"Your majesty? I have brought the dragon king."

Seonghwa's voice echoed through the long corridors. San stood behind him in his light blue robes that matched his natural scales. The silk was decorated with gold and he wore matching jewellery over his antlers and in his hair. Today, all hair was braided and done up in a knot for propriety. The king's mother would meet him in a dignified getup.

Inside the room, feet padded around. Then Hongjoong called for them to enter. Seonghwa pushed the doors open and stepped aside to let San enter first. With a cheerful grin at seeing his spouse again, the imoogi entered.

Hongjoong wore his blue robe again and had tied up his hair. His hands carried a pouch and his fan as he came to greet San. With a smile, he switched his items into one hand so the other could take San's claws. When they turned to look at Seonghwa, the shaman bowed deeply.

"Please enjoy your dinner with the king mother, your majesties." With a graceful swipe, he came back up. His well-groomed appearance stunned San, even in the restrictive walls of the palace and with his husband by his side.

"Thank you, Seonghwa," Hongjoong replied. His warm grin garnered a fleeting smile from Seonghwa before he hurried off to attend to his other duties. Hongjoong led San in the other direction, over to where San had met his mother last time, as well.

"My mother looked forward to eating with you. She even insisted on preparing some side dishes along with the cooks to let you taste them."

Surprised, San glanced at Hongjoong's face. The king wore his chin raised proudly and his back straight while San felt he was hunched constantly because of his ridge that he tried to keep from digging into his clothes. The silk slipped over sharp edges smoothly, but he didn't want to ruin the beautiful garments gifted to him.

"She did? The last time I met her, she seemed rather displeased with me," San confessed. Hongjoong's brows furrowed, but his voice remained cordial.

"I am sorry to hear that. She mentioned before how upset she was to see no queen by my side but a dragon king instead, but I believe she has overcome her selfish wishes and accepted my destiny."

San nodded, relieved, though not pacified. He dreaded the conversation with the woman, for he had no solace to offer. He fulfilled his duties just as Hongjoong did, and while the union of two men could be bothersome to her, San wasn't at fault.

They arrived to the doors of the king mother's territory of the palace wide open. The scent of foods met them as they ventured inside and found the woman had prepared a banquet for them. Three pillows lay on the floor surrounding a round table. The surface bent from all the food piled on it, ranging from vegetables to meats, to alcohol and countless side dishes. The king mother throned in the middle with her hands tucked under her red robes and her hair heavily decorated with golden accessories carrying various gems.

At their sight, a thin smile spread on her lips.

"You have arrived early, son."

"I wouldn't leave my dear mother waiting," Hongjoong replied. Charmingly, he led San to his place first and then knelt down opposite him. Seated on his pillow, San bowed to the woman at his side. His guts clenched in nervousness as soon as her rigid gaze landed on him. He felt exposed under her eyes, as if she knew everything about him and criticised it. The encounter with Seonghwa resurfaced in his mind, but he assured himself it had been a medical procedure and his admiration for the shaman didn't disrupt his blossoming feelings for Hongjoong.

"It's nice to see you again, dragon king. Have you settled well in the palace?" Her tone was frigidly polite and San gulped down his personal feelings to respond with the same detachment.

"I did. Hongjoong and everyone else in the court tremendously helped me ease my stress with my new surroundings."

She nodded and motioned them to eat. San dug in, ready to distract his clenching belly with good food.

"I heard the same from fresh queens born to a lower rank who were overwhelmed with their unaccustomed luxury. For sure, you must be used to it as a dragon?" She sounded nearly accusing, and San's claws tightened around his spoon as he thought about an answer. Humbleness didn't seem to be what she sought.

"I believe San meant the lack of dragons around him, rather than the riches. Imagine living among a bunch of his kind, mother," Hongjoong jumped in. His smile was luminous and uninhibited as he directed it to his mother. She hummed, overlooking how he had jumped the situation to direct the conversation away from San. Subtly, San exhaled. His thankful glance at Hongjoong never reached its goal, but the self-assured king seemed to know how helpful he was.

"Ah, for sure. Are you homesick?"

San gulped down his bite of meat. Cooked to perfection, it sent pleased grumbles through his stomach.

"Sometimes. We live differently than your folk do, but I feel welcome here. I am glad to have your son by my side to alleviate my loneliness."

The woman nodded without looking up from her food.

"So you two get along well. In that case, when do you plan to have children, Hongjoong? I don't wish to die without having seen them grow up."

Tentative, Hongjoong glanced at San. The dragon sat frozen in his seat as if a lack of movement made him invisible. He had dreaded this topic.

"It's still early in our marriage. I won't start with that for another two or three years," Hongjoong said. His voice delicately felt its way around what his mother wished to hear.

"That is so long. For sure, your husband must understand the need for an heir? He wouldn't mind you taking a few concubines." Her gaze was as sharp as the thorn of a rose as it bore into San. He squirmed in his seat, unwilling to partake in this discussion.

"Of course, I understand. I will accept any women by his side and any child they bear as able challengers for the crown. However, I am not even a full dragon, nor have I blessed this land yet. I agree with waiting for a while."

