Toxin

“Wow… this really is a masterpiece between you and His Majesty! That dragon’s head is enormous!”

Naro couldn’t hide his amazement as he admired the dragon-headed water spout. Suryeong was a long steel pipe that ran from a river hundreds of li away, through the capital of Baedal Kingdom, and into the heart of Naragaon Fortress. Thanks to the vast manpower and resources poured into it, the construction finished ahead of schedule. The swift, accident-free completion of the massive project was due to the equipment designed by Garon.

In two days, the completion ceremony of Suryeong would take place, and heads of vassal states and delegations were expected to attend. Dozens of nations had already confirmed their participation. The administrators of Naragaon Fortress were busy preparing to welcome the honored guests, while painters worked tirelessly to clean the fortress walls from the grime of years past.

I visited Suryeong daily, checking it with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as it extended into the fortress’s heart. Naro spoke excitedly.

“If Suryeong passes through my hometown, my mother and the kids won’t have to suffer during droughts anymore.”

“You have siblings?”

“Well, they’re just the village kids, but they’re practically my little brothers and sisters. They have no parents or relatives, so my mother takes care of them. Anyway, thanks to you, Baedal Kingdom won’t have to worry about water anymore!”

“All I did was draw what His Majesty envisioned. Anyone can draw, but not everyone can come up with such ideas.”

Though I’d captured countless living beings on canvas, it was my first time seeing my drawing brought to life, breathing in the real world. The completion ceremony would showcase the grand spectacle of water gushing from the steel pipes. Once the endless pipes supplied water to Baedal Kingdom, even droughts wouldn’t lead to famine.

We headed to Byeolwon to gather painting supplies. I spoke up.

“Why don’t you invite your family to the completion ceremony, Painter Naro? You’ve been staying at the royal palace for so long that you probably haven’t had a chance to see them.”

“Would that be okay? Oh, do you think it’d be alright to bring the village kids along too? They’ve been begging to see the fortress for ages…”

“Other painters are inviting their families, so I’m sure it’ll be fine for you to bring them too.”

“I just hope those brats don’t cause trouble.”

Naro glared at the group of new painters gathered at the high tower. They were busy fawning over Hwasun, the highest-ranking painter. Most of the new painters came from prestigious families, and they had the honor of recording the royal event through their paintings. Naro, who had fallen out of Hwasun’s favor, was the first to be excluded. Instead, he was relegated to managing supplies or assisting the new painters with menial tasks. In terms of both skill and experience, Naro deserved to be in their position, and it must have eaten him up inside. I was certain that whether it was painting or life itself, learning from Naro was far more valuable.

When we arrived at Byeolwon, I handed Naro a bundle I had prepared.

“I’m not sure if these suit your hands, but they seemed decent, so I brought a few. Don’t save them; feel free to use them as you like.”

When Naro untied the bundle and saw the contents, he leaped up in surprise.

“This, this is black charcoal from Mount Moru! And Natian paper! How did you…! Ah, His Majesty must’ve gotten these for you.”

“I couldn’t tell, but you recognized them right away.”

“Moru charcoal is different from the rest. The texture is smooth when drawing lines, and the dust doesn’t scatter. And look at this radiant color! Even renowned painters wait years to get their hands on this, yet here I am… Am I even worthy of using it?”

I had noticed the charcoal was smoother and didn’t scatter as much dust. Sometimes, Garon could be more attentive than I was. After seeing how touched I was by my father’s painting, Garon started collecting every remaining work of his from across the country. Rumors spread that people could make a fortune selling my father’s paintings at Naragaon Fortress, leading to a surge of forgeries.

However, many nearly lost their heads after Garon quickly exposed the fakes. The forgeries were so convincing that even I couldn’t tell, but Garon knew immediately.

Despite his initial excitement, Naro hesitated, merely fiddling with the rare materials. It seemed the fact that Garon had obtained them bothered him. Naro still paled at the mere sound of Garon’s footsteps.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, you can always sell them to the workshop and buy the materials you prefer.”

