Chapter 8

The imperial order struck fear, and the imperial physician hurried to Cheonggeum Palace to treat Prince Yeon Kang. As the emperor had anticipated, it was the prevalent fever that had turned into an epidemic. The physician added a caution that they needed to be careful as the fever often led to serious illness. While it was a routine examination, the emperor attentively stroked the child's tousled hair.

The physician looked at the emperor with a startled expression. He was behaving toward his son, Yeon Kang, as he would toward a princess. Expressing paternal affection felt strangely unfamiliar. As the gentle gaze of the emperor fell upon the child, the physician swallowed dryly and tidied up the medical instruments. An ominous feeling settled in the physician's eyes.

Perhaps the dynamics within the palace would soon change. Even if Yeon Kang couldn't become the crown prince, he would likely be given a similar position.

Having served in the palace for over 30 years, the physician retreated with certainty.

As the sun began to push its face above the horizon, news spread to Cheonggeum Palace. It was a sad announcement that Princess Yeri, who had been suffering from a severe fever for several days, had finally passed away. While both Princess Sookhyang and now Princess Yeri, daughters of the current and former consort, had lost their lives, the emperor remained motionless, his gaze fixed on Yeon Kang.

Under normal circumstances, the emperor might have felt sorrowful, if not for the death of Princess Yeri, but today he seemed particularly odd. He left brief instructions for Princess Yeri's body to be cremated like Princess Sookhyang's, as if she were a mere bead in his hand.

"Dispose of Yeri's body as you did Sookhyang's."

The scribe recorded the words while the attendants bowed respectfully. With a much-improved demeanor compared to the previous day, the emperor gently stroked Yeon Kang's cheek as he slept, and he spoke tenderly.

"We must ensure that the fever epidemic does not continue. The deaths of Sookhyang and Yeri from the fever are enough."

"Are you not going to see the consort, Your Majesty?" the attendant asked cautiously, observing proper etiquette. Ignoring the attendant, the emperor glanced at Yeon Kang, who was beginning to stir. As Yeon Kang woke up, he seemed surprised by the grandeur and spaciousness of the palace chamber compared to the old chamber in Cheonggeum Palace.

Meeting his son's eyes with amusement, the emperor chuckled and said, "Tell the consort to wait."

Ignoring the puzzled look from the attendant, the emperor lifted Yeon Kang into his arms, placing both hands under his son's armpits. Yeon Kang lowered his head, feeling dizzy. His forehead pressed against the emperor's chest, and he felt the firm muscles beneath the loose robes. Surprised, he looked up at the emperor, who smiled at him warmly.

"Aren't you going to greet your father?" the emperor teased, adding a touch of beauty to his son's inquisitive black eyes with his radiant smile.

The curiosity in Yeon Kang's eyes vanished without a trace, washed away by the emperor's laughter. He didn't know what to do. He had heard countless etiquette lessons from the eunuch, but he just stared blankly at the emperor's face. The unfamiliar sensation of butterflies in his stomach reminded him of the time he ate too many fried snacks secretly given to him by the nanny, mixed with flour and sugar, and felt sick afterward. He felt queasy. Yeon Kang didn't understand why he felt this way and clutched his fingers, whimpering softly.

For the first time, Yeon Kang saw the emperor, and he seemed as mysterious and beautiful as a celestial being dancing in an ink wash painting. His beauty was so otherworldly that it was hard to believe he was the same person as the wolf Yeon Kang had seen in the snowy field. The child's mind was in turmoil, like a ship caught in an unexpected storm. The nausea that began deep within his heart grew stronger, and he trembled slightly. Though he wanted to escape, the emperor held him aloft, leaving him with no means of descent. The sensation of being suspended in the air terrified him, but he couldn't muster the courage to ask the exalted emperor to let him down.

Yeon Kang felt an overwhelming fear as the emperor's clear golden eyes seemed to pierce through him. The idea that the emperor could be the same as the cute puppy he remembered seemed like a lie. Eventually, tears welled up in his eyes, and his face crumpled as he began to cry. The emperor, who had been trying to cheer him up by lifting him high with both arms, was taken aback and set Yeon Kang down on the bed. The child buried his face in the blanket, crying loudly, resembling a squirrel gathering nuts. It was an utterly adorable sight, but something inside the emperor twisted uncomfortably. The tickling sensation on his skin felt like caterpillars crawling, an entirely new experience that made him chuckle involuntarily.

How could such a trivial cuteness overpower him?

Despite his furrowed brow, the corners of the emperor's lips lifted in a broad smile. He crossed his arms and watched Yeon Kang with amusement. The child continued to cry, hiding his small body and face in the blanket. Then, with a hiccup, he peeked at the emperor.

"Waah..."

