Garden of Joy C10

Chapter 10

Before they knew it, all the classes were over, and it was time to return to the palace.

Just like in the morning, once several black cars performed their smooth exit through the school gates, it wouldn’t be long before Hwan and Heeseo arrived back at the palace grounds. From that point on, however, the two of them had to move along different routes for a while.

The main reason was simple: their residences were separate.

As already mentioned, Heeseo stayed in the palace attendants’ dormitory building located in front of Gyeonghoeru, whereas Hwan’s quarters were situated much farther north, near Hyangwonjeong. Unfortunately, the distance between the two places was not insignificant.

For that reason, having to part ways right from the parking lot was something Hwan never liked.

This is why I wanted Heeseo to live with me.

But with the elders of the imperial family vehemently opposing it, there was nothing even Hwan could do.

Once they returned to their respective quarters, both of them would set their bags down and change clothes, taking a brief moment to catch their breath. After that, Hwan would wait in his own quarters, and Heeseo would come to him. Rain or snow, this routine never changed.

At times, Heeseo was only human and had days when he was tired enough to want to rest alone. But whenever they parted, Hwan would droop visibly and murmur in a pitiful voice, “…See you later,” and Heeseo could never bring himself to turn him away.

That aside, if Heeseo didn’t go, Hwan would surely change his attitude in an instant, eyes flashing as he stormed over himself. Rather than letting matters escalate, Heeseo knew from experience that calmly going along with it was the path of least resistance—for both of them. Some people even called this reaching a state of enlightenment.

Today, however, was a rare exception.

“Heeseo.”

When a palace attendant personally came to the parking lot and called his name, Hwan’s expression crumpled before Heeseo could even react.

“Today, this way.”

The attendant proceeded to guide the two of them—not in separate directions, but along the same path. And not just anywhere, but straight toward Hwan’s quarters.

Yet the reason Hwan openly frowned instead of leaping for joy was that Heeseo had somewhere else he needed to stop by along that route.

Jajeongjeon—the residence of the Empress Dowager.

The “exception” mentioned earlier referred precisely to days when Her Majesty the Empress Dowager issued a summons.

And as could already be guessed from the attendant calling only Heeseo’s name, that summons applied solely to him. Hwan found that deeply displeasing.

Heeseo never said anything, but no matter how clueless Hwan might be, he knew that being summoned like this could hardly be for something pleasant.

…This must be about yesterday.

He was referring to the incident at the ceremony, where Heeseo hadn’t been able to attend and Hwan had openly sulked in front of everyone. That it had been reported separately—and turned into amusing gossip across various media outlets—was beyond doubt. Naturally, that would be the topic.

Why on earth would they—!

It wasn’t as though Hwan thought he’d done well.

What angered him was the fact that instead of calling him, they were summoning Heeseo alone to scold him. When Hwan himself was the one at fault.

Is it because Heeseo couldn’t come in the first place?

If so, it was even more absurd.

Especially this time—more than ever—Heeseo had a legitimate reason: he had been sick. And that, too, must already have been reported. Despite knowing that, they still summoned him. Hwan found it unbearably unfair. It was too much. It made no sense.

Already walking on eggshells after getting only three answers right on the vocabulary quiz, this was the last thing he needed. So it was only natural that Hwan flared up and stepped in front of Heeseo.

“Absolutely not.”

He planted himself in front of him, shielding Heeseo with his body and stubbornly refusing to budge—despite knowing it was pointless. Hwan couldn’t bear another situation where his actions placed yet another burden on Heeseo.

Of course, if he’d behaved like an adult from the start, this wouldn’t have happened at all.

Yes—he knew that. And he was sorry for it.

That was why his heart pounded anxiously, fear creeping in that perhaps Heeseo had grown tired of him, or sick of him. His face burned hot, and the hand gripping Heeseo’s arm trembled uncontrollably. He was so afraid—so scared—that he couldn’t let go.

If Heeseo went in there and heard something bad, Hwan felt certain that his worst fears would come true.

With Hwan clinging on so desperately, the awkward standoff dragged on right there in the parking lot. Soon, more attendants hurried over to coax and placate him.

“Your Highness, this truly will not do.”

“It will only be a moment. Just a short while—Heeseo will be sent back immediately—”

“I’ve said it over and over. No matter what, it’s not happening.”