“No, no, I’ll use them well!”

Naro gathered the bundle and hurried to stash it away in his room. He looked like a squirrel hiding acorns in the bushes.

The sun was now directly overhead, signaling it was time to head to Yongjeon Palace. As I gathered my art supplies, Naro sprang to his feet as well.

“Wh-why? Where are you going?”

“I’m heading to Yongjeon for lunch.”

“Ah, right.”

After parting ways with Naro and leaving Byeolwon, I saw the new painters approaching from the opposite direction. They cleared their throats as they passed by me. In the beginning, they openly disrespected my background, but now they couldn’t even look me in the eye—not since they learned that I painted the emperor’s portrait and lived in Yongjeon.

I walked along the circles engraved on the fortress walls. After I started frequently getting lost following my injury, Garon marked the walls for me: circles leading to Yongjeon, triangles to Byeolwon, and crosses to indicate exits from the fortress.

Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps behind me and turned around. Naro was following closely behind, like a well-cooked chestnut rolling after me.

“Why are you following me?”

“To make sure you get there safely. Ever since you lost one horn, you tend to lose your way.”

“As long as I follow the markings, I’ll be fine.”

“And what if the markings lead you somewhere dangerous? What if an assassin sneaks into the palace? People are already raising hell about some Imae Tribe member bewitching the emperor and ruining the kingdom. They say he should be beheaded and his head hung in the marketplace… Just stop talking and let’s go!”

Naro marched ahead, forcing the issue. Ever since he found out about my relationship with Garon, Naro had been unusually attached to me. At times, it felt like he was watching over me. Considering how shocked he was and how much he worried, I understood.

We crossed the bridge leading to Yongjeon and entered the courtyard. On one side, the three Hyungje, the emperor’s guards, were gathered. Their presence in Yongjeon meant that Garon had already arrived.

Usa, the youngest, stood with his arms crossed, while Unsa, the eldest, had a displeased look on his face.

“Is it really necessary to invite the vassal states to the completion ceremony?”

“I know, right? If they steal the design for Suryeong, it’ll be a problem. Even the officials strongly opposed the ceremony. I don’t understand why His Majesty insists on pushing it through.”

“I don’t care about that. All it means for us is more work. If His Majesty hadn’t built Suryeong in the first place, we wouldn’t have to worry about anyone stealing the design.”

“Well, at least the people don’t have to worry about water anymore, so stop grumbling.”

As the two conversed, the Grand Chamberlain scolded them.

“You fools! Do you think His Majesty built Suryeong just to pour water into the mouths of those ignorant peasants? His real goal is to station our soldiers under the guise of supplying water and take control of military bases in the vassal states! And on top of that, we’ll get their precious resources at bargain prices—it’s a win-win! Even the highly educated officials talk nonsense like you, so what does that say about the future of this country?”

Garon was a natural-born warlord and merchant. He conquered nations willing to negotiate through trade, and those that refused were mercilessly razed. Vassal states that maintained peaceful relations with Baedal Kingdom presented rare goods every year to avoid war.

The Grand Chamberlain gazed into the distant sky and sighed.

“In the old days, men who said such foolish things wouldn’t have kept their heads for long. Even His Majesty has grown soft…”

“It has been a bit dull around the palace lately.”

Usa stretched with a yawn. Upon noticing us, the Grand Chamberlain greeted me with a polite, though slightly sour, expression. He had always been stiff with me, but lately, his attitude had softened considerably. Meanwhile, Pungbaek approached Naro. Everyone but Naro knew that Pungbaek had taken a particular interest in him. Naro bowed, and Pungbaek nodded slightly, his face impassive.

“Shall I escort you?”

“Pardon? Do you even know where I’m going…?”

“Where are you headed?”

“I’m escorting Roha to Yongjeon for lunch.”

“Let’s go.”

“Oh, no. I’ll just wait until Roha finishes lunch. I’ll wait for you, alright?”

“…Alright.”

Naro clung to me, his eyes welling up. Usa clicked his tongue at Pungbaek.

