“This is…”

There was no way she couldn’t recognise the document – it was the same one she had in her own palace.

And that wasn’t even the first page.

It was the section that came after flipping through several pages of formal procedures – the page with the names and information of the candidates that Seonghyeon had advised her to pay special attention to.

‘Of all people… the young lady from the Ryu family…’

Even Yeocheong, who didn’t know much about the officials of the Yeon Empire, knew this name.

In her past life as well as in this one, this name had persistently followed her.

There really must be something to the idea of destiny.

The problem was… although she had never seen the woman’s face, this destiny had always been one of misfortune.

“You said that the selection of concubines was the responsibility of the Empress, yet it seems that you’ve taken to checking them yourself.”

“That was… it was the chief attendant…”

Jihyuk, obviously confused, tried to explain.

‘Of all times – why did she have to see that?’

In a panic, he quickly pushed the document aside and said.

“I just happened to look at it. That’s all…”

“…I don’t want that.”

Jihyuk, still searching for an excuse, froze at the low murmur.

He hadn’t even noticed how desperate and hurt Yeocheong’s expression had become.

‘Did I hear that right?’
‘Or is the subject of that “no” different from what I think?’
‘Am I making the same mistake as before—thinking we’re talking about the same thing when we’re not?’

A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind in that brief moment.

As he took a step closer to better hear what she was saying, Yeocheong reached out – and as if she had been waiting for this very moment, she grabbed the hem of his robe and lifted her eyes to meet his.

“…!!”

There was a faint smell of alcohol on her, but she didn’t seem drunk.

But when Yeocheong lifted her head, her face was flushed – not just her cheeks, but even the corners of her eyes, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

This expression completely filled Jihyuk’s vision.

“I don’t want that. I don’t want Your Majesty to take concubines. I don’t want to be the one to supervise it.”

“I don’t want anyone else to stand by Your Majesty’s side. I don’t want to just watch, as if it were natural. I don’t want the siblings Hee might have one day… not to be mine.”

It was the first time Jihyuk had ever seen Yeocheong speak so quickly, pouring out so many words at once.

Completely taken by surprise, Jihyuk froze.

Yeocheong took a deep breath to calm down and continued.

“I know that taking concubines is inevitable. I know that Your Majesty cannot just be a family with Hee and me, and that this is not just a marriage but a political alliance. I understand all this… but I still hate it.”

She wasn’t heavily intoxicated – but Yeocheong used the slight buzz as an excuse to finally say the words she had kept buried for so long.

Saying them wouldn’t make the name cards that had already been sent – or even arrived – disappear.

And it wasn’t as if the position of concubine could remain vacant forever.

But there was a clear difference between speaking and remaining silent.

At the very least, she wanted to say that she wasn’t feeling well.

And that she hoped Jihyuk wasn’t either.

“Is Your Majesty really unaffected by all this? There is no guarantee that I can bear another child… and unlike the other Yin-born, I don’t have a powerful family to support me…”

“That’s not true.”

“……”

“There’s no way I was unaffected.”

Jihyuk cut Yeocheong off and took hold of her arms, his face suddenly pale as he shook his head.

“If I had known you felt this way, I would never have let it come to this. I just… I didn’t want to burden you.”

“A burden…?”

“If you took it all so lightly, what right did I have to say anything? I was the one who said that just having you by my side was enough – that alone made me happy.”

Even though she had tried to pretend that everything was fine, Jihyuk’s reaction had hurt her.

And now she realised that he had been hurt too.

They had both been disappointed in each other, but bound by the things they had said, neither could show it.

“I’ve never been well. I’ve hated it from the start.”

“……”

“But even if I hate it, it’s not something that can be undone. You’re in a situation where these things are inevitable.”

That was the hardest part – it wasn’t a situation that could be resolved by being stubborn.

Even if she said it out loud, it would just embarrass her; nothing would really change.

“…Just like how Lady Ryu’s name card found its way back to the palace – there must be things in life that are just unavoidable…”

Yeocheong trailed off, her gaze drifting to the desk where the documents had just been.

Jihyuk took her in his arms.

“Fate can be changed. You, me and our child – we’re living proof of that, aren’t we?”

“…”

“And Ryu—”

“As for Lady Ryu’s business card… I haven’t met her yet in this life, but I remembered something about her, so I just looked at it. I don’t want to spend a long time with someone who isn’t you.”

