Description

The only concubine who was hated by the Emperor.

The male concubine, Yeon Hwawoon, unlike his appearance that was like that of a flower, was hated by everyone because of his nasty temperament and evil doings. The day he fell into the pond, a guard died from saving him. And when the body of Hwawoon opened its eyes, the soul of that guard, Hawoon entered.

"This… This is…"

Hawoon, who had transmigrated into Hwawoon, told everyone in the palace who hated him that he had changed, but no one believed him. Yihan, the emperor who distrusted Hwawoon the most, didn't know the feeling inside of Hwawoon who was completely different from before, kept being harsher to him, but…?

Associated Names

I Became the Male Concubine that was Hated by the Emperor

황제의 미움받는 남후궁이 되었다

Hawoon barely managed to push his heavy eyelid up while feeling a severe headache. His whole body was in pain and heavy, as if he had been beaten soundly by someone then dipped into the water. It was a strange thing since Hawoon, who had gone through a lot of training, had never woken up in such a terrible condition like this.

Was there any fever before I fell asleep? Hawoon suddenly opened his eyes wide as he tried to dig up his memories. It was because he had remembered what happened before he lost his consciousness.

"Your Highness! Have you finally woken up?"

When the shocked Hawoon raised his body abruptly, his surroundings became noisy. Perhaps because he suddenly raised up his body, his vision was spinning for a while. Even this was something that Hawoon had never experienced. When he opened his eyes back after closing it tightly as he massaged his forehead, the scenery in front of him began to come in little by little.

He saw a few court ladies and young eunuchs in front of the bed where he had woken up. They all were people from the Jeongan Palace and were familiar to Hawoon.

Hawoon quickly asked them, as he had regained his memory.

"Is His Highness fine?"

Hawoon—one of the guards who were protecting Jeongan Palace—clearly remembered that when he did his regular patrol, he found His Highness the Concubine Yeon fell into the pond in the garden.

A long time ago, Jeongan Palace was a newly built palace for a concubine, who was greatly favored by the emperor of the time. The pond as well was built as big as the deep of the Emperor's love, and it was a place known for its big size and deep water level.

It might be possible for someone who had learned to swim, but for a concubine who had never used his body properly, it was a difficult thing to come out of the pond alone. Because it seemed like among those court ladies who attended him, there was no one who could skillfully swim and pull him out—since they could only scream 'Your Highness' outside, Hawoon felt impatient and jumped into the water to save Concubine Yeon.

That was what happened.

There was a faint memory that he had a quarrel with Concubine Yeon, who acted as if he didn't want to come out and struggled to push Hawoon out of the water.

Looking that I can open my eyes, fortunately, it seems like I don't die. Hawoon looked back at those who had somehow turned pale and trembled at his question.

Don't tell me I couldn't save His Highness and came out alive alone? Hawoon opened his mouth and asked once more, while having that kind of thought.

"His Highness… is His Highness also had awak…?!"

"Your Highness! What do you mean by that…!"

However, Hawoon couldn't complete his question properly. It was because the court ladies who were kneeling in front of him howled "Your Highness!".

I'm sure something must be happening here. There must be something wrong with His Highness. Hawoon closed his eyes tightly. Regardless of His Highness' personality, Hawoon's heart sank when he thought about the young concubine who had to experience such an accident overnight.

When Hawoon was about to ask about the detailed situation while barely able to grasp his faint senses, a court lady suddenly came to his side and touched his arm while talking with a teary face.

"Your Highness, is your head hurt? Can't you remember well?"

"Wh-why are you like this?"

Hawoon became more surprised at the court lady's act—suddenly touching his arm. Hawoon quickly tore off the court lady's hand as he raised up from the bed then talked with an austere voice.

"I know that what happened to His Highness Concubine Yeon is shocking for you, but you can't do this to me. Please calm… down…"

Hawoon suddenly felt an odd feeling from the very start when he heard his own voice. Even though Hawoon wasn't a man with a deep voice, he was a man with a common man's voice that could have quite a weight when he talked in a serious manner like this.

Then, what about the voice he heard in his ear just now? It was a beautiful voice that no doubt could be called a sweet voice, and Hawoon knew very well who was the owner of this voice.

"Your Highness, why are you being like this? Hey there! Quickly call a doctor now! It seems like His Highness is very shocked!"

Hawoon absentmindedly looked at the court lady, who kept calling him Your Highness with his trembling gaze. As a close court lady to Concubine Yeon, Ahjin was someone who had talked to Hawoon before.

Is this a dream? Am I still can't wake up from a dream? Hawoon lowered his gaze and examined his appearance. He could see the fine skirt covering down the tip of his feet. When he raised his hands, wide, long sleeves slid down gently against his skin. No matter how hard he looked at it, it wasn't the attire of a guard. The hands which came into view were no doubt the hands of someone who had never held a sword in his life.

"This… What on earth is this…."

The voices of those who were making a fuss around him slowly grew dim. The temperature in the cold water. Concubine Yeon kept on struggling and refusing his help. When Hawoon managed to grab Concubine Yeon and came out to the edge of the pond, once again Concubine Yeon struggled, then Hawoon's foot slipped, and he hit his head against the stone like that. Wasn't that what happened?

Hawoon slowly turned his head. While still feeling out of breath, like he was still underwater, he could see the mirror on the table through his flickering vision. Hawoon pushed back those voices that were still calling him your highness and managed to move his feet to where the table was.

Then, right when he finally saw his face in the mirror, Hawoon saw a face that was very familiar to him there.

The only male concubine of this empire. A man who had a beauty that no one could easily follow, but a man whose natural character was frivolous and cruel. The man who had lost the Emperor's favor from the very start. But even so, he was a concubine who begged for the Emperor's love every day, threw his pride and everything just for chasing the Emperor ever and ever. All the court ladies feared him and avoided serving him as a master. The main character of the rumor—that every day in his residence, Jeongan Palace, the young court ladies came out crying with swollen cheeks.

Concubine Yeon, Yeon Hwawoon.

Hawoon—a guard of Jeongan Palace—was standing there with Yeon Hwawoon's appearance, and Hawoon lost his consciousness just like that and there.

"Haah…."

"Your Highness, why did you sigh like that? Are you still feeling under the weather…?"

The shoulder of a man who was wearing an elegant attire flinched at the 'Your Highness' sound.

That's right. Your Highness. I am someone who is called by Your Highness.All night, he had injected all those thoughts inside his head, but as expected, it was hard for him to adapt in just one day.

His mind became more disoriented when he saw the court ladies who kept bowing their heads because they were afraid. Afraid of what if their owner would treat them cruelly because he was not feeling well or in a bad mood—just like in the past. The man—in exact Hawoon who had become Hwawoon, managed to swallow back a sigh that was about to come out and said,

"It's not like that, so you don't have to worry."

The voice and tone that flowed out of his mouth were also awkward. In his life, he had never had such a beautiful voice before.

"Just… It's just because I feel stuffy…"

In the end, Hawoon—no—Hwawoon, who couldn't resist, sighed again. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop sighing when he saw the situation he was in.

Like lightning in the clear sky. No matter how often things that could not be explained by words in this world could actually happen, how could something like this really happen to him? He closed his eyes last night and desperately hoped that when he woke up, everything would be a dream. But still, when he woke up from the nightmares in the morning, nothing had changed. Hwawoon was just at a loss on how to get through all of this.

"Your Highness, His Majesty said he would stop by in the afternoon…. Won't you dress yourself up?"

Ahjin, the court lady who had been guarding his side with a timid expression since a while ago, nervously added. Ahjin couldn't help but be awkward with the current situation. As a maid Hwawoon had brought from his house, she had seen Hwawoon for a long time—even when the current Hwawoon was Hawoon. Hwawoon lowered down his head in silence and lost in thought for a moment.

Ahjin, who was standing next to Hwawoon, carefully stole a glance at her master, who was deep in thought. His face that was pale because he had such a big accident and his eyes that closed beautifully. Even Ahjin, who was trembling in fear of her master, couldn't take off her eyes for a moment because of her master's outstanding beauty.

Originally, Ahjin's master was someone who wouldn't wear his pajamas unless it was a glamorous pajama. However, last night, for such an unknown reason, he said he hated all those fancy pajamas and asked to change them to modest ones, and made all the court ladies bewildered.

He looked no different from when he dressed up so fancily so that he would not be defeated by any woman in the Imperial Palace, but the appearance of Concubine Yeon without make-up and wearing only one pink pajama that was too modest, made him looked like a poor fairy who fell on the shore of the lake. He looked so elegant and beautiful.

Then how about the long hair that ran down his blushing, pale white cheeks? Ahjin's master was someone in a male concubine position and a formidable beauty, but he was famous for his ill-nature, which made all of his beauty fade away. When talking about Hwawoon's unique characteristics, his dark hair and faint blush were the features that people pointed to.

With such a face and such an attitude, Hwawoon, who was lost in thoughts and not being violent like the usual, obviously not lacking to be called the best beauty in the world. Even Ahjin, who had been harassed by him more than anyone else, was made to keep staring at him. Although Concubine Yeon was the cruelest in the world, it was clear that he was someone whose beauty couldn't be followed by anyone.

However, what was the point of all that? His personality—which was unfitting to his beauty, was enough to make even the one who was completely infatuated with his face run away while shaking their heads. That was why Ahjin could understand the reason the emperor was very harsh to her master.

As her master's silence kept getting longer, Ahjin's lips kept getting drier. In the first place, satisfying her master's taste was like picking a star in the sky, and seeing that today even his mood didn't look good, she had no choice but to be nervous. It was because she didn't know what kind of things would happen if her master didn't like what she had dressed him up in.

While Ahjin could only hold her breath since she couldn't guess what kind of great clothes her master would ask for this time, her master, who looked like he was deep in thoughts for a long time, began to slowly open his mouth.

"Do I really need to dress up?"

"… Pardon?"

"Won't it be strange for me whose body is not fully recovered to dress up fancily? … Just help me to look neat."

"… Pardon?"

One of the most first things that Ahjin had taught to all the court ladies who came to Jeongan Palace was to never question His Highness back. Whenever new young court ladies came in, Ahjin would always take the lead and inform them of the rules over and over again. But right now, how shocked she was that she made the mistake of asking her master—twice in such a short period of time.

