5 ⚜️🌺 Royal Lust
The morning crow woke and echoed through the palace.
Goo-eun stayed inside her chamber, humiliated by the turn of events from yesterday. Maids gossiped that the Queen had returned to her quarters late at night with barely any clothes.
Inside the king's bedchamber, Hye-shik looked at Baek with a stern, anxious expression.
"What made you look at me with that face?" Baek asked.
Hye-shik bowed and drew a breath.
"Your Majesty, don't you think you treated Her Majesty coldly last night?"
Baek flinched at the words, his jaw tightening.
"What do you mean?"
"My apologies for my boldness, but on the first night you were supposed to spend with her, you returned to the Forbidden Library without laying a single hand on her. She must have been desperate to come here for the first time, seeking you to value her—"
"Hye-shik!" Baek interrupted.
Hye-shik pressed his lips together.
"Forgive me…"
"Although what I did to her last night was unforgivable, her eyes were more sinful than ever. I've never seen her stoop so low. That was why I rejected her…" The words tasted hollow even as he spoke them.
Hye-shik swallowed pride and fear, stepping forward.
"Are you sure it's not because of… Lady Park?"
Baek's eyes widened. The mere mention of her name made his heart race.
"Hye-shik—!"
"You can have any lady in this kingdom, but if you seek this one, I would advise you not to. I have served you for many years… and—"
"And what? As a king, can I be selfish for one lady? Is that what you're telling me?"
"Your Majesty, please! That's what forced His Late Majesty to abandon your mother!" Hye-shik shouted.
Silence fell. Baek tightened his jaw
"My Royal Father never loved her," he muttered.
"You know that's not true!" Hye-shik retorted. "He loved her so much that he became weak whenever she was mentioned. That's what led to your other brothers dying suspiciously."
"Choi Hye-shik!" Baek commanded. Hye-shik caught himself, choking on the words he'd meant to say. Baek glared. "Whatever my father did… I won't become like him."
Hye-shik lowered his head, defeated.
"I will take my leave…" he said, and left the king's quarters to follow Seon-in for the day.
Baek groaned as he left the bedchamber and headed to his bath. He stripped and stepped into the water, soaking his body. He leaned his head back and exhaled.
"Why did I throw her out? Was it really because I couldn't stop thinking about her?" he muttered, covering his face with a wet hand. Seon-in's eyes flashed in his mind as he stared at the ceiling. "Those eyes… are truly captivating. What would happen if they mixed with my white eyes?"
Baek closed his eyes, imagining Seon-in's gentle touch against his chest. Heat flared beneath his skin—not from the bath, but from treacherous thought. Steam brushed his ear, and he mistook it for Seon-in's breath. His hand slid hesitantly between his legs.
A moan escaped him like a drop striking still water. His brows furrowed as agonizing desire tightened his chest. Almost without thinking, his movements beneath the surface made ripples across the bath. He surrendered to the rising pleasure.
His chest pumped rapidly as he opened his eyes, panting, and looked down at his hand.
"What am I doing, thinking about another lady who isn't mine?" he whispered.
Baek cleaned himself quickly, stepped out, and hurried to his robe.
Hours had gone by as ministers droned on about alliances and heirs.
"…Her Ladyship has waited long enough. It would be improper to delay further—"
Seon-in's voice rose beneath it, unrelenting.
Baek exhaled sharply and stood.
"Enough."
The court fell silent as he walked out of the court with Head Eunuch holding his hand.
Back in his quarters, he stood silently at the door with his eunuch.
"Your Majesty…?" the Head Eunuch called.
Baek flinched and looked up.
"Where's Hye-shik?"
"He's—"
"I'm here, Your Majesty," Hye-shik interrupted, panting.
Baek turned to him and nodded.
"Let's go."
Hye-shik nodded and followed closely to the Forbidden Library. The Head Eunuch sighed as he turned away.
"His Majesty always walks around with that swordsman…" a low-level eunuch murmured.
"Shush! Do you want to lose your head?" the Head Eunuch hissed.
The low-level eunuch pouted and grumbled.
"Does he favor men over women or something? He refuses even his queen!"
The maids trailing behind gasped and covered their mouths, eager to gossip.
"Is that true? Or is it… because he's blind and cannot see Her Majesty's virtue?"
The Head Eunuch clicked his tongue.
