After being scolded by Sejong, Hyang let out a small sigh.
"Phew~. This way, the ball is out of my hands... It might be a bit difficult, so Father and the ministers will have to work hard, but what can I do? I can't get involved directly... No, even if I did, it would be hard, no, almost impossible. I don't have the talent for this kind of thing..."
"Your Highness, what did you say?"
"It's just talking to myself. Talking to myself."
Hyang briefly replied to the eunuch who had followed him and sighed again.
"Phew~. Being a crown prince has its good points, but there's no private life, no private life..."
Muttering to himself, Hyang suddenly turned to the eunuch as if he had just remembered something.
"By the way, how many days are left until the full moon this month?"
"Five days."
"Five days? I'm looking forward to it."
Muttering to himself again, Hyang turned his gaze beyond the palace walls.
* * *
Hyang's appearance itself was an unexpected event for the pleasure house.
"This place is not accessible to those who have not yet performed the grand ceremony."
When a young child dressed in expensive silk clothes came to the pleasure house, the head courtesan came out to block Hyang.
In response to the head courtesan's words, Hyang tapped his hat with his finger and replied.
"Do you see this hat as just an ornament?"
"Um? Still..."
As the head courtesan continued to hesitate, the commander of the guards who had accompanied Hyang stepped forward.
"He is fully qualified."
"If that's the case..."
Pressed by the guards' presence, the head courtesan stepped back, and Hyang and his party were able to enter the pleasure house.
"Please lead them to the largest room."
"Yes."
After the head courtesan led Hyang's party inside, she gave an order to another servant.
"Tell the bouncers to prepare, just in case."
"Yes."
"Who on earth is that young gentleman?"
After the courtesans were brought into the room where Hyang's party had entered, the head courtesan sat by the door and observed the situation inside. Her eyes were focused solely on Hyang.
'He's definitely not an ordinary young nobleman full of arrogance!'
The head courtesan was coming to a clear conclusion as she observed Hyang's behavior.
The head courtesan's conclusion was based on solid grounds.
Hyang was so natural at commanding subordinates. It wasn't just that he was used to ordering around slaves, but he was also used to commanding people of similar status and those who appeared to be of high standing.
"I wonder if today will be a rough day..."
The head courtesan, with a tense expression, bit her nails nervously.
Meanwhile, inside, a pleasant time was unfolding.
"The scent of the wine is wonderful!"
After just smelling it, Hyang exclaimed in admiration. The courtesan sitting next to him smiled slightly and replied.
"It's not the scent of wine but the scent of tea."
"Tea scent?"
"The king has issued a ban on alcohol, so how can we brew wine casually? We only steep grain tea."
"Ah? Hahaha!"
Hyang laughed heartily at the courtesan's answer.
Since Sejong ascended the throne, there had been no good harvests. Therefore, Sejong had to issue a ban on alcohol every year. As construction projects spread nationwide, the situation began to ease, but the ban on alcohol continued.
Thanks to this, the pleasure houses found a way around it.
"We sell grain tea, not grain wine!"
It was a case of "closing one's eyes and pretending not to see," but the situation was overlooked because it was a pleasure house.
* * *
While observing the courtesans' appearances at the pleasure house, Hyang changed the topic when the atmosphere had sufficiently warmed up.
"Since this is my first time at a pleasure house, I heard there are people who handle disturbances here?"
In response to Hyang's question, the courtesan sitting next to him answered with a coquettish tone.
"Yes, there are very strong bouncers."
"Can I see them once?"
"Excuse me?"
"I heard a rumor recently. They say that even the officials of the Office of Censors, known for their fierce demeanor, were subdued by a mere glance. I want to see what kind of people they are."
"Oh~. That's not our pleasure house, though?"
"Still, I want to see what kind of bouncers they are. Can you call them for me?"
"Yes, sir."
At Hyang's request, the courtesan went outside to relay the message. A short while later, she returned with a slightly awkward expression and told Hyang.
