CRS | Chapter 2.1

“……”430952936e8b48b4c5d9

Hwi knew that the world 1d69f41ef6 is darkest just before dawn. In Seonhwa Palace, he was merely f8b1bb6784 a concubine with the worst room, 9df2ee30ca only allowed two small spaces. Even commoners who caught the Grand King’s c6a9af26d7 eye would get at least ten rooms, 74c6cdbb78 but Hwi was given just two. If it weren’t for the fa1c0ccbe0 daily cleaning, he might have 68fb0a52d1 only had one.c25c0d078bd804ce0e1a

Living on the outskirts of the palace, closest to the 493b602343 corpse gate, where opening the window revealed bodies, Hwi endured. He was the last to sleep dc4a8b3409 and the first to rise, waking 5501d7ab32 early to watch the bodies leave 7e33845b22 through the gate before dawn.de0862123130aba01cad

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At first, the eunuchs shuddered when 1a8e9042eb he opened the door to watch, 6f3d05da17 but now they ignored him, carrying cd8c7b0e84 out the bodies without a glance. Yesterday, it was a young maid, 1fecfde5a1 the day before, an old eunuch, bda7134b62 and today, a young man in 862935505c silk—likely a noble’s son.9ddd5976326a6c46c17b

The palace was fa64b50f49 always like this. Bodies left daily, fa68ee239a yet it was e47f771223 so peaceful and 935db89ef0 quiet.7060fbfbd44872f8506b

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“Hoo…”4dc31b6a6461b8e41c92

Hwi took a deep 28fbe8713c drag from his pipe. Once, he wouldn’t have touched de0e03a24b it, but after a year, f77e884c86 it felt strange not to 1b02e776fe have it. The dried leaves oddly smelled f6a9a73dba like the morning breeze, a 5633c3887b refreshing scent he liked.6a2a53e2ec56c634c652

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Just then, one 19314ff98a of the eunuchs 5cf94e0c02 turned back. Hwi, smoking his pipe, 5a5cdb15d7 looked down at the e8a0998f03 old eunuch. Curious why he suddenly reacted, Hwi 9de2485176 watched as the eunuch pushed the cbc3f307c2 body deep into the gate and 1ee127c552 approached his window.ad76bdeda49f6a866edd

“Why do you watch 517fca4341 every day, Mama?”e730f845d9393ab9d78d

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Hwi showed no expression at b860677c56 being called “Mama.” The eunuch’s 5cb05a7cb5 face was equally blank, though b008eef23f inside, he thought differently. The man above was beautiful cd2814dbfb but didn’t belong here. Hwi took another 024db3d707 deep drag and fa8fa258c5 spoke.2bebd07aef23f6059715

“Does it 6679feca5b bother you?”54209543b096b0e955c9

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“Not at all. I just worry 4bbd9024db that it’s unpleasant 36cd7ca5b0 for your precious 0d047a6f92 eyes.”895c3643c9161e6d1fd6

“There’s nothing 22030f1653 beautiful in 7724f4a082 this abyss.”131405a5c9e5724766ce

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“……”a23cac1e6647863ca41b

“Don’t worry. I’m not watching acf5b98dc4 the bodies.”c390fd069bda20eadf3d

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“Pardon? Then…”4d1eaebdb2669e7e6954

The eunuch, forgetting his bbedf646a7 place, dared to ask. Hwi, annoyed, tapped his pipe 967e91427d on the window sill. Realizing his mistake, the e024c9032b eunuch quickly bowed and 3eafa1fd38 ran to the gate.bd64c421905d8bc22e36

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Watching the clumsy eunuch 37e421fb2c disappear, Hwi thought he’d 847d1df78a leave through that gate 0df08d66d5 someday. Calculating quietly, he realized a899ae21ea only a year remained, 4ed93a416c thanks to his sister.16212aa7263ef03a90ab

“Heartless sister. Never thinking of your brother, be140491b1 binding him with a curse.”80d36faff9b118517796

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With a faint 573df10b98 smile, Hwi turned 8559936348 his pipe upside 2922ebe58a down. The burnt petals fell, bb14c324c5 leaving no trace. One of the few marks 6090803f89 Seo Hwi left in the 82a8d01c73 palace, but the ashes would c331440c62 soon be cleaned away.8553df0ca0c9f659d16b

