* * *
‘Who’s Seojoo?’
Minhyuk wanted to hear what Haejoo would say next, but Haejoo mumbled something unintelligible and fell asleep just like that.
Minhyuk’s eyes shifted as he sank into deep thought.
‘Who is Seojoo, and why is he asking me to find him?’
The more he learned about Haejoo, the more he realized just how little he actually knew.
The closer he got, the more questions he had.
He remembered being close to Haejoo until he was around fifteen, but after that, they had grown distant rapidly.
His personality had changed a lot too, as Minhyuk recalled.
Even when they were young, Haejoo had been intensely jealous and possessive.
That’s why the first three years after their marriage were incredibly difficult—trying to match the temperament of the Grand Concubine was no easy task.
He had a sharp tongue, was overly sensitive, and temperamental.
Then, all of a sudden, Haejoo shut himself away in his palace, stopped seeing people, and lived quietly.
It wasn’t entirely unheard of—teenagers sometimes went through personality shifts like that, so it wasn’t deemed too strange.
Once his personality changed, managing him became easier.
The best part was that Minhyuk no longer had to constantly walk on eggshells around him.
In the past, if they didn’t meet at least once a day, Haejoo would throw a fit—but that kind of neediness completely vanished.
Now, it was Haejoo who seemed annoyed by Minhyuk’s visits.
He didn’t like talking and preferred staying quietly in his room.
He didn’t build a political faction, didn’t even meet with his own family—there was no power base to worry about.
Sometimes, he’d go out to people-watch or buy some sweets, and that was it.
Lately, Minhyuk thought they were growing closer again.
Seeing Haejoo up close, he noticed how he’d become timid and teary-eyed, with not a hint of aggression left.
When attacked, instead of defending himself, Haejoo would cry first—which only made Minhyuk more on edge.
At the last gathering, Haejoo had just sat there silently while others talked around him.
That bothered Minhyuk more than he expected.
He didn’t even try to join the conversation and seemed to have no intention of doing so.
When the Empress Dowager lashed out, all Haejoo could do was stammer and cry.
And yet, he was still kind enough to thank a young cousin who kindly approached him.
It already pained Minhyuk to see Haejoo sitting there blankly among others.
But when the Empress Dowager attacked and made him cry, he couldn’t just leave him there—he had to step in.
Especially after catching a whiff of Haejoo’s pheromones—some strange possessiveness had begun to stir.
The thought of another Alpha seeing him cry?
It made Minhyuk’s blood boil.
The more he got to know Haejoo, the more he cared—and the more he realized just how much he didn’t know.
‘What is this strange discomfort?’
He wanted to find out the root of it.
‘Would finding this ‘Seojoo’ give him the answer? Could it explain what’s truly troubling Haejoo?’
Minhyuk ran a hand through his hair and bit his lip.
The scent of Haejoo, still lingering in the room, was maddeningly pleasant—even when he was sick.
‘What the hell is this feeling I’m having, watching someone unwell like this?’
“I don’t know what to do with you these days—it’s giving me a headache. Should I bring you to my side and, after that, follow through on the plan with the Prime Minister? Or should I keep you by my side, regardless? Maybe I should find a way for you to live safely, away from politics.”
That would be the best option—bring him to their side and have him help take down the Prime Minister.
That’s the logical move.
And yet, other thoughts kept creeping in.
Even though he knew it would mess up the plan.
“Lately, it feels more like… responsibility. Like I just want to hold onto you. But Grand Concubine… my official spouse is already chosen. I’m sorry, but it’s not you. And yet, knowing that, why am I still so torn? It’s really confusing.”
Once they took down the Prime Minister, high-ranking officials wouldn’t want someone of Haejoo’s bloodline remaining in the palace.
Naturally, he would be stripped of his title and expelled.
That had always been the plan.
But now… Minhyuk was wavering.
He didn’t want to do that anymore.
The Prime Minister may have been quiet on the surface, but Minhyuk was hearing whispers of secret movements beneath.
Of course he hadn’t stayed still.
So, the time to act was approaching.
It had been a long wait since losing his father—an opportunity dangling like a thorn in his throat.
And that thorn… was Haejoo.
He wasn’t sure he could remove it cleanly.
My fever had finally gone down, and I was in high spirits after spending time with my brother again.
As I’d vaguely heard, Joo Minhyuk had arranged for my brother to be stationed at a base close to Seoul.
My brother seemed relieved that he didn’t have to return home and had shaken off the debt he’d incurred while in the military, his face noticeably brighter.
Honestly, it should’ve happened long ago.
He apologized for joining the unit so late but promised to do his best.
He’s already told me several times to call him if anything happens, saying he’d stay in touch.
Living cut off from the world like this at a military base meant no favors asked through our grandfather, no bribes—none of that.
My brother would finally be able to live a life more aligned with his personality.
Peacefully.
I’m so glad everything’s going the way I hoped.
The reality I’m in is already veering far off from the novel I’d read.
In the novel, the Grand Concubine, backed by his powerful grandfather, would’ve already had Minhyuk wrapped around his finger by now—seducing him constantly, desperate to get pregnant, but failing.
Then rumors of new concubines would arise, and the Grand Concubine would plot, even harming potential candidates with the help of his brother.
But right now, Minhyuk and I were keeping a healthy distance.
Just uncomfortable enough, but also comfortable enough.
