“Ugh.”
Hyeok Gi-rin sighed and lay down on the bed after Yoo Gyeong had disappeared.
“Still, it was fun.”
As they exchanged stories, time flew by. When he finally came to his senses, it was already past midnight, and Hyeok Gi-rin and Yoo Gyeong parted ways, leaving a hint of regret behind.
Since she said she would come by every night from now on, there would be plenty of time to catch up.
He felt a bit sorry for Ho Cheon-an when he heard the talk of extending the training period at the palace, but he wanted to indulge in these desires.
“Older brother, you’re doing well…”
Hyeok Gi-rin thought as he recalled their conversation. The support base that had backed him had lost much power in the central government, and Yoo Gyeong, who was already solidifying her succession, was steadily dominating the center.
Sometimes she dug stubbornly into matters related to men, which was difficult, but overall, it was a pleasant conversation.
“Yoo Chan is already fourteen?”
It was refreshing to consider that a nephew he had never seen before was now fourteen.
Lovers. Dating. Marriage. Childbirth. Parenting. These were all a list of words that were hard to pursue for Hyeok Gi-rin at the moment.
Martial artists weren’t particularly strict about marriage. Since they maintained their youthful physical age for a long time, there wasn’t really a need to be strict about age, and those who devoted themselves to martial arts without forming a family weren’t considered flawed.
It would be normal if someone over forty got married.
However, if he had lived a normal royal life, he would have already married and established a family by now.
“Family…”
Hyeok Gi-rin liked children. So, he held the thought in his heart that he wanted to get married and have his own child.
He smiled bitterly.
“Older brother, really.”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s environment was quite special, and he still hadn’t figured out how to solve all those issues. Should he live as a princess or as a martial artist? It was a complicated issue for him.
But marriage.
Hyeok Gi-rin pulled the blanket over himself, clearing all these thoughts from his mind. Instead of worrying about the situation, he imagined the ideal family.
Imagining an unknown someone, a nameless husband…
A child… three would be nice. A greedy thought was to have five, but three seemed just right.
The first would be energetically running around the house, the second a spoiled little one not wanting to leave mom’s side, and the third still a baby. Hyeok Gi-rin smiled warmly as he imagined this scene.
Since it was just imagination, who cares? The branches of Hyeok Gi-rin’s imagination stretched out. The nephew Yoo Chan, whom he had never seen, was playing with Hyeok Gi-rin’s first child, while Master Yeo Il-ye was trying hard to bond with the spoiled second child.
The imaginary husband… yes, he was having a drink with Yoo Gyeong and Master Cheongheo.
What a pastoral and peaceful scene. It was the idea that Hyeok Gi-rin had cherished in a corner of his heart.
Suddenly, the sound of a baby crying was heard. Hyeok Gi-rin looked down at the second child clinging to his legs with a troubled expression and called for his husband. The husband rushed, getting scolded by Master Cheongheo and Yoo Gyeong, towards where the third child was lying.
Hyeok Gi-rin smiled as he watched his husband from a distance, making a troubled expression with Master Yeo Il-ye.
The husband, trying to soothe the crying child, fumbled around and picked up a nearby toy. A rattle. The jingling sound caught the baby’s attention, and the crying subsided. Just as the husband breathed a sigh of relief, the child started crying again, and he hurriedly shook the rattle again.
Once he got the hang of it, the husband smiled and shook the rattle. With the sound of the rattle, the baby’s cries stopped momentarily, and the husband kept shaking it.
Then, suddenly, the rattle disappeared.
Jingle jingle.
The rattle that was between his fingers vanished without a trace as his fingers twitched, only to reappear from his sleeve with another jingle. The rattle that had vanished from his grip suddenly popped out from his mouth or seemed to tickle his ear before falling down.
Giggling.
The child was delighted by the husband’s dazzling movements, and the husband grinned, tossing the rattle into thin air. He clapped his hands together and caught the rattle!
Jingle jingle!
Although a rattle sound was heard in his palm… there was no rattle to be seen in the husband’s exaggerated open palm!
