Imperial Lament

[This work contains coercive and violent scenes. Please take this into consideration before reading.]

One day, Princess Huinyeong of the Yeon Empire loses everything when her uncle, Prince Yik Wi-pyeong, seizes the throne in a coup. Stripped of her title and reduced to a disgraced commoner, she falls into ruin.

Yet, before long, she is summoned back to the imperial palace by the very man who destroyed her life: the new emperor, Wi-pyeong. Now emperor, Wi-pyeong takes her as his concubine and keeps her within the palace once more.

Having lost everyone and everything dear to her, including the dignity of her birth, Huinyeong begins to wither away under the emperor’s suffocating obsession and twisted affection.

***

“I believe I’ve said this more than once…”

Huinpyeong lifted her tear-stained face.
The emperor’s expression remained calm.
The man who had been kissing her tears away lowered his lips to her ear. Lightly biting its rim, he whispered in the same tone as before.

“You must not leave Yangmyeong Hall.”
“….”
“Even if you die, you will die in my bed in Yangmyeong Hall, receiving my seed.”
“….”
“Because you are my woman now.”
..
..
..
“For us to live as husband and wife, your father had to die. No…. he was destined to die sooner or later. Even if I hadn’t killed him, he would have died eventually. Did you not know that?”

“Please don’t say such things.”

Huinyeong’s eyes flew open wide. Seeing the grief in them, Wi-pyeong smiled.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”
“That throne was meant for me from the beginning.”
“…”
“I should have become emperor.”

Huinyeong glared at him. The Emperor gently brushed the corner of her eye with his finger. It was an unbearably tender and affectionate touch. Soon, a voice even gentler than his touch shattered her resolve.

“I regret nothing.”

Killing your father? Slaughtering your people?
The faint smile faded from Wi-pyeong’s lips. Then he spoke again, as if driving a nail into place.

“I regret none of it.”

Breaking Huinyeong is easy.