CH 27.1

The empress pondered for a while but soon discarded her thoughts. In fact, whether Yeonbin’s answer and behavior were a lie or not, it wasn’t important to the empress. If only Yeonbin knew about what’s right and wrong and behaved properly according to his status like now, then was there any importance with his sincerity?

“Raise up.”

The still heavy voice of the empress rang. When Hwawoon sat back, the empress continued.

“His Majesty…”

“…”

“His Majesty is a strong, brave, and daring person when he leads this nation, but when he treats his people, he is kind, careful, and also tender-hearted.”

Hearing the empress’s words, Hwawoon recalled the warm moments of the emperor he had. The warmth that he even gave to him—to a lowly person like him.

Then, the empress spoke to Hwawoon while directly sending a very sharp gaze to him.

“I wouldn’t intervene whether you sincerely changed or even if you’re lying to get His Majesty’s heart. It is impossible to completely read someone’s heart, so is there any meaning if I keep asking you?”

“…”

“However, Yeonbin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t disappoint His Majesty ever again.”

Don’t disappoint His Majesty.

Those words weighed down and penetrated into Hwawoon’s heart.

“If you’re being sincere, then don’t change. And if you’re lying, then don’t get caught. Think of this as your last chance.”

The last chance. The last chance for him to stay close to the emperor.

The empress’s words telling him not to get caught for Hwawoon, correction, Hawoon, who lived Hwawoon’s life, were very heavy words.

“I won’t tolerate you if His Majesty is disappointed and hurt because of you ever again. Do you understand?”

The one, who held the sincerity of Hawoon but had no choice but to live a false life as Yeon Hwawoon, soon bowed to the empress.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will keep that in mind.”

To not disappoint the emperor; that was also something that Hwawoon desperately wanted.

***

“You look like you have a complicated thought, Your Majesty.”

A court lady of the Empress Palace asked Jaran, who had been in a brown study since earlier. The empress, who finally dismissed her thoughts then, turned her gaze and said,

“Rather than complicated… I only have a lot in my mind.”

“Is it because of Yeonbin?”

It was a guess she made since the empress had been in this condition ever since Yeonbin returned. Jaran smiled lightly,

“It is because of Yeonbin… and also because of His Majesty.”

“His Majesty…?”

“Yeah. Because… because of His Majesty. Seon, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is?”

Seon, the court lady who was surprised by the words ‘because of His Majesty’, quickly bowed her back at the sudden question she couldn’t deal with.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, but I could not answer that.”

“Haha. Yeah, I see. Then I’ll answer instead. His Majesty is… a kind person. As you already know, he always respects me, the empress, and he cares for the concubines fairly.”

“…”

“However, Seon. In other words, that also means His Majesty is a very heartless person.”

The unexpected words from the empress turned Seon’s expression stiff. Seon quickly looked around in case there were ears that were hearing, but Jaran continued with a relaxed expression.

“Do you know the reason for His Majesty able to always treat me politely and take care of the concubines fairly?”

“That, that is because His Majesty is a very wise ruler… and…”

Jaran lightly shook her head at the answer given by Seon who was shrinking her shoulders.

“No, that’s not it. His Majesty is indeed a good person. However, this is not something that is possible simply because he is a good person.”

“Then…”

“It is because His Majesty doesn’t know how love feels.”