Just before Ahjin could kneel down and bow her head as she had realized her mistake, Hwawoon said.

"I don't need flaring attire, so plea… dress me something that won't make me look rude in front of His Majesty."

Ahjin turned pale even more at the order that Hwawoon had never given before, but Hwawoon had no strength left to look at her face right now. He found the way of his manner of speech back in his guard days kept coming out—even though he had been careful—as a problem, and he found the visit of the Emperor to be even a bigger problem.

He had made an excuse—saying that he couldn't remember any of the previous events because of the shock from falling into the water, and the said excuse was working thanks to the doctor who said something like that was possible. But even so, he couldn't put his heart at ease.

"By the way…."

Ahjin, who was at a loss at what to do to her master's unexpected order, quickly lowered her head back when Hwawoon's words continued.

While looking at his face that was reflected in the hand mirror with a complicated face, Hwawoon said.

"The… the guard who saved me…"

"Ah…"

"Is he really dead…?"

Hwawoon's lips unintentionally trembled while saying so.

Anyone would find it hard to keep their composure when they woke up and their body had changed with an unexpected person, and even hearing that their original body had died.

From the start, he had realized that his life wouldn't go on smoothly since he had lost both of his parents when he was young and grew up as an orphan. However, never did he think that he would die such a vain death.

Besides, didn't he finally become a guard of the imperial family that he had envisioned so much? Despite it was a low-level guard protecting the concubine residence where the emperor barely took steps into, it was a place where Hawoon—who was born and raised as a low person—couldn't even dream of.

Even though it was a position that I barely got. Even though I finally got the only thing I ever desired and dreamed of. I can't believe my life would end with such an empty death.

Ahjin responded with a more tensed expression to Hwawoon, whose complexion darkened.

"… Yes. I heard that he died immediately on the spot where he hit his head against the stone."

"……."

"It-it's such an honorable death for that person! From what I heard, it turned out that he was an orphan with no relatives, but he came in after passing the test that was specially opened without status restrictions at His Majesty's birthday last time. That mere person died after saving Your Highness, who is incomparably precious compared to him. Rather, he should be thankful to Your Highness. So don't worry about that, Your Highness."

"Why did you say…!"

Hwawoon, who was listening to Ahjin's words with wide eyes because it was too ridiculous, suddenly raised his voice. Even if it was the case, someone just died. He was someone who died from saving their master at that. His wonder of how she could say something so viciously made him overwhelmed by momentary feelings and ultimately raised his voice.

"Your Highness…?"

However, Hwawoon couldn't help but close his mouth. It was because this was not something that Hwawoon would be angry about.

"… No, it's nothing. I guess I'm still a little sensitive about what happened yesterday."

"Ah…."

"I'm sorry to raise my voice for no reason."

Hwawoon slowly took a breath while spitting out words of apology to Ahjin before calming down his mind.

In fact, there was nothing wrong with Ahjin's words. An orphan who was a low person like Hawoon wouldn't be treated like a proper human outside. Then what about here, the imperial palace? He was a guard in the name only. He, the low person who entered this palace because he got the Emperor's favor, was different from those guards, who were children of high-ranking officials.

He was in a position where he couldn't protest even if his superior ordered him to die, and like what Ahjin had said, there was no word that could express his death from saving Concubine Yeon except blessing that he could never dream of.

Because I don't even have a family to pick up my body, they probably just put it in a cart then buried it somewhere in the mountains.

When he was about to sigh like a habit because his complicated mind became even dizzier at that thought, Hwawoon was suddenly shocked to see Ahjin, who was kneeling in front of him while trembling. Ahjin was crying while shaking her head.

"Your-Your Highness… I… I… I've committed a grave sin… Please forgive me, Your Highness…."

"Wh-why are you suddenly being like…! No, what are you doing? Get up…!"

"No… no, Your Highness. How dare this lowly self hear the apology from Your Highness…. This slave is the one at fault…. I'm the one at fault…."

Hwawoon was so surprised at Ahjin's sudden action that he couldn't even speak, but now Ahjin was on the floor, banging her forehead and begging. Even while he was speechless, he was quietly listening to what Ahjin was saying and inferred. It seemed like the problem was that Hwawoon apologized to Ahjin a while ago—a big one at that.

Only then he did realize his mistake. What kind of master would apologize to their maids? Even if the master really did something wrong, it would be hard to find a master who would apologize to the lower ones in this world.

Moreover, if it was Yeon Hwawoon. The one who regarded the life of his maids as mere wild grass on the side of the road.

Hwawoon felt his head twitch once again, then he began to talk while trying to keep his voice calm.

"It's fine. Now get up…."

"Your Highness…."

"I didn't apologize to blame you. So don't cry."

However, regardless of Hwawoon's efforts, Ahjin only became even more flustered by the voice that was gently soothing her.

Who was her master—Yeon Hwawoon?

As for him, he was someone who would hold the young court ladies accountable for failing to do their task to drive the birds away then beat them hard—sayingwhat will you do if His Majesty doesn't want to see me because my skin is damaged from lack of sleep that was caused by the sound of birdsongs which had made me wake up so early?

He was someone with a fierce temper that he had to blame the low people around him for the reason the Emperor didn't come to his residence to feel relieved. The apology that came out from such a person's mouth was nothing but an expression—I will rip you into pieces right now.

Of course, Ahjin didn't know what kind of wrongdoing she had done. Rather, in order to match Hwawoon's feelings, didn't she even talk harshly about the innocent guard who died unfairly when she had no intention to do so?

Ahjin knew very well that those things meant nothing to her owner. If he wanted, he could just beat a mere maid—just because she was breathing.

However, that Yeon Hwawoon. Such a master was speaking in a supremely soft tone in front of Ahjin, who was frantically shaking her head.

"So you are also flustered because I suddenly become like this…."

"……"

"Didn't I come back from death? It won't be easy for you to adjust right away, but I hope you know that my heart is not the same as before."

This is the first time Ahjin found out that her master was someone who could speak in such a gentle voice. From the first day she first served Hwawoon back in his parents' house until now, her master had always been such a blunt person that Ahjin almost forgot that he was actually a person with a very beautiful voice. Of course, only when he was in front of the emperor, Hwawoon spoke gently, but even that was nothing more than a repulsive voice for Ahjin.

But now, Hwawoon was speaking to her with a calm and gentle voice. His voice was just like that of a loving person in nature.

"Stop crying now and get ready. Didn't you say that His Majesty is coming?"

"Ah…! Yes, Your Highness. Yes!"

Ahjin unconsciously reached out her hands and she raised herself up while holding the handkerchief that was reached out to her. When Concubine Yeon fell into the pond and lost consciousness, she had hoped for him to not wake up for a long time because she was afraid of the evil things he would do to them. But, the master who disappointed Ahjin by waking up in just one day, kept acting like a different person and made Ahjin's feelings complicated.

"Fi-first, I'll take a look at your hair, Your Highness."

But, could the nature of one person change easily?Now, even if he isn't himself because of the shock that almost killed him, I'm sure he will come back in a few days. I can't let my guard down just because of those kind words.Ahjin decided to grip herself even more and began to carefully comb Hwawoon's hair.

In any case, it was clear that the situation would worsen if His Majesty came.

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Do I really have to meet him? Didn't you say he is already awake?"

The Emperor stopped his steps and grumbled with a voice full of discontent to Eunuch Oh, who was following behind him. He was about to go to the residence of Concubine Yeon, who fell into the pond and came back alive from death.

If Eunuch Oh thought about the many events that had happened between the Emperor and Concubine Yeon, it was more than understandable why the Emperor didn't want to go to the Concubine Yeon's residence. However, from the standpoint of a eunuch, who had been serving the emperor closest all this time, he knew the things that would happen if the Emperor didn't visit Concubine Yeon after such a big accident would certainly be hard to bear. That was why he could only bow his head and say the following.

"This time, it was said that he was about to die, so if Your Majesty comes and comforts him, he will be greatly moved."

"What do you mean by 'about to die?' If I don't walk there, he'll probably try to make this kind of fuss again and lure me in."

The emperor's words and actions were very harsh to speak of a person who just died and came back to life, but thinking back about what Concubine Yeon had done to bring the emperor to his residence, no one can blame the emperor for his harsh words. The emperor actually was not a cold-hearted person to his concubines.

"Even if that were the case, how much His Highness had missed Your Majesty that he even did to that extent? After all, you have a busy schedule in the afternoon, so you can just come and stay for a moment."

The Emperor frowned at the eunuch's words before turning back to glare at him. Then he exhaled a breath full of dissatisfaction and walked again. Although it was sickening to hear, the Emperor knew what Eunuch Oh had meant by repeatedly requesting him to visit Concubine Yeon. The emperor also had no intention of making this incident bigger, so he had no choice but to take another heavy step.

That damned old man, Yeon Juwon. 'I have a son who has a beautiful face and his personality resembles his mother, calm and very gentle. Somehow he saw Your Majesty from a distance and struck with lovesickness that he would die soon. So can Your Majesty please give the empty male concubine position to my lacking son?' I accepted it because he asked desperately, but isn't this a downright fraud?

It isn't wrong to say that he has a pretty face, but his personality is calm? Caaalm?Every time the emperor remembered those words, even when he was sleeping, his anger would explode and make him about to kick the air out of frustrations.

Speaking about the father of the troublesome Concubine Yeon, as a famous loyalist, he was a figure with a great contribution for the current emperor to rise to this position. In the reign of the previous emperor, he was the one who protected the crown prince—the only one who had the qualifications to be an emperor—from all the tricks that were done by the other princes to bring the crown prince down from his position then made him safely ascend to the throne.

Was it only that? After the crown prince ascended to the throne amidst the chaos of political strife, he helped the emperor with all his heart and played a major role in helping this empire achieve its present peaceful state. He was the one who accompanied and protected the emperor by his side all along the way. And so, if there was a flaw of such a person, it was only that he tricked the emperor and entrusted his son to him.

When the emperor pressed him, saying'do you know what kind of things your son did as a concubine in his residence?'he answered,'he is your concubine and I can't dare to partake since it is Your Majesty's family problem.'Whenever the emperor thought about that old man's face who drew a line, his breath heaved.

