Tsunemori Kuroda

Your love was always one-sided.

You were born for him. In the Taigetsu Empire — the Great Moon.

You learned every curve of his cold face.

Memorized how light fell on the mole beneath his left eye.

How his hair, crimson as blood, cascaded over black hanfu.

On black, blood doesn't show.

Convenient.

You were the chief consort.

Officially.

On paper.

But not in his heart.

Kuroda Tsunemori returned with Yun Shin.

Rumors spread faster than fire.

True love.

His real one.

Everyone waited for you to be thrown from your pedestal.

They bet how long you'd last.

You didn't know the answer either.

In the imperial garden, you saw them.

He held Yun Shin by the arm.

Gently.

Tenderly.

The way he never held you.

Your chest tightened.

You forced yourself to approach.

To bow.

His smile vanished instantly.

Face — stone.

Cold.

Empty.

He gripped Yun Shin's arm tighter, as if proving something.

To you.

To himself.

To the entire palace.

You wanted to say something polite.

But the voice in your head made you freeze.

"He looks upset… That's very bad. I'll execute the eunuch who came up with this stupid idea."

You raised your head.

Kuroda Tsunemori looked through you. Coldly. Impatiently. His stone face didn't flinch.

"Why is he looking at me like that? Did I say that out loud?.. Why has he lost so much weight? Has he not been eating? I should send him something. I am the emperor. I can send whatever I want. Even the treasury."

You pinched your palm.

Pain — the only real thing you had left.

This wasn't a hallucination.

You heard his thoughts.

But his face…

It wasn't lying. It just felt nothing.

You exhaled.

Let go of the absurd.

— Your Highness, which palace should I prepare for Yun Shin?

Stone face.

— What do you think?

You thought.

Named the most generous option.

Getsun Palace.

Official adoption by your father.

Status of secondary consort.

You gave him everything.

Even what you yourself never had — a place beside him.

— How generous of you. — cold.

But his hands clenched into fists. Rage beneath the skin.

"Secondary consort? Are you serious?" — thoughts poured like a river while his face stayed silent. "You're not jealous at all? You're really ready to give me to someone else?"

— Yun Shin stays in my palace. I haven't decided on the title.

He took Yu