Though his feet were not touching the ground, his mood was strange upon stepping onto the field. Not letting even the overwhelming scenery escape his eyes, he was already close before Yongrimbbong.
Hwi set Yunseo down on the ground and raised his head looking up at Yongrimbbong. In one glance it was too large to take in — Yongrimbbong was enormous and awe-inspiring. Moreover the face was larger than he had expected, and the awe-inspiring appearance made him feel dizzy.
As if drawn by someone's brush and yet not — the boundary between mountain and valley was vivid, making it seem not of this world. Even having gone through Yongrimbbong, the air that had been mild there somehow felt even more chillingly cold here and faintly goosebumps rose.
Because there was no light it was dark, and whether the entrance was open or closed he could not tell. He wanted to have a closer look but instead Hwi reached out and grabbed Yunseo's wrist and extended his arm. His fingers hit something in the air as if bumping into something and could go no further from there.
"You cannot go in. You cannot break it either, you cannot do anything to it. It only opens by itself."
One could only imagine how much effort the divine beings had put into trying to break Hell down. Even so the fact that it still persisted like this — that it meant there was no way through by any method — he thought.
Looking back and forth at Hwi, there was nothing that caught his eye that differed from Hwi. Standing before the nature he could not overcome, a dark and overwhelming helplessness pressed Yunseo down as he was just about to say he should go back now.
Hwi bit down his thumb suddenly and flung it toward the air and at the moment Yunseo looked back in surprise a sharp blade of dark colour cut through the air.
Dwindling as if about to vanish and disappear, the dark thing flipping upward and diving into Yunseo's chest — it was a matter of the most fleeting instant, as if something had pushed his body backward and Yunseo realised what had happened.
"Yunseo!"
Hwi, his face turned flustered, urgently reached his hand out to Yunseo.
Ah, he had seen that expression before……
Even straining the memory it was only a feeling and all the light was going dim. And then darkness. It was darkness.
His eyes flew open but there was nothing to see. Yunseo casually raised his hand to confirm whether his vision had gone dark.
Being alone in such a dark place and yet not that scared. Looking around at the surroundings as well, it was only darkness so Yunseo did not hastily move and stayed where he was. In the middle of something a sound felt muffled. As if water were flowing……
Was there a stream nearby. Even so the air was fresh and pleasant. Yunseo raised his expressionless face and stretched his hand toward the empty sky.
He had no idea where he was. No reason came to mind to be here but even so he did not feel uneasy.
Just lying comfortably there for a moment seemed fine and staring blankly at the sky above, a short strand of hair slipped down and his nape grew stiff. From below a damp breath touched the ends of his hair — Hwi had licked his palm and was licking it upward searching for something.
"That again……"
"It's sweeter. Your strength is seeping in here too."
The darkness looked back at him. The darkness lifted its head and with wide open eyes stared at him.
The darkness looked back at him.
The darkness was staring at him with its head lifted and its eyes wide open.
Nothing was visible and yet he could feel it. And he himself could do nothing.
The cold sweat flowing and the soles of the feet pulling upward in instinctive terror. No matter how hard he rolled his head trying to think of how to get out of here, he could not form a proper escape plan.
Yet strangely the longer the time facing each other grew, the fear gradually lowered its head and curiosity rose. Why is it just staring like this? Why does it do nothing? Where is it exactly?
At that moment something stirred in the space between. He lowered his eyes to look and below him small dark things were seen wriggling.
Moving and yet something that could not be called life — and strangely it seemed as if he could understand their intention. They were in the middle of wanting something. What they wanted — he couldn't tell yet……
Perhaps wanting to touch them if he could, he stretched out his hand but hesitated. A blinking presence passed by in front of his eyes. Yunseo followed the light and turned his gaze. Whoop — a vivid bright stem of light flew down brightly.
The light was small compared to the darkness, and that light as if about to open its mouth widened its movement and writhed — and the moment it seemed about to eat up the darkness……
"Uh……!"
He had clearly stretched out his hand but strangely he stayed where he was. His blurry field of vision sharpened and familiar air wrapped around Yunseo. Staring blankly at the ceiling he heard a hoofbeat sound. He turned his head and beside him sat Hwi and approaching was the Imperial Physician Taeui.
"Your Majesty."
Hwi watched sharply as Taeui checked Yunseo's pulse. His face full of chill and annoyance — it was the first time seeing Hwi with this face and Yunseo could not immediately say anything.
