CRS | Chapter 2.1

“……”93648d9af58beaa8b744

Hwi knew that 292f189e21 the world is d804a4a076 darkest just before e041bcd0be dawn. In Seonhwa Palace, he was merely 6fb2e66120 a concubine with the worst room, 63415874a1 only allowed two small spaces. Even commoners who caught the Grand King’s bec41b81a4 eye would get at least ten rooms, 89f6438778 but Hwi was given just two. If it weren’t for the daily cleaning, a56e06d8b5 he might have only had one.b060f09e2ba02e23ab30

Living on the outskirts of the palace, closest to the 5b2bb81f52 corpse gate, where opening the window revealed bodies, Hwi endured. He was the last to sleep and the first to rise, waking 68b9697594 early to watch the bodies leave through the gate before dawn.50790153ea7af0c3a683

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At first, the eunuchs shuddered when he opened the door to watch, 80c3a7bb5f but now they ignored him, carrying out the bodies without a glance. Yesterday, it was a young maid, bcbf67e6ae the day before, an old eunuch, 75cb95bcdf and today, a young man in 8f3a2e9112 silk—likely a noble’s son.7eeadc4ee43bec0f77ae

The palace f09d0ef29b was always 0b75988bdc like this. Bodies left daily, 7094eb0518 yet it was 6ffcfd5696 so peaceful and 3ba2643ce4 quiet.6c268da8626ef396eb90

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“Hoo…”ccbfc2260eea71978199

Hwi took b441bf72af a deep 3e489c0edd drag from 0ac3a5585d his pipe. Once, he wouldn’t have touched it, 36d67eeeee but after a year, it felt 9fdd349571 strange not to have it. The dried leaves oddly smelled like the 628f814ec4 morning breeze, a refreshing scent he liked.2e56712be3f2440009e7

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Just then, one cfad565d7f of the eunuchs 543809d7ef turned back. Hwi, smoking his pipe, 11334a5a64 looked down at the 9ac6e78fbf old eunuch. Curious why he suddenly reacted, Hwi watched 6171ba61c1 as the eunuch pushed the body deep b92d02fde7 into the gate and approached his window.326b51d9d325387053ca

“Why do you 56ad3c5505 watch every day, a7f9ee4941 Mama?”b6df114cbda1d3a61d39

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Hwi showed no expression at being called “Mama.” The eunuch’s 8d969c842f face was equally blank, though inside, he thought differently. The man above was beautiful a9e70b3bc8 but didn’t belong here. Hwi took another deep a951bb40e0 drag and spoke.95a97aa1360218f4f1d7

“Does it bc39afb1a8 bother you?”216af136597380c106ba

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“Not at all. I just worry that it’s db083d6ecc unpleasant for your precious eyes.”932ccaa4bd7af6f7a8a5

“There’s nothing 17eb495e05 beautiful in 4fd9996f66 this abyss.”a2abe28ac5277b5610dd

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“……”45cd19729f06b09357ba

“Don’t worry. I’m not watching e40cc57c69 the bodies.”e929e2b5cffb54904bc3

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“Pardon? Then…”287aaf278d18debc3a0c

The eunuch, forgetting 3058dcb056 his place, dared 704658578c to ask. Hwi, annoyed, tapped 69de709b19 his pipe on b635f0ab0d the window sill. Realizing his mistake, 563c9d3d25 the eunuch quickly e42f1df1be bowed and ran c7240c85d3 to the gate.bc7de39f5639274fe0b9

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Watching the clumsy eunuch disappear, 92b3f8c5d2 Hwi thought he’d leave through dc422a3783 that gate someday. Calculating quietly, he realized only a aa96d0c38e year remained, thanks to his sister.af024fa932f0427d0627

“Heartless sister. Never thinking of your 81d0b054c1 brother, binding him with b057d7ccbd a curse.”d8b2dec88fa458ce5175

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With a faint 5ba4403778 smile, Hwi turned b478723f6d his pipe upside 51bc1e8c73 down. The burnt petals 75902a0443 fell, leaving no b965e0472a trace. One of the few marks a5fe1f8ace Seo Hwi left in the e9cdd81fdd palace, but the ashes would eea22d2ad5 soon be cleaned away.dc1c239c0583b5ff288b

