"That father was greedy for power, and his wife was terrible, but the same does not go for the daughter. I did tear down that family for political reasons, but the child is such a waste. While the father has probably lost his mind beyond repair, I want to save the daughter. I would like for you to marry this child."
"No one knows whether marrying me will be her redemption or her poison."
The time that would have passed for others was a deep scar that remained with Ethan.
If his father's final request at his deathbed wasn't one that asked him to refrain from taking revenge, Ethan would have bared his teeth at Consort Min and the emperor and fed them the most painful poison.
"Please take back your Imperial decree for my marriage. Even if you order me to marry her, I will not marry her. Even if I have to kill her."
Ethan's determined and menacing remark caused the emperor's eyes to widen. However, after a moment, the emperor let out a hearty laugh. The emperor liked how relentless Ethan's behavior and speech was. It was so unlike the Crown Prince.
If Ethan had been his own son, how nice would that have been?
"Consort Min is looking into finding you a wife right now. Her pick will probably be from one of the Three Excellencies[1], so you will probably receive a large amount of support even if you don't wish it. And that strength will only serve to endanger to the Crown Prince's position."
"..."
"I know how you feel, but I really like having you as my loyal vassal. So what else can I do? Before my precious consort moves her hand, I must move first."
"I don't plan on getting married. I will not move according to Consort Min's wishes. And definitely not to a woman from the Scarr Family."
"You will. I will make it so."
The emperor's firm voice caused the edge of Ethan's eyes to twitch. As the emperor observed Ethan's openly displeased expression, his eyes grew soft.
"Go back and prepare for your wedding."
* * *
"I'll inform her of your arrival, Commander."
"She called for me, so she knows. I'm going in."
"Commander!"
Ethan paid no heed to the eunuch's shout and entered the palace. The surprised court ladies cried out at Ethan's sudden arrival, but his expression never changed. When they saw his determined strides, the court ladies quickly bowed.
"General! You mustn't do this!"
"Let him in."
A coquettish, soft voice flowed out from inside. The eunuch blocking Ethan's way quickly backed away.
As soon as the doors opened, Ethan smelled the fragrance of musk and powder. His brows furrowed. Leaning back against her soft seating, the woman made a gesture with her hand. The court ladies inside helped her sit up.
Skin as white as snow, lips as red as the camellia flower. The woman was so beautiful that one could not even evaluate her true age. She looked as if she'd blow away with the slightest breeze. When she lowered her eyes and dripped tears, she could melt the hearts of men. She was beautiful, but she was also able to draw the eyes of every man around her.
The woman who had been sitting demurely by the emperor's side was nowhere to be seen.
"I heard you accomplished a sweeping victory. Thanks to my son doing so well, I am able to lift my face in the Palace."
The cold gleam in Ethan's eyes grew brighter when she called him her son.
"Son? What ridiculous notion is this, Consort Min."
When she heard him call her 'Consort Min', her eyes trembled. However, her expression quickly returned to the way it was, and Consort Min gave him a smile. She shook off the court ladies' hands on her body and approached Ethan.
The moment her smooth hands encased his, Ethan's body stiffened.
"Ethan."
"If you have something to say, say it. We don't have the kind of relationship where we can sit together and enjoy a pleasant chat, don't you think?"
"How can you be so mean? We haven't seen each other in half a year. No matter what anyone says, you're my son. You're the son of the emperor's most favored consort. My son."
When he heard her call him 'son', Ethan burst into uncontrollable laughter. Consort Min's eyes hardened when she saw Ethan's cold reaction.
"Why don't you try saying that to my dead father?"
"You… You!"
As the pale Consort staggered back, the court ladies approached her. Despite seeing her almost collapse to the ground, Ethan's eyes were merely filled with rage.
"Why have you called me? It looks like you aren't feeling too well. Please do not call me for mere congratulations on my victory."
Seeing no crack in Ethan's armor, Consort Min clicked her tongue. She wished he'd taken after her, but as he grew older, his stubbornness grew to be more like his father's.
However, now wasn't the time to confront him. She needed to grab his hand. The empress was dead, and the one who was in charge of the inner court was her.
Because the emperor had given the authority to the Crown Prince, the other princes did not show themselves to her anymore. But because of her domineering presence in the Palace as well as Ethan's rank, her future at the Palace looked sturdy and bright.
"What ulterior motive can a mother have when she calls for her son? But now that you're here, having a nice morning chat doesn't seem all that bad."
Ethan narrowed his eyes as if to ask what she meant. Suddenly, the court maids laid out a portrait before them. When Ethan saw this, a smile stretched across his lips.
"His Majesty told me that he'd personally speak to you about your marriage today. This lady right here is…"
"I don't need this."
"Ethan."
"His Majesty told me to get married to the daughter of the Scarr Family."
The teacup slipped out of the Consort's hand. The hot tea drenched her skirts and dripped to the floor, but she didn't show any sign of cleaning it up.
"Who?"
"The daughter of Scarr, the previous attendant to the emperor. The maiden previously chosen to be the Crown Princess."
"What absurdity is this? The daughter of Scarr?! Are you telling me that His Majesty was the one who said something as ridiculous as this?!"
When he saw the Consort's vehement reaction, Ethan's eyes narrowed.
No matter how many times Ethan spit out venomous words or pushed her away, she had never shown such a violent reaction before. However, she was now showing this side of herself to him at the mere mention of his marriage to Scarr's daughter.
"This cannot be! This can never happen!"
"..."
"Tell him this marriage cannot happen. After that, this mother of yours will personally intervene for you. This is going too far. How can he make me receive Scarr's daughter as my daughter-in-law?"
"Why is it so impossible?"
"What?"
He never intended on taking a wife, never mind a marriage.
He did receive an imperial decree, but he never intended on going through with it.
However, he couldn't help but notice Consort Min's strange reaction. He felt as if he'd caught a glimpse of her weakness in her otherwise perfect facade.
"I don't think you're the person who can make that decision."
"Why are you trying to receive Scarr's daughter as your wife?"
"I never said I'd take her. However, it is an Imperial decree, so I need to think about it."
"Ethan!"
"I will take my leave and return to the bamboo grove now."
Although he'd only been inside the Palace for a few hours, he felt as if his blood was running dry. Rather than being in the middle of a life-threatening war, Ethan felt that staying in the Palace was a lot more tiresome.
Now that he'd met with the emperor and Consort Min, Ethan had no reason to stay here any longer.
"What is so good about that suffocating bamboo grove that you're always cooped up in there?"
Ethan had turned around to leave, but he froze when he heard Consort Min's comment. Her usually gentle voice was nowhere to be seen.
"Isn't it time to stop fooling around in that remote place and return to your senses? I'll look into a residence in the capital, so leave that place. It's only full of that man's traces."
"At least it's the only place where you aren't there, so I feel very comfortable there. Because of this, there's no reason for me to leave that frustrating bamboo grove."
"You!"
"I'll send His Majesty my farewell greetings and take my leave."
Consort Min tried to grab onto him, but Ethan avoided her hands and opened the door.
Although he didn't have any expectations, this conversation had been a lot nastier than he'd expected. A woman who had abandoned the husband who'd asked her to spend the rest of their lives together with their son. To Ethan, Consort Min was a woman who had no right to call herself his mother.
As he made his way out of the palace with determination, Ethan let out a deep sigh.
Although the cold breeze brushed past him, the heavy fragrance of musk did not leave him.