JD 94

“No, seriously, why—what could possibly be wrong with Sir Muheon…?”

The West Sea beastmen were dumbfounded, completely forgetting the fact that they’d been caught trying to sneak a peek.

Muheon, unfazed, waved a hand like he’d resolved their curiosity and they could go now. One of them seemed to catch the meaning and quietly began backing away, motioning for the others to follow.

“Wait.”

“Y-yes?”

Muheon pointed at a bronze washbasin filled with water. The beastman holding it startled so hard the water sloshed. He hesitated, then stepped forward and handed it over. Muheon accepted the basin with a tilt of his chin, and the group immediately bolted.

He’d been wondering if he’d have to go fetch water to clean Hakyung—turns out, they brought it for him. Convenient.

Muheon quietly opened the door and peered inside. Fortunately—or unfortunately—his newlywed husband was still fast asleep.

With a small, breathy laugh, Muheon gently undressed Hakyung and soaked a towel to begin wiping him clean. Since Hakyung had on light makeup, he took even more care with his face.

He’d never imagined he’d one day be this willing to take care of someone like this. And yet here he was, doing it wholeheartedly. A change he still found hard to believe—one made possible only because it was Hakyung.

Finally, after drying Hakyung’s round, pretty forehead, Muheon lay down beside him. The soft silk quilt wrapped him in warmth, and in his arms was Hakyung, so precious he wouldn’t even hurt if placed in his eye. It wasn’t a bad way to fall asleep at all.

***

The next morning, Hakyung awoke well-rested and clear-headed, with not a hint of the exhaustion that had once darkened his face.

But while his face looked refreshed, his heart was in total dismay.

The realization that he’d passed out on Muheon’s lap on their historic wedding night hit like a brick.

Sure, like Muheon said, they’d already had a “first night” after registering their marriage—and they’d had plenty of loving nights since. But this had been the wedding night.

The way it had passed by so uneventfully made Hakyung feel robbed—he was practically on the verge of tears. He’d been shocked to see sunlight streaming in when he opened his eyes. The absurdity of it all quickly turned to fury.

The empty spot next to him only fueled the fire. Slapping the blanket in frustration, Hakyung stomped his foot. He was ready to drag Muheon in and get things done.

But Muheon’s estate was many times larger than the dorms in Seoul. Unless Hakyung had some kind of bloodhound genes, finding Muheon here would be like searching for a coin in the sand.

Just as he was marching around the estate in search of him, he heard voices nearby. He doubted Muheon was part of the conversation, but maybe they could give him a clue.

As the scattered words gradually became full sentences, one strange phrase caught his ear.

“…He got rejected, you know.”

“That’s weird. Weren’t they all lovey-dovey?”

“Maybe Sir Hakyung’s still uncomfortable with the sea?”

“I didn’t believe it at first either, but Sir Muheon did say it himself, and seeing him wandering around alone this morning…”

Hakyung’s jaw dropped. Rejected? Uncomfortable with the sea?

Not a single thing they were saying was true!

He charged into the middle of the West Sea beastmen without warning.

“That’s not true!”

Startled by the sudden appearance of the river dolphin, they all shrieked in alarm. Hakyung flinched, too—but he was too indignant to let it stop him.

“I didn’t reject my husband—! I just accidentally fell asleep on his lap while we were talking! And then he didn’t even wake me up, just let me sleep like that! And then I woke up and he was gone! Honestly, isn’t that me being rejected?!”

The more he spoke, the angrier he got. The West Sea beastmen, listening intently to his rapid-fire explanation, nodded along in sympathy.

They were so flustered by Hakyung’s outburst that they didn’t even realize he’d come out without his usual cap. They scrambled to calm him down.

Once he’d cooled off a little thanks to their support, Hakyung asked what he’d been wondering all along.

“By the way… where is my husband?”

“Oh! Sir Muheon? He said he’d take a quick look around the grounds before you woke up. He went toward the forest.”

“I see. Is it okay if I go find him?”

“Of course!”

After politely excusing himself, Hakyung headed for the woods.

Just like last time, he was struck by how lush and vibrant it was—so full of green seaweed and trees that it hardly felt like they were under the sea at all.

He continued walking, admiring the beauty, until finally he spotted a familiar silhouette.

It was Muheon, wearing the black robe he always favored.

He stood with one arm raised, eyes closed, and it wasn’t hard to imagine what the inside of that arm, hidden beneath his robe, looked like.

Just like the time on the rooftop, black scales were surely shimmering brilliantly there. Hakyung came to a halt on the spot. He remembered later from Bu Geunrim that when imugis perform their rites, they’re extremely sensitive to being disturbed.

That’s why he’d been surprised Muheon had let him off so easily after interrupting his rite on the rooftop.

Ever since hearing that, Hakyung had been careful not to interfere with anything Muheon did. Now was no different. If he had known “looking around the forest” meant Muheon was performing his rite, he wouldn’t have come…

He was just about to quietly retreat from the forest when—

“Why aren’t you coming?”

Muheon turned his gaze directly to where Hakyung stood. He still had his eyes closed, and they were quite far apart—yet somehow, he had noticed him. Hakyung blinked in surprise.

“Come here.”

Muheon beckoned him with a wave. Drawn by that gesture, Hakyung slowly approached him, scratching his cheek and fidgeting at his toes in embarrassment.

“You should’ve stayed in bed. You’re up already.”

“How could I sleep more when you weren’t next to me?”

In truth, it had been over two hours since Muheon left, but he responded as if it were nothing. Hakyung quickly nodded and nestled into Muheon’s side. Muheon lowered his head to wrap his arms around Hakyung’s small shoulders.

Only when they were pressed together as if they were one did they both relax. The tension in Muheon’s face softened as well.

After basking in Muheon’s arms for a while, Hakyung looked up at him.

“Sorry for interrupting. If it’s not finished yet, I can wait somewhere else.”

“You didn’t interrupt. What could be more important than you?”

The response came without a moment’s hesitation, making Hakyung let out a small, bashful laugh. Muheon, seeing the adorably silly smile, reached out and roughly tousled Hakyung’s hair.

“You came out without your hat again. Is your crown okay?”

“Oh—right…!”

He hadn’t even noticed he’d left without a hat. Muheon gently cupped the top of Hakyung’s head with his large hand.

Embarrassed by the overprotective gesture, Hakyung squirmed, only to suddenly remember why he’d come out hatless in the first place.

The pink heart-filled air around the river dolphin turned icy cold in a flash. The sudden shift in mood made Muheon tilt his head.

“What’s wrong? Headache?”

“Yes. My head hurts!”

“Is it because your crown was exposed? Should we head back to the surface?”

Alarmed, Muheon looked ready to rush Hakyung to a land hospital.

As if! Who do you think gave me this headache in the first place!?

Hakyung smacked Muheon’s back a few times. But Muheon, oblivious, was too busy fretting over Hakyung’s health to even notice the soft thumps.

Eventually, Hakyung had no choice but to confess, “I’m not actually hurt.”

“You’re not? Then why…?”

“It’s you, Muheon! It’s your fault!”

“…Me? What did I do?”

Muheon’s clueless face was infuriating.

With narrowed eyes, Hakyung launched into a passionate tirade: how he’d woken up alone in the room this morning, how Muheon’s words had somehow been twisted into a rumor, and most importantly, how crushed he was that their wedding night had completely slipped by.

By the time he finished, his cheeks were flushed red from the effort.

I shouldn’t laugh… I really shouldn’t… But Muheon couldn’t stop the chuckle rising in his throat. That this river dolphin was so adorably obsessed with their wedding night—was just too much.