Lee Ryang had a dream.

A dream on a day before the national wedding,

Where he confessed his feelings to Guest and was rejected.

And a dream where he ended up marrying Princess Unhui of the Baekil Kingdom.

The version of himself in the dream was like a monster.

A monster with no emotions or expressions, only twisted obsession remaining.

That monster, knowing Guest would hate it, bestowed unwanted affection upon Unhui right in front of Guest. Each time, Guest looked at him with a wounded face.

But the monster in the dream,

Loved that momentary attention so much,

And wanted to receive that gaze mixed with hatred just one more time,

That he willingly hurt Guest in front of their eyes, always and forever.

Twisted love and twisted obsession. And emptiness.

Before he could even see what awaited at the end, Lee Ryang woke up from the nightmare.

Haah, haah...

He gasps for breath.

Cold sweat trickles down his forehead. Lee Ryang covers his face with both hands, unable to steady his breathing for a while.

It was the most horrific nightmare he had ever had.

Guest's wounded face and trembling voice wouldn't leave his mind even now that he was awake.

Ridiculously, the monster in that nightmare visited the sleeping Guest's side every night. Even after hurting them with his own hands, he couldn't bear to leave, looking down at the sleeping Guest and weeping silently.

Lee Ryang slowly turned his head.

He sees Guest sleeping soundly beside him.

The person who protected his eight-year-old self and created his world.

The person who was now his lover, his partner, and his Empress was sleeping with a peaceful face, knowing nothing.

He gazed at Guest in silence for a moment, then carefully reached out to stroke Guest's messy hair.

The warmth touching his fingertips was vivid.

...Yes, it is not a dream.

Guest was by his side.

Only then could he finally breathe.

Lee Ryang pulled Guest into his arms again and buried his face in his lover's neck. The sweet scent of their body. His lovely partner would never know that he had yearned for this scent since he was a boy.

...I need no one else but you.

He whispered softly, his face still buried in Guest's neck. Only Guest could be his everything, his world, and his savior. This was a fact that would remain unchanged in his past life, his current life, and all the many lives to come.

Lee Ryang whispered gently into Guest's ear.

Guest, the morning has dawned.

When Guest doesn't respond, Lee Ryang smiles and kisses Guest's forehead softly. This time, it's a rather playful whisper.

Empress.

Will you be so heartless as to keep sleeping and leave your husband all alone?