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Chapter 60
“Would you like another drink?”
The French ambassador kept offering drinks to Yeon. With his oily smile, Yeon didn’t refuse.
“Korean traditional liquors have such rich flavors and aromas. If I get the chance, I’d like to serve you a special wine I brought from France.”
The way the man looked at Yeon was lecherous.
Seojun, watching the two while talking to the Turkish ambassador, tightened the corners of his mouth.
When Yeon replied that she liked wine, the French ambassador laughed with eyes wide and bright.
Trying to flirt with a woman who just got married today?
The way his hand naturally reached to steady the unsteady Yeon made Seojun even suspect if the palace had secretly installed hidden cameras.
“Be careful, Your Highness.”
Seojun quickly approached and wrapped his arm around Yeon’s waist, pulling her back.
The French ambassador’s hand narrowly missed her.
Yeon leaned her head against Seojun’s shoulder.
“Oh, Kang Seojun.”
She looked up at him with a soft smile, cheeks flushed—clearly she had been drinking.
“You should stop drinking.”
Seojun took the champagne glass from Yeon’s hand.
“That’s mine.”
“It’s ours. We’re married now.”
Seojun looked at the French ambassador and spoke firmly, then pressed his lips against the lipstick mark on the champagne glass and drank it all in one sip.
“Delicious.”
Still holding Yeon from behind, Seojun whispered in her ear.
For a moment, a tense atmosphere settled between them—an intensity that even made onlookers swallow nervously. Its meaning was obvious.
“I’ve taken up too much of Your Highnesses’ time. Please enjoy the rest of your evening.”
The French ambassador bowed and withdrew. He didn’t seem completely oblivious.
“I think the greetings are more or less done. Shall we head to Nakseonjae?”
The banquet had settled into a lull. Now was their chance to leave.
They had greeted everyone sufficiently, and the elder members of the royal family, including the Empress Dowager, had long since departed.
The princess and her husband, the main figures, were the last remaining, so they had been exceedingly polite.
“Hm, but I think I could have a few more drinks. The alcohol tastes good. Did you drink at all, Seojun?”
Seojun hadn’t touched a drop today. He had only pretended. Except, of course, for drinking Yeon’s glass earlier.
He wasn’t the type to drink in the middle of enemy territory, and he restrained himself to take care of Yeon.
It was their first night as newlyweds—there was no way they could be drunk enough to need servants to tend to them.
“I’ve had a moderate amount.”
Yeon twirled, grabbed the lapel of Seojun’s uniform, and nestled her head against him, sniffing.
“I don’t smell any alcohol.”
Seojun guided Yeon behind a pillar, as if she were a little dog sniffing its owner.
“Do you drink alcohol through your shirt? You’re supposed to drink it with your mouth.”
“I don’t smell it from my mouth either.”
Yeon lifted her head. The tip of her nose touched Seojun’s jaw.
He tensed.
Her drinking habits were tricky.
She became overly honest and bold, which put people in awkward positions.
“Do you want me to drink?”
Yeon nodded.
“Why?”
“Truth in drunkenness. I want to have a serious conversation.”
“If you have questions, ask freely. Whether I drink or not doesn’t change my answer.”
“Any question?”
“Yes.”
Yeon stared at Seojun, her drunken eyes overflowing with various emotions.
“Then ask.”
Seojun urged, and Yeon let go.
“This is boring, Kang Seojun.”
Suddenly upset for some reason, Yeon puffed out her cheeks and spun around.
Seojun quickly caught her swaying body. She fit perfectly into his arms.
“I told you to be careful.”
Seojun pulled Yeon close. Through her thin clothing, he felt her warm body.
“Seojun, we’re married now, you know.”
She rested her forehead against his shoulder.
“So… whenever I falter, you’ll hold me like this?”
Her voice trembled slightly at the end.
What had happened on the balcony with the crown prince?
She said it was nothing, but he didn’t really believe her.
“Of course.”
Seojun lifted her chin and caressed her plump cheek.
