extra three

Due to an unexpected accident, the Emperor died, and not soon after, the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne, originally sickly in health, also died after suffering from the shock. Amid the chaos that swept through the entire empire, the second prince ascended the imperial throne rather unexpectedly. 

The second prince, Baek Yugeon, was the son of a concubine of low rank. He had never been properly educated as a successor since everyone, including the Emperor, had no doubts that the Crown Prince Baek Heeseong, who was the reincarnation of the late Empress, would become the next emperor. In addition, since he was six years younger than the prince, he still had not wed a lawful spouse, let alone a concubine. 

In any case, he became the first in line of succession to the throne under the current circumstances, and was basically pushed onto the royal seat by the civil and military officials in the confusion of the moment. There was nothing better than a marriage to straighten out the chaotic political situation that was disturbed by the accession of an emperor who was still young and had no backing and to solidify the bond with the most powerful families in the empire. 

Thus, various figures entered the internal court of the new Emperor with their own individual goals.

"Your Majesty. Would you like to have a royal meal with me while you're here?" 

The man with light colored hair asked with a coquettish smile in his eyes. His skin was as white as a magnolia blossom, and with beautiful red make-up adorning around his eyes. Even though he was much taller than the Emperor and had an impressive physique, his fancy attire did not appear awkward on him at all. 

"I brought sweets from the western region that Your Majesty enjoys." 

He summoned the courtiers to bring in a celadon box. When he opened the cover, he found it was filled with white and fluffy sweets. The name of the snack was just on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't seem to recall it.  

"How about serving it with tea for desserts later?" 

He smiled broadly. It was a beautiful face that could plunge the country into a catastrophe with just one word or one laugh. However, contrary to his outward appearance, which could easily give an impression that he was a concubine sent to bewitch the emperor, he was in fact, the Empress of this country. The only legal spouse of the Emperor, and the head of the internal court. 

Not only that he was the direct descendent of a prestigious family, he was the eldest son of the Prime Minister Woo Seongyeon, who was said to have the power to take down even a flying bird. Why did the man, who would have dominated the country through both civil and military affairs without marrying a young and powerless emperor, bother to dress up and sit in the inner palace? The answer to it was something only that person would know. 

"I've already eaten. Sweets..... I have no appetite for them right now. I'll only accept your heart." 

"The Emperor is treating this one so coldly, making this one feel very sad." 

"Empress." 

"Are you really going to leave like this? Even when your beautiful spouse is asking for you?" 

"It's not the Empress's real purpose, isn't it?" 

"Oh, how can you say such a thing? This one is just happy to see your Majesty enjoy his meals." 

"The meaning of eating is different if it comes from your lips. Wait, what... heog!" 

The body of Emperor Yugeon was lifted up and seated on the Empress' lap. Contrary to his pitiful expression, the forearms hidden underneath the flowy silk sleeves were unbelievably strong. 

"Then would you like something else? Dear husband." 

With a soft and gentle voice, he whispered an informal title. Something thick and heavy wriggled under Yugeon's buttocks. It was a heinous size that did not match at all with finely embroidered silk clothes. 

From time to time, Shinje would raise a request with soft words laced with spine-chilling coercion. No, in fact, he was giving orders. Obviously, Yugeon was aware that he was the superior in name only, and that the more he resisted, the more he had to suffer. 

Yugeon swallowed a sigh and relaxed his body. Shinje smiled like a flower and pulled off the coat string. It seemed wrong to have sex in the morning this early.

After the words spread that the Emperor had stayed at the Empress' palace all morning, another concubine came in the afternoon. He was enjoying a short break after reading the public appeals until he thought his eyes might fall out. Beautiful tanned skin, black hair neatly tied up, dressed in simple clothes that resembled those worn by military officers. He looked more like a warrior guarding the concubine rather than one. 

"Hey, Baek Yu… that's not it. Your Majesty! You promised to have lunch with me. Why didn't you come?" 

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise, Yoon-bi. But." 

"Do you have to stick to all the honorifics even between us? It's ridiculous. I told you to call me Chan hyung. Why don't we keep it easy when it's only the two of us?" 

"....."

"I heard that Woo Shinje bastard seduced you and caught you again?" 

The man with a bulky build came up to him with vicious grumbles, and grabbed Yugeon with one arm. It was only after checking his condition holding his cheeks with his big hand and pinching them until he felt satisfied, then he let him go as if his anger had eased. 

"Your Majesty, don't you have a spine? Whenever that rotten bastard sweet talks you like a snake, do you have to fall for it every single time? It's not like you don't know that bastard's pretending to be pretty and innocent." 