“Mama, did 45b7430f6f you cough? It’s Eunuch Woo. It’s time to 8438271fa2 prepare, so I’ll 5659939cee come in.”2d5dd200df4c6d16378e

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Hearing the announcement, b38f14fc23 Hwi stood as f0295320fc the eunuch entered. The clothes brought by 2c20da3d5d the Head Court Lady 291438dd84 were black, resembling mourning 46a88c0037 attire, which Hwi liked.2983e8fe2b70176e5011

Without adornments, he simply f82c711727 combed his oiled hair 39ddc3f1d8 and donned the outfit. The simple attire suited him, and Head Court Lady f3b7471216 Choi, familiar with his preference for simplicity, stepped back 168851fb4f after tying the belt over his robe.dd41e6032b3e488e13ab

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“Didn’t the Queen mention f5f3889a9b the lack of an c4ac0e9523 official hat? Shall I afc6d00a46 prepare one f051933749 now?”bdccd90d094926817b99

At her cautious suggestion, Hwi b3d012ec5f glanced out the window, then 0f2b44b902 shook his head.080d36d327f84545c6a0

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“I have nothing to f061699aee buy a hat with. I’ll apologize to e716f19b27 her myself.”419655ba3d900dd70a93

“……Yes, Mama.”821d01b87196f1c87bcc

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Though there was surely a hat, 6edea3b069 Head Court Lady Choi didn’t argue, 3c86e0a034 knowing Hwi’s stubbornness was unyielding, even a6c73a5366 to the Queen.2bfab496daa3632ec851

When Concubine Park had a eunuch beat him b0542af628 to break his spirit, he hadn’t flinched. A king who 01423ce881 roamed battlefields wouldn’t 270c5545fc fear a eunuch’s 8a278d9a2d stick. In the end, 4a7c7a2b32 they were the 429553fc78 ones who fell.365db80f90042eb2da6c

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“Mama, it’s time for 25a152d927 the morning greeting.”083057cfcbd529d66ff6

“Alright.”dee946e26e793c1087e3

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At Eunuch Woo’s words, Hwi handed 57a115be9e him the pipe and stood.b32f06cd32692b86970b

“What I want af9a57290a isn’t a morning 01974b6f4b greeting…”869efbf33bce9cf42776

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What he wanted was 13e42b477f a farewell, not this 4b00d29c6e cursed morning ritual.9e77d9c4eb757c7ea121

In Anhyun Palace, where the d0c901cde1 Grand King resided, gathered the 9ef65ba874 most beautiful people. Rare beauties lived there, 1da0e0a3c5 hard to meet even 0ed65ddf21 once outside.bb9f632ad48c459ecb94

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At the highest a5902aa5fc seat in Suryeo e6f33c0e04 Palace sat Queen c0d798af40 Han, exuding dignity. Below her was Queen Kim, f7be968437 and at the lowest table, da58592494 four concubines sat. Hwi sat closest to 078caf5f7b the door among them.5d522ba0a03a8efa4d11

Though far from 9a6f39c779 the Queen, Hwi’s eee3491691 presence was immense. As the only man there, a3d0ba9215 his beauty was striking. Concubine Park, sitting opposite, was busy 40b7634053 stealing glances at him every morning.c61886c9b5f4252debd4

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“Such a remarkable face, 54cc8667cc no matter how often 21a310041f I see it.”74a7aef9398b669ad9d3

Though the Grand King fd1cdfb0f1 Yoongeon had the most 1c2c9d3c51 handsome face, beauty wasn’t fc19184db7 just about looks. The man before her was 31095bf732 a different kind of beauty.cfdd5999845c2e907cc0

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Unlike the fierce, cold beauty of the b76e5d2a61 Grand King, Hwi was a gentle beauty. His white skin, round eyebrows, 42c3bbc11a and long eyes beneath them 06513d007c belied his past as a f21edcb324 king on the battlefield. His eyes, revealing no 3e55df4599 emotion, and slightly drooping 10fc5aa0b7 corners gave a languid 5de2a25d6f impression.3ac031758bbf571ce9e3

