The Empress stretched out her body and looked once more at the woman's face. Even when she raised her voice like this, the woman showed no sign of waking up.

Face.......

The face?!

"This face?"

"Yes."

The Empress checked the woman's face once more. She didn't open her eyes, so the Empress doesn't know her eyes, but her face was like a faceless ghost, and her nose was low, and she was too thin, and only her lips were thick.

Face? Does this child who grew up in the imperial palace and has seen the beauty of the continent saying this is a face he likes now?

"King Mun. There must be something you're upset about with your mother. This mother knows everything."

"No."

The Empress's eyes widened as she heard her son resolutely cut off her word.

"I really fell in love with this woman at first sight, Mother. At first sight."

"...... to this woman?"

What's the thing worthy of falling in love with her at first sight?

When the Empress was bewildered, her son softly opened his mouth.

"From the moment we met."

The fever started from that moment.

Even with his eyes closed and open, he only thought of this woman in his dreams and even in reality. In the thirst that water could not quench, he eventually dispatched his servants.

Where is she? What does she do? Is she singing to someone? With that voice again? Which man's hand is she giving her cheek? Is she smiling?

Sa Heon-yeong looked down at Young-yeong for a moment. Young Young. Her name, made up of his own name, suited her well.

"I never thought of this person before."

"It's only natural that you've only met her recently. That's what a man and a woman are supposed to do."

"My age is thirty years old, mother."

He is thirty, even if he has never met a woman. Does he not know about the words of joy between men and women*? When Sa Heon-yeong frowned, the Empress laughed and snorted.

"Is this the first time you've met a vulgar girl of low status after you became thirty?"

"Don't call her vulgar, Mother. She is not vulgar."

Why is this child doing this?

The Empress frowned. He's not the type to talk back.

"King Mun."

The Empress's voice hardened, but Sa Heon-yeong did not back down either.

"The Emperor has said it many times. If there's a woman I want, bring her with me. He doesn't care who she is. This is what he said every time I offered victory to my father. Mother, do you really want to have a long confrontation with me on this matter?"

"The words of your father meant to choose from among the nobles."

Of course, the Emperor always said that. How can't he be sorry for a son who has neither a wife nor a concubine? However, it was never meant to bring an illegitimate child of a pharmacist. King Mun snorted at the Empress' words.

"He never set a clue like that."

"It's a matter of course!"

As the Empress's voice rose, Sa Heon-yeong's voice became lower.

"One life, just like hers, has disappeared. Is that not enough?"

The Empress shuddered and took the power away from her body. She sighed and softly called her son to comfort him.

"...... Heonyoung."

But Sa Heon-yeong firmly shook his head.

"There is no need for a woman from the high court. By the way, if you're going to take the lady of the high court to me, it will be the second life lost, not to be tied to a silk string, but to be cut by my sword, mother. Just leave me alone. Then I will live and die as father's faithful sword."

"Heonyoung, that was when,"

"I'm leaving."

Sa Heon-yeong did not listen to his mother further and got his body up.

The Empress looked down at the woman who was still sleeping in her son's arms. She has a peaceful face.

"When will my wish come true?"

Looking back at her son passing by, the Empress asked.

Sa Heon-yeong looked back at his mother. There stood the Empress, not his mother. Gorgeous, lofty and cold face. The best woman in the empire, ready to sacrifice anything for power.

"It must be after this young Lady is married, Mother."

After the wish comes true, the bird that made the wish come true, he will break its neck as it is.