Taeui was careful and cautious. Yunseo looked back at how the situation had come to this and replayed it. Some shape had probably dived into him from Hell — and had been shaken off just like that……
"There is nothing above the jade — it appears he was simply startled and became momentarily confused."
"If it is sufficient rest he will be fine without troubling himself — I apologise."
Being a little startled and having lost his senses — Yunseo was somewhat mortified and his lips tightened. But even at that small reaction Hwi's expression went blue and he was looking him over carefully.
"How is your body?"
"Fine."
"Are there truly no abnormalities?"
Yunseo had just opened his lips and was about to say something when a thought that brushed past his mind closed his mouth again. But even that small reaction made Hwi's complexion go pale and he sensed hurriedly bowed his head.
"Nothing. How long was I lying down?"
"One hour."
"It seems I just took a short nap."
One hour — he had thought it was nothing more than eating a thick corn cob. But even so Hwi's heart appeared different — his firm expression showed no sign of loosening. Yunseo sent Taeui out and took Hwi's hand.
"I'm sorry for worrying you."
Hwi stared blankly down at him for a moment then raised his empty hand and softly stroked his hair at the temples.
"No. It is my fault."
"……"
"Not even being able to protect you properly — all the time until now has been useless."
At Hwi's words Yunseo felt a surge of self-directed indignation. Yunseo gave strength to the held hand and quickly bowed his head.
"After Hell closes is there anything left?"
"There was not."
"Have you ever taken the flower spirit there?"
"That too does not exist."
"Then how can it be. Moreover that small thing — what influence could it have on me? I also heard Taeui's words. And my feeling……"
"……"
"It was not dangerous."
Hwi simply stroked Yunseo's hair repeatedly without showing any other reaction. As if trying to soothe him or intending to accept his words — he let out a breath. Whatever I say now it seems it will not reach his ears.
Hwi's hand drew Yunseo gently closer and his body lay beside him. Yunseo looked straight into his eyes and spoke.
"Do not dare blame yourself."
"Dare?"
"I cannot blame anyone I cherish. Not even Your Majesty."
Then on Hwi's lips a faint smile appeared. Yunseo tried to read the heart behind it and stretched out his hand and stroked his cheek.
"Shall I fill you? After asking for corn your mood will improve."
"I dislike it."
Yunseo gave a small laugh and Hwi's fingers reached toward Yunseo's lips.
"Why are you laughing."
"You looked like a child just stubbornly enduring."
"To say such a thing to me — I am not a child."
"When have you ever endured with dignity."
"You said you'd always keep me in line."
Yunseo stared at Hwi quietly and then pulled him close and pressed his lips to his. Like a bird's beak pecking, short and multiple times — Hwi's eyes grew even more sorrowful.
Hwi who had been chewing on his lips opened them letting Yunseo's lower lip go lightly. From the ticklishness he hunched his shoulders and a laugh burst out — and only after that he put his lips together and sealed Yunseo firmly.
"When Your Majesty is beside me nothing is scary."
Putting that meaning into it he squeezed the arms tightly. Hwi pressed his lips to Yunseo's forehead and held Yunseo facing him.
Yeondeok came in holding a vase full of water. As he brushed past in front of him a fragrant smell scattered. Yunseo put down the book he had been looking at and raised his head.
"What flower is it?"
"Water irises bloomed very heavily near the bamboo grove. The bamboo grove is also cool so isn't it nice? His Majesty should also go see."
"I'll go together. Going alone?"
"His Majesty is about to come soon, ah……!"
Yeondeok's body that was tangled in his feet leaned forward and Yunseo urgently rose and stretched his hand, but Yeondeok managed to endure and grab the flower basket barely without falling over. Yunseo swept down his heaving chest and let out a breath mixed with laughter.
"Trying to escape the imperial palace — seems like you'll go tumbling over."
"That's what I mean. Whatever you do in the end there must be some spell on the soles of the feet not to fall over."
"A spell not to fall over?"
"Yes."
With a listless voice Yunseo made a tsk tsk sound and Yeondeok was watching the flower basket set on the vase going toward the flower pot. With a lively fullness the blue water iris was cool and refreshing. Someday that flowing scent from a sea going and coming would be nice to see……
"It's prettily arranged."
Yeondeok who had just a moment ago been carrying them while almost tripping looked at the flower pot and tried to catch the flower basket he was putting aside but as he was doing so Yunseo hearing a thud, rolling sound looked down from below. Lifting one foot up then putting it down there was a hollow dull sound that spread.