When Huian spoke in his fluster, Sang Jaein smiled faintly, as if to say, “Yes — I told you knowing it to be so myself.”
“Then is there another reason?”
“There is no other reason. Only…” Huian said in a small voice, “I am no good at it. On the wedding night, it was a complete mess. That is why. I am afraid it will be the same this time.”
As he spoke, his head sank lower and lower of its own accord.
“My lord, anyone is clumsy and finds it hard the first time. Besides, my lord was surely very tense, so that too must be part of it.”
“No, more than that, His Highness… …No, never mind.”
Huian, who had been about to say something, at last closed his mouth. But somehow knowing, Sang Jaein spoke Huian’s unspoken words exactly, as though a ghost.
“Of course, His Highness is rather magnificent, so my lord, who has no experience, must have found it all the harder. But that too will gradually improve. Did I not tell you? It will get better and better. I assure you, once you grow accustomed, it will be far easier than now.”
Sang Jaein spoke with such conviction that Huian was briefly tempted to believe him. Come to think of it, on the first wedding night too, the beginning and the end had been unspeakably hard, but around the middle it had been more or less bearable.
“Then how many times will it take to grow accustomed?”
“That differs from person to person, so it is hard for me to say… but still, ten or so times should suffice –”
“That many?”
Huian raised his voice without meaning to. Right after, he apologized — “Ah, forgive me for raising my voice” — but he could not hide the disappointment and bewilderment on his face.
Sang Jaein, seeing it too, smiled faintly as though a little awkward. Then, cautiously broaching it, he said, “If I may, my lord.”
“If you are worried to the point of such distress, would you try taking a medicine?”
“Medicine? What medicine do you mean?” Huian asked in surprise, and Sang Jaein explained in his usual kindly tone.
“It is nothing much — a medicine that helps ease your tension and lessen the pain. It is a relaxant medicine; it has no scent and no taste to speak of, so taking it will not be a hardship. The other honored ladies of the concubines’ quarters take it often as well.”
At the words that the other consorts of the concubines’ quarters also took it often, Huian was tempted. That would mean, at least, that it was a medicine with no great problem as to safety. Besides, Sang Jaein was strictly the Crown Prince’s man, so Huian trusted that, thinking of the Prince’s welfare over his own, he would not recommend anything that could cause trouble.
“Is it something I need only ask the physician to prepare?”
“That is so, but as it happens, another honored lady asked me, and I have three or four doses the physician prepared at my request. If my lord wishes, I shall bring them tomorrow.”
He had already been fretting over what to say to the physician, so Sang Jaein’s bringing it himself could not have been more welcome. For the first time, Huian’s face showed relief as he said to Sang Jaein:
“If you would do that, I would be most grateful.”
“Understood. Then I shall come again tomorrow at this hour.” Sang Jaein, smiling so deeply his dimples showed, told him beforehand how to take the medicine.
“Take the medicine just before the wedding night. Taken with a sip of wine, its effect will come on all the faster.”
“Thank you. Thanks to you, one worry is lifted.” To Huian, who spoke with a sigh, Sang Jaein smiled. “Not at all.”
“This too concerns the inner court, so it is only my proper duty. If it can be of even small help to the two Highnesses, I shall be glad.”
Saying so, Sang Jaein already wore a pleased expression.
“Your Highness, please come in.”
A eunuch greeted Igang in a glad voice. The rest of the palace attendants were the same. Until not long ago, when he dropped in unannounced at such an ambiguous hour, they would wear faces asking what had brought him with no word sent, and bustle about in confusion — but now they merely bowed their heads with an “Have you come?” Realizing he must indeed have been frequenting Inyeong Palace of late, Igang felt oddly abashed despite it being his intention, and said, as though scolding for no reason:
“You say ‘come in,’ yet why do you not announce me to the Crown Prince’s consort? Do you mean I should just go in on my own now?”
“Oh no, it is nothing of the sort, Your Highness. His lordship is in the rear garden, so I had first to send someone… F-first, I shall escort you inside.”
To the eunuch, who spoke bowing in a fluster, Igang asked, “The Crown Prince’s consort is in the rear garden?”
“He was not to teach Son Gwiin the zither today either, so why is he in the garden again?”
“Yes. The honored consort did not come, but his lordship has been in the garden since early evening.”
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