By Zephyria 
After dismissing everyone, Min-hyeok asked Han-bin to remain in the side hall. It seemed the two of them had matters to discuss privately. Having roughly explained Hae-joo’s situation and the events that had transpired yesterday, Min-hyeok realized that Han-bin’s thoughts were not different from Hae-joo’s.
He had always coveted such a talent, and it had been a lingering regret that he couldn’t get his hands on him simply because the man was the Prime Minister’s grandson; now, the opposite was true. This thrill was incomparable to anything else. Han-bin didn’t even need to help Min-hyeok with his work immediately—as long as he didn’t follow the same path as the Prime Minister.
For now, it didn’t seem like Hae-joo or Han-bin would follow in the Prime Minister’s footsteps, and that alone felt like a weight being lifted from his chest. Han-bin was a more upright and incorruptible person than Min-hyeok had imagined.
He didn’t know how two such decent descendants had managed to be born into the Prime Minister’s bloodline, but the mere fact that they had grown up with a clear sense of judgment without being tainted by him was worthy of praise.
Meanwhile, Han-bin, who was always cold and kept his emotions off his face, could not calm his agitation after hearing about Hae-joo’s situation, looking as if he wanted to kill the Prime Minister on the spot. It was the moment he realized why the Prime Minister had used the two of them as each other’s weaknesses.
“Did you speak well with the Grand Imperial Concubine? He was ill, so he likely couldn’t say much. Take your time catching up. It must have been heartbreaking to hear such bad news after meeting for the first time in so long.”
“Thank you truly for your consideration in many ways, Your Majesty. If Your Majesty had not helped…”
“I was also very surprised when I first learned the truth. Had I known sooner, I would have helped. When I asked how long this had been going on, he kept his mouth shut and only worried about the Brigadier General. He said his brother must not find out.”
“He would have never been able to tell Your Majesty. He knows better than anyone the relationship between the Prime Minister and Your Majesty—no, the relationship between our family and the Imperial Family. And because the Prime Minister knows that as well, he treated the user recklessly. Knowing he couldn’t tell anyone… That is why the Palace Lord user must have waited only for me.”
Han-bin looked pained throughout the entire conversation regarding the Grand Imperial Concubine’s plight. Min-hyeok felt the same ache in his heart. He remembered the voice that had sobbed unconsciously about being lonely.
For a long time, exposed to abuse while enduring each day in the despair of knowing no one could help, he must have suffered. He couldn’t even imagine how great that despair must have been. The possibility existed that his dislike of people and his tendency to stay only in the Imperial Pavilion were symptoms of depression caused by such events.
The original plan was to wipe out the Prime Minister’s entire household. The Prime Minister’s family exerted deep influence over too many places and was constantly eyeing Min-hyeok’s position. They were tireless in their ambition.
One could not count how many murders disguised as suicides or how many assassination cases occurred around them. The Late Emperor was among them, and many members of the Imperial Family were above him.
The corruption was so severe that not a single clean part could be seen. It was a problem that could not be solved without pulling it out by the roots. If so, these brothers would have to be discarded as well. However, Min-hyeok was already devising a way to extract these two from that plan.
To do that, he needed certainty, and there was something he had to find out for sure: the identity of the strange chill he felt from the Grand Imperial Concubine.
He was clearly hiding something, regardless of the Prime Minister. It sounded ridiculous to say, but it was also connected to Kang Hyun-wook. And even that person named Seo-joo, who was passed off as a cat. Han-bin might know something.
“Yesterday, the Grand Imperial Concubine had a fever and was looking for someone.”
Having said this much, Min-hyeok observed Han-bin’s face. No emotion could be found on Han-bin’s expression. He was simply waiting for Min-hyeok’s next words with a blank face.
“Seo-joo? He asked for Seo-joo. Do you know of him, Brigadier General?”
“…Seo-joo?”
Han-bin’s intonation wasn’t particularly unusual, but Min-hyeok did not miss the momentary flicker in his eyes at the mention of Seo-joo’s name. Anyone else would have absolutely missed it. However, noticing that subtle shift in emotion, the corners of Min-hyeok’s mouth curled up slightly.
“I heard it was a cat the Grand Imperial Concubine raised when he was young. He must have been very lonely to recall a pet from his childhood.”
