Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 12

“Have you ever seen His Majesty?”

At those words, Gamyoung’s eyebrows drooped. Well, he had seen him. Not often, but he was his father, after all. However, in Hongyo’s eyes, he was merely a student temporarily studying in the capital, away from his father, a local landowner in the countryside. So, he couldn’t answer truthfully.

“No. What can I do? He’s the emperor of a nation.”

In truth, that emperor was his father, and the next emperor, whom not only he but also Hongyo saw every day, was Kyungrak. How could he say that the next emperor, if not the current one, was the older brother Hongyo admired? However, someday, Hongyo might meet Kyungrak again.

“Well, maybe if you and I pass the military service examination, we’ll have a chance to meet His Majesty.”

Of course, even then, they would have to achieve significant merits to receive a direct appointment from the emperor. But bigger dreams are better, aren’t they? Gamyoung intentionally didn’t finish his sentence, wanting to instill more hope. However, Hongyo’s expression was different from what he expected. He used to be someone who jumped for joy at even the smallest things. But now, he felt no excitement from Hongyo. His indifferent, expressionless face was firmly grounded in reality.

“Gamyoung, I’m happy as I am now. Living day by day, hunting and providing for my grandmother.”

Hongyo’s face as he said those words was unfamiliar. As Gamyoung stared at him silently, Hongyo grasped his shoulder and smiled brightly.

“Of course, you should take the military exam and rise in the ranks. So you can get married and have children. If you need a sparring partner, this older brother will help you. But first, let’s stop by the tavern and have some gukbap.”

Then he burst into hearty laughter as usual. Gamyoung forced a smile to match Hongyo’s, but his awkward smile seemed somehow uneasy. He looked at Hongyo, who was already walking away.

It was the most realistic answer for someone in Hongyo’s situation. But…

He usually walked around with his shoulders squared and confident, but in moments like these, there was an unavoidable distance between him and Hongyo.

Gamyoung clenched his fists. An unknown anxiety gnawed at him, making his fingertips cold.

˖°⛩️⋆˙️

Late at night, a woman climbed the mountain path. Her attire was simple, but the silk fabric and ornaments attached to her clothes were quite expensive.

It was a pitch-black night. Although it was a mountain path connected to a village, and it was said that bandits or tigers wouldn’t come this far down, it still seemed dangerous for a woman to walk alone. However, she walked without hesitation, as if she wasn’t new to this mountain.

The path, which seemed like it would only lead further into the mountain, ended at a house, as if marking a boundary between the mountain and the village. It was an ordinary mud house without a single tile, but the woman, dressed in clothes that didn’t belong in such a place, entered familiarly.

As there were few visitors so late at night, an elderly person seemed to sense the presence and came out from inside the house. There was no customary greeting like, “Who is it?” Hongyo’s grandmother seemed to know that the late-night visitor was Mohyun, and came out to the yard to greet her.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Lower your voice.”

The urgent voice was almost a whisper. As if afraid someone might hear, Mohyun quickly entered an empty room. She stopped the grandmother, who was hurrying to light a lamp.

“I don’t have much time. How is the child?”

The only child in this house was Hongyo. The grandmother replied,

“He had a seizure ten days ago.”

“The curse was cast six months ago, wasn’t it? The intervals are getting shorter.”

Mohyun’s elegant brows furrowed. Hongyo’s grandmother’s expression also grew serious. Looking at Mohyun, the grandmother said,

“I think we need to perform the ritual soon.”

“I know. But the Imryongjae takes precedence. If I use my power on someone else before the new emperor is enthroned, I won’t be spared.”

The grandmother’s face darkened at those words. She bit her lip anxiously and grabbed Mohyun’s hand.

“Is there… no other way? The child is withering away.”

Wrinkled hands desperately clutched Mohyun’s hand. Unable to shake them off, Mohyun looked at the grandmother with surprised eyes and bit her lip.

“I can buy some time, albeit briefly. It will be alright if I leave no trace.”

It was an answer to the grandmother, but also a spell she cast upon herself.

‘It will be alright. It’s not like this hasn’t happened before.’

Mohyun spoke inwardly and carefully entered the room where Hongyo was, guided by the grandmother. He was originally a sharp child. However, exhausted by the curse, the sleeping child did not wake up, unaware of their presence.

Mohyun looked at her adopted son. His short hair had grown a bit since she last saw him, slightly covering the nape of his neck. The playful, mischievous face she was used to seeing had thinned, looking gaunt. She was disappointed that she couldn’t see his light brown eyes as they were closed, but Mohyun instead reached out to his hair, which was a similar color.

