By Zephyria 
Who is Seo-joo? Min-hyeok wanted to hear what Hae-joo would say next, but Hae-joo, who had been mumbling something, fell fast asleep.
Min-hyeok’s eyes shifted as he sank deep into thought. He didn’t know who Seo-joo was or why Hae-joo was asking him to find this person. The more he learned about Hae-joo, the more things remained a mystery.
The closer he got to him, the more questions arose. He remembered being close to Hae-joo until the year he turned fifteen, but after that, they had drifted apart rapidly. He recalled that his personality had changed significantly around that time as well.
Even at a young age, Hae-joo had been prone to jealousy and a strong desire for possession. Because of that, the first three years after their marriage had been incredibly difficult as Min-hyeok tried to accommodate the Grand Imperial Concubine’s temperament. He had been sharp and sensitive; his temper was no joke.
Then, at some point, he suddenly shut himself away in his Imperial Pavilion, stopped meeting people, and began living quietly. He had heard that it wasn’t entirely unusual for personalities to shift during the height of puberty, so it wasn’t a completely strange occurrence.
The Palace Lord, whose personality had changed so much, became easy to handle since he didn’t require much attention. Above all, Min-hyeok loved that he no longer had to cater to his whims. In the past, a fuss would have been made if they didn’t meet at least once a day, but that tendency had vanished completely.
Instead, Hae-joo found Min-hyeok’s visits bothersome, disliked talking, and simply stayed quietly in his room. Far from building a power base, he didn’t even meet his own family, so there was nothing to be wary of. All he did was occasionally go outside to people-watch or buy snacks.
Min-hyeok thought they had grown a bit closer lately. Seeing Hae-joo up close again, he noticed that the man had become more fearful and tearful in the meantime, and any trace of aggression was nowhere to be found.
Rather than defending himself when attacked, he would shed tears first, which only made Min-hyeok feel uneasy. Even at the last gathering, Hae-joo had just sat there blankly, watching people talk without including him, doing absolutely nothing. It had been incredibly distracting.
He couldn’t even cut into people’s conversations, nor did he seem to have the intention to; all he did was stutter and cry under the Queen Dowager’s attacks. He was the kind of person who felt grateful to a young cousin who spoke to him first.
It was already pitiful enough to see Hae-joo sitting there blankly watching everyone, but when he finally shed tears under the Queen Dowager’s one-sided assault, Min-hyeok couldn’t leave him be any longer and took him away.
To make matters worse, after smelling his pheromones, a strange sense of possessiveness had emerged. The thought of another Alpha seeing him cry made Min-hyeok’s blood boil. The more he knew him, the more Hae-joo occupied his mind, and the more he learned, the more unknown sides he discovered.
He wanted to know the cause of this strange discomfort. Would finding this person named Seo-joo provide the answer? The fundamental cause of why Hae-joo made him feel this way…
Min-hyeok ruffled his hair and bit his lip. Meanwhile, the scent of Hae-joo filling the room was maddeningly pleasant. He wondered what on earth this feeling was, especially while looking at a sick man.
“I’ve had a headache lately wondering what to do with you. Once I make you my ally, what comes after? Should I finish things with the Prime Minister as planned? Or should I keep you by my side? It would probably be best to find a way for you and the Brigadier to live regardless of the Prime Minister.”
That was the best method. Making him an ally to help take down the Prime Minister was the most efficient way. However, other feelings kept surfacing, even though he knew perfectly well that doing so would derail the plan.
“Lately, I’ve just felt a sense of responsibility, and I want to take you with me. But Grand Imperial Concubine… my Empress has already been decided. I’m sorry, but it isn’t you. I’m truly confused as to why I’m agonizing over this, knowing that.”
Once the Prime Minister was dealt with, the high-ranking officials would not want his bloodline occupying a concubine’s position. Naturally, he would have to be made a stripped commoner and expelled from the palace. That had been the obvious plan.
But lately, his heart was wavering. He didn’t want to do that. Although the Prime Minister seemed quiet recently, the information leaking secretly beneath the surface was different. As expected, he couldn’t have just stayed still.
So, Min-hyeok knew it was time to move slowly. This was an opportunity he had waited for since losing his father, yet the Grand Imperial Concubine felt like a thorn stuck in his throat. He wondered if he could truly remove the thorn.
∗ ∗ ∗
My fever had dropped significantly, and I was in a state of great excitement spending time with my brother, whom I hadn’t seen in a long while. As I had heard in passing, Joo Min-hyeok had stationed my brother in a unit near Seoul. My brother looked radiant, relieved that he didn’t have to return home and having reduced the debts he owed to the military.
In truth, this was how it should have been. He expressed his ambition to do his best, saying he felt sorry for joining the unit so late. He was currently in the middle of reminding me for the umpteenth time to call him if anything happened, since he could call frequently now.
Living in a unit cut off from the world like this, there would be no solicitations through our grandfather and no bribes to receive. Then my brother could live comfortably without having to do work that didn’t suit his personality.
I was so glad things were flowing in the direction I hoped for. The reality here was already moving in a completely different direction from the novel I had read. In the novel, this was the time when the Grand Imperial Concubine, backed by his grandfather, would get a hold of Joo Min-hyeok and manipulate him.
A situation where he would seduce him every day wanting to have a baby, but repeatedly fail to get pregnant. Thus, talk of other concubines would arise, and he would do all sorts of things, such as harming concubine candidates outside with his brother’s help.
However, Joo Min-hyeok and I were currently maintaining a moderate distance from each other. A relationship that was moderately uncomfortable yet moderately pleasant—the kind where one wouldn’t feel lingering regret upon leaving. I planned to maintain this tension and remain on good terms until the end.
