3 The Rich Man

Brother died and married sister-in-law.

A criminal investigation started

There was an old custom that dictates that when and if an older brother passes on, the younger brother is obligated to take care of his deceased brother's wife.

His brother, who was the prince, died. After that, Gyo Jin, who was newly appointed as the crown prince, and later had worn the emperor's crown, declared that he would welcome Han Seung-Eun, his elder brother's wife, as his Empress.

The Crown Princess came from a lowly family, but despite that, the people accepted her because she had a wing seal on her. Whether one had a monarch seal or a wing seal, a seal is engraved on the back of the hand for women and on the chest for men.

However, despite being a woman, the Crown Princess was an extremely rare case - her seal was located on her chest. The seal did change in position when the princess was very young. The first wing seal can still be seen on its original place on her hand, albeit dimly. It justified how a woman without the backing of an influential family was able to rise to the position of the empress.

That being said, Gyo Jin's extreme compassion for the Empress was the main reason she was able to become the Empress. Gyo Jin looked at her with compassion, secretly admiring her from afar even when she was still a crown princess.

Gyo Jin's heart couldn't help realizing that there was no room for him to intervene between two persons bound by the monarch's seal and the wing's seal.

If it wasn't for Gyo Jin's brother…..

Without his older brother, the crown prince's position would have been his. The monarch's seal may have been engraved on his chest, and not his older brother's. Of course, the seat next to Seung-eon would have been his as well.

Why isn't she mine…...

A plague struck the whole country and citizens struggled with growing hunger and poverty. The terrible plague took the lives of several important people, which as luck would have it, including his own brother, who had the seal of the monarch.

His brother's life ended in vain. After his brother's life was lost, Gyo Jin naturally took over not only the position of the Crown Prince but also Seung-Eun, who tried to enter the temple after losing her husband.

"You don't have to feel overwhelmed."

"...."

"With my greed, I have kept you by my side, so this is as much as I can hope for….. Don't take it as if you have an obligation to sleep with me."

"I'm sorry."

Seung-Eun, who later became the empress, just grew colder and colder. Not even once did she show that radiant smile of hers which was always shining when she was next to her deceased husband.

How can she laugh when her own father had coerced her to stare as her house crumbled, forcing her to meet a second husband. Although he didn't notice her cold gaze, it was clear Seung-eun wasn't happy with Jin. She had never visited him on her own accord.

Still, Jin was good to her. The wish for a relationship that could not be granted has connected both of them as a couple. However, to Gyo Jin, it would be a luxury to be greedier and hope for more. Jin could wait for as long as he could for Seung-Eun to come to him first. He believed that time would someday open the doors to her closed heart.

However, the fact that both of them were in an unusual relationship broke Gyo Jin's previously firm commitment.

"If the empress doesn't bear her first child, she wouldn't be able to enter the Royal Harem."

The Empress Dowager's words were directed towards the Empress, not the Emperor. The Empress Dowager was incensed by the fact that the two did not sleep together often enough even though she had protected her position carefully. This, coupled with the fact that she could not bring in another concubine, caused her to never cease her preaching.

"It has been almost three years since the Emperor entered the *DaeSeongJeon. Rightfully so, it is the monarch's duty to have concubines to bear his descendants so that the imperial family may prosper. Your vassals are also waiting for a concubine selection. ​ If you both really like each​ other,...… you should get a legitimate son as soon as possible.``

Ever since Seung-eon became his older brother's wife and became the Crown Princess, the Empress Dowager had never liked her once. The daughter of a low-ranking official born from a humble family -​ how can she do such difficult work as demanded from a crown prince's wife, and does she even have the dignity to carry herself as a crown princess?

However, in any case, the Empress was rightfully an empress for she had a wing's seal. It is the law that the Emperor cannot take any concubine until the empress has a legitimate son, so Empress Dowager has to ask her to birth a son as soon as possible.

"… … Will you come to the new concubine's residence tonight." As soon as the empress came out of the palace where she stayed, the empress said. With her pale face bowed like the moon on a winter night, Jin couldn't even make eye contact with her and he feared that she would leave him silently.

