After two years of fierce battles, King Jinyeong, who had secured victory, returned to the capital. It was a joyous homecoming amidst the intensifying spring fragrance and the increasingly gentle breeze. Standing tall amidst the frontline guarded by General Jo-Woon and the infantry trailing behind her, King Jinyeong exuded a dignified presence.
"Wow!"
From positions even beyond the reach of the King, the people waved red flags in celebration. Everyone cheered towards the King. Flower petals brought by the girls fluttered beneath the flags. It was a modest gift from the people for the King who had conquered valuable lands for the country and the heavens.
However, the king’s gaze remained unwavering. Like an endless well, his eyes with deep abysses were focused solely on one place. Their world, surrounded by crimson walls, was reflected in the boy's black eyes. His eyes gradually became as thin as silk. Unusually heavy and thick breaths came from his lips. A slight discomfort arose on the surface of his lips.
"Is something bothering you, Your Majesty?"
Beside him, riding abreast and moving forward, Gisojin spoke up. King Jinyeong used his hand, holding the reins, to gently pat his face. His face had suffered greatly from the rugged borders he had traversed over the past two years. His skin was marred with rough lines like ridges. Lips, no matter how tired, had calluses that would peel off with the slightest movement, causing pain. When he gently touched his lips, blood appeared. Gisojin, who had been silently observing, took out a piece of dry cloth from her sleeve despite his refusal and gently wiped away the blood.
She looked freshly dewy-eyed. Her long, extended eyelashes resembled bird feathers. King Jinyeong, who watched her fluttering eyelashes with a flushed face, turned his head quickly. Despite her youthful appearance, Gisojin smiled knowingly at the boyish nature that still remained in the young king.
"Your Majesty, you should rest in the capital to recuperate. Your face is badly injured... If Your Majesty were to be seen, King Yeonghyeon would be saddened."
"...That's probably true."
King Jinyeong tried to recall the face of his younger brother that he had seen two years ago. Strangely, he couldn't remember. Despite being close and spending a considerable amount of time together, two years seemed to have dulled his memory of the face. What he remembered was the sight of his brother drawing a cart along the river. He wore a vivid yellow robe like forsythia, and his sleeves billowed in the air. His hands moved slowly like a swing, captivating with their delicate and neat appearance. The hand that protruded from the sleeve was well-groomed. The white back of the hand still looked tender, and the blue veins that spread across it were as thin as leaf veins. The round and slender fingernails were transparently pink.
His brother liked to float flower petals on the cart... King Jinyeong thought absentmindedly as he watched the flower petals scattered around.
"I should buy some flowers."
"Flowers?"
Gisojin asked affectionately with a gentle smile. King Jinyeong unconsciously stroked Gisojin's pale cheek and muttered.
"Yes. I should get some for His Highness and the emperor. They must have been waiting."
King Jinyeong withdrew from Gisojin's grip on his own. Gisojin looked at the crumpled cloth. It was rare silk stained more and more with his blood. Despite suffering from severe OCD, he couldn't easily discard items touched by him. Gisojin put the silk in her bosom so that no one could take it away, with an unaffected fresh face.
The procession praising the heroes who led the victory in the war did not even reach the vicinity of the golden tile roofs. Like drawing a boundary line with a brush, the people did not step foot into the area where the nobles lived. They gathered under the old roofs that seemed to collapse at any moment, looking at King Jinyeong with adoring eyes, typical behavior of those who had spent their lives below. King Jinyeong didn't spare them a glance.
Eunwoo Gate came into view. After two years, Eunwoo Gate still exuded its majestic aura. The white gate, firmly positioned between the red walls, remained unchanged despite the passage of time.
King Jinyeong dismounted from his horse. From now on, according to protocol, he had to proceed to Hwabijeon on foot. Presumably, all the nobles would be waiting for him there.
King Jinyeong stood confidently in front of Eunwoo Gate. The Geumguns bowed respectfully to him. The gate, firmly closed as if it would never open, smoothly swung open without a sound. The stone path with lotus patterns engraved on it greeted King Jinyeong first. As he walked forward, he loosened the sword fixed to his belt. The last sword to touch the enemy’s head would pass through the hands of others before reaching the emperor. Counting the days until he would reclaim it someday, King Jinyeong mounted the sedan chair as the palace attendants welcomed him. Soldiers lined up behind him.
