* * *
Han Heeseong, a dominant Omega of the Yeong Hwagung.
Why is he showing up already?
My heart started pounding like crazy.
No matter how many times I replay it in my head, this scene doesn’t exist in the original story.
Han Heeseong was officially chosen at age 22, going through the official Concubine selection process and entering the palace afterward.
At that time, the Grand Concubine was 23.
There wasn’t a single scene in the novel where he met the Emperor before that.
There was no mention of any private meetings either.
The novel clearly stated that Yeong Hwagung and the Emperor met for the first time after he entered the palace.
Which means… this scene isn’t in the story.
Heeseong is one year younger than me, so he’s 19 now.
Then… their meeting has been pushed forward?
That’s totally possible.
Things in this world are already playing out differently from the original novel, so it’s no surprise that Minhyuk and Han Heeseong’s meeting would deviate too.
Which means the time is approaching—when Minhyuk falls for him.
He fell at first sight in the novel.
Could it be that it’s happening now?
Still gaping at the court lady’s words, I turned back toward them, trying to get a better look at Heeseong.
I couldn’t see everything clearly, but I could tell enough to match him to the description from the novel.
A pale face, monolid eyes long and slanted to the side, eyes like black pearls, a high straight nose, and lips with beautifully shaped corners—this was exactly the way Yeong Hwagung was described.
Unlike the Grand Concubine’s extravagant beauty, the novel said Heeseong wasn’t a “classic beauty,” but had a composed and gentle appearance that quietly captivated the Emperor’s heart.
But how is that gentle?
He’s stunning!
That’s a face that Minhyuk would totally fall for—and then some.
If Yeong Hwagung is making an early entrance, does that mean my death has also been moved up?
The earlier they meet, the earlier my end comes.
No, get it together.
No, Cha Haejoo. Stay calm.
This is different now. I’ve maintained a good relationship with Minhyuk.
If I keep cooperating, he’ll definitely spare me.
So until the end, stay sharp.
Protect your brother. Protect yourself.
My heart pounded so hard it wouldn’t calm down.
To be honest, I was scared.
Terrified.
Something I’d only vaguely imagined had become reality, and now I just wanted to run away.
No matter how many times I told myself it wouldn’t turn out like that, anxiety and fear about an uncertain future washed over me.
Peeking out again, I watched them carefully.
Joo Minhyuk couldn’t take his eyes off Yeong Hwagung and was smiling.
He’s never smiled that big, that freely, in front of me.
Lately, he’s given me a few warm smiles, but even those always felt… fabricated.
But in front of Han Heeseong?
It’s different. Is that the power of a main uke?
Or maybe it’s the pull of a dominant omega drawing in a dominant alpha?
Some kind of instinct drawing them together?
Whatever it is, one thing was clear: that person was Joo Minhyuk’s true omega.
After returning to my palace, I took a short nap and came out into the garden.
The image of the three of them hurrying to the Empress Dowager’s palace, because she was waiting, still lingered in my mind.
Han Heeseong kept smiling brightly at Joo Minhyuk the whole way.
It was such a clear, pure smile.
And Joo Minhyuk, looking back at him, laughed out loud like he was genuinely happy.
The Empress Dowager surely must’ve liked Han Heeseong.
He must’ve seemed very different from how he acts in front of me—so much more gentle.
And yet, here I am, wondering why I can’t stop obsessing over them.
I don’t even know who this obsession is really about.
No—wait.
This isn’t obsession.
I saw it with my own eyes—a gathering of people who clearly intend to throw me away.
Of course I’m scared.
Scared that my future really might turn out like that.
“Young Master, please go back inside. You’ve been out far too long today. The sun’s down—it’s cold.”
At some point, my court lady had approached me.
She’s been by my side all day, and I knew it must’ve worn her out.
“I just really like the new swing chair. And the lights look so nice. Let me stay a little longer. It’s cold—you should go inside.”
“Cold? I’m fine. I’ll stay with you. How could I not, when our Lord is this beautiful? I should be protecting you—especially with the royal guard not even around.”
Even without Kang Hyunwook here, there were surely guards hidden nearby keeping watch. But still, she seemed worried.
“Am I really that beautiful?”
I asked with a playful smile.
In the past, I would’ve cringed at saying something like that.
But maybe I really have gotten used to life as an omega.
“Of course you are! Your amber-colored eyes are like gemstones, your full little lips are adorable, and that skin—our Lord’s skin is pure art!”
Normally, I’d find this kind of sweet talk so cheesy I’d groan.
But today, I actually laughed out loud. I knew she was only saying it to make me feel better.
But after being insulted and belittled so often, a bit of kindness felt strangely comforting.
