Camellia 99

He really was pathetic. Every time the opportunity arose, Sahyeol Amje would force his way in with harassment or threats, and Seolyeong stared at him with a cold expression. With his chin seized, his head tilted back, and his gaze naturally fell into a languid glare.

Above the heavens, beneath the heavens, I alone am supreme. There was no phrase more fitting for the man than that. Seolyeong, eyeing the neatly chiseled features of the sect leader, muttered sharply,

“If you force a kiss, I’ll bite off my tongue.”

The sect leader tightened his grip and leaned in like he was daring him to try. Just before their lips touched, so close they could feel each other’s breath, Seolyeong spoke in a calm tone.

“This bride’s tongue. I’d rather die than be violated.”

In fact, he didn’t have the slightest intention of dying to avoid the sect leader’s advances. He was just overwhelmed with defiance. Sick of being looked down on by a man who toyed with him like a predator playing with a helpless pup. Every time he hurled those cold, mocking words, it knocked the wind out of Seolyeong’s chest.

But not anymore. He wanted to regain control. After all, the one who loved first had already lost, and the one with power in this game… was him. Because what kind of lunatic would let the one they loved…

“Then go ahead.”

It was a sin to have been so complacent to think ‘let the one they loved die’ Seolyeong froze as the sect leader’s lips suddenly drew closer. He twisted his head away with all his strength.

“Mmmf—!”

He clamped his lips shut and pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, tucking it safely away. He thrashed with desperation.

“Mmgh, mmph!”

This was insane. His hands shoved frantically against the man’s chest and shoulders, but then was startled. Sahyeol Amje caught both his wrists, crossed them, and pinned them up high with a monstrous grip.

Thud! His arms slammed against the wall above his head.

“You said you’d die before being kissed. But now that the moment’s here, you’re hesitating. Regretting it already?”

He whispered with an amused tone. And that was when Seolyeong finally realized how the sect leader saw him.

This bastard found me most amusing when I resisted. When I refused to yield. Which meant the only way to cut off that twisted amusement was to give in. I have to act like a meek, obedient bride, so he won’t have to experience such petty pleasure…I’d rather bite my tongue off!

Seolyeong peeled his lips apart and crushed his tongue under his fang with pure spite. Crunch. The sharp edge tore into the soft flesh, and blood filled his mouth.

He didn’t plan to chew until it was pulp, just enough to make a point, then go find the physician to heal it.

But he couldn’t bring himself to stop because Sahyeol Amje, arms crossed, stood there watching like he was enjoying the show.

“You’ll have to bite harder if you actually want to die.”

The man with a red handprint still bright on his cheek spoke calmly.

“What’s the matter? You don’t actually want to die? Or is it just too painful to go through with it?”

The bleeding worsened. Blood never gushed out instantly just because flesh was torn. It usually came in waves, pooling first before pouring. Seolyeong grew uncomfortable as the taste overwhelmed his mouth. He swallowed unconsciously. The sect leader smiled.

“It seems like you’re putting on a brave show in front of your husband, huh?”

Left with nothing to say, Seolyeong spat out the blood and pressed his mangled tongue to the roof of his mouth to stop the bleeding. It wasn’t exactly a proven remedy, but with a blood fiend’s regenerative abilities, it’d heal soon enough even if it failed.

He had intended to start arguing with Sahyeol Amje after the bleeding stopped, but that plan was derailed right away.

“Stop thinking nonsense. Just focus on packing.”

The sect leader flicked a finger against Seolyeong’s throat, right on his prominent Adam’s apple, and whispered like it meant something. As Seolyeong blinked in confusion, Sahyeol Amje gently ran his fingers through his soft hair.

“I told you, we’re going on an outing.”

It seems that the offer from earlier was serious. Seolyeong answered flatly.

“…Return Si Pungjae first. When exactly do you plan to release all your hostages?”

“Hm.”

Sahyeol Amje let out a low hum.

“The old ones? Apparently, I’m not supposed to lay a finger on them until treatment’s finished.”

“Who said that?”

“Some fiery-handed physician.”

“…Ah.”

Seolyeong’s eyes drifted toward the red mark on Sahyeol Amje’s cheek.

So the physician had slapped him out of anger after seeing how the hostages were being mistreated? …Well. Maybe. Even so, it was still baffling. For someone to strike sect leader, and for the man to take it without retaliation. Seolyeong couldn’t wrap his head around that.

For all his aloof grace in front of women, he didn’t seem like someone who’d accept being hit that easily. Choseon’s words echoed in his mind.

“The sect members on Chiljeong Mountain say it’s already spreading like wildfire inside the sect. That the Divine Healer’s disciple fell in love with Sahyeol Amje and stayed on her own will. That the white-haired master who was with her left, disappointed by the disciple’s change of heart.”

…Were they really in a relationship? As Seolyeong pondered that, the next moment came too fast. Without a second to scream, he was seized by the collar and thrown out the window.

He flipped three times midair before landing neatly on the ground. His fluttering hair settled back into place with a soft rustle. Crimson eyes looked up at the upper floor of the building, full of disbelief.

“You said you loved me, you lunatic…”

Clearly, whatever the sect leader called love, it didn’t resemble tenderness or care in the slightest. For a moment, Seolyeong wondered if he’d confused the urge to torment with affection, but the more he thought about it, the more his head started to hurt.

Whatever it was, it was sect leader’s problem. Whether it was sadistic obsession or genuine love didn’t matter to Seolyeong. He had only one thing to protect. To never fall in love with that bastard of a sect leader. That was all.

***

Seolyeong wasted precious time receiving Choseon’s clumsy relationship advices. He was summoned to Haeseong Pavilion on an unexpected day. Because Si Pungwoon insisted that a summons meant flying over immediately, Seolyeong had no choice but to take to the sky with gyeonggong.

Naturally, Pungwoon, who had rushed him, couldn’t keep up and arrived late with a flustered appearance.

“Gah… haah…”

“You haven’t trained enough. Your left ankle’s strength isn’t matching the right, so even if your stance is perfect, your speed drops.”

Seolyeong casually pointed out the flaw and began explaining how to correct the imbalance like he was lecturing a student. Pungwoon gave him a strange look.

“…Does the Gyo-mo not find me difficult anymore?”

He recalled the chaos he’d stirred when Seolyeong first arrived, raging in Yeohwa Hall. He’d talked behind the bride’s back plenty with other guards since then, and now felt the weight of that guilt.

But Seolyeong seemed unfazed.

“Why would I?”

“Because I… the way I’ve treated you…”

“You’ve changed. That’s enough.”

When teaching children, Seolyeong always emphasized: People make mistakes. People misjudge. What matters is realizing that and choosing to change.

In truth, that was the very lesson he had always longed to hear.

If I can show them I’m not like other blood fiends… maybe I’ll be free of the sins of my kind.

The memory of all those days he’d endured, clinging to that belief, passed through his mind.

“You’ve changed, Pungwoon. Don’t let your past bind you.”

Seolyeong left behind only those words and walked away. Pungwoon stood watching him with a conflicted look.

And then, as if acknowledging the Gyo-mo, he slowly raised his hands and clasped them in salute.

The clouds began to drift again. Sunlight spilled down to follow Seolyeong’s steps.

Maybe… the “mad” character in “Mad Bride” wasn’t madness. Maybe it meant radiance.¹

As Pungwoon saw even the sunlight seem to respect him, he let out a breath of awe.

It was the moment a new character began to adorn Seolyeong.

1. Korean homophones 狂 (광, gwang) madness, crazy, wild 光 (광, gwang) light, radiance, shine ↩︎