On the way to Hwabijeon, the Geumguns held giant flags congratulating Jinyeong on his victory. While the people cheered joyfully without restraint, the golden soldiers sent their cheers through silence and glances. Finally, the procession reached the entrance to Hwabijeon, like leaves floating on the water.
Upon passing through Sooyang Gate, the lowest-ranking court officials dressed in ceremonial robes were visible. Behind them stood golden soldiers in black armor, holding their spears upright. The court officials turned their heads and bowed their heads to King Jinyeong. Following suit, each person, from the officials to King Jinyeong and his entourage, bowed slowly and deliberately as they walked forward.
In front of Hwabijeon, grand bands played instruments.
Dum-dum-dum...
The sound of the drums resonated as if Hwabijeon were about to depart. The drumming gradually ceased, replaced by the sorrowful sound of the zither. The music performed by those belonging to the royal palace was light like a cat's footsteps yet seductive like the fluttering of a dancer's skirt. Enchanted, ears heard nothing else.
King Jinyeong's steps halted at the bottom of the 12-tiered platform. Those who had followed King Jinyeong each kneeled and prostrated themselves according to their positions, showing respect to the emperor.
"Hail to the heavenly emperor!"
The soldiers shouted in unison towards the emperor, their voices synchronized as if coming from one giant. The sound of their voices drowned out the music instantly.
King Jinyeong stood tall, his back straight, and his gaze fixed solely on the emperor without blinking. In the center of Hwabijeon, at the heart of the 12-tiered platform, sat the emperor. Twelve symbols of the heaven, embroidered with golden threads on crimson silk, adorned his robe. The resplendence was so overwhelming that it felt suffocating to the eyes.
But when the emperor smiled subtly from within the 12-tiered platform, King Jinyeong was completely mesmerized. His eyes were so resplendent and beautiful that one could almost mistake him for a living deity.
Finally, the most esteemed and beautiful presence rose. With each movement he made, all the people kneeled and bowed their heads to the ground, including King Jinyeong. Suppressing the cruel thoughts that had plagued him, King Jinyeong praised the emperor. Without making a sound, the emperor descended from the 12 tiers. With each step he took, the tiers rustled, and the metallic friction of the ornaments he wore signaled his presence.
Then, the sound ceased simultaneously with the music. King Jinyeong's chest tightened with each heartbeat, his vision becoming hazy. He couldn't understand why his heart was trembling so much.
He had already resolved himself to no longer be acknowledged as a son.
"Raise your head."
The emperor commanded in a gentle voice. King Jinyeong lifted his head, his hands still on the ground. The dragon-like eyes overflowed his vision. The face, as if carved from jade, was smiling. With his mouth slightly agape, King Jinyeong was captivated by the dazzling gold.
"News of your victory is the greatest gift the heavens have bestowed upon me."
"Your Majesty, for your sake, for the sake of the kingdom, I have dedicated my entire being to conquering our enemies."
"Your sincerity is well known to your lord and father, the emperor."
The Emperor extended his hand after delivering the highest praise to his son. A white hand emerged from the long crimson sleeve. King Jinyeong's gaze lingered on the back of the hand adorned with a golden ring.
Was the Emperor's hand always this big? He thought he was big too. Compared to the Emperor, King Jinyeong's hand still looked like that of a child's, and he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He thought he was big, but he wasn't at all. The Emperor was in a position that he could never reach. The robe the Emperor had given him was too large for him to hold with one hand, and he had to grasp and swing it with both hands, yet the Emperor effortlessly grasped it with one hand.
"Aren't you going to hold it?"