Thump! Thump!
Hyeok Gi-rin stopped the imagination, kicking off the blanket as he wrestled with himself. Anyone could see that it was that person! What do you mean imaginary husband?!
“What’s going on?!”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing! Just tossing around a bit!”
“Understood.”
Hyeok Gi-rin hid his definitely flushed face under the blanket and quietly rolled around alone.
*
The meal at the royal palace was tasty.
Overall, there was a spread of food that was light and bland. In this martial world, strong seasoning and plentiful spices were considered high cuisine, but to reach a higher level of culinary skill, one had to bring out the original flavor of fresh ingredients.
“Mmm.”
For the first time in a while, the meat felt tender and flavorful. In this martial world, livestock were merely considered a means to serve food. So, instead of thinking of raising pigs to eat tasty pork, it was more about just feeding them scraps and getting pork in return.
Eating the flavor of meat that had been bred for this purpose felt delightful to his tongue.
Living as a martial artist wasn’t always good; naturally, the senses became heightened, including taste.
Eating all sorts of foul-smelling foods or only those heavily spiced to cover up any odors throughout a life of mistreatment, his tongue finally found joy.
Nodding along, he devoured the food, enjoyed dessert, and leaned back in the soft chair, feeling absolute bliss.
“Ah, should I learn cooking skills?”
The reason I hadn’t learned cooking skills was simple. Until arriving at Outcast Inn, every day was a survival struggle, and once I got there, I couldn’t cook while living in an inn.
But now, the conditions seemed to be right. Having company made traveling by cart more comfortable, and moving with proper cooking utensils in tow would be easier.
If traveling by cart, there would be no need to stop by an inn to eat, increasing mobility.
I might have to think this over later.
As I sorted out my thoughts, court ladies came in to announce the beginning of the workday.
That meant that history education and etiquette training were starting.
First, there was a discussion about the audience protocol. Meeting the emperor was one of the state affairs. Naturally, officials accompanied the audience, and the meeting followed a specific order on how the audience should behave and the etiquette they needed to maintain.
Explanations were provided for important notes to keep in that situation and model answers to questions from the emperor.
“I’ll ask a question as an example. What is the relationship of Hyeok Gi-rin, Great Hero of Okryong Sinhyeop?”
“…Excuse me?”
However, a strange question suddenly arose midway. When I questioned back, the middle-aged court lady’s eyebrows twitched.
“This is only an example. You must not question any inquiries and should maintain your composure. I’ll ask again. What is the relationship of Hyeok Gi-rin, Great Hero of Okryong Sinhyeop?”
What kind of nonsense training is this? Hyeok Gi-rin’s relationships must already be well understood and reported to the emperor by his classmates. Why ask me?
While my discontent bubbled up at the sight of the baiting question followed by reprimands, I opened my mouth anyway.
“It hasn’t been long since I became personally acquainted with Hyeok Gi-rin, so I don’t know much about him, but internally in the sect, he is a respected Big Brother. Given Hyeok Gi-rin’s nature, unless he is exceptionally malicious, he should maintain amicable relationships with everyone.”
“I see.”
The audience training continued throughout the morning. There was a strong determination radiating from the court ladies to practice the audience situation until it could respond automatically, even if they became mentally weak from the tension of the moment.
“Recently, is there a martial artist who has become friendly with Hyeok Gi-rin?”
Another odd question popped up.
“Well, if I had to name someone, it would probably be my companion and me? We’ve been together since the incident in Sacheon City.”
“The gender of that companion?”
“It’s a woman…”
“Don’t give convoluted answers.”
While my frustration boiled inside at the dangerously glinting eyes of the middle-aged court lady, I suppressed it for now. Today was the first day, so it seemed she wanted to establish dominance.
After a series of perfectly normal questions were followed by the sudden strange inquiries, the morning training came to an end.
“I would like to dine with Hyeok Gi-rin.”
“Personal life is basic at the palace.”
