Teaching another person was an enormously difficult thing. It was his first time doing it, and the process of refining and expressing his own sensations and methods in suitable words made him struggle many times over. Moreover, since it was not something visible, those learning it were bound to find it all the more puzzling.

Still, the instructors who taught the use of the guardian star seemed to understand broadly what Yunseo was saying. Once the instructors learned it themselves, they could carry the education forward — so Yunseo set down a heavy burden slightly.

"I will demonstrate."

Yunseo sat in the armchair and looked at Gangbaek, who was seated across from him. Gangbaek was sitting straight-backed with a tense air. Being in the position of receiving the Empress's guardian star, and on top of that being the center of everyone's attention — it was natural enough for him to be quite stiff.

There had been arguments back and forth in the Yongrin Guard and Yeonwiwon about a Yongrin receiving the guardian star of the Empress, which should be reserved for the Emperor. However, given that this was not for the simple purpose of treatment but further for matters of state, and Hwi's dismissal that a Yongrin should not interpret the Empress's appropriate beneficence toward them with impertinence, a setting could be arranged for the demonstration.

This matter was also intended to open the way for a new system in which the senior emperor's court nobles would administer treatment to Yongrin. A future of gradually changing and improving things step by step, and the time of chatting comfortably with Hwi about that future, were a source of vitality for Yunseo.

In any case, since it was a position carrying considerable pressure, the youngest member of the Yongrin Guard, Gangbaek, had been selected. When Yunseo extended his hand, Gangbaek barely hid his restless air and raised his palm.

Yunseo's fingertips touched Gangbaek's palm. Strength gathered in his lower abdomen, and the guardian star that had been quietly settled surged greatly. He instantly concentrated it to his fingertips and expelled it in one burst. The condensed guardian star, which had shot out like an arrow, immediately bored its way into the center of Gangbaek's being.

"Oh……"

Gangbaek's wide-eyed body wavered for an instant. His eyes began to flutter and his head, along with his hand, drooped down. The gathering stirred at the sight of Gangbaek falling asleep in an instant.

Perhaps because he was young and still inexperienced, the effect had been faster. Yongrin who had been standing by moved Gangbaek, and Yunseo rose calmly.

"Now then, shall the senior consort try first?"

Appearing to find it unexpected to be singled out, the senior consort, seated at the very front, rose after a brief pause. Yunseo looked around the Yongrin standing guard inside the lecture hall and called Huije.

"Be the partner."

"……This one must attend Your Majesty."

"I will wake you right away. With this many people here to guard, what is there to worry about?"

Huije hesitated and then sat across from the senior consort. She held out her hand with the palm visible, just as Gangbaek had done. The senior consort lightly rested her fingertips on top of Huije's hand.

The senior consort's face grew calm and composed as she focused. Whether her guardian star had flowed out, Huije's shoulder gave a little jolt. Huije's blinking did become more frequent, but not a trace of drowsiness appeared. The senior consort furrowed her brow faintly and looked back at Yunseo.

"I understand the point of condensing it, but striking in a single blow is different from the style of treatment I have been doing until now, so I cannot manage it."

"Hmm……. In other words…… it feels less like releasing and more like striking."

Yunseo added a hand gesture as well, but the explanation itself was vague and it seemed she could not quite grasp it. Yunseo thought carefully back to when he used his strength and put Hwi to sleep, and added a further comment.

"How about trying to put intent into it — a strong will like wanting to put the other person to sleep, or needing to stop them?"

The senior consort nodded and turned her attention back to Huije. In the moment she furrowed her brow and curled her fingers inward, Huije's fingers curled in as well and the two women's fingertips pressed against each other. The red skin went white and Huije sharply drew in a breath.

Huije's fingertips then grazed the senior consort's fingers and fell. Her eyelids closed, but Huije's expression looked peaceful, as though she had fallen into meditation rather than sleep. The senior consort looked alternately at Huije and her own hand, then clenched her fist tight and opened it.

This had proven that this power was not something only he could wield, but that other court nobles could wield it as well. When Yunseo clapped his hands together in delight, the watching court nobles applauded along. Yunseo grinned and spoke in a serious tone.

"This will become a very important power, as it can resolve the chronic insomnia that afflicts some Yongrin, and in an emergency situation it can protect both the Yongrin and the Yeongchunhwa. However, you must remember that it must be used only for the public good."

When he declared that those who misused it would be punished more severely than ever before, the gathering grew solemn. Even so, there were court nobles who were simply excited and eager to try it out right away. Yunseo swallowed a smile and called the instructors.

With the breeze cool but the sunlight warm, he grew drowsy. Sitting in an armchair well-heated by the afternoon sun, his mood melted into a pleasant languor.