“Pungbaek Hyung-nim has such good eyesight that he can hit a target ten ri away, but his judgment when it comes to people is completely off…”

“Pungbaek has always had strange tastes, ever since we were kids. He used to catch and eat frogs, and even dig up dirt to eat.”

Unsa smiled slyly at Naro. The simple Naro didn’t even realize the guards were making crude jokes, blinking in confusion. Disgusted, I grabbed Naro and tried to lead him away. But Unsa’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“It’d be best not to mention that name in front of His Majesty.”

I turned back. Unsa was looking at Naro, who asked, startled, “Are you talking to me?”

“Yes, you.”

“But what do you mean by ‘name’…?”

“Roha or whatever it is. Sounds like a name a foppish gigolo would give you. Don’t ever call him that in front of His Majesty.”

“…Why, why?”

“Don’t call him that unless you want your tongue cut out.”

At Unsa’s words, Naro turned pale. Fearing Naro might faint if delayed any longer, I quickly stepped away.

I calmed and convinced Naro, who wanted to wait outside Yongjeon, to return to Byeolwon. As I entered the inner hall, the attendants hurriedly opened the door for me. After passing through several doors, I arrived at the final room. Just before the attendant could reach for the door handle, the door opened.

Standing beyond it was Garon. He raised an eyebrow, as if to scold me for being late. Behind his broad shoulders, a raw chicken lay on a plate, its flesh exposed.

For some time now, I had been eating lunch with Garon. It wasn’t something either of us had suggested; it just happened naturally. Garon took the fire pot from my hand and stepped aside. I entered the space he provided without hesitation.

The sound of the door closing behind me was always unsettling.

As I sat at the edge of the floor mat, Garon took a seat across from me. He washed his hands in a water bowl and picked up a dagger. His hands moved swiftly and mercilessly as he separated flesh from bone. It felt strange to watch the same hands that had taken so many lives now preparing someone’s meal.

The conversation between the bodyguard and the Grand Chamberlain from earlier crossed my mind.

“Are you all right?”

“What do you mean?”

“If vassal states are invited to the completion ceremony and Suryeong’s secrets get leaked… There could even be assassins among them.”

Garon’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“It almost sounds like you’re worried about me.”

“Yes, because if Your Majesty is not safe, I won’t be able to protect my own life either.”

Though I responded shamelessly, a part of me felt heavy. Assassins targeting Garon were everywhere. If they mingled in with the crowd, we wouldn’t be able to catch them. It wasn’t my place to say, considering I had once tried to poison the emperor and steal the blueprint for Jincheonroe.

“Oh, by the way, would it be possible to invite Naro Painter’s siblings to the Suryeong completion ceremony? They helped me a lot while I was working on the blueprint.”

If I could get a clear answer from the emperor, Naro wouldn’t have to worry. Garon’s gaze landed on me.

“You’re generous in strange ways.”

His words were difficult to interpret. When I looked at him in confusion, he added,

“It’s like you live for the pleasure of giving to that painter.”

Did he notice some of the supplies in the drawing room were missing? It was true Naro had those pleading eyes that made me want to give in. What would Garon think if I said Naro reminded me of my mother?

“Did I take something Your Majesty procured without permission…?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

He wasn’t exactly someone who was easy to be around. But he also wasn’t as terrifying as before. I tilted my head and met Garon’s eyes.

“So, can I invite the Painter’s siblings?”

Instead of answering, Garon furrowed his brow.

“Can I invite them?”

As I pressed him persistently, his eyes narrowed.

“Do as you wish.”

Garon brought a piece of chicken to my lips. The bloody smell of freshly slaughtered livestock was sometimes nauseating. I hurried through my meal so Garon could eat. He always waited for me to finish before he started eating.

“Your Majesty, please eat quickly as well.”

“Shall I?”