However, before her hand even touched his head, a faint blue light emanated from her palm, hovering in the air. It was a faint light, as if she was suppressing her power, but it was enough to softly illuminate the darkness. It was a beautiful light, no matter how many times she saw it. The grandmother stared at the light, mesmerized.

Mohyun focused all her attention. It was a minuscule amount of power compared to what she normally used, but it was all the more difficult to control because of that. The light, cautiously and delicately extended, was somehow affectionate. Beads of sweat formed on Mohyun’s forehead, her hair neatly combed back.

The faint light receded shortly after.

“This should be enough for a while.”

Mohyun’s words seemed to be true, as the sleeping Hongyo’s breathing and facial expression became much more relaxed. The grandmother repeatedly bowed her head, thanking Mohyun. Looking at her, Mohyun said,

“The child will wake up.”

Then she withdrew her hand that hadn’t touched Hongyo’s forehead. Mohyun looked back at the grandmother.

“Call Hongyo to the palace as soon as the Imryongjae and the emperor’s enthronement ceremony are over. This is only a temporary measure, so make sure he comes to see me.”

After finishing her words, Mohyun stood up. Leaving Hongyo’s grandmother, who was continuously bowing, she went down the mountain path. No one should know about this short outing, which hadn’t even lasted an hour.

Mohyun recalled seeing Hongyo during the Imryongjae procession. His seemingly indifferent face was hiding his emotions well, just as she had taught him. Or was that his genuine reaction to seeing her?

However, what lingered in her mind was the Sixth Prince beside him. She knew that the child was close to the Sixth Prince, Gamyoung. It was something the Crown Prince himself had looked into. However, it wasn’t her plan or scheme that brought the child and the Sixth Prince together. It was purely the child’s luck.

Sometimes, coincidental inevitabilities existed in the world. For now, since Hongyo wasn’t a threat to the Sixth Prince, both the Crown Prince and she were observing the situation, but things could change. Relationships seemed eternal, but once the time allotted for them ran out, people became nothing more than memories.

Mohyun, looking at the especially dense mountain path today, thought:

They say, to hide a tree, hide it in a forest.

˖°⛩️⋆˙️

Preparations for the Imryongjae were nearing their end. The palace and Hyunjingwan were walking on thin ice, but the people became more excited as the Imryongjae approached.

It was the day a new emperor would be chosen by the dragon. One might witness the enthronement of a new emperor a few times in their lifetime, but not all emperors were the same. Also, there was no absolute guarantee that the Crown Prince, nominated by the Hyunjingwan, would successfully receive the dragon’s choice.

The Hyunjingwan nominated the prince most suitable to be chosen by the dragon. However, since it was always preferable for the firstborn son to inherit the throne, the First Prince, the Crown Prince, was usually nominated.

However, the current emperor was hastily nominated after the then-Crown Prince, who failed to receive the dragon’s choice, went mad. He had already seen bloodshed before ascending the throne. After the Crown Prince who failed to receive the dragon’s choice went mad, the remaining princes slaughtered each other to be nominated. To survive, they had to draw their swords first and behead their brothers. In that process, the current emperor lost his first son, whom he cherished as his own life.

Having lost his first son, who hadn’t even reached his full height, the emperor changed. In his first edict after ascending to the throne, he declared that he would not see any more bloodshed. Whether it be the blood of his brothers or his people. Therefore, during the current emperor’s reign, there hadn’t been a single war. While they defended against enemies from the north, they never initiated an attack. Yet, the reason Won’guk could protect itself was because it was a nation chosen by the dragon.

There was a saying that a nation under the dragon’s protection would never fall. Even if it crumbled internally, it would never lose to another nation. However, as proof of that promise, all people under the dragon’s dominion had to pledge allegiance to the dragon. The emperor was no exception. The dragon was not to be commanded, but revered.

Those born with even a fraction of that power were the men of the imperial family and the priestesses. Ordinary men who did not inherit the imperial blood could never wield the dragon’s power, and not all men of the imperial family could either. The men of the imperial family were like vessels that could manifest the dragon’s power. They only held a fraction of that power, and only after being chosen by the dragon could they truly wield it.

Therefore, the only ones who could actually use the dragon’s power, even slightly, were the emperor and the priestesses of this land. Occasionally, there were those who received the dragon’s choice even though they weren’t the emperor or a priestess, but such stories were almost like folklore.

In any case, since it was the changing of emperors, the Imryongjae was inevitably a hot topic in every generation. When people met, their conversations revolved around the Imryongjae. Hoping that the Crown Prince would successfully receive the dragon’s choice, everyone looked forward to the new world the new emperor would usher in.

And finally, the day arrived. Amidst the unusually quiet dawn, the drum signaling the Imryongjae resounded loudly.