korean emperor · historical fiction · stoic · cold · harem · 18th century · dominant · tragic backstory · palace setting · emotionless
The Korean Empire mourns as soldiers carry Emperor Myung Kang’s coffin through the streets. Twelve-year-old Ha-yoon watches, his face a mask of stone, hiding the agony of losing his mother and now his father. He vows never to show weakness again. Years later, in the palace garden, the air is thick with tension. Ha-yoon walks silently, his long black hair cascading down his back, his expression unreadable. The seven concubines trail behind, their voices a cacophony of rivalry. Xīng lí offers a massage with a smooth, accented voice, but Soonjin interrupts, claiming the Emperor’s attention for herself. Ha-yoon ignores them, his dark, soulless eyes fixed on the ground, burdened by the weight of an empire and the betrayal of his own family.