Chapter 16: A Tense Moment
“You arrived just in time.”
Haewon said as he looked at Cheong, who entered his room.
His red eyes, cold and uncaring, scanned her from head to toe.
It was as if he was saying, “Why are you so surprised?”
Haewon ignored her gaze and took off the top part of his robe that was hanging on his shoulders.
Cheong quickly looked away when she saw his bare body.
It reminded her of their first intense meeting—the shocking image she saw back then.
She tried to avoid looking at him, afraid the memory would come back.
“Are you planning to stay there forever?”
Haewon looked at her again.
He seemed annoyed that she was just standing at the door.
Since she didn’t move, Haewon casually picked up a robe from the bedside and said,
“Or should I come to you?”
“I-I’ll come to you!”
Cheong quickly waved her hands, panicked as he slowly walked toward her.
How could she make the tyrant walk toward her?
The sight of his bare body almost made her lose her senses.
Cheong looked away as she approached him, but her eyes kept drifting back.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
His half-lidded red eyes gave off a strange feeling.
It was probably just the height difference, but his gaze looked sensual.
His long black hair was shiny and smooth like silk, making him look very attractive.
But through the messy hair, she could see his jawline and neck—rough and wild.
Her gaze lowered down his manly chest.
His robe was open in the middle, clearly showing his muscular body.
His strong shoulders, chest, and abs looked like they were carved out of stone.
Even his body matched his fierce personality—powerful and intense.
Gulp.
His dangerously attractive appearance made Cheong swallow without realizing.
But maybe the sound was too loud.
“The way you’re looking at me… it’s quite lustful.”
Haewon said, and Cheong quickly looked away.
With her head turned, she spoke softly.
“Well, you’re the one who looks like you’re trying to seduce me. How could I not look?”
She pouted slightly, acting like it wasn’t her fault.
There was a half-naked man in front of her. Of course she looked! Calling her “lustful” was a bit unfair.
Haewon didn’t say anything. He just looked at her.
‘Was I too harsh?’
Cheong started to regret her words.
But it was too late to take them back now.
In her world, she could say whatever she wanted. But in this place, being blunt could be dangerous.
Even knowing that, she still slipped sometimes. Old habits were scary.
As the silence dragged on and the air got heavy, Cheong hurried to speak again.
“I-I mean, what I was trying to say is—”
“So… was my seduction enough?”
“…What?”
Cheong froze, looking shocked like someone hit her head.
Haewon smiled, a dangerous curl on his lips.
“I mean, did I tempt you enough?”
‘What is this man even saying?’
Cheong was completely confused now.
She even started wondering if Haewon ate something bad for dinner.
She tried to remember if she missed something in the conversation.
‘Maybe this is a symptom of his illness?’
Unable to find an answer, she decided this must be one of his strange symptoms.
Like some kind of madness where he suddenly talks nonsense.
Just as she was thinking seriously, their eyes met.
Haewon was covering his mouth with his hand, trying not to laugh.
His hand trembled slightly.
‘Wait… was he teasing me this whole time?!’
He looked just like someone trying hard not to laugh.
Cheong’s anger started to rise again.
She had been seriously worried, even imagining strange things!
She forgot her earlier regret in an instant.
“Well, I don’t know. If you undress more, maybe. But for now, it’s not enough to seduce me. So, please put your clothes back on and sit properly.”
Haewon laughed softly at her blunt response.
“You’re quite bold.”
“And you, Your Highness, are excellent at shocking people.”
“Fine. I’ll stop now.”
Haewon fixed his robe and tied his belt.
Once his skin was covered, Cheong finally began unpacking the tools she brought.
She felt his eyes following her every move but tried to ignore it.
Cheong opened her box with the help of Chimtong and Gahwa. She brought out dried mugwort, handmade moxa, and a small incense burner, and placed them on the table.
Now, she was ready to begin treatment.
“First, I’ll check your condition. Then I’ll start the treatment. Please lie down comfortably.”
Haewon obediently lay down on the bed like a gentle lamb.
Cheong sat next to him and placed her index and middle fingers on his wrist.
As soon as her thin fingers touched him, Haewon flinched a little.
“Does anything feel uncomfortable?”
Cheong asked as she tilted her head. Haewon looked at her for a moment, then turned his head away.
“…No.”
“Then I’ll continue.”
Haewon nodded, and Cheong focused on feeling his pulse.
‘It’s complicated.’
His pulse showed signs of multiple problems.
That meant his illness didn’t come from just one cause.
His pulse was fast and tight, like a stretched bowstring.
It was called sok-maek (fast pulse) and hyeon-maek (tight string pulse).
In simple words, it meant his heartbeat was quick and tense.
‘This means he’s in pain from strong internal heat.’
The heat inside his body was causing pain, which showed up in his pulse.
“How is it?”
Haewon asked, unable to stay silent even for that short moment.
It was strange. He had endured pain for hundreds of years, but couldn’t wait for a few seconds.
Maybe it was because he had seen Cheong’s amazing skills before.
“In my opinion, Your Highness is suffering from chronic headaches.”
Cheong took her hand away and spoke calmly.
Haewon’s relaxed eyes suddenly widened.
“…How did you know? That I have headaches?”
It was known that Haewon had a long-term illness, but the exact details were top secret.
Only a few court doctors and close ministers knew about his condition.
So it should have been almost impossible for Cheong to know.
Yet she said the exact diagnosis—just by checking his pulse for a moment.
