Struggle Chapter 121

It was late at night when they arrived at the capital city. Only after Taerok presented his identification tag and royal decree were they able to pass through the capital gates. The late hour had actually worked in their favor.

The patrol guards, who had been eyeing Taerok’s party with their unusual air, bowed their heads at the identification tag shown by the squad commander. Yu Bongsu, who had been waiting for his master, opened the gate in time with the sound of horses’ hooves, and thanks to that, they were able to arrive at Taerok’s palace without causing a commotion by shouting for the gates to be opened.

“How you must have suffered coming such a long journey, sir. Meeting you like this leaves me with no lingering regrets in this life.”

“Don’t speak so lightly of having no lingering regrets, Bongsu. You should cling to this world a long while yet, carrying plenty of attachments. Have you been well?”

“Thanks to your consideration, I have been very well.”

Taerok helped Nanyoung dismount from his horse. How he had known, without even seeing Nanyoung floundering in the deep night, his vision further hampered by the cloth covering his face, was a mystery. Toward Nanyoung, who had dismounted with Taerok’s help, Yu Bongsu also quietly inclined his waist. He made no mistake of calling for Grand Prince Heonui, who no longer existed in this world.

“I have prepared a place for you in the inner quarters.”

“It would be nice if there were a late-night snack.”

“Shall I bring wine as well?”

“Is there quince wine?”

“As it happens, there are three bottles that have been ripening through the winter.”

“Bring it warm.”

So saying, Taerok headed for the bath. Even without Yu Bongsu saying a separate word, the water would already be prepared.

Nanyoung, whose wrist had been seized by Taerok, quietly sniffled as he was led after him. The wind over water is always colder and sharper than the wind on land.

“How about it. Would it be worth using the water route when we go up as well?”

Taerok asked as he undressed Nanyoung with practiced hands. Now that they were alone, he became Grand Prince Baegan again.

Undressing Taerok in just the same manner, Nanyoung replied with a stuffy nose.

“It would be feasible, but we must cover our bodies with something like silk cloth. At this rate, it seems we will only inconvenience people coming and going.”

“No one believes or expects that my nephew will suddenly traverse the heavens and earth as easily as a great general, so please, first stop worrying about inconveniencing anyone. That mind of yours harms your body more. Here, go in.”

The bath had fragrance pouches floating in it. Inside those buoyant things were also medicinal herbs, which would boost the circulation of the blood and warm the body.

After washing and coming out into the secret inner chamber, they found one large mattress and two pillows placed right next to each other. It was embarrassing for no good reason, as the image of Yu Bongsu, who must have ordered this arrangement, came to mind. Taerok assumed Nanyoung’s face had gone bright red from just finishing the bath and opened the door just a crack.

“I’ll close it right away, so just cool your cheeks a little.”

Nanyoung did not correct Taerok’s misunderstanding, and indeed cooled only his cheeks lightly.

“Ha….”

It was the wind of the capital. It was indeed warmer than the northern end. Perhaps it was already spring, for the blowing wind was sweet. A vexing spring wind that arbitrarily tickled the heart, made the fingertips flinch, and caused one to imprudently harbor tender feelings….

“Now, stop.”

A hand reached out from behind Nanyoung. As the door closed and he turned his head, he saw the handsome man’s lower face. The Adam’s apple, so much more prominent than his own, and even the very small scar just under the chin that could only be seen this close.

The tender feelings he had imprudently harbored, even after several springs had passed, were still growing softly within him like a new sprout.

Feeling the gaze, Taerok lowered his head. Nanyoung was looking at him with an expression as if spellbound.

Shall I do it once.

Taerok thought like some common street ruffian.

I’d like to fuck him thoroughly, let him get off as cheap and easy as he pleases.

But soon he shook his head. He had no confidence it would end with just once. The moment he truly realized how long it had been since Nanyoung returned to his palace, his sexual sensitivity and desire would become like a spear longer than before, and he would clearly enjoy the night endlessly.

If he tormented Nanyoung like that at the end of a long journey, he’d likely go back without even seeing the king. Taerok led Nanyoung and sat him down before the tray table where the late-night snack was laid out.

“If you drink a little, you’ll fall into a deep sleep. If you sweat a bit while sleeping, you’ll feel light by morning.”

That was why he had specifically ordered it warmed.

Taerok filled Nanyoung’s cup, which had a plum blossom painted on it, with the quince wine. The yellow, clear liquid, as if molten gold, slightly overflowed the cup and wet his fingers.

“This is my share.”

