"I thought you would be driven away immediately, yet you talked for quite a while."

"Were you watching me thinking I would be driven away?"

"How could I have the power to send you out or keep you in. Well then — did you listen well?"

"Yes. Hearing it directly made it land deeper. It is different from hearing it relayed in the palace. It seems I did well to come."

He had come to realize that hearing and witnessing the problems people were actually experiencing was even more important than he had thought. He could understand why Hwi had always made time for incognito outings even in the midst of an impossibly busy schedule.

Upon returning to the palace, he would discuss with Hwi and the inner court how to improve and resolve the issues encountered during the journey. He especially wanted to hear the senior consort's opinion.

The laborers moved in unison to clean up and return to their places. Yangso had somehow already taken on one task like a laborer herself and started working. Yunseo watched her in admiration and looked back at Hwi.

"Each regional Hwasicheong must have been truly running around in all directions."

"Yes. Until now the sacred power inherent to the Yongrin allowed many regions to be managed, but as that becomes difficult, we will have to expand Hwasicheong as much as possible."

If the sacred power of the Yongrin who could be here one moment and there the next disappeared, the number of Hwasicheong would have to be increased before that became apparent. As Yunseo nodded, Hwi added.

"However, how to keep those Hwasicheong in check will also be something that requires careful thought."

"Keep them in check? The Yongrin?"

"The reason the Yongrin have been able to work wholeheartedly for the nation until now is because the Yeongchunhwa belonged to the Realm. If the sacred power disappears, the reins that bound them also disappear."

"But the Yongrin had more than just the guardian star of the Yeongchunhwa. They had the experience of going out and striving together, did they not? How could that easily disappear?"

Hwi, with a faint smile, stroked the back of Yunseo's neck.

"It would not easily disappear, but all things change before time. Even a small possibility must be prepared for."

Suddenly his chest ached. He understood what Hwi was worried about and agreed it was reasonable, but the thought of how lonely he must have been at times, having to think that way even toward the Yongrin he had shared everything with — Yunseo quietly took Hwi's hand and met his eyes.

"Yes. Together, the two of us."

As though having heard an unexpected answer, one of Hwi's eyebrows lifted. He soon let out a laugh like exhaling a breath and clasped Yunseo's hand in return.

"Shall we look around a little now?"

"Yes, let's."

They walked together to the area near the ongoing construction. They stood a little back so as not to be in the way, but the laborers kept sending glances this way.

It seemed Hwi standing still and watching was drawing attention. Hwi scanned the building being erected with sharp eyes. After a short time, his gaze returned to Yunseo.

"Now let us——"

"Whooa……!"

A man's voice was heard from above at the same time both of their heads turned. One of the laborers on the roof who had been holding a beam slipped on his foot and dropped what he was holding. Along with that, the long thick piece of wood also slipped from the remaining laborer's grip and in an instant fell toward them.

"Watch out!"

Amid the laborers' screams, without a moment to think, Yunseo reflexively shoved Hwi. Hwi barely moved and wrapped his arm around Yunseo's shoulder while simultaneously reaching out one hand.

The piece of wood that had flown into the air stopped in place and floated there. When Hwi slowly brought his hand down, the wood descended gently. When the wood finally touched the ground, the laborers marveled and fell to their knees.

"Are you a Yongrin, sir!"

"Thank you! Thank you!"

The laborers' voices of greeting surrounded the two of them. Hwi clenched his fingers, the tendons rising fiercely on the back of his hand. His gaze slowly turned and landed on Yunseo. At the face that had gone ice-cold and rigid, Yunseo flinched involuntarily.

Hwi stared at Yunseo with a razor-sharp look as though not hearing any of the sounds around them. As Yunseo parted his lips, Hwi took him and strode away.

He had no idea why Hwi was suddenly like this and was flustered. Yunseo looked at Hwi with worried eyes and moved his feet quickly to follow him.

When they reached a quiet alley, Hwi stopped. He turned around and gripped Yunseo's shoulders with both hands.

"What were you thinking?"

"……Pardon?"

"Were you intending to save me? And be crushed to death yourself by that thing?"