The more he resisted, the more strained the expressions of those around him became. As always, Hwan seemed oblivious in his urgency, but in truth, the longer this dragged on, the more difficult it would be for Heeseo.

And so, once again, Heeseo had no choice but to step in.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Heeseo avoided the others’ eyes and gently placed his hand over Hwan’s clenched one.

“It’s okay.”

“What do you mean, it’s okay?”

Hwan turned back at him resentfully, but Heeseo merely offered a calm smile.

“She probably just wants to have some tea together.”

“So why would she specifically need you for tea—!”

It made no sense. And yet—

“Your Highness.”

“…….”

“…Hwan.”

At the gentle whisper, soothing and coaxing, and the soft pat of Heeseo’s hand, Hwan had no strength left to resist. His lower lip was bitten raw with unresolved frustration, but in the end, he weakly loosened his desperate grip on Heeseo’s arm.

I’m sorry.

Even in moments like this, he couldn’t bring himself to say those simple words. Just mouthing them silently, hating himself for how pathetic he was, made Hwan want to scream.

Though he couldn’t stop Heeseo from being summoned to the Empress Dowager’s residence, Hwan believed he still had something he could do. No matter how he thought about it, the situation was unfair.

So he decided to resist—in his own way.

It was somewhat ironic, given that Heeseo was being summoned precisely because of Hwan’s behavior, but this was the only countermeasure Hwan knew how to take.

“Your Highness, if you return to your quarters first, we will send Heeseo along shortly.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll take care of it myself, so don’t worry.”

The attendant escorting Heeseo repeatedly urged Hwan to go back and wait, but Hwan ignored him completely, trailing after Heeseo like a puppy. That wasn’t all.

When they finally arrived at the Empress Dowager’s residence and the attendant announced their arrival, allowing only Heeseo inside, Hwan revealed his true colors.

He plopped himself right down in the middle of the courtyard, arms crossed.

“Oh my goodness, Your Highness!”

The senior court ladies of Jajeongjeon and the surrounding attendants were aghast.

You mustn’t do this. Please maintain your dignity. The courtyard erupted into chaos. Ridiculous as it looked, this was Hwan’s last resort to ensure that the Empress Dowager wouldn’t keep Heeseo for long.

Please keep it brief.

Or else he might start rolling around on the ground.

Seated stubbornly on the dirt, Hwan’s eyes were sharp.

But as Heeseo listened to the commotion outside, he thought that neither Hwan, being this obstinate, nor the Empress Dowager—who remained serenely composed despite hearing it all—was someone to be underestimated.

“How very childlike he is.”

Holding her teacup gracefully, she laughed as though watching her grandson’s endearing antics.

Heeseo had grown up in the palace for most of his life—one could hardly exaggerate by saying so. He had been cherished enough that there were even moments when the Emperor himself felt like nothing more than a friend’s father. But when it came to the Empress Dowager, Heeseo had never once dared to think that way.

From the very beginning until now, regardless of her age, she had always been a fearsome and formidable elder of the imperial family.

For that reason, Heeseo knelt silently and respectfully before her.

“…….”

He couldn’t very well comment on the commotion outside, either.

The real conversation between them only began after they allowed some time to pass for the uproar to settle. The Empress Dowager placed her teacup gently onto its saucer and spoke evenly.

“So, Heeseo. I heard you were unwell last night.”

“I apologize.”

The moment she finished speaking, Heeseo answered with an immediate apology, as though he had been waiting for it. The Empress Dowager widened her wrinkled eyes in feigned surprise.

“You don’t fall ill because you wish to. What is there to apologize for?”

She smiled kindly once more, but Heeseo knew better than to take that at face value. The true reason for this meeting lay in the words that followed.

“Still, if you neglect your health, troublesome situations like this can arise. It would be wise to be more careful.”

At a glance, it might have sounded like concern for Heeseo.

But considering the weight behind the phrase “troublesome situation,” it was closer to a reprimand—directed at Heeseo for failing to properly attend to Hwan at his side.

Regardless of the reason.

The piercing gaze of the Empress Dowager felt like a reminder—of why Heeseo had been placed beside Hwan in the first place. A warning, thinly veiled. His chest tightened involuntarily.