Flower Dream Chapter 4

The decisive blow that sent the already precarious Honghwa Tribe down the path of full-fledged ruin was the elopement incident that occurred about twenty years ago. At that time, Dan Yeongha, who had been the tribe’s hope, rejected an arranged marriage with a collateral branch of the imperial family and fled with his lover, Jeok Hyangrim. The child born between those two was Dan Yuha.

Due to that incident, the Honghwa Tribe faced a great crisis. The collateral imperial kinsman scorned by Dan Yeongha flew into a rage and exerted pressure on the merchant companies trading with the tribe, forcing them to withdraw their contracts. Then he tormented the two through all manner of methods, even denouncing Dan Yeongha and Jeok Hyangrim to the imperial court.

Later, it was revealed that the imperial kinsman had ignored Dan Yeongha’s wishes and forcibly proceeded with the engagement in violation of the law stating that “the children of divine beasts shall not carelessly break flowers and trees,” so the tribe was spared annihilation. However, the Honghwa Tribe’s reputation among the divine people plummeted.

As a result, all of the marriage prospects of the Flower People who were then of marriageable age, including Hong Haehwa, went completely awry. It was an immense blow to the Honghwa Tribe, which had expanded its influence through unions with imperial and noble houses. Naturally, its power was bound to weaken.

“I hope that after the parent, the child will not also cause harm to our tribe. Should you ignore my warning, I will see to it that you taste a suffering more terrible than death.”

“…”

“Hoo, that is all. If you understand, leave now.”

“…Yes, Tribal Chief.”

Having said only what he wished, Hong Haehwa waved his hand dismissively to issue a dismissal. Dan Yuha bowed his head deeply. Soon after, he left the office with a face mixed with excitement and anxiety.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Hwaaam…”

Shin Ryuwon’s adjutant, Mun Sewon, opened his mouth wide to rouse himself from sleep. Perhaps because day had yet to break, the path connected to the detached hall was profoundly dark. With the gloomy atmosphere as if something might leap out at any moment, he grew needlessly frightened and walked as if bounding.

Waaaa…!

Hahaha…

The festival that had continued for days was a bustling success day and night without pause. Mun Sewon let out a small snicker at the sounds of music and cheering carried on the wind.

The Emperor was greatly pleased with the success of this expedition and threw a grand festival to celebrate the victory. He opened the storehouses of the imperial palace and distributed liquor and meat to the populace every day, so even those living outside the capital came after hearing the rumors.

Furthermore, at night they set off firecrackers to bloom flames in the sky, and floated lanterns of every hue upon the river crossing the imperial capital while enjoying boating excursions. Thanks to this, not only the imperial palace but the entire capital was as bright as midday.

“Everyone’s full of energy, aren’t they.”

How could they be so lively after carousing and drinking all night? Recalling the banquet ongoing for its fourth day in the garden of the Crown Prince’s palace, Sewon shook his head from side to side. While the lower ranks had been indulging in drink, song, and dance for days on end, the actual hero of the festival had long since been absent from the gathering.

“Did he get at least a little sleep…”

Mun Sewon murmured in a worried voice as he briskly moved his feet. Before he knew it, he stood before the firmly shut main gate of the detached hall. With a fatigue-ridden face, he yawned and extended his hand. As he injected divine power in that state, the talismans plastered all over the gate glowed, and the air rippled.

Creeeak.

As soon as Sewon lowered his hand, the main gate opened by itself. Unlike the boisterous main palace, the detached hall was silent as the grave. Having entered with a tense expression, he soon spotted a familiar face and smiled brightly.

“Captain Hyeok!”

“…Adjutant Mun?”

The person standing guard as rigidly as a jangseung totem on the stone path connected to the building was Hyeok Ryeoa, who led the Imperial 5th Guard.

“No wonder I couldn’t see you anywhere; you were standing guard here all night? Instead of ordering the lower ranks to do it.”

Mun Sewon approached Hyeok Ryeoa and whispered in a lowered voice, as if sharing a secret.

“It is easier for me to do it myself.”

“I do wish His Highness would recognize our Captain’s loyalty…”

“What is the matter?”

Having replied bluntly, Hyeok Ryeoa relaxed her vigilance and asked. Even though it was the hall where the Crown Prince was staying, she was the sole guard. It was because Shin Ryuwon had dismissed everyone except Hyeok Ryeoa. The two continued their conversation with unruffled manner, as if Ryuwon’s behavior was already familiar.

“Ah, word came that Her Majesty the Empress wishes to have breakfast together with His Highness. As there also happens to be something to report, I came in place of Chief Eunuch Baek.”

“Something to report?”

“The courier sent to the Honghwa Tribe’s enclave arrived just a moment ago. Has His Highness roused from sleep?”

“Well…”

Hyeok Ryeoa trailed off lingeringly and cast her gaze toward the hall where the lights had gone out. Given that a powerful aura had been emanating out right up until just before Mun Sewon appeared, Shin Ryuwon undoubtedly had not managed to sleep properly, as usual.

