Prologue

Everyone is tied to a predestined bond.

This bond usually becomes apparent around the age of sixteen, the brink of adulthood, though finding one’s Soulmate can be both easy and challenging.

The reason?

The name of the one you’re fated to be with appears somewhere on your body.

This sudden appearance of the Soulmate’s name is called ‘Soulmark.’

The deeper the bond, the darker the name appears.

Conversely, a lighter mark signifies that finding the person might be more difficult.

Yet, as with all things tied to fate, connections are inevitably made.

Once Soulmark appears, one will, without a doubt, encounter the person bearing that name—this is a rule set by the ‘god’ who created this world.

Some have tried to defy their fate, seeking out someone other than their destined partner, but this was a futile dream.

From the moment Soulmark appears, one’s fate becomes bound to that name, and no matter the circumstances, they will inevitably be drawn to their Soulmate.

Emperor Jin Ye of the Hwan Empire considered this to be the most powerful curse ever bestowed by the god who created this world.

Fate? Love? Such were dreadful words.

They didn’t believe in such fanciful ideas.

Those hollow terms were considered forbidden, never spoken or mentioned in any type of conversation.

Even their parents, who were supposedly bound by this divine bond, had never held them in arms.

Love was nothing but an illusion.

They didn’t believe in what people called parental love, having never experienced it.

But the rule of Soulmarks, set by the god of this world, was inescapable, even for an Emperor.

“...Soon, it seems.”

Standing slightly tilted before a well-polished mirror, Jin Ye slowly loosened their collar, revealing their shoulder.

Reflected in the mirror was a single black character, inked as though soaked in dark ink, imprinted on their smooth skin.

[延]

The character that appeared was ‘Yeon,’ which means ‘cover of a crown.’

It had first appeared on his shoulder about four months ago.

With time, what was once faint had grown much clearer.

Their Soulmate has a three-letter name.

Though the remaining characters were hidden by the collar of their garment, the other two letters were likely just as vivid.

Not that Jin Ye wanted to see them.

Of all the characters, why did their Soulmate have to use such an insolent one for its name?

It implied they would stand above or reign upon Jin Ye, the Emperor, which was an incredibly displeasing thought.

But...

‘With the deepening color, their appearance must be imminent... surely?’

Emperor’s right-hand man, Jo Seoyeop, was scouring the entire empire to find them, so it might indeed be soon.

In fact, Jin Ye had found it strange that, despite having long since reached adulthood, no Soulmark had appeared on their body.

Usually, the mark appears around the age of sixteen, give or take a few years.

Though the timing varies from person to person, enough time had passed that it should have appeared somewhere on their body by now.

Surely, they hadn’t worried.

They had no intention of producing heirs to carry on their legacy, after all.

But now that the name had appeared, things were different.

“Yeon’s family...”

As they mused over which family might use such a unique character, they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Your Majesty. It is Seoyeop.”

Seoyeop, Jin Ye’s unwavering shadow, had arrived.

“You may enter.”

Seoyeop cautiously approached them.

With the sound of the door sliding open, his broad figure was revealed.

Seeing the Emperor standing with one shoulder exposed, Seoyeop immediately averted his gaze and bowed deeply.

It was never appropriate for a loyal subject to see the Emperor’s bare skin.

He quickly recited an apology.

“Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty.”

“There is nothing to pardon.”

Jin Ye allowed a subtle curve of their lips while adjusted their clothes.

Seoyeop was a man of strict principles, which was why Jin Ye favored him.

Because of his steadfastness, Jin Ye had kept Seoyeop by their side for over a decade, from their time as crown prince through to their reign as Emperor.

Seoyeop had remained loyal even when Jin Ye was deposed from the position of Crown Prince and faced near-certain death.

During the height of the empire’s wars, Seoyeop had been appointed as Marshal of the Cavalry at a young age, an unprecedented honor.

But he had stepped down from that glory to become Jin Ye’s most trusted confidant, answering only to their.

After adjusting their clothes, Jin Ye turned to look at Seoyeop, who knelt on one knee before them.

The Emperor spoke, looking down at their loyal servant.

“You’ve returned, which means...”

“I’ve found them, Your Majesty.”

Seoyeop had been away at the empire’s borders.

He had been sent there to uncover the identity of the person whose Soulmark was engraved on the Emperor’s body.

Now, Seoyeop’s return meant that he had found them—Emperor Jin Ye’s Soulmate.

Their destined partner.

The fate had decreed they must love.

Jin Ye supposed they should go and see what their Soulmate’s face looked like.

“This time, it’s certain to be them.”

Seoyeop slowly raised his gaze.

The flickering lamplight reflected in his eyes made his hesitation even more apparent.

Jin Ye noticed the unease in Seoyeop’s expression.

Unease?

Could it be that Seoyeop didn’t want the Emperor to find their destined partner?

Jin Ye looked down at Seoyeop, whose eyes resembled those of a lost dog.

Seoyeop lowered his head again, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.

“Has the mark... become clearer?”

As if the thought of it was unbearable.

Seoyeop lowered his head even further, closing his eyes tightly.

“Too much clearer.”

“...”

“Where is my Soulmate?”

Seoyeop’s expression hardened. When no answer came, Jin Ye softly urged him.

“Seoyeop.”

“They has been brought to the palace.”

His tone was as if he were discussing a mere object.

Jin Ye thought cynically.

‘I see, my Soulmate is a lowborn...’

Seoyeop was deeply loyal.

It was clear he did not approve of such a person being the Emperor’s match, the most exalted person in them.

Jin Ye recognized Seoyeop’s underlying meaning, but they did not rebuke him.

They simply halted their steps beside Seoyeop.

“Lead the way.”