Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 82

Gamyoung spurred his horse as fast as he possibly could. However, because of Hongyo, who kept faltering in his arms, he had no choice but to ride carefully, contrary to his urgent heart.

“Wake up, Yeo Hongyo.”

Gamyoung urged Hongyo, who was on the verge of losing consciousness. Each time, Hongyo barely opened her eyes and gripped the reins together with him, but even that seemed to be her limit. In the end, Gamyoung held Hongyo’s waist with one hand and tightly seized the reins with his remaining hand. Fortunately, the horse had been well-trained over a long period.

Gamyoung did not even know how they managed to arrive at the imperial palace. As soon as they barely crossed the East Gate, which was close to Hwayounggyeong, he firmly caught Hongyo—who was about to fall from the horse as she almost fainted—by her thighs and waist, holding her tightly in his arms. In a situation like this, he could not afford to waste time. Gamyoung organized the situation in his mind as quickly as possible.

If they went to Hwayounggyeong like this and someone happened to witness this scene, it would be a disaster. Setting aside dealing with Jang Daeho, who had caused Hongyo to enter that forest, he could not show Hongyo in this state to the Gamhwis. Therefore, Gamyoung instructed Jeonghwan, who had already been waiting for them since the East Gate.

“I must take Hongyo to my quarters. So, Commander, please wait at Hwayounggyeong and prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.”

At that, Jeonghwan’s eyes widened. However, he too judged that it was better to evacuate Hongyo to a different place instead of Hwayounggyeong. Except, for that place to be…

“Forgive me for interrupting, but wouldn’t the Royal Infirmary be better? Right now, treatment seems more urgent than anything else.”

Ever since he saw Choi Hyangbang, who belonged to the rear guard, riding his horse like crazy, he had an ominous premonition. And sure enough. Upon receiving the news that Jang Daeho had broken away from the rear guard group, Jeonghwan’s mind momentarily went completely blank. Since he was a fellow like an active volcano that might erupt at any moment, he had expected that he would commit such a sporadic act someday, but when he confirmed that Yeo Hongyo had not returned with the rear guard, the world looked yellow before his eyes. How could he not know that the one that bastard was targeting was Yeo Hongyo?

However, Yeo Hongyo, whom he expected to return with broken limbs at worst, was completely unable to come to her senses, leaving him wondering what on earth had happened. Jeonghwan instinctively reached out his arm toward Hongyo. Since she was his direct subordinate, it was only natural for him to look after her.

But before he could even touch her shoulder, Gamyoung pulled Hongyo tightly into his embrace.

“My physician-in-charge will be faster than the Royal Infirmary.”

Rather than going to the Royal Infirmary and causing rumors to spread, it was better to wait for the royal physician at his quarters. Furthermore, what Hongyo actually needed right now, more than a physician, was… Gamyoung spoke quickly, as if there was no more time to delay.

“Commander, return to Hwayounggyeong right this instant and ferret out those who are involved in this matter.”

He then turned his steps while keeping Hongyo held in his arms as she was. Jeonghwan quietly stared at the retreating figure of Gamyoung. To be precise, at Hongyo, who was held in his embrace with her head leaning on his shoulder.

The palace servants who saw Gamyoung arriving at his quarters opened their eyes wide in astonishment, only to lower their heads back down. He was a master who had never personally brought anyone into his quarters until now. It was surprising enough that such a master brought someone along for the first time, but to bring them held in his arms made it all the more startling. However, without paying them any mind, Gamyoung urgently instructed the eunuch who ran over in haste.

“Go and summon the Chief Military Shaman at once.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The eunuch bowed his waist and dashed out immediately. Gamyoung was usually generous and lenient toward his subordinates, but when he wore a face like that, the best answer was not to add any words, no matter how curious one might be. Gamyoung, watching the eunuch hurry toward Hyunjingwan, hastily flung open the door to his room. He then sat Hongyo down on the bed and examined her condition.

“Hongyo, Yeo Hongyo. Can you hear me?”

However, whether from the cold or out of fear, Hongyo, who was trembling violently, could not even focus her gaze properly. Seeing such a Hongyo, Gamyoung grew anxious and at the same time felt a deep rage. It was his first time realizing that he could harbor such raw emotions. He wanted to seize those who had pushed Hongyo into the forest right this instant and make them suffer several times more than the pain Hongyo was feeling right now, but there was something he had to do first.

“Just wait a little bit. Okay? The Chief Military Shaman will be here soon.”

Even amidst her lack of consciousness, a slight gleam turned in her pupils, as if she felt a bit relieved at the mention of the Chief Military Shaman coming. While the Chief Military Shaman he summoned was also Hongyo’s foster mother, it was more so because the Chief Military Shaman was the best choice among those who could handle the power possessed by the Dragon God right now.

It was an incident that occurred in the Forest of Vanishing Shadows. He did not know what Hongyo had seen there, but he had heard that unless one was a person possessing the power of the dragon, they could never escape the forest. For that reason, those who were not imperial men or shamans absolutely had to accompany those with the power of the dragon. Otherwise, if ordinary people set foot in that forest, they would be bewitched by the malevolent energy of the forest, wander around losing their way, and die there.

And Hongyo was no different. He hated to even imagine what would have happened to her if he had been just a little bit later. When he embraced the child who was collapsed on the ground unable to even open her eyes properly, she was shaking severely as if having a seizure despite being unconscious. It literally felt like his blood was rushing backward. If he hadn’t heard the full story from Gu Yeoryeong, Hongyo’s life could not be guaranteed by now.

Gamyoung carefully embraced and comforted Hongyo, who was still trembling severely.

“It’s alright, Hongyo. I’m right here.”