“Before asking if he has risen, shouldn’t the first question be whether he succeeded in sleeping?”

“Ah. That means… today as well, again?”

Mun Sewon’s face clouded over at once. His liege, Shin Ryuwon, had suffered from chronic insomnia since childhood due to his divine blood being stronger than others.

“Unless it’s an urgent matter, he keeps no one nearby at night, so I haven’t confirmed it with my own eyes, but… from what I can sense, the sleeping draught prescribed by the royal physician does not appear to be very effective. Same goes for the sleeping incense crafted by the imperial perfumer.”

“Oh dear.”

At Hyeok Ryeoa’s explanation, Mun Sewon lamented. Though it was expected to some degree, hearing it from her own lips made his heart heavy.

“Then His Highness’s mood won’t be good… Hmm, would it be better if I come back later…?”

Mun Sewon rolled his eyes around, gauging the situation. On days when he lacked sleep, Ryuwon became several times more sensitive than usual, so one had to be careful in every word and deed. He might get caught in the pointless crossfire if he misstepped.

“No. If he is to go to the Empress’s palace, we must begin preparations now… I will announce you.”

Hyeok Ryeoa stepped forward courageously. Just in case, she softened her footsteps as much as possible and slowly climbed the steps.

“Your Highness.”

“…What is it.”

No sooner had Hyeok Ryeoa parted her lips before the door than a low, husky jade-like voice flowed out from inside. It was a voice in which not a trace of drowsiness could be felt.

“Adjutant Mun requests an audience.”

“…Send him in.”

Once Shin Ryuwon’s permission was given, Hyeok Ryeoa stepped aside and pulled the door handle. Then she gestured with her eyes at Mun Sewon, as if telling him to hurry inside.

Gulp.

Seeing the pitch-dark corridor, Mun Sewon swallowed dryly. Inside, with not a single attendant present, a desolate aura hung in the air. Having slowly walked through the corridor and entered, he reached out his hand, relying on the moonlight.

“Pardon my intrusion, Your Highness. …Urk.”

Scrape. The moment Mun Sewon opened the bedroom door, he reflexively stepped backward at the sharp scent of medicinal herbs and the intense aura that wafted over him. His expression crumpled at the bitter fragrance that stung his nose.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

Having composed his expression, Mun Sewon took a step forward and sought Shin Ryuwon. The air in the room was so heavy and hot it felt suffocating. With a thought that it seemed hot, he turned his head and, meeting glowing golden eyes in the darkness, swallowed a futile breath.

Would meeting a tiger in the mountains feel like this?

At the vertically narrowed pupils, as if they were not human eyes, and the eerily shining gleam, goosebumps momentarily rose all over his body and all the fine hairs stood on end. They were truly dragon eyes (龍眼), the eyes of a dragon.

“Keuhum, g-good morning. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Mun Sewon delivered his greeting with a dry cough, as if trying to shake off his fear. Even though five years had passed since he became the Crown Prince’s adjutant, at times like this he could not help but feel fear. It felt exactly like being a mouse before a cat, so to speak.

“Why did you seek me out? I believe I said not to disturb my rest.”

Shin Ryuwon, having swept back his disheveled hair, asked the purpose of the visit in a rasping voice. When night fell and darkness grew stronger than light, the boundaries between each world blurred, so divine beings with strong divine beast blood often suffered divine blood rampages even without entering the heat cycle. As was the case for Ryuwon now.

When that happened, the entire body grew hot and diverse, intense urges such as carnal desire or destructive impulses surged up, making self-control difficult. On such days, he would dismiss even his closest aides like Mun Sewon and Hyeok Ryeoa and shut himself in his bedroom until morning came.

It was because a disgraceful accident could happen at any moment and damage the authority of the noble Crown Prince. In fact, there were already multiple people who had approached the weakened Ryuwon with ulterior motives and ended up gravely injured or nearly dead.

“Yes? Ah, my apologies. The thing is, a message came from the Empress’s palace. If it suits you, she wishes to share a meal with Her Majesty the Empress this morning…”

“Hmm.”

At the message Mun Sewon conveyed, Shin Ryuwon gave a small, low hum. A hot breath leaked through the slightly parted gap of his lips.

“…Shall I decline?”

“No. Her Majesty my mother is calling, so I must go. I will be leaving the palace again soon… When else could I fulfill my filial duties if not now.”

“…! Then I will send word that you will attend at the Empress’s palace.”

“Good. I should wash up before that, though. I sweated far too much.”

“Shall I call Chief Eunuch Baek? For bathing assistance…”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Shin Ryuwon waved his hand as if dismissing the need and picked up the water bottle placed on the nightstand. Then, without even pouring it into a cup, he drank it straight down, gulping. He seemed quite parched.

“Are you alright…?”

At the sight of Ryuwon, who seemed not yet free of the divine fever, Mun Sewon cast a worried look. Unending thirst was a representative symptom that appeared when the divine fever surged.