The sharp sting of the strong liquor had robbed them of the concentration needed to control their scents, and the air in the room, now heavy with the mingling aromas, grew increasingly oppressive. 

The first to falter under the weight of the atmosphere was Yeocheong. 

“Huu….” 

His face, already flushed with intoxication, didn’t get any redder, but the changes weren’t entirely absent. 

It felt like it wasn’t his face that was on fire, but his mind. Yeocheong knew that this was a primal reaction, but it didn’t make the situation any more bearable. 

However, as an Eumin, he lacked the strength to resist the overpowering scent of a Gekyangin that filled the air. 

He was fully aware that his scent was causing Jihyuk to become agitated, but at this point, there was no way for him to control it. The instincts of an Eumin had already undermined Yeocheong’s rationality and driven him to irrational behaviour. 

“I think I’ve drunk too much. I heard that the royal doctor prescribed some medicine, but drinking and taking medicine together isn’t good, so I should probably stop now…” 

Jihyuk, who was in better shape than Yeocheong, tried to de-escalate the situation, but smells don’t lie. 

It was clear that even he was reaching the limits of his self-control as the air became thicker with their combined scents. 

“Don’t go.” 

Yeocheong grabbed Jihyuk’s hem. His already heated body longed for the scent and presence of a Yangin. If alcohol wasn’t enough, he wanted to lose himself in something else. 

He pretended to act rationally, but even Jihyuk’s chest betrayed him, its strength and presence unmistakable. Yeocheong ran his hand over the firm fabric that lay taut beneath. 

“Your Majesty, you must be struggling as well.” 

“Your Highness, please don’t. You’ve had too much to drink.” 

“It doesn’t matter. Don’t leave me like this.” 

Yeocheong, his eyes still glistening with unshed tears, looked up at Jihyuk. His face, intoxicated by the scent, was dishevelled and full of raw emotion as he looked at him. 

“I want to forget. Please let me stop thinking about it.” 

Yeocheong, not even sure what he wanted to forget, clung to Jihyuk’s chest. He pressed against the hardness under Jihyuk’s robe, rubbing against it as he leaned against him.

The heat of the er*ction beneath him was palpable, even through the layers of clothing. Every time Yeocheong squirmed on Jihyuk’s lap, the scent that filled the room grew thicker, dulling his already faltering mind even more. 

“Make me forget everything…” 

Those were his last words before his mind completely gave way. A single tear slid down Yeocheong’s cheek, though whether it was from sadness or the inability to resist his instincts as an *Eumin*, he couldn’t tell. 

—

Yeocheong opened his eyes late the next morning, towards the end of the morning hours. Although Jihyuk was no longer beside him, his lingering scent was strong, suggesting that he had been at Yeocheong’s side until recently. 

“Are you awake, Your Highness?” 

The voice that greeted him upon awakening had always been either Seon or Sowol. But with Sowol imprisoned and Seon essentially dismissed from the palace, today it was Na Gyeong who tended to Yeocheong’s morning needs. 

“His Majesty was waiting for you to wake up, but having missed the morning court, he had to return in time for the State Council meeting at noon.”

Na Gyeong spoke with a smug expression on her face, more so than Yeocheong himself. After all, the status of the lord they served was a source of pride for a palace attendant, so her attitude was understandable. 

But Yeocheong, the person at the centre of it all, felt no joy. The night of intoxicating scents had passed, only to give way to another morning of reality. He almost wished he could go back to sleep and avoid facing all of this. 

“I heard that Sowol was captured. She was to be made an example of with a severe punishment. How could she dare to commit such an unforgivable crime in the sacred palace? Even cutting off her wrist and branding her wouldn’t be enough.”

“This matter must not go beyond the walls of Eunpyeong Palace.” 

“Yes, yes, of course. I’ve already made sure that Munhee has been strictly instructed to keep quiet. It would be shameful enough if this were to tarnish His Majesty’s reputation, let alone…” 

“That’s enough. I’m tired. I’d like to be alone for a while.” 

It was obvious that Na Gyeong was exaggerating her indignation, probably to appear loyal in Yeocheong’s eyes. He waved her off and sent her out of the room. 

Sowol would be punished. Even though the incident had been kept as quiet as possible, the truth was already known by too many people: himself, Na Gyeong, Munhee, the soldiers guarding Sowol in prison, and of course Jihyuk. 

No matter how discreet they tried to be, the weight of the truth was heavy.

It wasn’t an incident he could brush off as if nothing had happened. Even if he wanted to, the situation didn’t allow it. 

‘Yeon… she’s a capable child. She’ll manage to live well wherever she goes. If she hadn’t been my confidante, she wouldn’t have been treated like this.’

With a sigh, Yeocheong moved his body out of bed. His body, tortured through the night, ached slightly. 

