By Zephyria 
Hyun-wook’s pace quickens as he enters the palace. He feels a bit more at ease knowing Han-bin is currently at the Grand Imperial Concubine’s quarters, but it still feels like walking on thin ice. Hae-joo, who never wanted to come to the palace, remains silent and refuses to exchange a single word with the Emperor.
Even when the Queen Dowager visited, Hae-joo refused to see her and wouldn’t even get out of bed. The strange thing was that the foul-tempered Queen Dowager didn’t say much about Hae-joo’s behavior. After hearing the news of Hae-joo’s miscarriage, the Queen Dowager had strictly ordered that everyone do their best to accommodate him so as not to upset him further.
The only time Hae-joo smiles in the palace is when he is talking with Hyun-wook and Han-bin. Lately, he doesn’t talk about Seo-joo much. When asked why, Hae-joo replied that he is practicing letting go of his lingering feelings for Seo-joo because he wants Seo-joo to live his own life—so that Seo-joo can live fully for himself here.
Furthermore, the current situation within the Imperial Family is extremely unstable. Hae-joo constantly demands a divorce from the Emperor, and the Emperor refuses, saying he cannot. Even when the Emperor visits and requests a conversation, Hae-joo repeatedly refuses to meet him.
Meanwhile, it was evident that Lee Si-yoon, a man he couldn’t stand the sight of, was striving to stay by the Emperor’s side. Si-yoon was the one who had suddenly barged into the private office while the Emperor was dealing with the Prime Minister, escalating the conflict between the Emperor and Hae-joo. He was the son of a professor who had taught the Emperor during his time as the Crown Prince, and based on the stories Hyun-wook had heard from Han Hee-sung, he was a pretty terrible person.
He was the type to be jealous and gossip frequently—the kind of person who brought nothing good by being close to. Hyun-wook couldn’t understand why the Emperor kept such a person by his side or why he didn’t think to shake him off when he clung on. He disliked him in every way. Anyway, he just wanted to get inside quickly, soothe Hae-joo’s mood, and then head to the training grounds… Huh?
“What the hell!”
The moment he tried to pull out his palace pass, a strong force yanked Hyun-wook’s arm. Caught off guard, Hyun-wook was pulled violently to the side. Since he was still in the process of investigating the Prime Minister’s company, this was a very sensitive contact. Hyun-wook gripped the wrist of the person who had grabbed his arm.
“Who the hell are you to just grab people? Do you want to die?”
It was somewhat aggressive language that didn’t quite suit him, but since the opponent felt like an Alpha, Hyun-wook, being a Beta, had to seize the initiative. The opponent was a person who looked strange to anyone—wearing a hat and hiding his face behind large sunglasses.
“Who are you? Take off that hat!”
Just as Hyun-wook was about to subdue the man, a strangely familiar voice reached his ears.
“Is that you, Hyun-wook? You are Hyun-wook, right?”
“…Who are you?”
Hyun-wook struggled to see the man’s face. Seeing that Hyun-wook reacted to his name, the man took off the sunglasses. However, even after seeing the man’s face, Hyun-wook’s eyes darted around for a while, unable to recognize him, until the man slowly spoke.
“We parted when you were so young, you probably don’t remember my face, do you?”
“Huh? Ah, wait… no way…”
Hyun-wook’s large eyes grew even wider. The man who took off his hat and sunglasses was Cha Tae-jin, Hae-joo’s father from his previous life. After recognizing Hae-joo, he had come to Seoul to meet him as soon as he finished his busy business affairs. However, it was not easy to meet the Emperor’s concubine, no matter how much money or connections one had.
Moreover, Hae-joo’s grandfather had started a rebellion, throwing the country into chaos, and due to the news of Hae-joo’s injuries, he couldn’t even approach the palace. In the process, he discovered that the bodyguard accompanying Hae-joo was Hyun-wook and decided to approach him instead.
“Mister? Oh my god! What is this?”
“It’s good to see you, Hyun-wook. At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes, but what a coincidence. This is truly surprising. I’m so glad to see you.”
With reddened eyes, Cha Tae-jin welcomed Hyun-wook, and the two shared a deep, joyful hug. Hyun-wook couldn’t believe it. He wanted to tell Hae-joo about this immediately.
“Hyun-wook. Can we talk for a moment? Please help me. Our Hae-joo is the Grand Imperial Concubine, right?”
“Mister…”
Hyun-wook searched his hazy memories of the man. A man who looked sickly and was always ill. But the person standing before him seemed like a completely different person.
The face was similar, but he looked younger, and his skin and overall condition were entirely different from when he had been sick. Hyun-wook began to get excited at the unbelievable fact that even Tae-jin had come to this world.
∗ ∗ ∗
Today, I demanded a divorce from Joo Min-hyeok again. Well, as usual, I was ignored. With the rebellion case being settled these days, Joo Min-hyeok was more sensitive than ever. I refused to speak with him and demanded a divorce, while the officials pressured him, saying they couldn’t let me remain in the position of a concubine, pushing his irritability to its limit.
