The War of Flowers

New Consorts

"Hyungnim, this fell from your sleeves earlier" Bogum-gun gave his brother's little treasure back.

After their afternoon lesson, he visited The Crown Prince study to talk about the progress of the grain prices but decided to keep his mouth shut when he saw how low-spirited his brother was. He sat beside him and realized that his brother was reading the report from Manwol-do.

Yi Kang accepted the seashell from Bogum-gun and smiled gratefully. It was the only thing left of his first love and maybe the only woman he could ever love.

"Hyungnim, are you alright?" Bogum-gun peered at his brother, who still holding the seashell, looking at it with a faraway gaze. His question met silence from him. He sighed, it had been two years, and his brother still hung up on one woman.

"You know Hyungnim? If you want her so bad, let her enter the palace."

Yi Kang chuckled. It sounds so empty in Bogum-gun's ears. Two years working beside him made Bogum-gun understand what kind of person he was. The Crown Prince may be a bold, courageous, and decisive man when it comes to court matters, but he was a warmhearted man to a person he held dear. Never in million years, Bogum-gun expected he would become one of those people. The two of them became close after learning and working together, and the business conversation changed to a private one. So, he kinda knew how his brother acted toward his precious people. And the crown princess was not one of them.

It started when the Crown Princess visited his brother when they talked about a new disease that spread on the west side of the country. She brought soup because she heard her husband felt unwell. Bogum-gun witnessed how polite and distant his brother thanked his wife. Completely different from how his brother acted toward a lady in Manwol-do back then. Full of care and tenderness.

He boldly asked whether his brother remembered the Lady from Manwol-do, and Yi Kang answered without hesitation that he never forget her. At that time, Bogum-gun discovered his brother had fallen in love and held himself back from pursuing that Lady.

After that conversation, Bogum-gun realized many things about his brother. Yi Kang always became a sullen and gloomy man if he found something that reminded him of that Lady, and it was getting worse with each passing time. And for the last several months, Bogum-gun saw something changed inside his brother. It made him worried. A lot.

"And what should I say to her then? Should I tell her I want her to become my consort? I don't have the guts to say it to her face." Yi Kang's eyes darkened with pain

"I heard today you will have new consorts," said Bogum-gun, a meaningful look in his eyes.

"Yes, I should visit my mother's residence to meet them right now. But I don't want to. " Yi Kang threw the report carelessly on the table. He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

"One of your main jobs is giving an heir, Hyungnim"

Yi Kang snorted. "I know that."

"Does touching another woman feel unbearable to you?" Bogum-gun raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Yi Kang's body tensed. "No. It was okay," he murmured with an unsure tone in his voice.

"Then what's the problem?" asked Bogum-gun curiously.

"The problem is I'm being greedy," said Yi Kang, a hint of mockery edging his mouth.

Bogum-gun sighed. "She should be married by now."

Yi Kang glared at his brother. "Bogum-gun!" he hissed dangerously, his face looking hard and shadowed.

"She wouldn't wait for you forever. It has been two years." Bogum-gun said with a somber expression on his face.