The Emperor teased with a smile. King Jinyeong hesitated as he looked at the Emperor, who had reached out to him for the first time. Should he really grab it? If he did, wouldn't the Emperor just slit his throat... As he entertained futile thoughts, the Emperor suddenly grabbed King Jinyeong's hand and lifted him up. The Emperor's hand moved slowly to stroke King Jinyeong's cheek. Instead of the Emperor, it was a fatherly smile that King Jinyeong saw, as the Emperor gently held King Jinyeong's shoulder. The Emperor slowly bowed his head to King Jinyeong's ear and moved his lips slowly.
"You've finally reached the stage of being acknowledged as the crown prince. Congratulations, my son."
As the sound of the Emperor's laughing faded from his ears, King Jinyeong sat still, his eyes wide open. The Emperor, who had climbed halfway up the 12-tiered platform, stopped in his tracks. After lazily blinking his eyes, he quickly grasped what he desired.
"Abamama...!"
Kang's voice was heard. Unlike two years ago, it was slightly lower and richer. His voice, once filled with confusion and immaturity, now flowed smoothly, avoiding the occasional break. Caught in King Jinyeong's gaze, a mix of jealousy, obsession, and fraternal camaraderie, Kang's face flushed as he tried to pull his hand away from the Emperor's grip.
However, the Emperor embraced Kang with both arms, lifting him up effortlessly. Kang, now held close to the Emperor, skillfully placed his hands on the Emperor's shoulders. The Emperor, just like when Kang was younger, supported Kang's bottom with one hand and wrapped the other around his slender waist. Kang's neck was exposed in mid-air, and he blushed crimson with embarrassment.
"Abamama, the victory ceremony is still underway... And this place..."
"What does that matter?"
The Emperor casually replied, embracing Kang as they ascended the 12 steps. Kang, too embarrassed to face the gazes of others, buried his flushed face into the Emperor's shoulder. At 15, now of age for the coming-of-age ceremony, Kang remained as trapped under the Emperor's shadow as he had been two years ago, unable to do anything.
Seated on his throne, the Emperor placed Kang by his side. Kang lowered his gaze to the ground, avoiding eye contact. Noticing this, the Emperor gently lifted Kang's chin with his hand.
"You should look at your father."
The Emperor requested affectionately. Kang tried to resist, overlapping his hand with the Emperor's on his back.
"Abamama, this is the victory ceremony for my hyung, isn't it? Once the ceremony is over, then... I'll stay by your side, please..."
Kang couldn't finish his sentence out of embarrassment, burying his face in the Emperor's hand. Then, summoning courage, he leaned against the Emperor's cheek and exhaled. His breath lingered on the Emperor's skin for a while. Perhaps because of that, the Emperor couldn't take his eyes off Kang for a while. As the music lost its momentum, small waves of emotion rippled in the Emperor's golden eyes. Kang, following the habit the Emperor had tamed him into, smiled softly to soothe the Emperor. As Kang's innocent black eyes gleamed like a crescent moon, and the corners of his lips began to shine beautifully, the Emperor abruptly stood up.
His hands gripped Kang's shoulders firmly. Kang's shoulders, too small and fragile, were mercilessly ensnared by the Emperor's grasp, rendering him unable to move.
"Ow, it hurts."
Even as Kang spoke haltingly, the Emperor stared at him with a blank expression.
"Abamama."
The song abruptly stopped. All eyes turned into arrows, piercing behind the Emperor's back.
However, an even stronger emotion captured the Emperor's heart. Kang's eyes became arrows, piercing the Emperor's chest, and as his small rosy lips moved like wings, calling out "Abamama," the Emperor was ensnared. With trembling hands, the Emperor lightly slapped Kang's cheek.
He chuckled softly. "What is this... I don't know, but..."
"It's your son, Abamama."
Kang awkwardly replied to the Emperor in a voice that sounded like singing. Kang placed his hand on the Emperor's wrist. Though he exerted only the slightest force, the Emperor felt as though chains had wrapped around his wrist. He had no choice but to follow where Kang's hand led him.
"Abamama, I'm your son, Kang."
"...Yes."
The Emperor chuckled in disbelief and whispered softly, "Kang, my baby... my son. Yes, my son."
Kang smiled, and the Emperor mirrored his smile as if looking into a mirror. However, their eyes avoided each other, looking elsewhere. Their destinations were different.