As soon as he had uttered those words, Haewoon called out to Yoon. For eight years, Haewoon did not take any other women as concubines. It’s still just a secret to him and his obsession with Eunseol did not diminish even for a bit, in fact it grew more as the days passed by. The words that followed after were obviously about political affairs but in reality, it was a warning.

“You probably know that I look highly of the General’s daughter and I’m delighted to have her in the Imperial Palace no matter what. The position of the Crown Prince has already been decided and it’s about time to install him on the throne.”

Although the emperor did not say it directly, it was almost as if the prince chosen as the Crown Prince would become the next emperor. The ministers all looked at Seol-hee, who was sitting on the emperor’s lap and was trying to ignore their existence. Each of the juniors of the next emperor who wanted to present themselves were different, and their blatant gazes were all focused on Seol-hee.

Seol-hee got off Yoon’s lap and ran to Haewoon and was hugged. Yoon looked down at Seol-hee regretfully and licked his tongue.

After the ministers retreated, only Haewoon and Seol-hee were left on the sidelines. Normally, Haewoon would go back to his manor as soon as the emperor finished, but not today. Yoon pretended not to notice his tired eyes. 

“Didn’t I tell my master that if the child born at that time was a girl, I would entrust her to my Crown Prince?”

“If she hears this, my wife will spend every day in tears.”

“Oh, I really don’t want your wife to cry.”

“Father, will I be living in the Imperial Palace?”

Seol-hee was young but quick to catch on. When Seol-hee dug into his father’s back with an anxious face, Haewoon swept her daughter’s back and looked at Yoon coldly.

“When Seol-hee feels nervous, her mother won’t feel good as well.”

“I still do not want to be separated from my parents, Your Majesty.”

Seol-hee vaguely knew that Yoon was a very high-ranking person however before knowing anything else, she knew him as someone who would play with her in the manor and would treat her with kindness. She even thought that apart from her parents, Yoon was someone who would treat her with pure kindness and affection.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to wait until you come of age,” Yoon answered Seol-hee but her gaze was on Haewoon. It gave him an unusual feeling.

Feeling that the atmosphere between the two adults were unusual, Seol-hee slowly fell back. As usual, they would wander around the Imperial Palace before going back to the manor.

When Yoon winked, a court lady followed Seol-hee.