“Mama, did 0635c30982 you cough? It’s Eunuch Woo. It’s time to 9bef0d2f93 prepare, so I’ll d77bbc575a come in.”974f5a1bb90348b05c52

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Hearing the announcement, Hwi stood 103fb61982 as the eunuch entered. The clothes brought by the Head 012c6ccb2d Court Lady were black, resembling mourning 2161b7f513 attire, which Hwi liked.abf3ce8bcdafd4e18ee5

Without adornments, he 06628412b4 simply combed his 4bac50c4fc oiled hair and 9169d87f40 donned the outfit. The simple attire suited him, and Head Court Lady 9430a538e5 Choi, familiar with his preference for simplicity, stepped back 1b0360c493 after tying the belt over his robe.37f8f2cfa4ada7450008

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“Didn’t the Queen mention d1a073d5db the lack of an 222da44c15 official hat? Shall I e084e05cd0 prepare one b49ff064ba now?”fb3f502134b5c6a4391f

At her cautious suggestion, Hwi glanced out c6614c398e the window, then shook his head.c72a9295a5a0ea499eb0

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“I have nothing 6ff31db1e9 to buy a 27ce09150a hat with. I’ll apologize to 384ff1ab2f her myself.”6ba8de56e845720c8922

“……Yes, Mama.”49e0405d5c939e3a2697

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Though there was surely a hat, 418f179303 Head Court Lady Choi didn’t argue, aacd6c4398 knowing Hwi’s stubbornness was unyielding, even 3bc0eaf5ab to the Queen.1eb42a04fbd1391a846a

When Concubine Park had 188c2d5485 a eunuch beat him 8d9ca8ffb2 to break his spirit, 5a3d45f0ab he hadn’t flinched. A king who roamed 9dad6a808f battlefields wouldn’t fear a 030b3ae475 eunuch’s stick. In the end, 0a3fa0589d they were the 15271b47a3 ones who fell.ef343dbee36ce4935c5c

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“Mama, it’s 633ba4567e time for b3d48ec11a the morning 50c852b1f4 greeting.”5261b8e8f00c80dc7287

“Alright.”2e1953c433e9b3e6f5ed

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At Eunuch Woo’s a266c2c51c words, Hwi handed eba1cf81f2 him the pipe 41d88ccd82 and stood.6f65f459333b32764ac9

“What I want 27873babe2 isn’t a morning 6f58d51bd0 greeting…”8ab3c91321e06d3e8ae5

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What he wanted was a farewell, 2f634d968c not this cursed morning ritual.22faae77f72836441145

In Anhyun Palace, where the 69e1b16efa Grand King resided, gathered the ef8fb4f6f4 most beautiful people. Rare beauties lived caf2477139 there, hard to 6d37f7f9b4 meet even once e06b47f6ca outside.1c18fbbffe7a137db7a8

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At the highest 5b8ca52613 seat in Suryeo 091b546abc Palace sat Queen 0049669fad Han, exuding dignity. Below her was Queen Kim, and at af32bdd448 the lowest table, four concubines sat. Hwi sat 6e3ec243a1 closest to 764ff5a1ff the door 34adbd4b1b among them.3538ee8fe43b7448bd4e

Though far from ffc2f883c4 the Queen, Hwi’s f6b09d3d58 presence was immense. As the only 75ab999875 man there, his 68f7cedc01 beauty was striking. Concubine Park, sitting opposite, was busy 8e06414902 stealing glances at him every morning.4fa6a8a17179c8c90af2

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“Such a remarkable face, no matter f4a915b9d0 how often I see it.”b47e014701600cd58b6f

Though the Grand King ff924e5c8b Yoongeon had the most e930bc435c handsome face, beauty wasn’t 3f3fea47bb just about looks. The man before her was 4d0905ceb9 a different kind of beauty.1d1635d2267b65a2b883

