Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 27

He had impulsively taken the fabric after saying he’d handle it, but since he had no talent for making clothes, he had intended to entrust it to the Royal Wardrobe from the start. Nevertheless, the reason he didn’t entrust it to Hongyo’s grandmother was his desire for his own touch to be on the first set of clothes he was ever having made for Hongyo.

If Kyungrak heard this, he would probably say it was quite an intense thing to do for a friend, but there was no harm in putting one’s heart into a gift. However, there was one thing he hadn’t considered.

“Do you have a pattern in mind?”

When the court attendant who made the garments asked, Gamyoung was flustered.

“What kind of pattern should be embroidered for a gift to a friend?”

The court attendant answered expertly.

“Usually, we embroider flowers like plum blossoms or chrysanthemums, or we engrave patterns like deer, phoenixes, or clouds.”

Then, she explained the symbolism of each pattern. Gamyoung, listening slowly to the meanings, paused at the chrysanthemum.

“The chrysanthemum is called iru, meaning a friend so outstanding that he overflows with excellence.”

“Hmm.”

“Another meaning is gau, signifying a beautiful and elegant person.”

“…Let’s go with that.”

Even as he said it, Gamyoung felt as if his throat was tightening for some reason. He cleared his throat unnecessarily and asked the court attendant, who had bowed her head as she received the silk.

“You can have it finished by the time of the royal hunt, right?”

“You will be able to receive it in four days.”

She was an expert court attendant indeed. After she withdrew, Gamyoung lay down on his bed. Having clothes tailored was more exhausting than he thought. All he had done was choose the pattern and a different colored silk for the belt, but he was drained.

‘…I wonder if he’ll like it when I give it to him?’

Since he was the one who had dragged Hongyo into this, a gift like this was only natural, but separate from that, there was no guarantee the recipient would like it.

‘Still, since I’m giving it to him, I hope he likes it. I even thought about the meaning.’

Gamyoung scratched his cheek. All he did was have a training uniform made for a friend, yet he couldn’t understand why he was being so meticulous about it.

“Agh! I should just train more in this time.”

Just as that Hongyo fellow said, if he wanted to catch even the biggest wolf, he had to practice archery diligently until then. It was when he was getting up to go to the training ground that he heard a voice calling him from outside his quarters.

“Your Highness. A letter has arrived from the Hyunjingwan.”

“Bring it in.”

Hyunjingwan? Isn’t that the institution where the shamans are? Why would a letter come from there…. Gamyoung’s eyes grew cold as he saw the official title at the end of the letter the court attendant brought him.

“Hmm….”

Lost in thought for a moment, Gamyoung soon rose from his seat.

“It has been a while.”

“Yes. I believe this is the first time we are meeting since the coronation, Chief Shaman.”

When Gamyoung entered the shrine, the Chief Shaman, Ki Mohyun, was waiting for him inside. The shrine, located in a secluded part of the Hyunjingwan, was a place where shamans usually served the Dragon God, unlike the Hall of the Returning Hour, which was used for major national rites or for directly summoning a dragon.

“I was surprised that you sent for me. It was unexpected.”

As Gamyoung spoke with a smile, Mohyun also smiled.

“I am sorry to have made Your Highness come all this way. However, it is a matter concerning my child, so I could not refrain from speaking to you.”

It was the first time he had a private audience with just Mohyun. She was never an easy person to begin with, but hearing the word ‘child’ directly from Mohyun’s lips, Gamyoung had a premonition that this would be even more difficult.

“I heard that you will be participating in the hunting ceremony with my child.”

“It seems the news has already traveled that far.”

“Because Hongyo told me himself.”

So he told her that day. Gamyoung recalled seeing Hongyo at the palace a few days ago. Since he was heading for the Hyunjingwan that day, it seemed he had met Mohyun and explained the situation. Gamyoung studied Mohyun’s face. It wasn’t easy to read her heart as she rarely revealed her inner thoughts, but there had to be a reason she had summoned him all the way here.

“Yes. There is no one as trustworthy as Hongyo. Of course, his skills are also outstanding.”

At that answer, Mohyun’s expression became slightly ambiguous. The lines around her mouth, which was set in thought, grew even firmer. After choosing her words for a moment, Mohyun slowly parted her lips.

“I am well aware that the bond between Your Highness and my child is special. I’ve heard you have not been separated for a moment since Hongyo saved Your Highness’s life.”

Hearing about their relationship through the mouth of another felt strangely embarrassing. And the other person was Mohyun, no less. Although not his biological mother, she could be considered Hongyo’s current family, which made the situation feel strangely difficult.

“Is it not a blessing to have a good friend by one’s side? So, what is it that you desire from me, Chief Shaman?”

When it was difficult to grasp the other person’s intentions, a direct approach was sometimes the right one. As he looked at Mohyun, she met his gaze without avoiding it. Her eyes, which seemed like they would be chilling to the touch, were unflinching.

“I would like you not to take Hongyo with you to the hunting ceremony.”

“……”

“I beg of you. As a mother.”

