“Teacher…”

PAK!

“Argh!”

Haewoon had approached the emperor and punched him lightly.

The emperor bowed his head after being punched on the cheek. He knew that Haewoon did that on purpose to shame him. Haewoon would have stabbed him himself with a sword, not punched him, if it wasn’t the case.

It was also Haewoon that appointed him as the crown prince who was as tall as his son. He had learned everything from him from his childhood by following him around.

Even after ascending to the throne, Hawang In Yoon still called Haewoon teacher and treated him like a superior. He gave him the same food as he had, and even made two sets of the same clothes for them. For Yoon, Haewoon was both his brother and father.

"You've gone too far, Yoon."

"I was just trying to see if she is qualified to be your wife. "

PAK!

He was slapped in the cheek again. He looked Haewoon in the eyes.

Each time the sound of the slap resounded, Eunseol who was still covering her eyes flinched. She couldn’t even guess who was slapping and who was being slapped. It didn’t matter who it was though, as long as Haewoon was safe.

“Did you react like this because the wife that you hid in the depths of your manor had been called here? You didn’t want to be a widow and brought a woman from Giran, the woman who was the wife of your son that was supposed to be your successor.”

Yoon looked at Eunseol over Haewoon's shoulder and said it so she would hear it.

“So, why can’t I be more curious? I crave everything that my former teacher has."

Haewoon looked down at Yoon. Yoon was the son of a concubine who wasn’t a successor of the throne in the first place. Nevertheless, Haewoon placed him on the throne.

"Don't forget who put you here, Hwang In Yoon,” Haewoon said calmly. 

As when he had hit him, Haewoon touched Yoon’s head as if he was dealing with a child. It was a warning that his position could be changed to another at any time.

"He could have had it if you had come a little later."

Yoon smiled like a child and pointed his finger at Eunseol. To be exact, it was her stomach.

“If she becomes my concubine and gives birth to a child, that child will be given equal status as with the princes.”

Haewoon's lips raised coldly with the provocation.

“If the teacher’s child is a son, it would even be possible for him to ascend to the throne."

“If you are chasing after who will succeed you, take somebody else’s child and put it on the throne.” 

When Haewoon flatly refused, Yoon clacked his tongue as if it was a pity. He didn’t need another child. He just thought it would have been okay to leave this position if it was Haewoon’s only child who succeeded him. The woman was too stubborn to do that, so his plan failed.

Yoon liked Eunseol quite a bit too. He was curious about the woman who had made Haewoon so obsessed that even his wife, who had been recognized as one of the most beautiful people in the empire, couldn’t relieve him. At this point though, he was worried inside that he might step down from his office.

"My wife never wanted anyone else's child. I don't think you even memorize the names of the princes."

He still needed Haewoon. His existence must exist in order to find stability in the continent. It is unlikely that there will ever be another such ruthless and cruel person again. He cannot be subdued, nor can he be bribed. In this uneasy situation, Yoon was desperate for him.

“Then I’ll go ahead and memorize their names."

In the Emperor's bedroom, they offer the Emperor a blessing.

Yoon grinned as he followed his teacher's words and moved on.