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Unlike the fierce, cold beauty of the bf9b6b3ec9 Grand King, Hwi was a gentle beauty. His white skin, round eyebrows, fc095b42ff and long eyes beneath them f716357748 belied his past as a bab09b3cf9 king on the battlefield. His eyes, revealing no emotion, 4e9c70dc87 and slightly drooping corners gave 6a2c09d988 a languid impression.f91d5dc2b319ca3e6519

But what always amazed 2c2b41e79d Concubine Park were his dd5e81f512 long eyelashes. A man could be 2bcb9d81e5 beautiful, but she’d never 54a02f121f seen one with such db5ddec93e long lashes. She marveled at what ac6298bebc kind of parents could e12baa12c7 produce such beauty. A king with 9a583a93c2 such a face—those 378829b892 women must have 1daf3f3409 enjoyed the view.01cc57fae3526bfca68c

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“If only I could make d35b75ec83 him my pretty servant boy.”8225a52620625004d0cd

If such a boy 2a51bd3dcf existed, she’d have done e059487dac anything to have him. She wasn’t alone 4aa541a024 in this thought. Everyone pretended otherwise, but she 37d1a1089f knew their eyes changed when 8be90c53ec they looked at Hwi.882b9153e120f58158a0

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Making him bow during morning 67b08c33a6 greetings, watching his strong body 7392b8b264 move, had become routine. If the Grand King 7cbffc45fa knew, there’d be trouble, 25b3326e48 but Concubine Park shamelessly c4b411256a continued.9ba3c157258771e6075c

“To think the Queen, blinded by beauty, f6607f48f7 insists on these greetings every day.”86407de00cf511549a6b

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Though a concubine, Hwi could never fa166a0047 be part of the inner court. Yet, the eyes 72cbbe4b29 on him were d69e7a4c53 all the same. But Hwi, sitting there, d0f621b604 remained indifferent, as if 91fc941919 he didn’t care about 654c7f1c30 the gazes devouring him.fec2d108278e32a1cf34

⟡ ⟡ ⟡1046e5eb8046d2b3e640

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“Ugh, huh, ah…”7732c8a0b582c189afd7

The man beneath twisted 12cb1a2680 in pain, struggling with e3ed9896ef the Grand King’s overwhelming 15901cd89a size.02e795a4dee3e55196a4

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“Don’t make 67e81d5770 a sound. There are cefa48ff07 people outside. Do you 94a35f89f5 want rumors 11a0dcd68d of sodomy?”8eef1b4dfe598e7aa6cc

“Ugh…!”6d7f2d3d4dd54f589d21

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Yoongeon, frowning, grabbed 86350060bb the neck of 6607ee4b0a the man beneath c203ff1209 him. The eunuch, 4397ae86a1 helplessly pinned, 7fbbc0c87b choked.a293e033ad824bc2ff2a

“Wasn’t it you 3af7e36058 who seduced me e7c8350ccd first?”9caefb0a736e98f87b03

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“Ugh… hic!”b4ecd51591d9df041d57

Yoongeon’s expression shifted 76a63ef689 from lust to 89cd284d77 coldness, tightening his 19e5677609 grip. Realizing it wasn’t passion but something ee6a4c384a else, the eunuch struggled to escape.1535cfb8b37714b3738d

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But once caught, there was b3db12decc no escaping the Grand King. Yoongeon’s grip tightened, his eyes slightly curved with amusement as 4a87fab47d he gauged how long his prey’s life would last. The eunuch, no, the spy, 363ecdd855 realized too late his life 110a3b396d was in danger.8b0a00460f35bc1f5103

“Did they think sending 20c73b6961 a pretty boy would 16a0552b18 make me lose my 680e934ee6 mind? So, what 95d3192da3 did you 06fe815bf6 get in 09b9ba145f return, hmm?”fe9760643f63cb386d05

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“Ugh… hic, ……”bc4275805121b082fb63

The man’s eyes 0cc293a953 rolled back. Seeing he couldn’t be seen, 5f2bd05678 Yoongeon’s eyes curved further.be777ba632c85595e968

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“I wonder when the royal mother b82c66c063 will realize this is pointless.”2e5709d793a807423924

“……”ab8638c7c38923b25be4

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The struggling body went e7c1d7af5e limp, eyes wide open 22f8e2b1d8 in disbelief. Yoongeon, indifferent, d2383debd9 withdrew and 6ebd0391f4 shook himself 8d346c3c70 off. The thrill 6e7299ea88 was gone.0998c6f6539a801ce900

