Chapter 40
A Sight That Should Never Be Seen
Dansul awoke from a tangled dream.
“When did I fall asleep?”
Still drowsy, she blinked her heavy eyelids open with some effort. The world outside was dark—dawn had not yet come.
As she shifted to get up, she suddenly felt another presence beside her and froze.
“…Your Majesty?”
The person sleeping at her side was none other than Igeom. His face, usually cold and hard, was now relaxed in deep sleep.
Dansul stared blankly at him.
Since arriving in Hwangseon, she had never once seen him asleep. Without his usual sharpness, his handsome features seemed even gentler—almost beautiful.
Seeing him like this, completely unguarded, left her strangely unsettled.
“He’s human too… just like me.”
It felt as though the towering wall surrounding Igeom had suddenly collapsed. She felt oddly intrusive, as if she had glimpsed a side of him no one else had seen.
While she was lost staring at his face, his tightly closed eyelids slowly fluttered open.
“Ah…”
Their eyes met—her own wide, his a deep ink-gray—and she let out a quiet gasp.
How ridiculous. She had wanted to catch him off guard, yet here she was, doing nothing but staring like a fool.
It was the perfect moment for revenge—
and she had completely wasted it.
“I’ll step aside so you can rest more comfortably,” she muttered awkwardly.
But as she began to rise, Igeom suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him.
She stumbled forward—landing squarely atop his chest.
I can’t move…!
It was an embarrassingly compromising position. Her hand, pressed to his chest, could feel his heat—solid muscle beneath. The vivid sensation froze her completely.
His subtle scent filled her senses—faint sandalwood and something darker. It almost made her dizzy. Perhaps she had grown too accustomed to his scent.
“You look frightened,” he murmured.
“……”
“As if I might devour you.”
“I-I was just startled…”
Her stammering made him chuckle softly. He slipped a hand to her waist, gently moving her off him.
“I’ll get up. You should rest a little longer.”
“I’m fine—”
“That’s an imperial order. Lie down.”
As he stood, loosening the sash around his waist, Dansul obediently settled back into the bed.
It seemed he wasn’t getting up because of her—he had business to attend to. He dressed swiftly, layering his armor over his leather garments with practiced ease.
“Are you departing today?” she asked quietly.
“Tonight. I’ll be scouting the enemy’s movements.”
“…I see.”
“Are you… worried about me?”
“N–no, of course not!”
Her voice came out louder than she intended. Worried? For her enemy?
Ridiculous.
“…I see.”
He gave her a sidelong look before turning away again.
Did I sound too harsh?
For a moment, his back seemed almost… disappointed, and that unsettled her even more.
No, what am I thinking? Why would I care?
Still, she tore her gaze away. It irritated her how easily her attention drifted toward him.
Unbothered by her silence, Igeom continued preparing until—
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought your meal.”
“Enter.”
At his word, Taeyeom entered the tent, carrying a breakfast tray. His eyes widened slightly when he saw Dansul still lying in bed.
“I’ll handle it. Leave it there,” Igeom said curtly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Taeyeom set down the tray and backed out, his movements efficient but oddly hurried.
The gesture made Dansul feel strangely self-conscious.
“Come. Eat,” Igeom said.
“I… it’s fine—”
“I won’t hear excuses about not being hungry.”
His tone left no room for refusal. Dansul sat up obediently.
The meal was simple yet proper. After days of surviving on meager rations, even this modest spread made her stomach stir.
Then she spotted the fruit.
Her lips parted slightly in surprise. After days of scorching heat and forced marches, her craving for something fresh and sweet had been unbearable—and here it was, perfectly timed.
She plucked a grape and popped it into her mouth. The tender skin burst, flooding her tongue with tangy sweetness.
She eats well, Igeom thought, watching her chew contentedly.
Ordering his men to find fresh fruit had been worth it.
Only after confirming she was eating did he pick up his own chopsticks.
After Igeom left, Dansul spent the day in idleness. She was likely the only person in the entire war camp with nothing to do.
But truly, what could she do here?
“Where are you going?” Taeyeom asked when she stepped out.
“I need some air. I’ll take a walk.”
“Then allow me to accompany you.”
Even in the rear camp, danger lingered, and that was his official excuse. But Dansul knew the truth—
He’s been ordered to watch me.
Otherwise, Igeom would never have let her stay in his own quarters.
“This area is the infirmary for the wounded,” Taeyeom said as they neared a large tent. “It’s not a place you should enter, my lady. Please return.”
“It’s fine.”
Despite his warning, she didn’t turn back.
Security here should be relatively loose, she thought.
She had come out today not just for air but to learn the layout of the rear camp—and to find a potential escape route.
As she walked, scanning her surroundings carefully, she slowed—and then stopped.
“You shouldn’t go further, my lady,” Taeyeom said, stepping quickly in front of her, blocking her view.
He wasn’t so much stopping her as shielding her eyes from the grim sight ahead.
The wounded soldiers were in terrible condition—some wounds had festered, oozing pus while flies gathered over them. Even Dansul, who had tended the injured back in Seolhwa, winced.
“Aaagh!”
“It will hurt, but you must bear it! We can’t treat you otherwise!”
The loud cries drew her attention. A young court lady was struggling to tend to a soldier’s badly swollen leg, sweat dripping down her brow. A small knife trembled in her hands.
“…Lady Dansul!”
Before Taeyeom could stop her, Dansul rushed to the two.
“I’ll handle the incision. Hold him still.”
“W-what?”
“I’m helping you. Hurry.”
The flustered young woman nodded and gripped the soldier’s leg tightly. Dansul took the knife, her movements confident and practiced. With a precise slice, she opened the abscessed wound.
The soldier screamed in agony, and Taeyeom quickly stepped in to help hold him down.
“Bring clean water and cloth,” Dansul ordered.
“Here!”
She drained the pus, washed the wound, applied medicine, and wrapped it with clean bandages—all with swift, deft hands.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” the young court lady exclaimed repeatedly, bowing her head.
“I thought only physicians were allowed to perform incisions like that…” Taeyeom murmured, glancing at the weakened soldier.
“Yes, but we’re short-staffed,” the lady said. “Those of us with some training must step in where we can.”
Dansul frowned. Such procedures weren’t something one could perform after a few lessons—one wrong move could be fatal.
“In that case—”
“Lady Dansul!”
She turned. Physician Tae Seorang was hurrying toward them, wearing a white apron like the other attendants.
“What brings you here, my lady?”
“I was passing by and thought to help.”
He looked between the patient and the young attendant, then exhaled quietly.
“Please come with me.”
After assessing the situation, he led her out of the infirmary.
“Physician!” she called after him once they were outside.
He stopped only after she called several times.
“Did anyone other than that court lady see you treating the soldier?”
“…I’m not sure.”
She tilted her head, uncertain. Why would he ask that?
“Is there someone who mustn’t see me?” she asked.
At that, Seorang gave a heavy, deliberate nod.