He was completely tricked. He was very sure that Yeon Juwon handed over the pain in the neck to him because he couldn't handle his son anymore. It seemed like the reason Yeon Juwon desperately rejected his favor—gold, house, everything—was to give him this kind of burden.

!Report Chapter

Haaah…."

While approaching the palanquin, the Emperor's footsteps gradually slowed down, along with his breath. Even if it was true that he was tricked, thinking about Yeon Juwon's contribution, he couldn't just expel Concubine Yeon. And he also couldn't just expel Yeon Juwon with the reason of having a bad son because no matter how vicious and unsightly Concubine Yeon was, he didn't commit high treason.

Seems like I should make that old man retire as soon as possible.

The emperor, who was dreaming a fruitless dream, eventually climbed into the palanquin.

"Let's go to Jeongan Palace!"

He was Seong Yihan, the most praised emperor of this great nation, who found Eunuch Oh's loud voice to be very despicable—today in particular.

"Your Highness, why are you being this nervous?"

Ahjin asked, anxious to see Hwawoon—who was sitting with his back upright in the chair—flinched his shoulders while moving his eyes anywhere, whenever a sound was heard from the doorway. Even at the sound of her words, Hwawoon's shoulders shook, and his hips moved a little.

To begin with, her master was someone who would be restless like a puppy wanting to pee whenever he heard that the Emperor was coming, but this was the first time his nervous trembling became so noticeable for her that Ahjin became even more confused at how she should serve her master.

Hwawoon immediately shook her head to Ahjin, saying he was okay, but his complexion that was getting paler than before did not look any okay.

It was not just 'not' but Hwawoon looked like he was dying. Even until he got dressed up, he couldn't afford to worry about anything else because the situation he was in now was so absurd that he got stunned, but the moment he finished his preparation and sat down doing nothing, he suddenly realized that he was waiting for none other than the Emperor.

The emperor? I will meet His Majesty the Emperor?Hwawoon thought in some way that meeting the emperor would be a bigger problem than having his body die. Although he was trying to calm himself down by pressing his palm with his fingernails, his heart couldn't be controlled and was beating loudly like it was about to burst.

Who was the emperor? He was the son of heaven and the ruler between earth and sky. He was an important figure that Hwawoon, no, lowly people like Hawoon before he changed his body, wouldn't dare to look into. Nevertheless, the reason Hwawoon's heart was beating so violently now was not only because of that.

Hawoon, who grew up as an orphan and frequently wandered on the streets, met a teacher who took a good look at his talent by chance, and he learned martial arts, although it wasn't on a very impressive level. Thanks to that, he was able to eat, sleep, and work as a guard at an inn, and Hawoon was complacent with reality, thinking that this kind of life was enough for an unfortunate person like himself. It was the current emperor who made Hawoon dare to dream of the imperial palace.

That day, Hawoon was lucky enough to find a place where he could see up close the procession of the emperor across the city. Although everyone said that the emperor would not show his face outside, Hawoon pleaded to the inn owner to give him some time off, saying that just seeing the carriage the emperor was in was a great fortune for him. And right there on the same day, it was the first time Hawoon saw the Emperor, who broke everyone's expectations. The Emperor showed his face outside the carriage and waved his hands.

How bright and dazzling he was. The emperor's face was so beautiful that even his graceful crown and attire couldn't be regarded by Hawoon's eyes.

Hawoon then lost his mind and looked at his face. Only after he was brought to his knees and got his shoulder hit with a sword by a guard who was protecting the carriage did he prostrate on the ground.

So the Emperor was that kind of person. So it was only someone who was born that beautifully who could become the emperor.That night, Hawoon couldn't sleep all night, and he drew and drew the Emperor's face he had seen in his mind.

"His Majesty the Emperor has come."

The one who woke Hwawoon up from his reminiscence was the name who made him nervous all this time.

He staggered because he got up in a hurry, and Ahjin quickly supported Hwawoon's body. Concurrently, someone who wore a golden royal robe, His Majesty the Emperor, stood in front of Hwawoon.

Hwawoon couldn't raise his head. His breath was blocked and he felt dizzy. Hwawoon felt like he was standing in front of the emperor's procession just like that day.

Should I lie flat on the floor? Won't I get my shoulders hit like that time? Where is this? Who am I?Hwawoon's head was full of thoughts that he couldn't do anything except bowing his head while trying to keep his breath.

"Your-Your Highness… You should give your greeting…."

Ahjin, who was looking anxiously at Hwawoon, who seemed to have stopped, woke him up with a low voice. Hwawoon was surprised and then came to his senses.

Greetings. Right, I have to give my greetings.This time, only that thought filled his head. And so, Hwawoon, to be exact the one who had lived as Hawoon for a long time and entered this palace as a guard,

"This human greets His Majesty the Emperor."

He hurriedly greeted the emperor. He lowered his body, then put one of his feet forward and one of his knees on the floor. While doing so, he bent one of his elbows and extended it forward.

It was not a greeting from a concubine, but a greeting from a guard. Soon, silence filled Concubine Yeon's residence.

!Report Chapter

"

"…."

"Now you're doing all sorts of things."

The one who broke the breathtaking silence was Yihan, the emperor, who had been standing looking at the top of Hwawoon's head for a long time with a ridiculed expression. He had always thought that it was hard for him to understand what was in Yeon Hwawoon's little head, but this kind of ingenious act was new for him.

Ahjin, who belatedly came to her senses, quickly prostrated in front of the Emperor's feet and spoke.

"Your-Your Majesty…! Pardon me, but my master is still… because of the shock from falling into the water, his body is still not well, that's why he did such a thing…!"

"Hm. What do you mean by 'unwell' when his way of greeting is very similar to a general?"

After saying so, the Emperor turned his body and sat on the chair without telling Hwawoon to raise up. He looked at Hwawoon with narrowed eyes that were still filled with suspicion. Meanwhile, Hwawoon, who had realized what kind of mistake he had made, kept being flustered.

He knew he had made a mistake, but he didn't know what he should do now. He wondered whether he should raise up and redo his greetings, or should he plead for guilt first, or perhaps he should just pretend innocence and sit on the chair.

In the first place, he had no knowledge about palace manners, but because he was shocked and flustered, his head became not working even more, and he felt like crying.

For now, Hwawoon decided to fix his posture first. He tried to move his body little by little, but unfortunately, he stepped on the end of his skirt that was spread on the floor. And as expected, he fell forward.

Ahjin shouted, "Your Highness!" Then she supported Hwawoon. On the other hand, as if he wasn't surprised by this kind of act, the emperor let out a little remark—huh—then he smiled once, amazed by his antics and mocked him.

"Do you want to avoid punishment by pretending to be weak, or by making me laugh? Just do one of them—just one. "

"Your-Your Majesty…."

Hwawoon, who was still lying on the floor, couldn't say anything as if his throat was blocked and barely managed to call the Emperor. Originally, he often heard that he was bold and an easygoing person, but the thing that happened lately was still too much for him to accept. On top of that, he had an audience with the emperor here without any preparation, thus his head didn't work properly.

Hwawoon's hands on the floor turned white. The Emperor just looked at those detestable hands, which he was sure was an act, before standing up. He had shown his face just like what Eunuch Oh had said, so it was safe to say he had done all he needed to do here.

"It seems like Concubine Yeon is already recovered enough to do funny things, so let's go back."

"…."

Hwawoon couldn't give any reply, and he just bowed his head. The emperor's voice that poured towards him somehow filled with the coldness that even if he made no mistake earlier, Hwawoon wouldn't have been able to speak a word. The words about how the emperor looked at Jeongan Palace as if it were an enemy had spread across the imperial palace, and he knew very well the reason for that. However, when he became the one to receive that, it was hard to deal with.

Then, the emperor, Yihan, who was leaving without any regrets, suddenly stopped in front of the door and spoke without even looking back at Hwawoon.

"A guard died trying to save you."

Hwawoon, who had barely stood up to see off the emperor, stiffened. It was because the guard who died from saving Concubine Yeon, Yeon Hwawoon, was himself.

"I'm saying that a precious guard that I personally picked through my order lost his life by your play to get my attention."

A precious guard. I personally picked.

Those words spoken by the Emperor became a huge whirlpool, and they messed up Hwawoon's ears. The reason he was able to become a guard despite his low status was on his birthday, the emperor had ordered to select guards on a large scale regardless of their status, whether it was a lowly man or a nobleman, as long as they had the ability.

Although Hawoon wasn't the only one chosen at that time, and the emperor didn't even know that there was a man named Hawoon among them, the emperor was talking like that to Hwawoon here.

He was a precious guard that I personally picked.

His lips were trembling all of a sudden. His vision blurred that Hwawoon had to bite his lip tight enough to bleed in order not to show his shameful condition. While still showing his back, the emperor said.

"In your eyes, the life of that mere guard is so insignificant……"

"…."

"But if you want to keep wearing your human mask, you should feel guilty about him and behave yourself properly."

After finishing his words, the Emperor left Jeongan Palace and when he got far away, Hwawoon, no, Hawoon.

The guard who had died and left this world.

"Hic…. Hiic…..!"

His body crumbled—just like that. The tears he had barely held back burst out of control, and in an instant, it ran down his cheeks and dripped to the floor. Ahjin, startled and ran to her knees before supporting Hwawoon's body.

"Your Highness, why are you crying…. I'm sure His Majesty talked like that because he is also shocked and upset that a bad thing happened to you. Your Highness…."

Maybe Ahjin thought the reason Hwawoon was crying this sadly was that the Emperor talked harshly to him, but the real reason Hwawoon cried was far from that.

!Report Chapter

He was literally a mere guard. He wasn't a child of a prestigious family like the other guards, nor was he a noble person with a bright future. In the imperial palace, he was nothing but a stone-like existence.

Even after Hwawoon woke up, wasn't there was no one who spoke about that guard's death until he asked? Hawoon's death was truly a death in vain—nothing more, nothing less. It was like that until a moment ago.

Hawoon's death should have meant nothing in the first place, because there was no one to retrieve his body. Because there was no one to remember him—remember the meaning of his existence—for a long time.

However, the Emperor—the majestic emperor of this empire—remembered Hawoon's death.

