Chapter 26
Yeon agreed to the selection process that would choose the national consort.
“I can handle the Royal Clan Council and the Crown Prince.”
“I know. I believe you’ll do well, Seo-jun. But it’ll take a long time. And I don’t have that time.”
Seo-jun’s eyes narrowed.
Every time marriage came up, Yeon emphasized she had no time left.
Was there some circumstance he didn’t know about?
“On the contrary, going through the selection process will help you later, when you become the national consort. It’ll serve as proof of your ability. And once the process begins, the Crown Prince won’t be able to openly interfere with us.”
When he weighed the pros and cons, the gains far outweighed the risks, so he accepted Beom’s proposal.
“I’m sorry, but this time, please follow His Majesty’s will.”
Yeon clasped her hands together, touching her forehead to the edge of her palm.
Seo-jun was dumbfounded.
He never imagined he would be participating in a consort selection ritual in the 21st century.
But Yeon was right.
Besides, he wasn’t in a position to refuse.
If it had to be done anyway, there was no need to argue.
He pushed his chair back and stood.
“Understood. Then, shall we have some coffee now?”
Yeon looked up at him.
In her large eyes, it was as though words were flashing by: ‘That’s not the reaction I expected…’
“Don’t like my reaction?”
Leaning back against her chair, Yeon tilted her head.
“You’re way too calm. Shouldn’t you be worried?”
Seo-jun scoffed, then leaned down, gently tucking back the strand of hair that had fallen out when she rushed over earlier.
“Yeon-ah, your oppa has never lost a test or a competition.”
The sudden change in how he addressed her, the warm tone, the touch of his fingers brushing her skin—
everything struck directly at her heart.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe as she stared at him.
“If you didn’t hear me, I’ll say it again. I’ve never lost. That’s why I don’t worry. So Your Highness, you don’t need to worry either. If you keep fretting, it’ll hurt my pride. So—coffee?”
Yeon, still hung up on the word “oppa,” found herself nodding before she knew it.
Seo-jun slipped off his jacket and walked into the café bar, where the owner—an acquaintance—had stepped away for a bit.
Just like the day they reunited after twelve years at the clinic, he seemed intent on brewing the coffee himself.
Yeon slowly turned her head, following his movements. Soon her eyes landed on his handsome back.
Wearing a fitted vest that cinched his waist and dark trousers tinged with blue, he looked incredibly sexy as he prepared the coffee.
And this man claimed he always won?
“He really does have main-character energy.”
Could she really keep a man like that by her side as just her consort?
Wouldn’t all the women in the world resent her for it?
“Your Highness, our Seo-jun has always been number one. First in midterms, first in finals, first in the track race at sports day! He simply can’t live with losing. I guarantee he’ll win again this time!”
The dear, familiar voice overlapped with her thoughts.
That day too, Ji-young had insisted Seo-jun would win, when he was off to some competition.
Ji-young was certain. Seo-jun brimmed with confidence.
Then… couldn’t she believe too?
The anxiety she’d felt ever since Beom spoke of holding a consort selection melted away in an instant.
Her heart thumped loudly.
She couldn’t tell if it was because of hope for the future—or the sexy Seo-jun right before her eyes.
With takeaway coffees in hand, Yeon and Seo-jun stepped outside.
They walked side by side down a quiet path, continuing their conversation.
“The article about the selection will come out in two days. I asked them to move quickly.”
Normally, issuing the decree and receiving applications took time, but this was skipped—because the candidates were already decided.
Two recommended by the Crown Prince’s faction, and Seo-jun.
“This time, the decree will say it’s being held to preserve our traditional culture. But we’ll still share parts of the process with the media. There will even be filming. That was my idea.”
“To prevent them from pulling tricks behind the scenes?”
“Exactly. Seo-jun, you’re smart.”
“Even so, the sabotage against us won’t stop. More precisely—against me.”
Seo-jun spoke lightly.
The way he half-turned to look at Yeon made him seem all the more reliable.
“Still, don’t worry, Yeon. I see it as an opportunity to enter the Imperial Family fair and square.”
And he meant it.
It spared him the trouble of figuring out how to coax the Royal Clan Council—one less burden.
“Let’s get it over with quickly. On that note—hand it over.”
He held out his hand.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t bring it?”
Yeon quickly shook her head and passed him the paper bag she’d been carrying.
He peeked inside.
An embroidery frame, colorful threads, and the wicked needle that had pricked her fingers.
Yeon grimaced at him.
“Are you seriously going to do embroidery?”
Not long ago, she had received an embroidery assignment from the Grand Empress Dowager Oh—
a test to see if she was ready for marriage after meeting Seo-jun.
Normally, Yeon would never even glance at embroidery. But since their marriage wasn’t yet fully approved, she’d been at least pretending.
But when Seo-jun learned of this over the phone, he’d stepped in.
“I’ll do the embroidery.”
“Of course. It’s homework for bride training, right? But since I’m the one entering, it only makes sense I do it.”
Seo-jun looped the paper bag firmly over his wrist.
Yeon’s face didn’t brighten.
She was grateful he’d take on such a tedious task, but worried at the thought of burdening him.
“It’s not easy. At least I have Chief Assistant Sung to help me. Do you even know anyone who can embroider?”
“If I have to, I’ll learn from YouTube. Besides, this way I can earn points with the Grand Empress Dowager in advance. Just leave it to me and forget about it.”
“You’ll actually go see Her Majesty?”
“While I’m there, I’ll pick up some intel on the selection.”
“She might throw you out.”
Seo-jun just shrugged off her worry.
Yeon had been about to warn him not to underestimate the Grand Empress Dowager, but then remembered her expression the last time they met.
The way her face softened whenever she looked at Seo-jun, the way the corners of her lips twitched upward whenever he answered confidently…
If he even brought embroidery as bride training, she might very well beam with delight.
“Guess I worried too much. Do your best.”
Yeon cheered him on.
“Since I’ve come this far, I should give you a gift too. Tell me if you need anything, Seo-jun.”
She didn’t mean just a present.
She was willing to share information on the Imperial Family—or even reveal weaknesses.
“The Imperial Archives… ordinary people can’t access them. Once we’re married, will I have access too?”
The Imperial Archives were like a modern version of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty—
except far more extensive.
Whereas the Annals only documented the king’s every move, the Archives contained records—and even videos—of all royals residing in the palace.
Still, access was just as restricted.
“I do have access. Whether that extends to my spouse, I don’t know. Also, records from the last three years are off-limits.”
“I know.”
What Seo-jun wanted to investigate was Ji-young’s disappearance twelve years ago.
She had contacted him, inviting him to an Imperial Party—and then vanished.
She had definitely disappeared within Gyeongbokgung.
As a police officer, he had tried several times to access the records, but was always blocked.
Unless there was a special incident, the Imperial Family never granted police such permission.
That was one big reason he left the force.
He realized there was little he could do as an officer—if anything, his badge only made the palace more wary.
That was why he became a politician, working on a bill to expand access to the Imperial Archives.
But now, through Yeon, he might not have to wait until the bill passed.
“I think I know which records you want. If you go with me, we can see anything that isn’t video footage or something requiring His Majesty’s direct approval.”
“Let’s start there. This is a good beginning.”
Seo-jun’s face lit up.
Yeon, feeling uplifted too, thought for a moment before tugging his sleeve.
“Shall we go today?”