Meeting the emperor's gaze again, Yeon Kang burst into tears more sorrowfully. A court lady approached to comfort Yeon Kang, but the emperor waved her away. She retreated silently, keeping her distance. The emperor, arms still crossed, observed the child patiently. Yeon Kang's small back trembled as he cried. Occasionally, he glanced at the emperor, blushing, and then buried his face deeper into the blanket. Noticing the redness on Yeon Kang's face and neck, the emperor blinked in surprise. Could it be that the fever had returned? He reached out with a father's concern, but Yeon Kang flinched and squirmed to the corner of the bed, trying to escape. Such behavior was disrespectful.

The emperor's brows knitted together, yet he couldn't help but chuckle softly at the child's actions. His authoritative demeanor softened, blending with a rare display of paternal warmth. He patiently watched, his golden eyes observing every move the frightened child made.

Yet somehow, despite the oddity, Yeon Kang's actions were endearing, perhaps due to his unusually small stature for his age, or perhaps because he resembled a doll-like version of Lady Borim. The emperor, enchanted by the child's cuteness, found himself rationalizing the charm that captivated him as he turned his head at the sound of soft grunting. The child was using the blanket like a rope to climb down to the floor. For a four-year-old, the bed was high enough to require an adult's help to get on or off. Normally, someone would have assisted, but with the emperor present, no one dared move.

The emperor, with a flicker of interest in his golden eyes, watched intently as the child maneuvered. Thanks to the emperor's sitting position, the blanket stayed still, allowing Yeon Kang to safely reach the floor without falling. The child stood up, momentarily dizzy, but quickly regained balance. The emperor narrowed his eyes, his fingers twitching slightly as they created small creases on his armrest.

Yeon Kang wiped his tear-streaked face with his hand, his small, adorable features still charming even after crying. The emperor, resting his chin on his hand, watched every detail, not wanting to miss a thing.

“Y-Your... Your Majesty,” the child stammered, fumbling with his loose sleeves. Yeon Kang's innocent eyes blinked at the emperor, looking slightly reassured now that he was on the floor rather than on the bed. He awkwardly knelt and placed his hands on the ground, lowering his head, his bottom sticking up in the air. The sight was so amusing the emperor nearly burst into laughter.

The child was attempting to mimic the etiquette taught by the eunuch, checking his posture repeatedly and nearly toppling over at one point, causing the emperor to flinch. However, Yeon Kang quickly corrected himself, placing both hands on the floor and slowly lowering his head again. The emperor clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Servant Yeon Kang…?” the child mumbled in confusion, lifting his forehead from the ground. The emperor laughed aloud at the awkward display of etiquette.

“You're not quite a servant yet,” he remarked, his amusement evident.

The child gasped, realizing his mistake as the emperor pointed it out. The warnings from the eunuch echoed in his head repeatedly.

"I might die. I don't even know what death is," Yeon Kang thought, trembling.

"I-I'm guilty of a crime deserving death... I, I... that is..." The child's speech was good for a four-year-old but still awkward. The emperor laughed heartily and came down from the bed to meet Yeon Kang's eyes at a similar level. Concerned by the growing flush on the child's face, the emperor offered a reassuring smile. The redness deepened.

The emperor gently took Yeon Kang's small hand, which was warm from the floor, and pulled him up. Yeon Kang, now standing awkwardly, was suddenly lifted into the emperor's broad embrace. Stiffening like a rock, the child remained silent.

"You were quite talkative back then, but now you're silent. Surely, I don't have to transform into a puppy for you to speak, do I?" the emperor joked. Tears welled up in Yeon Kang's eyes as he recalled the events in the snowy field. The emperor, unfazed by the glistening tears, smiled calmly. Familiar now with the emperor's beautiful smile, Yeon Kang bowed his head, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks. The sight was endearing and amusing, prompting the emperor to chuckle softly.

"I-I didn't know the puppy... no, the wolf was you, Abamama... I committed a grave sin. Please, in your great mercy, forgive my offense," the child stammered, each syllable soaked with tears. Moved by the child's sincerity, the emperor wiped away the tears with his fingers and spoke gently.

"Very well, I will forgive you. But please, stop crying. What is your father to do if you continue like this?"

The emperor's tender tone and gentle touch soothed Yeon Kang's fears. The child's tears began to subside, replaced by a sense of warmth and security in the emperor's embrace. The bond between father and son was forming, fragile yet profound, in the midst of their shared vulnerability.

The emperor settled into a chair adorned with a carving of a soaring wolf, placing Yeon Kang on his thigh. The child, now accustomed to the emperor's embrace, clung weakly to the emperor's sleeve. The emperor, offering one sleeve to the child, used his remaining hand to secure the plump waist and bottom, ensuring the boy wouldn't fall. Yeon Kang sat there, his head turning to take in the opulent bedchamber with wide, curious eyes. Like most children, he was easily distracted and quick to cry. When the emperor said, "Look over there," Yeon Kang obediently turned his tear-streaked face to survey the surroundings.