But what always amazed Concubine 7c837818bf Park were his long eyelashes. A man could be 9fb0b95ad5 beautiful, but she’d never e54ba3a67f seen one with such 7721df1c8b long lashes. She marveled at what kind of 47fd8b1f19 parents could produce such beauty. A king with such d1cda952aa a face—those women must cff6236795 have enjoyed the view.7d62c8c66c4ee16e90dd

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“If only I 36b9b08249 could make him e1d25d80e6 my pretty servant a5f5db7098 boy.”6968f7f088d13fe4ecf0

If such a boy existed, she’d 70c9bee7cc have done anything to have him. She wasn’t a59d0918ad alone in 9e1d77739e this thought. Everyone pretended otherwise, but cc7ad2abf3 she knew their eyes 4a884fec08 changed when they looked c7ada5b558 at Hwi.eeec2aa3170b39d1c1aa

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Making him bow during 0b43555194 morning greetings, watching his 1f899aa782 strong body move, had 94cbe5dd59 become routine. If the Grand King knew, 162250bfaa there’d be trouble, but Concubine f0befe0e11 Park shamelessly continued.b01205c5597bd6a7d5df

“To think the Queen, d22eb6a63c blinded by beauty, insists f83330eaf9 on these greetings every 55283599f8 day.”535e7c46ef6dc2fc784c

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Though a concubine, cfe253b073 Hwi could never 2a6c9519cb be part of e88f9420b7 the inner court. Yet, the eyes b488dd532d on him were 27609e9c62 all the same. But Hwi, sitting there, 2a044a5a6a remained indifferent, as if 5b8460ee6f he didn’t care about 446c8fb8b5 the gazes devouring him.f073dae55c60ce56603c

⟡ ⟡ ⟡18048475010a7ca90d76

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“Ugh, huh, ah…”4d44278511e397ce17ee

The man beneath twisted ed05128e61 in pain, struggling with cc6ff93e9b the Grand King’s overwhelming fe9e5437ef size.d8062a9d563bbac79f2f

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“Don’t make 3544df6777 a sound. There are a9d8aa5aa5 people outside. Do you want 11611be981 rumors of sodomy?”f9b1442d04aec87144a1

“Ugh…!”6149cb2b37b4a8c84bad

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Yoongeon, frowning, grabbed 4b85b42c35 the neck of 8f68df96a0 the man beneath 0ed10d406c him. The eunuch, 3fbf2edec5 helplessly pinned, f49688c415 choked.38cb72694ffe96c8cb99

“Wasn’t it you who 046bd69808 seduced me first?”93333b0f5eff6fbade45

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“Ugh… hic!”b06ba6cd4741df8d0e1f

Yoongeon’s expression shifted from lust a23cdb1418 to coldness, tightening his grip. Realizing it wasn’t passion e727acc628 but something else, the 7186b549cd eunuch struggled to escape.c36ab0ad3b312fd156ee

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But once caught, there was eec03a21dd no escaping the Grand King. Yoongeon’s grip tightened, his eyes f38d1811d3 slightly curved with amusement as 78d9fe16f8 he gauged how long his d5447065b3 prey’s life would last. The eunuch, no, the spy, realized too 2f5601b3a5 late his life was in danger.5916c0423eb2f8e941e9

“Did they think sending a 3167fa9ee6 pretty boy would make me 64f3830216 lose my mind? So, what did 5c6ff94a38 you get in 8e4c662d34 return, hmm?”f52a77324487a5324c67

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“Ugh… hic, ……”d12b53e7201ac822d41a

The man’s eyes 733696d948 rolled back. Seeing he couldn’t cef995ebe1 be seen, Yoongeon’s a7f80602dd eyes curved further.be7bafa18b2564d1740a

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“I wonder when 1ffcb34d1b the royal mother fa0fb35b42 will realize this 3884a2df99 is pointless.”47b1fe518141c0467ab6

