As they slowly left the sleeping quarters, cool air came in between the blankets. Perhaps because he had been inside for so long — it felt refreshing — and on top of that, the sight of the thin layer of snow on the ground sparkling in the sunlight stole his gaze, leaving no room to feel the cold.

The sun was shining brilliantly in a clear sky. Plump white clouds drifted leisurely trailing wisps of thread, and a peace that had not been there before now filled the fortress, where the number of permanent residents had thinned.

"Ah."

A breath of wonder escaped him and spread as a soft puff of mist. Finding even that freshly wondrous, he was parting his lips — and Hwi looked intently at Yunseo.

"It's a truly lovely day."

"Yes. It is."

Hwi was here, in the middle of winter. Yunseo recalled a thought he had once had about him and pushed up the corners of his mouth.

"A long time ago, I once thought to myself that you suited winter."

"Did you."

"Yes. I'm glad I can see you in winter. Back then I was certain I wouldn't be able to."

Hwi opened his mouth readily but did not say anything. From the gaze coming over blankly, his hesitation reached him.

He did not ask. He only waited, as though quenching a lurking hope.

The breath that had risen from Yunseo reached the very edge of Hwi's lips. It felt exactly like a path that would inevitably touch the other in the end. Yunseo watched that path, then struggled to push his hand out through the tightly wrapped blanket. Hwi immediately took hold of the tips of Yunseo's fingers, and the warmth pooled between their touching skin mixed together without gap.

* * *

The moment he opened his eyelids, Yunseo was met with the face of someone keeping watch by his side. He blinked in bewilderment, and the other person stared at him with a sullen expression.

"Yi Sowon."

He had heard from Yeondeok that Yi Sowon had helped with the nursing — but coming face to face with him like this was, how to say, surprising.

When Yunseo raised his upper body, Yi Sowon fidgeted his bottom and showed signs of restlessness. Soon, when Yunseo had fully sat up and turned to look at Yi Sowon, he sniffled — and Yunseo studied the area around his eyes carefully.

"Did you cry?"

"Pardon? Why would I cry because of Your Majesty?"

"I did not ask whether you cried because of me."

Yi Sowon's cheeks reddened in an instant. He sharpened his eyes and looked over Yunseo's face busily. It was quite remarkable, worrying about someone with such a ferocious look. Yunseo swallowed his laughter and opened his mouth.

"I heard that you nursed this person with great dedication while he was bedridden. That I could recover like this is also thanks to Yi Sowon, so I am truly grateful."

He offered a warm greeting, but Yi Sowon's sharpness did not soften. His eyes were fiercer than when they had first met, so he had to look back and wonder if he had said something wrong.

"Yi Sowon…?"

"They say you are quite the master of escape — who would have thought that one day you'd go so far as to escape into the underworld. Truly remarkable."

Only now could he read the resentment in Yi Sowon's eyes. His eyelids were swollen, which suggested he really had cried at least once because of him.

He must have been frightened.

Well — even hearing news of a death from a neighbor would make one's heart drop, so having shared hardships together within the inner palace, of course he would have been frightened. The thought that he must be at least a neighbor-level presence to Yi Sowon moved him unexpectedly.

"I'm sorry for making you worry."

"I am not worrying right now — I am speaking about Your Majesty's irresponsibility."

Yi Sowon distorted the corners of his mouth and gripped his sleeve tightly. Seeing Yi Sowon's fist trembling finely, Yunseo took his hand. He furrowed his brow but did not pull away from the touch.

"That too, I am sorry for."

"…"

"You've lost quite a bit of weight."

"…Look in a mirror before you say that."

"When we return to the palace, let's have a meal together. Filling it with only the dishes the two of us like and eating to our hearts' content."

Since no refusal came, it seemed he didn't dislike the idea. Yi Sowon's expression softened and his heart was put at ease.

"I can't begin to say how grateful and relieved I was that Yi Sowon soothed the concubines well during all that chaos."

"I did nothing at all."

"You did plenty. As a member of the inner palace, holding your ground without showing your fear — is that not a truly great thing?"

Yi Sowon's complexion darkened as though reflecting on those fierce days. He moved his lips, then asked with an uncharacteristic carefulness.

"Is it all… over now?"

"Most likely."

"…"

"How do you feel?"

"I'm not sure. I suppose I am now truly nothing of any use."

At Yi Sowon's bitter murmur, Yunseo gripped his hand firmly.

"An ending is a new beginning. What did you want to do before you bloomed?"

"…I have never thought about it."

"Surely you had things you liked."

Yi Sowon kept his silence for a long while before answering.

"I liked… drawing."

