Empress Handbook

Chapter Fifty-Six | Aftertaste

Taehyung doesn't remember how he left the interrogation room. He sludges down the pathway with his eyes fixed on the tall crimson walls that almost reach the sky. A gut-wrenching bitterness gropes the end of his throat.

"Taehyung," Yeoreum utters. She darts to Taehyung with a broad smile on her face. "Does the public know you're alive yet?"

Taehyung shifts his gaze to Yeoreum and realises that he has instinctively walked towards Pearl Palace. Feeling her hands cling to his arms, he hastily composes himself.

"No, not yet," Taehyung says. He forces a smile to crack through his lips. "I will be holding a conference the day after tomorrow to clear up some things officially."

"Why not do it tomorrow?"

"That announcement entails some preparations."

"All right." Yeoreum widens her smile. "I support whatever decision you make."

"Thank you, Yeoreum," Taehyung utters. The words I love you itch at his lips, but he fails to find the courage to enunciate them. After all, someone like him may not deserve to do that. He hesitates for a moment and tentatively meets her gaze. "How are you?"

"I'm all right."

"Good." Taehyung heaves a sigh of relief. "I'm so sorry for not being able to protect you."

"I'm a grown woman. There's no reason for me to always seek refuge in other people's protection. I can also protect myself," Yeoreum says, leaning on Taehyung's shoulder with a pout. "I just want to sleep right now."

"May I sleep at Pearl Palace?" Taehyung mumbles. His face flushes red at his unexpected stutter.

"Sure," Yeoreum says, tightening her grip on him. "Roommates under the guise of a married couple."

Taehyung smiles and takes Yeoreum's hand, locking their fingers together as they did in the ambulance.

"But you'll have to help me treat the wounds on my back," Yeoreum whines. "It's hard for me to reach them, and I feel bad asking Nara all the time."

Taehyung nods. "Okay."

"I think you're the only person in my life who never rejected me," Yeoreum says, chuckling. "You accepted me to be your Empress. You accepted my cake even though you were busy eating something else. You accepted me when I came back to you at my funeral. You accepted all my crazy emotions and never turned away from my tantrums." A pause, and then her eyes grow solemn. "I want to be someone like that to you as well."

Taehyung's nose grows funny at Yeoreum's sincerity. He awkwardly turns his head away to conceal the redness gathering in his eyes.

"I'm fine, Yeoreum."

"All right, I'll wait until you feel more comfortable talking about that stuff," Yeoreum utters. "I'll let you shower first."

Taehyung gasps. "Really?"

"It's my welcome back gift to you," Yeoreum says. She goes on her tiptoes to ruffle his neatly slicked-back hair, ruining his hairstyle. "I finally did this to you."

Taehyung rubs her hair until it's as messy as his own. "Respect your elders," he grumbles.

Yeoreum laughs and presses her face against Taehyung's chest, hiding in his arms.

"I missed you, Kim Taehyung."

"I missed you too," Taehyung utters, syllable by syllable, like he is afraid that Yeoreum won't fathom his feelings. "I missed you so, so much."

The path beneath them is wet from the melted snow, but every step they take feels steady and secure when they lean on each other.

The next day, Taehyung wakes up early to meet with a group of cabinet ministers. Yeoreum knows it is probably related to the arrangements Taehyung is making for the conference the next day, but she does not inquire about it. She quietly gets up with him and helps him get dressed.