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n

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n“Mom and dad… … . ”

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nI felt sorry that I have hated her until now. When I opened my mouth to say something to comfort her, I suddenly heard a cold voice from behind me.

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n“What’s going on here?”

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nIt was a very cold voice. Obviously, I didn’t hear anyone approaching, but he came to me and stared at me sharply.

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n“I’m honored to see the Sun of the Empire, Your Majesty.”

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n“Jiun, what’s up? Why are you crying? ”

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n“Rub.”

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nRublis Camaludin Shana Castina. Rub? I gave a hollow smile at that. For the past sixteen years, I was not even allowed to call his name, but she called him by his nickname so easily.

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n“What did you do to Jiun? What did you say to make her cry like this? Why is she crying? ”

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n“Your Majesty?”

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n

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nI felt it was unfair. Why is he blaming me first? What did I do to her?

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n“No, Rub. Tia didn’t do anything to me. I just cried because I missed my family.”

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n“… Oh, got it, Jiun, go and get some rest. I will follow you soon.”

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nI felt bitter when I saw him looking at her tenderly. My heart was broken when I saw him soothing her with a warm voice that I had never experienced. I shed tears when I watched him wistfully looking at her, as if he felt she was so lovely.

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nEven when he looked at me coldly with contempt and a cynical smile after she left, I lowered my head without telling him I was heartbroken.

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n“Let me warn you,” he said.

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n“Pardon? Your Majesty?”

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n“Don’t approach her. She is tender and innocent. She is not the type of woman you can mess with.”

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n“Your Majesty.”

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nI was choked with emotions when he scolded me like that.

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n“Did you think the position of the empress was yours? No way. You were once respected as the future empress because I wrongly interpreted the oracle. It was originally reserved for Jiun, not you. ”

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n“… ”

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n“Let me forgive you this time. But when this happens again, I’ll get you.”

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n“I will keep it in mind, Your Majesty.”

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nI was so heartbroken when he turned back coldly after warning me. What did I do to her? I didn’t do anything. I just tried to understand her.

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n“Oh, you are here.”

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n“What’s the matter?”

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n“I have been looking for you for a long time because there are some papers you need to sign urgently. As the emperor is not available, we can’t handle lots of stuff…”

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n“…Really? Got it. Let’s go back. ”

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nI glanced at the chief palace official blankly. Papers that need urgent signing, and the affairs of the palace office that don’t run smoothly without me. That’s the value of my existence. I’m supposed to make up for the empress’s role as she is not yet accustomed to the royal manners and customs. And that’s why I’m here at the palace.

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nTelling the official with a sigh to walk ahead of me, I followed the palace affairs director, ignoring the tears dropping on my dress.

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n***

n

n“Tia, are you the emperor’s concubine?”

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nWhat happened to her today? I was annoyed when she, with tears welled in her eyes, abruptly came to me and asked if I was the emperor’s concubine. I was dumbfounded to hear that.

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nIt’s already been four months since she suddenly appeared before me. For more than two months she often visited me without any notice and disrupted my work. Despite that, she was now asking me who I was. Does that make any sense?

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n“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

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n“Then, you are really Rub’s concubine?”

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nConcubine. Even though a concubine is not the emperor’s official wife, there is a hierarchy in concubines. In the empire, there is only one empress and only one royal concubine. Accordingly, the empress is called the emperor’s official wife, while the emperor’s unofficial wife is called a royal concubine. The royal concubine manages all the palace women and in times of emergency she acts on behalf of the empress. The meaning of the title ‘royal concubine’ was changed since the 11th emperor’s reign as it was given to the woman that the emperor favored most. So, there were few royal concubines who played their roles properly in the history of the empire.

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n“Yes, I am the emperor’s royal concubine, Your Highness.”

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nNearly half a year after she became the empress, she still does not know the difference.

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nShe probably doesn’t understand why I am correcting the name of my title. Unlike the previous empresses, she is not yet familiar with her work and role as the empress, so I’ve been subbing for her. Despite that, she doesn’t realize what a big insult it is to call me one of the usual concubines. I wonder when she will realize that.

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n“By the way… ”

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n‘What are you trying to say this time? What the hell are you gonna tell me? ‘

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nDue to severe hypotension, I didn’t feel well in the morning. Strangely enough, today I felt so dizzy, and I had a headache, so I could not get up when I had so much work to do.

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nWas it because of that? I was growing more and more annoyed when she visited me abruptly and hesitated to say something. Given that nobles usually have social gatherings until late at night, it is the standard manners for them to avoid visiting somebody in the morning. She has been learning royal manners for almost half a year, but she still doesn’t know basic manners. I just don’t know what her etiquette coach is teaching her.

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n“Uh… let me come back later. Sorry.”

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nAfter hesitating for a while, she jumped out. While looking back at her in annoyance, I picked up the pile of papers with a sigh. I was thinking I should hand over my job to her around next year, it seemed impossible.

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n“I’m sorry, Tia. I’m really sorry.”

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nMy temper flared when she again came to see me the next day and made me upset.

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nThe moment I saw her, I thought to myself, ‘Please, can’t you stop your rude behavior by abruptly visiting me without any notice?’

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nI pressed my aching head and said with a straight face, “Why are you sorry to me, Your Highness?”

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n“I’m so sorry, Tia. I am so sorry. ”

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nI was frustrated, thinking, ‘Stop it, please! Yesterday you made me upset by asking me whether I was a royal concubine. Why are you doing it again today?’

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nI was boiling with rage when I saw her crying after she visited me abruptly with a haggard look, as if something happened last night. I felt like shouting at her, but I didn’t.

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nI thought to myself, ‘Why are you so sorry to me? Because I have to take care of all the messy work you’ve haven’t done? Because you have left all the palace work to me? Or because of your poor manners that you can’t improve at all? Can’t you stop now? If you’re not here to test my patience, please stop it.’

n

n“What I mean is… ”

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n“… ”

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n“I heard you were originally designated as the empress. I heard that you were Rub’s fiancée since you were born.”

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n‘Ah, you only heard it now? How come you heard it only now, when it was already half a year since you became the empress?’

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n“Sorry. I’m really sorry.”

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n“… ”

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n“What I really mean is…”

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n“Oh, you don’t have to apologize, Your Highness.”

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n“What are you talking about?”

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nIn fact, I was just trying to listen, letting her words in one ear and out the other.

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nBut because of my headache in the morning, words tumbled out of my mouth in spite of myself.

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n“I heard the emperor’s wife was decided by God. So, it is true that as the child of the prophecy, you are the emperor’s wife. As we were ignorant, we misinterpreted God’s will. ”

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n

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n“How can you say that so easily?”

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n“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

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n“God? God decided the empress? Why did God decide it? Is it such a big deal?”

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nWhat? I was speechless at the moment. She shouted at me when I stared at her blankly.

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n“How can you say that as if it’s so natural? Aren’t you upset about it?”

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nDo you really think I am taking it for granted? Do you think I have accepted the reality calmly without getting angry?

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n“Empress? Oh my god! I didn’t want to be this kind of empress at all! One day, when I was on my way back home, I just picked up a coin. After that, I was thrown into this empire. Everybody around me, dressed in strange clothes, looked at me weirdly. They were speaking a language I’ve never heard. Somehow I could carry on conversation with them. They reminded me I was in a different world from where I used to live, and they even said I was a girl sent by God!”

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nAfter she spat out some words that I could not understand at all, she gasped for breath.

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n“All of a sudden, a guy named the emperor appeared before me and asked me to be the empress. I’m only nineteen years old by Korean age, so I’m not an adult yet, but I was forced to get married to him!”

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