Flower Dream Chapter 5

Even so, the decisive blow that sent the already precarious Honghwa clan down the path of full-fledged decline was the elopement incident that erupted about twenty years ago. At that time, Dan Yeongha, who had been the hope of the clan, refused a political marriage with a collateral imperial prince and fled with her lover, Jeok Hyangrim. The child born between those two was none other than Dan Yuha.

Because of that incident, the Honghwa clan fell into a great crisis. The collateral imperial prince, scorned by Dan Yeongha, was enraged and exerted pressure on the merchant guilds that traded with the clan, forcing them to withdraw their contracts. He then used every method possible to torment the two, including reporting Dan Yeongha and Jeok Hyangrim to the imperial family.

Later, it came to light that the imperial prince had violated the law stating that “children of the divine beasts shall not recklessly pluck flowers and trees,” and had forcibly proceeded with the engagement while ignoring Dan Yeongha’s will, so the clan was spared annihilation. However, the Honghwa clan’s reputation among the god-men fell greatly.

As a result, the marriages of the flower people who had reached marriageable age at the time, including Hong Haehwa, were all thrown into disarray. It was an immense blow to the Honghwa clan, which had expanded its influence through unions with the imperial family and noble houses. Naturally, their power could only weaken.

“I hope there will be no occasion for the child, following the parents, to bring harm to our clan. Should you ignore my warning, I will ensure you taste a pain more terrible than death.”

“…”

“Hoo, that’s enough. If you understand, leave now.”

“…Yes, clan leader.”

When Hong Haehwa, having finished only what she had to say, waved her hand dismissively and issued an order to leave, Dan Yuha bowed his head deeply. Soon after, he left the office with a face mingled with excitement and anxiety.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Yawn…”

Mun Sewon, Shin Ryuwon’s adjutant, opened his mouth wide in an attempt to wake himself up. Perhaps because dawn had yet to break, the path connected to the detached palace was extremely dark. The eerie atmosphere, as if something might jump out at any moment, made him unreasonably frightened, and he walked as if running.

Waaah…!

Hahaha…

The festival that had been going on for several days was bustling day and night, a continuous success. Mun Sewon let out a soft chuckle at the sounds of music and cheers riding the wind.

The Emperor, greatly pleased with the success of this campaign, had held a grand festival to celebrate the victory. He opened the imperial palace’s storehouses and distributed liquor and meat to the people daily, so that even those living outside the capital came upon hearing the news.

In addition, at night, fireworks were set off, lighting flames in the sky, and boat excursions were held, floating lanterns of every shape and color on the river that traversed the imperial capital. Thanks to this, not only the imperial palace but the entire capital was as bright as broad daylight.

“Everyone’s in such good spirits.”

How could they be so vigorous after staying up all night carousing and drinking? Recalling the banquet that had been going on in the garden of the Prince’s palace for four days now, Sewon shook his head from side to side. The underlings were enjoying drinking, singing, and dancing for days on end, while the guest of honor at the festival had long since vacated his seat.

“I wonder if he managed to sleep a little…”

Mun Sewon murmured in a worried voice, hurriedly moving his steps. Soon standing before the firmly closed main gate of the detached palace, he yawned with a face steeped in fatigue and reached out his hand. As he infused divine power in that state, the talismans plastered all over the gate glowed, and the air rippled.

Creeeak.

The moment Sewon lowered his hand, the main gate opened by itself. Unlike the bustling main palace, the detached palace was quiet as if a mouse had died. Stepping inside with a tense expression, he soon spotted a familiar face and smiled brightly.

“Captain Hyeok!”

“…Adjutant Mun?”

Standing tall like a guardian post on the stone path connected to the building, keeping watch, was Hyeok Ryeoa, who led the Fifth Imperial Guard.

“No wonder I couldn’t find you—you’ve been standing guard here all night? Without assigning it to your subordinates.”

Approaching Hyeok Ryeoa, Mun Sewon whispered, lowering his voice as if telling a secret.

“It’s more comfortable for me to do it myself.”

“I do hope His Highness will recognize our Captain’s loyalty…”

“What business brings you here?”

Having answered curtly, Hyeok Ryeoa lowered her guard and asked. Even though it was the hall where the Prince was staying, she was the only guard. It was because Shin Ryuwon had dismissed everyone except Hyeok Ryeoa. The two continued their conversation with composed attitudes, as if Ryuwon’s behavior was already familiar.

“Ah, word came from Her Majesty the Empress’s palace that she wishes to have breakfast with His Highness. Since I also had something to report, I came in place of Eunuch Baek.”

“Something to report?”

“The messenger sent to the Honghwa clan’s small island arrived just a short while ago. Has His Highness risen?”