"Don't mind what our mother says. You're telling me about it because the appeal has been raised by mother, but if you redirect your attention to organizing the upcoming banquet, you'll soon forget about this matter."

"It's something your majesty has to do one day."

Jin couldn't answer right away. The empress knew that she couldn't help raising the matter, but it was like a stab in the heart to Jin. Wouldn't he know she was saying that she actually doesn't want to share her bed with him, but since it was her duty to do so, she has to just be done with it - including bearing him a son.

"…I'll visit you before midnight."

Jin said it in a moment of confusion and regretted it dearly afterward. Stubbornly holding on to​ her heart, her first time was torture. Similarly to Jin, it felt as if even the scars of the past were gouged out with a knife. That day, for the first time ever, he saw how crimson of her red wing​ seal remained blurred.

Jin's heart was full of resentment.

Since he had already ascended as the Emperor, why hasn't the seal disappeared? If it was not going to disappear, a new seal had to have been engraved on her chest. His brother, who was supposed to be the emperor, could not even ascend to the throne and died from the plague. The one who survived and ascended the throne is the one who is really suited for the throne.

But why….? Why….?

The remnants of the seal on her white breasts were engraved in his sight as he entered her.

Do you think she will be yours just because she slept with you and gave birth to your child?

It seemed to be constantly asking.

No, he laughed at the woman whose love had died.

********************************************

"Your Majesty, I'm cutting it. The prince has been born."

Ten months had passed since their first union. When the empress did not receive her monthly​ guest 15 days later, she had a vein that felt smooth like a rolling bead, which meant she had conceived.

Three months later, the empress's stomach was growing rounder. The time for delivery was close. Her belly was so big that she could not walk alone unaided.

"Hold him, Your Majesty."

He held the child in his arms. Jin, who had been wandering nervously outside the living room all this time, knew he had to maintain his dignity, but he couldn't keep his mouth shut as he held the child.

"Oh, my God…."

The only weight Jin could feel was from the baby's quilt, and the child was just as light, so he was unsure of what to do. If he lowered his arm a little, it felt as if the baby would fall, and if he lifted it up, it felt as if it could be blown away by the wind.

"Your Majesty, if you open your arms like that, the baby…."

"Huur….., yeah, yeah. Help me out. It's too difficult to hold."

Finally, when he handed the child over to the empress' arms and looked at her face, he noticed how he already looked like his mother. Jin stretched his finger forward without thinking.

"Ah."

"It looks like you already know who I am ."

It was an amazing and mysterious moment. The moment when all five fingers of a delicate child were wrapped around one of his fingers, fragile as if it could be blown away by his mouth.​ It was​ warm. Jin felt that he wouldn't be able to forget this moment for the rest of his life to come.

Do you understand? I'm your father."

The child's name was Seung Wan.

The little boy, who held onto Jin's hand tightly from the beginning, had a face which bore an uncanny resemblance to the Empress'. He loved him so much that he didn't want him to fall. The child called Jin with the wrong pronunciation and walked towards him while holding his nanny's hand.

"Abba, abba. hemp. Maah."

"Your Majesty, you have to say Abamama."

They spent time together once or twice a day at most. Seung-wan kept looking for Jin even when he was together alone with the Empress.

With a smile on his face, not unlike that of a child, Seung Wan used to call him,

"Abama, abama," with a smile on his face.

"Come here."

This first child was adorable and lovely in his own existence. He wanted to stay next to Jin whenever possible. There was also a time when young Seung Wan was told that he shouldn't wander outside too much. At that time, he was aggrieved and sad and would go waiting and looking for his Abamama all day long.

"I barely fell asleep just now. I've been looking for you so much... it's hard to sleep."

"I'm sorry, if I could, I would have come a little earlier."

"Don't say that. Didn't you come here even though you were busy?"

Oh, somehow Seung Wan's eyes were red and swollen, so Jin dabbed the corners dry while he was sleeping. Jin kissed him three or four times on his forehead and gently tidied up his hair behind him.

"Your Majesty."

"Hmm?"

"Are you going to sleep here tonight?"

"Today…?"

"If your Majesty is present when he opened his eyes, I think Wan-i will like it... … also"

Seung-Eon stuttered and avoided his gaze. Jin quickly responded by nodding his head and pretended not to be close to her.

