By Zephyria 
It was the first time Min-hyeok had seen Han-bin with tears pooling in his eyes to the point that they turned red. Min-hyeok knew all too well. Why wouldn’t Han-bin have his own built-up resentment? He knew exactly how much Han-bin had endured while keeping a low profile. He was more aware than anyone of Cha Han-bin’s influence in the military and his presence within the family.
Within the family, Han-bin’s words always carried more weight than those of the Prime Minister and his sons. This was despite the fact that Han-bin had never stepped forward to wield power. It was likely because a single word from Cha Han-bin and his steadfast actions were more trustworthy.
Knowing this, the Prime Minister had suppressed Han-bin as much as possible. He had always feared that Han-bin would eventually surpass him. He viewed Han-bin not as a grandson, but as a political rival or a threatening figure.
If Han-bin had stepped in to fill the void after the Prime Minister was arrested, he would have seized control of the family in an instant. At the time, there were quite a few members of the family who had rebelled against the Prime Minister’s actions and refused to participate. Had Han-bin absorbed them all to create a new faction, it would have become a force so immense that the Prime Minister’s power wouldn’t even compare.
According to the information Min-hyeok had heard, they had already approached Han-bin with a proposal, but Han-bin had rejected it flatly, causing their plans to vanish like bubbles. The wise Han-bin would have known exactly what that proposal implied. It meant that while he would be given immense authority and power to seize the family, he would have to spend the rest of his life fighting.
Aside from Han-bin’s father, who had passed away first, the Prime Minister had four other sons, and their lust for power was no less than that of the Prime Minister. It was obvious that a fight with them would become as dirty and sordid as rolling around in a mud pit. It did not suit Han-bin’s upright character.
And above all, there was a decisive reason why Han-bin refused to collude with them. It was because of Hae-joo. It could not be denied that this was the biggest reason Han-bin chose a quiet life. Furthermore, that choice was also for Min-hyeok’s sake. If he had become another power center, Min-hyeok would have felt a great burden and attempted to counter him.
Because of Hae-joo, they might maintain a good relationship for the time being, but discord is inevitable when someone appears who is superior to the Emperor. Just like the Prime Minister. If that happened, the ill fate between the Imperial Family and the Hae-joo family would not end but would continue just as it is now.
Knowing this better than anyone, Han-bin made a wise choice for himself and everyone else. It was a choice he was willing to make, even if it meant living a hidden life as he does now. Min-hyeok respected his choice. However, he could no longer let Hae-joo drift away from him while remaining oblivious to everything. He was anxious, wanting to hold onto Hae-joo as soon as possible.
“I saw an article stating there is a designated Empress. Did you come to visit the Palace Lord user with that in mind? You made such a loud entrance that it seems unlikely you came simply to resolve the divorce issue for the sake of the Empress.”
No matter how hurt his feelings were, the words addressed to the Emperor were excessive. However, Min-hyeok didn’t nitpick such things. He simply listened to the pointed words coming from Han-bin.
“There is no such thing as an Empress. Naturally, there is no Imperial Wedding. A false report was released without my knowledge.”
“A false report?”
Upon hearing the word ‘false report,’ Han-bin narrowed one eye. Seeing the gaze filled with suspicion and disbelief, Min-hyeok ruffled his own hair in frustration.
“How could such a major event be a false report? And for several days, so extensively at that.”
Min-hyeok demanded an explanation with a look of incomprehension. Although all the articles had been taken down now, some had even claimed that the Emperor and the designated Empress were spending a very wonderful time together.
“…Tell me about it. It seems that during a luncheon for the council members, talk came up about the Empress’s position being vacant, so they should hurry and pick a designate. They were talking among themselves about which family’s Omega would be suitable, and that turned into an article.”
“You’re saying matters regarding the Imperial Wedding leaked like that? If it was a false report, why did Your Majesty stay still? You could have taken down all the articles in a matter of minutes.”
“The process wasn’t as easy as it sounds. In any case, that article won’t reappear, and no one will become the Empress.”
Min-hyeok’s words were very firm. Han-bin fell silent for a moment at Min-hyeok’s demeanor.
“More importantly, how bad is Hae-joo’s health?”
“Did you not look into that?”
“Due to medical laws, unless it’s the party involved, even a spouse cannot know.”
That meant he had tried to poke around. Han-bin could only laugh now. The Emperor’s intentions were now all too clear. When he found out the divorce hadn’t happened, he thought the divorce papers hadn’t been found in the chaos. When he discovered the Emperor here a moment ago, Han-bin thought he had come to resolve the divorce issue through an Imperial Wedding.
