Chapter 11

When with the emperor, Kang's presence meant nothing. The emperor always held him close, like a precious golden ornament. Even though Kang used to be startled every time the emperor embraced him so casually, he had become accustomed to the emperor's touch and calmly embraced him back. At some point, even without the emperor reaching out, Kang would automatically extend his arms and say affectionately, "Hug me, Abamama." The emperor, initially lost in admiring the child's face, would quickly regain his senses at the slight weight hanging from his arms and hurriedly hug the child.

While the emperor was usually comfortable with such embraces, today the child clung particularly tightly. Their bodies were pressed tightly together without a gap. With a puzzled expression, the emperor glanced at the child's back, which was trembling like autumn leaves caught in the cold wind.

Inside the palanquin slowly moving towards the Cheonggeum Palace, the emperor removed the child's shoes with a click, and they rolled to the corner of the sedan with a thud. The embroidered pattern of the imperial family's crest on the socks was revealed. The emperor took the child's foot in his hand and realized that his five fingers completely enveloped it, leaving plenty of space. It was a tiny foot. As the emperor's hand moved from the bottom to the top of the child's foot, he gently patted the child's back. The small back was covered by the large hand. The child, apparently comforted by the tender touch, slowly raised his head.

His already pale face was tinged with blue, and his black eyes were filled with fear and trembling. Not knowing why Kang was afraid, the emperor lightly tapped his cheek with his fingers. Enjoying the delicate touch like morning dew, the child grabbed the emperor's hand and forced it to touch his own cheek.

"Why are you like this?"

As the emperor gently stroked his cheek as the child requested, he kindly asked, his eyes half-closed, observing the Adam’s apple moving on his neck. Kang, watching the symbol of masculinity move on the emperor's neck, trembled his lips.

“Hyeon-bi despised Soja.”

Kang paused, sighing in a manner beyond his years, speaking with melancholy.

“It felt wrong for the son to receive love from Abamama...”

A faint crack appeared on the emperor's beautiful face. Sensing the child's profound sadness and dejection, the emperor was startled and enveloped the child's face in his hands. Black eyes, filled with indescribable worry, met his gaze. The emperor pressed his forehead against the child's. It was warm. The small, delicate body, warmed by the sunlight, felt tender and supple.

“You've done nothing wrong, little one.”

The emperor whispered lightly, like a mountain breeze, but it did not reach Kang's heart. Even with closed eyes, Kang could feel the veins pulsating behind her brown eyes, unable to look away. The chilling gaze, resembling the sharp, black eyes of a dying fox, overlapped with Hyeon-bi's resentful eyes. She truly despised him.

And she wished for his own death. She behaved as if he was enemy, like the one who killed Princess Jae-rin. Even when facing the emperor, Hyeon-bi's gaze was so vivid that Kang sought refuge in the emperor, his only sanctuary.

“Abamama, I'm scared. I can't look behind. I think Hyeon-bi will hurt me, or kill me.”

The child was truly frightened; even inside the palanquin, he never dared to turn around. The emperor, signaling that there was no need to look back, embraced the child tightly. What the child saw was the emperor's broad, angular shoulders. With a manly posture, the raised shoulders were perfect for burying one's face. The emperor wrapped the child's legs around his waist. The child clung to the emperor's neck with both arms, pressing his cheek against the emperor's shoulder, breathing heavily. The emperor pondered how to remove the marks left on the child's back. What he chose was to remove his own coat and cover the child with it. The silver coat symbolizing the emperor perfectly concealed the child. Covered from head to toe with the emperor's body and scent, no one could recognize the child.

“There's nothing to be afraid of, baby.”

The emperor whispered gently into Kang's ear. His voice was so tender and warm that it felt like tears would well up as soon as it was heard.

However, Kang, being brave, didn't cry. He turned his head away from the emperor’s embrace and looked at him. The emperor flashed a graceful smile. He took Kang's tiny hand that was hanging on his shoulder and pressed his lips to the back of it, whispering softly,

"Isn't the greatest emperor in this kingdom protecting you?"

Kang was captivated by the emperor's hand and couldn't make a sound. He even swallowed his breath, just being quiet against the emperor's shoulder.

Strangely, he didn't feel Hyeon-bi's gaze. He felt the emperor's scent and warmth vividly. To help Kang sleep more comfortably, the emperor cradled the child's head in his arm. His bottom touched his thigh, and his legs lost strength, trembling near the emperor's thigh. The emperor's remaining arm wrapped around Kang's waist and hips to prevent him from falling. It was a flawless posture. The emperor caught the slipping coat and covered Kang up to his chin. Kang smiled softly, rubbing his sleepy eyes and looking at the emperor. The emperor's breath caught for a moment in his fleeting smile.

"Will you really protect me, Abamama?"

The emperor bowed his head slightly, pressing his lips against Kang's forehead.

"Yes. I will do everything to protect you."

The child finally fell asleep. His eyes closed, mouth open, emitting even breaths. The emperor stared at the child's face for a moment, then realized something belatedly.

Without realizing it, he had stopped breathing too.

The child was so lovable that he didn't want to give him away to anyone.

What should he do? He wanted to keep him by his side every day. The emperor suddenly found that he didn't like being an emperor. If he were an ordinary father, he could have paid close attention to raising his son.

Then, he had a strange idea.

Why not raise the child in Cheonggeum Palace?

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