Garon’s lips came toward mine and covered them. I quickly turned my head, as the taste of chicken blood was still in my mouth. But he grabbed the back of my head and pulled me back. His tongue gently nibbled at the tips of my teeth. My shoulders always tensed up at this moment. His lips, stained with blood, felt as though they were devouring my tongue. My jacket slipped off my shoulder, and my head hit the floor. During this, Garon clung to my lips, panting heavily.

The books on the floor mat remained perfectly aligned, just as they had been when I first arrived. The same was true for the Jincheonroe blueprint. The only things disrupting this room were Garon and me.

Lately, Garon had lost interest in senseless killing. He seemed more focused on receiving my praise for going a day without spilling innocent blood. I had also experienced some small changes. Calling him by his name became more natural than referring to him as the Black Martial Emperor or His Majesty. The person I once wanted to kill so desperately now had me worrying about his well-being. When thoughts of my mother overwhelmed me, I’d fly into a rage, and he would wait patiently until my anger subsided—just like that.

***

On the morning of the Suryeong completion ceremony, Naragaon Fortress was bustling with life. The leaders of vassal states and their entourages, along with the gifts they brought to present to the emperor, formed an unending procession. The vassal states unable to attend due to health issues sent lavish tributes through their emissaries. The soldiers guarding the gates thoroughly inspected all guests and the gifts they brought. Even after entering safely, the presence of soldiers stationed everywhere created an undercurrent of tension amidst the festive atmosphere. There was no sign of the Imae Tribe. I had heard that most of the Imae Tribe had been slaughtered after their lands were conquered by the Baedal Kingdom, and the survivors were now living as wandering nomads.

The new painters sat on the high watchtower, capturing the historic scene in their drawings. I, too, was busy sketching the procession of the foreign delegates onto my canvas. I planned to only make the preliminary sketches now and do the coloring later. Of course, since there are designated court painters to record official events, this piece would be kept for myself.

Below the watchtower, three people from the Seonbi Kingdom had gathered. Their expressions were grim.

“It must be steel from Golnaru Mountain. Steel from Golnaru Mountain doesn’t rust in water and doesn’t wear down either.”

“No matter how good it is, it would be hard to last 10 years if it comes into contact with water. Why does the steel have a silvery hue? There’s something glossy on the surface of the pipes, but I can’t figure out what it is.”

The steel pipes were made by mixing a silvery metal into molten steel and applying glue to the surface. Garon had seen me use it while painting and incorporated it into the construction of Suryeong. The adhesive between the steel would tightly seal the gaps and prevent water from seeping in, thus extending the life of the steel. Noticing someone approaching from around the corner, the Seonbi Kingdom men quickly moved elsewhere.

I continued with my work. I was deeply engrossed in sketching when a shadow fell over the paper.

“What are you doing here?”

I looked up to find Unsa standing there. It wasn’t far from the watchtower, yet Unsa was panting as if he had climbed a mountain.

“The emperor will be arriving soon. What are you doing?”

“I’m waiting here, for that very reason.”

At my reply, Unsa furrowed his brow.

“Get up. You disappeared without a word, and now Yongjeon is in an uproar.”

“Why…”

“The attendants are eager to dress you up.”

“Why me?”

“Do you plan to stand next to the emperor looking like that when he makes his entrance?”

I let out a dry laugh. While I could imagine myself sketching the emperor’s procession, I had never considered standing beside him. It was obvious what kind of whispers would be exchanged by the leaders of the vassal states upon seeing Garon accompanied by a ‘monster.’

“I’m not going. I’ll tell the emperor myself, so please relay that message.”

“I’m not going to beg you to come. But if there’s any bloodshed today, it’s all on you.”

“Understood.”

Unsa gave me a look of disbelief, then smirked sarcastically.

“Do you know why His Majesty bothered to invite the vassal states despite the danger?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s to lure out Raonhiljo. They might sneak in among the attendees.”

It took me a moment to recall who Raonhiljo was, as the name spilled from Unsa’s lips. Unsa, seeing my confusion, elaborated further, even though I didn’t need to hear it.

“Recently, Gwuya discovered the location of Raonhiljo’s hideout and went to finish him off. But somehow, Raonhiljo caught wind of it and disappeared without a trace. Now we have to make him crawl out of hiding.”

