The dinner was simple—a bowl of oejug with small plates of banchan: kimchi, kongnamul muchim, and gaji namul. It was enough for Min Jun to finish the whole bowl. With Uk presence in the room, the dinner was even more better than usual.
A delicious dinner is a cure for the stomach, but having dinner with company is a true cure for the heart.
Min Jun glanced at Uk, who sat next to him, eating in silence. A smile escaped Min Jun's lips as he watched the man enjoy his meal. Lately, Uk seemed more open with him. He used to be stiff and stern, but now, he's easier to deal with.
"Daegum, are you planning to read tonight?" Uk suddenly asked, placing his spoon in the bowl and staring at the prince, waiting for an answer.
"No. I'm tired from the treatment today, and I'm not fully recovered yet, so I might just sleep early tonight," Min Jun replied calmly. Then, he leaned closer to Uk.
"Why? You want to...?"
"No, I'm not! I mean, you need rest. You have to recover before the monthly meeting with Jeonha Mama next week," Uk awkwardly dodged Min Jun, making the prince pout.
"All I ask is a hug from my love. Nothing else. How dare you refuse me, sobangnim!" Min Jun glowered, his forehead crinkling as his ears turned red.
"I'm not rejecting you, but you need to understand. You need rest and good sleep," Uk sighed. "You know, if we sleep on the same bed, we won't just... hug. I know you too well. It will end up turning into something else..."
"So, you're telling me you don't want that?!"
"Daegum, please calm down..."
"No. Why should I? My sobangnim refused me, why should I calm down?!"
Uk raised his hand, trying his best to calm Min Jun. He patted the prince's hand, but Min Jun refuted the gesture.
"Daegum, calm down... Please don't yell... The steward might hear it..."
Min Jun ignored Uk completely, standing up and leaving the dining table to head straight into the bathroom.
Uk sighed heavily. It seemed the path was rough from the very beginning. He sat in silence for a moment, thinking of a new strategy to sneak out of the Red Ruby without getting caught by Min Jun.
***
After a while, Min Jun emerged from the bathroom, done with his shower. As he prepared to end the night, he noticed someone waiting for him in bed. He frowned, his forehead crinkling in surprise.
"What are you doing?" Min Jun asked Uk, who was sitting in bed with one leg raised to chest level and the other stretched out. Min Jun noticed Uk wasn't wearing any head accessories, leaving his long hair draped over his broad shoulders.
Min Jun couldn't help but notice Uk's chest, partially revealed behind the hanbok that he had purposely loosened. The prince gulped at the sight of the chiseled chest.
"Are you ready, wangjanim?" Uk breathed, his deep voice sending a shiver through Min Jun's body. It was unexpected, something Uk did in such an unexpected way.
Uk slowly scooted forward and leaped from the bed. He carefully approached Min Jun, pulling the prince close, their waists meeting in the middle.
Min Jun was startled and shocked, standing still, staring at Uk. Uk's fingers brushed Min Jun's cheek, down to his jaw and neck. The prince closed his eyes, allowing Uk to explore his body slowly and gently.
With that touch, Uk planted a deep kiss on Min Jun's neck. The prince gushed with excitement, feeling the rush of lust. As Uk's lips slowly moved from Min Jun's neck to his lips, the prince latched onto Uk, wrapping his hands around Uk's waist and pulling him even closer.
But then, Min Jun pulled away, pushing Uk back. Uk blinked in confusion.
"What's wrong?" Uk asked. Min Jun scoffed, looking at Uk mischievously.
"You think I'm that dirty-minded?" Min Jun shook his head, walking past Uk to get into bed.
"But I thought..."
Min Jun waved his hand, calling Uk to come closer. Uk obeyed, slowly sitting next to Min Jun. The prince turned Uk aside, then fixed his hanbok, wrapping the fabric neatly around him, covering his chest.
"All I want is a hug. Just a hug. I know how to control myself, sobangnim. No matter how tempting you look, which you always do to me, what I want most is your care and love," Min Jun explained.
"Are you sure?" Uk asked innocently. Min Jun nodded, patting his hand gently.
"I just want a hug. I want you to stay with me until I fall asleep. But, if you're generous enough, you can stay until tomorrow. I'd appreciate that even more," Min Jun smiled at Uk.
Uk sighed in relief. He gently laid Min Jun down, putting him in the most comfortable position. After everything was set, he lay next to the prince, wrapping his arms around Min Jun's waist in a warm hug.
"Good night, my love," Uk whispered to Min Jun. The prince smiled silently, closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep. With Uk by his side, he felt safe through the night.
***
"I almost thought you couldn't make it!"
"Even I thought I almost couldn't make it!" Uk replied. He adjusted his fur coat, making sure it was wrapped properly around him. Dan checked his weapon—a dagger—ensuring it wasn't visible.
"You're lucky that Daegum chose to sleep early tonight! By the way, why did you ask him to teach you literature anyway? You're not planning to take a national exam, are you?" Dan's inquiry made Uk's heart stir.
Uk had lied to Dan, telling him that every night he had literature lessons with Min Jun. That was the reason he couldn't go out easily, and skipping the class would make the prince mad. He had no choice because Dan kept pressing him with questions about why he couldn't just leave. So, he lied to stop the interrogation.
After walking for about an hour, they finally arrived at the location Sunhwa had given them. It was a large tavern with a nice building and a good vibe, though its location was quite secluded. Another hidden spot, just like the Concubine Lane.
"What a nice building, but look around..." Uk whispered to Dan. Dan gave him a glance, signaling that he was on the same page.
"If something happens, it's hard to escape..." Dan murmured in response. He carefully scanned the area, looking for any faults or openings they could use to escape if needed.
At the entrance, Dan took out an oval-shaped wooden plate with pink ribbons tied to the end. It was just palm-sized, so all Dan had to do was lift his hand slightly. The man guarding the entrance whispered something to Dan, who replied with a gesture of two fingers.
Finally, they were allowed in.
Once inside, they couldn't help but feel both awe and unease.
The building was bright and bustling. Numerous candles illuminated the hall, and a large stage stood in the center, surrounded by tables.
After a while, they reached their table, located near the front. As they settled in, Dan handed something to Uk—a piece of black sheer silk cloth.
"What's this for?" Uk asked. Dan leaned closer and whispered.
"We're almost at the front row, so we have to cover our faces. That's one reason. Another is that this cloth could protect us if they blow anything toward us. At least it won't get into our respiratory system."
Uk looked around and noticed almost everyone wore similar sheer cloths, though in different colors. It wasn't unusual, so he wrapped the cloth around his face, leaving only his eyes exposed, and tied it behind his head.
A chime drew their attention. Slowly, the golden drape was pulled up, revealing a group of people on stage, wearing nothing but golden cloths covering certain parts of their bodies.
"That's them. The shaman's dancers..." Dan whispered to Uk.