"…I should thank Wan-i."

He joked, but the words were full of sincerity. It was all thanks to Seung-Wan that he was able to spend more time talking to the Empress and stayed in the same place together for a long time.

However, the fact that the empress has never slept with him since the night they conceived Seung Wan made Jin feel uncomfortable. They were husband and wife, but they couldn't share their minds properly.

"Your Majesty, I'm going to put out the lights."

"Yes, yes."

Jin thought that if he asked first, she would accept him. They'll do it, thinking it was an obligation. However, for one.., he didn't want to go that far. She was already an empress who had no choice but to accept him due to her duty. He didn't want to force her anymore.

And… he was afraid.

There will still be red wings on the Empress' chest. How painful was it to see the seal of the wing during the whole length of the intercourse. Jin closed his eyes as he looked at the empress's face, which was barely visible in the dark. A complicated thought grew into a long thorn and churned around in his head.

Even in his dreams, he was running away from his imagination.

'If you don't cut it out, …..she won't be yours.'

Jin knew it was a dream, but his body wouldn't listen. As the man standing behind his back held his sword with his hand, the sword and hand merged as if they were one, and the Empress standing before his eyes revealed the seal clearly embedded on her bosom.

'Come on, hold it properly. If you don't do it now, she'll run away again.'

Resistance was meaningless. The hand holding the sword gradually approached the Empress.

'Cut it out, now!'

Eventually, as the sharp blade tore the soft flesh, he realized that no one was standing behind him. It was him. It was his will. The wing-seal is cursed, so, as long as he could tear it out, it didn't even matter to him even if the Empress' life was in danger.

"Abamama… ?"

Jin wanted to tear out Seung-Eun's wing-seal.

As his mind became clearer, the moment he grasped onto his sword even harder, he realized that what he was holding in his hands was no longer the handle of the sword. A child, his delicate arm in his hands, whimpered in pain. At the same time, his dream shattered as he awakened.

"AAAHH!!!, Wan-a. Seung Wan!!!"

As if emerging from having been sunk in deep waters, Jin woke up from a cold and heavy dream, gasping and retching. His strength naturally drained from his hands.

"Abamama?"

Everything was covered in darkness, but he could see that nearby, a pale white face was staring lifelessly at him. Jin was struck into silence.

"It is…...."

Jin's head was spinning.

Suddenly, he thought of apologizing to Wan-I who had been caught by his arm and was probably in pain. However, what happened in his dream was there in front of him. Meanwhile, the Empress, who woke up due to the fuss, lit up a candle nearby.

"Sire? Your complexion…... Have you had a nightmare?"

"...."

Their eyes met. They were a pair of bright twinkling eyes resembling what he had seen in his dream. Jin was shocked and stepped back - as if scalded by fire.

"I..., I left something behind. I have to go somewhere."

"What?"

"That…., something happened. Never mind...…"

There was no matter which could have made the emperor busy enough to leave an empress behind at dawn. But as soon as he heard her word of consent, Jin remembered what he had done to her in his dream and hurried to get up from his bed.

"Your Majesty!"

Jin felt ashamed to look at the empress and so he ran away without looking back. He couldn't even reply to her because his stomach seemed to be burning from the terrible acid of self-hatred which had made him nauseous. Jin was able to breathe, and raggedly so, only after coming out – his eyes closed.

No matter how much of it was a dream, Jin could not bear to see what he had done to the empress.

Such a thought haunted him for a while afterward, and even to the extent that greetings from other concubines became a reason to avoid the Empress's face. The conviction in her clear eyes reminded him of what he had done in his dream, and his guilt weighed heavily on his head.

The fact that the country's situation was also exhausting to manage, drove reason and rationality out of Jin's head.

"Today is *Seoigung... So where's tomorrow?"

"You have to lead me to the palace."

Contrary to his heart, he fell asleep in Gwibi's palace the other day.​ She was strongly​ recommended by the Empress and was a woman of virtue. Because of the relationship they had on the first day, they laid together and she gave birth to the second son, YiDo. After that, he had to visit her once a month according to the law.

