Flower Dream Chapter 12

“Hah.”

Dan Yuha’s eyes widened at the distance, close enough that he could touch if he reached out his hand. His small lips parted into a round shape. If he had toppled straight forward, he might have collided with Shin Ryuwon. The thought sent a chill down his spine. His vision swimming, Yuha quickly straightened up and bowed with full courtesy.

“I-I greet the descendant of the Divine Dragon. I am called Dan Yuha.”

Perhaps because he was so startled, his voice trembled. His heart pounded as if about to burst at any moment. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Having barely finished his greeting, Dan Yuha squeezed his eyes shut. Disappointment washed over him at the reality so different from the scene he had imagined.

After being selected as an attendant to the Imperial Prince, Dan Yuha had counted the days until his reunion with Shin Ryuwon. He had even worried over how best to greet him and practiced several times. He wasn’t sure if the Third Imperial Prince would remember him, but he had wanted to show him a grown, respectable adult.

He had wanted to leave a good impression, and then, if given the chance, tell him that thanks to him, he had pulled himself together and become an aromancer just like his father, and that he had been truly grateful back then…

Not only had he failed to greet him properly, but he had nearly fallen in front of the Imperial Prince and on top of that, had even stammered. The very first step had gone firmly wrong. Feeling his cheeks flush hot, Dan Yuha bit his lips. He had fantasized about many scenarios, but none of their meetings had been this pitiful.

“Dan Yuha, is it… So you must be that aromancer and pharmacist. The one who placed first in both exams at this year’s state examination.”

Flustered. Dan Yuha flinched his shoulders as the pleasant low-pitched voice coiled around his ears. His heart sank for an instant at Shin Ryuwon’s words, spoken as if meeting him for the first time.

“His Majesty is speaking to you. Where is your mind wandering off to?”

“Ah…”

As Dan Yuha stood stiffly frozen in silence, Hong Haehwa prodded his side with her elbow. Then, as if nothing had happened, she draped her hand over Yuha’s shoulder.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. Our aromancer Dan seems to be very nervous. As you just mentioned, it is true that he received the title of special-grade master in both the fields of aromancer and pharmacist. He is the pride of our tribe.”

Dan Yuha barely managed to collect his senses only after hearing Hong Haehwa act friendly while introducing him to Shin Ryuwon.

“This here is Ha Seokmun, a Non-Fragrant One who is very good at tasks requiring strength. He will assist Chief Eunuch Baek during Your Majesty’s stay. And this is Jeong Ryeon. She is not a Non-Fragrant One, but she has an imprint with her mate.”

“An imprint?”

Shin Ryuwon showed interest at the explanation that Jeong Ryeon was an imprinted person. That was only natural, as imprinting was a special act that occurred only between a Divine One and a Fragrant One. When a Flower One or Tree One imprinted with their mate or destined partner, others could no longer smell their body scent.

The fact that one could monopolize their partner’s fragrance was an advantage that came across as extremely attractive to Divine Ones, who had a strong possessive desire for their mates. However, lovers who actually went as far as imprinting were rare. This was because nothing was precisely known about when or under what circumstances imprinting occurred.

Consequently, in the present age, imprinted people mostly became imprinted without the parties themselves even knowing. Some would make a fuss about the phenomenon, claiming it was only possible between those who truly loved each other or those fated by the Samshin. For that reason, countless lovers dreamed of imprinting with the person they deeply cherished.

Conversely, there were also many who feared or dreaded imprinting. This was because, when an imprinted partner was lost to a sudden accident or illness, the life of the one left behind was highly likely to be ruined as well.

Nowadays, there are at least various precautions in place, like medicine and sorcery, to endure sudden partings. But in the past, there were frequent cases where people could not bear the sense of loss from the severing of each other’s souls and either lost their minds or followed their partner by taking their own lives.

Because of such dangers, it was often the case that when an imprint became known, even the partner would be targeted by political enemies. Thus, those of higher status tended to dread imprinting more. If they ever ended up imprinted unintentionally, they were desperate to hide it as much as possible.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen an imprinted person living in the sacred city…”

Shin Ryuwon murmured as if intrigued. Regardless of imprinting, Fragrant Ones who married Divine Ones usually lived outside the sacred city, since the majority of Divine Ones were part of the Empire’s ruling class.

“Due to personal circumstances… In any case, Jeong Ryeon is to assist Senior Court Lady Kim and attend to Your Majesty. As you requested that the retinue be minimized, we selected only three for now. Please do not hesitate to say so if you feel more people are needed.”

“This seems sufficient. So long as they perform their assigned duties well.”

Nodding lightly, Shin Ryuwon looked at Dan Yuha as he spoke, as if talking to himself. When their eyes met, those large irises would blink and quietly avert his gaze, just like a deer frightened by a predator.