As if he had been waiting, Taerok took that hand and sucked each wet finger, one by one.

“Warmed sufficiently.”

Then he released it with satisfaction.

Below Nanyoung’s navel, heat rolled and tumbled. Could it be the fault of the medicinal herbs in the fragrance pouch? His body felt unusually sensitive. Or could it be the fault of that spring wind? For no good reason, lustful thoughts crept in.

Nanyoung shut his eyes tight and gulped down the wine. A very sweet and faint spiciness lingered at the tip of his nose. “Haa…” He let out a deep sigh, and from his throat to his eyes, nose, and mouth, everything became fragrant.

“Uncle, please drink as well.”

Taerok was about to tell him not to drink so hastily, but Nanyoung was faster. He filled Taerok’s cup and urged him.

“Quickly.”

Taerok, lifting his cup with suspicious eyes, twitched an eyebrow and asked.

“Did you put poison in it?”

“Did I even have the time? Besides, I drank it too.”

“Since you were acting so strangely. I wondered if you were hiding something.”

“If you drink it, I will tell you.”

Taerok emptied the cup in one breath. He was neat about it, wasting not a single drop of wine.

Nanyoung offered Taerok one more cup, and Taerok filled Nanyoung’s only halfway. After drinking thus, Nanyoung approached Taerok on his knees.

“No.”

Taerok, catching on, stopped Nanyoung, who was trying to reach his arms around his neck. At this, Nanyoung’s expression turned pitiful.

“Just once.”

“I’m refusing because I have no confidence it will end with once.”

Even as Nanyoung wrapped his arms around his neck and pressed his body close, Taerok filled his wine cup with an utterly unmoving expression. Toward the heartless lover who bent his arm away and emptied his cup, Nanyoung rubbed his cheek against him.

“Can we not do it just once, lightly?”

“When have I ever been light about sexual relations with Lee Nanyoung?”

“We could try.”

“I’m refusing because I want to do it thoroughly and vulgarly. Just sleep.”

“It’s because I can’t sleep….”

“Haa….”

Taerok let out a long sigh. Then, he wet his hand in the water basin where flower petals floated. His wet hand went straight into the opening of Nanyoung’s trousers.

“Then, just you.”

“Ah!”

Taerok immediately rubbed up against Nanyoung’s soft and taut glans. It was a relentless touch. His intent was clear: to make him ejaculate right away without leaving any deliberate leisure. Nanyoung disliked that. He lowered his hands and grabbed the waist tie of Taerok’s trousers.

“I said no.”

When his hand was snatched, this time Nanyoung carefully studied Taerok’s face, gauging his mood.

Whether he truly meant no, or whether he was in agony about it. He could tell by looking now. This time, it was the latter.

Nanyoung ended up removing Taerok’s trousers after all. As his body slipped down in the process, Taerok’s hand also fell away.

“Just once… we don’t have to put it in.”

How brazen. If only he were truly as healthy as a great general, he could laugh it off, but. It felt as though his own feelings were not understood.

Taerok let out another deep sigh. He swept his face with his hand, then untied the ribbons of his clothes.

“Take them off.”

At Taerok’s words, Nanyoung also fumbled to untie his own ribbons.

“Let’s do it once, but let’s make it so debased you won’t even be able to lift your face.”

No matter how much he had mingled bodies with him, Nanyoung was born a Grand Prince and was like an orchid raised only in the palace and its affiliated residences. There were quite a few things Taerok had not shown or taught Nanyoung. Taerok pulled Nanyoung to him and lay back.

“Today, let’s try this.”

Nanyoung’s expression was innocent and pure, knowing nothing.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Huh-hik, hh….”

“Continue.”

Nanyoung was distressed because his head kept dropping. Every time his head dropped, the glans of Taerok’s member rubbed against his round forehead. Whenever that happened, the thighs of Taerok that Nanyoung was bracing his hands against grew even harder.

“Th-then, just a moment below….”

“You can’t even handle it well if it’s not there. Lift your hips more.”

With a smack sound, Nanyoung’s waist flinched upward. Taking advantage of that gap, Taerok pulled Nanyoung’s body a little closer.

It was a position where Nanyoung lay prone on top of Taerok, but with his head toward Taerok’s member. Naturally, Nanyoung’s lower body was above Taerok’s face. Taerok, swallowing the bitter precum, spread Nanyoung’s rear apart with two fingers.

“Hau-up…!”

He had barely managed to take Taerok’s member into his mouth again, but at the extreme stimulation, Nanyoung’s body nearly crumbled.