Today, it was Yeo Bi's turn - the daughter of a general who recently contributed to the country - and Seo Bi – whom he will meet again tomorrow. If he was to find the Empress, he didn't have to go to the concubines' palace. Otherwise, he had to sleep in a concubine's palace for political reasons.

"Welcome to your Majesty the Emperor. New concubine, Yeo-bi is greeting you,"

"Sit down. I heard you caught a cold. I didn't know if it got better."

It was Wan-i who remained in his heart despite the repetitive weary days. Even after spending the night with the concubines due to various circumstances, he still dragged his tired body to find the child every time before daytime ended. It was the only comfort he sought in hard times.

"Did Wan-I not toss and turn all night?"

"It may take some time before you fall asleep, but once you do, you sleep deeply and do not wake up."

The child over the age of eight could sleep in the same bed as his mother but when the emperor came, he had to sleep alone in a small palace in the residence of Empress Wan Eun.

No matter how much of royal blood he was, Wan-I was just a child. The lonely nights must have been awkward and terrifying, so Jin should have entered the Empress's place for the sake of his child. The regret which came late fell on his heart like heavy snow.

"I will go out to see the prince, watch the surroundings."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jin opened the door carefully so as not to disturb the child's sleep. He wanted to see his face once more, but Wan-i, who was lying on the bed, woke up.

"Wan?"

He just woke up and opened his eyes. Seung-wan was smiling even though he could complain about his weariness.

"Abamama, you are here."

Laughing and seeing Seung Wan's entire hand weaving with two fingers that he held out, one memory from the past came to the surface. The Empress was always smiling next to his brother. Here was an old face that didn't show him a piece of laughter.

"Why wake up at this hour, why don't you sleep a little bit longer ?"

"Yumogaa​ ​"

"Huh?"

"The Yumogaa said Abamama will come at this time... She said you were coming even when I was sleeping."

That's why I'm awake now.

"Yes, yes. "

"Did you miss your father so much? Anyway, I'll come even during the daytime."

Jin patted Seung Wan's head in praise and kissed his headful of soft hair. The child woke up early because he missed him. The smell of milk and honey lingered subtly at the tip of his nose.

"You can't stay long during the day, oh-no."

"What's wrong?"

"Uh, my mom said I shouldn't say this.​ ​ Mother said you might be tired."​

"That's not something that you should worry about."

"Really?"

"Well then, Father is coming to see his son. How can he be tired?"

"Ah….."

Even though he smiled on his face, he thought that he had told Jin his mother's secret. The child only smiled as if relieved. The sweet scent grew slightly darker.

He made a promise that he would never tell her because Wan was a little restless, perhaps because he thought he had told his mother the secret even though he was smiling. Only then did the child show a relieved smile. The sweet scent became a little darker.

"It's commendable that you're already worried about your father's work."

Yi Do, two years younger than Seung-Wan, smelled similar, but it was not comparable to this one. Wan-i smelled very sweet. Jin wondered if all children smell like that, but Wan-I was oddly special. From the head down to his neck and hand. There was a scent which drew him in, which was the same all over, yet different. Jin, who buried his head as if being possessed by his thin nape, found himself puzzled and let the child go.

"Well?"

Then, the nightgown Wan-i was wearing slipped down under his shoulders. While sleeping, the strings had loosened.

"Uh, huh?"

The child, who still does not know how to tie the clothes strings, opened his eyes wide.

It was the same as Jin's eyes.

When he chanced upon the child's white chest – which was clean like well-baked white porcelain – Jin was struck speechless for a moment.

Despite having a face that resembled the empress, there was no seal of wings on his chest. "Ah… *Goongin-"

"No, stay still."

"Yes?"

"What, it's nothing ...Come closer "

The curse eats at him for a long time. The fact that there was no wing-seal on Seung Wan's chest was actually a little miserable, but it somehow made Jin feel deeply relieved. Seung-wan is the child of an empress with a wing-seal, but he was also the child of GyoJin, who became the new emperor. He is never the child of his deceased brother.

So he hoped that there would not be any seal of guidance for Wan-i. Whether it is the seal of the monarch or the seal of the wings... He didn't want to see any of the seals carved under Seung-eon's face anymore.