“May I call you Aromancer Dan from now on? I have high expectations for you. I look forward to your service.”

“Yes, y-yes! I-I shall do my best.”

Dan Yuha, startled when Shin Ryuwon spoke to him first, answered. Then he swallowed a sigh inwardly. He felt pathetic for once again showing such a clumsy reaction, stammering.

“Haha, you must be very tired from the long journey. Please, go to Honghwa Pavilion quickly and recover from your travel fatigue.”

As the introductions came roughly to an end, Hong Haehwa tightened her grip on Dan Yuha’s shoulder. She pulled him slightly toward her and whispered quietly so only Yuha could hear.

“Pull yourself together. What have you been doing since earlier? Like a fool.”

“Sorry…”

“Shh. Don’t answer, just listen. If even the slightest complaint about you comes from His Majesty the Imperial Prince’s mouth later, you’ll be in serious trouble.”

“…”

“If you understand, keep your wits about you and escort His Majesty to Honghwa Pavilion. Absolutely do not cause any problems.”

Leaving her final warning, Hong Haehwa released Dan Yuha’s shoulder. Then, she pushed his back as if telling him to go quickly.

“This way, Your Majesty the Imperial Prince.”

Freed from Hong Haehwa, Dan Yuha guided Shin Ryuwon’s party with an extremely tense expression. As gazes filled with various emotions—curiosity, wariness, envy, worry—landed on the back of his head, his stomach churned for no good reason.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Why are you sighing so heavily?”

“…Mister.”

Sitting on the wooden floor of the servants’ quarters, Dan Yuha had been inspecting flowers and herbs dried crisp over the past few days. He raised his head at the voice heard beside him. There stood a neat-featured middle-aged man. It was Ha Seokmun, who had been selected as an attendant together with Yuha this time.

“You still haven’t relaxed?”

Plunking himself down beside Dan Yuha, Ha Seokmun examined him with a worried look. Seokmun was a resident of the same sacred city outskirts as Yuha, so they had been acquainted since childhood.

Since ancient times, the outer areas of the sacred city were where those branded as sinners, like Dan Yuha’s parents, or Non-Fragrant Ones discriminated against within the tribe, like Ha Seokmun, gathered to live. Perhaps because they were in similar circumstances, the people there did not harass or persecute Dan Yuha’s family.

Rather, many were kindly disposed toward Yuha, like Ha Seokmun. It was thanks to his father, Jeok Hyangrim, having provided various help to the residents of the outer area.

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then what?”

“Um, it’s just that I think I made a mistake earlier, when I first greeted His Majesty.”

“Huh? What kind of mistake could you make?”

“I nearly fell in front of His Majesty. And I kept stammering.”

“Tsk, I thought it was something serious. Everyone gets like that when meeting someone high up.”

Ha Seokmun patted Yuha’s back as if to say he was worrying over nothing.

“Were you feeling gloomy over just that?”

“Mm…”

Letting out a small groan, Dan Yuha wore a bitter smile. Actually, the reason he was feeling low had more to do with something else than not being able to greet him properly.

‘Dan Yuha, is it… So you must be that aromancer and pharmacist.’

‘May I call you Aromancer Dan from now on? I have high expectations for you. I look forward to your service.’

A shadow fell over his soft pink eyes as he recalled the words Shin Ryuwon had spoken to him several sichen ago. The Imperial Prince had treated Dan Yuha as if he were a complete stranger. That felt endlessly disappointing.

What exactly had he been expecting?

His chest feeling tight, Dan Yuha let out a long sigh. Truthfully, it would be stranger for the Imperial Prince Shin Ryuwon to remember the son of a mere aromancer, whom he had only seen a few times. And it was a reunion after nearly five years, no less.

The last time he had seen him, Shin Ryuwon was transitioning from boy to youth. Now, he had reached an age more than adequate for performing his coming-of-age ceremony, and had grown into a beautiful, robust, handsome man that anyone would admire.

His features, which had lost their youthful look, had become even more distinct, exuding a sharp, mature air like a well-honed sword. He had grown so tall that Yuha had to crane his neck far up to look at him. Even clothed, his solidly muscled body and broad shoulders were unmistakable—need more be said?

Dan Yuha had also grown considerably in that time. Five years ago, standing on the boundary between child and boy, he had now become a youth on the cusp of his coming-of-age ceremony. Just as Shin Ryuwon had changed, Yuha had changed in many ways as well. He still had some baby fat, but overall, he had matured. Now, no one treated him like a little kid who couldn’t do anything.

So, hoping that Shin Ryuwon would recognize him at a single glance, now that he himself stood at the threshold of adulthood, was greedy. But…

“…Hey, Mister.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“My face, compared to when my father was still alive… how is it? Has it changed a lot?”