Moon’s Ecstasy

In the year 649 of the Geum Calendar. Decades had passed since the era when sky and earth were stained with blood during the territorial expansion wars, and a truly peaceful age had dawned. Those who had survived amidst the burning embers and black smoke had passed away one by one, and now few among the living remembered that brutal war. Stories passed down through records and oral tradition now remained only in writing, and people no longer cared even about them.

It was the King of Geum who ended the long war. From the highest place in the great hall, where the defeated royal families lay prostrate with their heads bowed, he proclaimed himself Emperor and announced a new beginning for the continent.

Even after the first Emperor’s passing, Geum continued to prosper. The grain in the fields filled the people’s granaries every year, and tens of thousands of soldiers guarding the borders meant there was no need to fear foreign invasions. Simply being able to sleep with their legs stretched out without hunger was enough for Geum’s people to love their country and praise their Emperor.

The people of Geum considered the Emperor the greatest of all blessings. They believed that rain falling on dry land when needed, barbarians no longer crossing the borders, epidemics not spreading, and the sun rising and setting in the sky were all because of the Emperor’s virtue. This was partly due to the unprecedented peace that followed the Emperor’s ascension, but above all, it was evidently because of the Emperor’s appearance.

The Emperor was beautiful. As if supporting the founding myth of Geum, he was dazzling like a flame that had just fallen from the sun. The previous Emperor, who had passed away young, was also beautiful, but not comparable to the current Emperor. It was said that anyone who had seen the Emperor once, draped in golden silk, could never forget that sight for the rest of their life, and there were even people from other countries who came to Geum’s capital, Ju-an, just to see him. Thanks to this, Ju-an was always crowded with countless people.

And today, the streets of Ju-an were more bustling than usual. People gathered at the entrance of Dongbo Gate leading to the Geum Palace to watch the long palanquin procession, only to be restrained by soldiers. Everyone stood on tiptoe and craned their necks to see the red flower palanquin approaching slowly from afar.

It was the day the Prince of Yeon entered the palace as the Emperor’s consort.

****

“Yi-seol-nim. You must not draw the curtain. Please cover your face quickly.”

“I opened it because there was a sudden noise outside. Have we not arrived at the Geum Palace yet?”

“We will pass through Dongbo Gate soon. The people of Geum are just making a commotion watching the palanquin procession, so do not worry and lower the curtain.”

The voice answering “Yes” was weak and sullen. Even when he lifted the curtain, he couldn’t see outside at all because of the guards walking alongside the palanquin. His heart grew heavy at the sound of cheers from the Geum people glimpsed between the guards, and he slowly lowered the curtain as the head court lady instructed. As soon as he lowered the curtain, the stuffy and hot air inside the palanquin made it hard to breathe.

The Emperor, who had spent one night in Yeon, had left for Geum the next morning without delay. He didn’t even leave Yi-seol a note as a greeting. Instead, the Emperor left items at the Yeon palace that a man who proposed marriage to a royal woman should offer according to the customs of the Yeon royal family. Watching the pile of gifts in front of the great hall with a bewildered expression, the King of Yeon had silently patted Yi-seol’s bowed shoulder.

In the place where the Emperor left, not only all kinds of jewels, silk, beautiful paintings, and calligraphy scrolls remained, but also court ladies from Geum. The court ladies, bowing their heads and saying it was an honor to serve, stayed with Yi-seol for the next two weeks. Under constant surveillance, with his daily routine entirely spent learning Geum’s imperial etiquette and marriage procedures, by the time Yi-seol came to his senses, he had already left Yeon and embarked on a long journey.

“Your Highness, please endure a little more. We have just entered the Geum Palace.”

“It’s very hot inside the palanquin. I’d rather ride a horse.”

“You are on your way to the wedding. You cannot ride a horse embraced by another man.”

A familiar voice was heard through the slightly lifted curtain. It seemed Ki-yeon, who had been riding a horse following the palanquin, had dismounted. A faint, smiling face was almost visible.

From the start of the journey until last evening, Yi-seol had been riding a horse together with Ki-yeon, who had been assigned as his guard. Seeing Yi-seol standing blankly far from the white horse prepared for him, the Geum court ladies could not hide their troubled expressions. When the head court lady learned that Yi-seol couldn’t even mount a horse alone, she had no choice but to have Yi-seol ride with Ki-yeon.

“Just because I’m marrying a man doesn’t mean I suddenly become a woman, does it?” Yi-seol, who had been exhausted by the feminine accessories and attire during the wedding preparations, grumbled for no reason.

“You are not marrying a man. Your Highness is now on your way to marry His Majesty the Emperor.”

“I know well without you telling me.”

“I thought Your Highness was so at ease that you might have forgotten.”

It was clearly teasing, but somehow tinged with embarrassment. At that, Yi-seol erased his sulky expression and awkwardly smiled while touching his lips. This morning at breakfast, Yoo Kang had said something similar. ‘Today is the wedding, but it seems Your Highness isn’t even nervous?’ Yoo Kang, blinking his round eyes, had no intention to tease, unlike Ki-yeon. At that, Yi-seol just awkwardly smiled and fidgeted with his lips, as he does when asked a difficult question. It was fortunate that Yoo Kang, knowing this habit, turned the conversation away.