The hand patting her back was boundlessly careful. As he whispered that it was alright into her ear multiple times, the seizures gradually subsided, as if she was coming to her senses a bit. At the same time, the shoulder where Hongyo’s head rested grew warmly wet.

Gamyoung looked sorrowfully at Hongyo, whose eyes were still devoid of focus. She looked as though she would collapse just like this if he didn’t hold onto her, exactly like a doll with its strings cut. Gamyoung realized for the first time that having nothing he could immediately do for her was such an anxious and heart-wrenching thing. From her unfocused eyes, tears had been flowing incessantly since a moment ago. Looking at Hongyo, who was just shedding tears silently in streams without even knowing she was crying, Gamyoung held her head with both hands and caressed her cheeks. At that, the beaded tears flowed down along his hands.

“It’s alright. It’s just because you were too startled.”

The voice, drenched in sorrow, was truly affectionate. It was Hongyo who was in pain, but Gamyoung felt as though his own heart was tearing apart. His chest, which had stung as if burning when he was enraged, was now throbbing as if breaking. Gamyoung looked at Hongyo. Unlike her tears that were hot as if scalded by fire, her lips were completely pale as if she had fallen into cold water.

Gazing at those lips, Gamyoung slowly approached while keeping his hands caressing her two cheeks. He then examined her face from very close up, just as Hongyo had done before. The distance of barely less than a span narrowed even further, and soon their foreheads touched. In her current state, Yeo Hongyo would think that she was seeing an illusion. Gamyoung quietly pressed his forehead against hers, as if to share his warmth. And before long, at Hongyo’s breathing which had become slightly more comfortable than before, he carefully pressed the tip of his nose against hers. At a distance where only each other’s breath could be felt, Gamyoung felt that Hongyo was gradually regaining her body temperature.

Apart from the pain that felt like his heart was tearing, at this moment, Gamyoung felt as if only Hongyo and he were left in the world. He could not deny the emotion that was heartbreakingly painful yet trembling enough to make even his fingertips tingle during this moment when only the two of them remained to share each other’s warmth. Gamyoung was unbearably angry at himself for feeling such emotions even upon seeing Hongyo’s current state, and at the same time, he felt miserable. However, this was as far as it would go.

“It is the Chief Military Shaman.”

A voice was heard from outside the door. It seemed ordinary at a glance, but seeing that she had forgotten etiquette, Mohyun also seemed out of her mind, having come after guessing the situation. Gamyoung, drawing away from Hongyo, spoke.

“Tell her to enter.”

As soon as permission was granted, the door opened immediately. Before Mohyun could even offer her greetings to Gamyoung, she examined Hongyo first. Mohyun, who intently observed her unfocused gaze, hastily spoke to Gamyoung.

“Your Highness, Prince Regent. Forgive me, but could you please step outside for a moment? Also, do not let anyone in until I come out.”

No matter if she was the Chief Military Shaman, commanding a member of the imperial family was a matter for which she could fully be held accountable for a crime. Furthermore, since this was none other than Gamyoung’s quarters, an order to dismiss the host could not exist. However, this was no situation to argue over such matters. Since the only one who could save Hongyo right now was the Chief Military Shaman.

As soon as Gamyoung stepped out of the room, the sound of chanting incantations was heard from within. Subsequently, an intense blue light wrapped around the inside of the room, enough for lines of light to flow out even beyond the room. Leaving behind the voice of the Chief Military Shaman who was frantically chanting incantations for a while like that, Gamyoung merely prayed and prayed outside the room that Hongyo would be safe.

It was when about one sikgyeong (30 minutes) had passed like that. Mohyun, who emerged from the room, looked visibly exhausted and fearful. However, Gamyoung was also in the same position, lacking the leeway to look after Mohyun’s state.

“How is Hongyo?”

At that, Mohyun replied in a lowered voice.

“Fortunately, there is no major abnormality. It was a stroke of heavenly luck that we found her before it was too late. If it had been just a little later, even if her life could be saved, there would be no guarantee that her mind wouldn’t collapse. However, the power of the dragon is not something an ordinary person can withstand. Right now, I have only taken temporary measures to ensure she can escape the illusion, but as soon as we return to the Cheongmudang, we must immediately cast a spell so that she cannot remember what happened in the Forest of Vanishing Shadows. For now, it will be best not to provoke that child.”

At those words, Gamyoung felt immensely relieved. He had never once thought that he could lose Hongyo in this manner. As his tension loosened, his entire body throbbed with pain.

“Is there anything else needed? Wouldn’t it be better to summon the royal physician even now?”

At that, Mohyun shook her head.

“It seems better to summon the royal physician once Hongyo comes to her senses. For now, it would be best for me to watch over and care for her by her side. Since I must continue to perform rituals, it would be better to have her sleep at the Cheongmudang for a few days.”

At that reply, Gamyoung slowly nodded his head. For now, entrusting Hongyo to Mohyun was the absolute best choice.

Gamyoung summoned a court lady who was strong and tight-lipped even among the court ladies. Mohyun took the lead in front of the court lady who carefully carried Hongyo on her back. It was just as Gamyoung was staring at Hongyo, who was fast asleep without knowing anything about the world under the heavily cast spell. Mohyun, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped her steps and turned back to look at Gamyoung. She then courteously paid her respects.

“I sincerely thank you for today’s matter, Your Highness, Prince Regent.”

In her gaze, which usually never revealed any emotion, a sincere gratitude was contained just for this moment. Gamyoung looked at Mohyun with slightly surprised eyes. At that, Mohyun, who bowed her waist deeply, finished her greeting and moved her steps once more.

Gamyoung stood in that spot until Hongyo disappeared from his sight, and once they vanished, he quickly headed somewhere. With a gaze so sinister and savage that one wouldn’t even think it belonged to Gamyoung.