“Then… why doesn’t anyone love me? If I’m so pretty, why doesn’t anyone love me?”
Maybe it was the wine I’d sipped earlier, but my emotions were starting to get the better of me—again.
I already knew I’d regret all this once the sun came up tomorrow.
“Who says no one loves you? Everyone’s just too smitten to express it properly!”
She looked genuinely confused, which made me burst into another laugh.
“Who? My parents died young. My older brother is always too busy. I’ve lived quietly in this palace without a single ally. My grandfather only ever comes to scold and hit me. Isn’t that funny? Isn’t my life kind of ridiculous?”
“…My Lord…”
“Do you know how the royal family looks at me during court events? That look that says they can’t stand the sight of me? Every time I see that, I shrink back. It makes me feel like I’m something disgusting. I barely even meet them, and yet they treat me like I’m hated. But I get it. Our family… has a history.”
Not that I did anything wrong.
But still—they won’t touch the real culprits, and instead take it all out on me.
That’s just misdirected anger, plain and simple.
“At least His Majesty is by your side now. He’s been paying more attention to you lately, hasn’t he?”
“His Majesty?”
At that, I laughed—really laughed.
The absurdity hit me like a wave.
The wine must’ve gone straight to my head.
“I’m probably the person he finds most annoying. Sure, he protects my dignity… but have you ever looked at his face when he smiles at me? His lips just twitch up, like this—”
That’s right.
It’s always the same: a smile with only the corners of his lips, never reaching his eyes.
There’s never been any warmth in his gaze.
Listing it all out like this, I realize—this palace is more like a jungle than a home.
And now that Yeong Hwagung is finally here, things are only going to get worse.
The thought alone makes me feel so small.
“When the official Concubine arrives… do you think I’ll be allowed to leave the palace and live somewhere else?”
“My Lord! What are you saying? There’s no official Concubine! You’re the one who’s here!”
Her grip tightened around my hand as I drunkenly rambled.
“I’m just the Concubine of the Daebin Palace. I know His Majesty never intended me to be the official one. Once he finds someone he really likes, someone truly suitable, maybe he’ll let me go. Maybe I’ll be allowed to leave quietly.”
I think Yeong Hwagung’s early appearance is what made me like this.
I used to think it might be better if he came sooner, so Minhyuk would let me go.
But now that he’s actually here, the fear has set in—what if things don’t go the way I thought they would?
Is this a crisis?
No. I’m not even in a position to call it a crisis.
It’s just… fear.
What if the bold plans I made all crumble?
What if they were meaningless from the start?
That’s why I want to confirm it for myself.
That it’s okay.
That nothing bad will happen.
That even with Yeong Hwagung around, I’ll still be okay.
That it’ll be different this time.
It’s no surprise the Emperor would love him—he’s the obvious choice.
I just want to live happily.
But I don’t know if that’s possible.
“…Actually, maybe I won’t be able to leave alive, huh?”
“My Lord! What a frightening thing to say! Why would you—?”
“Think about it. After what my family did to the imperial house, would the Emperor really let me live? Still, maybe he’ll feel a little pity. Maybe, if he had even a sliver of affection for me, he’ll spare me. I just wanted to live in the countryside. Raise a cat. Plant a persimmon tree. Meet someone who’d tell me I’m pretty, and love me. I’ve never been loved, so I don’t even know what that feels like…”
I was rambling.
But just imagining it felt nice.
Living in a house straight out of an animated movie.
Sure, it’d cost a lot to maintain, and there’d be bugs everywhere, but even so… waiting for Seojoo to come home in that kind of house—it didn’t sound bad at all.
My brother could catch the bugs, anyway.
“So, with that in mind, want to roast some marshmallows?”
“…Please don’t invent touching reasons just because you want to eat something. No. You already skipped dinner again and just snacked all day. I knew I shouldn’t have called you pretty—it’s made you say all kinds of weird things. I should be punished. If His Majesty heard this, I’d be dead.”
“He’s not even here. And anyway, once morning comes, I’ll be so embarrassed I’ll probably kick all the blankets off my bed. Just forget about all this.”
“Don’t worry, My Lord. I plan to come down with temporary amnesia tomorrow.”
“Thank goodness.”
With that, my witty court lady managed to avoid my marshmallow trap to the very end.
After Haejoo left, Minhyuk slowly walked into the garden.
In one hand, he held a gift box.
He stood perfectly still, just staring at the palace building.
His face was twisted with emotion—far more than I’d ever seen before.
* * *
Esse capítulo é tão triste 😢 ele merece todo o amor do mundo
I hope he heard every single bit of what he said.. my baby deserves better.