He couldn’t be at ease. He hadn’t slept peacefully even once since the day the Emperor came to see him. Whether his eyes were open or closed, he could only think of the Emperor and didn’t know what to do. What really confused Yi-seol was not the worry and anxiety about the upcoming wedding, but the faint flutter that came with it.

The excitement of meeting the Emperor again.

This feeling was so inappropriate for his situation that Yi-seol was restless.

“…Your Highness?”

“Ah… yes. I’m listening. Continue.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“….”

“Are you nervous?”

Yi-seol couldn’t bring himself to say no, knowing that the laughter had left Ki-yeon’s voice and was replaced with pity.

On the day they left Yeon, the princess of Yeon, Yi-seol’s sister from the same mother, burst into cries loud enough to shake the palace, hugging Yi-seol on behalf of their father and other brothers who couldn’t show tears. Seeing that, the palace attendants quietly wiped their tears. He comforted his sister, asking how a wedding—the greatest joy of a lifetime—could be sent off with tears, but in fact, Yi-seol himself had difficulty hiding his mixed feelings and just smiled brighter.

Everyone thought Yi-seol was being sold. At least one member from every other royal family was detained in Geum under the pretext of studying abroad. They were practically prisoners. Only Yeon had been free from Geum’s check, but now it was dragged in like this, or so everyone whispered.

And to take a man as a consort. Although marriages between men were not unheard of in society, and it was understandable since the name had been recorded, the fact that the partner was none other than the Emperor of Geum inevitably gave rise to endless rumors.

The noise of people gathered to watch the wedding procession gradually faded, indicating they had entered deep into the palace. He was about to lift the curtain further to look outside when the palanquin suddenly stopped.

“Please wait a moment, Your Highness.”

He heard Ki-yeon’s footsteps receding. Had something happened? As a habit, he tried to brush his hair, but his fingers got caught in the wig and various ornaments, startling him and making him lower his hand.

‘You must absolutely not touch your hair until the wedding night.’

The head court lady had warned Yi-seol several times; the unfamiliar hairstyle felt awkward and the weight of the wig and ornaments was considerable, making his hands constantly reach for his head. He remembered the head court lady’s words that the hair ornaments must be bestowed by the husband—in Yi-seol’s case, the Emperor—only then the wedding would be complete. He carefully adjusted the hairpins in the wig again and placed his hands neatly on his lap. He stared blankly at his fingertips for a while. Then hearing “Yi-seol-nim,” he turned his head.

“Yi-seol-nim. What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Beyond the curtain that was suddenly pushed aside, a youthful face appeared. It was Yoo Kang, whom he had brought from Yeon under the guise of a page boy.

“I wasn’t thinking anything. Anyway, why did the palanquin stop? Did something happen?”

“I don’t really know either. Brother Ki-yeon and that old hag Ju are over there talking with….”

“Kang-ah.”

“…Brother Ki-yeon and Head Court Lady Ju are over there talking with Geum eunuchs.”

“From now on, you really must not be rude, Kang-ah. This isn’t Yeon.”

Yoo Kang hated the head court lady. Because Yi-seol doted on Yoo Kang like a youngest sibling, Yoo Kang acted somewhat reckless, and there was no way the head court lady found that endearing. Whenever the head court lady called Yoo Kang’s name with a sharp face, Yoo Kang looked at Yi-seol with a pale expression. Consequently, Yoo Kang, harboring resentment toward the head court lady, expressed spite by calling her an old hag, and Yi-seol sternly scolded that behavior.

“From now on, you must always be careful, Kang-ah.”

“…I apologize, Your Highness. Actually, Brother Ki-yeon said that if I damage Your Highness’s reputation, he will strip me naked and bury me on the snowy peak of Oak Mountain.”

“Ki-yeon’s joke went too far.”

“Brother Ki-yeon is not the type to joke. Your Highness’s problem is that you only see people too kindly.”

Due to the hot weather, Yoo Kang’s reddened cheeks puffed up and then deflated. Though it was hot inside the palanquin, the sides were blocked, so Yi-seol didn’t know how intense the midday sun was. It was said that the brightest and hottest place in Geum’s sun was the capital Ju-an, so Yi-seol recalled the hot sunlight he had felt until yesterday and shook his head slightly. Could he really survive in a place like this?

“Ah, Brother Ki-yeon is coming.”

Yoo Kang, who had moved away from the palanquin for a moment, returned and said. Ki-yeon’s expression as he stood beside him didn’t look good. Hiding his anxious feelings, Yi-seol asked in a gentle voice.

“Did something happen?”

“…Well, that is…,”

“It’s alright, tell me.”

Ki-yeon glanced sideways, and footsteps faded into the distance. He seemed to hint for Yoo Kang to step aside.

“I am sorry, Your Highness. …His Majesty the Emperor is unwell, so he cannot hold the scheduled wedding ceremony.”

“…Ah.”

A faint, uncontrolled exclamation flowed out quietly.