Her eyes, though cold, were honest and without artifice. Gamyoung closed his mouth. An adoptive mother was still a mother. Hongyo had seldom mentioned Mohyun, but he was her adopted son nonetheless. Does this mean that although she may seem harsh on the outside, she has affection for him?

But he couldn’t give up on his end either.

“If you are concerned that Hongyo might get hurt, you need not worry. Although it is called a hunt, truly dangerous beasts like tigers are not let loose, so he will not be harmed. I will not let that happen either.”

He hadn’t asked Hongyo to go with him without at least this much resolve. This was the first event hosted by the new Emperor. There would be absolutely no danger, nor would any blood be shed. And even if, by some chance, such a thing were to happen, he was confident he could protect Hongyo.

At that, Mohyun, her mouth set firmly, asked.

“Why must it be that child?”

“Did I not tell you? It is because the one I can trust is Hongyo.”

“With all due respect, Your Highness, by your side are generals more skilled and loyal than my child. This means there are many who can protect Your Highness, even if it is not that child. So why did it have to be Hongyo?”

Gamyoung’s head began to ache a little, wondering how he should persuade her in this circular conversation. He had never spoken with her deeply on a personal level, but the Chief Shaman he knew, and the one others described, was more cool-headed, rational, and clear-thinking than this. But her current state, though feigning composure, seemed somehow rushed.

In that moment, Gamyoung stepped forward without realizing it.

“Could it be that something bad will happen to Hongyo?”

Gamyoung felt his heart drop. It was said that royal males were born with the power of the dragon, but those not chosen in the Dragon-Welcoming Ceremony were as good as powerless. But shamans were different. Their work was not just holding rites for the Dragon God or ceremonies to pray for safety and peace. The essence of a shaman’s power was to see the future, block misfortune, and attract good luck by using the dragon’s power. If so….

Gamyoung’s face contorted in an instant. Seeing this, Mohyun, in turn, regained her composure. The faint smile she had worn was gone, and her face was cold and unreadable.

“I do not divine that child’s future.”

Only then did Gamyoung feel a sense of relief. He had heard that among those who could see the future, some were afraid of what lay ahead and did not look into their own futures. That sentiment would likely extend to their children. Seeing her affection, which seemed deeper than he thought, Gamyoung was instead struck by a question.

“Then why are you so opposed to Hongyo participating in the hunting ceremony? You know as well as I do, Chief Shaman. Hongyo’s skills are too great to be wasted just hunting in the mountains. No matter how brilliant a gem is, if it remains buried in the dirt, no one will ever know of it.”

He was sincere. Although it was partly his own selfish desire to no longer hide his identity, Hongyo was a talent too precious to be left to rot in the mountains. That was why he had drawn him in even more.

“I am not unaware of that. But did that child ever truly wish for such things?”

Gamyoung could not bring himself to answer that question. Not once had Hongyo ever desired success or to show off his skills. Looking at Gamyoung, Mohyun spoke with the complete composure of her usual self.

“Each person has their own lot in life. Just as Your Highness has your own life, that child has the life given to him. I ask that you please be considerate of this.”

Despite her calm but clear voice, a strange sense of pressure emanated from Mohyun even as she stood still. Gamyoung looked at her and then opened his mouth.

“Hongyo said he wanted to protect me.”

“……”

“Therefore, for me too, it must be Hongyo.”

Like mother, like son, I suppose. But Gamyoung could not back down. Even Gamyoung himself couldn’t understand why he was being so uncharacteristically stubborn and refusing to yield. It was fine if it was called selfishness. It was simply because it had to be Hongyo.

For a while, there were no words between them. Instead, only silent gazes stared intently at each other. And the one who broke the silence first was Mohyun.

“Seeing the look in your eyes, I understand your intentions, Your Highness. Then, I shall see you at the ceremony.”

When Mohyun, who had bowed deeply, straightened her back, she had completely returned to being the head of the Hyunjingwan. Gamyoung bowed his head.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

It was as Gamyoung, having finished his farewells, was about to turn and leave. He suddenly stopped and asked Mohyun.

“Ah, there is one thing I am curious about…. You do not have to answer if you do not wish to.”

“Please ask.”

“How did you come to adopt Hongyo as your son?”

The eyes looking at Mohyun were truly dark. A pure question, devoid of any scheme or calculation. Mohyun looked into those eyes and answered.

“We simply met because our fates were connected. Are you not also connected to that child you met by chance, Your Highness?”

“…Is that so.”

It was a convincing answer, but his expression was not. Gamyoung bowed his head once more in farewell, leaving his question unanswered, and withdrew. Left alone, Mohyun turned her body toward the altar. The wall engraved with the image of a dragon was merely a sculpture without a spell cast upon it, but Mohyun stared at it intently. Mohyun thought of the past.

‘Chief Shaman. I’ve decided to go to the hunting ceremony with Gamyoung.’

The image of him asking for permission, his body still in pain not long after the ritual, was vivid. He was a good kid. She wouldn’t even let him call her mother, yet he told her everything.

What should I do?

But Mohyun did not let the words escape her lips. She already knew the answer to what she should do. Mohyun was lost in thought as she looked at the dragon before her.

Sometimes, one simply wanted to avoid the answer.