Hyunwook’s pace quickens as he walks toward the palace.
Having Hanbin staying at the Daebin Palace’s quarters these days offers him a modicum of relief, but the entire environment still feels like walking on thin ice.
Haejoo, who never wanted to return to the palace in the first place, remains tight-lipped, completely refusing to exchange a single word with the Emperor.
Even when the Queen Dowager paid a visit, Haejoo refused to see her and wouldn’t even venture out of bed.
Oddly enough, that notoriously foul-tempered Queen Dowager didn’t say a word about Haejoo’s defiance.
Upon hearing the news of Haejoo’s miscarriage, she had strictly ordered everyone to accommodate him as much as possible to ensure his feelings weren’t further harmed.
The only times Haejoo manages a smile inside the palace are when he converses with Hyunwook and Hanbin.
Lately, he doesn’t even mention Seojoo very much.
When asked why, he replied that he is practicing letting go of his lingering attachment to Seojoo because he wants Seojoo to live his own life—so that Seojoo can live a life entirely his own in this world.
Furthermore, the current atmosphere surrounding the imperial family is highly volatile.
Haejoo continuously demands a divorce from the Emperor, and the Emperor repeatedly rejects it.
No matter how many times the Emperor visits or requests a conversation, Haejoo consistently refuses even the meeting itself.
In the midst of this, Lee Siyoon—whom Hyunwook utterly detested the sight of—could be seen desperately trying to hover by the Emperor’s side.
Siyoon was the very individual who had suddenly barged into the Pyonjon while the Emperor was suppressing the Prime Minister, deepening the rift between the Emperor and Haejoo.
He was the son of the professor who taught the Emperor back when he was the Crown Prince.
Piecing together everything Hyunwook had heard from Han Heesung, the man was an absolute piece of work.
He was the highly envious type who gossiped constantly behind people’s backs, the kind of person from whom no good could ever come by keeping them close.
Why the Emperor kept such a person by his side, and why he didn’t think to shake him off when he clung so desperately, was beyond comprehension.
Hyunwook disliked it in every possible way. At any rate, he needed to get inside quickly, comfort Haejoo, and head to the training grounds—uh?
“What do you think you’re doing!”
The moment Hyunwook reached to pull out his palace entry pass, a powerful force yanked his arm.
Caught completely off guard, Hyunwook was dragged to the side.
Because the investigation into the Prime Minister’s faction was still actively underway, this was a highly sensitive contact.
Hyunwook tightly gripped the wrist of the person holding his arm.
“Who the hell are you to lay your hands on someone so recklessly? Do you have a death wish?”
Though the harsh words were somewhat uncharacteristic of him, Hyunwook felt a distinct instinct that the person was an Alpha, meaning he, as a Beta, had to assert dominance early.
The counter-party was a man wearing a hat with large sunglasses obscuring his face—someone who looked highly suspicious to anyone looking.
“What are you doing? Take off the hat!”
The moment Hyunwook attempted to subdue the man, an strangely familiar voice reached his ears.
“Hyunwook? It’s you, Hyunwook, isn’t it?”
“…Who are you?”
Hyunwook struggled to get a clear look at the man’s face.
Seeing Hyunwook react to his own name, the man took off his sunglasses.
However, even after looking at the man’s face, Hyunwook merely rolled his eyes, failing to recognize him for quite a while.
The man slowly parted his lips.
“We parted when you were far too young, so you don’t remember my face, do you?”
“Uh? Ah, wait a minute, don’t tell me…”
Hyunwook’s large eyes widened even further.
The man who had removed his hat and sunglasses was Cha Taejin, Haejoo’s father from his past life.
He had recognized Haejoo and, the moment his urgent business concluded, had traveled straight to Seoul just to meet him.
However, no matter how much money or connections one possessed, a concubine of the Emperor was far from easy to meet.
On top of that, Haejoo’s grandfather had instigated a rebellion that threw the entire country into absolute chaos, and because of the reports regarding Haejoo’s injuries, it was impossible to even get close to the palace.
In the midst of that process, he discovered that the bodyguard accompanying Haejoo was Hyunwook, and he had decided to approach him.
“M-Mister? Oh my god! What on earth?”
“It is good to see you, Hyunwook. At first, I doubted my own eyes, but to think such a fateful connection existed. It’s truly remarkable. I am so incredibly glad to see you.”
Cha Taejin, his eyes brimming with tears, welcomed Hyunwook, and the two shared a deep, emotional embrace out of sheer joy.
Hyunwook could hardly believe it.
He wanted to inform Haejoo of this immediately.
“Hyunwook. Can we talk for just a moment? Please help me. Our Haejoo is the Daebin Palace, isn’t he?”
“Mister…”
Hyunwook traced over the faint memories of the man’s past appearance.
He had been a man heavily marked by illness, always in poor health.
Yet, the person standing before him felt like an entirely different individual.
While his facial features were similar, he looked far younger, and his complexion and overall condition were completely different from when he was sick.
Swept up by the unbelievable reality that even Taejin had crossed over to this world, Hyunwook’s excitement began to surge.
Today, I demanded a divorce from Joo Minhyuk once again.
Though, as always, I was completely ignored.
With the treason incident being wrapped up lately, Joo Minhyuk was more sensitive than ever.
My refusal to speak with him coupled with my constant demands for a divorce, alongside the ministers pressuring him that I could not remain in the position of a concubine, had driven his irritability to its absolute peak.
The reason Joo Minhyuk claims he cannot grant me a divorce is as follows: because matters haven’t been completely resolved, if I divorce him and leave the palace now, I would easily become a target.
His argument was that those harboring a grudge against the Prime Minister, or the Prime Minister’s remaining faction harboring a grudge against the Emperor, might hire someone to watch for an opportunity.
