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

Chapter - 31

Later that day, as the sun began to set and cast an orange glow over the camp, Hyunjin found himself still thinking about Yongbok. The warmth of the kiss, the intensity of the moment—it all kept replaying in his mind. The thought of facing Yongbok again, knowing he didn't remember what happened, left him feeling unsettled.

As the evening rolled in, Hyunjin couldn't stay still. His arm was throbbing, but it was his thoughts that troubled him more than his injury. He decided to take a walk outside, needing fresh air to clear his head. His footsteps were slow, thoughtful, as he wandered around the edge of the camp, lost in his own mind.

He was deep in thought when he suddenly noticed someone approaching. The silhouette was familiar, and his heart skipped a beat when he realized who it was—Yongbok.

Hyunjin's breath caught in his throat as the prince drew closer, his expression unreadable. The tension between them was palpable, and Hyunjin felt a surge of nervousness. What could Yongbok possibly want to talk about now?

Yongbok stopped a few steps away, his eyes locking onto Hyunjin's. His usual playful smile was absent, replaced by a serious look that made Hyunjin's pulse race even faster.

"Hyunjin," Yongbok said quietly, his voice softer than usual. "Can we talk?"

Hyunjin swallowed hard, unsure of what to say, but nodded nonetheless. His body was tense, and the weight of everything between them—the kiss, the confusion—hung in the air.

Yongbok took a step closer, his eyes searching Hyunjin's. "I've been thinking... ever since the attack, there's something I haven't been able to shake off," he admitted. "I'm not sure how to say this, but... something changed between us, didn't it?"

Hyunjin's throat tightened. Did Yongbok remember? His mind raced, trying to figure out how to respond. But before he could say anything, Yongbok spoke again.

"I've felt something... but I don't know what it is," Yongbok continued, his voice filled with uncertainty. "It's confusing, and I don't want to assume anything. But I can't stop thinking about you, Hyunjin."

Hyunjin's heart pounded in his chest, his mouth dry. He stared at Yongbok, feeling torn between relief and fear. The truth was right there, hovering between them, but he didn't know if he was ready to confront it.

Yongbok took another step closer, his voice even quieter now. "Two nights ago... did something happen between us?" he asked, his gaze intense. "I remember bits and pieces, but it's all blurry."

Hyunjin's chest tightened, and he couldn't bring himself to answer right away. His mind was spinning. How could he explain what had happened when he himself didn't fully understand how he felt about it?

Seeing Hyunjin's hesitation, Yongbok's expression softened. "I'm sorry if I did something out of line," he said gently. "If I made you uncomfortable, I didn't mean to. I just... I need to know."

Hyunjin let out a shaky breath, his heart aching with the weight of everything. Finally, he gathered the courage to speak. "You kissed me," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But you were drunk... you don't remember."

Yongbok's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he looked stunned. "I kissed you?" he repeated, almost as if he couldn't believe it. He looked away, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Hyunjin. I didn't mean to—"

"It's not that," Hyunjin interrupted, his voice shaky but firm. "It's just... I don't know how to feel about it. I don't know what's happening between us."

Yongbok looked back at him, his expression serious. "Hyunjin, I don't know what this is either. But I know I care about you—more than I probably should. I've been thinking about it ever since we started spending time together."

Hyunjin's breath caught in his throat, his emotions swirling inside him. "I don't understand it either," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it scares me."

Yongbok took another step forward, his eyes filled with sincerity. "It scares me too," he said softly. "But I don't want to avoid it anymore. I need to know what this is—what we are."

Hyunjin's heart raced, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The prince was standing in front of him, vulnerable and honest, and it felt like the entire world was holding its breath.

But before Hyunjin could respond, the sound of footsteps approaching broke the moment. They both turned to see one of the royal guards coming towards them.

"Your Highness," the guard said, bowing slightly. "There's something urgent that requires your attention."

Yongbok's expression shifted, a flash of frustration crossing his face at the interruption. He glanced back at Hyunjin, his eyes full of unspoken words. "We'll talk later," he promised, his voice firm.

Hyunjin nodded, though his heart felt heavy with the unresolved tension between them. As Yongbok turned to leave with the guard, Hyunjin stood there, watching him go, feeling more conflicted than ever.

What was this feeling between them? And how could they move forward from here?

As the night settled in, Hyunjin knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning of something that would change everything.

After Yongbok left with the guard, Hyunjin stood there for a moment longer, feeling the weight of everything that had just been said between them. His heart was still pounding, his thoughts a chaotic mess. He had never felt this way before—not for anyone, let alone a prince.

The fact that Yongbok had opened up to him like that left him even more confused. He had seen a vulnerable side of the prince, one that was hidden behind his usual confidence and charm. And now, Hyunjin was standing at the edge of something—something that scared him, but also something that intrigued him.

Finally, he decided he couldn't stay there any longer. He needed to clear his mind. The forest around the training grounds seemed like a good place to go. As he walked through the trees, the quietness of the forest felt comforting, a contrast to the storm raging in his mind.

He walked for a while, letting the cool air calm him, but no matter how far he went, his thoughts kept returning to the prince. The way Yongbok had looked at him, the sincerity in his voice, and the way he had admitted to caring about him—it was all too much to process. And that kiss... even though Yongbok had been drunk, it had stirred something in Hyunjin, something he wasn't sure if he was ready to face yet.

He found a large tree and sat down against it, his back resting against the rough bark. He stared up at the canopy of leaves, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions he was feeling. How had things gotten so complicated?

As the minutes passed, his mind drifted to the others—his friends. Jisung, Taehyun, and the rest had noticed the way Yongbok had been watching him during training. They had teased him about it, but they didn't know how serious things had become. He wondered if they would understand what he was going through. Could they? Could anyone?