“That woman is just a piece in a long game. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Jae Hun tilted his head at Tae’s bitter sarcasm.

“Then why are you treating her so well?”

“Infatuation clouds one’s judgment. People get lost in momentary emotions and make foolish decisions.”

“You speak as if you’ve experienced infatuation.”

“It was my parents who experienced infatuation.”

Jae Hun pressed his lips firmly together.

A hint of bitterness flashed in Jae Hun’s eyes as he looked at Tae.

Tae continued, ignoring Jae Hun’s reaction.

“If you win someone’s heart, it becomes easier to use them as you please.”

“Are you saying you’ll win over and use Lady Yeoul’s heart?”

“I can’t sprinkle ashes on a nearly cooked meal. There’s always a chance I might change my mind and not go through with the selection process.”

Tae’s gaze grew colder than ever.

“I must make that woman my concubine, no matter what it takes.”

It was a stark contrast to the smile he had shown in front of Yeoul earlier.

“I will make her fall in love with me. It’s more useful that way.”

Jae Hun let out a small sigh.

Although his personality was rotten, Tae’s appearance was outstanding.

Jae Hun thought that if Tae set his mind to seducing a woman, none would be able to resist.

“You have no blood or tears.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I feel sorry for Lady Yeoul. I hope she doesn’t fall for you sincerely.”

Tae scoffed.

Caring? Tae had never even felt pity for Yeoul.

Of course, it was quite entertaining to tease her innocent face that knew nothing of the ways of the world.

But that was all.

Of all people, Han Yeoul. It was a contradictory situation.

If, by any chance, he fell in love with Yeoul, Tae’s carefully prepared plans would turn to dust.

Unless the world turned upside down, Tae thought there was no way he would come to love Yeoul.

Absolutely not.

***

Han’s personal chamber.

Han and Tae sat facing each other with a table of drinks between them.

On the table were ginseng wine brought by Tae and thinly sliced apple confectionery called hong-ok jeong-gwa.

As Han poured ginseng wine into Tae’s cup, he said,

“Oh my. How did you know I like ginseng wine and hong-ok jeong-gwa?”

“It’s a confectionery made in the royal kitchen. It should suit your taste.”

“Isn’t this a side dish served to the king? How could you…”

“A noble person deserves noble food.”

Han picked up a piece of hong-ok jeong-gwa and brought it to his mouth.

The hong-ok jeong-gwa, made by thinly slicing apple cross-sections and simmering them in rice syrup to create a flower shape, tasted as exquisite as it looked.

Han’s eyes crinkled in pleasure at the refreshing sour taste that filled his mouth.

“The taste is excellent. No wonder it’s a food served to the king.”

Han rinsed his mouth with ginseng wine and coughed lightly.

To think that Prince Tae of the Gangsong clan had come bearing gifts.

At first, he was pleased to have a connection with the royal family, but he was also worried that his counterpart was the notoriously violent Lee Tae.

However, regardless, Lee Tae was a member of the royal family.

Considering the future of the family, it was better to have ties with the royals.

“I heard you have a daughter, sir?”

Han’s hand, which was putting down the wine cup, stopped.

A sense of unease engulfed him.

Recently, he had heard that Yeoul had been imprisoned on charges of murder.

He had heard that she had somehow been released, but if Tae had come regarding Yeoul, it must not be good news.

What kind of wench was she, going out and disgracing the family?

Han replied glumly,

“I have an adopted daughter, but what is this about…?”

“A selection process for concubines will be held soon.”

Han’s eyes lit up.

A royal family member about to marry was visiting and asking for his daughter?

A thought occurred to him, and Tae continued,

“It would be great if you could submit a maiden application for her.”

“…!”

Han’s hunch was correct.

Was he here to make Yeoul his concubine?

He didn’t know if Prince Tae of the Gangsong clan was aware of the rumors about Yeoul.

But it was clear that he wanted something from Han.

Since a prince was making the request, Han was in an advantageous position.

Han twirled his beard with his fingers, putting on a troubled expression.

“I apologize, but my daughter is quite lacking. Even if I submit a maiden application, she will surely be rejected. I’m worried it will only bring shame. Wouldn’t it be better for you to look for a lady from another noble family?”

Tae recalled Yeoul’s words.

― When he tries to hide his true intentions, he has a habit of twirling his beard. It’s best to be suspicious of what he says at those times.

Tae scoffed inwardly.

This proposal should be tempting. It was ridiculous how Han was pretending otherwise, trying to gain the upper hand.

Tae replied in a leisurely manner,

“I suppose you’re concerned about the scandalous rumors of her having relations with a thousand men. Indeed, it’s a fatal flaw for someone becoming part of the royal family.”

“…”

“As you suggested, it might be a good idea to look for another marriage prospect.”

“That’s… that’s…”

Han stammered.

He looked like a fox that had lost its prey.

Tae smiled leisurely, looking at Han.

“But I want to make your daughter my concubine.”

Han let out a small sigh of relief as the opportunity presented itself again.

He felt like his energy had been drained in an instant by Tae’s skill of lifting people up and dropping them.

“My daughter is away at the moment… But more importantly, she might be eliminated in the preliminary selection, so how can you ask me to submit a maiden application? After all, with the rumors being what they are…”

“I have your daughter with me.”

“You’re with Yeoul? How…?”