His lips raised up. Even if it was only intended to scorn Hwawoon, the Emperor remembered that there was such a dead guard. With that—the emperor remembering an unknown guard's death—alone, Hwawoon felt like he was saved.

Because that was a luxury for him. Because that was warming as much as saddening. Because he really liked the fact that the Emperor—whom he looked at while being mesmerized that day—was such a gentle and kind person.

Hwawoon cried like that for a long moment. It was a goodbye from him, who had become Hwawoon, to send off the short life of a man named Hawoon.

Ahjin was crouching her body in front of Hwawoon with a bewildered look. It was no surprise. Just a moment ago, Ahjin got a question from Hwawoon about how messed up the relationship between himself and His Majesty was.

When Ahjin turned deadly pale—trembling and couldn't say anything, Hwawoon spoke again in a very calm voice.

"Ahjin. I didn't ask to get angry or blame you. It's just I can't… I really can't remember."

"Your-Your Highness…."

"Judging by the attitude that His Majesty has shown me, it doesn't seem like he found me to be unpleasant on a normal level.…"

Hwawoon's eyes deepened.

Hawoon had also heard the rumor that if the emperor was Concubine Yeon, he would tremble out of disgust. It was so famous that it was often talked about—as an entertainment—at mealtimes of low-rank guards like Hawoon. And for that kind of rumor to be easily said by anyone, Concubine Yeon was a laughable existence in this imperial palace.

Of course, his father was a meritorious retainer and loyal servant who received the greatest trust and affection from the Emperor, so there were no subordinates who openly disregarded Concubine Yeon. But at least in everyone's hearts, Concubine Yeon was someone who was not respected at all.

But even with that in mind, Hwawoon couldn't help but be surprised when he saw the emperor. It was hard to find even the slightest respect for his concubine from the emperor's attitude toward Hwawoon. The so cold gaze that he could feel even without making eye contact, the way he spoke as if he was regarding a commoner woman, and the way he didn't even show a single word of concern even though Hwawoon was about to lose his life. All of that obviously showed that it wasn't just a rumor that the emperor thought Hwawoon to be disgusting.

If it wasn't like that, then why did his rank still 'bin' despite his father's status? If the relationship between the emperor and Hwawoon had been normal, he would have already risen to the rank of 'bi,' and if he had been favored, it would be no wonder that he would aim for the position of 'gwibi' in the near future. Even so, Hwawoon still did not get any nicknames and stayed in the starting position as Yeon-bin.*

"Shouldn't I know the situation, so I can know how I should act in front of His Majesty in the future? So tell me everything as it is, without adding or covering anything. Because whatever you say, I won't blame or punish you."

Ahjin swallowed her dried saliva. She wondered in suspicion if this was a test from her master to relieve his anger because he was hurt by His Majesty's actions a while ago. It wasn't only a day or two that she was slapped in the face after speaking the truth—without hesitation—because he said he wouldn't get angry.

However, this time, her master spoke with deep eyes that she had never seen before.

"There is no one but you who I can believe in my current situation."

"Your Highness…."

"Looking closely, I can guess that I had been unreasonably cruel to you before, but Ahjin…."

The voice that was calling for 'Ahjin,' was so gentle that it couldn't be dismissed as a lie. Ahjin's master had never called her name so softly like this before.I heard that it is possible for a person who died and came back to life to be a completely different person.Ahjin was still catching her breath in a confused feeling, while Hwawoon continued his talk.

"So that I can correct what I did wrong even though it's already late… I want you to help me."

What makes a big difference to be deceived once more when I already had been deceived dozens of times before?In the end, Ahjin closed her eyes—tightly—once and began to speak.

I'm sorry that I forgot there was a ranking system in this story. Previously I translated Yeon-bin as Concubine Yeon because no matter what the rank is, 'bin', 'bi', 'gwibi' it is 'concubine' in English. But now that I remember there are other concubines besides Hwawoon and there is one of them with a higher rank, I decided to change it to Yeon-bin from this point forward. And bin-bi-gwibi, that is the ranking of the concubines in order from low to high in this novel.

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Really… I really…"

Hwawoon was in a state of bewilderment that he could only repeat his words—couldn't say anything else. It was because the evil conducts done by Hwawoon—Yeon-bin, were beyond imagination.

Hwawoon, who got his breath snatched by only hearing that, now couldn't face Ahjin properly. It seemed like he finally knew the reason Ahjin and the court ladies of Jeongan Palace were always trembling and bowing whenever they saw him.

Although all of this was very sudden, and it was hard to just accept the fact that he had his body changed overnight, he couldn't stay feeling detached and flustered. Since Hwawoon even lost the body for him to come back, the only choice left for him was to survive in this palace. That was why he needed to quickly grasp the situation, then pretended to be Yeon Hwawoon—with no one knowing.

It was the reason I wanted to hear properly from Ahjin what kind of person the former Yeonbin was. It was, but.

"… Why hasn't His Majesty kicked me out?"

Hwawoon unconsciously muttered.

As Hwawoon showed no sign of getting angry or furious no matter what kind of truth she had said, Ahjin, who had relaxed, quickly answered.

"Of course that is because Lord Yeon is His Majesty's most trusted person."

"Ah… if it's Lord Yeon… you-you must be talking about my father… right?"

In an instant, his heart cracked somewhere. He felt like his tongue got twisted by the wordfather—as if he just learned a new word that never existed in this world. For Hwawoon, there were no memories of him opening his mouth to say, mother or father.

"Haah…"

As he fully realized the sudden situation he was faced with, the sigh continuously flowed out. He, the lonely orphan who had no relatives to rely on, now became the son of the most rumored faithful, meritorious retainer of the empire.

Was it only that? Hawoon originally had a calm temperament and was quiet. He didn't like having arguments with other people. Even when he subdued the customers who made a problem in the inn, he almost never raised his voice. He was someone who lived quietly.

Then, what about himself now? He rose to the bin position because he was the Emperor's concubine, but at the same time, he was the concubine who was very loathed by the Emperor. All the people in the palace feared him or despised him, and even the young court ladies of Jeongan Palace saw him as a demon who liked to act violently and torture people around him.

Because of that, even for Hwawoon, who had made up his mind to adapt to this situation no matter what, the road in front of him was dark and suffocating—as if draining his spirit.

Only when Hwawoon's complexion darkened, Ahjin realized she had talked too excitedly before closing her lips—gasp,then she checked on her master. The fear of what if he suddenly shouted, 'you wench' surged up like a tidal wave. Nevertheless, Hwawoon only let out a deep breath, then spoke quietly.

"First… it seems like I have to start with things I can do now. Is there perhaps any kids in Jeongan Palace who got hurt or sick because of me?"

"… Pardon?"

"No. It doesn't have to be caused by me… I want you to check for the kids who had through a hard time because I couldn't take care of them properly, then report it to me."

"…… Pardon?"

Once again, Ahjin infringed her rule and asked back twice. Although she clearly heard the words 'taking care of the kids' from her master who never blinked his eyes even when he saw a lot of people in the palace were getting carried out while soaked in blood, Ahjin couldn't properly understand the meaning of that.

"First… right, let's start from that."

Hwawoon felt like his head was going to crack just by hearing the story. He shook his head, then gestured with his hand to tell Ahjin it was fine for her to leave.

After all, there was not much for Hwawoon to do now. Especially, because his relationship with the Emperor wasn't something that could be easily recovered no matter what he tried, he made a determination to hide from the emperor's eyes just like a dead person.

Right at that time, instead of leaving the room, Ahjin turned back and asked Hwawoon with a face full of suspicion.

"Your Highness… you don't plan to kill all those kids, right?"

Hwawoon wanted to faint once more.

!Report Chapter

Have you completed my order?"

As soon as he returned to the Great Hall, Yihan asked Eunuch Oh, who was following behind him. The things ordered by the emperor would surely be not only one or two, but the eunuch, who had been serving Yihan the closest since he became the emperor, immediately realized what answer the emperor wanted. He bent his waist before answering.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I consoled the dead guard's friend who came to collect his body by giving him the funeral expenses. Even the one who died would surely be touched by your unlimited grace, Your Majesty."

"Unlimited grace? You're exaggerating…."

Ignoring the words said by Eunuch Oh, Yihan smacked his lips at the bitter taste. This incident somewhat didn't get erased easily from his heart— stayed like sands inside his mouth and bothered his heart.

Actually, it was not strange for the guard guarding the palace to die from saving the palace's master. On top of that, the one who died from saving Yeon-bin was a lowly person—orphan and commoner who wouldn't dare to dream of guard position. If such a person died from saving a more precious higher-person, there was no doubt that everyone would think his death was right. Because that was how the world worked.

However, Yihan kept being reminded of that incident. He was the one who gave special treatment to the one who couldn't enter the palace and made him enter it.

If he just left him be, perhaps that man could live longer, although he would live harder. Then he would meet a good person from the same status as him, and despite couldn't having a grand ceremony, they would be together, living happily. They would have children who looked just like the couple, and although they were living in poverty, they would live happily for a long time.

However, such a person entered the palace and died an untimely death.

"Seriously, nothing worked well…."

As he thought that far, his face distorted when he suddenly got reminded of Yeon-bin greeting him with a despicable yet pale face. Although he didn't hear the reason he fell into the pond, it was obvious. He must be trying to lure the emperor, using falling to the pond as an excuse, since the emperor hadn't visited his residence recently. Because Yeon-bin's intentions were always like that.

But since someone who shouldn't have died, had died from such a mere reason and from saving such a person, Yihan couldn't accept this incident for granted.

"Let the Gyeongsa-bang* know. They don't need to put up Yeon-bin's name plate until I mention it."

"… Yes, Your Majesty."

The predicted order had been given. Taking the nameplate out meant that he wouldn't visit Yeon-bin's bedroom, and that might be a punishment which Yeon-bin found to be most dreadful. Eunuch Oh only bowed and answered short—didn't say anything else.

It seemed like a big uproar would happen once again in the Jeongan Palace.

"Haah.…"

Ahjin felt like disappearing to the ground right away if she could. As the sun went down and the candle lightened up, her master's bedroom, which was glimmering under the candlelight, looked scary as if it were hell.