Sitting in the rear garden and blankly watching the swaying miscanthus, it was nothing short of paradise. He felt afresh the truth that time emptying one's mind of all thoughts was necessary.

He was lazily blinking, thinking that if he said he wanted to enjoy an afternoon nap here he would get an earful from Jo Sanggung, when a shadow fell over his head.

"I thought some young pup had wandered in, but looking closely, it turns out to be a person."

At the deadpan nonsense, Yunseo could not help but let out a laugh. Even with his back to the sun, Hwi's lips were bright with a wide, cool smile.

"A young pup?"

"I merely said what I saw."

When Yunseo tried to rise, Hwi pressed down on his shoulder and took hold of his hand. The hand that pressed the palm and softly stroked the fingers then scratched the tips of his fingers with his fingernail, and a ticklishness welled up.

"Did you manage alright holding the hand of an outside man?"

For a moment Yunseo only rolled his eyes, unable to understand Hwi's meaning, but then he narrowed his brow.

"Did Your Majesty not permit it yourself?"

"I am merely asking your impressions. What was the hand of a young, fair-looking man like?"

"What are you saying about a child? Does it not feel strange?"

"Being closer in age to Gangbaek than to me, and yet you speak of him as a child — I do not find that strange."

That was going around in circles to being treated like a child. When he pursed his lips in sullen silence, Hwi gave his lips a light tap with his fingertip, laughed low, and then gestured behind him.

A court eunuch came forward carrying a tray, on which sat something that looked like a round red fruit. It was shaped something like a red onion, or perhaps a flower about to bud, and his curiosity was piqued.*

"What is this?"

"It is a fruit called pomegranate."

"Pomegranate? Is it not a specialty of Araksa?"

"Yes. However this one was grown in the Realm. It is brought in from Araksa and cultivated in the south, but since it is not easy to grow and expensive, it is difficult to see in the market. Have you never tried it before?"

"No. Ours was not a household that indulged in delicacies."

"With a child who eats so well? The Empress's father is truly something else."

Hwi replied with characteristic cool indifference and then cut the pomegranate in half. The bloody crimson flesh revealed grain by grain looked like a natural gemstone.

"Oh……"

It was not so much appetizing as it was lush and beautiful. While he was admiring it and only staring, Hwi plucked a few of the seeds and brought them to Yunseo's mouth. When he took them and chewed, the little seeds burst one by one, refreshingly moistening the inside of his mouth.

"What do you think?"

"It is delicious."

At the heartfelt exclamation, Hwi's lips broke into a flat smile. He continued to pick seeds and ferry them over, and Yunseo received and ate them each time — when red juice ran down Hwi's finger, he unthinkingly stuck out his tongue and licked it.

Hwi faltered, then wiped Yunseo's wet lips with his fingertip and slipped his finger between his lips. When Yunseo tilted his head back and took it in his mouth, Hwi's gaze skimmed heavily over that area.

His belly had grown persistently, heavily tight, and Yunseo, flushing, was trying to draw his head back when Hwi withdrew his finger readily.

"……Your Majesty, try some too."

"Shall I."

Hwi suddenly leaned forward and caught Yunseo's lips. The tongue that slipped in through the parted gap, along with a seed, gently licked against Yunseo's tongue. Between the tips of their tongues rubbing together, a crushed pomegranate seed burst its juice.

When only a faint fragrance lingered in his mouth, Hwi released Yunseo. His lips were stained red, and Yunseo bit down on his lower lip as though savoring the taste.

"What do you think?"

Hwi posed the same question again. Yunseo hesitated before answering.

"……It is delicious."

As though it were the right answer, Hwi's lips drew a large, warm arc.

He had taken hold of Yunseo's chin and was fiddling with the corner of his mouth with his thumb, when a small presence came from behind — and Hwi's head turned. Huije, who had received that sharp gaze, came quickly forward.

"Your Majesty. Two signal fires have reportedly risen."

Hwi dropped his hand from Yunseo and clicked his tongue. He reached out the tray holding the pomegranate and a court eunuch received it. Hwi immediately took Yunseo into his arms.

"When I return I will feed you more."

"……Yes."

Hwi moved lightly and flew out of the imperial palace.

Yunseo took in the scenery as they passed, releasing the tension. The trees, having dressed themselves a little early, were already dyeing their leaves yellow. The sky without a single cloud was high and clear.

When the air touching his cheeks felt a little gentler, they arrived at Geumju Fortress. Its characteristic solemn atmosphere lingered unchanged even as the seasons passed.

*Author's note: 자총 (紫葱) = red onion