“But we are companions, and isn’t it okay to eat together? This place isn’t prison; it would be nice to see each other’s faces.”
“…Seeing each other’s faces, you say.”
The court lady pondered this.
“Do you often eat with Hyeok Gi-rin?”
“Excuse me? What’s so strange about wanting to dine with my companion?”
“Indeed… I see.”
The middle-aged court lady nodded, speaking meaningfully without reason.
“I will inquire with Hyeok Gi-rin.”
“…Yes, please do.”
Within half a day, I had definitely come to realize that the royal palace was not suited for me.
Feeling mentally exhausted as I moved to have lunch with Hyeok Gi-rin.
Yet, Hyeok Gi-rin seemed unusual.
“Hyeok Gi-rin? What’s wrong?”
“N-no, it’s nothing special…? Just… nothing!”
Not ‘nothing.’ Normally this would be the time when we’d lightly grumble and exchange casual smiles, but he’d been sticking his face in his bowl while glancing sideways, eyes squeezed shut.
“Was it too stressful this morning with the court ladies? You look unwell.”
Court ladies shot me dagger eyes as they suddenly glared at me, but I just rolled my eyes. Anyone from Sacheon would glare harder than that.
“It’s not that… it’s a personal issue.”
“…Well, if that’s the case, I can’t help it. You can take it easy. What I mean is, you have plenty of time.”
“Plenty of time… Yes, that’s right.”
Hyeok Gi-rin muttered things like, “Last night was just a bad dream,” or “I’m sorry to Black Cat,” but he had stopped making cat-like expressions while sticking his face in the bowl.
“But what do you mean by being sorry to Black Cat?”
*Cough! Cough!*
As Hyeok Gi-rin was about to shove food in his mouth, he sprayed it everywhere. The court ladies rushed to clear Hyeok Gi-rin’s table and wipe down his clothes like a great hero.
It was only after the court ladies finished cleaning Hyeok Gi-rin up that I finally made eye contact with him.
“That’s… yes! I heard it! They say the palace training will be lengthy! So! It was that! Black Cat has to wait a long time! It was nothing else!”
“Ah… I see.”
I wasn’t sure why Hyeok Gi-rin had turned strange, but seeing the court ladies wiping him down like they were cleaning a mannequin, it seemed they all knew Hyeok Gi-rin was still a princess.
The palace training period had been extended.
Does a princess like Hyeok Gi-rin need etiquette training? I wasn’t particularly fumbling about either.
Still, the lengthening of the palace training period likely meant Hyeok Gi-rin had to stay longer there. Perhaps she wanted to enjoy the palace more or perhaps there were various problems upon returning after a long time.
So, was she making that strange expression to read my feelings?
“Hyeok Gi-rin.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“What do you think our relationship is?”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s body stiffened like a statue.
“W-what do you mean? Re-relationship?!”
“I consider my connection with Hyeok Gi-rin to be quite close. Was I mistaken?”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s face turned as red as a ripe persimmon. With his eyes squeezed shut and breathing heavily, he clenched his fists and trembled, speaking in a voice as small as that of a mosquito.
“I-I also… H-Ho, Senior Ho… c-closely… closely…”
“Yes. That’s correct. I believe we understand each other to some extent, though how to define our bond is still unclear.”
Hyeok Gi-rin swallowed hard. With intense trembling eyes on me, I winked to ease Hyeok Gi-rin’s burden.
“We can certainly say we’re friends! Haha! I may not be able to help much, but I’m more than willing to listen to your worries, so feel free to share.”
“…Friends.”
Hyeok Gi-rin repeated the word “friends” in a strangely cold tone. Ah… did he take issue with that term?
“Bwahaha! Yes, I guess we can say that we’re friends! Now I understand the nagging Black Cat expressed!”
“Yes?”
Hyeok Gi-rin stood up.
“I’ve eaten well. Let’s have dinner separately.”
Hyeok Gi-rin left without a word, and I sat there, blinking, bewildered.
All that remained were the cold stares of court ladies glaring at me.