She was so scared of the things that would happen that she even had a grudge against her mother whose face she couldn't remember since she died a long time ago—'Mother, why did you give birth to me as a slave of the Yeon family out of all family?'

Around this time, it was always Ahjin's duty to find out which palace the emperor was going to. Ahjin found this task to be more horrible than the other tasks. It was because Ahjin had to accept all of Yeonbin's wrath on the day when the emperor overturned the other concubine's nameplate.

Since the days the emperor visiting the other residences other than Jeongan Palace were more frequent, the hardships that Ahjin had experienced all this time were a record that couldn't be written down without tears.

Moreover, the situation was even worse today. Not only the emperor overturned another concubine's nameplate, he also ordered to take out Yeon-bin's nameplate.

Ahjin's shoulders shuddered as she stood before Jeongan Palace's bedroom. She could not dare to go inside and announce the news.

Of course, there had been many changes in her master in these last few days. Whether it was because he lost his memory or because he had a near-death experience that changed his mind, he acted as if he had become a different person—right, he really acted as if he had become a completely different person. He didn't swear or lash at the court ladies for nothing, and he even took the kids that he had been harassing to get treatment and care for them.

"Didn't I come back from death? It won't be easy for you to adapt right away, but I hope you know that my heart is not the same as before."

Ajin carefully thought over what her master had said. Surely, so far, he had been acting in accordance with what he said.

But still, Ahjin couldn't believe Yeon-bin. Was it only once or twice that she had a hard time while serving him? Her suffering time was so arduous that it was hard for her to quickly think that he had changed with only those few words and actions. So far, it had been going well, but when he heard that his nameplate had been taken out for an unknown period, there would be no doubt that something would fly before her eyes.

"Your Highness, this is Ahjin."

Gyeongsa-bang: An office in charge of managing the emperor's women affairs.

!Report Chapter

Ahjin entered the room while curling up herself—as if she was dragged to the King of Hell.

Hwawoon was in front of the dresser at that time, deep in thought. In Ahjin's eyes, that appearance of his was just like waiting for the emperor, and that made her heart sink even more. First of all, Ahjin kneeled.

"Your Highness…."

"Ahjin? Why are you kneeling? Come on, get up."

Only then did Hwawoon, who suddenly came to his senses, spoke in surprise, but Ahjin kept bowing her head before continuing.

"Your Highness… I was on my way back from meeting the eunuch from the Gyeongsa-bang…"

"Gyeongsa-bang?"

As Hwawoon's voice clearly filled with tension in an instant, Ahjin closed her eyes tight while thinking,I knew it!

Since it came like this, Ahjin continued her words without hesitating.

"His Majesty said… he is worrying about Your Highness' body, so for a while… he said not to show your nameplate…"

Ahjin lowered her head even more as she finished her words. Soon, something would fly, whether it would be an item or insult. Moreover, if she raised her head straight, and met Hwawoon's eyes, no doubt his tantrum would get fiercer.

Nevertheless, she wondered if it would be less painful since his memories hadn't completely come back. When Ahjin was thinking that nonsense, Hwawoon's voice was heard above her lowered head.

"How come that is because he is worrying about my body?"

"….?"

"I'm sure that he is blaming me, since an innocent guard lost his life because I behaved badly…"

"Yo-Your Highness! Why did you say something like that? You didn't even do that on purpose…!"

Ahjin instinctively spoke up for Hwawoon, so she could stay alive, but Hwawoon only shook his head with a calm face.

"I don't think His Majesty thinks so."

In fact, Hwawoon's thought wasn't different from the emperor's. He couldn't really know what he had thought before he fell to the pond since back then it wasn't his body, but looking at the emperor's gaze and treatment to him, he thought perhaps the emperor thought Yeon-bin fell into the pond to lure his attention. It was also hard for Hwawoon to assume that he didn't fall to the pond with that thought.

Flustered since unlike her expectation, there was no anger, sadness, and regret in Hwawoon's voice, Ahjin finally raised up her head. As if he was lost in thought, Hwawoon's face looked relieved—exceeding calm, and she couldn't understand anything anymore.

"Ahjin."

While Ahjin was only blinking her eyes, staring vacantly, since she couldn't understand what happened to her master, Hwawoon called her once again. To the voice that was still friendly and gentle, Ahjin answered,'yes…'—forgetting that she had to lower her head back.

"Are you that afraid because you thought I would be angry upon hearing that and vent to you?"

"N-no, Your Highness! Afraid? I am not, Your Highness…."

"Aren't you trembling like you're about to faint now?"

"Tha-that's, Your Highness… This isn't like that…."

What if this is only a simple whim? Or an act?Ahjin thought her master wouldn't differ from a demon from hell, if this was only a trick to fathom her heart.

Ahjin was someone who had been closely serving Hwawoon for a long time, the one who had encountered his true nature closer than anyone else. More than anyone else, she could see through Hwawoon's plans and acts—reflecting on himself and pretending to have changed—so he would look good to the emperor.

But if he could make such Ahjin to get this confused; if he was like a different person to the point of making her wonder if he really had changed and could let out such a soft and kind voice; if her master was really able to hide himself that skillfully;

Then Yeon-bin was a terrifying person who couldn't be comparable to what Ahjin had thought of him before. Now Ahjin even wondered whether she should hope for her master to come back to be a predictable evil-person, just like the past.

"That's right. How can you believe a person has changed at once? I understand you."

"Your Highness…."

"Time will solve it gradually, right? Since His Majesty won't come for the time being, let's get everyone to rest earlier today."

!Report Chapter

Ahjin stood up while feeling a minor relief, along with a far greater fear. Then, she began to take off the ornaments decorating Hwawoon's hair one by one. After sighing once, as if he had been nervous for a long time, Hwawoon said.

"By the way, Ahjin. Could you gather everyone who work in the Jeongan Palace in the yard tomorrow morning?"

"Everyone?"

When Ahjin asked back, Hwawoon looked at his appearance in the hand mirror, which he still found to be awkward, before answering.

"Yes. Please gather everyone without exception—from the young court ladies to the eunuchs on probation."

Today, she only decorated him in bare minimum following Hwawoon's order, but at a glance, the ornaments owned by Hwawoon were not the usual fancy ornaments.

For Hawoon, who was born as a man and only tied his hair with a string of cloth all his life, nothing was easy. When he recalled the time when he had to sit upright and stay still, accepting women putting binyeo and other sharp things in his head was overwhelmingly frustrating, and Hwawoon tried hard to get rid of useless thoughts.

Anyway, what Hwawoon was most worried about was facing the emperor, and fortunately, it didn't seem like he would be looking for him for a while. For now, it was necessary to solve the problem of Jeongan Palace, which he was facing right away.

Hwawoon, who was having that thought, soon talked to Ahjin, who was looking at him with an uneasy face as soon as their eyes met through the hand mirror.

"I have no slight intention to hit anyone, so don't worry."

Seeing Ahjin's face burning red with surprise after his words, Hwawoon shook his head. It seemed like he had a long way to go.

Laying alone in a big bed that was still spacious even if two people laid on it, Hwawoon stared quietly at the high ceiling. Why the ceiling was made that high when even a human's height couldn't even reach its half, or why did that high ceiling was decorated fancily when it was hard to look at it—Hwawoon couldn't know the reason for that. He only wondered if that was an important thing for the higher people.

As his surroundings sank into the stillness of the night, his thoughts deepened. When he was awake, he was so busy dealing with the unexpected situations that he couldn't afford to think more, but now that he was alone, he clearly remembered back what situation he was in.

He took out his hand, which was gently tucked into the blanket. The texture of the quilt on the tip of his hand was so soft beyond description. Not to mention the straw-like sheet of blanket which he wore to spend his whole season outside, even the blanket in the barracks where the other low guards like Hawoon which had made his eyes reddened with emotion, can't even be compared to the blanket covering him now.

He wondered if he should be happy with this. Should he be happy with this since if he took another look at this situation, this was kind of a one-day luck thing?

Although his original body had died, he had nothing to regret in his life. For Hawoon, he had no relatives, let alone parents, and he had no one to interact with except the owner of the inn who hired him. Even the teacher who cared for Hawoon was in a faraway place, so he couldn't exchange even for a few letters recently. Moreover, even if people outside heard about his death, there was no one to pray for his repose.

When he started his life in the palace, he got close to some of the guards who took the same test as he did, but he didn't spend much time with them. Even if they might be sad for a moment when they heard that he was dead, it was no doubt that there would be no one who would remember him for a long time, missing him and be sad.

Hence, the people who knew about his situation would surely say that it was a good thing. Although his reputation wasn't good, and he was despised by the Emperor, he was a proud concubine of this nation and his father was a meritorious and loyal servant of the Emperor, which no one dared to compare.

No matter how hard ones struggled and made a big achievement on the battlefield, it would be impossible for them to rise to a great status as what Hawoon had achieved now.

"Yeah, when would I ever have this kind of luxury?"

Hwawoon murmured as if he were persuading himself, and closed his eyes—ignoring his bitter heart.

Through his darkened vision, he was reminded of the emperor's face which he saw for the first time on the street that day. Even though it wasn't just for himself, the gaze of the emperor looking at his people was as warm and benevolent as if he was looking at his precious child.

As he sighed and turned to his side, this time he remembered the face of the emperor standing in front of himself. With a cold face which was hard to find the warmth from that day, the emperor did not even try to hide his contemptuous voice.

"Good. This is a good thing."

He pretended not to know his saddening heart, muttering such words several times as if he were casting a spell on himself, and Hwawoon went to sleep.

He thought that it would be nice if he dreamed about the dream from that day tonight.

!Report Chapter

So, how much fuss did he make last night?"

After the morning assembly at the Chonggeon Hall, Yihan returned to his own palace, the Anjeong Palace, without going to the other concubines' residence. He asked out of nowhere while drinking a sip of tea brewed by Eunuch Oh.

"By fuss, do you mean-"

"Why are you asking? Of course, I'm talking about Jeongan Palace. Is there any other place in this imperial palace where chaos will happen other than there?"

As if thinking about it only gave him a headache, Yihan frowned over the tea that was not even bitter. Since he had taken out his nameplate on top of not visiting him, surely the chaos wouldn't have stopped in the Jeongan Palace last night—considering the personality of that great Yeon Hwawoon.

