CH 3.2

“Haaah….”

While approaching the palanquin, the Emperor’s footsteps gradually slowed down, along with his breath. Even if it was true that he was tricked, thinking about Yeon Juwon’s contribution, he couldn’t just expel Concubine Yeon. And he also couldn’t just expel Yeon Juwon with the reason of having a bad son because no matter how vicious and unsightly Concubine Yeon was, he didn’t commit high treason.   

Seems like I should make that old man retire as soon as possible. 

The emperor, who was dreaming a fruitless dream, eventually climbed into the palanquin.

“Let’s go to Jeongan Palace!”

He was Seong Yihan, the most praised emperor of this great nation, who found Eunuch Oh’s loud voice to be very despicable—today in particular.  

***

“Your Highness, why are you being this nervous?”

Ahjin asked, anxious to see Hwawoon—who was sitting with his back upright in the chair—flinched his shoulders while moving his eyes anywhere, whenever a sound was heard from the doorway. Even at the sound of her words, Hwawoon’s shoulders shook, and his hips moved a little.

To begin with, her master was someone who would be restless like a puppy wanting to pee whenever he heard that the Emperor was coming, but this was the first time his nervous trembling became so noticeable for her that Ahjin became even more confused at how she should serve her master. 

Hwawoon immediately shook her head to Ahjin, saying he was okay, but his complexion that was getting paler than before did not look any okay.

It was not just ‘not’ but Hwawoon looked like he was dying. Even until he got dressed up, he couldn’t afford to worry about anything else because the situation he was in now was so absurd that he got stunned, but the moment he finished his preparation and sat down doing nothing, he suddenly realized that he was waiting for none other than the Emperor. 

The emperor? I will meet His Majesty the Emperor? Hwawoon thought in some way that meeting the emperor would be a bigger problem than having his body die. Although he was trying to calm himself down by pressing his palm with his fingernails, his heart couldn’t be controlled and was beating loudly like it was about to burst. 

Who was the emperor? He was the son of heaven and the ruler between earth and sky. He was an important figure that Hwawoon, no, lowly people like Hawoon before he changed his body, wouldn’t dare to look into. Nevertheless, the reason Hwawoon’s heart was beating so violently now was not only because of that. 

Hawoon, who grew up as an orphan and frequently wandered on the streets, met a teacher who took a good look at his talent by chance, and he learned martial arts, although it wasn’t on a very impressive level. Thanks to that, he was able to eat, sleep, and work as a guard at an inn, and Hawoon was complacent with reality, thinking that this kind of life was enough for an unfortunate person like himself. It was the current emperor who made Hawoon dare to dream of the imperial palace.

That day, Hawoon was lucky enough to find a place where he could see up close the procession of the emperor across the city. Although everyone said that the emperor would not show his face outside, Hawoon pleaded to the inn owner to give him some time off, saying that just seeing the carriage the emperor was in was a great fortune for him. And right there on the same day, it was the first time Hawoon saw the Emperor, who broke everyone’s expectations. The Emperor showed his face outside the carriage and waved his hands. 

How bright and dazzling he was. The emperor’s face was so beautiful that even his graceful crown and attire couldn’t be regarded by Hawoon’s eyes.

Hawoon then lost his mind and looked at his face. Only after he was brought to his knees and got his shoulder hit with a sword by a guard who was protecting the carriage did he prostrate on the ground. 

So the Emperor was that kind of person. So it was only someone who was born that beautifully who could become the emperor. That night, Hawoon couldn’t sleep all night, and he drew and drew the Emperor’s face he had seen in his mind.

“His Majesty the Emperor has come.”

The one who woke Hwawoon up from his reminiscence was the name who made him nervous all this time. 

He staggered because he got up in a hurry, and Ahjin quickly supported Hwawoon’s body. Concurrently, someone who wore a golden royal robe, His Majesty the Emperor, stood in front of Hwawoon. 

Hwawoon couldn’t raise his head. His breath was blocked and he felt dizzy. Hwawoon felt like he was standing in front of the emperor’s procession just like that day. 

Should I lie flat on the floor? Won’t I get my shoulders hit like that time? Where is this? Who am I? Hwawoon’s head was full of thoughts that he couldn’t do anything except bowing his head while trying to keep his breath.

“Your-Your Highness… You should give your greeting….” 

Ahjin, who was looking anxiously at Hwawoon, who seemed to have stopped, woke him up with a low voice. Hwawoon was surprised and then came to his senses. 

Greetings. Right, I have to give my greetings. This time, only that thought filled his head. And so, Hwawoon, to be exact the one who had lived as Hawoon for a long time and entered this palace as a guard,

“This human greets His Majesty the Emperor.”

He hurriedly greeted the emperor. He lowered his body, then put one of his feet forward and one of his knees on the floor. While doing so, he bent one of his elbows and extended it forward.

It was not a greeting from a concubine, but a greeting from a guard. Soon, silence filled Concubine Yeon’s residence.