Page 9 : The Greatest Desire
"Remember what I said. From now on, you must be careful in your actions. Moreover, I received news that Your Highness' favorite girl, Hong Kyu Bok, has returned to Joseon. No one knows what the old woman was thinking. But, I'm sure, that old lady behind her must be up to something. Do you understand, My Queen?"
Queen Heo turned her face toward Queen Dowager Min. The woman's head, decorated with a golden dragon hairpin and three flower clips, nodded. Queen Heo also gave a faint smile to her mother-in-law.
"Yes, Queen Mother. I will keep your message in my heart."
Right after Queen Heo answered, a man in a jade-green robe stepped closer to Queen Heo and Queen Dowager Min. Queen Heo turned his attention elsewhere and found Eunuch Han bowing respectfully before him and Queen Dowager Min.
Queen Heo's eyebrows rose. The young woman was slightly surprised to find that the eunuch serving her husband was in front of her. Despite being astonished by Eunuch Han's presence nearby, Queen Heo hopes that Eunuch Han will bring a message from King Uiyang for her.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for disturbing your time. I have come to convey a message from His Majesty to you."
"Please say Eunuch Han," Queen Heo ordered.
"Your Highness, His Majesty requests that you immediately appear at his residence."
Hearing the message that Eunuch Han gave to Queen Heo, Queen Dowager Min smiled broadly. Queen Dowager Min cannot deny that she really hopes for a harmonious relationship between her son and the queen of her choice. At least that way, Queen Dowager Min could show the old lady in the back palace that her son, King Uiyang, no longer needed a concubine to succeed to the throne. Queen Dowager Min firmly believes that the heir to the throne will be born from the young woman who becomes the queen of his choice.
" You must not keep His Majesty waiting. You don't need to worry; I'll make sure you and His Majesty will have a good day soon. That way, you no longer have to worry about what the old lady in the back palace says."
Queen Dowager Min tapped Queen Heo's shoulder lightly. Right after saying that, Queen Dowager Min stepped out first. Leaving Queen Heo and Eunuch Han, who are now bowing respectfully and letting go. Shortly after Queen Dowager Min left, Queen Heo wasted no time rushing towards the main palace.
...
King Uiyang did not in the least distract him from the state documents he was reading. The man in the red robe seemed not to care about Queen Heo's arrival at his residence. In fact, King Uiyang didn't respond when Queen Heo greeted him respectfully before finally sitting down in front of him.
The cold attitude shown by King Uiyang made Queen Heo feel sick. The young woman did not expect that she would again receive cold treatment from her husband. Even though her heart ached, Queen Heo still maintained a smile on her face.
"His Majesty, I heard you call me."
Queen Heo began to speak because King Uiyang never paid attention to him.
King Uiyang sighed before finally placing the scroll he was reading on the table. A little lazy, King Uiyang now lifted his face and focused his attention on the young woman sitting right in front of him. Those black eyes cast a cold glare on Queen Heo.
"There's something I want to discuss with you, My Queen."
"What matter would you like to discuss with me, His Majesty? Please tell me."
King Uiyang adjusted his sitting position for a moment before continuing. His black eyes gave Queen Heo a sharp and cold look. A smirk now formed at the corner of his lips. For some reason, Queen Heo shivered with fear when he noticed King Uiyang's grin.
"Do you remember when I told you that I would let you sit on the queen's throne and make you the mother of the next king?"
Queen Heo's heart somehow felt uncomfortable hearing this brought up again by King Uiyang. But, even though Queen Heo felt something uncomfortable about the topic, she lifted her face and nodded. Queen Heo certainly remembers this saying very well. That day, of course, the Queen will never forget because, in the end, the King will treat her as he should.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
King Uiyang chuckled. His attention returned to Queen Heo's face. The grin returned to his face.
"You should know,My Queen. I never promise anything just like that. Of course there is a price you have to pay for that promise."
Queen Heo flinched. Her brown eyes widened at her husband's words. Today, a scratch of wound graced Queen Heo's heart once more. Her hands, hidden under her royal gown, trembled slightly.
"His Majesty, what do you mean?" Queen Heo smiled bitterly.
King Uiyang brought his face closer. Her head tilted slightly to the left so he could pay close attention to every detail of the curves on Queen Heo's pretty face.
"I will still let you occupy the throne of the queen and be the mother of the future king. However, I want you to appoint a woman as a new concubine for me."
Queen Heo's grip on the daran chima—the traditional skirt—that she was wearing tightened as the pain she felt in her heart tightened. Queen Heo maintained her gaze fixed on her husband.
"His Majesty, the number of concubines I have appointed is more than enough to find the heir to the throne. Why did you ask me to appoint another concubine? Aren't you worried about the rumors that would spread if I took another concubine?"
Queen Heo maintained a firm tone to her voice. The young woman doesn't want her fear of Hong Kyu Bok to come true. Queen Heo is not jealous of the woman who king was talk. Queen Heo simply didn't want to make her heart hurt any more by seeing Hong Kyu Bok and King Uiyang spend time together in front of her, if she was made a concubine one day. Queen Heo doesn't want to break her heart more than this.
"I don't want to hear rejection, my queen."
Queen Heo knew that her greatest fear would soon come true. There is fear that her heart will be hurt even deeperr would soon come true. Queen Heo smiled despite her heart's excruciating pain at King Uiyang's words.
...
Everyone in the palace knew that the two palace elders—Royal Queen Dowager Yeongmi of the Park clan and Queen Dowager Hyoyeon of the Min clan—were often at odds. The two of them often argue and also fight coldly in various ways. Both of them seemed to be competing to show what power they still had. However, I didn't expect that today I would be involved in the debate between the two palace elders.
The frequent debates between the two palace elders often made me feel depressed. They demand that I be someone who is perfect. making sure my duties as a queen are to their liking. Just like today, Royal Queen Dowager Yeongmi's wish is to get an heir to the throne soon. He pressed me again and wanted me to appoint another concubine.
As if the wound I got today wasn't enough, after so many weeks of not visiting me, King Uiyang asked me to come over. I felt restless as I walked towards the main palace. After so many weeks of His Majesty's cold attitude towards me again, he asked me to face him unexpectedly. His Majesty wants me to make that woman into his new concubine.