Apparently satisfied with my stunned reaction, Unsa descended the watchtower with light steps. Though Raonhiljo was reckless in some ways, he was not one to fall into Garon’s traps easily. The day Raonhiljo gave me my name was the day he completely let me go. The same went for me. I held my breath for a moment, trying not to get consumed by guilt over my mother and Raonhiljo.

“Roha!”

Naro was waving at me from below the watchtower. Beside him, a line of children stood, looking like they had come to play soldier. I briefly set down my tools and descended.

“Aaah! A monster! A monster!”

“Horns! Horns!!”

As soon as the children saw me, they screamed and hid behind Naro’s pants. The youngest child, too scared to even run, burst into tears. Naro scolded them.

“Hey! Where’s your manners, calling someone a monster to their face?! Thanks to this Painter, you not only get to visit Naragaon Fortress but also see a ‘monster.’ So show some respect!”

“Thank you~.”

Sniffling, the children bowed to me. Naro, who usually looked timid in front of other painters, seemed like a reliable big brother today.

“But why only the siblings?”

“Our mother said her knees hurt too much to come. Oh, and she packed this for you.”

Naro shyly handed me a heavy bundle. When I unwrapped it, I found a small eungryong lying belly-up, dead.

“Mother must have caught it when she went to the mountains yesterday. Actually, she got injured when it bit her leg. But since you’ve taken such good care of me, she wanted to offer you this as a small token of appreciation. It’s not much, but I hope you’ll accept it.”

“If the eungryong’s poison spreads, her life could be in danger. Is she all right?”

“We’ve applied medicinal herbs, so don’t worry too much! But now I’m embarrassed. I’ve received so many valuable gifts from you…”

“It’s plump and has been aged for a day, so it should be delicious. Please pass along my thanks to her.”

Afterward, Naro introduced each of his siblings to me. When the children started complaining of hunger, Naro led them to the banquet hall.

The deep sound of drums echoed. The musicians lined up on the roadside began playing energetically. I climbed the watchtower to look down below. Garon, dressed in black imperial robes, emerged. I had never seen someone make the color black stand out so much. Behind him followed the guard captain and soldiers marching with banners, while the Grand Chamberlain dabbed at his tears with a handkerchief. I quickly worked to capture the moment of the emperor’s procession on my canvas.

Before the emperor’s grandeur, the kings of the vassal states bowed their heads to the ground. Garon, completing the grand procession, arrived at the waterway. From afar, it looked like a giant dragon resting on the ground. The end of the metal cylinder was shaped like a dragon’s open mouth—my idea, which Garon had liked. From a distant sky, the sound of a trumpet rang out. As a soldier waved a flag up and down, two other soldiers lowered a large iron lever. The spectators held their breath, watching the dragon’s body.

At that moment, from a far-off distance, the sound of water striking the steel pipe was heard. It was like the sound of a giant dragon stretching before taking flight. Water from hundreds of miles away rushed past the center of the village, heading toward Naragaon Fortress. Finally, the long-traveled water surged into the well, and the opening of the waterway drew gasps from the crowd.

When Garon had first envisioned this waterway and proceeded with its construction, everyone was pessimistic. But the waterway, as it had been conceived in his mind, was intricately planned down to the location, form, and each individual component. I still couldn’t forget the moment I transferred the picture in his head to paper. Even though I had held a brush all my life, it was the first time I’d ever drawn something so full of life.

The people from the vassal states were likely hoping for today’s completion ceremony to fail. They would be bitter about the unyielding progress of the Black Martial Emperor and wish for his downfall. I used to feel the same. If I had been a subject of this country, would I have blindly praised Garon? To some, he was a murderous mad tyrant, but to others, he was a wise king who made sure they had enough to eat.