"If you dare spread rumors under my watch, I will have you kicked out immediately. So keep your mouths shut before any nobles hear you."
Everyone squeaked and fell silent.
Inside, Baek entered the Forbidden Library and sat. Hye-shik closed the doors and stood beside him.
"Your Majesty," Hye-shik said.
"Why were you late? Normally, you'd be on time…" Baek wondered.
"I… Lady Park planned on sneaking out tonight to return the book," Hye-shik answered.
Baek's hand froze. He looked at Hye-shik.
"I see… then you are dismissed for tonight. Make sure no one lingers nearby," he ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hye-shik left the Forbidden Library, pausing to stare at the eerie silence of the Geoncheonggung garden by the North Gate. He drew a slow, deep breath and walked away.
In the heart of Geoncheonggung, Goo-eun lingered by the river where she had once hidden her indignity. I will not fall. Everything will be mine.
Seonu emerged from the shadows with a smirk and a stolen peony from the Royal Garden in hand.
"What brings Her Majesty here after what I witnessed?" he asked slyly.
Goo-eun's jaw tightened. She exhaled slowly, turned, and peeled off her top before Seonu could approach. His eyes widened.
"If I help you, you must give me something in return…" she said.
He clutched the flower's stem and laughed.
"You're mistaken about one thing, Your Majesty…" he added as he advanced. With a deft motion, he pulled out her hairpin, letting her hair cascade loose. He gathered a few strands, inhaling, and brushed close behind her. "I owe you nothing."
Goo-eun giggled, the sound sharp in the stillness. She looked over her shoulder and locked eyes with him.
"Then I could report you for touching me treacherously… His Majesty may refrain, but he treats me well," she warned.
Seonu sneered, gripped her cheeks, and pulled her closer. She blushed but smiled.
"And what makes you think anyone would believe you after searching your bedchamber for that pleasure rod?"
Her laughter rang out, the sunset catching a gleam in her eyes.
"What kind of indignity did you expect? That belongs to my maid! I stole it to try it out…"
Seonu's hands trembled. His jaw tightened. She swiftly turned and removed her outer skirt. His gaze fell on her exposed chest, and he faltered. She raised a hand elegantly over her breast and smiled.
"How about you give me what I want, and… I'll give you what you want?"
Seonu bit his lip, eyes darkening. With a smirk, he seized her head and devoured her mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed as his hands slid from her hair to her chest, groping one breast aggressively.
"Mhmm…" she moaned, heat rising through her. A thin trail of saliva clung to the corner of her lips. His touch surpassed anything she had done herself.
Suddenly, Seonu ripped her underskirt away and reached between her legs while their lips stayed locked.
"You're already wet from a kiss…" he murmured, inserting fingers inside. She arched and cried out. "Or were you planning this all along?"
He raked her, stirring desires she hadn't yet indulged. She clutched his sleeves as pleasure surged and crested, leaving her trembling and breathless.
Seonu withdrew his fingers, watching her fluids glisten, then tasted them with a chuckle. He shed his clothes and pushed her to the ground.
"Hey!" she cried.
"You wanted this… didn't you? Because you thought it felt better than my cousin," he declared, revealing himself.
Goo-eun gulped. That's… bigger than what I used.
Seonu grinned and lifted her legs.
"Wait—!"
"You asked for this…"
"It won't go smoothly—!"
But he thrust, and her breath hitched. His cheek twitched as he observed the tightness enveloping him. He continued with a steady rhythm, pulling her legs up and grinding deeper.
Goo-eun let her tongue slip, swallowed by pleasure. Better than I imagined… she thought, smiling slyly.
Finally, he groaned, emptying himself inside her. Breathing heavily, he stared between her legs. Her shoulders shook as laughter bubbled out.
Yes! I finally carry royal seeds! she beamed, cupping his cheek and kissing him passionately.
"Then our deal begins…" she whispered, dressing swiftly and cradling her belly with the brightest smile. Your Majesty may have rejected me, but I've found another way. I will rise, and my son will inherit. Seonu will be the scapegoat.
Seonu lingered, chuckling sinisterly after her footsteps faded, one hand over his face.
"You think my seed will help you…" he muttered, grinning. "You're already incapable of bearing a child."
Once alone, Goo-eun gazed at her belly, delight blooming. Now I carry a royal heir. When I overthrow Prince Seonu, my son will ascend, and Seonu will be blamed for regicide.