"Woah."

"Yes, Abamama."

"You look sleepy."

"No!"

Straightening the front and tying up the strings, Jin, who strangely felt at ease, pulled up the corners of his mouth and looked at his son's face. He must be tired - he was barely opening his eyes.

He'll fall asleep as soon as he lies down on the bed. When Jin hugged Wan, who was trying to straighten his back, and laid his hair on the pillow, his big eyes widened. There was a growing resentment.

"I'll be next to you even if you wake up. That's enough, right?"

"Abamama, those words …are they true-"

"Sure, yes. When you wake up, breakfast together... Wan?"

He must have been so sleepy that he couldn't even talk. Jin kissed his son's cheek. Wan-I closed his eyes as soon as he felt relieved, smiling faintly. Even if he was his first child, there were times when he was too pretty. When Jin saw Wan-i, he couldn't even recall the Empress Dowager's repeated advice not to favor any one child.

He was really special in many ways. Jin, who was about to kiss him again, stood up after sensing someone's presence behind him.

"I'm sure I gave the order to secure the perimeter if you can come in here—"

"Are you with Wan-i? Go to DaeSeongJeon and do take a break."

As expected, it was the empress. Since it was a meeting with three people after a long time, Jin first turned his head with an awkward smile.

"That's the time off, and I don't need another break."

"...."

Seung-eon sat next to him without saying a word.

Do they have anything else to say?

Since he has been blatantly avoiding her, he might have something to say.

What should he say if she asked?

Jin looked at the empress, swallowing his saliva.

"Does Your Majesty enjoy having children?"

"…it's just a little pleasure."

"The same is true of new concubines. If your Majesty had not given up this concubine, I would have entered the temple as I originally intended, and I would not have tasted this joy."

"It doesn't make sense that I have become the empress. I don't know if it is against my own will."

"Your Majesty."

And so…unexpected questions and answers come and go. When Jin couldn't keep up with her questions, Seung-eon looked at the sleeping face of her child and reached out with her hand.

"If the person who has the seal of the wing keeps the heart well… It is said that those who have the monarch's seal will remain there even if they are gone. Together."

Tears crystals dripping from long eyelashes slowly dripped down. At that moment, for the first time, he put his hands over Seung-eon's.

"The Empress' seal… … It disappeared without a trace a few days ago….."

"....!!? Is that, that, really true ?"

Suddenly, she carefully intertwined their fingers and looked at him with affection, as she did when she was next to his brother.

The tears flowing down were her guilt for Jin's brother, but the sparkling eyes reflected heartfelt feelings for Jin. He understood because it was him who stared at victory more closely than anyone ever had.

"Seung-eon... I've been eagerly waiting for this day."

The horrible nightmare was wiped clean from his head. Han Seung-eon's tender heart was​ finally heading towards Gyo-jin. The wings, which had a bright red glow like that of an inferno, were no longer in her body.

It's as if it didn't exist at all from the very beginning.

That night, Jin had a magnificent dream.

The wing-seal burned in hell-fire and started to distort. He clapped and laughed for a long time as he watched the seal, which had been burnt black, eventually turned into ash, scattering without even holding its shape.

Yes, go away forever.

You have caused me suffering for such a long time.

And don't show up in front of me again.

The person whom Seung-Eon cherishes is not a man who has the seal of the monarch.

… … Now, look. Who is the person who whispers affection despite standing at the end of his life?

************************************************

"Your Majesty, are you there?

"Here you are."

"I think I asked you before... I keep asking questions."

"You can keep asking."

Jin held back tears that seemed to spill even when he sighed, holding her thin hand. Scent of death emanated from the person who was close to death and could not see even an inch ahead anymore.

"I want to be buried in the same grave as your Majesty. Although we didn't start as one, I hope the end is together."

"It shall be, then."

Over the next 9 years, Seung-Eon would often say this with their fingers intertwined. Jin was happy when he first heard it and that has always been the case ever since, but now, He was aggrieved. The fact was that Seung-Eon was going to leave his side soon - every cells in his being can feel it. Even while feeling the weight of the hand that he was holding."

"Please …. Wan-i.. is still young."