Garon gazed at the dragon spouting water with strength. Despite having accomplished such a long-cherished project, his expression remained indifferent. Perhaps it was because I had refused to participate, or maybe because the formidable rival he expected hadn’t appeared. The Grand Chamberlain nervously observed the emperor’s mood, and both the vassal state leaders and Baedal Kingdom officials started to tense up. In the end, Garon walked off, pushing through the crowd. I wasn’t too worried. What mattered was that despite his displeasure, the situation had ended there.

I spotted Naro watching the procession with his younger siblings. The children were too absorbed in eating their food to notice anything else. A few steps away, several newly recruited painters were eyeing Naro. They approached him and took him somewhere, with his siblings following in a line. I abandoned my drawing and chased after them.

When I reached the walls of Byeolwon, I was out of breath. On a normal day, I would’ve easily made it there, but today, I kept getting caught in the crowd with every step. If a soldier hadn’t informed me that Naro had been dragged by the painters, I would’ve been lost for much longer. Even after walking the long wall, the gates of Byeolwon still felt so far away.

Then, beyond the wall, I heard the voices of the new painters.

“How dare you bring a bunch of beggars along and tarnish our dignity?! I wouldn’t even mind if you looked halfway decent!”

“They’re not beggars; they’re my siblings.”

“Shut up! Today, I’ll make sure to report you to the chief painter and hold you accountable! We should’ve kicked you out when you stole that precious black coal! This is why the poor don’t belong in the royal court!”

“I didn’t steal the black coal! I told you several times that Roha gave it to me!”

“You think we’re scared because you’re leeching off that imperial concubine? Let’s see how long his influence lasts—many concubines the emperor has abandoned have met miserable fates!”

“Who’s a concubine?! My friend is not like that!”

“He tried to poison the emperor! The heavens and earth know that!”

“No, he didn’t! It’s not true!”

Naro’s voice rang out loud and clear beyond the wall. I knew what people behind me were murmuring and pointing fingers at. When I returned to Naragaon Fortress, everyone had boldly predicted that I’d be abandoned within a month. The emperor they knew was a cold-hearted man who discarded anyone after just one night of indulgence. I didn’t care what was said about me. But I couldn’t stand seeing Naro being humiliated.

I mustered the remaining energy in my body and ran toward Byeolwon.

“How dare you raise your voice in front of us?! Today, you’ll be properly punished!”

As I entered the courtyard, I was left speechless by the outrageous sight. The new painters were pouring brown paint on Naro’s face, laughing as they did it. His siblings were huddled in a corner, crying. The children would never forget this day. Before I turned ten, I had witnessed my mother being stoned in the middle of Imae Village for the crime of having a child with a human. The faces of the neighbors and children who threw stones, as well as my mother’s look of grief, were still vivid in my memory.

I rushed forward and slapped the ringleader across the face. His drunken expression instantly sobered as he stumbled back. These people were no different from those who had thrown stones at me in Imae Village.

“I’m the one who gave Naro the black coal. Garon had ordered so much that we had plenty left over.”

At the mention of his name, the group froze in fear.

“He’s delusional! I had nothing to do with it!”

Two of the new painters quickly pinned the blame on the ringleader and fled. The ringleader exchanged glances with the last remaining painter, stammering.

“N-Naro was out of line, and I was just trying to discipline him. Isn’t this going too far, getting involved in this? There was a misunderstanding, so let’s just let it go….”

“Who said anything about letting this go? I won’t overlook today’s incident.”

“I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me just this once! Don’t tell the emperor!”

They knelt before me, begging for mercy, and then dashed off. If they ever bothered Naro again, I’d be sure to ask Garon for help. The reason I hadn’t done so before was that I didn’t want to disrupt the peace I had finally found. It was bitter to think that problems could only be solved through force and bloodshed.

I soaked a cloth in water and wiped the paint from Naro’s head. His young siblings were trembling, sniffling, and Naro himself seemed dazed. I had always thought the court had assigned him to watch over me, to keep me from Garon. Since nothing had happened in front of me, I didn’t realize he was being treated like this behind my back. I felt guilty for not paying attention while I had been preoccupied with Suryeong.

“Are you alright?”

