By Zephyria 
Perhaps because of his son’s erratic behavior, Han Hee-sung’s father, Han Seong-yoon, repeatedly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat streaming down his forehead. Unable to restrain his son, he kept glancing between me and the Queen Mother while watching Hee-sung, who was clinging tightly to my side.
The relationship between these four could only be described as awkward. Han Seong-yoon had a close relationship with the Queen Mother, and she was the one who had actively recommended Han Hee-sung as the Emperor’s concubine. Han Seong-yoon was one of those who had remained loyal to the Imperial Family until the very end. However, the current situation was a bit ambiguous.
Far from falling in love at first sight, the Emperor and Han Hee-sung were in a state of mutual wariness. Precisely because of me. So, imagine how uncomfortable the Queen Mother and Han Seong-yoon must feel right now. Though I am the most uncomfortable of all. Why did she call me here? As if sensing my thoughts, the Queen Mother sighed and frowned at Han Hee-sung, who was hanging onto my arm.
“I’m sorry for bringing you to such an uncomfortable gathering. I had heard that Hee-sung… attacked the Grand Imperial Concubine last time. The Emperor was so enraged that I had quite a difficult time dealing with him.”
“Yes…”
I see. Thanks to Han Hee-sung, we spent our wedding night peacefully, Your Majesty.
“Some time has passed, but the Chief Prosecutor expressed a strong desire to apologize to the Grand Imperial Concubine, so I felt compelled to call you here.”
“Ah…”
I looked with pity at Han Seong-yoon, who was struggling desperately to pry Han Hee-sung off my arm. What sin had this man committed? His son was acting this way not toward the Emperor, but toward the Emperor’s concubine; it must be terrifying.
“The Chief Prosecutor has business with the Emperor today, so I called you both here at the same time. I know he has only recently finished his house arrest and should be laying low, but isn’t it right to apologize? Though the Emperor will throw a fit if he finds out.”
As soon as the Queen Mother finished speaking, Han Seong-yoon stepped forward and bowed his head deeply. This was truly an embarrassing scene to describe to anyone. A Dominant Omega, who had almost become the Emperor’s Empress, was now craving affection from the Emperor’s concubine.
“A hundred apologies would not be enough. I am truly, truly sorry, Palace Lord. This child has had a peculiar personality since he was young… I am deeply sorry for making you uncomfortable with such an absurd act.”
Since I didn’t know what to say, I gave an awkward smile and told him it was alright and to please take a seat. As I stopped Han Seong-yoon from apologizing repeatedly, I noticed Han Hee-sung’s hands. Both were still wrapped in bandages. He had been covered in blood last time; it seemed he hadn’t recovered yet.
“Um, Hee-sung, are your hands injured because of that incident? There was a lot of blood.”
“You remember? Yes, yes, I got hurt then. My forehead is fine, but since I keep using my hands, the wounds got inflamed. I had to do this to both.”
Just how did he do it… I recalled what Han Hee-sung had said at the time.
“I think you said you broke a window to get out, is that why you’re hurt? Why on earth did you break a window instead of using the door? You could have been seriously injured.”
“It was my fault, Palace Lord. I had forbidden that child from leaving the house. Is that not so? He had the audacity to tell His Majesty the Emperor directly that he wanted the Grand Imperial Concubine… Since he just repeated the same words without any remorse, I kept him inside for fear of what accident he might cause. And then he broke that thick window…”
“He couldn’t have broken it with his hands…”
Curious about how he had managed it, I trailed off, prompting an answer.
“He broke it with a dumbbell, Palace Lord. If you hit it with the end, it breaks easily. I just got a few scratches from the shattered glass. I didn’t know you had already left, and when I rushed out and saw you were still there, I was just so happy.”
“…That was rude. The guards could have killed you. You must be careful.”
“You tried to treat me back then, didn’t you? I can’t tell you how touched I was.”
Would I just leave you alone when your face and hands were covered in blood? I was speechless looking at Han Hee-sung’s face as he gazed at me with a pure, innocent smile. For the person who caused this whole situation, his expression was far too innocent.
Was it because of his large eyes without double eyelids? Or perhaps because he was a year younger than me? Every time I saw this baby-like, innocent face, my heart softened. It made me think of Seo-joo for some reason… This is truly a destruction of relationships. In the original story, we were love rivals! And even here, I had genuinely tried to play matchmaker for Joo Min-hyeok and Han Hee-sung.
Though it ended up like this. I looked at Han Hee-sung, who was rubbing his face against my arm, and seriously wondered what to do. Joo Min-hyeok’s obsession with me is more severe than I thought. This kid is doing this brazenly even in front of the Queen Mother; if Joo Min-hyeok sees this, he might actually kill him.