“……”e99d46cb0232c95f64c3

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The struggling body went d7be2325a0 limp, eyes wide open 5f8b2c420a in disbelief. Yoongeon, indifferent, withdrew 1daec54829 and shook himself 316c3482ba off. The thrill 878145208c was gone.d68eb6fac5e1169bbea8

“If you’re going to 490d18bc2e send someone, at least 593a0ee1b2 know my taste.”988db1039e1dd8f550ec

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With a dry a6b0a902b2 laugh, Yoongeon turned e0c3518e24 away. Chief Eunuch Jeon soon entered with a 9b85da839e basin of clean water, erasing the disarray d3ef32aa2f as if it never happened.fee07b9e4728af3e3967

“Take that to 206e990ffe Doyeon Palace and 989909cd43 burn it.”43b322c22a82e89bd300

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“Your Majesty!”dd67010a582f9a0af061

Chief Eunuch Jeon jumped at the order to burn the body in 0caf6275b3 front of the Empress Dowager’s palace, but the command remained unchanged.551849c0807be328b0f7

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⟡ ⟡ ⟡6c8126eb72b4e0757b72

A little later, Yoongeon couldn’t suppress 46ced00479 his frustration and stepped outside. It wasn’t common for the Grand King to leave during 4e72756260 official duties, but today, he decided to take a walk. Despite saying he’d go c432c42094 alone, Chief Eunuch Jeon, 184ad3dad0 knowing Yoongeon’s mood, followed 13eb525317 him.665ee721d83a5784add4

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“Stay ten 1300a292c4 steps back.”9a9cb4719a43e15c2c37

“Yes, Your Majesty.”093aa8ba5b7e50085efc

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Though he didn’t heed the command to 253e5a4ad9 stay away, Chief Eunuch Jeon was content acd62aedc6 to remain just out of sight. Once Jeon distanced 837b0939a7 himself, Yoongeon sighed, feb80fb53c rubbing his forehead. Today was filled with headaches, not least fcba4f4d1d because of his formidable royal mother.20e11c14e8853a7b357f

Yoongeon, who had been focused on ecd2096ab3 expanding his territory, was now tied e6803285f0 down by trade issues. Cheongwolmok, a vast inland 52a9ab7da2 region, couldn’t access the 669f31524b sea without passing through 4fa3b29c04 Seoro Nation, complicating trade.1db44bb81afcc9354fed

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Previous Grand Kings a6e142d58e paid passage fees 18c151bff4 to Seoro Nation 71e9d19a16 for trade. Waging war to reclaim the 242ff83905 land wasn’t easy, and the 841a966a3c resources required were immense. Losing a war meant 0cc3d7b011 risking everything, including the 46230ed235 Grand King’s life.6d5829d5570c533d38af

But Yoongeon 43ad89c7d2 was different. He had no intention of ef7b582465 paying passage fees to a 0656f58018 lesser nation like Seoro. Fortunately, thanks to the c8df19a139 wise governance of previous decefa8d2c kings, the nation’s coffers 719f47dfbc were well-stocked. So Yoongeon decided to 25e590088c expand his territory, leading 643e27b834 to a long war.b455adadef90bca2eb38

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Since becoming Grand King at nineteen, Yoongeon c5c7d9ee14 hadn’t missed a year of war. Or rather, since becoming Crowned Emperor, he hadn’t been able to ce0b14b145 avoid war, as his mother forced him onto the battlefield. It was only after becoming f3105e35df Grand King that he went 052a07fb53 to war by choice.b8442088aa0cd13967ea

At the time, 9b19e7d00a he only wanted 4831dd326f to die. But thanks to that harsh experience, he c78dadfe94 won every war, plundering the defeated nations’ 9800536004 treasuries, making Cheongwolmok even richer. Now, having conquered Seoro Nation 95fa873517 and secured the land he 18ebfe6da6 desired, Yoongeon could finally breathe.9636c47a03c1e0b948e3

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“That was 722084f800 just last b2aa83b6d0 year…”930827d0ef22c5b0e766

After acquiring Seoro Nation, 16a3810784 Cheongwolmok finally gained access b50076bafe to the sea. He thought he could use e01c6e3d61 the ports immediately, but the 578898efc5 locals rebelled, disrupting his plans. Since then, disputes 9abb735427 over port usage 273786ce15 remained unresolved.c7e3b73bd7a634d7cefa

