now this. As I thought that and turned my head, I was startled by how close he was. When did he get so close? I was sure he was over there when I looked just a moment ago. Since I hadn’t moved, he must have been the one to approach.

“Did you two always go together?”

“Pardon?”

“The festival. Did you always go with that man in black?”

“No. Sometimes the Ammukdan came along as well.”

“The Ammuk…”

Muryun’s eyes wandered as if he couldn’t find the words.

“You went to a festival with those guys?”

“Yes. Don’t even get me started. One would sit stubbornly at the sugar candy stall, determined to get a carp-shaped one, making all the kids around him burst into tears. And there was a place where you could win a prize by hitting a target with a bow, and another would growl at the owner, asking if he could use a hidden weapon instead of an arrow.”

“The way you talk about it, it seems you enjoyed that quite a bit too.”

“Yes, it was truly wonderful.”

The festivals I experienced were under the protection of Yeo Yullyeong. The first time, when I was just starting to gain weight and get healthier, Heukwol suggested we go. Back then, I was still timid and wary of the household members.

At that time, I was so mesmerized by my first festival that I forgot everything and just played. Heukwol went wherever I wanted to go, did whatever I wanted to do, and bought me everything I wanted to eat. After playing like there was no tomorrow, I returned exhausted in Heukwol’s arms. As soon as my door opened, Dongbok rushed out from the next room.

Behind Dongbok, who was chattering about how he had been so worried because I was so late, the servants under him came pouring out.

‘Young Master, you’re finally back.’

‘Why were you so late?’

‘I knew you’d be safe with Heukwol-nim, but it’s bad for your health.’

Surrounded by the people who had waited for me, I laughed as if I were crying, and cried as if I were laughing. It felt like my heart was being dyed with flower petals.

Splaaaash.

As I was reminiscing, a sudden sound of water made me turn my head, and I froze on the spot. A massive dragon was raising its head. What is that? What did I just see? In the space between Muryun’s legs, that should be there, but why in the world…

“I’m getting hot. I’ll get out first, so you take your time and come out.”

Why is there an actual club there?

I remained frozen, unable to move a single finger. Muryun trudged over and as he reached the door, the waiting maids opened the sliding doors for him.

Ssshk- 

Thud.

As soon as I heard the sound of the door closing, I shot up. Splish-splash. Water cascaded down, and my revealed bare skin was flushed red. I pressed the back of my hand to my cheek. The image of the magnificent dragon I had just seen refused to leave my mind.