“If you’re going to 4860cd56a0 send someone, at least cf4ffdd9fd know my taste.”c64f17df036b3ba09402

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With a 7e59e3de04 dry laugh, b5b0238e30 Yoongeon turned 0d5362bb25 away. Chief Eunuch Jeon soon entered with a aa5932611f basin of clean water, erasing the disarray 17386a36a9 as if it never happened.04a0e7470f596aab5876

“Take that 19af3a9be8 to Doyeon 280736b68c Palace and 860b123572 burn it.”1daf01d813925193e77c

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“Your Majesty!”8831365dfdd208499c22

Chief Eunuch Jeon jumped at the order to 69e8b99be1 burn the body in front of the Empress 6c9558f0ad Dowager’s palace, but the command remained unchanged.16185d6ba09d3f5567b4

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⟡ ⟡ ⟡75a38decb3289aa578ae

A little later, Yoongeon b6f0c06d78 couldn’t suppress his frustration 6e55457db1 and stepped outside. It wasn’t common for the Grand King to leave during 5bc0622f86 official duties, but today, he decided to take a walk. Despite saying he’d go alone, Chief Eunuch 32442aea3b Jeon, knowing Yoongeon’s mood, followed him.3f9557f0a587cc54bfa1

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“Stay ten 13134947a8 steps back.”8068a9dacab40a0e2f0f

“Yes, Your Majesty.”f58522a3db0c3d0f99a5

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Though he didn’t heed the command to f71b856700 stay away, Chief Eunuch Jeon was content 9d487f88fb to remain just out of sight. Once Jeon distanced 4c38865d52 himself, Yoongeon sighed, 143882c4c7 rubbing his forehead. Today was filled with b7144264db headaches, not least because 7fcb290467 of his formidable royal 8e78de7e5f mother.a8daef09076c5910616d

Yoongeon, who had been focused on expanding his 08d922e3eb territory, was now tied down by trade issues. Cheongwolmok, a vast inland region, couldn’t 9c7f422409 access the sea without passing through e743cfdbd9 Seoro Nation, complicating trade.1e3f51ee8c7b71854f33

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Previous Grand Kings paid c9557a4f09 passage fees to Seoro bb0e67813a Nation for trade. Waging war to reclaim the c3b9436c07 land wasn’t easy, and the 2ed65f9684 resources required were immense. Losing a war meant e8a3ed6a5f risking everything, including the 703004d828 Grand King’s life.eda10d3c176cfe723fc0

But Yoongeon 25eee09b5e was different. He had no intention 4c17b08029 of paying passage fees 69d2d77914 to a lesser nation d3b2cbfd70 like Seoro. Fortunately, thanks to the bd83aeacdb wise governance of previous d2e54daedf kings, the nation’s coffers f2b4d5569e were well-stocked. So Yoongeon decided to expand his 47ada4a16a territory, leading to a long war.515ee62e8abee670015a

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Since becoming Grand King at 21fa3d56df nineteen, Yoongeon hadn’t missed a 128744172a year of war. Or rather, since becoming Crowned Emperor, 97434fd058 he hadn’t been able to avoid 7e07402f56 war, as his mother forced him 7740b8f673 onto the battlefield. It was only after 83a384b62a becoming Grand King that 8ea953c9e8 he went to war 68088459d8 by choice.06b4bda51eee055d35a6

At the 7ba97edc32 time, he 2e431a505f only wanted f602f30477 to die. But thanks to that harsh 5c2047331f experience, he won every war, 1ff0fb5288 plundering the defeated nations’ treasuries, 31354a7bb0 making Cheongwolmok even richer. Now, having conquered Seoro Nation and secured the 0adf535e87 land he desired, Yoongeon could finally breathe.0e955d0ea7892c77c5de

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“That was e7ebb168f6 just last 05e6128b38 year…”7ab5a7f6c98557e760fb

