이무기의 복 (Mourning Bride)

5. A Touched Heart

Smut at the end of the chapter
Btw this story will have 25 chapters!

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Seonghwa and San found Hongjoong in the throne room. In his royal blue robes, the king throned on his elevated seat while the high ceilings of the throne hall enhanced the surrounding atmosphere. Despite the size of the room, Hongjoong dominated it.

A white fan rested in Hongjoong's hand. It was folded and ever so occasionally he tapped it against the wooden armrest he leant against. The throne was broad enough to offer him space to lie down on, and two silk pillows propped up his body as he oversaw the visitors of his palace. Various people called on him all day. His advisors and court members with new updates on their political and economic status, nobles from the higher society with their greed for recognition and the king's favour, regular town officials with requests from the provinces, and even some rare audiences granted to regular townfolk that offered their matters to him. Hongjoong had to decide upon judicial matters, upon emotional dilemmas, and upon the lightest nonsense possible.

As San and Seonghwa stood in a corner and awaited a free moment to approach Hongjoong, the most ridiculous thing Hongjoong was asked to regulate was a matter about the usage of crossroads. If a man with a cart were to come from the left and a person without a cart from the right, peasants demanded to be allowed to go first. Since carts were an effort to stop and to get back rolling, they preferred to be overtaken by the other person rather than allowing them passage first, since the cart would be much slower.

San admired Hongjoong's patience as he dealt with the most mundane of topics. As the king, there was no reclusion. Rather than terrors of war and crimes, Hongjoong showed his concern for his people, even in personal realms.

By the time the row of audiences was over and any other visitor got sent away from the palace gates, Hongjoong snapped his fan open. His long lashes fluttered shut as he fanned himself. The wind whispered around the hair falling over his shoulders.

Seonghwa went ahead, and San trailed behind him when they approached the throne. At their sight, a smile curled around Hongjoong's lips. San smiled back, glad to see him again. They had parted after such an unfortunate evening last time, but during the day, Hongjoong glowed with grace and dignity. Despite the human's young age, San admired his skill to be a leader.

"Your majesty." Seonghwa bowed his head and stepped aside so San could halt in front of the throne. As he bowed to Hongjoong, the king snapped his fan shut and descended from his throne. He came to stand by San's side, half a head smaller than him. When he coyly fanned both of them, San relished in the air that felt much better than any other.

"My jewel has come to see me," the king commented, satisfied. He enjoyed San's blush when the dragon ducked his head at the sweet nickname.

"I missed your presence," San confessed. He wasn't sure how much he enjoyed Hongjoong's proximity yet, but he had looked forward to more opportunities to talk to each other. After all, he would live Hongjoong's lifetime with him. Getting to appreciate each other was the wise thing to do.

"Endearing. Then, shall we eat dinner together today?" Hongjoong's eyes brushed Seonghwa as if testing if he eavesdropped on their conversation. The shaman smiled politely, hands crossed behind his back.

San wavered. The last time they had shared dinner, he had ended in a lot of pain. He didn't want the same to happen again. Perhaps, since San wouldn't be required to bear offspring for Hongjoong, they had shared the night only once for the ritual? The king was undoubtedly attractive, but San didn't wish for a repetition of last time.

The calming shine in Hongjoong's eyes had San concede.

"I would be thrilled to," he agreed. He relished in the last brush of air before the fan snapped shut and Hongjoong turned to look at Seonghwa. Something passed them within a flash of a second, a question San couldn't read but knew concerned him.