Chapter Text
Joonghyuk’s eyes bore the intimate gaze of an Emperor. Crouched on his throne, he rubbed his face and let out an exasperated sigh. Through the gaps of his fingers, he peeked at the ministers seated on their wooden planks, squirming and sweating nervously. He gulped down the forbearing curses and parted his lips, uttering: “You can leave.” All at once, the ministers bowed and scrambled off their places with hurried steps. The Emperor dabbed two fingers on his wrist and inhaled, deep and low. The veins underneath throbbed, as a response. As he opened his eyes to an empty hall, he coveted something.
The Emperor has not confirmed what it was.
With no want to further delay, Joonghyuk got up from his seat and swept up his cloak. He unlaced it, folded it, and hung it by his shoulder.
“Nasty.” When the pitched voice ran through the hall, Joonghyuk’s head throbbed vigorously. He paid no mind to its owner and walked out of the room. “Hey! You’re supposed to listen to your advisor!” Sooyoung whistled and dashed towards him.
Joonghyuk grunted and shoved her by the shoulder. “I do not intend to do so.”
“Moron! You cannot dismiss the ministers just because your mood’s off!” She argued and smacked his back.
Joonghyuk refuted with a glare. “You have no sense of discipline or respect.”
“How unsightful.” She scoffed and held her head.
When they reached the training ground, Joonghyuk unlaced his heavy garments and placed them on a stool. With swift movements, he took out a long sword and twirled it in his hand before pointing it at Sooyoung. The advisor laughed and waved her hands, dismissively, as she sat down on the cemented floor. The Emperor wrapped his cotton wear around his waist, letting its sleeves dangle by his legs, and swung his sword towards a wooden puppet. The sun tanned his bare body, shimmering it along with his arched back, following his stunts.
When the Sun began to waver a little, Joonghyuk wiped off the sweat from his mouth and glanced at the dazed Sooyoung.
He nipped at his lips as he contemplated. “Speak up before I change my mind.”
Sooyoung, with raised eyebrows, swept away the dirt from her robe and gave him a toothy grin. “Yes, Your Highness.”
He grimaced at her tone but complied to lend his ears. “The Priestess and I believe that it’s time for your monthly visit around the Empire, don’t you think so, too?”
“Hm.” He loosely laced his upper robe around his body and sighed. “When?”
“Today, at dusk, Your Highness!”
“What nonsense are you spewing?” Joonghyuk grabbed her by the sleeve and shoved her back.
Sooyoung smacked his hands and pursed her lips. “You cannot intervene. You have no choice, Your Highness. Not this time.”
“Listen here, lady,” He dabbed at her chest and spoke smugly, rage filling his voice, “I rule this place. So, I get to decide whatever the fuck I want to do.”
Sooyoung quirked an eyebrow and snickered. “That vulgar attitude of yours will lead us all to downfall someday, Your Highness.” He scoffed at her remark.
“I say, Your Highness,” she moved back and put her hands behind her head, “it’s delayed puberty. Your reactions.”
“Oh! ” The Imperial Guard along with a few more of the soldiers covered their mouths, barricading their distorted chuckles. Joonghyuk rubbed his bridge and sighed.
He pulled at her ear and twisted it until it was red and sore. “You monster!”
“Spit out more nonsense and I promise you’ll be beheaded,” Joonghyuk warned and left the field.
“Ow.” Sooyoung rubbed her wounded ear, wincing, as she gathered the fuzzy slaver in her mouth and spat. She scoffed. “That’s why no one likes you.”
⬦⬥⬦
By dusk, Joonghyuk had already prepared himself to go out to the Empire. Now, as his sister fumbled around with distinguished robes in her arms, he laced his cotton wear and brushed back his hair. “Mia.” His sister halted. “What, brother? Let me do my job.” She stood on the bed and her small hands hovered over his head, brushing his curls into a presentable manner.
“It’ll be hidden.”
“So?” She picked up a pale blue robe and pushed it against his body. “Hm. Looks fine!” She grinned as Joonghyuk laced the robe.
He noticed the gleeful eyes of his sister and the Emperor’s heart throbbed at that. Why are you so excited? —He had meant to question, but the words never spilled out. As he wore the bamboo hat and rubbed his palms, Mia spoke with gentleness: “Try to have some fun, brother.” He rubbed her plump cheek with his thumb and nodded. “If you insist.”
