Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 30

The people standing awkwardly at the sound quickly assumed their positions. Gamyoung hurriedly grabbed Hongyo’s hand.

“Our spot isn’t here. Let’s head back now.”

Then, he slightly bowed his head to ask for understanding from Munhyung, who was still standing there dumbfounded, as well as So Wonbu and his family, who were silently watching them, and headed to the edge of the area away from the nobles. Hongyo, who had awkwardly bowed in imitation of Gamyoung, looked back and asked as he was half-dragged away.

“Who was that?”

Hongyo gestured with his eyes towards the woman who had stood before Gamyoung. Her hands seemed accustomed to preparing the gear, but for her to approach a stranger so unhesitatingly suggested she had known Gamyoung for quite some time. But just as Gamyoung was about to answer, the loud, ear-splitting sound of the drum forced them to look forward.

As Mohyun, standing before the altar, nodded her head, the drum boomed loudly. Simultaneously, the shamans surrounded Mohyun and then knelt. Mohyun, standing in their midst, spread her arms wide and conducted the rite. It was customary for the Chief Shaman to personally offer respects to the gods during major national events like the Dragon-Welcoming Ceremony or a hunting ceremony.

An unknown language flowed from her lips, and soon a bluish beam of light enveloped Mohyun and her surroundings. The light grew larger and larger, soon more than covering the entire area. People stared blankly at the blue light faintly floating above their heads. The light, which vanished as if by magic by the time the spell for protection and good fortune in battle was finished, left a lingering resonance even after the rite was over.

Hongyo stared blankly at the light. It was similar to the light that enveloped his body whenever he went to see Mohyun, yet slightly different. He had heard that the weight and density of the magic felt different depending on the type of spell. At first, he didn’t understand what that meant, but the air, which didn’t painfully press down on his lungs, was soft and even felt faintly warm.

Hongyo quietly held out his palm as if to catch the light. But the already withdrawn light headed towards the altar where Mohyun was. For a moment, it seemed as if the light flickered towards him, but it immediately turned towards Mohyun. Feeling a sense of disappointment, he turned his gaze to the altar.

He thought his eyes met Mohyun’s for a moment, but they were too far away, and it was impossible for her to find him among the countless people gathered like a cloud. He had informed her he would be participating in the hunting ceremony, but she wasn’t the type of adoptive mother to take an interest in his affairs, so she might have already forgotten about it by now.

It was as Hongyo awkwardly withdrew his hand. His eyes met Gamyoung’s, and feeling embarrassed, Hongyo withdrew his hand and smiled. Gamyoung stared at him intently. Perhaps because of his different attire, he looked somewhat unfamiliar, but the wide grin was definitely Hongyo. His neat face with his forehead clearly exposed was refreshing and strangely beautiful.

He was as flustered as if he had been hit on the back of the head. And yet, strangely, something hot spread poignantly from deep within his chest. What is this? It was when he couldn’t even turn his head in his confusion. Hongyo, sensing something was wrong, asked.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

He was usually quite kind, but strangely, his kindness felt burdensome right now. As Gamyoung unconsciously took a step back, Hongyo, taken aback, widened his eyes. Gamyoung smiled awkwardly and blocked the front with his arms as if to protect himself.

“It’s nothing. I think I’m just a little nervous.”

Nervous? He wondered if the guy who had gone hunting without a second thought since he was young would be nervous about something like this. As Mohyun withdrew from the altar, the drum boomed loudly once more.

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”

At that, everyone present knelt and prostrated themselves. Hongyo also followed the others and prostrated himself flat on the ground. Although he had frequented the imperial palace, he had only ever entered the Hyunjingwan, so he had never seen even the tip of the emperor’s toe, let alone the emperor himself. That’s why he wanted to see his royal face at least once, but it was the law that no one could raise their head or assume a comfortable position until the emperor’s permission was given.

Gamyoung, still prostrated, rolled his eyes to sneak a peek to his side. As if he had done nothing wrong, Yeo Hongyo was so terrified that he was not only prostrated flat but also had his eyes closed. It made Gamyoung’s efforts of deliberately loitering in a different area with his identity hidden, instead of the front seats where the royal family was, seem pointless, in case Hongyo recognized Kyungrak.

Gamyoung looked at Hongyo, who had his eyes squeezed shut, and the corner of his lips curled up. Even if the clothes he was wearing were different, Yeo Hongyo was still Yeo Hongyo. He turned his head again. As he bowed his head so low that his forehead almost touched the dirt floor, Kyungrak appeared.

“Thank you all for participating in this first royal hunt I am hosting.”

Kyungrak’s voice spread throughout the venue. The moment he heard that voice, Hongyo felt a flinch. But no one could dare look at his face until the emperor’s permission was given.