Hwi's raised voice brought Yunseo sharply to his senses. Crushed to death — that was an exaggeration. But Yunseo understood why Hwi was angry and quickly opened his mouth.

"That was not it——"

"If you truly care for me——!"

"Hwi, urk."

Suddenly nausea came over him. Yunseo covered his mouth with his hand and furrowed his brow. Whether from the shock, his stomach was churning badly. As he swallowed saliva and steadied his breath, Hwi's complexion went pale.

"Yunseo. Is your body unwell? Hmm?"

"I am alright. It is just a little indigestion. I took medicine before coming so it will get better——"

Hwi, who had been checking his temperature by feeling his forehead and nape, went still. He stared blankly at Yunseo and then twisted the corner of his lip upward.

"You took medicine?"

"……"

"Without saying a single word to me about your condition? Secretly?"

"Se, secretly?"

"How many times did I ask you to put your health first. And yet you seem to have taken my words as something laughable. What on earth do you gain from wearing out your body!"

The voice charged with blue anger rang thunderously in his ears. He could say it was his own fault, since he had thought it was just indigestion and had not thought to tell Hwi about it. He fully understood why Hwi was angry and what he was worried about. So he should apologize quickly and calm him — but miraculously, tears suddenly burst forth.

"Why, why do you speak down to me every time you get angry?"

He had clearly intended to apologize first, but his grievance welled up. Whether from the lingering shock of the earlier incident, or from his stomach not feeling well, tears fell drip by drip.

"You say the Emperor and Empress are equals, but you only speak down to me at times like these, and I did not do it on purpose, sob……"

Through his blurred vision he could see a flicker of consternation cross Hwi's face. His lips moved and then he raised his hand and wiped the tears flowing down Yunseo's cheeks.

"Yunseo, do not cry."

"Hic, I do not want to cry……"

"Crying drains your strength, does it not? Yes? Innyeok. I am sorry."

As he tried to hold back the sobs he hiccupped too. Hwi pulled Yunseo to him, held him in his arms, and gently stroked his head.

"Shall we go back?"

When Yunseo nodded, Hwi lifted him and moved immediately. The embrace that did not shake even while running was familiar. Yunseo buried his face in Hwi's chest and calmed his breathing. By the time they arrived at the house, the tears had completely subsided.

When Hwi laid Yunseo on the bed, the waiting physician came right in. She finished taking his pulse, applied acupuncture needles, and then bowed her head toward Hwi.

"There is a small indigestion and fatigue from the journey has accumulated, but if you rest well for a day you will be fine."

When the physician finished and left, the bedchamber grew quiet. Hwi silently placed the cool tips of his fingers over Yunseo's eyelids and cooled the red swollen eyes.

Now that he had calmed down, he was tremendously embarrassed. In the middle of — no, without even reaching the middle of — an important conversation, he had cried like a child.

Only after Hwi's hand departed could Yunseo look at him properly. The coldness that had been on his face was gone and absent. Yunseo sniffled and took Hwi's hand.

"I am sorry for causing you worry. My stomach was churning a little so I thought medicine would cure it. I was not trying to hide it."

"Yes."

Hwi's thumb gently stroked the back of Yunseo's hand. At that touch, a surge came again, but the emotion welling up this time was not grievance.

"Also just now, my body moved first. It was not that I intended to be hurt or sacrificed leaving you alone…… The wish not to have one's beloved hurt is an instinct, is it not?"

After saying it and glancing up at Hwi's reaction, he gently smoothed Yunseo's hairline with his remaining hand.

"Yes. I must have hurt your feelings by not understanding your heart and pressing you."

"……From now on, I too will act more carefully. I have engraved the promise I made to you deep in my heart."

He raised the joined hands to his chest, and Hwi looked steadily down at Yunseo before pressing his lips to his forehead. Starting from where the lips had touched, warmth spread and his body relaxed comfortably.

"Sleep. I will stay by your side."

His eyelids grew heavy in an instant. Thinking it would be nice if Hwi fell asleep with him, he quietly pulled at his hand, and a faint smile appeared on Hwi's lips. Yunseo fell asleep with Hwi's smile as his last sight.