He didn't want to pay much attention to Yeon Hwawoon's wickedness because it didn't happen only once or twice, but if Hwawoon couldn't bear it and caused a disturbance even though he was ordered to reflect over the guard's death, Yihan wouldn't stay still any longer.

"That's… last night, Jeongan Palace was very quiet without much going on."

"What?"

However, the answer given by Eunuch Oh was completely different from what Yihan expected. As the emperor opened his eyes wide, asking back as if he had heard a sound that didn't make sense at all, the eunuch bowed further and continued to talk.

"It is said that Jeongan Palace was closed early last night and nothing happened, but-"

"Impossible!"

Yihan was so surprised that he forgot about his dignity and raised his voice even before the eunuch finished his words. Even if Hwawoon yielded, did not beat up innocent court ladies because he was wary of the emperor's wits, his personality would have definitely made a fuss—throwing ornaments, glass jars while crying and bawling about bringing in His Majesty because he would kill himself right now.

Yihan was about to ask the eunuch to repeat his report because he couldn't believe it, but just a moment ago, the eunuch tried to continue his words with 'but-'.

In front of the emperor, who was wearing an—I knew it—expression, the Eunuch continued,

"Yeon-bin ordered all the courtiers of Jeongan Palace to gather this morning…"

"All of them? Did he gather all the court ladies and hit them one by one?"

"That's not it, His Highness Yeon-bin…"

As if he was trying to say a very big news, the eunuch hesitated—couldn't bring himself to dare say the news.

When Yihan just swallowed his dry saliva, wondering if his personality had gotten worse after he came back from death, the eunuch continued his words.

"Yeon-bin said, 'I have been so mean and cruel to all of you…"

"…… What?"

"… I don't remember everything I did in the past, but I am very distressed to hear about what I've been doing as a master…"

"… What?"

"Such a thing will never happen in the future…' He said this is hard to believe, but he promised he really will never do that… anymore…"

Once again, Yihan had no choice but to shout out, which wasn't fit for the emperor's dignity.

"Impossible!"

"Unnie! Ahjin Unnie!"

One of the court ladies that was gathering in a corner and whispering loudly called Ahjin, who seemed like she was out of her mind. She had just come out after taking care of Yeon-bin's meal.

As she approached them, since that call made her come to her senses, the mouths gathered around her began to chatter loudly.

"Unnie, Unnie. Why is His Highness acting like that?"

"Is he trying to scold us harshly by testing us again?"

"Is there anything you know about this?"

All the things they say to Ahjin were about their masters, His Highness Yeon-bin, whose attitudes had suddenly changed so much.

Because of the thing Yeon-bin said after gathering all the court ladies this morning, their mealtime was thoroughly noisy. Such a thing surely bound to happen. All this time, their masters were someone who treated the court ladies harshly every day.

Why was there no senior eunuch but only eunuchs in training in Jeongan Palace? Except for Ahjin, why were there only young court ladies in Jeongan Palace, unlike the other palaces?

The reason there was no senior eunuch was the emperor's order. The senior eunuch of Jeongan Palace had changed several times since Yeon-bin became the palace's owner. Whenever there was a new senior eunuch, Yeon-bin always kicked them out, saying that they were not working properly.

Those things were a move to make the emperor to visit Jeongan Palace. Alas, the emperor, being angry with that, gave an order by saying—looking that you keep kicking out the senior eunuchs, it seems like Jeongan Palace didn't need them, so live without them.

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The situations of the court ladies weren't that different, either. Because Yeon-bin's wickedness was so severe, the experienced court ladies that attended him always had it bad, and they were kicked to other places. As he gained wide notoriety, the other experienced court ladies always begged the Department of Internal Affairs to not send them to Jeongan Palace.

As a result, the court ladies sent to Jeongan Palace naturally were the young court ladies who had no experience yet or could not make a request.

But Yeon-bin, their masters, who didn't even care when the situation had become like this and kept venting his anger at his subordinates following his mood, suddenly gathered them today and said, 'I am very bothered by the fact that I've been treating you badly.' He even promised that such a thing wouldn't happen in the future.

Of course, the courtiers did not fully believe those words, and they had no choice but to doubt the hidden intentions behind those.

Ahjin, who was facing the fiercely burning eyes as though telling her to say everything she knew right away, sighed and said.

"That… I also don't know…."

"What do you mean you don't know?! His Highness tends to tell you everything, right?"

"That's right. At least you know His Highness the best, so don't you feel anything else?"

Now, the other court ladies pestered Ahjin, as if they were trying to eat her. Usually, they were children who listened to Ahjin well, but perhaps because they were afraid, wondering how Yeon-bin would torture them all this morning, they couldn't care less.

Annoyed, Ahjin shouted out.

"I said I really don't know either! Do you guys know that His Highness apologized to me last time?"

Screeches, surprised voices, were heard after Ahjin's question. It was a natural reaction, since Ahjin who heard that herself still couldn't believe it. Ahjin then continued,

"He said he lost his memory, and his thoughts have changed since he came back from death. How can I believe that?"

"That's what I'm saying!"

"Yeah, tell me about it!"

Listening to the voices of the girls, Ahjin closed her mouth for a moment and looked at her master's bedroom. Right this morning, Ahjin went through so many unbelievable things in that bedroom.

Yeon-bin wasn't a morning person, so waking him up was not an ordinary trouble. When Yeon-bin was forced to wake up, which led to his mood going bad, he was five times more difficult to handle than usual. The indignity that Ahjin had to face from being insulted by her master in that condition to the struggle to make him do the morning greeting was surely beyond imagination.

But how was it this morning? When Ahjin went to wake him up, her master surprised her because he was already up. He almost made Ahjin fainted by laughing and asking, 'did you sleep well?' when he saw her coming in. Ahjin now really lost at what to think about her master.

Ahjin barely managed to control her complicated feelings, heaved a sigh, and soon opened her mouth.

"Anyway, what can we do even if we know what His Highness has in mind? Just do your job as usual, and be extra careful not to get in his eyes."

In the end, Ahjin's words meant that Yeon-bin's words still couldn't be believed, so they should take care of themselves before they got scolded even more. The kids' faces turned sullen upon hearing that. They were worrying if their lives in Jeongan Palace, which were already hard enough, would get even harder.

Even Ahjin didn't have any confidence to comfort them. There was nothing else she could do except waving her hands and sending all the girls back to their works.

Ahjin, who was alone now, turned her head once again and looked at the room where Yeon-bin was sitting alone. A question that had disturbed Ahjin's head since last night crept up once again.

If what her master said was sincere, if he really was a different person after experiencing death, then, could she forget all the pain of the past and serve him sincerely?

Ahjin quickly shook her head. Those thoughts were premature and too far.

"Your Majesty, are you looking for something?"

Yihan turned his head around instead of climbing the kiln. When Eunuch Oh asked as he followed him to look around, Yihan asked with a slight frown on his forehead.

"Has Yeon-bin not come yet?"

Only then did Eunuch Oh notice the odd feeling that the emperor was feeling now.

Yeon-bin's nameplate was taken out. This might be like a bolt out of the blue for any concubine of the imperial palace, but no one will regard this as badly as Yeon-bin.

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If the emperor didn't visit his residence, he wouldn't hesitate to even put his life in line just to see the emperor. Yeon-bin's behavior and temperament were so terrible that it was hard to tolerate. However, such a thing led to a saying that there was no one in this palace who could rival his love for the emperor.

Of course, the emperor didn't think of it as love, but a horrific obsession and mental illness. Anyway, having his nameplate taken out did not differ from sky collapsing for Yeon-bin.

Therefore, the old Yeon-bin would never accept this. He would definitely visit the emperor with his hair loosened up and wearing white clothes, making the emperor fed up with him by kneeling, didn't eating and drinking until the emperor forgave him.

If the emperor felt like it, he could imitate Yeon-bin's crying voice, 'Your Majesty… I've done something bad…! Please forgive me…!'

That was why the emperor assumed. Because Yeon-bin might have held himself back yesterday, he clearly wouldn't today. There was no doubt he would burst into Anjeong Palace as soon as the sun rose and began his clever self-reflection play again.

"… Yes. He didn't come."

Said Eunuch Oh, feeling the same odd feeling like the emperor. Yihan once again looked at the quiet courtyard with his lips closed straight, and soon climbed up the kiln.

He remembered Yeon-bin's thin back, trembling pitifully in front of him. Back then he was angry that he didn't think about it, but looking back at it now, Yeon-bin had never bowed down in fear to him even once. Every time he remembered that back, he felt a strange emotion.

The original Yeon-bin was someone who had to say what he wanted even when he was facing death. Even when he wailed, apologizing, he wasn't the one who would seriously give in.

"Even so, how long will this be going on?"

Yihan muttered. The tricks done by Yeon-bin were always the same. Even if these few days he had been staying low, avoiding the emperor's wrath, Yihan knew Hwawoon too well.

In the end, he didn't change because he was wary of the emperor's wits, and a few days later-no-tomorrow, he couldn't win against his nature and started a fuss.

"That wicked person…"

Therefore, the emperor found his action this morning to gather the court ladies and promising, or whatever that was to be very detestable. While he made a hardened expression, the kiln he was sitting in passed through the road of the palace in this springtime.

"Your Highness, how about drinking the tea while reading that?"

Ahjin said in a worried voice, putting a cup of tea next to Yeon-bin, who had already been focusing on the book for hours.

She was already surprised enough—'book…?'—when Yeon-bin asked for a book he read in the past, but she was even more surprised with her master reading that book for real and didn't take his eyes off it.

The book Hwawoon was reading was a book about women's manners. A book which the emperor had ordered him to read in the past, a request for him to behave well as a concubine, but he never read it until now.

"Ah… thank you, Ahjin."

Ahjin was at a loss whether she should be more surprised with her master reading a book or sayingthanksto her while flashing a soft smile just a moment ago.

Whether Hwawoon knew of Ahjin's feeling or not, he took a sip of the prepared tea, then closed his eyes tightly before opening it back. He didn't realize it while he was concentrating, but once he turned his gaze, it seemed like it had been a long time since his eyes and neck stiffened.

