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

Chapter - 25

Hyunjin sat at the steps of his barrack, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped together as he stared blankly ahead. The crisp night air did little to clear the fog of confusion in his mind. His heart was still pounding from the encounter with Yongbok, his thoughts swirling with emotions he couldn't even name.

The sound of soft footsteps pulled him out of his trance. He didn't look up immediately, still lost in thought, but he felt the familiar presence sit down beside him. When he finally glanced to the side, he saw his brother, In-Yeop, watching him with concern.

"What are you thinking about?" In-Yeop's voice was gentle, but there was a hint of worry underneath.

Hyunjin hesitated, unsure if he could even put his feelings into words. He opened his mouth but nothing came out, his gaze drifting back toward the night sky, the stars offering no answers.

In-Yeop studied him for a moment, then quietly asked, "Is it about His Highness? The prince?"

Hyunjin's breath hitched, his eyes widening slightly. He turned to look at his brother, surprised that In-Yeop had guessed so easily. For a moment, he considered lying, brushing off the concern as nothing more than nerves after the performance, but he knew In-Yeop wouldn't believe it.

Slowly, he nodded, his gaze shifting back to the sky.

In-Yeop didn't press further, sensing Hyunjin's reluctance to speak. He waited patiently, giving his brother the time he needed. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the distant hum of the palace behind them and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

After what felt like an eternity, Hyunjin finally spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"It's... complicated," he began, his throat tight with emotion. "I don't know how to explain it, but... I feel something. Something I shouldn't feel."

In-Yeop's brows furrowed slightly, his concern deepening. He waited for Hyunjin to continue, sensing that there was more to the story.

Hyunjin drew in a shaky breath before he spoke again. "Earlier tonight... after the performance... he kissed me."

In-Yeop's eyes widened, genuine surprise flashing across his face. "He... kissed you?"

Hyunjin nodded, his hand unconsciously rising to his lips, as if the memory of the kiss still lingered there. "I don't know what to do, hyung. I've never felt like this before. Not towards a man. Especially not someone like him... someone like Prince Yongbok."

In-Yeop remained silent for a moment, processing what Hyunjin had just said. He hadn't expected their situation to be this serious. He had noticed something between them before, a certain closeness, but he had never imagined it would escalate to this. The idea of his younger brother caught in such a tangled web of emotions with a royal was beyond anything he had ever considered.

"How...?" In-Yeop finally asked, his voice quiet. "How did this happen? How do you feel this way?"

Hyunjin turned to face his brother, his expression filled with uncertainty and fear. "I don't know, hyung. I don't understand it either. It's not supposed to be like this. I'm supposed to be his guard, not... not whatever this is. But when he's near me, when he looks at me... I can't control it. I can't stop it."

In-Yeop watched him closely, the turmoil in his brother's eyes painfully clear. He could see the weight of confusion and fear that Hyunjin was carrying, and it tugged at his heart.

"But... you're not wrong for feeling this way," In-Yeop said softly, trying to comfort him. "Feelings don't follow the rules we're taught. Sometimes they just happen, even when we don't understand them."

Hyunjin looked away, his gaze falling to the ground. "But he's a prince, and I'm just a guard. It can't ever work. And I don't even know if what I'm feeling is real or if it's something else... something that's just going to cause more problems."

In-Yeop sighed, placing a hand on Hyunjin's shoulder. "I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you this: you can't keep running from your feelings. Whatever this is, you need to face it, or it'll eat away at you. But remember, you don't have to figure it out tonight. Just... take your time, okay?"

Hyunjin didn't respond right away, his mind still tangled in a mess of thoughts and emotions. But his brother's words offered a small measure of comfort, a reminder that he wasn't alone in this.

"I don't know what to do, hyung," Hyunjin whispered. "I'm scared."

In-Yeop's grip on his shoulder tightened, a silent gesture of support. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just take it one step at a time."

Hyunjin nodded slightly, though the confusion in his heart still lingered. He wasn't sure what his next step would be, or how he would navigate these feelings that had taken him by surprise. But with his brother by his side, the burden felt just a little bit lighter.

And for now, that was enough.

Hyunjin lay on his lower bunk, staring at the ceiling with heavy, tired eyes, but sleep was nowhere in sight. The kiss lingered in his mind like a haunting melody, refusing to fade. He turned onto his side, pulling the thin blanket over him, hoping it would shield him from the confusion that clouded his thoughts. But no matter how much he tried, his mind kept circling back to the prince—Yongbok.

Suddenly, the door creaked open slowly. Hyunjin's muscles tensed, and he quickly turned his back towards the door, closing his eyes to feign sleep. He heard soft footsteps and then Wooyoung's whisper.

"Is he already asleep?" Wooyoung's voice was curious but hushed.

"Maybe, he was tired," Seonghwa replied quietly.

Hyunjin remained still, feeling his heart race beneath the blanket. He heard more footsteps, and this time, the bunk above him creaked, indicating that Jisung  had climbed up to his bed.

As Wooyoung, Seonghwa, and the others moved quietly around the barrack, Hyunjin kept his breathing even, pretending to be lost in deep slumber. He didn't want to talk, not now. His thoughts were too scattered, and his heart was too conflicted.

The memory of Yongbok's intense gaze, the way he had kissed him, and the fire that had ignited in Hyunjin's chest played over and over in his mind. It wasn't just a kiss—it was something more. Something that scared him.

The footsteps faded as the others settled into their bunks, the room slowly quieting down as the night deepened. Hyunjin could hear Wooyoung's soft murmurs and Seonghwa's hushed responses, but even their voices seemed distant as his mind continued to spin.

Hyunjin clenched his fist under the blanket. Why couldn't he just let it go? Why did his heart betray him like this, pounding with an intensity that made it impossible to forget the prince's touch? He had never felt this way before, and that scared him more than anything.

He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping sleep would claim him. But the memory of Yongbok's lips, the way he had leaned in so confidently, replayed in his mind like a scene he couldn't escape.

Pretending to sleep didn't bring him peace. It only reminded him of the reality he was now tangled in.