But that wasn’t it. He was doing this because he wanted Hae-joo back. For now, it seemed he had no intention of letting go from the start. Han-bin wondered how Min-hyeok intended to resolve this relationship, which was tangled beyond belief.
“Due to the aftereffects of the miscarriage, Hae-joo often has pain in his lower abdomen and many days where his whole body aches. He was practically chased out of the palace before his body could fully recover.”
“…Is that because he didn’t receive proper treatment?”
“No. He received more than enough treatment. That part wasn’t a problem at all. Hae-joo’s body was already weakened from years of abuse at the hands of his grandfather.”
For someone in such poor health to suffer abuse bordering on torture at the end and then have a miscarriage, it would be strange if his body recovered completely. Moreover, since he spent most of his time on a boat to avoid Min-hyeok’s reach, his recovery would have been slow even if he received good treatment.
“As you probably expected, the divorce matter was my intention.”
“Then the divorce papers left at the Imperial Pavilion….”
“I found them immediately and tore them up on the spot. I had no intention of divorcing from the start. I wanted to be tied to him, even in this way, rather than parting.”
Han-bin curled the corners of his mouth as if he had known. Still, he wanted to confirm the fact rather than rely on a vague guess.
“Why did you do that? Did you want to make things difficult for Hae-joo by making him run away like that?”
“No, not at all. Even if we are physically apart, if we are legally tied, we are bound to meet eventually. I needed a string to connect us.”
Yes. He needed a string. He wanted to deny reality and hold onto Hae-joo. It couldn’t just end like this; it couldn’t be a parting where they could never meet again. There had to be a reason they were forced to meet again. Nothing was more powerful than a legally bound marital relationship.
“But as I said earlier, you won’t be able to catch Hae-joo with such coercive methods. On the contrary, he will push away further and leave this place as well.”
“…I don’t know what the answer is.”
“If Your Majesty doesn’t know the answer, how could I? Whether it’s moving his heart or clinging to him, you must find the answer yourself. If you can’t even do that, you can just end it here.”
It was a cold tone that showed a will that nothing regarding Hae-joo could be compromised.
“But Your Majesty. Even if you find the answer, nothing changes if Hae-joo refuses. I will walk entirely along the path that Hae-joo desires.”
“It really isn’t easy to win over this brother’s heart….”
“It’s not bad to have at least one difficult thing in the world. I hope you resolve it well.”
His eyes were so devoid of emotion that one could tell instantly that the wish to ‘resolve it well’ was not sincere. Along with Hae-joo’s heart, winning Han-bin’s trust had also become Min-hyeok’s task.
∗ ∗ ∗
I, who had been listening to their conversation with my ear pressed against the door, was startled by the sudden sound of the door swinging open. I quickly wiped my tears and stepped aside. I had been giving Seo-joo a piece of my mind when I heard Han-bin hyung’s shout and ran over, eavesdropping on their conversation from there.
I didn’t know until now that hyung had been watching over me with such a heart. I knew he was silently protecting me because he felt sorry and pained for me, but I didn’t know he was so bruised inside. It was heartbreaking…. Joo Min-hyeok, who stepped outside, stared blankly at me as I sniffled.
“I’ll leave it at that for today and go.”
“Go where! You have to finish the conversation before you go! There are so many things to agree on, and you’re just slipping away!”
Absurdly, I grabbed the arm of Joo Min-hyeok, who was trying to walk out as if nothing had happened. You’re going to run away after leaving the house in this state?
“I just came today to check how you’re doing. We’ll talk in detail next time. It’s too late at night now.”
“You know it’s late, yet you broke the door so noisily? What ‘next time’!”
“What do you mean ‘what next time’? The next time we meet, that’s the next time. Since there are still things we need to discuss, we have to meet. You understand, right?”
He shrugged, patting my hand that was gripping his arm. This shameless human. Fine, I do have a lot to say, but it irritated me that he could turn everything upside down and then calmly go his way. He came to check how I’m doing after making me lose my temper?
“Fix the door before you go!”
I raised my voice at him, huffing. Why on earth did he break the door when he could have just rung the bell? He probably couldn’t wait because I didn’t respond while I was showering, so he broke it. Crazy bastard. It’s a good thing he bought the whole building; otherwise, the complaints would have been immense.
“The door will be fixed soon. It’s enough that I know you’re staying here. Just live as you usually do. Good night.”
He left, leaving a ‘good night’ greeting as casually as if he were a friend he hadn’t seen in a long time. I have no idea what he’s thinking or what he’s feeling. I could only stare blankly at Joo Min-hyeok’s receding figure.