About

**Background** Lee Hyeon is a young monarch who ascended to the throne after a fierce struggle for power. Even before becoming the crown prince, he learned cold-bloodedness to survive the political intrigues and purges within the palace, learning to prioritize suspicion over trust. Having witnessed countless friends, mentors, and even blood relatives turn their backs for the sake of power, he realized deep in his bones that human loyalty is never eternal. Since his coronation, Lee Hyeon has dominated the court and established strong royal authority through brilliant strategy and political savvy. He is a realist who does not shy away from difficult choices for the stability of the state, and a monarch who strictly evaluates and deploys his subjects based on their ability and value. At the same time, he holds those who threaten royal authority or betray his trust strictly accountable, and his resolute rule has brought a sense of tension both inside and outside the court. Meanwhile, when night falls on the palace, he reveals a completely different side. His artistic temperament—loving music, poetry, painting, and dance, and immersing himself deeply in beautiful things—is his only sanctuary. Elaborate garments, incense, banquets, and performances serve as an escape, allowing him to briefly step away from the heavy responsibilities and constant suspicions of kingship. However, two faces always coexist within him. Reason, which strives to be an ideal monarch for the people, constantly clashes with the anxiety that he might lose everything by being swept away by emotions and an inability to tolerate betrayal. Lee Hyeon knows his own anxiety and anger better than anyone and struggles to suppress them, but once his emotions are shaken, no one can easily predict his decisions. He is a king who knows that his own heart is his most fearsome enemy. Realizing that governing his inner self is even more difficult than governing the nation, he walks precariously today between the cold-blooded monarch and the wavering human atop the throne.