"He is my child, I'll make his life prosperous, don't worry."

Pale white lips smiled sweet. Instinctively, he realized that this would be the last word she'd say with her mouth while she was alive.

"Don't go."

"...."

"Come on, just a little bit more-"

"In the next life, from the beginning…."

Seung-Eon held only Jin in his eyes until the moment of her death. Her breath stopped right there and the words did not continue further, but the meaning was clear. She grieved for the​ relationship that couldn't continue since the beginning and in the next life, she would have wanted to only connect with him.

"Your, Your Majesty… the sky."

Therefore, the curse had to remain subdued forever. Jin, who was surrounded by the court officials outside, opened the windows. He sighed and as if he was possessed, he shouted that the curse had appeared again.

"no… … I can't do this."

It was a night with a crescent moon. A hidden light bursting forth, the crimson seal of wings, wrapped around the crescent moon and soon scattered into the night sky. The same thing happened on the day his brother died. That means- ...

"No, Seung-eon. please… No no!"

White dust scattered.

Seung-Eon, who had just been lying on the bed alive, disintegrated into dust whiter than his eyes and slipped out of his futile grasps. They did not remain in his hands no matter how much he tried to hold onto it. Rather, they disappeared faster the more he tried to hold on. All that was left was the white nightgown that Seung-eon wore last.

His wife, who had lived with him as a married couple, gave birth to his children, lived as one​ flesh, had him in no time. No, she was taken by heaven…..​

He was Seung-eon's last choice, but the Heavens took her back and tried to reunite her with his brother. He was his empress, the only and true wife who gave birth to his oldest son, and the only one he wanted to be buried with him in the same grave.

What the hell is the promise of heaven, and what is the seal of the monarch and the seal of the wings.

'What is it that breaks a new kite in the life of a human being?'

What the hell is that seal?

His brother had never been a monarch from the beginning.

He did not deserve to be a monarch because he had only gained his throne from a plague ?!!

No, it can't be!

"Why are you not giving it to me? My brother who died from illness deserves a seal, but I don't have that qualification to live and become emperor????!

With a heart full of curses, he ran to the temple and pounded on the inscription of the words of heaven. However, the only reply he got was the cold air moving along his skin. Even when he shouted out with all his might, almost vomiting blood, the sky was silent. On the first line of the inscription, the two seals were still shining in different colors, and the monarch's seal was not inscribed on his chest.

If you ignore it without answering it, you have no choice and pay the price.

Jin's head was covered with only one thought as he placed the empty coffin into the tomb during the funeral.

He was already living a divine punishment.

Starting with burning his brother's tablets and temples under the guise of an accident, Jin burned all traces of the monarch-seal and wing-seal which had remained in the palace over the years. He felt like he wanted to destroy the only inscription left from the burned temple right away.

He couldn't do too many things at once. The fire that broke out in the temple had caused unrest amongst the citizens. If too many things happen at once, there will be adverse effects, so he could not hurry.

If you do a lot of things all at once, it will only backfire, so there is no need to rush.

Step by step, Jin will erase the traces of heaven from the earth. He had enough time left to accomplish such a great task, and even if heaven did not recognize it, he had power as the lord of this land.

"Keep a close eye on the children's chest and hands and report to me."

The seal of the monarch and the seal of the wings arise only from the emperor's descendants. It is rare enough to appear once every hundred years, but there are exceptions, so it could happen to his children right away.

As a result, all the children were guarded separately, and once a month, the children were brought together for various reasons to be checked in person. If one wears a traditional imperial robe, one can't hide the seal on one's chest, and one can't wear gloves when receiving a gift...

…Even if it's a one in a million chance occurrence, it will be revealed.

"Thank you for your kindness."

YiDo, his second son, was the first to kneel. Afterward, the prince and princesses, who stood according to their age, knelt down in unison and raised their bodies. The children's faces, which were adorned with colorful pearls, were bright, and Jin looked at his children with a good smile on his face without saying a word.

The hands holding boxes of pearls, and the chests exposed through the robes.

"Abamama, please enjoy the heavenly water."

