"It is not about bearing it. Grief… is like that candle over there."

Yunseo pointed to a candle set in one corner of the room, and Yeongin's gaze turned that way.

"You grieve fully, you miss fully, and you light your own candle. Writing letters, studying, sparring, doing the things you like and the things you don't like — as you do them… it melts away slowly."

"Does it disappear someday?"

"It doesn't disappear. It's just that thinking of Yeondeok makes you sad, but by the same measure it also makes you glad. And Yeondeok will feel the same way as you."

Yeongin seemed to be turning Yunseo's words over in her mind, her expression growing still and thoughtful. He didn't know whether the child would fully understand what he was saying. But he believed she would be able to receive it. After waiting a little while, the child nodded with eyes that had ripened a little more firmly.

"Yes. I am sad, but I like Yeondeok, so I can get through it."

"That's right. Our Yeongin is truly brave."

"Because I am Father's daughter."

"Of course. Will you give me a hug?"

Yunseo spread his arms, and Yeongin came over and hugged him tightly. How such a small body could produce such great strength — laughter slipped out of its own accord. Yunseo hugged the child back, patted and soothed her, and then rose.

Father and daughter went out hand in hand. Leaving the inner palace and heading toward the west gate, carriages and wagons were lined up in a row. Many palace servants were moving busily around them.

"Yeondeok!"

Yeongin let go of Yunseo's hand and ran toward Yeondeok. Yunseo followed the retreating figure with a smiling expression, then went toward those who had now become deputy magistrates of the Flower Guard.

"Is everything prepared?"

"Yes, thanks to Your Majesty's care, preparations have been completed without incident."

"We had our full reunion yesterday, so today I'll say a simple farewell. Have a safe journey. I hope only that you are filled with joy there. Of course, you must also take care of your health."

"I will keep it in mind."

Gyeo Yeojin — who had once been Seongbin and was now the deputy magistrate of the Flower Guard — stepped back and bowed her head deeply toward Yunseo.

"I will never forget the touch of that hand that held my sleeve. Meeting Your Majesty was one of the great blessings of my life — please remain in good health."

When Yeojin lifted her head again, Yunseo answered with a bright smile. She was guided by Gangbaek into the carriage. Gangbaek gave Yunseo a spirited bow, and he received the greeting warmly.

Yunseo then turned toward the remaining person. Yi Munha — who had once been Yi Sowon and was now a deputy magistrate of the Flower Guard, with his baby fat somewhat gone and grown taller to look quite like a proper young man — paid his respects.

"I still can't quite believe you are leaving the palace. Please learn a great deal, clash with a great deal, fall a great deal, and ultimately accomplish a great deal when you return."

"Yes, thanks to Your Majesty I was able to escape from my blundering days — I could never repay that even if I tried."

"So you did know you were a blunderer?"

At that, Munha raised his eyes — and the look of a wildcat from his earlier days was visible. Yunseo burst out laughing, and Munha cleared his throat with a sheepish expression.

"Please may Your Majesty also accomplish much, and live well in good health."

"I shall. Take care on your way."

Munha bowed once more and boarded the carriage. Now there was only one person left to send off. Yunseo drew in a deep breath to settle his heart, then went to Yeondeok.

Yeondeok was in the middle of soothing the sniffling Yeongin. Fortunately, Yeongin was trying to see Yeondeok off with a fairly mature demeanor. Yunseo looked at Yeongin with tender eyes, then took Yeondeok's hand.

"It's your first journey — are you excited?"

"Yes. The things Your Majesty passed on to me — I'll see a lot, feel a lot, and come back."

"Yes. I'm curious how you'll feel about them, so you must tell me everything."

"Of course."

Many words were not needed. Yunseo and Yeondeok looked at each other with eyes full of deep affection, then embraced each other. They had leaned on each other greatly, been close as siblings, and been happy. Now it was time to watch Yeondeok spread his wings. Yunseo let Yeondeok go and smiled as brightly as could be.

"Have a safe trip."

"I'll be going now."

Yeondeok, as though his feet wouldn't leave, kept his gaze on Yunseo as he walked backward before turning around. He boarded the carriage. Soon the carriage started moving and the procession continued. He watched the long line quietly when the sound of approaching footsteps reached him.

"Your Majesty."

"Ah, Director."

Heo Seollan — who had once been Noble Consort Hyeon and was now the Director of the Flower Guard — carefully looked over Yunseo's expression.

"You must feel the parting keenly."

"Meeting and parting is the natural order of things — it can't be helped. Are you alright, Your Majesty?"

"I'm alright. Did we not spend enough time together preparing for this day? Are you going now?"

"Yes."

In the hands of Seollan, dressed in plain clothes, was a small bundle. It was probably a gift to take to her family home.

