THE CONCUBINE || TAEKOOK ||

TEN

When Taehyung opened his eyes, he found himself staring at the concerned face of Mr. Song, the palace physician. Mr. Song immediately began to scold him gently about his actions.

"Boy, what were you thinking?" Mr. Song's voice was stern but kind. "If you ever feel this way again, you must come to my office. I promise I'll help you."

Taehyung, feeling a mix of shame and gratitude, whispered, "Thank you."

The physician's expression softened. "You should really be thanking the prince," he said. "If he hadn't brought you here in time, we might have lost you." Mr. Song patted Taehyung on the head reassuringly. "Remember, you don't have to go through this alone."

With a gentle smile, Mr. Song escorted Taehyung out of the room, making sure he felt supported and not alone in his struggle. "Take care, and don't hesitate to seek help whenever you need it," he added as Taehyung left.

Taehyung walked down the corridor, feeling the weight of Mr. Song’s words. He couldn't shake the image of the prince from his mind—the one who had saved him. He wondered why the prince would care about someone like him.

As Taehyung made his way back to the servants' quarters, a whirlwind of emotions swirled inside him. He barely had time to process everything before Eun-ae stormed toward him, her eyes blazing with fury. 

"Why did you do that!?" she scolded, her voice sharp with frustration. 

Taehyung glanced at her, surprised by her reaction. But before he could answer, her expression softened, and she whispered, "I thought I lost you..." Her gaze was distant, sadness evident in her eyes. 

Taehyung smiled gently. "I'm fine now," he reassured her, though even he wasn’t sure if that was true. 

As they reached Taehyung's chambers, Eun-ae suddenly stopped and turned to him with a serious expression. "Promise me something," she said, her voice quieter this time. 

Taehyung blinked. "What?" 

"You won’t do anything like this again," she pleaded, her eyes glossy as if she had been crying earlier. 

Taehyung hesitated, looking down. He knew he couldn't make that promise—not when he still longed for freedom. "I can't promise that," he admitted softly. 

"Ya, Taehyung! Please, for me!" she begged, grabbing his hands tightly. 

Taehyung exhaled and, after a moment, gave a small nod. "I promise." It was a lie, but he didn’t want to see her cry again. 

Eun-ae studied his face, searching for sincerity, before sighing. "I have to go," she muttered, stepping back. 

Taehyung watched as she turned and walked away, disappearing into the dimly lit hallway. He let out a shaky breath, his mind filled with thoughts he couldn't voice.

The next few days were different for Taehyung. Every time he passed by the physician’s office, Mr. Song would give him a reassuring nod. It made Taehyung feel less invisible, less alone.

Rumors of Taehyung’s attempted suicide spread like wildfire throughout the palace. Whispers echoed through the hallways, from the grand chambers to the servants’ quarters. Some spoke in hushed voices, pitying the young concubine, while others were merely curious about the boy who had captured the king’s attention.