The Unknown History

47

a few months later.

Yeonseo watched as Sunoo placed a bouquet next to his father's tomb. She glanced at Heejin's tomb that was just next to the late king's. Sunoo let out a deep sigh, "Don't you miss father?"

She didn't know how to respond. His question made her remember her father. She missed him flashing a smile.

He must be hoping for me to be alive, right?

"I miss him so much," she tried to hold her tears back. He nodded and turned around to leave. She followed behind him and asked, "If you don't mind me asking, are you planning to find a new consort?"

He stopped in his tracks and faced her, "No."

"I understand. You don't even lose your position if you're single so that's fine," she walked ahead of him.

"How's Jungwon? Is he still sick?"

"It's gotten worse. The physician is still figuring out the type of disease. He said that he had never seen someone sick like him."

They both got into the carriage and waited for it to bring them back to the palace.

🌷

Yeonseo entered her bedroom and saw Jungwon laying tiredly on the bed. The physician bowed at her and stood aside to leave her some space. She examined her husband's condition.

Jungwon had lost some weight. His jawline was too visible and his hands looked like there were only bones left. He often felt tired lately and that was worrying her a lot.

"Anything happened today?" She whispered to the physician.

"He fainted just now while working. He has been sweating for the past hour."

A random memory suddenly crossed her mind. The flower that Sunghoon had been giving her husband for months.

Is the poison working?

She sat next to her husband and caressed his hand. The nobleman opened his eyes slowly and smiled, "You're here."

"Are you hurt? Do you feel any pain?"

"Just my chest. And I keep coughing too. My throat is hurting."

"Get some rest. I'll talk to the physician for a while," she said and watched as he closed his eyes back. Yeonseo glanced at the physician and motioned for him to follow her out of the room.

They both closed the door slowly. "Will he live?" She asked out of the blue. The said man was surprised to hear the sudden question, "Of course, Your Highness."

She ran her fingers through her hair and finally released her tears, "Please don't lie. I can't afford to lose the people I love again. First, Baekhee, then my son and then, Heejin. Just tell me the truth."

The man lowered his head and stared at the floor, "The truth is, I'm not sure. He has a disease that I don't even know, Your Highness. I had never seen someone sick like that in all my life. There's a small possibility he may not live."

His words made her heart drop. She quietly opened the door to peek and saw her husband sleeping soundly. "So you're saying I have to be ready for whatever happens later?"

The physician nodded and excused himself.

🌷

The tenth month of 1722.

I'm not well. My chest hurts. The biggest fear I'm having now is leaving my wife all alone forever. She had lost her only best friend in this palace, then her son. And then, the person who was always with her in the palace whenever I'm away for work.

I do not want to leave her. I don't want her to be miserable and depressed. The last thing that I want is for her to mourn my death.

Please, God. Let me be healthy again and let me have more kids with her and be happy. Hear my prayers, please make her happy. Why can't we both live happily like the other married couples?

Why must we suffer and lose all the people we love? She deserves better. Yeonseo deserves a happy ending. Please hear my prayers, dear God.

Jungwon placed his brush pen on the table and closed his memoir. He winced in pain before heading back to the bed.