He wanted to ask what dampened her mood, but didn’t want to trouble someone whose emotions were heightened by alcohol.
They had plenty of time ahead; there was no need to rush the questions.
“Let’s go to Nakseonjae. Want me to carry you?”
“I’m not drunk.”
Her drawn-out words betrayed her tipsy state.
Soon, her laughter would become lighter, her face soft and playful. That cute look couldn’t be shown to just anyone. She was a princess, after all.
“Fine, but hold tightly onto my arm.”
Seojun helped Yeon and led her out of the banquet hall.
Seojun and Yeon decided to set up their newlywed quarters in Nakseonjae.
Although protocol called for separate quarters for the king and queen, they hadn’t had time to prepare Seojun’s private quarters due to the rushed wedding.
So, they would stay together temporarily.
Their “newlywed life” amounted only to a larger bed, but that alone changed the room’s atmosphere… though the pair of mandarin ducks and the rose-heart decoration on the bed made a much stronger impression.
While Yeon admired the perfectly symmetrical rose-heart, Silan and Eun-nae approached.
“We’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Morning greetings already?”
Seojun asked on behalf of Yeon, who was still dazed by the rose-heart.
“Previously, greetings began the day after the wedding, but under His Majesty, morning greetings have been skipped.”
Seojun didn’t press for the reason. Just seeing the twitch at the corner of Eun-nae’s mouth was enough to guess:
‘The newlyweds would be tired.’
Today would be the only day Seojun could sleep in during his palace life.
“If you need anything…”
“No.”
Seojun closed the paper doors with a firm tone.
Moments later, the corridor lights went out, and the quiet sound of departing footsteps faded.
“They’re gone?”
Yeon stumbled to the sofa and slumped.
“Yes. You’ve worked hard today.”
Seojun spoke to her as if she were a colleague finishing a big project. Yeon shook her head and got up.
“We’re married now…”
Seojun handed her a glass of water and drank some himself, raising an eyebrow as if to say, So what?
“When people say ‘married,’ they act like everything changes.”
Yeon kicked off her flower-patterned shoes. Puffing her cheeks and fidgeting made Seojun’s stomach tighten.
What is she doing?
Yeon fiddled with the decorations in her hair.
“Ugh, why won’t this come off? Ouch!”
Her hands were rough as she tried to remove them.
Watching her comical struggle, Seojun was suddenly glared at.
“This is something a husband is supposed to help with! Don’t just stand there, help me!”
The part she wanted help with was definitely out of reach—like hairpins or the ribbon tied at the back of her skirt.
Yet Seojun wasn’t confident helping with that.
Because Yeon was just too beautiful and cute…
Sighing, Seojun lifted her hair.
“Do you really want me to help?”
He placed a knee on the sofa, naturally tilting Yeon’s upper body backward.
She nodded innocently.
“You asked for it, Your Highness.”
Seojun’s gaze darkened, deep and unreadable.
From the moment he saw her drunk at the banquet, he had felt a strange hunger.
That hunger grew unbearably strong the moment they entered Nakseonjae.
Just moments ago, his stomach had been full; now it felt empty.
He wanted to swallow Yeon in one bite.
But he couldn’t startle her.
Seojun slowly leaned down.
He kissed her cheek and removed a hairpin. Then he nibbled her lips to loosen the decorations, flicking off the dangling ornaments with gentle bites on her earlobes.
“That tickles, hehe.”
Yeon laughed and squirmed without fear of the man.
Where should he even start teaching her?
Seojun watched her with mixed feelings as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Then she whispered with a serious expression, no longer smiling:
“Kang Seojun, I’m not a child.”
Ah, no teaching necessary.
Yeon’s hand reached for Seojun’s shirt buttons.
“Shall I help too? Mutual aid.”
Just undoing a single button made Seojun’s head spin.
He bit the inside of his mouth hard.
He had intended to just hold her lightly and put her to bed, but now it seemed much more complicated.