“Brother, how much ambition do you have as a soldier? I mean, how many stars do you want to earn, and how famous do you want to be?”
“Ambition? As a soldier? I don’t have a shred of such thoughts. I’ll do whatever it takes as long as I can be helpful to the country and make sure you can live comfortably.”
“Then… you’re saying you hate people like Grandfather? For sure?”
“You ask the obvious, User. I’ve lived my whole life cursing that sight; it’s a path I wouldn’t want to take no matter what.”
Seeing my brother shudder with a smile, I felt certain. Okay! Now that I’ve confirmed it, that’s enough. In the novel, before I died, my brother became incredibly arrogant, piling up wealth gained through solicitations like a mountain and mocking Joo Min-hyeok.
Claiming that the people trusted him more than Min-hyeok. A man who had been so upright had learned everything from the grandfather he hated so much, becoming a spitting image of him. And eventually, he was executed.
My brother died first, and then I died, right? The Grand Imperial Concubine fell for the Movie Palace’s scheme, was sentenced to death, and took his own life before the execution. Hearing my brother’s conviction, I felt relieved for now, thinking he wouldn’t end up like that.
“Brother, then do you want to live in the countryside with me later? In a pretty house with persimmon trees, where we can farm and raise cats.”
“Palace Lord, you could never survive countryside life. The countryside is an environment where only truly diligent people can live. Let’s buy persimmons and raise cats in an apartment. If we live somewhere away from the city center, it’ll feel like living in the country.”
Such a ‘T’. But my brother didn’t ignore my dream. I was truly grateful to him for playing along, even though it wasn’t a lifestyle an Emperor’s concubine could realistically lead.
My brother is the only person who knows I remember my past life and believes my words. Because we had been close since childhood, he noticed immediately when the Grand Imperial Concubine’s personality changed. However, he only watched and didn’t pry hastily. After several years of watching me sensitively, my brother finally asked cautiously. Who was the person I cried for in my sleep, and what on earth was happening?
Perhaps because of the trust I had in my brother, who had stayed by my side unchangingly, I carefully poured out my inner thoughts. My brother was speechless with shock at the confession that my memories of a past life had returned. But in the end, he believed everything I said and stayed by my side without change.
Therefore, no matter what happens, I will protect my brother. So that he isn’t ruined by our grandfather and doesn’t die at the hands of the Emperor.
∗ ∗ ∗
But whether I protect my brother or not, I need to be able to move, and right now I am completely trapped in the Grand Imperial Concubine’s pavilion. Of course, he didn’t tell me to be locked up, but it’s no different. Currently, the only places permitted to me are the walking paths around the pavilion and the palace rear garden. Going outside the palace? That’s out of the question.
Joo Min-hyeok issued an order akin to house arrest for me, as I kept collapsing with fevers. He told me that until my body became healthy, I was not to go outside the palace for the time being, nor stay outdoors for long periods even within the palace.
Since I was already sensitive and physically weak, and the cold wind had begun to blow, it was a notice to take care of my health. Did I do something wrong? I’ve never been late coming back from an outing.
It wasn’t even every day; I only went out about twice a week. Did he find that eyesore? Sang-seon, who came to deliver Joo Min-hyeok’s words, told me to calm down and shared his thoughts.
“Palace Lord. His Majesty is truly worried about your health. You’ve had high fevers three times in the last month, so isn’t it natural for him to worry? The court ladies and maids of the pavilion are also very concerned, so it would be best to think of your health.”
What’s so big about three times a month?
“I had a fever every day when Grandfather came. This isn’t even being sick. I got along fine back then… Now that Grandfather isn’t coming, I’m actually less sick. I’m really okay…”
As I spoke with a pout, Sang-seon’s expression turned pitiful. Oops. Did I show too much that I’d been beaten? I have to be careful. If I’m not, I might look pathetic to others.
“That is a very fortunate thing, but since this is an order for your own sake, please bear with it for a while even if it’s uncomfortable. Please take the medicine provided, and once your fever subsides, you’ll be able to go out again soon.”
I mean, when exactly is that ‘while’? There are things I want to go out and eat with my brother, and if I’m going to introduce him to Hyun-wook, it’s better to be somewhere without prying eyes. After hearing those words from Sang-seon in the morning, I felt very frustrated.
My mind was troubled, and while trying to get some fresh air, I had wandered this far before I knew it. I’m too far from my pavilion. When did I get here? I must have walked this far without realizing it while lost in thought.
If I do this less than two hours after Joo Min-hyeok told me to rest and not come out, it could be seen as rebellion regardless of my intention. I should head back quickly.
But ugh, why is it so cold? I only threw on a thin cardigan to walk for a bit, so I need to go back fast. Cough, cough. I even started coughing.
“Palace Lord, are you cold? Your coughing is so severe… It hasn’t been long since your fever dropped; I think you’ve moved too much. Let’s return quickly.”
“No, I just sighed and choked on my breath. Cough.”
Seriously, what is with this timing? It’s just embarrassing that I keep showing a weak side unintentionally. It was just as I was coughing so hard my insides felt like they were pouring out because I’d choked.
“…What is this situation? Grand Imperial Concubine. I believe I told you not to leave your pavilion.”
A gloomy voice blanketed the back of my head, and strangely, I was so startled that the coughing stopped. So if a person is surprised enough, choking stops? Can the sound of footsteps from behind sound this terrifying? My body froze exactly as I had been coughing.
The moment I tried to make an excuse, my body suddenly floated up into the air.