이무기의 복 (Mourning Bride)

3. Greeting The Court

The morning came with warm light falling through the paper of the windows and waking San. As he blinked against the cheerful glow, he noticed the palace had patterned the wood of the window's structure in geometrical and modern Confucian shapes. He wondered if the ancient Buddhist ones were still around somewhere since he preferred those.

San rubbed his eyes, not daring yet to move. He knew his body throbbed, but he would need to rise to greet the court and Hongjoong's close associates. His duties were plentiful. He took the role of a queen, of the king's spouse, and of the court dragon.

When he sighed into the blanket, he had pulled up to his chin, a chuckle behind him responded. Instantly, a furious blush filled San's cheeks when he noticed the presence of the king only now. He turned on his back to look at the king, who had propped his chin on his hand to watch San with amusement shining in his eyes. His long hair was tied back by a ribbon but still flowed around his shoulders freely.

San bit back a groan at the jostling of his body and lowered his eyes.

"Ah, your majesty."

"Have you rested well? I imagine yesterday's festivities wore you out."

They weren't touching, but their bodies were close enough that their heat mingled in the middle. San's body was naturally colder, but he appreciated Hongjoong's warmth.

"I did. Will you have to attend to your duties now?"

Hongjoong nodded as he sat up. The blanket slipped from his shoulder to pool in his lap. Since the light had been so dim last night, San hadn't noticed the smoothness of the man's skin that was so consistent all over his body. He had no odd skin patches or scales, and no appendages where none belonged. Self-conscious, San grabbed for his rough tail. The scales on it weren't as smooth as the snakeskin on his body. They were jagged and pointy and his ridge kept getting stuck in the sheets.

"Yes, but we will see each other later today. Seonghwa will escort you today. Once you come over to the throne room to relay your greetings to my court, we may meet," Hongjoong assured him. He gathered their clothes from the past evening in the adjoining rooms so they could get dressed. As San tied his clothes shut, he pretended not to grimace whenever dull pain throbbed through his bottom.

Once Hongjoong had brushed his hair and fixed his crown on it, he smiled at San. His eyes curled and his grin reminded San of the sun beyond the peaks.

"I will send Seonghwa here as I leave. Please, be at ease today. I will remind my people not to exhaust you."

After a thankful nod from San, the king strode away. His brisk pace had his blue robes fluttering behind him as he left the room in a hurry. San remained to play with his tail as he waited for the shaman to enter.

Before Seonghwa intruded, he called for his presence from outside. San felt out of place being the one to call him in. Seonghwa had probably grown up on the palace premises with his special connection to the spirit world, and San had yet to get used to the rank he suddenly had above the man. Nervously, San stood at the step leading up to the bed while Seonghwa entered.

The shaman had rid himself of his ceremonial robes. His casual style was a shining robe made of silk as turquoise as jade. His snowy white pants and socks complemented his flashy appearance. Wealth and presence carried in his presentation.

"Good morning," Seonghwa said. An exquisite smile played around his lips and crooked them in one corner as he bowed his head. The two servants who had entered with him kept their backs and heads bowed when he straightened.

San stood there, still queasy from pain and discomfort. Now that his body reminded him of its misuse last night, his stomach had become more sensible. He doubted eating was a good idea.