As she sat in the palanquin, she became more anxious as they approached the palace, her hands starting to sweat.

Having lived confined in the annex under Soon Young’s abuse, she was awkward in dealing with people.

Especially when meeting strangers, her fear and anxiety bordered on terror.

And now she was entering the palace to meet none other than the Queen Dowager.

Already her whole body felt frozen.

She had told Eom Sang Gung not to worry, but in truth she was worried and afraid.

By the time they arrived at the Queen Dowager’s quarters, she was so tense her face had gone pale.

It was not easy for someone who struggled even to appear before others to face the Queen Dowager, the highest elder in the palace.

Her mind went blank, unable to recall anything Eom Sang Gung had instructed her the night before, and her hands hidden inside her jacket trembled.

Seeming to pity her state, the Queen Dowager’s voice was full of concern as she called to her.

“Child, there’s no need to be so tense. Don’t be intimidated, just sit comfortably.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Would you call me grandmother? Our crown prince always calls me ‘Your Majesty’ which makes me quite sad.”

The Queen Dowager glanced reproachfully at her son sitting indifferently, then immediately turned her gaze back to her.

“So, are you settling in well at Unyeongung Palace?”

“Yes, grandmother.”

“I’m glad. Seeing you two sitting side by side like this finally puts my mind at ease. He refused to hold the wedding no matter how much I urged, but it seems he was waiting to meet you.”

The Queen Dowager’s eyes were infinitely gentle and warm as she looked at her.

Would she still be this kind if she knew where the crown prince’s heart truly lay, and what she really was to him?

She glanced sideways at the crown prince sitting next to her and gently bit her lip.

Unlike her, who was uncomfortable as if sitting on a thorny mat, the crown prince’s expression showed no change.

He simply stared at the teacup in front of him with an indifferent face.

“Child. Shall I tell you an interesting story?”

After taking a sip of tea, the Queen Dowager set down her cup and subtly observed the crown prince’s expression.

The corners of her mouth turned up. There was laughter in her voice.

“In his 23 years of life, the crown prince has never once asked me for anything, nor shown greed for anything. But that child came to me, even kneeling, to make a request. Do you know what it was?”

“Mother!”

The crown prince, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised his voice.

Startled, Eun Seol instinctively turned her head to look at his face.

Whether from anger or not, the crown prince’s face was flushed red.

“Such an indifferent child, only calling me ‘mother’ at times like this.”

“If you keep this up, I will leave.”

“I’m not afraid of such threats anymore. If you want to go, go alone. I can play with my new daughter-in-law.”

Ignoring the dumbfounded crown prince, the Queen Dowager called to her.

“Child, if the crown prince ever hurts your feelings, come to me anytime. Don’t suffer alone – if something pains you, say it hurts; if something displeases you, speak up. That’s how men understand. If that doesn’t work, come to me. I’ll take your side.”

The Queen Dowager’s sincere eyes gently comforted Eun Seol.

Her kind words provided no small consolation to Eun Seol’s shrinking heart.

Is this the joy and pride of having someone on your side in the world? Somehow her heart felt full.

“Child, just a moment… Chief Court Lady Joo, bring the prepared items to my new daughter-in-law.”

Chief Court Lady Joo, who had been standing at a distance, brought over a box wrapped in cloth and handed it to her.

“I prepared this to give to my new daughter-in-law. I hope you like it. It’s a gift to thank you for coming to our crown prince. I look forward to your care in the future.”

“Grandmother… Th-thank you.”

“How can you be so lovely? I was curious what kind of person you were, but seeing you like this, I can understand why the crown prince took you to heart.”

She was so happy at the Queen Dowager’s excessive kindness that she could cry.

The warmth she felt for the first time in her life made her momentarily forget the wounds she had received until now.

So she did not reveal that the crown prince’s heart belonged to another.

After a while, he who had been quiet opened his mouth.

“My lady, please excuse yourself for a moment. I will speak with Her Majesty and then leave.”

Perhaps because they were before the Queen Dowager, the crown prince’s tone was much gentler.

.

.

.

After bidding farewell to the Queen Dowager and leaving first, Eun Seol waited in the rear garden near Her Majesty’s quarters.

Just as her tense feelings were starting to settle, someone called out to her.

Turning at the familiar voice, she saw Hee Gyeom walking towards her.

Dressed in official robes, he looked quite different from his usual appearance.

“Teacher. What brings you here?”

“This is where I work. It seems you visited Her Majesty.”

“…Yes.”

“But why are you alone? Where is the crown prince?”

“He is having a private conversation with Her Majesty. By the way, Teacher, you look different today.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Seeing him smile pleasantly, she smiled as well.

“I suppose I should call you Madam now. Are you… happy?”

She wanted to say she was happy.

She wanted to smile at him, who worried for her more than anyone and wished for her happiness.

“Why are you curious if another man’s wife is happy?”

Just as she was about to answer, a chilling voice rang out. The crown prince was walking over from a distance.

