"If only my father didn't need a useless doctor, we would have been in this room alone," the Emperor murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as though he were speaking more to himself than to anyone else. He sat on the desk beside Yunxi, his presence heavy and unreadable.
"Leave," he ordered the soldier who had been holding Yunxi down. The man released him, and Yunxi groaned in pain as he was freed.
Nim hesitated, taking a small step forward before stopping himself. He stood frozen, unsure whether to go to Yunxi or stay where he was. The latter seemed safer.
It was clear as day that the Emperor was disturbed by Yunxi's presence. He tried hard to mask it, but even the strongest facade had cracks.
Yunxi lifted his gaze to Han Ji, resentment burning in his eyes. Once, the mere sight of that man had brought warmth to his chest, but now, all that remained was rage. He had long accepted that Han Ji would never be his. After all the pain and humiliation, Yunxi had taught himself to forget, to bury what had once been beautiful. But now, after he had finally let go, this man had returned… to torment him once again.
Han Ji met his gaze, and for a moment, neither spoke. Nim watched quietly, as though he wasn't even part of this moment, though deep down, he wished he was. He didn't know what role he played in their tangled story, but whatever it was… he wanted to be in it.
"Why are you here?" Han Ji asked suddenly. "What was it you wanted to discuss with me again?"
The question jolted Nim back to reality. Oh, right, he was here for something. His eyes darted over the floor, anywhere but toward the Emperor. It was pathetic that even now, he couldn't keep his composure around him. He had told himself he wasn't that boy anymore, the timid, humiliated boy from years ago. But standing here, face-to-face with Han Ji, he realized he might still be that same boy… or worse.
"He has nothing to do with this," Yunxi interrupted before Nim could speak.
Han Ji smirked, his eyes never leaving the boy. He had been keeping his composure, refusing to mix personal feelings into this...whatever it was called. But the two of them were pushing him against the wall.
"Huh," he scoffed softly. "Let's pretend he's not here, then. Hmm?"
"What's all this about? Is it because I left the city? Does it really have to go this far?" Yunxi asked, exhaustion dripping from his voice. He knew he was at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the Emperor had no evidence of any crime. Han Ji had no right to treat him this way. If Yunxi was guilty of anything, it was leaving the city without permission. That hardly made him a criminal to be treated like this.
In Yunxi's mind, as long as the Emperor had no proof, he could suspect all he wanted, but Yunxi would never give him a reason to turn doubt into facts.
"Get out," Han Ji suddenly snapped.
Yunxi flinched, eyes narrowing at him, who now stood defiantly before the Emperor.
"He didn't do it," Nim said, his voice low but clear enough to be heard.
Yunxi finally turned to look at him. "What do you know? Were you there?" he asked sharply, irritation clear in his tone.
"Unfortunately, yeah. I..." Nim began, but stopped when Han Ji rose from his seat.
"He's lying," Yunxi said quickly, grabbing Han Ji's robe before he could act. "He wasn't there, you know that."
His words came out like a plea, desperate and trembling. Tears welled in his eyes as he shook his head. "Please," he whispered, "don't do this."
Han Ji's expression softened for a fleeting second as he knelt before Yunxi. "Then tell me everything," he said.
Yunxi immediately let go of his robe, panic written across his face.
"Tell me everything," Han Ji repeated, "and I promise you, if it's all true, I'll let him go in one piece."
The words struck Nim like a blade. So I'm not leaving in one piece after all, he thought bitterly.