Hwawoon originally liked to read popular novels. He wasn't really interested in love stories between men and women, but he really liked the stories of heroes adventuring and saving the world. For Hwawoon, who had nothing else to do except work and training, reading novels was his only hobby. So he wondered if he could spend the boring time by reading books here, but he was a bit flustered when Ahjin suddenly brought him a book about women's manners.

However, he thought understanding women's manners would be a help to him as he would live in Hwawoon's body and as the emperor's concubine, so he concentrated on reading it this whole time. Hwawoon vowed to read a lot of books to learn the laws and rules as a concubine for the time being.

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Did I usually often read books?"

Hwawoon asked, massaging his stiff neck after reading a book for a while. Then, Ahjin quickly came to his side and massaged his neck and shoulder before speaking.

"Erm. Often Your Highness… hm…"

This might be nothing for the old Hwawoon, but for the current Hwawoon, having a girl he met not a long ago touching his shoulders and neck was a very disturbing thing.

Nevertheless, this, too, was something he had to get used to. Remembering that the court ladies even helped him wash his face every morning, Hwawoon heaved a sigh. There were a lot of things he had to get adapted to.

Instead of being bothered with Ahjin's touch, Hwawoon decided to focus on her hesitated answer, then said,

"I can see that I'm not close with books from your reaction."

Hearing that, Ahjin flinched and quickly examined her master's face. The face of her master she was seeing was adorned with a light smile, there was no wrath or sign of him getting offended.

He is really beautiful.

At that moment, Ahjin stared down at her master's face and thought like that. When he was alone with her, he was always angry or annoyed that she forgot how beautiful his face was when he smiled gently.

With his eyes staring down softly, the smiling face of Yeon-bin as if he was making a friendly joke was as beautiful as a fairy in a picture.

Ahjin mocked herself right away. Compared to the long time she was bullied by Yeon-bin, she found herself to be ridiculous for feeling like this just because her master treated her nicely these few days.

Nevertheless, in these few days, her master altered so much that it was hard to take it as simply changing.

It wasn't only that he didn't get angry. It was as if he really became a different person. The gaze her master gave to her was so different from the past that led Ahjin to question if such a thing was possible if one tried.

It was possible for him to not get angry. Holding back his temper was also possible. It was also possible enough for him to hold the desire to beat others.

However, the change in his undertone when calling her name; the change in gaze when looking at her; were those really possible if one tried to do it? Were the higher people originally able to do such a thing? Ahjin was really confused by that.

Still, with his even more soft voice, Yeon-bin said,

"I feel like walking after staying inside this whole time… is it okay for me to take a stroll outside?"

Ahjin quickly shook off her thoughts before answering, while bowing down.

"Of course, Your Highness. Where do you want to go?"

"Erm… where is the place I usually take a stroll to?"

"The place you really like to visit for a stroll is Suhwawon. The most beautiful place in this palace. Would you like to go there, Your Highness?"

Ahjin looked like she was ready to get ready right away, but Hwawoon, quietly, muttered Suhwawon before asking back with a darkened expression as if something was bothering him.

"If it's Suhwawon… isn't that the place where His Majesty likes to visit?"

Hwawoon knew about Suhwawon. Suhwawon, which boasted the largest and the most spectacular garden in this imperial palace, was a place that the emperor frequently visited.

Ahjin answered Hwawoon's question with a higher voice.

"Yes, that's right. That's why Your Highness often goes there."

Alas, Hwawoon's face got even darker after hearing Ahjin's answer. If it was the old Yeon Hwawoon, he would definitely often go to Suhwawon only to meet the emperor, but for the current Hwawoon, the one he didn't want to meet the most in this palace was the emperor.

He found the emperor's scornful gaze to him to be hard to deal with, and the emperor also warned him to be careful with his behavior last time. However, the biggest problem was his heart would get hard to control if he saw the emperor.

If Hwawoon thought of the emperor, he remembered back Hawoon's life, where he fell for the emperor at that time which led him to enter the palace. He felt like the feelings he felt when he saw the benevolent and beautiful emperor that day surging up like a tsunami.

Then, he naturally thought of Hawoon's life, which was already over. When he thought that far, he couldn't help but think that he was lying in front of the emperor.

Hwawoon was afraid that when he saw the emperor, he would want to uncover his crime by telling him everything that had happened to him right away.

"His Majesty told me to behave, so I don't think it's good to visit Suhwawon…"

Somehow, when Hwawoon said so in a rather down voice, Ahjin felt her heart drop unknowingly and she hurriedly added.

"But Your Highness! At this time, His Majesty is busy with his work, and after that he will have lunch, so even if you go to Suhwawon now, you wouldn't meet His Majesty!"

"… Is that so?"

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After hearing Ahjin's words, Hwawoon stared at her with a bitter expression—despite agonizing over it. Ahjin was speechless when she saw his clear, kid-like eyes. Nevertheless, Hwawoon didn't know that and continued his thought.

The magnificent view of Suhwawon was widely known across the imperial palace for Hwawoon to know it, even when he was a guard. Therefore— truthfully— Hwawoon was curious about how beautiful the view of the garden that everyone was praising.

However, the more actual reason behind that; the real reason Hwawoon wanted to go to Suhwawon;

Although it was distressing for his heart if he had to meet the emperor, Hwawoon was only curious about the view that person liked. He wanted to see the trees and flowers seen and touched by that person. Even though now he couldn't get that person's gentle gaze anymore, he wanted to see with his own eyes the things he gazed at gently.

"Yes, Your Highness. Of course. That place is very beautiful. I'm sure you'll get more refreshed if you go there."

Said Ahjin while holding Hwawoon's arm. Hwawoon then raised his body, pretending that he couldn't win against Ahjin. He imagined the emperor smiling while looking at the beautiful flowers for a moment, but quickly dismissed it in case that was disrespectful of him. Instead, he prepared to go for the stroll.

After all, Hwawoon was sure that the gentle, yet beautiful face of the emperor was something that he wasn't allowed to see.

"I knew this would happen."

The emperor wasn't in a good mood today. This was due to the ministers that kept saying something he didn't like the whole morning assembly. Because of that, he lost his appetite for lunch and went to Suhwawon—ignoring Eunuch Oh, who told him to not skip his meal.

The scenery of Suhwawon, which combined water, flowers, trees, and all the greenery, was always enough to calm the emperor's heart. In particular, in the season like this spring, where the flowers were in full bloom. The emperor was planning to calm his disturbed mood there before going to the empress to have his late lunch.

However, the steadily calming mood of the emperor completely turned worse when he arrived at the small pond in his most beloved garden. The reason was,

"… Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor."

there was a face he didn't want to see the most at this time.

The emperor quietly glanced down at the face of the concubine that was kneeling in front of him.

Yeonbin, Yeon Hwawoon.

He bowed his head, acting hard to hide his flustered expression, as if he didn't know that the emperor would come here.

I knew it. There's no way Yeon Hwawoon would stay still.

Looking like he found this to make sense, the emperor kept staring at him without raising him up. He was wondering why he didn't come and make a fuss at Anjeong Palace, only to find he was preparing for this in Suhwawon.

"Does my order sound like a joke to you?"

When the emperor said that with a cold voice, Yeonbin bowed his head even more before saying,

"No, Your Majesty. How can I-"

"Then, you don't know that I don't want to see your face when I said to behave yourself?"

If he had to count what he hated from Yeonbin, a sleepless night wasn't enough to count it. Among those, he really hated this side of Yeonbin.

Yeonbin was a man with no sincerity left. Those who didn't know said that at least Yeonbin's love for the emperor was sincere, but the emperor never felt that so great love from Yeonbin.

Wasn't the thing called love meant that one had to be honest and sincere at least to their loved one even if they were lying to this whole world?

However, Yeonbin, despite saying that he did all of it because of his longing for the emperor, never did once he show that his heart was sincere. He always made up a coincidence like this, and cooked up the truth. He only did detestable things no matter what kind of it was just so he could be seen by the emperor.

Just like now. Just like how he pretended to coincidentally meet the emperor in this beloved pond, in this most beloved garden of the emperor. Thus, even if his surroundings said Yeonbin did that because of his overflowing love, the emperor couldn't see the said love of Yeonbin even for a bit.

Right at that time, Yeonbin, who was bowing his head to the point of completely hiding his face, answered with a subtly trembling voice.

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Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was planning to have a short walk because this is the time for you to have lunch after doing Imperial affairs, and-"

"Ah, so you're saying that you really never expected that you would meet me. And that's why you come to Suhwawon that I like to visit at any time and idling around the pond that I like the most, huh?"

The clear, sarcastic voice of the emperor led Yeonbin's shoulders to crook even smaller. The emperor hated that appearance as well. He felt more uncomfortable because the person, who had never pretended to be afraid of him despite having pretended other schemes, was trembling pitifully.

"Stop saying those dishonest words and go back. I don't want to see you anymore."

Despite saying that, the emperor actually thought that he wouldn't go back compliantly. He could easily predict Yeonbin's next move.

He was sure Yeonbin would furtively come to his side and say this cutely, 'Your Majesty, look at how vast this palace is and how long is the day. Don't you think the fact that we meet here at this time has a meaning behind that? So, please forgive me already, Your Majesty. Okay? Please.' All those while shamelessly sticking to his side.

While the emperor was determined not to let this go easily and to give him a lesson no matter how annoying it might be this time, Yeonbin slowly stood up and spoke to the emperor—just like what the emperor had expected.

"My apologies for making you annoyed, Your Majesty. From now on, I will not step out of Jeongan Palace even for a step until you bestow your forgiveness on me, so please calm your anger. Then, I will go now."

However, what Yeonbin said wasn't like what everyone there had expected. Even Eunuch Oh raised his head out of confusion and looked at Yeonbin. Those who knew Yeonbin—not only the court ladies attending Yeonbin but also those who were attending the emperor—were confused and held their breath.

Still, amongst them, Yihan was the one who was most taken aback.

Yihan couldn't understand any of Yeonbin's words properly, so he replayed it in his head. Alas, he still couldn't understand anything.

In the meantime, Yeonbin bowed his head deeply to give his greeting and walked back. That action of his was so neat, without any hesitation. It was to the point to make those who didn't know to wonder if he was running away because he didn't want to see the emperor.

