Twenty-One

As usual, peak autumn in the palace was a sight to behold, the trees showcasing their golden yellow, orange, and red leaves as it rustled softly with the occasional slight breeze of the cool wind. This morning in particular, however, was extraordinary. Even the sunrise was more vibrant and as crisp as the air was outside, Noh Ha Kyung's heart was warm.

Arms folded and tucked in her elegant ivory winter robe, she stood outside His Majesty's quarters watching as a few royal maids pleasantly made their way over the other side of the palace, chatting excitedly about something. Whatever it was, the sight of them brought a smile to her face. It's been quite a while since she's seen smiling faces like this in the palace.

And either the soft morning light illuminated her figure perfectly, or her happiness brought out the best of her natural beauty. It was a different kind of glow, and Hwi, who was approaching from behind, noticed it, too.

"Someone is up early and looking radiant this morning," he said, wrapping his arms behind her.

The way he perched his chin into her neck made her smile even brighter.

"I think this is the first time you rose after me," she said as she shyly turned around to face him.

Without breaking eye contact, Hwi gave a half smile, one that made his dimples more prominent - personally one of Noh Ha Kyung's favorite features of him, and everytime he smiled, his eyes did too, making him even more adorable.

"I think maybe because I haven't slept as well as I did last night in a very long time," Hwi replied in a low tone, evidently with a hint of mischief.

His response quickly turned his queen's cheeks into a shade of carnation.

"I never knew I could love someone as much as this," Noh Ha Kyung replied, looking away shyly as if meeting Hwi for the first time. "I never knew I could feel the way I did, the way I do when...

Hwi grabbed her chin and gently turned her towards him so that they were facing each other again.

"Me too," he whispered, sealing his confession with a soft kiss on her forehead.

In the distance, the thundering echo of the gongs sounded, signaling the final day of the state examinations. The couple's sweet romantic moment, although cut short, made their hearts fuller than it ever was before.

"Unfortunately, my duty as the ruler of this kingdom isn't over," Hwi whispered, his tone a little more deeper and serious.

Now fully understanding the weight he carried, Noh Ha Kyung nodded with a smile, trusting him completely in every aspect as the ruler of Joseon and her spouse. It wasn't just his weight and burdens, but hers too, and if she loved Lee Hwi for Lee Hwi, she must accept everything that came with him, the past, present, and future.

"I will no longer question your actions, Your Majesty," she promised, her eyes sparkling with both trust and affection.

Hwi nodded once and descended the steps with Eunuch Hong.

"That was a close one last night," Bok Dong muttered as they made their way towards the scholars' tents.

Hwi let out a sight of relief.

"The heart wants what the heart wants, Bok Dong," he replied without a single hesitation, making the eunuch chuckle as he struggled to keep up with Hwi.

The sun rose over the horizon now, casting a warmer hue over the palace grounds. Instead of proceeding towards the scholar's tents, however, Hwi stopped abruptly in front of the guards and turned to Eunuch Hong.

"Maybe my early presence will just make them feel intimidated," he said.

Eunuch Hong thought for a second and replied, "Maybe, since you're so... jolly this morning."

Hwi, eyes narrowed, shoved Eunuch Hong to the side.

"Is it really that obvious?" he asked for confirmation.

Bok Dong's response was immediate.

"Oh it's obvious," he assured with several nods. "Your royal composure is fraying, Your Majesty."

Hwi thought for a moment and gave a slow, single nod. His mind made up, he turned back towards the palace, Eunuch Hong so close to his heels that he blended in with Hwi's shadow on the ground.

"Five steps!" Hwi barked.

Eunuch Hong stopped for one split second, enough to make his usual confused expression before literally sprinting to catch up with Hwi.

"You were just jolly!"

Without slowing his pace, Hwi headed straight for The Royal Institute, where Yang Moon Soo was apparently heading out of the pavilion.

"Y- Your Majesty!"

The royal tutor gasped at Hwi's surprise presence. It wasn't as if he had overslept either, which he did quite frequently on the job. The man adjusted his hat before greeting his king with a proper bow.

"Bring me all of Jeong Jin Won's examination pamphlets," Hwi commanded.

Royal Tutor Yang looked up and then threw a quick glance at Eunuch Hong, who like him, seemed just as confused.

"Now!" Hwi exclaimed in his Ice Prince tone, making the royal tutor shudder and nodding wildly while scrambling off to his rather cluttered desk to retrieve the requested items.

Not only his desk was cluttered, so was his mind. His hands? They were trembling out of fear. Yang Moon Soo remembered the last time Hwi barged in like this during his Crown Prince days and all hell had broke loose. This time was giving... well, The Ice Prince, too.

Meanwhile, a perfectly calm Hwi took up an empty chair while he and Eunuch Hong watched as the royal tutor gathered a few books in one arm. He muttered something along the lines of "my dear head and PTSD" and quickly yet hastily organized his desk before turning around to face Hwi again.