“I found her about to be assaulted by a man and have been protecting her since then. You didn’t know?”

Han wiped the cold sweat that had formed on his forehead with his sleeve.

What a father, not even knowing the whereabouts of his out-of-home daughter.

It was too late to pretend to be a father who cherished his daughter.

“That’s… well, that is…”

“Let’s talk about that later. You don’t need to worry about the rumors. They’re false.”

“!”

Han’s eyebrows twitched.

“Are you saying someone slandered our family?”

“I heard that the beggar who had relations with your daughter suddenly acquired a large sum of money.”

“What is this…?”

Han swayed, seemingly shocked by Tae’s words.

“You just need to submit the maiden application. I will quell the rumors. Moreover…”

Tae leaned his upper body towards Han.

Then he whispered in a low, secretive voice,

“The position of the Right Deputy State Councilor in the State Council will soon be vacant.”

Han looked at Tae with wavering eyes.

“It’s a suitable position for the future father-in-law.”

The State Council was the highest administrative office, and a necessary position to go through for promotion.

He could become a high-ranking official, not just a lower-ranking one, so it was not a matter to be reconsidered.

Han gulped down his dry saliva.

A greedy desire clouded his eyes.

***

Han, who had accompanied Tae to the courtyard, had a broad smile on his face.

“I will be waiting for you to come with Yeoul.”

Yeoul would soon bring immense power to Han.

Han started to call out to Yeoul affectionately.

As Tae turned to leave, his shoulder bumped into a man who had just entered the courtyard.

The man seemed to be around Tae’s age and was about a span shorter than Tae.

However, his stature was as impressive as Tae’s.

The man looked up at Tae and frowned.

“What the…? Hiccup!”

Tae silently looked down at the man expressionlessly.

The man’s face, whose hat was tilted, was flushed red up to his neck, and he reeked of alcohol.

The man flinched under Tae’s oddly chilling gaze.

At that moment, Han roughly slapped the man’s back.

“You fool! Do you know who this person is? Apologize at once!”

The man groaned, rubbing his back, and asked sullenly,

“Who is this person?”

“He is from the Gangsong clan!”

The man looked at Tae with squinted eyes.

Then, as if something had occurred to him, he pointed his finger at Tae.

“Ah~ the scoundrel of the royal family?”

“Hmm.”

Tae narrowed his eyes and looked at the man.

Han bit his nails anxiously, observing Tae’s reaction, and then grabbed the man’s head, forcibly bowing it.

“I will apologize on his behalf. This is our eldest son, Han Sang Jin. He’s not usually like this. Ever since we tried to marry off Yeoul, he has been drowning in alcohol… He’s usually a very affectionate person…”

“Let go of me, father!”

Sang Jin, grabbed by Han’s hand, struggled.

Tae stared intently at Sang Jin for a moment, then chuckled.

“There’s no need to apologize. I will send a message soon.”

“Yes, please take care on your way.”

Tae left Han’s residence.

Only when Tae was out of sight did Han release Sang Jin’s head that he had been holding.

Sang Jin, finally freed from Han’s grasp, asked with a voice full of discontent,

“What is this? Why did that person come to our house?”

“Watch your mouth, you fool! He will be your future brother-in-law.”

“What? Brother-in-law? What do you mean…?”

Sang Jin, who had been thinking quietly, widened his eyes.

With a sober pronunciation, as if the alcohol had worn off, he urgently asked,

“Did he come looking for Yeoul? Where, where is she now?”

“He said he has her with him. He said he will bring her soon.”

Sang Jin collapsed to the ground.

“Yeoul, you… you were alive!”

Then, running his trembling hand over his face, he muttered,

“Thank goodness, really thank goodness…!”

Sang Jin, who had been steadying his shaky breath, suddenly stood up from his spot.

This time, Sang Jin’s face was pale white.

“But what do you mean by brother-in-law?”

“A selection process for the concubine of the Gangsong clan will be held soon. We will submit Yeoul’s maiden application.”

“You’re saying you’ll marry off Yeoul to the Gangsong clan? Do you know what kind of person he is to say such a thing? Do you not know the rumors about that man?”

“How could I not know?”

“He’s someone who beats people and even commits murder at the drop of a hat! Knowing what he might do to Yeoul!”

Sang Jin’s breathing became rough.

His complexion turned not just white, but blue.

“Absolutely not!”

“Be quiet!”

Han reprimanded Sang Jin.

“Do you know how much damage that child has done to the family? If the marriage had been successful, the land in Seongnam could have been ours!”

Yeoul’s former fiancé was the young master of a noble family with a lot of land.

However, the flaw was that he had the mental capacity of a ten-year-old child.

They had intended to marry Yeoul to him in exchange for the land in Seongnam, but the engagement fell through due to the scandal.

A woman shunned even by a man with flaws. It was impossible to marry her off elsewhere.

If this was the case, he regretted not bringing in Yeoul as a servant instead of an adopted daughter.

Just as he was regretting this, Tae had come to visit.

“That wench is finally becoming useful. She’s just repaying us for the food we’ve provided her for over a decade, so don’t you dare object!”

“Father!”

Sang Jin stomped his feet, but Han did not budge an inch.

He didn’t care if Yeoul married a scoundrel or a murderer.

What mattered to Han was not Yeoul’s happiness, but her usefulness.

As long as she could bring benefits to the family, that was enough.