After entering the palace as a concubine, Seollan had not left even once. Even though Hwi had urged her several times to go see her mother, she had not done so. Ordinary concubines could not leave the palace easily unless dispatched to the Hwasicheong — and she had felt that a consort who was supposed to set an example should not enjoy special privileges.

Hearing that story, Yunseo had reflected on himself. He had reprimanded himself thinking he absolutely could not have done the same — and while he found her remarkable, he also felt sorry for her. But now Seollan could go to her family home and see her mother as often as she wished — how glad he was.

"Have a safe trip."

"Yes. My mother makes quite delicious rice cakes. I will bring back the chestnut rice cakes Your Majesty likes."

"Ah, now it seems I'll be waiting desperately for you to return."

At the exaggerated sigh, Seollan laughed quietly, paid her respects, and turned away. Behind her, Huije followed along. Huije had agreed to escort Seollan to her family home. Huije came right up beside Seollan, then took only her bundle and stepped back one pace.

Watching those two quietly, a small sniffling sound came. Yunseo picked up Yeongin, who was on the verge of crying again.

"You sent her off well. You were very admirable."

"…Yes. I am admirable."

"Of course. Shall we go now?"

"Yes!"

Yeongin wiped the corners of her eyes and answered loudly. Yunseo let out a deep breath and took a step forward. It was a step returning to their home.

When he opened the window, a sky filled with a feast of sparkling stars spread before him. Yunseo took in the quiet night scene and felt the hollow emotion settled in a corner of his chest.

It was the first night without Yeondeok. Of course it wasn't completely the first time. There had been times he had left thinking it might be a permanent parting, and times they had been separated during the royal progress. Looking back on it now, he didn't know how he had gone off fleeing alone leaving Yeondeok behind like that. A wry laugh escaped at the belated feeling.

As the Hwasicheong expanded, many Yongrin and Eternal Spring Flowers had left the palace. Perhaps that was why the empty spaces felt larger today. The night of the imperial palace was unusually solitary.

He was staring blankly up at the night sky when quiet footsteps drew near. A smile formed naturally at the corners of Yunseo's mouth. He poked his head out through the window and could see Hwi approaching. He had deliberately made his presence known.

"You aren't sleeping."

"Were you planning to let me sleep alone?"

"As if. I came rushing."

At the exaggerated expression, laughter grew — and Hwi pressed his lips to Yunseo's forehead. The warmth that spread on his forehead came straight down into his chest and gently stirred his heart. Yunseo reached out both arms.

"I want to see the stars."

Without any further elaboration, Hwi immediately took Yunseo into his arms and leapt up onto the roof. He stepped lightly from rooftop to rooftop, and Yunseo took in without omission the scenery spread out below him after a long time.

At last they arrived at the main hall. The boundary of the imperial palace and beyond it the faint lights, the torches of the night patrol soldiers and the moonlight clasped with the eaves. Looking over each one, the memory came of that first time long ago when he had gauged the breadth of the imperial palace here with Hwi. The emotions and thoughts that had brushed him then as well.

So much had happened, and no short time had passed. He had met countless people and sent some away. Going forward, he would experience new things and meet new people and let some pass through as well.

"The moon is truly bright."

Looking up at the night sky, a single phrase burst from his lips. His own voice sounded somehow lonely. Feeling unnecessarily awkward, he glanced at Hwi — and Hwi was not looking at the moon at all, but was gazing at him. When their eyes met, Hwi stroked the corners of Yunseo's eyes.

"Two people have gone, and even Yeondeok has left — you must have been truly sad."

Of course that was true, but Yunseo had opened his mouth to say he was alright — and couldn't say a word. The black eyes looking at him as though they knew everything were filled dense with an affection like this night's darkness, impossible to measure its depth. That gaze gently stroked him.

Yunseo was a gentle and strong Empress and a father — but before Hwi alone, he could be as weak as he wished. At last the grief he had been suppressing and holding back welled out like a flood tide.

"I miss them…"

A sadness that the word "miss" couldn't fully contain continued as tears. Hwi held Yunseo in his arms and wiped the corners of his eyes, patting his back with a tender touch.

"Of course you miss them."

That people meet and part was the natural order — how could one hope for only meetings? But even if that was too much to ask, he wanted only meetings. For nothing to change. For no one to leave, but to remain by his side.

But the grief would someday melt away, and he himself and they themselves would each light their own candles and illuminate their own paths. This moment too, looked back on someday, would become joy. Yunseo wiped his tears on Hwi's chest, then lifted his head.

"Even if everything changes, we — you and I — will remain the same. Won't we?"

Eyes full of certainty sparkled, holding starlight within them. Hwi, gladly captivated by those firm eyes, answered.

"Always."

Even if many things take on a different shape from now — we are us, and this love is unchanging.

The corners of Yunseo's eyes, broken into a smile, shone softly. Hwi's face too brightened with a smile — and the two illuminated each other. On this night, it was a light more brilliant than anything.

Side Story 3: Unchanging — Complete