Naro looked at me with clear eyes.

“Are you really going to live as His Majesty’s concubine? Do you truly… love him?”

I should have addressed this from the start. Whether he would reject me or keep me by his side, I should have helped Naro make a clear decision. I met Naro’s gaze unwaveringly.

“It seems that I do.”

Naro glared at me, his eyes turning red.

“Do you even know what happens to the concubines who get banished from Yongjeon? Do you know how many consorts have taken their own lives because of His Majesty? I won’t accept it! I will never allow it, not until I’m dead and buried!”

“I don’t need your approval, Painter. If you dislike it so much, you don’t have to look at me.”

Even I was surprised by how resolute I had become. Naro, shocked by my words, collapsed onto the ground.

“H-How could you say such things to your only friend…? You said you didn’t want anyone else, that I was your favorite. Was that all a lie? Are you someone who speaks with a forked tongue?”

“It wasn’t a lie.”

“Then how can you say you don’t need me?”

“It’s not that I don’t need you, Painter, it’s just that—”

“Even if you think I’m useless, I can’t live without you! If something happens to you, I’ll bite my tongue and die too!”

Naro threw all his dignity aside and wailed, even in front of his younger siblings. As they started to cry as well, my head began to throb. Naro was the one being unreasonable, yet I always ended up feeling guilty. With a small sigh, I tried to calm him down.

“If I ever sense something is off, I’ll run away in the middle of the night. You don’t have to worry.”

“Is that a promise? You won’t cling to His Majesty’s hem and beg?”

“I promise.”

His stubbornness was so relentless, I couldn’t help but smile. If there ever came a day when Garon’s feelings for me cooled, I was confident I would sense it right away. Every moment, I could feel the scorching heat of his emotions, so missing such a shift would be impossible. I took off my outer jacket and helped Naro into it. I even took off my shoes and gave them to him. We were around the same size, so everything fit him perfectly.

I asked the Baedal Kingdom soldiers to protect Naro and his siblings while they explored the castle. If I accompanied them, the guests would stare, making Naro and his siblings uncomfortable.

After sending them off, I found a quiet corner of the fortress to catch my breath. I leaned my head against the cold wall. Suddenly, I noticed a circle carved into the wall. Following the marks would lead to Yongjeon. Garon was the only one who never got lost in the complex and silent fortress. I’d heard that he designed Naragaon Fortress at the age of ten and supervised its construction at twenty. Walking through the fortress often felt like walking inside his mind.

Guards on the Hyung Fortress Tower were glancing down at me, while two maidservants with stern expressions hovered nearby. I lifted my head from the wall.

“Do you have something to say?”

“N-No, nothing at all.”

Startled, the maidservants quickly retreated. It was then that I realized I was walking around the fortress barefoot in my undergarments. I wanted to stay in the cold air a bit longer, but I decided to head back to my quarters. First, though, I went to retrieve my art supplies from the watchtower.

By the time I reached the tower, the sun was setting. The cool night breeze sent a chill through me in just my underclothes. I quickly gathered my supplies and was about to leave when—

A hand clamped over my mouth from behind. I was pulled away without a chance to resist. For a moment, the faces of the apprentice painters flashed before my eyes. Maybe they were lying in wait for revenge, or perhaps it was an assassin sent by a foreign nation. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind in a split second.

The hand over my mouth tightened, forcing me to turn around. I thought they were going to break my neck. But instead, I found myself staring into familiar dark eyes. It wasn’t an assassin—though I couldn’t say for sure if this person was any safer. I swallowed my surprise and glared at Garon.

“You scared me.”

I wondered how he had managed to make his way from the banquet hall all the way to the watchtower. Garon, resting his chin on my shoulder, wrapped his arms tightly around my waist.

“What should I do?”

“What do you mean…?”

“The person who upset you.”

My heart sank. I couldn’t tell if he was just making an offhand comment or if he truly knew something. For a brief moment, I wanted to tell him all about the apprentice painters’ outrageous behavior. But with Garon, who was all or nothing, I had to be careful with every word.