Silence filled in the air where Yeonbin furtively disappeared from. A long moment later, Yihan, being speechless, asked,

"Did… did he just leave me…?"

Eunuch Oh only bowed to the emperor because he was at a loss whether he should have answered that or not. Therefore, the emperor repeated his question sternly.

"Did he… just leave me be and walk out on his own?"

Yeonbin left the emperor of his own free will. This was something that had never happened across the history of this nation.

"Haah…"

Hwawoon, who was leaving the garden in a hurry, finally halted his steps when he couldn't see the emperor anymore and took a deep breath. He felt like his heart was about to jump out.

Ahjin quickly came, asking, "Your Highness, are you okay?"

Yeonbin then held her arm to straighten up his pose before looking at the sky and calming down his ragged breath.

It was his fault to be relaxed because the emperor usually did his work after morning assembly, and then went to the empress or other concubines' residence for lunch. He thought he shouldn't have dawdled there just because the emperor would have his lunch while he took a stroll. Regret adorned Yeonbin's face.

It was the same with how he came closer to that pond. He should have acted wisely and avoided that place when Ahjin told him it was a pond adored by the emperor and Yeonbin often visited it in the past. No matter how curious he was about how graceful and beautiful the beloved pond of the emperor was, he shouldn't have walked there.

Wait, even if I went there because of that reason, it would be fine if I just look at it for a moment then go out. I should have done that.

The reason he couldn't leave easily was that he got his gaze caught by the simple yet small pond, which was different from his expectation to be very extravagant. There were many larger and fancier ponds in the gardens of the imperial palace. Looking at how the emperor liked this small pond, he was reminded of the emperor's nature.

In Hwawoon's eyes, the appearance of the supreme emperor personally taking care of his subjects—even those in the lowest place, ruling over the nation as the father of its people, looked like this small pond in this extravagant garden.

Somehow, this led Hwawoon's heart to like that pond and made him keep staying—a bit more, just a bit more—dawdling there, which resulted in this kind of situation.

"Your Highness… is it really fine for us to go back like this…?"

Ahjin asked after coming closer to Hwawoon, who was calming his breath.

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Truthfully, this was something that even Ahjin couldn't understand. Of course, Ahjin herself wasn't sure if this was really a coincidence, but anyway, it was a big fortune that Hwawoon enjoyed the pond and met the emperor.

However, she was very confused with her master, who obediently left when in the past he would cling onto His Majesty's sleeve and act pitifully.

On top of that, in this situation where he got even harder to meet the emperor because his nameplate was taken out, he even promised to never step out of Jeongan Palace until he was permitted to.

Ahjin really couldn't fathom what was in her master's head.

"What is it for me to not be okay about? I rather feel sorry for messing up his mood…"

Hwawoon replied calmly as he calmed down his raging breath and his flipping heart. Even after hearing mockery-like words from the emperor, Ahjin's master looked like he didn't care at all.

While Ahjin hesitated whether to comfort Hwawoon or just pretend nothing happened, Hwawoon, who was slowly heading to the palanquin that was left in some steps away, suddenly said,

"Ahjin."

"… Yes, Your Highness."

"Don't you think your master is very incredible?"

"……?"

"Look at how he alone is hated this much by His Majesty who is a wise king…"

Hwawoon had heard about how nice a person the current emperor was to his wife and concubines. He respected the empress and treated his concubines kindly and fairly. If not, then how could the servants of the palace talk that the current empress and concubines were enjoying a luxury that only ever appeared once in history?

However, Yeonbin was the only one who got the emperor's cold shoulder despite having his father as his backer.

Hwawoon tried to guess what had he done all this time in front of the emperor for their relationship to go stray this far, but soon stopped it. There was nothing that could be fixed, and Hwawoon himself had no power to fix this.

Ahjin bit her lips as she heard his very soft tone. Somehow, under that calm face, she felt like she saw the hurt expression.

It had been more than one or two years that her master had been ignored and harassed by the emperor, but Ahjin couldn't know the reason for her heart to feel uncomfortable for what happened today.

This was different from the uneasiness she usually felt when she alone would have to endure her master's rage because the emperor treated him poorly.

"Let's get back."

Hwawoon said that while walking with a straight face. Meanwhile, Ahjin still couldn't believe her master yet couldn't say anything more.

"He left me behind and went back…?"

"Your Majesty?"

The empress carefully called out for the emperor after pouring tea into the cup. She wondered what Yihan was thinking about for him to say that out of nowhere when he had been silent all this time.

Yihan fake coughed twice, realizing that he had been thinking of nonsense again. He shook his head before taking a sip of the tea prepared by the empress.

"Your Majesty, you haven't looked good since earlier. Did perhaps anything bad happen to you?"

Seriously, since the emperor entered the empress' palace for lunch, his expression wasn't good, which led the empress to worry even more than usual. The emperor only shook his head to the empress' question.

"No. Nothing… nothing happened, so you don't need to worry."

However, unlike his answer, the emperor was deep in his thoughts again after giving his answer.

It was because of Yeonbin's appearance, that was saying he would be careful to not show up in front of him with his own mouth and stepping back to leave him, kept showing up before his eyes.

All this time, Yeonbin was always troubling him by clinging to him even when he told him to step back. That was why the emperor kept being uneasy because he couldn't understand Yeonbin, who stepped back first and even promised that he would not stand out before him.

Of course, if this was as simple as that, the emperor could have easily disregarded it as a lousy act. But what really lingered in the emperor's mind was Yeonbin's face and the atmosphere he exuded. It couldn't be explained in words, but Yeonbin that he encountered in the garden today was,

Yeah. It felt like I ran into someone else.

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It didn't mean that his face had changed. He certainly had the same face as Yeonbin that Yihan had known before. But strangely enough, as he looked back on Yeonbin he met today, it felt like he became a different person.

His eyes shone like a quiet lake, his calm expression even after seeing the emperor, and his neat and clean voice. Nothing was the same as Yeonbin that Yihan knew before.

As he took a breath, he remembered Yeonbin kneeling down and cowering before him.

He had always been skinny, but perhaps because of his behavior, no one ever thought of him as fragile or even pitiful.

However, there was fragility emanating from the appearance of Yeonbin today. He had never felt it before, so subtle discomfort beyond absurdity continued to crawl around Yihan's mind like a grain of sand.

At the same time, the empress, who recognized that the emperor was still unable to concentrate on their time together, quietly bowed her head and spoke in a soft voice.

"You look very tired, Your Majesty. How about taking a short nap here?"

It was not until he heard that voice did the emperor realize that he was again immersed in the thought of that fellow Yeonbin.

After all, it was obvious that Yeonbin—being like his usual self—did all sorts of tricks to meet him in Suhwawon and bring him to his residence. However, he couldn't know why he ignored this fact and kept thinking of Yeonbin's previous appearance.

Yihan turned his head for a moment and looked somewhere beyond the window, where the spring breeze was blowing. He thought that the reason he kept thinking about Yeonbin that he encountered earlier was that he was getting caught in that hateful person's scheme.

How dare he think I'll fall for that shallow trick.

The emperor sneered at Yeonbin inside his mind before raising up his body.

The emperor said alright, and the empress smiled softly. Yihan thought that face was much better to see than that despicable Yeonbin's sad expression.

"Your Highness, are you okay?"

"Huh?"

"Your complexion looks pale…"

Hwawoon was collecting his breath while leaning in the chair because he felt powerless. He only realized that his body was not in a good condition after Ahjin asked if he was okay.

Lifting his hand, he saw the tip of his slender fingers tremble. Hwawoon found it to be amusing that he kept quietly looking at his hand.

In the past, Hawoon had a quite healthy body. Even if he grew up starving—only eating once a day—he hardly got sick, and he grew tall enough to be comparable to others. The teacher he met later said that even if he was not big in size, he was born with talents and was perfect for learning martial arts.

As though his teacher was telling the truth, Hawoon had never caught a cold after learning martial arts. In addition, as he grew up, never did once he felt he was not feeling well.

Looking at how he kept catching his breath when he didn't even run, Hwawoon asked Ahjin.

"Ahjin, am I… originally have a weak body?"

"Yes, Your Highness. You were born weak, and you've had a lot of minor illnesses since you were young. Your lungs are not good, so you have to take medicine regularly."

"Ah…"

Only then did Hwawoon recall the past few days when he had to swallow down the medicine given by the palace physician. Hwawoon thought it was only because he fell into the pond, but it seemed like there was a medicine he usually had to take as well.

Hwawoon rolled up his sleeve and looked down at his slender wrist that couldn't even fill a fistful. He couldn't understand if his body was weak because he was so skinny, or if he was this skinny because he was born weak, but Hwawoon's body was so thin and skinny to be called a man's body.

Even though Hawoon was quite slender for a man, he had never been this skinny except for the days when he lived starving every day when he was very young. He suddenly thought that maybe the reason for Yeonbin to have a nasty temperament was that he had been sick since he was a little. Of course, even so, that couldn't be an excuse for him to harass others.

While looking down at his wrist, Hwawoon wondered if his health would improve a bit if he gained some weight. However, he soon shook his head. The reason was a man's body was far different from a woman's, and if he put on weight and muscle, he thought it would be bad for His Majesty to see.

"…."

Surprised by what he just thought of, Hwawoon suddenly closed his mouth. It was said that humans were bound to adapt to any situation, but he thought he was being ridiculous for acting like a real concubine when it hadn't been long since he lived as Yeon Hwawoon.

In the meantime, as if she had been worrying about her master who had been silently watching his wrist, Ahjin approached and massaged Hwawoon's wrist gently and said,

"Your Highness, is your wrist hurt?"

Hwawoon quickly pulled back his wrist because he still felt unfamiliar with Ahjin's touch before shaking his head as he sighed. Still, since he had sat down for a while and collected his breath, he felt his suffocated chest felt even better.

"No. It's just… I was so surprised that I was out of breath."

"Understood, Your Highness. Then I will prepare your lunch. You will feel better after having lunch and drinking your medicine."

When Ahjin was away for a while, Hwawoon was lost in thought again. Since Hwawoon had nothing else to do here at Jeongan Palace, he had a lot of time to think these days.

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