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

Chapter -52

The morning sun bathed Yongbok's chamber in a soft, warm glow. Hyunjin sat up in bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion but also the relief of being back in familiar surroundings. His body ached from the recent battle, but it was nothing compared to the emotional toll the past days had taken.

Yongbok stood by the window, his eyes focused on the palace gardens, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The battle may have ended, but the tension remained. His heart was heavy with concern for Hyunjin, who had risked everything to save him.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts, and the door opened to reveal Wooyoung, Jisung, and In-Yeop, along with Taehyun, Seungmin, and Jeongin. Seonghwa and Minho appeared just moments later, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.

"Hyunjin," Wooyoung greeted, his voice filled with warmth. "Look at you, sitting up already. You're tougher than all of us combined."

Hyunjin smiled faintly, the effort still tiring. "It's good to see you all. I wasn't sure I'd get the chance."

Jisung moved closer, giving Hyunjin a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't say things like that. You scared us half to death with that stunt on the battlefield."

Hyunjin chuckled softly but winced as the motion pulled at his sore muscles. "I didn't plan on getting hurt, trust me. I just... I had to protect Yongbok."

At the mention of his name, Yongbok turned from the window and crossed the room to Hyunjin's side. He gently placed his hand over Hyunjin's, his gaze filled with emotion. "And you did, at great risk to yourself. I don't know what I'd have done if anything worse had happened to you."

Before Hyunjin could respond, Seonghwa stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor softened by concern. "You've always been strong, Hyunjin, but you need to rest now. You've earned it."

Minho, standing beside Seonghwa, nodded. "We're lucky to be back here, all of us. But we need to regroup. Hongjoong may be gone, but there's still much to rebuild."

As the conversation flowed, In-Yeop approached Hyunjin, his face lined with worry for his younger brother. "Hyunjin-ah... you really had me worried," he said softly, his voice betraying the depth of his concern. "You're always so stubborn."

Hyunjin's smile softened as he looked up at his older brother. "I'm sorry, hyung. I didn't mean to make you worry."

In-Yeop shook his head, ruffling Hyunjin's hair in a way that made him feel like a child again. "Just take care of yourself. That's all I ask."

Seungmin and Jeongin brought over trays of food, setting them on the table nearby. Taehyun nodded toward the spread. "You need to eat and get your strength back. We can't let you waste away after everything."

Seonghwa smiled softly. "Everyone's right. You've been through enough. Let us take care of things now."

Just as they settled in, Wooyoung leaned over to Hyunjin and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "You know, you two have been a little too serious. We need to lighten the mood."

Minho smirked, catching Wooyoung's hint. "Yeah, I think we all could use a bit of distraction from all the tension."

Before anyone could react, Yongbok leaned down and, with a tenderness that made everyone fall silent, pressed his lips to Hyunjin's in a soft, lingering kiss. Hyunjin's eyes widened in surprise at first, but he melted into the touch, his hands reaching up to hold onto Yongbok's arm for support. [Wow, I didn't expect that kind of distraction😮😏]

When they pulled apart, Hyunjin's face was flushed, but there was a sense of contentment in his eyes. "Yongbok..."

Jisung snickered quietly from the side, breaking the moment's seriousness. "Alright, alright, we get it—you two are in love. Can we eat now?"

The room erupted in laughter, the tension from days of conflict dissolving into something lighter, more hopeful. As everyone gathered around the table, talking and sharing stories, the weight of the war seemed a little easier to bear.

Seonghwa leaned closer to Minho and whispered, "Maybe there's hope for us all yet."

Minho glanced at Hyunjin and Yongbok, then back at Seonghwa, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, maybe there is."

[A romantic moment here🥰] 

Hyunjin laid on the soft sheets of Yongbok's bed, his body still sore from the recent events. His eyes fluttered open, and he let out a soft sigh as he tried to adjust his position, feeling a dull ache in his muscles. Yongbok was sitting beside him, his hand gently resting on Hyunjin's arm, looking down at him with concern.

"Are you feeling any better?" Yongbok asked softly, brushing a few strands of hair away from Hyunjin's face.

"A little..." Hyunjin murmured, his voice weak but steady. "But there's still some pain."

Yongbok's heart tightened at the sight of his lover in discomfort. Without saying a word, he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on Hyunjin's forehead. "I hate seeing you like this," he whispered, his lips brushing against Hyunjin's skin. "Let me help distract you, even if just for a moment."

Before Hyunjin could respond, Yongbok's lips found his in a slow, gentle kiss. The tenderness in the kiss caused Hyunjin to melt beneath him, the pain fading into the background as warmth spread through him. He sighed softly into the kiss, his hand instinctively reaching up to cup Yongbok's cheek, pulling him closer.

Yongbok hovered over him, his body careful not to put any pressure on Hyunjin's still-healing form. Their lips moved together in a steady, unhurried rhythm, each kiss deeper but still delicate. Hyunjin let out a small breath, his fingers trailing up to Yongbok's hair, tangling in the strands as he pulled him closer.

The kiss felt like comfort, like healing. It was as if, with every touch, Yongbok was mending the pain Hyunjin had carried, not just from the injury but from everything they had been through. The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them in the quiet warmth of the moment.

Yongbok pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against Hyunjin's. "Better?" he asked softly, his breath warm against Hyunjin's lips.

Hyunjin smiled faintly, his eyes still closed, savoring the feeling. "Much better," he whispered, leaning up to steal another soft kiss from Yongbok.

"I'll always be here for you," Yongbok murmured, his voice full of affection. "You'll never go through anything alone."

Hyunjin opened his eyes, looking up at Yongbok with a mixture of love and gratitude. "I know. And I'm so lucky to have you." His voice was soft but full of sincerity.

Yongbok smiled warmly, his heart swelling with love. He lowered himself next to Hyunjin, wrapping his arms gently around him, pulling him close but careful not to cause any discomfort. "Rest now," he whispered, pressing another kiss to Hyunjin's temple. "I'll be right here."

Hyunjin closed his eyes, his head resting against Yongbok's chest. The steady beat of his heart and the warmth of his embrace lulled him into a sense of peace he hadn't felt in days.

As they lay there together, the bond between them felt stronger than ever.