A relationship that wouldn’t leave either of us with regrets once it ended.
I plan to maintain this tension, so we can part on good terms someday.
“Hyung… how ambitious are you as a soldier? Like, how far do you want to go? Want to become a general, get stars on your shoulders?”
“Ambition? As a soldier? I’ve never even thought about it. As long as I can help the country and make your life easier, that’s all I care about.”
“So… you’re saying you don’t want to end up like Grandfather? For sure?”
“You’re asking the obvious. Of course not, idiot. I’ve spent my whole life cursing that man. I’d never walk down that path.”
Watching him laugh and shudder at the thought, I felt sure.
‘Okay—got it.’
That’s all I needed to know.
In the novel, before I died, my brother had turned arrogant, stacking up wealth from bribes and mocking Minhyuk with it.
“The public trusts me more than you,” he’d sneer.
That once-righteous man ended up becoming the very image of the grandfather he’d despised.
And he was eventually executed.
He died first.
Then I died.
The Grand Concubine was handed over to the Empress Palace and sentenced to death—only to take his own life before the execution.
Hearing my brother’s certainty today… it felt like that horrible future wouldn’t happen this time.
That gave me peace of mind.
“Hyung… how about we live in the countryside someday? A cute house with a persimmon tree, we farm a little, raise a cat…”
“You? Live in the countryside? Impossible. Only seriously hardworking people can handle that life. Let’s just buy persimmons and raise a cat in an apartment. If we live a bit outside the city, it’ll feel like the countryside.”
Typical T. But he never mocked my dreams.
Even if a life like that was realistically impossible for a royal Concubine, he still played along.
That meant everything.
He’s the only one who knows I remember my past life—and the only one who believes me.
We were close even as kids, so he was the first to notice my personality had changed.
Still, he never pushed.
He just watched me for years.
And finally, one day, he gently asked.
Who was I crying out for in my sleep?
And what in the world was really going on?
Because I trusted my hyung, who had stayed by my side without wavering all this time, I cautiously confided in him.
When I told him that my memories of my past life had returned, he was too shocked to speak at first.
But in the end, he believed me completely and, just like always, stayed right by my side.
That’s why, no matter what happens, I’ll protect him.
I won’t let him be destroyed by my grandfather or killed by the Emperor.
But whether I want to protect him or not, I need to actually move to do that.
And right now, I’m completely stuck inside the Daebin Palace.
No one outright ordered me to be locked in, but the result isn’t any different.
The only places I’m allowed to go are the nearby walking path and the palace gardens.
Go outside the palace walls?
That’s out of the question.
Joo Minhyuk gave me something close to house arrest, saying it was for my own good since I kept collapsing with a fever.
He said I shouldn’t go out of the palace at all for the time being, not even stay outdoors within the palace for too long, until my health improves.
Apparently, since I’m already sensitive and physically weak, and with the cold winds starting to blow, I need to take care of myself.
Did I do something wrong?
It’s not like I ever came home late or anything.
I didn’t even go out that often—just maybe twice a week.
Was that really such an eyesore?
When the chief eunuch came to deliver Minhyuk’s orders, he tried to calm me down and explained gently.
“Your Highness, His Majesty is truly concerned for your health. You’ve had a high fever three times in the past month. Isn’t it natural for him to be worried? The court ladies in your residence are also deeply concerned. Please consider your health.”
Three times a month. Big deal.
“When Grandfather came, I had fevers every day. This doesn’t even count as being sick. I still managed just fine back then… Honestly, I’m less sick now that he’s not around. I really am okay….”
When I pouted and muttered that, the chief eunuch looked at me with a sorrowful expression.
Crap. Did I just reveal how badly I was treated before?
I have to be careful.
If I’m not, I might come off as weak and pathetic.
“I’m glad to hear that, but these orders are for your sake. Even if it’s inconvenient, please endure it just a bit longer. Take the medicine that was sent, and once your fever goes down, you’ll be allowed out again.”
Okay, but how long is “just a bit longer”?
There are things I want to eat with hyung, and if I’m going to introduce Hyunwook, it’d be better to do it away from prying eyes.
I was so dejected after hearing that from the eunuch this morning.
My mind was restless, so I went out to get some air, and before I realized it, I’d come all the way out here.
I’m really far from my residence—when did I even walk this far?
I must’ve just wandered here while lost in thought.
It hasn’t even been two hours since Minhyuk told me to rest and not go outside.
This could look like open defiance.
I’d better head back quickly.
Ugh, why is it so cold?
I only threw on a light cardigan thinking I’d walk for a bit.
I need to head back right now.
‘Cough, cough.’
Even my throat’s starting to act up.
“Your Highness, are you cold? You’re coughing quite badly… The fever only just subsided, but it seems you’ve overexerted yourself again. Let’s return quickly.”
“No, I just choked a little while sighing. Cough.”
Seriously, what kind of timing is this?
I wasn’t trying to look weak, but here I am, coughing my lungs out like some tragic heroine.
It was right then—just as I was bent over in a coughing fit—
“…What is going on right now? You, from the Daebin Palace. I told you not to leave your quarters.”
A cold voice hit the back of my neck, and strangely enough, I was so startled that the coughing stopped immediately.
Guess people really can get scared out of choking.
Even the sound of approaching shoes behind me sent shivers down my spine.
My body froze mid-cough.
I tried to say something to explain—but suddenly, my feet left the ground.
* * *
