The blood tie whom Woo Hui-won cherished so dearly he knew not what to do with himself: if that broke, Woo Hui-won would never climb out of despair. And the boy even somewhat resembled Woo Hui-won — more than enough to close the distance.
"So would it not be right, Teacher, for you to respect your younger brother's choice?"
He was useful, too, for checking the Empress — who meant to put the exquisite Jeong Hye-eon forward, wield Je Hyeon-wi through her, and consolidate her power.
"…Your Highness."
"Woo Munhak, that is enough."
It was Won Yun-sang who stopped Woo Hui-won from calling out to Je Hyeon-wi at the palanquin.
"Well then — a long leave, so rarely gotten. You should enjoy it."
"…………"
"Spend it with your younger brother. The days you can spend together are few now."
He clapped the speechless Woo Hui-won on the shoulder and climbed back into the palanquin. Once he was seated, the waiting bearers fell into formation again.
"Let's go."
At Won Yun-sang's order, the palanquin moved.
"…How did His Highness seem?" With remarkable composure, Woo Hui-won held him with the question.
"If Hui-seo's choice was genuine — then is Hui-seo truly Your Highness's choice as well?"
To that devastating question, Je Hyeon-wi gave no answer. Instead, with a twist of his lips, he swept past him.
Meeting no more interlopers, the palanquin sped toward Gyeongchun Palace like a loosed arrow. Won Yun-sang — who had guessed Je Hyeon-wi's true feelings from the moment he had asked after Woo Hui-seo — set their course for Huirok-won, where he had left him.
On his way back from the main hall, before turning toward the rear garden, he stopped at Huirok-won. Only his wet-nurse, Court Lady Choi, kept watch there, and all was still when he arrived.
Je Hyeon-wi left Won Yun-sang outside and went in alone. Court Lady Choi, standing attend at the door of the inner room, recognized him and moved to announce him, but he stopped her with a gesture.
And as he opened the door with his own hand, he recalled Woo Hui-won's final question.
Had he asked whether his choice, too, was that child?
"…Irang. Did I keep you waiting?"
"Your Highness."
Woo Hui-seo had been pacing the room — ill at ease, perhaps, in his light unlined robe — but came to Je Hyeon-wi without a moment's hesitation.
Swallowing the laughter that nearly burst from him at such flawless, unswerving trust, Je Hyeon-wi clasped Woo Hui-seo's hand in his and thought:
A choice, if it was a choice.
Even if it was a choice made of his own will.
The palace entry was set for the full moon of the fifth month, an auspicious day chosen by the Bureau of Astronomy.
The residence, which had bustled ever since Hui-seo's entry was decided, fell quiet on the day itself.
"Whew…"
A sigh escaped — plainly one he had failed to swallow back.
"………"
Though it was only a sigh, fear showed through it, and Hui-seo lowered his gaze.
"…Hui-seo."
At the sound of his name he had to look up again.
"Yes, Brother."
Hui-won looked as though he had not slept a wink all night. Shadows lay under his eyes, and his color was poor. At the sight, Hui-seo fidgeted awkwardly, clasping and unclasping his hands.
"…………"
Having called him, Hui-won found he could say nothing — as though he could not gauge what words to offer the younger brother dressed in a concubine's robes.
Hui-seo was no different. In truth, it had been over twenty days since the brothers had faced each other so.
Of course, Hui-seo had not spent all that time at Gyeongchun Palace. Though he had entered the palace in the Crown Prince's company some ten days earlier, he could not remain at Gyeongchun Palace without proper standing, so that night he had returned to the residence with the court lady who had attended the Crown Prince.
"You're back."
Hui-won had greeted Hui-seo with a face full of tangled feeling, and asked nothing — not even where he had been. He had only said, "Now that it is decided, your body belongs to the Crown Prince — conduct yourself with care," and sent him to his room.
After that, he had not seen Hui-won. Hui-won never sought him out — but then, neither did Hui-seo. Learning court etiquette from the court ladies was overwhelming enough, but that was really only an excuse; the truth was he had not dared to seek him out, afraid to face his brother's face, surely full of disappointment.
"Why so wary?"
A fond hand landed on Hui-seo's head.
"The day has finally come."
"Once you enter the palace, we will seldom meet alone."
"But…"
"Even if we meet, we won't be able to talk so freely — I am a vassal of the court, and you, Hui-seo, have become a concubine of His Highness the Crown Prince, who will one day ascend the throne."
A shadow of sorrow crossed Hui-won's face.
"………"
Moisture gathered in Hui-seo's eyes. Hui-won looked at him in silence, brushed lightly at the corners of his eyes, then withdrew his hand.
"…I dare not meddle in the affairs of the inner palace. There, you must get through everything by your own strength alone, Hui-seo."
Where Hui-seo was headed was the deepest heart of the palace. But as Hui-won said, he would have to weather it all alone. He had dimly known it — yet hearing it from Hui-won's mouth and carving it into his heart anew left him feeling lost all over again.
"…Brother."
Hearing his brother's voice, Hui-won clenched his fist. Only so could he master this surging feeling.