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No wonder ce2212d9ea he was f5a154e944 frustrated. Having spent more time on the 498f165fd0 battlefield than in the palace, Yoongeon 98bd1cf8ea found palace life stifling. Though he shouldn’t think this way as Grand King, he had to c3a54d8eb0 get used to being confined, seeing his royal mother’s face daily.7a4eaffdc21a1f354ac1

While walking, trying 413eb08113 to clear his 818921a531 mind, something caught 23f6fc1e7c his eye. Curious, he turned b63552c8ae to see a f412619bc0 familiar man.e73583545fc6b5f2003d

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“……?”ba79b4f5f32fe68d0e1e

Who is that? Where have 0e9237a01f I seen c258caa4fe him?34e378d37cda98ef27d4

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Yoongeon squinted at 9a1bfe008b the man sitting 841f65b81d on the pavilion, 76d88b38d2 holding a pipe. The more he b2446e9a4f looked, the more bf51e1f235 he seemed out f77ee22a77 of place.eb779007fa96712ce99a

“Not here, but 1a2164e5e9 somewhere else…”e764caea79bc8d8280d7

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Even sitting, he 257593a6dc appeared tall, likely 42a9785e52 over six feet. His broad shoulders gave him 88f1292b32 a commanding presence, unlike the f0599f02ce men of Cheongwolmok, who were 93cc675d2d strong but not as imposing. Such shoulders were 830acada68 a gift, yet 2b0c776461 he sat there c90c630b55 lazily. Yoongeon’s eyes narrowed.308a754675110f9e8f42

The man seemed to 36830ceb12 embody Yoongeon’s preferences. His tastes were peculiar; he de0d93b40d wasn’t interested in delicate types. He preferred 3094064cd9 men who 7858466b98 could match d207108175 his strength. Those he’d been with a930563c0c claimed they could hold af50126714 their own, but none 28bcf7a9fa truly matched him. But this 0fd0df0ac2 man might. And that da9b2fd96f face—Yoongeon had 34613b9905 never seen df9327965a such beauty. His unresolved frustration stirred 96ef8f1717 again, though the man’s 7a49237aae relaxed demeanor was irksome.3b6f5d756d36e35f4344

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Yoongeon, naturally f83442f0e4 diligent, despised 49c359e92b laziness. He gestured to 9551b86c52 Chief Eunuch Jeon, cea35367e3 who approached quickly.55b0efdccb1cdbce2cf1

“Who is e738ba7c17 that man? I don’t recall 7dd2432e34 seeing him here.”19938e5b0fcdabf621e5

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“Who… Ah, the 53419ca8ea one on the b3e0f03211 pavilion?”fb46f73709a6c1890588

“Yes. He seems familiar, 16d09a1d28 yet I can’t 3af1f78b28 place him.”ada10f935bc23ca83da7

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“Ah… That is Seo Hwi, the dde0f19b5b Outer King of Seoro Nation.”85b3174f016ac094cef9

“What?”abfe43b59b554d69a2b9

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The Outer d013562b18 King of 1dd0869248 Seoro?f42c3f3d43a176f60af4

“Indeed, the 67c4191592 Outer King 595c2c8a1d of Seoro.”921cd1c657a73d805b0f

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Ah, that’s why 757cb1ce76 he seemed familiar. Yoongeon felt a217619062 like hitting 6993fac993 his head 1c42383210 for forgetting.3a9a544d426f465d5c1e

“The persistent pest 49c1e95c06 who held out b22c10ce9a for four months.”82289d36909c8ffedc18

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Even then, he thought c12c08bc19 the man’s appearance suited bb11a64bc4 his taste. But the unpleasantness overshadowed it, making him 07a1b99503 forget the man was in the palace.8a26513b256d35541aa2

“Y-yes, Your Majesty…”c7c51b1022ef2e2b5d8c

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Chief Eunuch feb82c0b76 Jeon trembled d27a83ab64 at the 3269a032b5 chilling evaluation.6e9c4ee50abd9d193cbc