As if calling the emperor's name without hesitation and speaking informally was not enough, he was kicking up a fuss as he pleased. It was a grave offense where one's throat could be instantly decapitated. However, the only time Chan behaved without holding himself back like this was when the two of them were alone, and in front of others, he only spoke with extreme honorifics, so he couldn't be officially punished. 

Furthermore, Chan was Yugeon's royal concubine, and at the same time the imperial prince of the neighboring empire. Unlike this country that had just been titled, his country was once so powerful that it surpassed the unification of the entire continent.

When both of them were children, they would often run into each other at talks between the two countries. Chan was older than Yugeon, and even Heeseong, who was the crown prince, so in front of his eyes, Yugeon at that time was just a small, blunt kid from a neighboring country who was heard to read. Both of them had never expected such a thing to happen. Life was rather ironic.  

"I thought I wouldn't have to look at scheming snake-like bastards again if I gave up fighting for the imperial throne and got married abroad. Why does that son of a bitch have to be here?" 

"Scheming snake?"

"Our illustrious empress." 

It was like entering a snake's den to avoid a snake. What's even worse, that snake was trying to seduce and gobble up a clueless little kid. If he had known this would happen, he would have invited Yugeon to his country and welcomed him as a companion before all this happened. 

"Then why didn't you stay there?" 

"It's been a while this imperial prince has been ousted from the line of succession, and to be honest, doing this and that just to keep that position is too bothersome and just filthy. You also know it very well. My elder brothers hate me since I'm too popular anyway, so sooner or later, they were going to kill me off. The likes of me aren't the type to die an ugly death, so...." 

His hands, which had been stealthily creeping in underneath the long hem of the dragon's robe, grabbed his hips. Startled, Yugeon sucked in a sharp breath. 

"I'm just gonna be your stallion here." 

No way..... No way, again? It hadn't even been that long when he was tormented by Shinje. Yugeon's face turned white. In the meantime, Chan had already ducked his head under his robes until the tip of his nose was brushing against his underclothes. He then heard a soft chuckle. 

"I'm bored. Shall we make an Imperial grandchild, Your Majesty?"

"I want a fight!" 

When asked if there was anything he wanted or needed, it was the answer he got back. After a moment of silence, Yugeon asked again. 

"What?" 

"I heard that there's always a bloodbath when concubines are together. Ever since this one entered the palace, I have been looking forward to the day when assassins will come in, when poison will be mixed in my food, but nothing has happened so it's really not worth living. This one has also started digging the front yard every day to check in case there's dead rats or cursed dolls buried." 

"Kwon-bin. Your jokes are too much." 

"Ah, Your Majesty is really. How long are you going to use such a rigid title? Please call me Heesu." 

Heesu shifted close to Yugeon with a charming smile and linked their arms. With his swift movement, the headdress adorned with priceless kingfisher feathers, butterfly hair pins and red jade ornaments fluttered in his hair. There was nothing that was not dazzling. 

If the Empress mainly dressed elegant and dignified in consideration of his age and status, Heesu did not have to consider such things, so he just dressed up all lively with all sorts of colors and patterns according to his taste. In any case, both of them had blindingly expensive tastes. If they put everything on their body together, it might even be enough to purchase a grand palace. 

"What about jewelry or books? Do you want a new place, or some new clothes? Is there anything else you want to eat these days?" 

"Yes? Do I have to ask Your Majesty to purchase trivial things like that?" 

Heesu asked with his eyes wide open. He was the only son of the business magnate in the Imperial metropolis, raised as a precious and priceless child in his household. It was well-known that he played jackstones with gems and played with gold bars instead of tops since childhood.  

"That sort of thing, I can get them easily if I just send word to my home. There is no need to deplete the royal treasury. More than that, Your Majesty, when will the fights begin? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month?" 

"You, aren't you reading too many court novels?" 

Yugeon pressed his temple. He had come to visit a young and cute concubine's place, so all his worries should have long gone, but somehow it was more troublesome than a council with ministers.  

"I'm Your Majesty's only cute Heesu. Ever since I was little, my goal has been to become His majesty the Emperor's favorite concubine." 

"Don't you want your rank to be higher?" 

"I don't want it! I especially don't want to be the lawful wife the most. It won't be fun and will just be a pain in the ass. I want to live a life just sucking honey, dressing up cutely and being loved by Your Majesty, and ripping off other concubines' hair whenever I'm bored." 

"What on earth do you mean by sucking honey..... No, it's fine. I think I know, so don't bother explaining." 

"The Empress looks like he would rather cut off the necks instead of a physical fight, the Royal Consort doesn't pay much attention to this or that, and Yoon-bi mama just likes to use his fists rather than his head. I am very bored because I have no rivals to compete with." 

Heesu's round eyes then lit up as if he had a good idea. 

"You know what, Your Majesty!" 