“I look forward to seeing who will catch the most magnificent beast. Now, let the hunting ceremony begin.”

As the start was announced, the drum boomed loudly. Only after the emperor had descended from the altar could everyone rise from their spots. Gamyoung looked at Hongyo, who was craning his neck to look at the altar without even brushing the dirt off his knees. But the emperor, having already finished his preparations, was heavily armed and wearing a helmet that covered his face. At this distance, it would have been blurry even without the helmet anyway.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

At that, Hongyo turned his head and said with a frown.

“His Majesty’s voice. You know. I might be the only one who thinks this, but wasn’t it a little similar to Senior Brother Kyungrak’s?”

Gamyoung felt a pang of guilt for a moment but averted his gaze, pretending to be nonchalant.

“Really? I didn’t really notice. Wasn’t His Majesty’s voice much deeper and manlier?”

“…Really? Now that you mention it, I guess so.”

To Hongyo, who was still craning his neck towards the altar as if he were still suspicious, Gamyoung said.

“More importantly, I think you need to brush the dirt off your knees.”

He said it to deliberately divert his attention, and thankfully, Hongyo’s gaze was drawn to his dirtied clothes.

“Ah, but this isn’t coming off well.”

It was as Gamyoung was about to bend his knees to help Hongyo, who was brushing at the stubborn dirt. So Wonbu, the Gyeongju Provincial Governor, and his children, who had finished their hunting preparations, stood before Gamyoung.

“We will be heading off first. Please take care.”

So Wonbu, who was about to say something, looked at Hongyo standing next to him, then back at Gamyoung and added.

“Young master. And your friend too.”

Gamyoung slightly bowed his head at those words.

“Yes. I hope you have a safe trip as well, Inspector.”

At that, Hongyo, who was next to him, bowed his head as well. Hongyo watched the retreating So Wonbu and asked.

“He must be someone of very high rank.”

“Yes. He manages the entire Gyeongju territory.”

“Heop. Gyeongju? He’s a really amazing person. How did you get to know someone like that, Gamyoung? Ah, you said you were from Najeon, next to Gyeongju. You must have visited the neighboring region often.”

Hongyo, nodding as if he understood, looked at the woman following So Wonbu and whispered.

“Perhaps because Gyeongju is a large territory, the woman’s spirit is also extraordinary. I was actually a little surprised earlier. I didn’t expect her to fix my hair like that. She’s that sir’s daughter, right? I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful in my life.”

As he said that, he was fidgeting with the end of the ribbon that tied his hair, as if embarrassed. Seeing that, Gamyoung suddenly felt something hot well up inside him. But he had no idea why he was suddenly feeling that way. Yet, amidst it all, he only had the thought that he must never let this feeling be known.

“Let’s go. If we linger like this, we won’t catch a single thing.”

Gamyoung deliberately started walking without replying to Hongyo’s words. Two horses were prepared next to the tent. He heard Hongyo’s voice from behind, chasing after him, asking to go together. Gamyoung pretended not to hear and mounted the saddle.

‘What is this?’

Lately, an emotion that had no answer, no matter how many times he asked, would well up from time to time. But one thing was certain: the one who made him feel this way was Yeo Hongyo. In fact, it would be natural for any man with eyes to be captivated by a beauty. Besides, just as that Hongyo fellow said, he didn’t expect her to go as far as to fix his hair, so it was natural to be more concerned. That’s what was natural, but….

Gamyoung looked at the daughter who was seeing off So Wonbu. After seeing her father off, she turned her head, and the direction her gaze went was….

“Hey. What am I supposed to do if you just leave like that? Let’s go together. Oh, but this horse is gentle. What’s its name?”

It was Hongyo, who was cheerfully stroking the horse.

“Cha Gamyoung. I asked what its name is.”

Hongyo, who had mounted the horse, tapped Gamyoung’s shoulder, and only then did Gamyoung turn to look at Hongyo, his eyes widening in surprise.

“What did you say?”

“…Uh, nothing. Let’s get going quickly.”

“Alright.”

Hongyo, who spoke a little late, held the reins to let Gamyoung take the lead. Hongyo, following Gamyoung who had gone ahead, looked at his back and recalled the face he had just seen. The expressionless face was the same as the one he had seen that day when he was with Sujin. At the end of that gaze was the woman who had tied his hair.

Hongyo looked at Gamyoung, who had entered the forest path, with a puzzled look. He couldn’t figure out why he had looked at him with such an expression.

‘That guy is surprisingly fickle.’

He wasn’t like that before. It was as Hongyo, his eyes narrowed, was trying to guess the reason. From afar, Munhyung, who had started first, shouted loudly towards them.

“Do your best. Little brother!”

As Hongyo watched him disappear into the forest like an arrow, a realization flashed through his mind.

‘Don’t tell me she’s his fiancée?’