"J-Jeong Jin Won's exam pamphlets, Your Majesty," he stammered, presenting the books to a smirking Hwi, whose eyes rolled from the frantic tutor to the first exam pamphlet.

Hwi opened it to reveal Baek Jin Hee's neat handwriting; however, without putting forth the effort in even reading her answers, he quickly flipped through the pages and closed it. Both Eunuch Hong and Yang Moon Soo watched as he repeated the same steps for the next four pamphlets before looking back up at Yang Moon Soo with a mischievous grin.

"I expect you to bring me the last of this scholar's exam answers today, no later than this afternoon," Hwi instructed.

For a moment, Yang Moon Soo opened his mouth to speak but ultimately instead chose to just nod in acknowledgement. He knew better than to question the king.

"I think you made Royal Tutor Yang more nervous than you would've made those scholars," said Eunuch Hong as they descended the steps of The Royal Institute.

Hwi smirked in response to the comment as a feeling of satisfaction poured over, having haven't felt quite this confident before in a while. For the first time in forever, he could give a command without living in the shadow of fear. To the 18th chamber in hell with the "what ifs".

"Bok Dong, do you have any idea how it feels to be able to do something without fear, whether it be possible disappointment or grief?" Hwi asked, his smile unwavering.

In addition to Court Lady Kim, Eunuch Hong Bok Dong was another individual that knew Hwi best. Without further questions, he knew exactly what Hwi was up to.

"If you feel confiscating those exam papers before the reviewing stage then I take it as one less thing to be concerned about in the end, literally one less exam you have to review," he replied. "I see you've finally realized what's truly important, Your Majesty."

And he couldn't have been more right. It's not about who he was anymore, it's who he wanted to be, and with that, he was a ruler before anything. He, Lee Hwi, gets to make the decisions. You don't question a king.

"If I say this scholar is disqualified because he has familiar ties to a former corrupt royal court official then that shall be the final verdict," said Hwi.

Technically, it was the truth. Summarized differently, maybe, but still the truth. Why did he even break an extra sweat on this matter in the first place? He had no idea, but now that he realized how foolish he was, Hwi couldn't help but to chuckle about it.

"It wasn't like you had feelings for that woman in the first place," said Bok Dong, breaking the two seconds of silence of their commute back to Hwi's quarters.

Hwi paused and turned around to glare at him, a cunning smirk playing on his lips as he inched in closer to the eunuch.

"I've never punished you before, huh?" Hwi reminded him aloud, more so reminding himself, too.

Bok Dong quickly frowned as he backed up slowly.

"I- I'm only joking, Your Majesty," he stammered, the fake fear evident in his voice as if Hwi didn't know him any better than he knew Hwi.

To be frank, the man was probably never genuinely afraid of Hwi. The Ice Prince, maybe, but not Lee Hwi, not this one.

"No dinner for you this evening," said Hwi without blinking.

He then turned around accordingly and continued his normal pace towards his quarters while a panic-stricken Bok Dong scurried after him.

"Not only love makes you see clearly now, you're also indifferent towards me, too," he muttered just loud enough to earn yet another disapproving response from Hwi.

"Keep on and you'll be without dinner for three straight days," said Hwi.

When they reached his quarters, Hwi tossed Baek Jin Hee's exam pamphlets on his desk and promptly sat down. A smiling Court Lady Kim approached to serve his usual, steaming ginseng tea.

"You seem to be in quite the mood today," she said, eyeing him curiously. "Could it be...

"Don't," Eunuch Hong warned. "His Majesty may punish you, too."

Court Lady Kim's hands quickly flew to her mouth, making Hwi laugh.

"I wouldn't do that to her," said Hwi. "Court Lady Kim has been through a lot with me."

And by that, they all knew what he was referring to, the time the Ming's Chief Eunuch brought out the devil in Hwi. He did what even the present Lee Hwi would do, not just The Crown Prince.

"But," Hwi continued. "I've never taught Bok Dong a lesson."

"What did you do?!" Court Lady Kim turned to exclaim at the eunuch, who was now looking more uncomfortable than ever.

He forced a shy smile, but was interrupted yet again by Hwi.

"He did what he usually does best," Hwi smirked. "Talk."

Court Lady Kim shot a disapproving glare at the eunuch.

"He dared to speak the truth," Hwi added. "To accuse me of having fallen in love."

Again, Court Lady Kim looked up, but this time at Hwi.

"Again and again when I didn't even realize it myself," Hwi admitted in a softer tone.

"In love with...

Court Lady Kim eyed him curiously although she knew the answer deep down, and she didn't intend to make it an official question either.

"Why my Queen, of course," Hwi boldly interrupted.

An undoubtedly warm, happy feeling gushed over as the words rolled off his tongue. He shamelessly blushed as a result, the true feeling indescribable. One thing was for certain, his heart and his mind were aligned for the first time in his life.

Lee Hwi was definitely proud of himself. But Noh Ha Kyung, who had arrived just in time to pause at the door to unintentionally eavesdrop on the conversation, was even more prouder. Hwi's open confession brought a smile to her, definitely making her heart full.