황실의 사랑 이야기 (Hwangsil-ui Sarang Iyagi) - The Imperial Love Story

Chapter - 18

As the celebration continued, Hyunjin found himself standing beside Yongbok, both of them momentarily separated from the cheering crowd. The sounds of laughter and applause faded into the background as they exchanged a few words, their connection feeling more intimate than ever.

"You really did a great job out there," Yongbok said, his gaze earnest. "I mean it. I'm proud to have you as my guard."

Hyunjin's heart raced at the sincerity in Yongbok's voice. "Thanks, Your Highness. It means a lot coming from you."

The air around them felt charged, a mix of excitement and something deeper that neither of them had fully acknowledged. Hyunjin looked down, suddenly shy under Yongbok's gaze.

Yongbok leaned slightly closer, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "You know, if you keep calling me 'Your Highness,' I might start thinking you're trying to keep some distance between us."

Hyunjin met his gaze, his breath catching for a moment. "I'm just trying to be respectful."

"Respectful? Is that really all it is?" Yongbok asked, tilting his head slightly, a hint of challenge in his tone.

The playful banter only intensified the tension between them. Hyunjin's heart raced, and he felt a mix of vulnerability and excitement. "What else would it be?" he replied, trying to keep his tone light, but the uncertainty lingered in the air.

"Maybe it's because you don't want to admit that you enjoy being close to me," Yongbok said, his voice low and teasing, yet the hint of seriousness behind his words sent a shiver down Hyunjin's spine.

Hyunjin swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. "That's not—" he started, but the words got caught in his throat.

"Hyunjin," Yongbok said, stepping a little closer, his gaze intent. "What if I want to be more than just a prince and a guard?"

The atmosphere shifted, and for a brief moment, the noise of the crowd faded entirely. Hyunjin could feel the weight of Yongbok's words pressing against him, making it difficult to think straight. "You mean...?"

Yongbok nodded slightly, his expression earnest. "Yeah. I mean it. I don't want our relationship to just be about duty and formality."

Before Hyunjin could respond, the moment was interrupted by a loud cheer from the crowd as the king made another announcement, pulling them back into the reality of their surroundings. But the tension lingered, a fragile thread of unspoken feelings connecting them.

"Let's join them," Yongbok said, forcing a casual tone, but Hyunjin noticed the slight tremor in his voice.

"Right. After all, we need to celebrate," Hyunjin replied, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, though his heart was still racing.

As they walked back toward the crowd, Hyunjin couldn't shake the feeling that everything had changed in that brief exchange. The unspoken words hung between them, weaving a complicated tapestry of friendship and something more, leaving him both excited and confused.

As they rejoined the crowd, the atmosphere was electric with celebration. Laughter and chatter filled the air, but Hyunjin's mind was still wrapped around the tension that lingered between him and Yongbok. He felt a mixture of exhilaration and confusion, caught between duty and an emerging, undeniable connection.

"Hyunjin!" In-Yeop called out, waving from a distance. "Come over here! You have to see this!"

Hyunjin broke away from Yongbok's side, thankful for the distraction. He walked over to his brother, who was animatedly recounting a story about one of the other guards' blunders during training.