She swayed her head, still dissatisfied. Refined, her human hands held her chopsticks that San couldn't operate.

"I am not getting younger. Why not start with the ritual? You could meet a few matches until then and then take them as your concubines right after. I know the daughters of some officials who would love a place at your side."

As much as San scorned the idea of sleeping with Hongjoong and the additional pain, his territorial dragon soul was vexed at the thought of other women wooing Hongjoong and sharing his bed. Jealousy raged in him without a sound as he followed the conversation.

"I will meet nobody before the ritual. You know why, mother. Our priority is San and his wellbeing. What use would my distraction be?" Hongjoong's eyes got stern. His mother huffed at him, irritated by the rupture of hierarchy.

"What a fool you are. How is Seonghwa? I presume he is doing his job in teaching this child extraordinarily well?"

San grumbled to himself. Pouting, he ate more to distract himself from the headache of discomfort that found its way inside his skull.

"He does. San and he match well, and I believe no other pairing would have worked better."

The woman turned to look at San again. The big ornament on her hairpin distracted him momentarily. It was shaped like a lotus and cradled multiple gems. The expensive craft looked old and probably got handed down between royals for many centuries.

"What do you think of him?"

San blanked and shoved a bite of food into his mouth to have an excuse to think longer. The chains on his antlers chimed softly when they hit against each other.

"I believe he is very suited for his job," San said as he resurfaced. "He understands my troubles and aids me in overcoming them. He must be favoured in the palace. I am honoured to be his scholar."

The lady chuckled. It was a joyless sound, but San believed she meant it.

"Most certainly, he is favoured. I am glad to hear his presence proved to be useful."

"Mother," Hongjoong sighed into his food. His eyes were closed off when he lifted them to settle on the woman.

"What is it, child?" Her tone was too innocent not to know what bothered Hongjoong. San stared at his food, unsure if he was allowed to even ponder what this private dispute was about.

"I asked you not to diminish his efforts."

Slow like a snail, San put his food into his mouth. Tension crackled in the air and he was afraid to be zapped if he garnered any attention.

"And I asked you not to take your role as the king light-heartedly. Have an heir already, Hongjoong. If something happens to you, an empty throne will dawn Joseon into chaos."

San assumed that Hongjoong had taken no concubines despite his age since he knew San was destined to arrive this year. It was an act of politeness, of letting his spouse rule on the legitimacy of any children and women. San understood the need for an heir, but while he was here, no neighbouring countries would dare attack Hanyang, for a dragon had the might to squash a human army without effort. San could kill hundreds just by asking nature for its favours, so he was a weapon not underestimated. If there was a better time to have an heir safely, it was under his protection.

San also didn't feel as if Hongjoong fooled around. He had a steady reign over his people without being despised as a tyrant, and his manners matched the expectations San had been told. His mother, however, appeared too brusque in her strategies.

"I will have an heir. Once it's time for that." Exasperated, Hongjoong delved into his food again. His lips were tight.

For a moment, it seemed as if his mother wanted to add something. When she dropped the topic and reached for her spoon, the two agitated males relaxed. The static in the air cleared, and they all had made it through unscathed.

San remained terrified of Hongjoong's mother all dinner long. He replied only when he was asked something and ducked his head as soon as her attention on him vanished. The lady was flippant and sarcastic towards his kin and his stance, but he didn't take offence. He knew she was worried about the young king and his wellbeing.

After they had left dinner, Hongjoong apologised profusely for her strictness. He blamed her loneliness for her paranoia, but he assured San he did everything right. His gracious understanding after the tense dinner eased San's heart. As they returned to Hongjoong's chambers, San was buoyant with his fondness for the king and his empathy.

They changed into their sleepwear San found conveniently placed on the step next to Hongjoong's bed. As he tied the bow shut, his stomach was back in knots at what he feared to come.

"Your majesty, shall I prepare for us to lie together?" He asked as Hongjoong crawled into his bed. The king shook his head.

"I'm tired and full from our dinner. Let's just sleep tonight." With a smile, he patted the space at his side. A boulder dropped from San's heart as he followed the man. Hongjoong contently closed his eyes and huddled into his pillows. His long lashes fanned over his cheeks like butterfly wings and a private smile coiled around his lips.

When he reached for San's waist, San let himself get drawn closer. He curled up on the pillow so his antlers wouldn't hit Hongjoong into the face and his tail had room to dangle freely. As he gazed upon Hongjoong, he found himself drawn to the king's lips once more. They looked inviting in their relaxed pout, and San saw nothing withholding him from kissing his husband. Hesitantly, he leaned in.

Before their lips could meet, Hongjoong spoke.

"Good night, my jewel."

San caught himself. He laid down, his breath disappearing from Hongjoong's face as their bodies clicked into each other like pieces of a puzzle.

"Good night."

When he slept, San dreamt of kissing both Seonghwa and Hongjoong. He alternated between their lips and Seonghwa tasted of persimmons while Hongjoong tasted of sweet rice cakes. They kissed so differently, their lips soft on San's, and they left him frail with yearning about the two men he wished to embrace.