The crown prince’s cold gaze flew to Hee Gyeom as his icy voice continued.

“Why don’t you ask why you’re curious about my wife’s happiness?”

“I was merely inquiring after her well-being.”

“Well-being? Is that how you inquire after someone’s well-being?”

“I apologize. Please forgive me if I overstepped.”

Seeing Eun Seol’s face growing pale, Hee Gyeom said no more.

“I’ll take my leave now. Madam, I’ll see you again next time.”

She couldn’t even properly greet her teacher whom she was seeing after a long time.

Eun Seol felt needlessly apologetic as she watched Hee Gyeom’s retreating back.

“Anyone watching would think you were seeing off a departing lover. It’s embarrassing for me to watch such a wistful gaze.”

“I apologize. I…”

“Seo Yeom! We’re leaving, so make preparations.”

Before she could finish speaking, he called out to Seo Yeom in the distance, ordering him to ready the horse and palanquin.

She couldn’t understand why he was so angry.

* * *

She felt uneasy all the while watching the crown prince go straight to the men’s quarters upon arriving at the palace residence.

She spent the evening telling Eom Sang Gung and Geum Ok about her visit to the palace, and it was late at night when she was finally alone.

It had been an exhausting day. Just as she was about to extinguish the candle to go to bed, the crown prince’s voice was heard outside.

“Everyone withdraw.”

The door opened roughly and the crown prince entered, wearing his sleeping robe.

Her heart began to race for no reason as she watched him walk towards her.

Her whole body trembled under his persistent, cold gaze.

“You always drive me crazy. What have I done to make you tremble like this?”

He lifted her chin with his fingertips.

His dark eyes looked down at her without wavering.

“Kim Hee Gyeom, did you give that man your heart along with your body?”

“…!”

At his blatant sarcasm, Eun Seol stared up at him blankly, at a loss for words.

His fingertips slowly traced down her neckline and stopped at the ribbon of her jacket.

“Giving one’s body doesn’t necessarily mean intimate relations between a man and woman. For instance, being held in someone’s arms or… even a kiss could be considered giving one’s body.”

Startled by the rough grip on her nape, she opened her eyes wide just as his lips gently touched hers.

Eun Seol unknowingly turned her head, avoiding his lips.

“If you mean to disgrace me, stop here.”

“How could that be? Why would I disgrace my wife? I simply dislike others touching what’s mine.”

His voice, cold and biting to an extreme degree, held no emotion.

To him, she was merely an object.

An object he could play with and discard when bored, yet one he disliked others having so much that he needed to destroy it with his own hands to be satisfied.

“Your current feelings are what disgraces me, my lord. Do you intend to embrace me while endlessly doubting me like this?”

“Men are…”

He trailed off, gazing at her intently.

It seemed he was hesitating to say something for a moment.

For a very brief instant, she felt as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have. Her eyes widened and her heart began to race erratically.

His slightly trembling gaze remained fixed on her, and the breath escaping his parted lips was hot enough to feel on her skin.

However, his touch was not gentle, and his voice was colder than ever.

Why?

She felt a chilling coldness from him even as he approached her with heat.

Why did a part of her heart feel so cold, even as his gaze burned into her and his touch was just as persistent?

As he untied the ribbon of her inner jacket with one hand, he whispered in a low voice:

“Men can embrace even women they don’t care for. I too am a man. Moreover, you are my wife. Whether it’s doubt or not, we can find out from now on, can’t we?”

His voice was quiet and low.

For the first time, Eun Seol hated the man before her.

Until now, she had been unable to hate him despite all the rumors surrounding him.

Her feelings for him, which had already grown too large, made it impossible even for her to control.

But in this moment, she hated him unbearably.

She bowed her head with a long sigh.

Suddenly, his cool voice flowed from his lips as he gripped her face with his fingertips.

“I warn you, from now on don’t think of anything else and focus only on me.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than he pulled her waist and embraced her.

Their bodies pressed together without a gap.

“M-my lord! Just a moment…”

“I told you not to think of anything else and focus on me.”

His lips roughly claimed hers.

His hot breath entered her mouth and began to stir as if to melt her.

She tried to push him away to catch her ragged breath, but he didn’t allow even the smallest gap.

Like this, she didn’t want to be embraced by him in this way.

Even if it wasn’t love, at least she didn’t want to spend a night that would be remembered as a wound.

Though she loved him and held him in her heart, it didn’t mean the wounds he gave didn’t hurt.

Her eyes reddened and tears welled up, blurring his face.

The tears she had held back streamed down her cheeks. Sorrow rose in her throat and her voice trembled as she spoke.

“I don’t want this. Please let me go.”

“Ha, did you just say you don’t want this?”

“Yes. I don’t want this. I’m not some woman you can casually take to bed. If you need a woman to warm your bed all night, go to a brothel or… go find Min Ah.”

“Do you not regret those words? If I leave now, I may never come to you again. Are you alright with that?!”