CH 1.1

Jin Ye.

“This is my first time seeing a child with such a beautiful name.”

Jin Ye…

“That’s what I’m saying, Mother…”

His heart thumped just by looking at the name that appeared on his thigh. He liked that his fated lover had a beautiful name. He made a resolve to treat her well when they met and to never make her starve. Although he never saw her, the beautiful name was enough to make him confident that he could live by only looking at her.

However,

“The one you’ll serve is more precious than anyone else.”

He never dreamed that it would be the name of the emperor of the Hwan Empire.

A woman with no problem about starving. Not only that, the most supreme woman in the entire empire…

Mugeon entered that woman’s chamber, a palace with no roof ridges.

The lattice door with no torn sheets. The high ceiling that he couldn’t reach even if he stood on tiptoes. The hall that so long that he didn’t know how much he should walk to reach the end.

The small light that repeatedly turned bright and dimmed made his heart uneasy, and the bed covered with the red cloth made his heart sway.

Meanwhile, in front of his eyes, the woman took off her clothes and displayed her shoulder. Mugeon engrossingly stared at it.

To be exact, he stared at his name that was engraved on her right shoulder.

The clear name seal proved their fate.

“Yeon, Mu… geon.”

Even though he was an ignorant son of commoners, he at least knew how to read the name of his parents, lover, and himself.

Mugeon touched the Chinese characters on Jin Ye’s white skin as if he was fascinated, and once again read it.

“Yeon Mugeon.”

A strange emotion stirred in his heart. However he looked at it, it was no doubt his name. Jin Ye let out a laugh.

“It is clearly your name.”

“Yes… I mean, you’re right, Your Majesty…”

Don’t meet her eyes.

Act courteously.

You can’t put your hands on her body.

Seoyeob’s warns repeatedly played before he entered her chamber, but Mugeon had already broken all of them. After he realized it belatedly, Mugeon flinched out of surprise and stared outside.

Outside, there was a dark shadow like that of the Grim Reaper. It was Jo Seoyeob. He was listening to the situation unfolding inside.

Noticing his subtle fear, Jin Ye reached out to Mugeon’s face. The unblemished clean red met Mugeon’s.

“You don’t need to worry about the outside.”

The low voice flowed through her small lips and turned Mugeon’s face red.

“Ca-can I re-really do that?”

He answered back without realizing it, but Mugeon cowered again. He had never learned manners in his life. Still, he thought the way he spoke was really weird. He might have practiced if he knew this would happen. The regret for never learning pervaded his heart.

Nevertheless, Jin Ye calmly responded.

“Of course. Aren’t you my lover that is destined by heaven?”

How could your voice be so nice? And how could your eyes be so beautiful…?

He couldn’t understand why the long eyelashes were so beautiful like the butterfly’s wings. Every time it fluttered, Mugeon’s heart also fluttered in itchiness. A little butterfly ended up nesting inside his chest. For that reason, he became careful even when he took a breath.

The emperor of the Hwan Empire, Jin Ye.

All this time, she was an existence that was extremely distant from him. He had no interest in what she looked like, and what her name was. ‘What would someone like the emperor have anything to do with my life?’ He was content as long as no war happened.

However, that person—the person that was at an unreachable distance—wasn’t only his lover, but also a peerless beauty.

Therefore, he unconsciously turned stiff and kept fumbling with his words.

“Ho-however… how could a lowly person like me stay… under one-one blanket wi…”

Before he could complete his words, her words splashed cold water in him.

“Oh my, but I don’t allow you to go far under one blanket with me?”

“… Ah.”

Mugeon opened his eyes wide and looked at Jin Ye. When the gaze full of questions landed on her, Jin Ye smirked and then tidied up her clothes.

Rustle, rustle.

As she raised up, the sound of the layers of clothes brushing rang inside the silent room.

Without even giving any order to Mugeon, who was sitting in the corner, Jin Ye began to slowly walk inside the wide chamber. Her small feet wearing the black shoes were repeatedly shown and hidden under the skirt. Mugeon looked like he was lost in those amazingly small feet that could fill one of his hands.

Why does every movement of hers make my heart beat like this?

Why is my face hot like this?

His palms were all sweaty. He wanted to grasp the part of him that was tickling and calm his feelings right away, but because he couldn’t move recklessly, so he had to hold on for now. He was tormented because it was hard for him.

Then, as if telling him to get ahold of himself, Jin Ye’s voice rang again above his head.

“What should I do with you who know nothing about palace etiquette— I’m still thinking about it.”

Every time the flame in the oil lamps inside the room swayed faintly, Jin Ye’s shadow also swayed. The atmosphere that somehow had turned solemn led Mugeon to swallow down his saliva.

“The destiny set by heaven.”

Jin Ye laughed as if that was absurd.

“What’s the use of something like that?”

“…”

“Don’t you agree?”

While still sitting on his knees, Mugeon looked up at Jin Ye. Mugeon’s innocent eyes were filled with bewilderment. Meanwhile, Jin Ye’s eyes that were looking down at him were cold.

“Aren’t you useless to me?”

Even though Mugeon was an illiterate person, he knew what she meant. He was someone who knew at least how to think after all.

The feelings in his heart turned cold in an instant, and Mugeon let out a trembling voice.

“Then, why…?”

“Are you asking why I brought you here?”

She hit the nail on the head.

Jin Ye smiled with her eyes curved, and then she returned in front of Mugeon. She bent her back and brought her lips next to his ear. The small voice whispered.

“If I don’t like you, then of course I would cut your head. Although you’re my lover, won’t that be no use if you’re dead?”

“…… You-Your Majesty.”

As Mugeon lost his words after hearing the unexpected, Jin Ye smiled, letting out a hmph sound.

“Alright, have you understood the situation? I’m proud of you.”

Mugeon forcefully put thoughts inside his stopping brain. Then, he came to a conclusion. It was a scary presumption.

“Then I, will I die here today?”

“Take a guess.”

Mugeon couldn’t answer her. He vaguely realized that there was no choice given to him.