Chapter 29
There were of a lot of don'ts, which kept one from doing what they wanted to. The emperor had more than anyone associates himself with this term.
Don't let anyone know your identity.
Don't let history repeat.
Don't let her die.
Don't. Don't. Don't.
For more than he remembered, there were more don'ts to remember than things he actually could do.
He couldn't let anyone know his weakness while living in a world, which he thought, was a complete foreign One. No different from a lost wolf on the enemy's territory, has he been wandered in anxiety all alone.
Until that day she appeared in the palace, with the doe eyes which held oblivion of cruelty existing within the walls. She was oblivion was too the point that it hurts. To the point that he felt ridiculously miserable.
When another man was willing to let go of his desire of the throne and everything in his position, she was unknown to that. When he was in the position to suffer from a mad man's decision, the lady to all those suffering was being indifferent and ignorant with the excuse of not knowing.
He thought he was alone, and that no one would ever be able to understand his agony. Yet, when she called his name in her sleep, he then realised that he wasn't alone. That she had somehow followed him back and that fate somehow had tied invisible the red string around their finger.
At the realisation he was beyond words, but at the same time uneasiness also settled. That was why he asked. Asked if she would like to life a normal life, which he more than ever was able to grant her.
Cause in his head, that's exactly what she had done. She choose her fiancé who was no other than his sworn enemy. Either it was because of money or because she had no idea, in the end it didn't change the fact that she once had left him.
Soo once choose his brother over him. It was a fact which she couldn't deny. He didn't simply brought it up because of a trivial grudge to the past. It was also a disguised hint.
He wanted to tell her the moment he heard her call the name in her sleep, that it was him, that he was the one she had been calling. But he couldn't. He was told not to tell anybody about his real identity if he didn't want to pay for the consequences.
How it frustrated him that the truth was buried under so many lays of lies, yet he was helpless and could only keep the boiled anger to himself. It tortured him to realise that Soo was slowing falling for him, falling for who she thought was the ancient emperor when in reality it was just him. The jealousy seized up and in the end both people ended up hurting each other for no reason. Foolishly.
Foolishly, he asked with the hope that his question would be answered.
"Where is she?"
"Where is Moon?"
"Your majesty."
Just as the Astronomer was about to answer, the dowager approached, with a court behind her heals. Realising that a third part was present, Jimong silently stepped behind the emperor and discretely reminded the emperor that this was not the proper time to keep this conversation going.
"Greeting the Dowager," Jimong spoke with bowed head. The emperor turned his ice cold facade towards the Dowager, acknowledging her presence.
"What brings royal mother here?" The emperor asked.
"I'd been awhile since the consort had returned, but your majesty had kept her so tightly close that I couldn't get a word in,"
"She is still recovering, her memories has yet come so I wouldn't take the risk of her making a mistake towards royal mother,"
"Why be so uptight within the family your majesty? I haven't seen her once ever since the royal marriage, and didn't get the chance to see her due to the unfortunate incident. Let me get some time getting to know...." the dowager suddenly went silent, as if her brain was searching for a specific thing.
"The consort's name is Hae Soo, Queen dowager," Jimong noted.
"Right," The dowager replied.
"The incident had been hard on her, she isn't stable to met royal mother yet,"
"Are you protecting her you majesty? Even from me?"
"His majesty is just worried about the consort's condition queen dowager. Please don't take it to heart. The consort had been through a hard time, but she is strong and prevailing. She is not as fragile as she seems. Please let the consort share her thoughts about this, either way no one knows the consort better than herself."
It was clear that Jimong didn't want the emperor to get on the Dowager's bad side. Instead of turning the emperor to the protective mad spouse, he had now tossed the blame on the consort to whether meeting the Dowager or not.
Although the Emperor knew Jimong's real attention, he wasn't that pleased with the way of handling it. In the Emperor's eyes, the dowager was a vile woman with eyes only on her kin and within the warm term of family, the emperor was not included.
"Someone, get the consort over here," the dowager ordered.
Soon the consort was forced to separate from her cousin, and was brought to stand before the emperor and the dowager. Although flashing the surprised expression, Seol has in fact been aware of the emperor's attention, but pretended not to know.
"Your majesty," Seol greeted and exchanged a nod with Jimong.
"So, finally I get to see the face of my daughter-in-law," the dowager chanted with a sugared voice.
"Greeting to the dowager," Seol curtsied.
"My dear daughter-in-law," The dowager grabbed Seol's hands.
"It's must have been hard on you," the dowager faked her smile.
"What do you say to visit my place, I do have a lot of things I wanted to share with my daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, Jung is still too young and Yo's family is exiled,"
Secretly without anyone knowing the dowager presses a little piece of paper and passed it to Seol. Wrapping her palm around the paper, Seoul made sure not to let anyone notice, as the emperor forcefully pulled her free from the dowager's hold.
"Your majesty! What kind of behaviour is that?" Appearing angry at the outside, yet the dowager was smiling contently inwards, knowing that her secret message was delivery without suspicion.
Seol winced in pain was the emperor forcefully pulled bandaged arm.
"Weren't we agreeing to let the consort decide for herself? Your majesty aren't you to hasty in taking back your words? My dear what do you think? What do you feel about it?"
Seol looked at the emperor before again turning at the dowager. As if she was examining the emperor's reaction.
"Allow me to pay my respect another time," Seol said humbly. To no one's surprise, the consort was leaning to the emperor's side.
The dowager had to admit her defeat and retreated with the courts behind her. Left was only the emperor and Seol and Jimong in the shadow.
Seeing the emperor's gloomy expression made Seol wonder if he had noticed something.
When they were back at the royal chamber the emperor made all the servant leave and personally treat her wound. Just as he always did.
As usual he would then be in his reading chamber while telling her to stay and rest in his royal chamber.
The moment the emperor was of safe distance, Seol then took out the paper given by the Dowager in secret. Folding out the blank paper, Seol then found submerged it in a cup of water before drying it with the candlelight's flame.
A letter gradually turned visible on the paper. As Seol read the letter her eyes squinted slight.
It was crystal clear the mastermind all of this, the one who planned out the abduction of the real consort and placed Seol in this position, was finally giving out the orders. After all the mysterious master who Princess Wohee worked for, was no other than the Dowager of the royal family.
What a loving mother, planning to kill her own child. Seol mentally thought as she read the letter.