Suin’s entry into the palace was scheduled for nineteen days’ time. According to the Emperor’s wishes, Yeon was granted the title of Sukbi, meaning ‘Noble Consort’. Of the seven palaces, she was assigned the Hwain Palace in which to reside.

However, Yeon continued to dine and sleep with the Emperor. Given this, it seemed unnecessary to assign her a separate residence, but it appeared that the Emperor simply wanted to honour his concubine, his former nanny.

Yeon only entered the Hwain Palace on the morning she was given her title. After that, she was confined to Yanmyeong Hall. Whenever she tried to leave, the Emperor’s black-clad Jeokryongwi guards blocked her path and asked her where she was going.

A lady-in-waiting would then step forward with a sharp expression and reply, ‘Her Ladyship is taking a stroll through Eohwa Garden,’ or ‘She is on her way to Gyeongin Palace to pay her respects to the Grand Empress Dowager in preparation for welcoming Princess Sukon.’

But none of this was something Yeon was used to.

Wearing silk robes and having flower ornaments placed in her hair had become routine since she first slept with Ryu, so that didn’t bother her. What was difficult was being addressed as ‘Sukbi’ and being served by ladies-in-waiting. Yeon had always lived as a slave.

Even when she served as the emperor’s nanny, Yeon was never a free commoner—she was a slave, sent from the Ministry of Public Works in Seoguk. The palace maids had always referred to her simply as “Yeon,” without a trace of respect.

Now, even dressed in luxurious silk, her hair adorned with jade hairpins and a doshimjam inlaid with pearls and rubies, nothing had changed. They still spoke to her casually, as if the finery meant nothing. It felt jarring—a woman so regally dressed, yet treated with such disregard. But that was the reality of Yeon’s place in the palace: distant, unacknowledged, and quietly out of place.

However, Yeon was now Sukbi. She was expected to command her attendants and be addressed with honour by the court ladies.

‘What a tiresome affair.’

Yeon adjusted her hair, her fingers trembling slightly as she caught the reflection of a young palace maid in the ornate neunghwagyeong mirror—a maid who had clearly been startled by what she saw. Perhaps it was Yeon’s appearance that had caught her off guard, or perhaps it was something else entirely.

In truth, Yeon should have been formally elevated only after the Empress entered the palace. That was tradition. But because she was pregnant, she had been granted the title Sukbi immediately.

Even before announcing that Lady Suin would become his consort in nineteen days, the Emperor had already informed the court that one of his concubines was carrying his child. From that moment on, Yeon could no longer be dismissed as insignificant. She was no longer just a forgotten servant or a name passed over in silence. In her womb grew the Emperor’s first and only heir—an undeniable claim to power that reshaped everything.

Yeon gently touched her belly, as if caressing the baby inside. Since her pregnancy was confirmed, she had started to feel her lower abdomen feel slightly fuller — or perhaps it hadn’t. According to Ryu, her br*asts had grown larger, too.

“It is only natural—You must nurse my crown prince.”

Ryu grasped Yeon’s br*ast and looked satisfied. His elegant fingers explored her br*ast before he firmly pinched her n*pple. Yeon looked up at him, remaining silent.

The word ‘Crown Prince’ grated on her ears. Even setting aside her lowly status, the Empress still lived in the palace – how could her child be named heir simply for being the firstborn?

“We don’t even know if it’s a prince or a princess yet.”

The man who was holding her on his lap replied quietly.

“It’s a boy.”

“How do you know that?”

“I had a conception dream.”

Ryu answered, looking down at her as though he were about to devour her completely. Yeon lowered her gaze. She hadn’t had a single dream, let alone a conception dream, because she had never expected to become pregnant.

Suddenly, the voice of a eunuch announced the Emperor’s arrival. Yeon rose from her seat and bowed in greeting. Ryu strode in with heavy steps, returning from his morning duties in the main hall.

Yeon kept her head bowed. In the past, she would have looked straight at him, forgetting protocol entirely.

“What were you doing?”

“Waiting for Your Majesty.”

She had received word earlier that she would be dining with him at mid-morning. Yeon thought about how the Emperor had started his day without waking her. Before her pregnancy, it had always been her task to wake Ryu. She had been the one to prepare everything he needed, from his clothes to his breakfast. It had always been her role.

She used to think that, as Ryu aged, she would no longer be needed, but that wasn’t the case. Her role had simply evolved alongside him.

Still, some things remained the same: waking him up, for example. Combing his hair. Sharing breakfast. She waited in Yanmyeong Hall until he had finished his duties.