After acquiring Seoro Nation, 25b689da92 Cheongwolmok finally gained access 6687dbc53d to the sea. He thought he could use 11b738f081 the ports immediately, but the f0b84b5bd0 locals rebelled, disrupting his plans. Since then, 42cb809b6a disputes over 0365518a67 port usage 063c739507 remained unresolved.ecca61fc81cdc0c480db

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No wonder 0b2f30c601 he was 5ac4fce463 frustrated. Having spent more time on the battlefield than 982bae9a2e in the palace, Yoongeon found palace life stifling. Though he shouldn’t think this way as Grand King, he had to 0e3fa0a005 get used to being confined, seeing his royal mother’s face daily.fda7c62b8b174a989972

While walking, trying 9a5530e30d to clear his 7be922b366 mind, something caught f8e2b6d18c his eye. Curious, he turned to 717de00de9 see a familiar man.ad79b199569660c654ae

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“……?”8b2c7262ab572b1dfacc

Who is that? Where have 6852977434 I seen c4021df04b him?9315c5c573a1c2ddfa8e

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Yoongeon squinted at the man sitting f564034960 on the pavilion, holding a pipe. The more he 044c0f095d looked, the more 283a91f3e4 he seemed out 9a9d3d333a of place.1e05094c0593f9e7fc1d

“Not here, but 663e373636 somewhere else…”8d28308444b2ffc99569

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Even sitting, he appeared tall, b48fa43164 likely over six feet. His broad shoulders gave him 1add5098dc a commanding presence, unlike the c0420c5303 men of Cheongwolmok, who were ef83f98cd9 strong but not as imposing. Such shoulders were d85bbbd79f a gift, yet ee86e9ad2c he sat there 362c225e76 lazily. Yoongeon’s eyes narrowed.0177b9b5d9ee841e0bf5

The man 1c29153dc7 seemed to 2d0b601ac7 embody Yoongeon’s 42941168ef preferences. His tastes were 3d84cb9f2e peculiar; he wasn’t 79df0a947b interested in delicate 6404208cd9 types. He preferred men who e9093b2a74 could match his strength. Those he’d been with claimed they could hold cfda0f8e88 their own, but none truly matched him. But this 59950ad6e9 man might. And that face—Yoongeon had cea899a4b5 never seen such beauty. His unresolved frustration cb585fd497 stirred again, though 6ec7241e09 the man’s relaxed 1f9e8c1d9a demeanor was irksome.41334317d3c8d6efd68a

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Yoongeon, naturally diligent, 8c19b5874b despised laziness. He gestured to cd77a8c9f5 Chief Eunuch Jeon, 1f0569f276 who approached quickly.7498258d22bf0927b2aa

“Who is 97365e0f84 that man? I don’t 142b193a20 recall seeing 26f683c6f6 him here.”746b18b490f32d6a9aaf

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“Who… Ah, 4053f241cb the one 9025b1d625 on the e4290502a1 pavilion?”f2f011e399759b6e2862

“Yes. He seems familiar, 4308a7437d yet I can’t e9a85b0244 place him.”2a27d9fcf98a0403f633

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“Ah… That is Seo 4dc3d0d9e0 Hwi, the Outer King d870998164 of Seoro Nation.”7c4055167a3ae6e0d576

“What?”13c2e323785d0df6ed6b

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The Outer f8152dcdda King of 210d0830fc Seoro?0046612b5027e5a43baa

“Indeed, the c12e6311e5 Outer King b4fcd2eee6 of Seoro.”7331b6444232efdefef4

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Ah, that’s 2f4f750c10 why he 800a9e0ece seemed familiar. Yoongeon felt like hitting ca45705e07 his head for forgetting.d68e2ac5b06dea8445a3

“The persistent pest who held 1bc33882ec out for four months.”6f1a987cfc3655c02ad7

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Even then, he 459f0563d7 thought the man’s c7db0eb9f6 appearance suited his 70f09f9eeb taste. But the unpleasantness overshadowed 4d1292b88d it, making him forget d062ee550e the man was in e5630b5f8b the palace.cebd873002e5ab73a44a

“Y-yes, Your Majesty…”79795c5f2424d6c2ed03

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Chief Eunuch 43c9aeb475 Jeon trembled 7b6bbc954b at the cf98f8a83a chilling evaluation.cce73d7317bb7d0c4b02