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

Chapter - 33

Yongbok chuckled awkwardly, still feeling the heat on his cheeks. "Alright, alright, you've all had your fun. But could you maybe... not announce this to the entire world?"

Jisung grinned mischievously. "Oh, don't worry, Your Highness, we won't. But you owe us for keeping quiet."

Minho rolled his eyes, nudging Jisung. "What he means is, we'll only tease you every other day instead of constantly."

Yongbok raised an eyebrow at him. "Gee, thanks, hyung."

Hyunjin, still embarrassed, finally dropped his hands from his face, though he was careful to avoid looking directly at any of them. "Can we... pretend this never happened?"

Seonghwa let out a snort. "You wish. This is getting filed in the 'memories to torment Hyunjin with' section of my mind."

Hyunjin groaned, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm doomed, aren't I?"

"Pretty much," Seungmin chimed in, smirking. "But hey, at least we're happy for you."

Jeongin leaned against a nearby tree, grinning at them both. "You know, I never thought I'd see you this flustered, Hyunjin. Guess Yongbok brings out a new side of you."

Yongbok, standing beside Hyunjin, glanced at him and gave a small, supportive smile. He wasn't sure what to say, but seeing how Hyunjin's friends were handling this made him feel a little better—like maybe things would be alright.

Wooyoung, still beaming from ear to ear, clasped his hands together dramatically. "It's like a royal love story unfolding right before our eyes!"

"Okay, that's enough," Yongbok said with a laugh, holding up his hands in surrender. "I'll buy you all a round of drinks later if you let us off the hook for now."

Minho gave a slow nod. "Now you're speaking my language."

The group erupted in laughter, and after a few more moments of playful teasing, they started making their way back toward the palace. But before they got too far, Hyunjin hesitated, tugging gently at Yongbok's sleeve.

"Hey," Hyunjin whispered, his voice low enough that the others couldn't hear. "Thank you... for earlier. For understanding."

Yongbok smiled warmly at him, his gaze soft. "Always." 

A few days had passed since the incident in the forest, and life at the palace had returned to its usual rhythm. The guards had completed their training session, and though Hyunjin was still recovering from his wound, the healing process was going well. He didn't participate much in the training, but Yongbok had made sure to keep an eye on him, subtly checking in without drawing too much attention.

Now, as the guards rode back toward the palace, Hyunjin found himself lost in thought, feeling the cool wind against his face. His wound still ached a bit, but what was more unsettling was the memory of the kiss from a few days ago—his feelings for Yongbok. Everything felt more intense, more confusing. He glanced over at the prince, who was riding ahead with Minho, laughing about something. Seeing him like that made Hyunjin's heart flutter all over again.

They reached the palace gates, and as they dismounted their horses, Hyunjin caught Yongbok's eye. For a brief moment, the world seemed to slow, but Yongbok quickly turned away, busying himself with something else. The prince had been keeping his distance these past few days—no doubt to give Hyunjin space. It was appreciated, but also left Hyunjin with a strange emptiness.

As the guards dispersed, Jisung came up beside him, playfully bumping Hyunjin's shoulder. "You doing alright? You seem a bit out of it lately."

Hyunjin sighed, shaking his head lightly. "Yeah, just... still recovering, I guess."

Jisung raised an eyebrow. "From the wound or... something else?"

Hyunjin shot him a look, and Jisung smirked knowingly. "Thought so. Well, just so you know, the prince hasn't been the same either. He's been quieter, more distracted. Almost like he's—"

"Jisung." Hyunjin cut him off, his tone firm but not unkind. "I don't need you reading into this."

Jisung chuckled, putting his hands up in defense. "Alright, alright. Just saying... you're not alone in this." With a wink, he jogged off toward the others.

Hyunjin shook his head, but deep down, he knew Jisung was right. He wasn't alone, but that didn't make things any easier. His feelings for the prince were real—scary, but real. And he had no idea what to do with them.

Just then, Yongbok's voice cut through his thoughts. "Hyunjin."

Startled, Hyunjin looked up to see the prince walking toward him. He was alone, his usual carefree expression replaced with something more serious.

"We need to talk," Yongbok said quietly, his eyes meeting Hyunjin's with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

Hyunjin hesitated, but nodded, following Yongbok as they walked toward a more private area of the palace gardens. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, and Hyunjin's heart raced with every step. When they finally stopped, Yongbok turned to face him, his expression unreadable.

"How's your arm?" Yongbok asked, his voice soft.

"It's... healing," Hyunjin replied, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Thank you... for checking."

Yongbok took a deep breath, stepping a little closer. "I've been thinking... about us. About what happened."

Hyunjin's breath hitched, his chest tightening. He wasn't ready for this conversation. Not yet.

"I'm sorry," Yongbok said suddenly, catching Hyunjin off guard. "For pushing you that night. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or—"

"Stop," Hyunjin interrupted, shaking his head. "It's not that. It's just... I don't know what to do with these feelings, Yongbok. They scare me."

Yongbok's eyes softened, and he reached out, gently placing a hand on Hyunjin's uninjured arm. "You don't have to be afraid. We'll figure it out, together."

Hyunjin looked up, meeting his gaze. For a moment, the world felt a little less overwhelming.

Yongbok smiled, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. "Let's take it one step at a time, okay?"

Hyunjin nodded, his heart calming ever so slightly. "One step at a time."