While I was pondering what words would actually get through to him, the Queen Mother, sensing the awkward atmosphere, suggested we have some refreshments. Right, eating is the best cure for awkwardness. Let’s think while eating some fruit. But suddenly, Han Hee-sung started making whimpering sounds. What is it now?
“Oh, dear… I can’t even eat anything because my hands are like this. Hmm, Grand Imperial Concubine.”
Why, why are you calling me? What is it? What kind of bomb are you about to drop now? The Queen Mother and Han Seong-yoon watched Han Hee-sung with tension, not knowing what he was about to do. When I looked at him with a reluctant face, he beamed.
“Could you please feed me just one bite? Ah,”
……?
“Hee-sung!”
Han Seong-yoon called out to his son in horror, but Han Hee-sung had already opened his mouth, asking me to feed him fruit. This guy is seriously crazy. I am the sole concubine of the Emperor, a position of immense height. In this society where the status of royalty and nobility is strictly defined, Han Hee-sung should normally not even be able to look me in the face.
Yet, he hugged me in the street, and today he has the audacity to open his mouth for me to feed him. Even without the Emperor present, this would be considered a crime of deception and subject to discipline. And yet, he does this without any hesitation, even with the Queen Mother right there. Wow, he really is unique!
Then again, if he were a normal thinker, he wouldn’t have asked the Emperor for his concubine. As Han Seong-yoon rushed over and the Queen Mother looked like she was about to faint, I decided to put something in his mouth just to calm the situation. It felt like he would never back down until I fed him.
It was the moment I quickly picked up a strawberry to put in his mouth. I heard the sound of large strides from behind, and the strawberry in my hand flew into the air. Huh? The strawberry was snatched up by someone’s hand, and as I followed the strawberry with my eyes, Joo Min-hyeok was standing there. Dammit!
At Joo Min-hyeok’s appearance, the Queen Mother simply looked down at her teacup with a look of resignation. Han Seong-yoon was in a state of panic, looking back and forth between me, Joo Min-hyeok, and the Queen Mother. I’m doomed. Upon Joo Min-hyeok’s arrival, Han Hee-sung muttered something softly, closed his mouth, and reluctantly let go of my arm.
Without taking his eyes off Han Hee-sung, Joo Min-hyeok threw the strawberry to the floor. My heart sank as I watched the strawberry burst into pieces upon hitting the ground. It reminded me of how he had blown away half of my quarters not long ago.
“Hey. Han Hee-sung.”
“…Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“What do you think you’re doing right now?”
The muscles in Joo Min-hyeok’s jaw tightened, and a vein popped. Whether Han Hee-sung didn’t realize the gravity of the situation or was simply too young to care, he remained indifferent. I’m the only one who’s serious! I quickly stood up with a smile, trying to soothe him as I always had.
However, Joo Min-hyeok’s sharp gaze shifted toward Han Hee-sung’s father, Han Seong-yoon. As Joo Min-hyeok walked toward him, Han Seong-yoon bowed his head in extreme tension, and this time the Queen Mother stood beside him to stop the Emperor in case things escalated.
“Mother, setting that aside, why is the Grand Imperial Concubine here? I was not told that the Grand Imperial Concubine was present.”
“I called the Grand Imperial Concubine. The Chief Prosecutor expressed a strong desire to apologize, so I asked the Palace Lord to come. Since I am the one who called, please calm your anger and shall we take our seats?”
Joo Min-hyeok grit his teeth, referring to Han Hee-sung as ‘that thing.’ And as if he had no intention of hearing the answer to the question he had asked, he turned his gaze toward Han Seong-yoon. Terrified, I carefully stepped behind Joo Min-hyeok. Ugh! I came because the Queen Mother called, but what apology? I should have just let it go.
“Chief Prosecutor, this is like this: it’s as if I were to ask for your wife in front of you. Is that what they call a ‘train wreck’? Quite a wretched situation, isn’t it?”
“I am sorry! Your Majesty, I am sorry. I failed to educate my child properly.”
“This is unbelievable… Even when he hugged and molested the Grand Imperial Concubine in the middle of the street, I let it end with house arrest for the sake of the Chief Prosecutor’s face. How much more must I overlook? The Grand Imperial Concubine is the first concubine of this nation. To cling to such a person like a neighbor’s friend and even open one’s mouth to be fed—if that isn’t a death wish, what is it? Right?”
Joo Min-hyeok’s chilling final words were directed at Han Hee-sung. This is exactly why I tried to warn him to be careful. Joo Min-hyeok had already let it slide twice. He had endured it for the sake of the Chief Prosecutor and his family, who always helped him on the side of the Imperial Family.
But now that he had seen Han Hee-sung clinging to me again, he wouldn’t let it go any further. It can’t be helped. I have to get Han Hee-sung out of here.