If you insist, I will.
As the Emperor set out with ruffling feathers, his heart throbbed at his head with the smell of dry fish, meat, and treachery. Ducks squawked, cows lumped and vendors screamed. Joonghyuk, with folded arms, wandered through the streets which bustled with liveliness, contrasting with his palace. He noticed the dimming lights at the corner shops, the maidens sweeping men from their foothold into their chambers, the clanks of multiple clay utensils, and a dumpling shop with a queue. Amidst the liveliness of the Empire, stood a lone dumpling shop with a freshly painted hoarding. The Emperor would have feigned ignorance and continued his stroll if it were not for the delectable smell wafting through the air.
The Emperor, too, craved something.
He pulled down his hat and joined the queue. Above him, the sky seemed to be lit up with the night light of the street shops, however, the stars always outshine any light.
“What’s taking them so long!” A commotion startled him out of his thoughts. Joonghyuk leaned to the side and squinted his eyes to scrutinize the source.
“Arghh! This is a waste of time! When will we get in!?”
“Fuck this place, man!”
Joonghyuk lowered his head, annoyed with the sudden outburst. He sighed and rubbed his ear.
“So darn annoying, these people.” The man behind him muttered.
The Emperor clicked his tongue and prepared to flee, however, the sudden appearance of the shop’s owner struck the chords of his pit. With a flushed face, and flour stuck on the man’s cheeks, he had come out and unwrapped the cloth from his head. He scrutinized the queue with terror in his eyes and bowed.
“There’s the guy!” The first man said as he broke out of the queue and stomped towards the owner. The owner, with hurried movements, snapped at the approaching man and stuck out his tongue. Joonghyuk heard the man grumble aloud as he grabbed the owner by his clothes.
A waste for a good face, Joonghyuk thought and rolled his eyes.
The Emperor walked out of the queue himself and shoved past the bystanders. In front, the owner’s eyes trembled, yet they seemed sturdy. With each jerk from the middle-aged man, he smacked at the former’s hands around his clothes. They would tear, he feared.
Joonghyuk stood behind the first man and huffed.
“Dude.” His voice was laced with irritation. The first man hadn’t paid attention to his surroundings, but when the owner’s eyes flicked towards the Emperor, with a plea, Joonghyuk’s body reacted against his will.
Within the swift gust of a wind, the man met the ground, as dizziness consumed his consciousness. He was sprawled on the ground, mouth agape as snot and little tears escaped from his body.
“What the hell!” The crowd laughed, but the Emperor kept his eyes on the owner whose eyes gleamed as they stared back at him. He smiled, eyes crinkling, and bowed.
Thank you, he wanted to say, but couldn’t.
“Urm–” Joonghyuk rubbed his neck and noticed the crowd had disappeared. “Is this still open?” The owner looked up and nodded. Then, as if to soothe his questions, a concerned shrill from inside the shop startled both the men.
“Kim Dokja! Oh my god!” A man with a thick demeanour had appeared. His face, arms, and clothes were smeared with broth and flour as he rushed outside and grabbed Dokja’s wrist. “Are you hurt, my son? That fucking old geezer, Pildu! I will boil him and feed him to the foxes!” Dokja shook his head and smiled. As the man turned to Joonghyuk, he was relieved. He pushed back his laid-down raven hair and clamped his hands.
“Good sir! Thank you for your good deed! You shall receive a special offer. Two boxes of our warm and chewy Murim Dumplings for half the price of one box!” He patted Joonghyuk’s shoulders and dragged Dokja inside.
⬦⬥⬦
With the two wooden boxes in his arms, Joonghyuk walked back to the palace. However, on his way back, the Emperor could not help himself from reminiscing about the strange mute owner of the dumpling shop.
He wasn’t attractive, Joonghyuk reminded himself countless times, but his emotions did not waver.
Maybe it’s pity, he tried.
“It’s loneliness, Your Highness.”
Joonghyuk sent a sharp glare towards Sooyoung, who had gobbled up five big dumplings all by herself.
“A ruler isn’t lonely, advisor.” He polished his sword and pondered.
Sooyoung puffed out a chuckle. “Your Highness. You know it well. You do.”
Joonghyuk rubbed his neck and thought: I don’t. I don’t need to.