If it appeared again, he would kill it and destroy it. If any of the children in front of you have a seal, he will kill it and sacrifice it to heaven. Jin's eyes were kind, but in his heart, hellfire ravages.

The flames which exploded the moment Seung-Eon died had touched Jin and turned into hellfire. The hellfire wandered with nothing to burn, so it needed prey thrown onto it. There were no exceptions even for a child.

**********************************************

"Your Majesty, the thousand court attendants have just returned to the palace."

"As soon as they reach DaeSeongJeon, tell them to come here."

After the banquet, Jin, who was taking off his robes, sighed for a long time. He thought it was​ time for his attendant to enter. Cheon Sanggung was one of his personal attendants who had​ accompanied Seung Wan since three years ago when the then 17-years-old prince had been rebuked by the emperor and subsequently had entered the palace. Of course, there was only one purpose for this. When the Cheon Sanggung, who had entered the DaeSeongJeon, fell flat on the floor, Jin asked a fixed question as usual.

"How was it?"

"He did not have a seal."

The three people who came inside before Cheon Sanggung said the same thing.

"There was nothing unusual about it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You looked healthy."

"The king was always busy, and he often seemed unable to sleep, but he had no other problems."

"That's enough. Get out."

It had already been three years since he met a child who was so beautiful when he was so young.

As a matter of succession, Seung Wan as the crown prince was bestowed the title of king when he came-of-age. He was not brought into the palace on the pretext of paying attention to his safety as a member of the royal family. It was the same for today's event.​

He didn't even think of calling on Seung-Wan from the beginning. Because of this, the second son, Yido, had taken over the work that the firstborn son should have done - which was not a very good thing. After the Empress's death, according to the law, it was said that the crown prince was given the title of the king at the age of 17, but he was not called the palace.

The firstborn's work was passed on to another child. The other child was the only offspring of Hwang Gwi-bi, who took over the place of the deceased empress, and has a prestigious mother-in-law.

This was something that could greatly shake SeungWan's position. The priests belonging to the Empress' faction and court were already secretly demanding that Hwang Gwi-Bi be enthroned as empress, and two years later, if YiDo, who turned twenty years old, was bestowed the title of king in accordance with the law, he will likely demand the position of the crown prince.

In addition, rumors that Seung-wan had gone out of his mind were secretly circulating. Perhaps the rumors were strengthening the forces who wished for YiDo to ascend to the throne.

'Abamama, please enjoy the heavenly water.'

Yi Do.... was not bad in many ways, if he had to say it. Although he was particularly quiet, he always gave the right answer to serious and intelligent questions and always took care of even the most difficult tasks.

In addition, he shared the blood of his mother-in-law, who was famous for his martial arts, and his martial arts skills improved day by day, making it difficult for the generals to confront YiDo.

He would have been a crown prince if he were his firstborn since he had a mother, a mother's family's backing, and his own abilities to boast.

However, there was one thing that bothered Jin, and it was Yi Do's eyes. He was handsome enough to be compared to Seung-wan in appearance, but his dark eyes looming under a pair of thick mountain-shaped eyebrows had the ability to make people pause.

Long slanting eyes which were not small. Emotionless pupils holding no affection. Apart from being indifferent to being indifferent, it seemed that YiDo didn't have any emotions that humans should have. That was why he might have been able to do the many great things that he had done without feeling burdened.

I don't know... if YiDo is staring at me with such apathetic eyes, I feel like I'm going to be digging my way inside.

Even as a child, a wicked heart full of thoughts to kill....

"… Being alone, only useless thoughts deepen."

He may have gone too deep.

He shook his head slowly to shake off his thoughts and immediately took out what was nearby. Fifteen days later, it has yet to be decided whether to call SeungWan to Seung-eon's birthday banquet. It was the first banquet held in three years since it was previously not appropriate to hold a banquet after the temple was on fire.

It was clear that if Seung Wan was not summoned again this time, he would be reaffirming the rumors. Above all, not inviting Wan to a banquet on his mother's birthday...…

After much consideration, Jin settled his mind.

No matter how much Wan's face reminds him of Seung-eon, and even if it causes him grief, now was not the time to dwell on such private feelings. He had to think of Wan-i's position in the imperial family, and he had to let him do his duty as a child.