“There’s no such person.”

“I could find out who it was by the end of the day.”

A dangerous gleam flickered in Garon’s eyes. He watched my lips like a hunting dog waiting for a signal. It was as though he was reminding me that he could return to his old ways at any moment. Garon had once been the person who angered and broke me the most. Now, somehow, he had become the one who soothed my heart. It was still hard to believe.

“Just being asked about it has already calmed me down.”

I felt genuinely relieved, something I could hardly believe myself. Garon looked at me with a strange gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Garon’s lips touched my eyelids. My shoulders shrank instinctively. He always approached as if he were about to devour my eyes, but this time, his tongue only licked my eyelashes and then retreated.

His chapped lips covered mine. His tongue, contrary to expectation, was soft. When Garon’s hand slipped into my pants, I flinched and pulled it out. We might get caught by the guards. If someone drunk looked up by chance, it would be a disaster.

Garon grabbed both of my hands and pinned them above my head. I turned my face away, but the sound of our mingled breaths filled my mouth. Between the fabric, his arousal pressed and rubbed against my thighs. Garon bent my neck and began to nibble at it. Even when I groaned in pain, his knife-like tongue pricked and sliced my neck. He slid his hand under my half-loosened robe and toyed with my nipples. His stiff tongue pressed against the small buds, and I gasped for air.

“Hah… hah…”

My body flipped over, my hips raised high on the ground. Garon pulled out his member from his trousers and rubbed it against my opening. As my unprepared body tightened around him, he let out a deep sigh. The head of his shaft, after sliding in and out a few times, slowly entered. As he thrust back and forth, he licked the dew and the sounds from my lips.

Pulling his hips back, he pushed forward until his testicles touched the entrance. Each forceful push from behind made me lurch forward. Every thrust hit the spot that made me curl up, and the walls inside swelled tautly. His short, clipped moans pierced my eardrums. I bit my lips to hold back the moans. The shaft that had withdrawn quickly plunged in and out again. I clutched Garon’s robe at my fingertips. As he hurriedly pounded into me, the nape of my neck flushed red. At some point, my vision blurred, and my entire body contracted. As I bit down on him, he, too, climaxed.

Still holding me from behind, Garon lay on the ground. I felt the fluids from both ends trickle out, but I decided to clean up after catching my breath. Garon gently nibbled on my limp nape before soon falling asleep. As clowns and dancers displayed their skills in the courtyard, the people cheered. The violet dusk that covered the sky melted into the corners of the fortress walls. The night sky began to flow in from the edges. The arms Garon had wrapped around my waist were tinted by the sunset.

I traced the letters “Damha” on the back of his hand with my fingers. It felt like I had already discovered a secret gift hidden away for me. Every day, I tensed up, wondering when and where he would surprise me with this gift. Could it be that Garon was waiting for my permission? Perhaps both he and I might never bring it up again, leaving it buried in our hearts until we die.

Names etched into one’s eyes only disappeared when they turned to dust. I had heard that calling out a different name would bring unbearable pain, and in the worst cases, blindness. Still, I was curious. How would Garon’s lips move, and how would his voice resonate when he said the name Damha?

In his sleep, Garon groped for me. Pulling me into his arms, he fell back into a deep slumber. He always focused on one thing at a time. The only exception was when he was with me—simultaneously losing himself in pleasure while also gauging my feelings, or searching for me even when asleep.

In the distance, the tail end of Hanaru Mountain was visible. As planned, they must have defiled my mother’s traces to build the fortress. This fall, I would likely see the golden waves of flowers dancing and weeping in the wind. Would it be alright to walk there with Garon, where I used to stroll with my mother each year? Would the pampas grass, which always swayed more noticeably in the wind, still be there? How deep would the night sky, covered in melancholy, stretch? Where would the name Garon carved into my heart lead me?

I took my eyes off the night sky and placed my hand on Garon’s fingers. It felt like the pulse of his heartbeat was the entire world. For the first time, I tried whispering it inside my mouth.

Damha…