The reason Joo Min-hyeok cannot divorce me is this: in a situation where things aren’t fully settled, if I divorce and leave, I would easily become a target. He claimed that people with grudges against the Prime Minister, or the Prime Minister himself using people to get back at the Emperor, might be waiting for an opportunity.
Therefore, after calculating various situations, he said it would be better not to leave the palace for the time being. So I asked him directly: then when can I leave the palace? The answer was: unconfirmed. The deadline was immeasurable.
But it will be hard for him to hold out forever. The seasoned officials want my deposition. For me, a divorce is a much better situation than being deposed. Leaving as a criminal would be the absolute worst. That’s why I want to divorce and leave with my head held high to make a fresh start, but Joo Min-hyeok is immovable, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to leave.
Having been forced into the palace, I stayed shut in my quarters without a word, refusing to come out. My arm is still in a cast, and the bruises on my face remain. The only reason I can breathe here is that Han-bin hyung is residing in the palace with me.
It seems that damn old man put hyung through a lot of hardship, contrary to what he told me. He had a cracked rib, but since he’s a healthy Alpha, he recovered quickly. Since coming here, hyung has been constantly walking on eggshells around me. There’s no reason for him to do that… Anyway, the best way to put hyung’s mind at ease and make myself feel better is to divorce and leave… but it’s not easy.
As I sat alone in the thicket lost in thought, I heard the voices of Joo Min-hyeok and a few of the Sang-seon’s acquaintances on the walking path. Startled, I instinctively curled my body up, trying not to be discovered. Not that they would bother looking this way.
“Did the Grand Imperial Concubine demand a divorce again today?”
“…He’s just angry.”
“What on earth is there for him to be angry about? This was for the greater good, and it’s a problem caused by his own family; he’s quite irresponsible.”
“Shut your mouth. Why are you following me just to dare badmouth someone?”
Exactly. That crazy brat Lee Si-yoon keeps provoking me. Why is he so guarded? Whether I’m here or not, he can’t even become Joo Min-hyeok’s concubine. He’s so irritating; now I know why Han Hee-sung told me to be careful. At the Emperor’s sharp voice, a Sang-seon tried to soothe him.
“There is still much talk regarding the Grand Imperial Concubine. It’s even more so because Your Majesty expressed a desire to make him the Empress.”
Empress? The Empress? I gasped and covered my mouth at the news I was hearing for the first time. Why is he so reckless?
“Exactly. They oppose it, saying he cannot be Empress because he is the bloodline of a criminal, and I believe that is a legitimate objection. If he could betray his own blood, what’s to stop him from betraying Your Majesty? He could certainly betray Your Majesty too. And there is no precedent for an Omega from a family that plotted rebellion becoming the Empress.”
Look at this crazy brat.
“Lee Si-yoon. Let me be clear: you just need to do the work I assign you in your position. If you dare to overstep and mock my concubine like this, it will be your turn. I’m already annoyed, so if you don’t want to die, shut your mouth. Unless you truly want to die.”
“…I apologize, Your Majesty.”
That he could betray the Emperor because he betrayed his own blood? Right. Since they don’t know how Joo Min-hyeok used me, they might think that. I understand their concern. But I am also a victim, and I hate these people who keep painting me as a bad person. I hate this palace full of such people even more. I need to find a way quickly.
∗ ∗ ∗
After hearing the conversation between Joo Min-hyeok and his gang, I became even more distressed. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t swallow a single meal today; I just drank some juice and lay down. I’ve lost a lot of weight, haven’t I? I was already thin and unremarkable, but now I’m almost at the level of starvation.
“…I’m exhausted.”
“You’re exhausted because you’re just lying here without eating.”
…It’s Joo Min-hyeok. He has come. My body flinches at the sound of his voice. I have been rejecting him to the point where I don’t remember the last time we had a face-to-face conversation. His pride must be hurt being ignored like this, yet he comes to visit again today without showing it. Impressive, Joo Min-hyeok.
“Get up. It’s time to eat.”
I didn’t want to hear his words, so I turned away. Agh… I don’t even have the strength to turn over. I struggled with all my might to lie on my side and cover my ears.
“Are you still not going to talk to me?”
“…Just give me a divorce.”
“That is impossible.”
“Then just watch me wither away and die here.”
“Don’t be like this. I told you I was wrong.”
“Your Majesty did it for the greater good, so what wrong is there? I’m just someone who doesn’t fit Your Majesty’s standards. Since we don’t suit each other, it’s right that I leave.”
“I’m the one who decides whether we suit each other or not, so stop saying useless things. Eat something before you sleep. I’ll come again.”
Saying he would come again, he didn’t leave but just looked at me. I could feel him standing there. After a long while, only after Joo Min-hyeok finally left the quarters, was I able to breathe properly. Only then did I check the text message sent by Hyun-wook.
After checking Hyun-wook’s message, I remained motionless, reading the content over and over again to confirm it. Once I confirmed the message, I bolted upright with a surge of energy I didn’t know I had.