“Well…”

Hyeok Ryeoa trailed off, casting her gaze toward the hall where the lights were out. Given that a powerful energy had been emanating out right until the moment Mun Sewon appeared, it was certain that Shin Ryuwon had, as always, failed to sleep properly.

“Before asking whether he’s risen, wouldn’t it be more fitting to first ask whether he succeeded in sleeping?”

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

Mun Sewon’s face instantly clouded over. His lord, Shin Ryuwon, had been suffering from chronic insomnia since childhood due to his stronger-than-normal divine blood.

“Since he keeps no one near him at night unless it’s urgent business, I haven’t confirmed it with my own eyes, but… from what I sense, the sleeping medication prescribed by the court physician seems to have had little effect. The sleep incense made by the imperial palace’s perfumer is the same.”

“Oh dear.”

Mun Sewon lamented at Hyeok Ryeoa’s explanation. Though it was something he had anticipated to some degree, hearing it directly from her made his heart heavy.

“Then His Highness’s mood must be poor… Hmm, would it be better to come back later…?”

Mun Sewon rolled his eyes around, gauging the situation. On days when Ryuwon lacked sleep, he became several times more sensitive than usual, so one had to be careful in every word and action. If he slipped up, he might be caught in the crossfire for nothing.

“No. To go to the Empress’s palace, we must start preparing now… I will inform him.”

Hyeok Ryeoa bravely stepped forward. Trying to muffle her footsteps just in case, she slowly climbed the stairs.

“Your Highness.”

“…What is it?”

No sooner had Hyeok Ryeoa, standing before the door, opened her mouth than a low, husky voice flowed out from within. It was a voice in which not the slightest 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 for Mun Sewon to enter quickly.

Gulp.

Seeing the pitch-dark corridor, Mun Sewon swallowed dryly. An eerie energy lingered inside the hall, empty of any attendants. Slowly walking down the corridor and entering, he reached out his hand, relying on the moonlight.

“Excuse me, Your Highness. …Ugh.”

Slide. The moment he opened the bedroom door, Mun Sewon reflexively stepped backward at the herbal scent that wafted out sharply and the intense energy that struck him. His face crumpled at the bitter fragrance stinging his nose.

“Your Highness the Prince?”

Composing his expression, Mun Sewon took a step forward and searched for Shin Ryuwon. The air in the room was heavy and hot enough to make one’s breath catch. Turning his head as he thought it felt hot, he came face to face with golden eyes glowing in the darkness and swallowed a hollow breath.

This must be what it feels like to encounter a tiger in the mountains.

At the pupils narrowed long and vertically as if they were not human eyes, and the eerily gleaming glare, goosebumps rose in an instant, and the fine hairs all over his body stood on end. It was truly dragon eyes, the eyes of a dragon.

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

Mun Sewon cleared his throat as if trying to shake off his fear and offered a greeting. Even though five years had passed since he became the Prince’s adjutant, he could not help but feel terrified at times like this. It felt exactly like a mouse before a cat.

“Why have you come? I believe I told you not to disturb my rest.”

Brushing back his disheveled hair, Shin Ryuwon asked the purpose of the visit in a cracked voice. When night fell, and darkness grew stronger than light, the boundaries between worlds blurred, so god-men with strong divine beast blood would often experience a rampage of their divine blood even if they hadn’t entered their pleasure period. Just like Ryuwon now.

When that happened, the whole body grew hot, and various intense desires—such as sexual urges or destructive impulses—surged up, making it difficult to control oneself. On such days, he would dismiss even his closest aides, including Mun Sewon and Hyeok Ryeoa, and shut himself in his bedroom until morning came.

It was because, with the slightest slip, an unsavory accident could occur, potentially damaging the noble Prince’s authority. In fact, there were already several people who had approached him, aiming for the weakened Ryuwon, and ended up seriously injured or nearly dead.

“Pardon? Ah, my apologies. You see, a message came from Her Majesty the Empress’s palace. If it’s agreeable to you, she wishes to have a meal with you this morning…”

“Hmm.”

Shin Ryuwon let out a short hum at the words Mun Sewon delivered. A hot breath escaped through the gap of his slightly parted lips.

“…Shall I decline?”

“No. If Her Majesty calls, I must go. I’ll be leaving the palace again soon… when else will I be able to fulfill my filial duties?”

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

“Yes, but before that, I should wash up. I’ve sweated far too much.”

“Shall I summon Eunuch Baek? For the bathing assistance…”

“No.”

Shin Ryuwon waved his hand dismissively as if it were unnecessary and picked up the water bottle placed on the nightstand. Then, without even pouring it into a cup, he drank it straight down in large gulps. He seemed quite parched.

“Are you alright…?”

Seeing Ryuwon’s condition, as if his divine fever had not yet subsided, Mun Sewon cast a worried glance at him. Unquenchable thirst was a telltale symptom that appeared when the divine fever arose.