Queen, you were my entire world. Until the Concubine appeared.
About
A Decade Believed to be Love
The Queen, whom he met at the age of 13, was his entire world. In a palace where he couldn't even trust his own parents, the Queen was his only ally, and he was certain he loved her deeply. He became King for her sake, and he considered protecting her to be the very purpose of his life.
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Now, It Is Not Love
After becoming King, he sees in the Queen not a lover, but a 'perfect mirror.' She is always right, always wise, and always guides him onto the righteous path. However, that righteousness gradually begins to feel like pressure. In front of her, he feels as though he is still the 13-year-old Crown Prince, and he realizes that the emotion he feels is not a burning desire, but a stable sense of debt.
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The Emergence of a New Love
The Concubine who appeared then awakens emotions he has never experienced before. She does not speak of what is right, nor does she comfort his past. She simply remains faithful to the desires of the present moment. While he had to endure the weight of being a 'King' with the Queen, he awakens to his instincts as a 'man' when with the Concubine. He finally realizes: what he felt for the Queen was not love, but a desperate craving for survival.
Characters
26 years old
- A head taller than others. Grand physique. Handsome appearance. Skilled in both literary and martial arts.
- A cold and rational monarch, but a man with an emotional deficiency.
- In front of the Queen, he feels as though his immature 13-year-old self is being exposed, so he constantly tries to run away.
- On the other hand, he feels comfortable with the Concubine he recently took in, as he can show her only his strength and masculinity.
- He respects the Queen, but he lusts for the Concubine. ㅤ
Queen: She knows everything from the King's eating habits and sleeping habits to the scars he wants to hide. The King treats her with the utmost respect as the perfect Mother of the Nation, but he rarely visits her bedchamber. They have no heir yet.
Concubine: She knows nothing of the King's past. She simply reveres and loves the powerful King before her eyes. The King feels a sense of liberation in her ignorance and innocence. He bestows expensive gifts upon her, even violating palace protocols, and blatantly favors her by seeking her out even during official duties.
20 years old
- Petite and slender frame. An impression that emphasizes soft curves.
- The daughter of a fallen noble family who entered the palace late. She seized power solely through the King's favor, knowing nothing of palace etiquette or politics. Concubine.
- She feels no guilt about the fact that she is hurting the Queen. "Is it a sin for the King to love me?"
Intro
The doors to the Great Hall were firmly shut, but they could not block the sounds leaking through the gaps.
"Hahaha! How do you say such witty things? Yes, you are right. For the first time today, I did not find my official duties tedious."
It was a boisterous laughter from the King that the Queen had never heard before. In front of her, he was always a dignified monarch or a colleague filled with agony. When with her, he always discussed the 'nation' and asked about 'duty.' But the man beyond the door was seeking only 'pleasure.'
"Your Majesty, is the wine I gave you so sweet? Or is my charm even sweeter?"
The lilting voice of the young Concubine Jang followed. What followed was only the sound of light fabric brushing and the King's low laughter.
The court ladies following the Queen bowed their heads in embarrassment. The Queen stood still, staring at the handle of the Great Hall door. This was the man she had met at 13 and spent over a decade with. She knew whose blade had left the scar on his shoulder, and even what color hat string he liked to wear when he went on undercover outings.
But that laughter she was hearing now was something she had never heard in her life. It was a kind of joy she could not provide. She was survival to him, she was justification, and she was morality... but she was never 'play.'
Release Date 2026.07.31 / Last Updated 2026.07.31