“…I see. He mentioned it to me once, but I didn’t think much of it. He probably remembered because he was sick. I will take better care of him.”
“I should be the one taking care of him. For the time being, the Prime Minister won’t be able to get anywhere near the Grand Imperial Concubine or the Brigadier General. Leave the Grand Imperial Concubine to me, and you, Brigadier General, please focus more on the affairs of state.”
Ending the conversation with a smile, Min-hyeok was able to pinpoint the part where Han-bin wavered. Han-bin’s eyes narrowed at the mention of a cat. He momentarily composed his complex expression and moved past it, as befitting a Brigadier General. If he acted like that, Min-hyeok couldn’t do anything about it immediately.
But this was enough. At the very least, the person named Seo-joo was not a cat, as Min-hyeok suspected, and Han-bin knew something about this Seo-joo. Now, Min-hyeok just had to find out what. He hoped that person wasn’t Hae-joo’s ‘special someone.’
∗ ∗ ∗
Lately, Kang Hyun-wook has been so busy that I can’t see him outside of working hours. Even after work, he used to always be with me, but these days he leaves for personal business the moment his shift ends, almost like a clockwork exit. He’s attending school, so he must be busy.
“Hmph, he acted like we’d always be together, but I wonder what makes him so busy.”
I obviously know that Hyun-wook has his own time here. I know better than anyone that he has family, friends, things to do, and people to meet, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed. The Hyun-wook I met again is as devoted and sweet to me as before, but strangely, I felt something was missing.
However, that deficiency isn’t because of Hyun-wook. Nor is it something that can be fulfilled by him. Then what is this emptiness? I felt a void that I wanted to fill, but couldn’t. I think I’m feeling lonely right now. My brother came, but he’s too busy, and Hyun-wook is busy too.
Joo Min-hyeok said he’d come often, but I haven’t seen his face since that day. Well, even if we’ve gotten a bit closer, we aren’t the type of relationship that meets up to hang out. I guess I had hoped for it unconsciously.
Between the matter with my grandfather and the way he took care of me whenever I was sick, I found myself wishing Joo Min-hyeok would give me a bit more attention. And whenever these thoughts occurred, I felt lonely.
Why on earth is this lonely? At what point am I feeling lonely that thinking of Joo Min-hyeok brings up these feelings? I don’t understand. Am I becoming like the Grand Imperial Concubine from the original work? That absolutely cannot happen. If I end up resembling him, I’ll be taking a high-speed train straight to death.
“I feel like my condition has worsened a bit…”
“You haven’t left your room lately to take care of your health. How about going out to get some fresh air?”
It’s not my choice; Joo Min-hyeok practically forced me into confinement.
“…Shall we?”
“The fallen leaves by the rear garden pond are very beautiful. I will escort you.”
Wearing the warm clothes provided by the court lady, I went outside and walked slowly toward the rear garden. Since it was such a vast place, I intended to just look at the entrance of the lake and return. However, before I even reached the entrance, I had to stop in my tracks.
At the entrance of the lake, a few people were engaged in a friendly conversation. It wasn’t hard to identify the people standing and looking in the direction I was walking. Oh, it’s Joo Min-hyeok. Who’s next to him?
Upon discovering Joo Min-hyeok, I examined the people with him, and seeing them walk this way, I startled and hid my body behind a large cluster of bushes. The court lady, who had hidden with me in the bushes in the confusion, recognized the party with Joo Min-hyeok and whispered to me.
“Palace Lord user, do you recognize who is with His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Hmm… no. Do you know who they are? I don’t know much about politics.”
Around Joo Min-hyeok were a middle-aged man and a young man around my age who appeared to be an Omega. Then, something truly unexpected came out of the court lady’s mouth.
“I know because I heard they are close to His Majesty. That person over there is Han Seong-yoon, the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. The youngest brother of the Minister of Justice. And that one is the Chief Prosecutor’s son, Han Hee-sung. His Majesty and the Chief Prosecutor have met before, but this is the first time the son has come along.”
I know the Minister of Justice, but wait, who did she say? Han Hee-sung?
The moment I heard the court lady’s words, a powerful shock struck my head. There was no way I wouldn’t know the name Han Hee-sung. That was the name of the true protagonist of this world, Joo Min-hyeok’s true Omega, the Lord of the Movie Palace.