Though his memories of being intoxicated by the scent weren’t entirely clear, one thing stood out vividly: clinging to Jihyuk’s neck, sobbing and begging him not to stop. 

If only for a moment, he wanted to forget everything. Clinging to Jihyuk, he had pushed his body to the limit until he couldn’t even move his hips, the remnants of their actions running down his legs. 

Yeocheong didn’t particularly enjoy being an Eumin, but at moments like this he felt relieved that it allowed him to escape reality for at least a short time. 

“Your Highness, I know that Sowol has done wrong. She has clearly made a grave mistake. But to cut her wrists and brand her… that is too cruel.”

But such escapes never lasted more than a few days, and without the lure of leniency, barely a single night. 

Yeocheong thought of Seon kneeling before him, crying and begging for Sowol. Her tear-stained face and desperate voice remained in his mind, no matter how hard he tried to shake them off. 

“Do not expel her from the palace, nor do I ask that she be spared punishment. I only ask that she be left with enough to survive, enough to live on after she leaves…”

Even for Yeocheong, who had once been ruined by her words, the current situation was far from pleasant. For Yeon, who thought Sowol was just an ordinary maid, the confusion and shock must have been immense. 

‘Maybe it’s better if she doesn’t know. Better to let her think of Sowol as a foolish and reckless girl who dared to touch something forbidden in the palace, just as she does now…’ 

Only Yeocheong knew that Sowol had come to Yeon with the intention of killing him. If this truth came to light, two people would feel betrayed. 

Knowing how unbearable this betrayal would be, Yeocheong struggled for a long time with whether it was right to reveal the truth to Yeon. 

“What is Seon doing?”

Yeocheong finally asked, breaking his silence.

“She tried to get up early to work, but she couldn’t compose herself, so I sent her back to rest.”

A few hours later, Yeocheong looked at Na Gyeong, who was still hesitating, and asked for news of Yeon. He could imagine how Seon must have felt, waking up at dawn to find something to do, and let out a bitter smile. 

“Bring her here.” 

It might not have been the perfect choice, but Yeocheong believed it was the best he could do. Once the decision had been made, it was better to act quickly and decisively. 

“Your Highness, you called for me?” 

It wasn’t long before Yeon, summoned by Na Gyeong, stood before Yeocheong with her head bowed. The dark circles under her eyes had deepened in just one day, a clear sign that she hadn’t slept well. 

Even during the time Yeocheong had been imprisoned in the Cold Palace, Seon had always tried her best to appear cheerful in front of him. To see her in such a state now was disheartening. Avoiding her gaze, Yeocheong shifted his eyes awkwardly and spoke. 

“Sowol will be punished. Stealing from the palace alone is a serious crime, but committing such an act while holding the position of my confidant is nothing less than a disgrace to me.” 

“…….” 

Seon pressed her lips together tightly and bowed her head even lower. Over the course of the day, her thoughts had been completely consumed by Sowol. 

It wasn’t a matter of course for Yeocheong to show leniency, nor was it something that could be called unfeeling. But for Yeon, Sowol wasn’t just anyone, she was someone special. 

Although she knew that the strict laws of the palace were justified, and that Sowol’s actions were unquestionably wrong, the punishment still felt far too harsh for a friend like her. 

“Since this is a matter within Eunpyeong Palace, it is only right that Your Highness mete out the punishment.”

Seon said, swallowing the tears that threatened to spill out at any moment. 

“The fault lies with me for not managing the palace properly. It was my mistake to give too much authority to the servants I brought from my homeland.”

“…….” 

“Then it must be corrected, even if it’s only now.” 

Yeocheong repeated the words he had spoken the day before. But Yeon’s reaction was different this time. Unlike the day before, when she had clung to him, she simply bit her lip and held back her tears in silence. 

“You are someone who can take care of yourself even after leaving the palace.” 

So it was better not to keep her by his side. As Yeocheong thought this, he bit down hard on his lips. The saying “ignorance is bliss” rang painfully true. 

Even if it felt suffocating and unfair now, and even if he seemed to be a cold and heartless master, it didn’t matter. What was more important than surviving? 

“Understood.” 

After a long silence, Seon finally nodded and Yeocheong, avoiding her gaze, continued. 

“You will leave the palace in three days. If there are any belongings you need to prepare, do so in advance.” 

“Yes, Your Highness.” 

Seon nodded again. Time passed in silence before she, who had remained frozen in place, slowly opened her mouth. 

“Your Highness, this may be presumptuous of me. But since this may be my last opportunity… may I say a few words?” 

What could she say? Perhaps it was a statement laced with resentment towards Yeocheong. But he didn’t stop her. After permission was granted, Seon spoke in a voice trembling with unshed tears.