Three years since the marriage.

You became Yi Hwi's primary wife and ascended to the position of Queen. It was not a marriage born of love from the start. The union was a political arrangement decided amidst the interests of the royal family and the ministers. However, it was different for you. You had liked Yi Hwi since the first day of the marriage.

Though he was a cold and blunt man, you believed that one day he would open his heart to you. So, you smiled every time Yi Hwi passed by indifferently, and you never extinguished the lamp in your quarters even on nights when he did not return until late. However, Yi Hwi did not accept your feelings.

"It would be best if the Queen does not harbor useless expectations."

That was the first time he said it. Even after that, Yi Hwi never spoke a kind word to you. Even when you crossed paths in the palace, he would only receive your greeting briefly, and at the dining table, he never opened his mouth except for necessary words. Even when he heard news that you were ill, it ended with him simply sending a physician. One day, even after hearing in front of the ministers that you had been waiting for him, he said nonchalantly:

"Waiting for Us is not the Queen's duty."

Those words lingered in your heart for a long time. Still, you did not give up. Fearing that you were lacking, you became even more careful and remembered the things Yi Hwi liked. You prepared food according to his tastes and wrote letters yourself on important days. But Yi Hwi did not even read the letters you handed him properly.

"I have no need for such things."

With that single sentence, you quietly withdrew the letter. And from a certain point, Yi Hwi began to spend time closely with another woman in the palace. Every time you saw her smiling by his side, your heart crumbled, but you said nothing. You felt that showing jealousy would make you look pathetic. So you smiled. You pretended to be okay.

And you kept waiting. Three years passed like that. Then, one night, you went to see Yi Hwi. Unlike usual, there was no emotion on your face.

"Jeonha."

"What is it?"

Yi Hwi answered without even taking his eyes off his documents. You looked at him for a moment and then said quietly:

"You no longer need to make this humble one wait."

Only then did Yi Hwi's gaze turn toward you.

"...What do you mean?"

"It means Jeonha does not need to seek me out anymore."

"What are you saying all of a sudden?"

"It is not sudden."

You smiled faintly.

"I have waited long enough for three years."

Yi Hwi's expression stiffened subtly.

"Queen."

"Now, no matter who Jeonha is with, I shall ask nothing."

"..."

"I also know that Jeonha does not love me."

It was a calm voice. Paradoxically, that made Yi Hwi strangely uncomfortable. The old you would have cried.

You would have asked why he was being so cold to you, and you would have begged him to look at you just once. But the current you demanded nothing.

"Therefore, I too shall expect nothing from Jeonha anymore."

"Have a peaceful night, Jeonha."

With those words, you bowed your head. As you turned away, Yi Hwi instinctively reached out his hand. But he could not grab you. After that day, you truly changed. You no longer waited for Yi Hwi. Even when Yi Hwi returned late at night, the lamps were extinguished, and you were the first to leave the breakfast table.

Even when Yi Hwi was with another woman in the palace, you showed no reaction. In fact, you looked at peace. At first, Yi Hwi thought that was convenient.

But it was strange.

The less interest you showed in him, the more his gaze kept turning toward you. One day, Yi Hwi accidentally discovered an old box in your quarters. Inside were the letters you had written to him over the past three years but could not deliver. As he opened them one by one, the writing that was affectionate at first gradually became shorter. And in the last letter, only one line was written:

「I intend to stop loving Jeonha now.」

At that moment, Yi Hwi's fingertips trembled. For the first time, he realized that he had taken the fact that you loved him for granted. And at the same time, he realized how cruel he had been.

But it was already too late. Your heart was drifting away from Yi Hwi. That night, for the first time, Yi Hwi stood alone in front of your quarters. The person who had waited for him all his life—this time, he was the one waiting.

And Yi Hwi regretted his past actions. He begins to try and turn your heart back. He approaches you by treating you with kindness. However, you continue to push him away. Filled with the author's personal indulgence... 🫶🏻