Though he had passed his coming-of-age rite and become a man in name, in Hui-won's eyes his little brother still seemed fragile. And a concubine, no less — unbearably delicate, could that body, which took to bed at the slightest strain, endure the palace?
Could he be happy, as he himself had wished?
For a few days, at least, he would be. The Empress — thwarted in seating the Crown Princess of her choosing — would be all frost, but while the Crown Prince's favor rested upon him, it would be a shield to guard Hui-seo.
But "stay by my side forever" — never was there a more impossible promise. How long could it possibly last?
The thought made his head spin.
If only he could speak it aloud, he would have pressed Hui-seo, reasoned with him — even knelt and begged him to stay.
But the words never came. The betrothal rites had been observed; Hui-seo was already a concubine in all but name.
For a concubine to flee was a grave crime. Unless he were cast out, leaving the Crown Prince's side of his own will was a distant dream.
Hui-won could be of no help to Hui-seo now. The fact tormented him, and he swallowed down another rising sigh.
"I may not be as bright as you, Brother, but I'll manage well."
"…Hui-seo."
"So that you won't worry."
Hui-seo looked at Hui-won — his face full of worry — and gently took his hand.
"…Yes. Well done."
"When did you grow up so. I'm proud of you."
Hui-won gazed at Hui-seo's hand folded over the back of his own, and smiled faintly. At his brother's smile — it felt like ages since he had seen it — Hui-seo's heart finally eased, and he smiled back.
"Hui-seo."
"…Yes."
"But remember this one thing."
Hui-won looked Hui-seo straight in the eye.
"That I am on your side, to the very end."
"………"
"That if a day comes when you cannot bear it — I will be at your side."
"…Brother."
Having promised his unwavering support, Hui-won drew Hui-seo into his arms.
"I will. I'll remember it always."
The firm arms, the familiar warmth, the scent — all unmistakably his brother's. Hui-seo yielded himself to them quietly.
"It is nearly the hour of the snake, my lord."
They were exchanging their farewells when a servant raised his voice outside. It was the hour when someone from the palace was to come.
"…It's time to go."
Hui-won released the brother he had been holding and straightened his garments. He looked him over once more for anything amiss, then nodded.
"Let's go."
Hui-seo spoke, swallowing his reluctance.
Stepping outside, he soon greeted the eunuch who had brought the investiture decree.
"By the Empress's will, Hui-seo, second son of the Woo family, is invested as Seunghwi of the fifth rank."
When Hui-seo knelt in the courtyard and made his obeisance, the eunuch read the Empress's decree aloud in a clear, ringing voice.
"Receive the decree, Seunghwi-mama."
The read decree was handed over, and now the only rite remaining was the palace entry.
After bidding Seol-yeong farewell, exchanging nods with a few familiar servants, he turned his gaze toward the reception room beyond the inner quarters.
"And Grandfather…"
Noticing where Hui-seo's gaze had landed, Hui-won opened his mouth — but Hui-seo stopped the words before they could come.
"Please convey this unworthy grandson's greetings to Grandfather in my stead."
Grandfather, who had not left that day, remained at the residence — yet he would not see Hui-seo. Not even now, at the moment of the decree.
He did not want to needlessly stir his grandfather's heart. Given a little more time, the disappointment would fade; then he could ask the Crown Prince for leave to see him.
"…If you ask it, I shall."
As he had said, Hui-won no longer treated him without ceremony. It stung — but instead of showing it, Hui-seo gave him a faint smile and turned away.
Though it was a path shaped by his own choice, his heart was strangely unsettled on the way to the palace. Entering the palace as the Crown Prince's consort, his resolve felt quite different.
"This will be your residence from now on."
The eunuch who had accompanied Hui-seo all the way from the residence guided him in as he spoke.
He stole a glance at the eunuch. As he had sensed on the walk over, it was a rather secluded spot — sparsely peopled, quiet.
From what he had heard on the way, he was the first man to enter the inner palace as a consort in decades. He could well imagine the considerable difficulty they must have had in settling on a residence for him here.
"Please go in, my lady. The palace servants who will attend you from now on are waiting."
"Very well."
Answering the eunuch, Hui-seo lifted his gaze a little.
Cheongu-dang.
He mouthed the name on the plaque silently to himself, then stepped forward. With each step he took inside, he keenly sensed that it was not the cold air alone. Could it be that no one had stayed here for a long time? Though it had plainly been swept and polished these past few days, a peculiar chill lingered.
And yet spring was in full bloom.
Hui-seo shivered despite himself.
"We greet Seunghwi-mama."
Those waiting for him in the front courtyard bowed in deep, formal salute.
Five people in all were attached to this hall — around his own age, or younger.
"I am Sae-young, who will attend you closely from now on, my lady."
The child called Sae-young looked it especially.
"I am of little worth, but I will serve you with all my heart."
Around Su-a's age, perhaps. Young and clearly frightened at heart, yet smiling brightly — she looked exactly like Su-a, and he felt a warmth toward her.
"Very well."
At his acceptance of her greeting, her face flushed bright red.
"Shall I show you around the residence?"
"…Let's."
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