“…!!”

Yeocheong jumped slightly in surprise at the first clear answer that had finally come.

He had always been so cautious, never saying he loved her – avoiding even similar expressions.

He probably thought he didn’t have the right to say such things.

In that way, they were very much alike.

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You’ve already learned – at great cost – how foolish it is to try to do everything yourself without saying anything.”

“I won’t lie. I have resented Your Majesty for a long time… But I don’t know. As time passes, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really so different.”

“You mustn’t think like that. This is…”

“So from now on, let’s try to take more time to talk – even if it’s something small, even if it feels annoying.”

Yeocheong spoke softly as she leaned her head gently against Jihyuk’s chest.

She could clearly feel how startled he was, how his body had frozen in surprise.

“…We are family – or rather, before we are family…”

She hesitated for a moment, flustered by the embarrassing word that came to mind.

But the hesitation didn’t last long.

If she didn’t say it clearly, he would always be careful around her.

“…We are lovers, aren’t we?”

Jihyuk’s breath caught in his throat at these words, spoken with a hint of alcohol-induced boldness.

He couldn’t believe he had just heard her say something he hadn’t even dared to think – not without guilt.

“Even if it’s something you can’t solve, please tell me. I’ll do the same.”

He had always thought he would do anything for Yeocheong, but it was always Yeocheong who pulled him out of bad decisions and deep despair.

Jihyuk put his arms around her again.

“All right.”

It wouldn’t be easy, but if they kept moving towards each other like this – step by step – they would eventually stop being afraid.

That’s what Jihyuk thought as he rested his head on Yeocheong’s shoulder.

***

“Chancellor Ryu may not know it, but Ryu Sohyeon has a lover – someone who is neither Yin-born nor Yang-born.

“…So, Your Majesty knew about this…”

“This is something I learned in a past life. She had a relationship with a servant who had been by her side since childhood, so even now – after time has turned back – it is unlikely that anything has changed.”

After their long conversation, Yeocheong had unknowingly shed a few tears, and Jihyuk, holding her gently in his arms, had quietly brought up Ryu Sohyeon.

The reason he had once considered her the ideal candidate for a concubine was because he knew her weakness.

“In the past life, I made a deal with her. We agreed to protect each other’s lovers. The marriage would be purely ceremonial – as long as we fulfilled our public duties, we wouldn’t interfere in each other’s private lives”.

“There are… people like that.”

“Lady Ryu isn’t the only one. Even if they don’t have lovers, there are those who enter the palace for various reasons – to escape their family, or simply to live without ambition. There are more than a few who live quietly, without wanting much.”

The highest value was different for everyone. Some sought power, others longed for peace—or escape.
And still others, more than anything, wanted love.

“We can’t leave the position of concubine vacant forever. But we can choose what kind of people will fill it, can’t we?”

“Then…”

At Jihyuk’s words, Yeocheong’s face brightened noticeably.

What had once seemed like a problem too difficult to even think about suddenly seemed like nothing at all.

“So don’t worry. I’ll find those who are truly suitable, and all you have to do is show up for the final selection.”

It was a solution that was clearly ready, just waiting for the right moment to be offered.

Yeocheong couldn’t help but smile, thinking that even if she hadn’t spoken, he might have gone ahead with such a plan on his own.

“I’m glad I decided to say something.”

There had been embarrassment and fear – but now it all felt so far away. Her heart was at peace, as if none of it had ever weighed on her.

And that peace didn’t just come from resolving the issue of the concubines.

It was the thought that from now on, as long as they kept talking openly – being honest about their feelings – they could face whatever challenges lay ahead, just as they had today.

This belief made the future seem less daunting and, more than anything else, gave them peace.

The sky, which had once felt so heavy, now seemed only bright and beautiful.

Wishing that days like this would last – or maybe just trusting that they would – Yeocheong gently closed her eyes, thinking that if they continued to talk openly from now on, if they remained honest with each other about their feelings, then whatever challenges came, they would be able to handle them – just like they were doing now.

This belief made the future feel less uncertain. And that, more than anything else, brought them joy.

The once-overwhelming sky now looked nothing but clear and beautiful.

Wishing for days like this to continue – or rather, quietly believing that they would – Yeocheong closed her eyes.