"The proposal I made before still stands. Now that the Hell's Gate has collapsed, there will be no small number of concubines who think as Yi Sowon does. Could you not be of help to them?"

Yunseo tilted his head warmly, like an older brother, and waited for Yi Sowon's reaction. Yi Sowon looked at Yunseo for a moment, then gave a faint nod. Just as the corners of Yunseo's lips curved in a smooth arc—

"Your Majesty. Noble Consort Hyeon has arrived."

At Court Lady Jo's announcement, Yunseo's expression brightened. He quickly said to let her in, and Noble Consort Hyeon stepped inside. The familiar face he had not seen in so long naturally drew a smile.

"I pay my respects to the Empress. May the Dragon's blessing be with you."

"Please rise. I truly missed you."

"Those words could be taken the wrong way."

Yi Sowon blurted out in alarm. He was wondering what misunderstanding was being referred to, when Noble Consort Hyeon's calm gaze turned sharply toward Yi Sowon.

"Is it right to be troubling the Empress, who is still on the sickbed?"

"When did I—! Since the two of you get along so splendidly, I shall take my leave."

Even Yi Sowon's still-wild manner was a welcome sight. After Yi Sowon left, Yunseo welcomed Noble Consort Hyeon with a smile full of bright warmth.

"How is your health? Have you been uncomfortable since then?"

"Yes. Thanks to sufficient recuperation, I have recovered completely. And how are you, Your Majesty?"

"Me? Well. I'm better now. I can walk with support."

"I am truly overcome with gratitude to see you in such good health."

A complex wave of feeling passed through Noble Consort Hyeon's eyes. Meeting those eyes made Yunseo's own chest stir deeply.

Comrades in arms. The expression Huije had once used for Hwi and Noble Consort Hyeon only now made sense. An emotion transcending simple friendship was connected by a tenacious thread between Noble Consort Hyeon and himself.

"You must have had great hardships while this person was bedridden. I don't know how I could ever express enough gratitude."

"I only did what was mine to do. Please devote yourself entirely to your recovery, Your Majesty."

"I'd like to walk a little. I would be grateful if you would support me."

Walking itself was not difficult, but there were times when his legs gave out unexpectedly, so he needed someone to lean on. Noble Consort Hyeon readily took hold of Yunseo's arm as he rose, and Yunseo went outside with her support.

Noble Consort Hyeon matched his slow pace well, making walking comfortable. Yunseo strolled down the quiet corridor and asked.

"How are the concubines these days?"

"They have regained more composure than at first. However, I believe what comes after will be more important."

"Hmm."

He paused for a moment and stood before a window — the scenery inside the fortress came into view. The ground where the snow had melted showed not a single blade of grass, which was desolate — yet it was not entirely barren. Sunlight fell, and light and shadow peacefully filled the empty spaces.

Yunseo quietly glanced sideways at Noble Consort Hyeon's profile as she looked at the same scene. He could not easily imagine what the feelings of this woman who had fought so fiercely to protect the country, calling that hell of a battle both a curse and a blessing, must be like.

"If you have something on your mind, please tell me."

"To speak presumptuously… would there not be much to be done going out beyond the imperial palace, out into the world?"

In Noble Consort Hyeon's eyes there lurked a light with a firm center held upright. He did not know what emotions she had lived through over the past three months, what worries she had fallen into. But the light in Noble Consort Hyeon's eyes was so vivid that he felt truly reassured and filled with admiration, and the corners of his mouth softened.

"I agree. I believe that the concubines — the Yongrin — will better illuminate the blind spots of this country."

"Yes. The mission was given by heaven — but is it not people who must forge the path?"

"Those are fine words."

The moment he grinned facing Noble Consort Hyeon, a cough burst out. Noble Consort Hyeon watched with a worried face until the cough subsided, then supported him and turned around.

"Let us go in."

"I always had confidence in at least my health…"

He was muttering dejectedly and had just returned to the sleeping quarters with Noble Consort Hyeon's help when he saw it. Huije was standing tall at the entrance, waiting for him as though looking at something impossibly far away.

It was the first time he had seen Huije since regaining consciousness. Just as he was about to greet her happily, Huije strode over and knelt in a bow.

Her large body curled up and began to tremble. The memory of a hand coming toward him surfaced. The last voice he had heard before falling into his long sleep had been Huije's. Dark and devastated.

The sorrowful realization came to him that he had left too many debts to too many people. At the time he had thought it was the best choice, and there had been no other option — and he had returned in the end — but he wished there had been another way.

"Your Majesty. I am so grateful… that you are here, breathing so well."

The voice that burst out along with a caught breath held a simple and sincere gratitude.