Therefore, calculating all the variables, he claimed it was best for me not to step outside the palace for the time being.
So, I asked him directly: when exactly would I be permitted to leave the palace?
The answer was unverifiable.
The time frame was immeasurable.
However, he won’t be able to hold out forever either.
The deeply entrenched ministers want me deposed.
For me, getting a divorce is a far better scenario than being officially deposed.
Leaving the palace branded as a criminal would be the absolute worst-case scenario.
That’s why I want to divorce cleanly, walk out with my dignity intact, and make a fresh start, but Joo Minhyuk remains completely immovable, leaving me with no idea when I’ll ever get out.
Having been forced back into the palace, I stayed holed up in my quarters without a word, utterly refusing to step outside.
My arm was still in a cast, and the bruises on my face remained visible.
The only reason I can catch my breath in this place is because Hanbin hyung is residing in the palace with me.
Contrary to what that damn old man told me, it seems he put hyung through quite an ordeal.
He had fractured his ribs, but being a healthy Alpha, he recovered in no time.
Ever since arriving here, hyung has done nothing but walk on eggshells around me.
There is absolutely no reason for him to do so…
At any rate, to put his mind at ease and to find peace for myself, getting a divorce and leaving is the best path… but it isn’t easy.
As I sat alone in the thicket of the garden, lost in deep thought, I heard the voices of Joo Minhyuk and a few of the Chief Court Eunuch’s acquaintances coming from the walking path.
Startled, I instinctively curled my body inward, trying my absolute best not to be discovered.
Though, it wasn’t as if they were actively looking in this direction.
“Did the Daebin Palace demand a divorce again today?”
“…He is simply doing so out of anger.”
“What on earth does he have to be angry about? It was an action taken for the greater good, and the issue was instigated by the Saga’s own family. He is being incredibly irresponsible.”
“You, shut your mouth. Why did you even follow me out here if you’re going to dare insult someone?”
‘Seriously.’
That son of a bitch Lee Siyoon just keeps testing my patience.
Why does he keep keeping tabs on me like that?
Whether I am here or not, he will never even become Joo Minhyuk’s concubine anyway.
It is incredibly grating; now I see exactly why Han Heesung told me to be careful around him.
At Joo Minhyuk’s sharp tone, the Chief Court Eunuch quickly placated him.
“There is still a massive amount of talk regarding the matter of the Daebin Palace Saga. It is even more so because Your Majesty expressed a desire to elevate him to the position of Empress.”
Empress? The Empress?
Hearing this piece of news for the very first time, I clamped a hand over my mouth, utterly aghast.
Why does he have to be so incredibly self-centered?
“Exactly, Your Majesty. The ministers oppose it, arguing that the bloodline of a traitor cannot become the Empress, and I believe that is a perfectly justified opposition. If a person’s own bloodline can betray them, who is to say they wouldn’t betray Your Majesty as well? He could absolutely betray Your Majesty. Furthermore, there has never been a historical precedent where an Omega from a family that plotted treason became the Empress.”
Look at this absolute bastard, will you?
“Lee Siyoon. I am making this explicitly clear: you need only stay in your lane and perform the tasks I assign you well. If you overstep your bounds like this, daring to bring up my concubine and mock him, your turn will be next. I am irritated enough as it is, so if you don’t want to die, shut your mouth. Unless you truly have a death wish.”
“…My apologies, Your Majesty.”
Because he betrayed his own bloodline, he could betray the Emperor as well?
Right. Since they have no idea how Joo Minhyuk utilized me, it makes sense for them to think that way. I can understand their anxiety.
However, I am a victim in this as well, and I utterly detest these people who constantly drive me out to be the villain.
I hate this palace, which is entirely filled with such people, even more.
I need to find a way out as quickly as possible.
After overhearing the conversation between Joo Minhyuk and his entourage, my mind became even more of a chaotic mess.
Perhaps because of that, I couldn’t even force a single meal down today, opting to just drink some juice before lying down in bed.
I must have lost an immense amount of weight, haven’t I?
I was already thin and unimpressive to begin with, but now I am practically at a starvation level.
“…I’m so exhausted.”
“You’re exhausted because you aren’t eating any food and doing nothing but lying down.”
…It’s Joo Minhyuk. He has arrived.
Hearing his voice makes my body flinch instinctively.
I am rejecting him to such an extent that I can’t even remember the last time we looked each other in the eye and had a proper conversation.
Any normal person would have their pride wounded by such blatant disregard, yet he still shows up today without showing a single hint of annoyance.
Truly remarkable, Joo Minhyuk.
“Get up. Let’s eat.”
Unwilling to listen to a single word he had to say, I turned my back to him.
‘Ugh…’
I don’t even possess the strength to roll over.
Mustering every ounce of energy I had, I lay on my side and covered my ears.
“Are you truly going to keep refusing to speak with me?”
“…Just grant me a divorce.”
“That is impossible.”
“Then just stay right there and watch me wither away and die.”
“Don’t be like this. I already told you I was in the wrong.”
“Your Majesty merely acted for the greater good, so what fault could you possibly have? I am simply a person who falls far too short of Your Majesty’s standards. We do not suit one another, so it is only right that I leave.”
“Whether we suit one another or not is for me to decide, so do not speak such nonsense. Eat something before you go to sleep. I’ll come by again.”
Despite saying he would come by again, he didn’t leave immediately, simply standing there staring down at me.
I could actively feel his gaze lingering on me.
After a long while, Joo Minhyuk finally exited the quarters, and only then was I able to breathe properly.
It was then that I checked the text message Hyunwook had sent me.
The moment I looked at Hyunwook’s message, I froze completely, reading the contents over and over again to verify it.
Having confirmed the text, I suddenly bolted upright in bed, fueled by a sudden surge of strength that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