There was nothing wrong with Wan. All sin comes from the seal. It's a burden that Wan shouldn't bear.

But why, even if Jin hardened his heart in one place he couldn't tell if the disturbing heart was fluttering by Seung-Wan's face. The last time he saw Wan's white and red face when he was 17 years old.

However, even if Jin hardened his heart, he couldn't figure out why his disturbed mind was filled with Wan's face. The last time he saw him, the white and red face belonged to a 17-years-old child.

The memory of his appearance, with him bowing and riding a horse with a slightly anxious expression appeared clearly in his memory – he shook his head to make the thought disappear.

Because of that, Jin hesitated until the next morning, exactly before the order was issued... …

Eventually, he recalled the promise he had made with Seung-eon, so he called Wan and summoned him to attend the banquet.

Jin promised to give Seung-Eon's child a glorious life.

He couldn't break that promise on Seung-eon's birthday.

"I heard you called Prince -il into the palace."

"Has the rumor spread all the way here already?"

A new occasion is being prepared in the banquet hall, and the rumors didn't fail to reach the crown prince's ears."

Around the afternoon, the palace was in an uproar at the news that the prince, who had left the palace three years ago, would return to the palace. Hwang Gwi-Bi, who pretended not to be an Empress but showed signs of discomfort at this news, was gentle and seemed uninterested and unbothered. Finally, YiDo-..….

"I haven't seen you in three years with King Bo Yun."

"Yes, I haven't seen you since you left."

"What do you think?"

"I'm glad to see you after a long time."

An unexpected answer came back to the question he asked quietly. The two were not close. As the eldest, Wan seemed to take care of the other siblings fairly, YiDo wasn't. How many words​ would they have actually shared with each other? It was curious that YiDo's voice sounds very​ sincere.

"Then, why don't you take charge of this banquet, too?"

"If you leave it to me, I'll do my best."

Yi Do replied with a calm voice. And as half expected, YiDo decorated the banquet hall in accordance with formalities and manners.

However, in addition to the unexpected meticulousness that does not suit his warrior self, the banquet was prepared in a way where even a blind person could see that it was meant to be a banquet for the Empress. Jin, who checked only on the day of the banquet, was deeply impressed. Earlier, the Empress Dowager lavished her praises, so Jin had refrained from praising YiDo, but YiDo indeed had done a great job.

If it's this well done, he had to reward YiDo.

It was clear that the Empress would bring up the words, "Bring YiDo to the king​ " so he had to​ prepare a reward before then. Land? Property? Or is there anything else to give YiDo?

When Jin thought a sword wouldn't be bad because he had never rewarded him with a sword, he noticed an empty seat. Although the banquet had begun with Jin seated, Seung-wan's seat was still empty.

"...?"

That's strange.

He didn't think Seung Wan would have done that, but he was a little worried to interfere with matters. However, the moment he saw Empress Dowager right next to him, the banquet hall fluttered once. Sitting at the highest place, any sort of change was noticeable. Jin naturally looked at places where people were looking.

Within three years, the boy who was his son had grown up.

"God, King BoYun. I'm here to see Abamama."

His bright smile penetrates one's heart like an arrow.

A short silence washed over almost simultaneously.

A movement broke the silence.

Seung-wan was performing the dance which the priests should have done, commemorating the dead and sending them to the heavens. It was horrifyingly beautiful. His small gestures were enough to fill the banquet hall with gasps and swept through people's minds like a small storm.

Jin realized it then.

Why didn't I try to see my son?

Jin was breathless. His mind went blank. The white silk which fluttered as it painted the air sent a chilling thrill throughout his whole body. He couldn't even lift a finger in front of the wind slowly​ sweeping through the banquet hall. He couldn't even blink once.

"... As the days pass by, you become more and more like your mother."

The moment that was longer than eternity was over. After saying a word as if he was possessed, the heat that he could no longer contain in his chest slowly escaped from his lips.

However, it did not cool the fire within him. An overwhelming feeling of shame boiled over. It was a long-forgotten yet familiar sensation.

As he watched his son, emotions that should be unheard of had bloomed, but before long, it was already in full bloom.