A thick, long arm wrapped around her waist. Yeon didn’t resist as he gently pulled her in. Her slender body leaned into his chest. Without lifting her head, Yeon gazed at the soft light of late spring filtering through the round window.

A large hand stroked her hair.

“I had that dream again today.”

“What dream?”

“About our son.”

“It might be a daughter, you know.”

Ryu responded softly, “It’s a boy,” as he sat down on the cushion. Just as Yeon was about to sit next to him, he pulled her onto his lap. She obeyed without resistance.

In the past, she might have pushed him away, but now she was the Emperor’s favoured consort. Even though she had become pregnant before his betrothed entered the palace.

Yeon pressed her small body against Ryu’s large frame and gently bit her lip.

“Did you say the tiger rubbed its head against my lower belly?”

“You remembered.”

Ryu kissed her cheek, his expression full of quiet delight.

Yeon recalled the dream that Ryu had once described. It wasn’t a dream from before they discovered her pregnancy, but after. In it, a massive tiger had appeared and rubbed its head against her stomach. He had insisted that this was proof that the baby would be a boy.

Yeon couldn’t bring herself to ask if it might be a brave and strong daughter.

Ryu seemed like the kind of man who would keep trying until he had a son. He was determined to pass the throne to his child.

Yeon couldn’t understand that obsession, but she also knew it was best not to challenge it.

Although she had raised him herself, she didn’t know where he had learned such unyielding ambition and fervour — it was beyond her comprehension.

What she truly worried about was Suin. That she might live out her days alone, secluded in the palace.

‘It’s just a needless worry.’

Suin was a gentle and graceful noblewoman. Not only was she the most skilled in embroidery in Hwanju, but her scholarly accomplishments were exceptional—she was the very definition of beauty and intellect combined.

Ryu responded softly, ‘It’s a boy,’ as he sat down on the cushion. Just as Yeon was about to sit next to him, he pulled her onto his lap. She obeyed without resistance.

In the past, she might have pushed him away, but now she was the Emperor’s favoured consort. This was despite her becoming pregnant before his betrothed entered the palace.

Yeon pressed her small body against Ryu’s large frame and gently bit her lip.

“Did you say the tiger rubbed its head against my lower belly?”

“You remembered.”

Ryu kissed her cheek, his expression full of quiet delight.

Yeon recalled the dream that Ryu had once described. It wasn’t a dream from before they discovered her pregnancy, but after. In it, a huge tiger appeared and rubbed its head against her stomach. Ryu had insisted that this was proof that the baby would be a boy.

Yeon couldn’t bring herself to ask if it might be a brave, strong daughter instead.

Ryu seemed like the kind of man who would keep trying until he had a son. He was determined to pass the throne to his child.

Yeon couldn’t understand that obsession, but she also knew it was best not to challenge it.

Despite having raised him herself, she had no idea where he had learned such unyielding ambition and fervour — it was beyond her comprehension.

“Today, the tiger came again in my dream—only this time, it was a cub.”
“Did it?”

“Yeon, in the dream, you said we should hold the little tiger together.”

Ryu whispered the words as he kissed her on the cheek. His face, certain that the baby would be a boy, was filled with hope and anticipation.

Yeon hid her bitter smile and nodded.

If the child truly were a prince, it would be troublesome—but even so, the Grand Empress Dowager would never allow the newborn emperor’s eldest illegitimate son to be crowned as the heir.

Yeon believed that was the right decision.

“Aren’t you excited?”

“It will be a child who resembles Your Majesty.”

Yeon answered calmly.

Ryu looked down at her with such a sweet expression that it was as if he had sugar in his mouth — he was completely smitten by every word she said. Yeon looked quietly at his affectionate face, then lowered her gaze.

“In nineteen nights, Lady Suin will enter the palace.”

“Does it trouble you?”

Yeon was unsure how to answer. It would be a lie to say that it didn’t bother her at all.

However, her unease and jealousy were not the kind that Ryu might have imagined.

She didn’t envy Suin at all. After all, Suin was much younger than her, and more than anything, Suin was the young lady that Yeon had served devotedly since childhood.

Why would she feel jealous watching the two children she had raised with care grow up and get married?

Yeon felt only joy that Suin had grown into such a graceful young woman. She was also glad that Ryu would be by Suin’s side.

“Remember, you are all I have.”

“Your Majesty…”

“You are the only one who can bear my child. There will never be another.”

Yeon gently pushed against his chest and murmured.

“Your Majesty must live as a sovereign should.”