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

Chapter - 26

The next morning, the guards gathered in the mess hall for breakfast, the usual buzz of conversation filling the air. Bowls of soup, bread, and fruit were laid out in front of them. Hyunjin sat at the long wooden table with the others, but his mind was far from the clatter of bowls and chatter of his fellow guards. He absentmindedly swirled his wooden spoon in the broth of his soup, staring at it but not taking a bite.

His friends, seated around him, exchanged glances. Something was off. Normally, Hyunjin would be engaged in their conversations or at least eating quietly, but today, he seemed lost in thought, his eyes distant and unfocused.

Taehyun, who sat across from him, finally spoke up. "Hyunjin," he said softly, his voice breaking through the morning clamor. Hyunjin didn't respond, still stirring his soup.

"Hyunjin, are you alright?" Taehyun asked again, a little louder this time. The other guards—Seonghwa, Wooyoung, and Jisung—turned their attention toward him, watching curiously.

Hyunjin blinked as if coming out of a trance, his spoon clinking against the bowl. "Huh?" he mumbled, finally looking up.

"You've been stirring your soup for ten minutes without eating it," Jisung pointed out with a slight smirk. "Something on your mind?"

Hyunjin glanced around at their concerned faces and quickly realized how obvious his distraction must have seemed. He forced a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm fine," he muttered, shrugging. "Just...tired, I guess."

But his friends weren't convinced. Seonghwa raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You sure about that? You've been acting strange since last night."

Hyunjin's grip on his spoon tightened slightly as the memory of the kiss from the previous night resurfaced in his mind. The warmth of Yongbok's lips, the unexpected intensity of it all, and the way his heart had raced... It made no sense. And now, he was left trying to make sense of the feelings that lingered, feelings he wasn't ready to confront.

Taehyun leaned forward, his voice quieter, though there was a teasing edge. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the prince, would it?"

Hyunjin stiffened, his eyes widening slightly at the mention of Yongbok. He didn't know how to respond. How could he explain what he barely understood himself?

Before Hyunjin could stammer out a response, Jisung grinned and elbowed him lightly. "Looks like we've hit the mark. Come on, Hyunjin, you can tell us."

Hyunjin let out a sigh, looking down at his untouched soup. He wasn't ready to talk about it, not yet. "It's nothing," he mumbled again, though even he didn't believe the words.

The others exchanged knowing looks but didn't press further, sensing that whatever was bothering Hyunjin wasn't something he was ready to share. Instead, Seonghwa gave him a reassuring nod. "Alright, but we're here if you need to talk."

Hyunjin gave a weak smile in return and finally took a sip of his soup, though his appetite hadn't returned. As the conversation around the table shifted back to their usual banter, Hyunjin's mind drifted once more, the weight of the previous night still heavy on his chest.

Whatever was happening between him and Yongbok, it wasn't something he could ignore forever. But for now, he wasn't ready to face it.

After breakfast, Hyunjin had barely stepped out of the mess hall when one of the royal courtiers approached him, a stern expression on his face.

"Hyunjin, you're requested in the presence of His Highness, Prince Yongbok," the man said, his tone formal but devoid of any warmth.

Hyunjin's heart immediately dropped into his stomach. The spoon he was holding nearly slipped from his fingers. To say he was nervous would be an understatement. He was terrified. The memory of last night's kiss—so unexpected, so intense—flashed vividly in his mind. How could he possibly face the prince after that?

The courtier gave a slight bow, signaling for Hyunjin to follow, leaving him no choice. His mind raced as he walked through the palace halls, his footsteps echoing in the silence. He didn't know what to expect. Would the prince bring up what happened last night? Would he be angry? Maybe regretful?

By the time Hyunjin arrived outside the prince's chambers, his hands were trembling. His heart pounded loudly in his ears, and it took all his strength to steady his breathing.

"Enter," came the voice from inside, and Hyunjin hesitated before stepping through the door.

Yongbok was sitting by the window, dressed in casual royal attire, his black hair shining under the sunlight. His face lit up with a friendly smile when he saw Hyunjin.

"Ah, Hyunjin! I was hoping you'd come. Come sit with me." Yongbok's voice was warm, almost too casual, like nothing had happened.

Hyunjin blinked in surprise, his anxiety pausing for just a moment. Did he not remember? He carefully approached the prince, sitting down across from him, but he couldn't help but feel like he was walking into a trap. His mind was screaming at him to tread carefully.

"I wanted to thank you for your performance last night," Yongbok continued, oblivious to Hyunjin's inner turmoil. "It was... amazing. Truly. You were incredible."

Hyunjin's heart skipped a beat. Did he mean the dance or...?

"Thank you, Your Highness," Hyunjin muttered, keeping his eyes trained on the floor. His mind was in turmoil—if the prince remembered, why wasn't he mentioning it? And if he didn't... why did that hurt?

There was a brief silence before Yongbok chuckled softly. "You're so formal, Hyunjin. You don't need to be so tense around me."

Hyunjin stole a quick glance at the prince's face and noticed something. There was no tension in Yongbok's expression, no hint of discomfort or awkwardness. He didn't remember. He didn't remember the kiss.

Relief washed over Hyunjin like a wave, but it was immediately followed by something unexpected—disappointment. A strange, twisting pang of hurt tightened in his chest. Why did he feel this way? Why, deep down, had some part of him wanted Yongbok to remember that kiss? To acknowledge it?

He fought to push the thought away. It was better this way. Things could remain simple, professional. He could put the kiss behind him and forget it ever happened.

But Yongbok kept talking, oblivious to the storm raging inside Hyunjin. "I'm sorry if I was a bit... off last night," Yongbok said, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward laugh. "I don't remember everything. I think I might have had too much to drink." He flashed a sheepish smile. "But I do remember the performance, and you were beautiful out there. Absolutely breathtaking."

Hyunjin's heart clenched at the compliment. Beautiful. Yongbok had called him beautiful before, but now it meant something entirely different. He could only muster a weak smile in return, still unsure how to navigate this strange, uncharted territory between them.

"You're too kind, Your Highness," he said softly.

Yongbok's smile widened, completely unaware of Hyunjin's inner struggle. "Maybe we could practice together sometime," Yongbok suggested. "You could teach me how to dance like that."

Hyunjin's breath hitched at the idea, and he quickly looked away. The thought of being so close to the prince again, after last night, was almost too much.

"I... I'd be honored, Your Highness," Hyunjin replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

The conversation continued, but Hyunjin's mind remained clouded with doubt and confusion. He was relieved that Yongbok didn't remember the kiss, but the disappointment and hurt lingered, confusing him more than anything.

When the conversation finally came to an end, and Hyunjin was dismissed, he bowed respectfully and hurried out of the chamber. His thoughts were a tangled mess, his emotions even more so.

As he walked through the palace corridors, he couldn't help but replay Yongbok's words in his mind. He didn't remember. He didn't remember the kiss.