"The bouncer said, 'We are not the ruffians of the market,' and asked me to convey that."
"What impudence!"
The guards who were present with Hyang shouted and stood up.
"Sit down."
"Sir!"
"Hurry up!"
"Yes."
At Hyang's restraint, the guards sat down.
"Have a cup of grain tea, but don't get drunk."
"Yes, sir."
At Hyang's command, the guards emptied the cups in front of them. Watching this, Hyang turned to the courtesan sitting next to him.
"Grain tea and ruffians... interesting."
"Yes, yes..."
At Hyang's words, the courtesan answered with a tense face. The courtesan realized she was in the presence of very dangerous people.
'Who on earth is this kid!'
The courtesan was curious about the identity of the young nobleman sitting next to her.
A short while later, the words that came out of Hyang's mouth made the courtesan's face turn pale.
"Go tell the bouncers, 'You're just dogs guarding the gate, eating scraps that fall from the feast. How dare you talk back?'"
"Sir!"
The courtesan tried to stop him urgently, but Hyang's expression remained unchanged.
"Tell them exactly what I said."
* * *
A short while later, a bouncer who guarded the pleasure house appeared.
"What the...?"
The bouncer, who seemed ready to start a commotion with a torrent of curses, stopped and became tense.
It was because of the appearance of the people in the room.
Except for Hyang, who was sitting in the most honored seat, the other men all exuded an extraordinary aura and were staring at him.
'If I mess this up, next year's today will be my memorial day, won't it?'
Sam-tae, gripping the hilt of the sword he had tucked in his belt, opened his mouth.
"Who is looking for me?"
"Are you the leader of the bouncers here?"
At Hyang's question, Sam-tae replied.
"Are you looking for the head bouncer?"
"Bring him here."
Hyang's words, which were the epitome of condescension, made Sam-tae feel indignant, but he gritted his teeth and answered under the pressure of the others present.
"I will bring him."
A short while later, a man who looked far from ordinary followed Sam-tae and appeared.
"I heard you were looking for me."
"Come inside."
At Hyang's words, the head bouncer stepped into the room.
"I have something to discuss with you. The rest of you, please leave."
"Yes."
At Hyang's words, the courtesans left the room.
After the courtesans left, Hyang gave the same order to the guards and eunuchs.
"You also leave for a moment."
"Sir! Absolutely not!"
"It's fine, please leave."
"I will leave two of them."
The commander of the guards strongly resisted, and Hyang nodded.
"Alright."
Thus, only Hyang, the commander of the guards, one subordinate, and Sam-tae and the head bouncer remained in the room.
"Why are you looking for me?"
At the head bouncer's question, Hyang smiled and asked.
"Judging by your appearance, you seem to be the son of a noble family. Are you a commoner?"
"Yes."
"Are you satisfied with your current life?"
"As you said, I'm just a dog eating scraps that fall from the feast. What can I hope for? I'm satisfied as long as I'm not hungry."
"Hmm..."
Hyang let out a slight snort and looked at the head bouncer sitting in front of him.
'He's a cliché, but he might be useful.'
"Your face will have a hole in it. Why are you staring so intently? Don't tell me you like men?"
"Unfortunately, I'm normal. Do bouncers like you have a guild?"
"Why do you ask?"
"If you have a guild, tell the guild master. Even a dog can change its fate. Come to me at midnight on the full moon this month."
At Hyang's words, the head bouncer looked amazed.
"Ha! Do you know who I am?"
"If you can't figure that out, you'll be guarding the door of a pleasure house for the rest of your life."
After finishing his words, Hyang emptied the cup in front of him.
"Phew! It's a bit strong!"
Putting down the cup, Hyang stood up and left the room.
"Settle the bill."
"Yes, sir."
While the eunuch was settling the bill, Hyang turned to the head courtesan and the head bouncer.
"I've had a good look around. Don't take my words lightly."
After finishing his words, Hyang walked away with the