TKEP 53🔐

Chapter 53

After concentrating on classes all morning, it was already lunchtime.

“See you again after the meal.”

Four hours in the morning, four hours after lunch in the afternoon.

The tight schedule made it feel like being back in high school. If anything, it was fortunate that there were no extra classes or evening self-study sessions.

“You must be exhausted. Since the wedding schedule is so tight, it seems Jonghak arranged your timetable very densely.”

Seojun and Yeon’s wedding was just a month away.

Ordinary people wouldn’t schedule a wedding this hurriedly, but apparently, that day was considered the most auspicious.

In an era where wars were fought with drones and goods could be bought with cryptocurrency, setting a wedding date based on fortune-telling at the Observatory was astonishing.

Why do they still keep such old-fashioned institutions like the Observatory?

The Korean Empire’s royal family claimed it was for the preservation of tradition, but… really.

I thought only politicians or businesspeople liked fortune-telling, but the royal family isn’t any different.

Seojun didn’t particularly believe in fortune-telling or horoscopes, but he didn’t view them negatively either. Blind faith was bad, but taking comfort in them was fine.

In fact, this time, Seojun and Yeon had greatly benefited from the fortune-telling and horoscopes.

I thought the earliest the wedding would be was three months from now, but it’s just one month away.

The wedding was right around the corner.

I like that.

Seojun smiled like a picture.

His phone, which had been set aside during class, vibrated.

Oh, the court eunuch handed Seojun the phone.

“I can handle this myself.”

“Resisting the urge to do it yourself is a way of helping your subordinates.”

Perhaps the eunuch was also one of the teachers.

He was continuously teaching Seojun to get used to being served.

Seojun nodded and checked the caller.

[Mother]

Tapping his desk lightly with his fingers, Seojun spoke.

“Eunuch Oh, could you give me a moment?”

“You may simply order me to leave.”

“Very well, please step out for a moment.”

Eunuch Oh smiled and left the room. After carefully ensuring the door was closed, Seojun pressed the call button.

“Yes, Mother.”

• Seojun, are you doing well? Is it hard? Is the royal food to your taste? You must’ve worked hard during the selection process.

Hyojin’s words poured out like a machine gun. There were no congratulations, only worry. It was as if Seojun had been kidnapped somewhere extremely dangerous.

“Mother, if you have something to say, please make it quick. I need to get back to class soon.”

• What? Class?

Seojun briefly explained his current situation and daily life.

It was the fastest way to end the call with Hyojin.

After a series of sighs, the line finally fell silent.

Hyojin had only imagined teaching her daughter-in-law about the family’s customs. She never imagined her son would be memorizing someone else’s family tree—which, in reality, was the history of the Korean Empire.

Moreover, judging by the circumstances, it seemed Seojun was little more than a live-in son-in-law.

He couldn’t see her whenever he wanted, contacting her was difficult, and the daughter-in-law was like the master.

• I’m upset. I’m really troubled, Seojun. Why are you attending such classes? You were the top student in your entire school career, always ranking in the top 10 in mock exams nationwide. That’s not all, right? At the Police Academy, you did incredibly well. Your achievements in the police force were outstanding, and you even got the highest number of votes in the National Assembly election.

Hyojin took Seojun’s glory as if it were her own.

Why couldn’t she let go of her grown son?

“Princess Yeon is no different. She was always top of her class, got perfect scores on exams, never missed a scholarship abroad, and gained worldwide recognition as a journalist.”

Hyojin knew how remarkable Yeon was. Seojun’s insistence on pointing it out irritated her, but she remained silent. Saying more might estrange her son forever.

Seojun also swallowed a sigh, knowing that continuing the conversation would only hurt Hyojin.

“You’ve also received explanations regarding the national marriage, right?”

As soon as Seojun was selected as the royal groom, the royal family had sent gifts to his family.

• Yes. They said the royal family would handle everything, so I shouldn’t do anything. But isn’t it ridiculous to forbid even a single ring?

The ritual items and dowry procedures were to be prepared by the royal family.

Seojun didn’t particularly like the idea of just receiving gifts, but the empress had already prepared everything.

Changing the plan now would delay the wedding, as finding appropriate royal gifts and dowries required a complex process.

Still, not being allowed to give even a single ring to the woman I’m going to marry is harsh.

He didn’t fully sympathize with Hyojin, only feeling a slight regret.

“Give it later, not at the wedding. There will be plenty of opportunities to give gifts—birthdays, our wedding anniversary, even Christmas.”

• That’s true.

Hearing Hyojin’s sigh, Seojun flinched.

This year, both Seojun and Yeon’s birthdays had passed. That meant he was naturally mentioning celebrating Yeon’s birthday next year…

Unconsciously, he had spoken of a future with her.

A temporary contractual relationship and a future—how mismatched.

Perhaps speaking with his sentimental mother influenced him. Clearly, long conversations with Hyojin were not beneficial.

“I’ll hang up now.”

• Wait, Seojun! Aren’t you curious about your father?

Hyojin asked very cautiously.

Even knowing the father-son relationship was strained, she always forced her concern under the guise of “effort.”

Seojun’s distance from Hyojin was one thing, but with his father, there was an unbridgeable chasm.

Kang Baesim publicly praised Seojun and doted on him outside, but at home, he often lost his temper at Seojun when things didn’t go his way.

He had chased Seojun for trivial matters and seemed afraid Seojun might someday uncover his past faults or shameful deeds.

“I’ll see you later. I’ll be too busy to contact you for a while.”

After ending the call, Seojun’s face was much darker than during class.

Seojun’s lessons were progressing too fast, leaving teachers bewildered.

The teachers didn’t back down, though.

They maintained their strict and meticulous teaching methods.

“Even your walk in the palace requires full attention. You must walk without making noise, yet appear confident, maintaining a proper pace—not too fast, not too slow. Try walking now.”

The etiquette teacher intended to correct every step of Seojun’s walk.

But observing him, the teacher changed her mind.

Seojun’s walking was so perfect it could be used as a textbook example for royal etiquette. The teacher even considered recording a video later.

Most lessons were similar to etiquette classes.

Whenever assignments were given, Seojun completed them effortlessly, leaving nothing to teach.

The same applied to supplemental lessons.

“After formal lessons, conversation classes are scheduled. In the royal court, fluency in English and at least one other foreign language is required.”

“Just mastering two languages is enough?”

“Yes.”

“Then supplemental lessons aren’t necessary.”

Seojun already spoke English as a baseline, and Japanese and Chinese fluently.

Teachers’ evaluations of Seojun were unanimous: perfectly prepared as a royal groom.

An undeniable fact.

Through a narrow alley, concrete stairs rose steeply.

The long-unmaintained concrete steps were cracked and broken, looking unsightly.

The railing beside the steep stairs was bent and crooked, barely functional.

Looking at the closely packed multi-family houses, potted plants encroaching onto the steps, and cigarette butts rolling about, Yeon turned to Director Seong.

“Director Seong, how did you arrange today’s schedule?”