"What again?" 

"Why don't you bring in more concubines? Please pick those who are jealous, but smart enough to know petty tricks, and just full of venom for me. If they die easily, it won't be fun. I want ones that are tough." 

Heesu chirped in a lovely voice like that of a baby bird and burrowed into Yugeon's arms. But the content of those words was not lovely at all. Even the body that was snuggling close to him was as solid as Yugeon's. Yugeon patted him on the back and turned his gaze to the ceiling. 

"....."

What kind of crime did he commit in his previous life that all his wives and concubines were like this? He had a long way to go. 

That night. Yugeon almost fled the palace, ignoring the nightly curfew. Just hearing the sound of the hour hand was making him feel sick. It was then he remembered the most common sense and rational concubine of all. 

"Did something like that happen? You must be tired." 

Even after hearing the story of Yugeon's turbulent day, the other party did not respond much. He only poured more alcohol into the glass with short replies in between. 

"Yes. There seems to be a mountain of correspondence to read, but I've been robbed of an entire day..... oh, it's this hour already?" 

Yugeon stopped talking and looked out the window. He had only had a drink or two, but the sky had already turned dark. 

"I'll be leaving now." 

"Are you going back?" 

"Yes." 

"Are you going to bed all by yourself like this?" 

"Why do you keep asking me for obvious things..... ah." 

His shoulder was grabbed by a firm hand, and his body was turned around. The man with a scholarly and serene air around him was staring down at him. 

"You always come to my place for a drink, but you never come to spend the night. I'm not as beautiful as the Empress, I'm older compared to someone like Kwon-bin, and I'm from an insignificant background, is that the reason why?" 

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?" 

"Your Majesty seems to think this one is not worthy of having the Imperial grandchild." 

"Of course not. This is ridiculous." 

"Then... will you allow me some time today?" 

"Yes?" 

The Royal Consort, Taein, lifted Yugeon up with one arm, as if he was handling a disobedient cat, and headed for the bed with his arm wrapped around his side. A sense of fear swept over him. 

"Wa, wait. Royal Consort, I'm going to die." 

"Your Majesty is not going to die." 

"I might go down in the history books as a short-lived emperor for absurd reasons." 

"It is not possible. This one has been serving Your Majesty medicinal liquor up to this day. I've ordered to generously add ingredients that are good for stamina and gestation, so it should be fine." 

No wonder Yugeon thought the alcohol served at the Royal Consort's palace always smelled like medicinal herbs! Yugeon trembled, feeling betrayed. 

Taein pushed him down on the bed and climbed on top of him. Yugeon had never realized it since normally, the Royal Consort never spoke harshly and had always remained calm, but when he was buried under him like this, he could clearly feel the difference in physique. 

Just then, the sound of footsteps was heard from outside. The door burst open and Heesu came in running with a look full of betrayal. 

"Your Majesty! Why are you here? It was my turn today!" 

"What insolence. How dare you come in without permission? Leave." 

Taein scolded him sternly. The door opened again just as he tried to call the servants and order Heesu to be kicked out immediately.

"I'm here to pick Our Majesty up since I heard he was unconscious."

Shinje came in with a smile. His steady steps were unaffected, as if he was entering his own bedroom. The atmosphere became even more brutal. 

Kwang! This time the door fell off completely. Chan declared his presence as if he was a general who had invaded the enemy camp. 

"Give me Your Majesty. He's mine." 

Yugeon, who was basically trapped in the middle, ardently made a wish. If only he could, he would have already quickly handed over this beggarly emperor's seat to basically anyone and escaped. In the first place, he just happened to assume the seat in a daze since Heeseong suddenly passed away, but he had never wanted it himself. 

However, in order to pass on the throne, he needed a child first. To have children, he had to work hard..... nightly with them. 

"Your Majesty loves me the most since I'm the youngest and most lively, right?"

"What's the point of that? You need size and skill, kid." 

"If you want to be favored, you should be pretty first. Everything that comes after is not that important. "

"And, Taein hyung! Honestly, serving alcohol is just cheating. And who's the one that complained when I used it?" 

"Kwon Heesu, what you used is not alcohol, but an aphrodisiac." 

Yugeon just looked up at the night sky, listening to the bloody and vulgar fighting of the emperor's concubines with one ear. There were so many stars. He thought he could see Heeseong's face among the stars at first glance. He mused, his face still impassive, utterly exhausted underneath. 

"Hyung, why did you leave me alone...?"

It seemed that it would take a long time for his wish to come true.

Oriental Court AU is done!

here's the wiki for concubine ranks. pretty fun to read!

translator note: and... Profundis is all done! click next if you wanna read author's postscripts and some pretty fun Q&A i found on the author's twitter. and about my new project.