Record of Mad Love

If the emperor told him to die, then he had to die. For him, a mere son of commoners, he had to do so.

Perhaps noticing Mugeon’s confusion, Jin Ye stroked his head, as if to comfort him. While doing so, she pressed for the answer to the question she asked earlier.

“I told you to take a guess.”

Mugeon shut his eyes tight. His heart palpitated in a different meaning from earlier.

“…… I think I, will die.”

He never learned how to wrap his words in a splendid way. Therefore, he talked honestly, and Jin Ye laughed heartily.

“Don’t worry. This place is precious to me, so I don’t want to cover it with blood.”

Does that mean she will keep me alive until tomorrow morning?

Mugeon somehow felt as if that wasn’t his business in front of the woman who said she would kill him. Perhaps he thought that way because the current situation was unrealistic to him.

Finished talking, Jin Ye straightened up her back. Her face grew distant, and Mugeon’s head arched back to reach her eyes. Jin Ye squinted her eyes.

“You must have heard that you can’t look at my face intently like that.”

Although he heard her warn, Mugeon didn’t lower his head. He didn’t want to give in now. He himself didn’t know what kind of courage had suddenly struck him, but he ended up replying to her.

“But if I were to die soon, wouldn’t that make no difference?”

“You’re quite daring, aren’t you?”

“… Can I say another word, Your Majesty?”

“What is it?”

“Then why did you bring me inside this room?”

Jin Ye looked downward. She was expressionless, but there was something quite noticeable in her eyes. Perhaps, rather than displeased, she might have found this to be interesting.

Therefore, she wouldn’t kill me immediately.

Mugeon perceived that as she was giving him a chance to talk as he pleased.

“I learned that someone who brings their lover to their room in the middle of the night is not virtuous.”

Jin Ye tilted her head. A smile was still adorning her face.

“So, what is it that you’re trying to say?”

“If I won’t die inside this room, doesn’t that mean I will die when the day turns bright?”

Because he had to leave her chamber when the morning came.

Mugeon was conscious of Seoyeob’s shadow reflected on the door.

He was clearly not an ordinary martial artist as he stayed close to the emperor. There was a possibility he had already gotten an order to be on guard to kill him right on the moment he entered this room. If he wanted to, he could easily make Mugeon, who was a normal person, have his head fly in the blink of an eye.

If so,

“Then, before I die…”

Mugeon gulped down his saliva. He had no intention to lower his voice.

Such a thing was cowardly.

He wouldn’t become a coward.

So, he spoke bravely, even though he could die right away in this place.

“I would like to have you.”

If whatever happened he would end up dying tomorrow morning, he wanted to hold this woman, who had been paired up as his lover, in his arms.

If a name was inscribed in the body, it was said that was fate. The moment he saw the beautiful name appear, he liked the woman he had never seen. And when he finally saw the beautiful face, he went blind and his heart jumped.

The most precious person amongst the people he had seen since he was born. Such a person was the lover decided by heaven for Yeon Mugeon, who was an ordinary person.

However, because that person wanted his head, then shouldn’t he at least try to get something?

Ba-dump, ba-dump…

His heart ran wildly. As if it would soon jump out of his mouth.

He had never been this nervous after saying something.

“…”

The suffocating silence crept in. Even the small sound of the wind was heard loud in his ears.

After a long time, a smile quietly was drawn on Jin Ye’s lips just like a flower blooms under the famous painter’s brush.

Then, right at that time,

“I will punish that person.”

A voice rang from outside.

The nervous Mugeon forced his eyes to move, which did not even move when he was too nervous. He saw Seoyeob’s shadow had turned darker. That must mean he had come closer, and Jin Ye clearly saw that as well.

However, Jin Ye called his name in a stern voice.

“Seoyeob.”

They were inside the majestic palace. As long as the door closed, it was proper to keep silent, pretending to not know about any sounds permeating out of the emperor’s chamber. However, Seoyeob, who clearly knew about the custom, meddled in.

“The crime of daring to dishonor the emperor. I, Jo Seoyeob, can’t forgive a person who commits this.”

It was a calm voice, but it was glimpsed with wrath. Jin Ye let out a short laughing sound as if she was interested, then she approached the door. Both the doors where the shadow was reflected were opened. Soon, Seoyeob prostrated before her.

“Your Majesty.”

Seoyeob was a loyal retainer.

However, his figure was seen as if he wanted to kiss Jin Ye’s feet. Just like a man courting the woman he loved.

Amused by that, Jin Ye put down one of her knees on the floor. Then, all the people in the corridor before her chamber lowered their heads to the floor.

Surrounded by them, Jin Ye reached out her hand and slightly lifted Seoyeob’s chin. The moment she met his eyes, a picture was completed inside her head. Jo Seoyeob was the most useful card to desert Yeon Mugeon.

She could sense Yeon Mugeon intently looking at her even when everyone shoved their heads to the floor. Under the gaze of both men in front and back of her, Jin Ye let out unexpected words on her lips.

“Then would you enter my chamber?”

Seoyeob’s eyes shook. It was the same case for his voice.

“How could such a disloyalty, irreverent…”

Seyeob, who was always calm, unexpectedly showed his wavering figure. Jin Ye caught on his voice that was fading away.

“You must be unable to say it out loud with your mouth.”

“…”

“But your eyes were saying so.”

“I, Jo Seoyeob, never the slightest—”

“I have such a thought.”

Jin Ye spoke in a concluding tone. As if saying she wouldn’t accept any argument. As if she knew all of the truth.

She, who blocked Seoyeob from speaking, rose to her feet. She looked at Yeon Mugeon, who still brazenly looked her way, not realizing the situation.

It was a strangely intrusive gaze.

For Jin Ye, who only ever looked at her retainers crawling under her, that type of gaze was very unfamiliar.

Her eyes stared at Yeon Mugeon, and her lips spoke to Jo Seoyeob. Her clear voice rang like a bell inside the room.

“Mister Jo, enter my chamber.”