In reality, Yeon Kang was seeking a more comfortable place, somewhere to hide. Unlike the Cheong Palace, which had nooks and crannies, this bedchamber offered no such refuge. Apart from the bed, there was no elevated area. His frightened face paled as he grew increasingly uneasy.

"Sniff…"

His attention was captured by a large ink painting covering one wall. It depicted a snowy mountain in various shades, representing the Moon Mountain that supported the Yeon Kingdom's palace, maintaining a balance of yin and yang. The painting portrayed the majestic mountain with snow-laden pine trees and birds symbolizing immortality, flying and perching around Moon Mountain. These birds were depicted as protecting a singular figure at the mountain's center, the ruler of Yeon.

The central figure, with piercing eyes that seemed to leap out of the painting, was the emperor of Yeon. The intensity of those eyes was enough to make Yeon Kang's breath catch and his spine tingle with fear.

In the darkness, encountering such eyes would surely cause one to faint. The thought gripped Yeon Kang tightly, reinforcing the admonition to never wander the wilderness alone.

Sweat dampened his back, and his legs trembled with terror. He turned his frightened eyes towards the emperor.

"Abamama…"

The emperor, noticing the child's pale, terrified face, smiled deeply.

"There is nothing to fear. Have you not seen those eyes before?"

The emperor’s words were meant to comfort, but the painting’s resemblance to the emperor's own intense gaze made Yeon Kang shiver. Yet, the familiarity of his father's presence, now less frightening and more protective, began to ease his anxiety. He remembered the warmth and safety he felt earlier in the emperor's embrace, and slowly, his trembling subsided.

The child recalled the snowy field where he first met the Emperor alone. The kind wolf who protected him from falling. Although the wolf's eyes had instilled fear, he and the wolf had spent quite a cozy time together. The Emperor, who turned out to be the wolf he had actually met, was terrifying but also a gentle companion. Realizing this, Yeon Kang clung more tightly to the Emperor's robe and said,

"Abamama, you are the wolf, right? So, you will protect me, won't you?"

The Emperor laughed and placed his lips on the child's cheek. Just as when he held Lady Borim, he inhaled deeply and slowly. The Emperor's breath calmed him, and remarkably, Yeon Kang's racing heart also began to find peace. The broad and firm embrace of a man provided a sense of security he had never felt before. Initially, he had feared that the Emperor's piercing golden eyes might lead to a harsh punishment, but the Emperor's warm embrace and affectionate demeanor gradually eased that fear.

"Yes, that's right. So, don't be afraid. I will protect you like this."

"Yes."

The child responded smartly. The Emperor's breath was warm. His voice was even warmer and more comforting than his breath. It felt like being wrapped in a luxurious winter blanket. The Emperor pulled the child closer, embracing him while rubbing his nose and cheeks against the child's neck, cheek, forehead, and head.

"Your scent is very different from your mother's."

Not understanding what he meant, the child tilted his head in confusion. The Emperor chuckled and brushed it off, saying, "Never mind," and then looked at the palace maid who was clasping her hands together.

"Bring some sweets. The prince should have something to eat."

"Shall I also bring tea, Your Majesty?"

The palace maid asked respectfully. The Emperor gently stroked the child's cheek with his hand and said,

"Children usually prefer sweet tea, right?"

Yeon Kang quickly turned his head to look at the Emperor. Seeing the child's unusually large, dark eyes, the Emperor smiled as if urging him to speak.

"I can also drink bitter tea well, Abamama."

Yeon Kang smiled proudly, seeking praise. It seemed Lady Borim had commended him for drinking bitter tea well. Finding his four-year-old son adorable for seeking praise just for drinking bitter tea, the Emperor forgot his dignity and laughed heartily. He gently stroked Yeon Kang's hair, loosely tied with silk. The softness of the hair made stroking it enjoyable.

It truly felt like playing with a squirrel.

"How commendable. But you are still a child, so drink slightly less bitter tea. Eating sweets and then drinking tea will cleanse your palate."

Curious about being called a child, Yeon Kang moved his face closer to the Emperor. Startled by the sudden proximity of those large, dark eyes, the Emperor leaned back. However, the child moved even closer. The Emperor, amused and a bit flustered by the boldness of the child, found himself leaning back against the chair.

"My mother told me I'm not a baby anymore, but do I still seem young to you, Abamama?"

"Of course."

The Emperor seated the child on his stomach and playfully poked Yeon Kang’s chubby cheek with his index finger. The softness of the cheek was so inviting that his finger sank in. The texture was so addictive that the Emperor eventually grabbed both of the child's cheeks gently with his hands, smiling mischievously.

"At four years old, you are still a baby to your father. Isn't that right, baby?"

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