The palace was quieter than usual that afternoon.

Warm sunlight filtered through the carved windows of the Dowager Empress’s courtyard, painting soft golden patterns across the polished floor.

Incense burned lightly in the corners.

Servants moved silently.

Everything carried the calm dignity of the older woman who ruled this residence.

—

Today—

The Dowager Empress had personally invited the Emperor for lunch.

Which was rare.

Very rare.

—

Inside the dining hall, dishes had already been arranged carefully.

Simple.

Elegant.

Mostly the Emperor’s favorites from childhood.

—

When the Emperor entered, the servants immediately bowed.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

—

The Dowager Empress looked up from her tea.

"You’re late."

—

The Emperor sat calmly across from her.

"The court meeting lasted longer."

—

The Dowager hummed softly.

"Sit."

—

Lunch began quietly.

Unlike other royal meals filled with formalities—

This one felt more natural.

Mother and son.

Nothing else.

—

The Dowager occasionally placed dishes into his bowl.

The Emperor ate silently.

And for a while—

Neither spoke much.

—

Then suddenly—

The Dowager asked casually,

"How is your relationship with the Empress?"

—

The Emperor paused slightly.

His chopsticks stopped for the briefest moment.

—

Then he answered calmly,

"...It is fine."

—

Silence.

—

The Dowager slowly lifted her tea cup.

Then looked at him suspiciously.

"...Fine?"

—

The Emperor met her gaze.

"Yes."

—

The Dowager laughed softly.

"That answer alone tells me it is not fine."

—

The Emperor sighed faintly.

"...Mother."

—

"What?"

She leaned back slightly.

"You think I can’t see?"

—

The Emperor stayed silent.

—

The Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly.

"You finally realized your feelings after nearly losing her."

"You followed her to the Duke residence."

"You stayed overnight."

"And now you say things are merely ’fine’?"

—

The Emperor looked awkward for the first time in days.

"...We are improving."

—

The Dowager smirked slightly.

"That sounds more honest."

—

The Emperor lowered his gaze briefly.

Truthfully—

He himself didn’t fully understand what was happening anymore.

Only that—

Whenever he saw her smile—

His chest felt lighter.

Whenever she was in danger—

Fear consumed him.

And whenever she looked distant—

Something inside him became restless.

—

The Dowager watched him quietly.

Then sighed.

"You truly resemble your father sometimes."

—

The Emperor frowned slightly.

"...That does not sound like praise."

—

"It isn’t."

—

The Dowager took another sip of tea.

"You men only understand emotions after causing damage."

—

The Emperor remained silent.

Because he could not deny it.

—

The Dowager placed her cup down carefully.

Then her expression softened slightly.

"Listen carefully."

—

The Emperor looked at her.

—

"If you truly want her heart..."

"...then be attentive."

—

His brows furrowed slightly.

"...Attentive?"

—

The Dowager nodded.

"Yes."

"Notice what she likes."

"What she dislikes."

"When she is tired."

"When she is upset."

"When she needs comfort."

—

The Emperor listened quietly.

—

Then she added,

"And most importantly..."

"...give her your attention."

—

The Emperor stayed silent.

But her words settled heavily in his chest.

—

The Dowager’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"You ignored her for too long before."

"You let her stand alone."

"You let another woman stand beside you while your wife endured humiliation."

—

The Emperor’s fingers tightened slightly.

Guilt flickered across his eyes.

—

The Dowager noticed.

Good.

He should feel guilty.

—

"You cannot fix years of pain with one night of kindness."

—

The room fell quiet.

—

Then the Dowager spoke again.

"Women remember actions more than words."

—

The Emperor slowly looked up.

—

"If you truly care for her..."

"Show it."

—

"Not only in private."

"Not only when she is dying."

—

"Consistently."

—

The Emperor leaned back slightly.

Thinking deeply.

—

The Dowager continued calmly,

"You think she will trust you easily now?"

—

He didn’t answer.

Because he already knew.

No.

—

After everything he had done—

Distrust was natural.

—

The Dowager sighed softly.

"She may smile now."

"She may speak gently."

"But wounds remain."

—

The Emperor closed his eyes briefly.

Because every word was true.

—

Then the Dowager suddenly smirked.

"But fortunately..."

"...she still cares for you."

—

His eyes opened immediately.

"...You noticed?"

—

The Dowager almost rolled her eyes.

"I’m not blind."

—

"She cooked for me this morning."

"She apologized."

"She looked calmer when speaking about you."

—

A faint warmth spread through the Emperor’s chest.

Uncontrolled.

—

The Dowager noticed immediately.

And nearly laughed.

—

Hopeless.

—

"You look happier already."

—

The Emperor coughed lightly.

"...Mother."

—

The Dowager shook her head.

Then her expression softened again.

"She is a good girl."

"You nearly lost her once."

—

Her voice lowered slightly.

"Do not make her regret returning."

—

Silence filled the room.

Heavy.

Meaningful.

—

The Emperor slowly nodded.

"...I understand."

—

And this time—

He truly meant it.

—

Outside—

The palace remained dangerous.

Schemes still moved in shadows.

Enemies still watched.

—

But inside this quiet dining hall—

A mother quietly taught her son—

How to love properly.

—

Not with power.

Not with possession.

—

But with patience.

Attention.

And sincerity.

Afternoon sunlight stretched softly across the Dowager Empress’s courtyard.

The earlier lunch had ended, but none of them had left yet.

Instead—

Tea had been brought out.

Fresh incense burned lightly near the windows.

And the atmosphere, strangely enough, felt... peaceful.

—

The Dowager Empress sat at the center calmly.

The Emperor beside her.

And across from them—

The Empress.

—

For the servants watching outside, the sight felt almost unreal.

Because not long ago—

This room had always been cold whenever the Empress entered.

Now—

The three of them sat together quietly like an ordinary family.

—

The Dowager Empress lifted her tea cup slowly.

Then glanced at her son.

"How is the court lately?"

—

The Emperor leaned slightly back.

"Tiring."

—

The Dowager snorted softly.

"When has ruling ever been easy?"

—

The Empress smiled faintly at the exchange.

The Emperor noticed immediately.

And his gaze softened unconsciously.

—

The Dowager saw it.

Of course she did.

But pretended not to.

—

The Emperor placed his tea down.

"At least the capital has become more stable recently."

—

The Dowager raised a brow slightly.

"Oh?"

—

"The kidnapping cases have nearly disappeared."

—

The Empress looked up immediately.

"...Truly?"

—

The Emperor nodded.

"Yes."

"For the last two months, reports have dropped significantly."

—

That alone would normally be good news.

But strangely—

The room became quieter instead of relieved.

—

Because all three of them knew.

Something about this peace felt unnatural.

—

The Dowager slowly narrowed her eyes.

"That quickly?"

—

The Emperor nodded once.

"The Ministry investigated thoroughly."

"No large trafficking groups were found recently."

"Even the underground markets became quieter."

—

The Empress lowered her gaze slightly.

Too quiet.

—

Ever since the monk mentioned ghost breeding...

Ever since the strange incidents began...

Peace no longer comforted her.

It only made her suspicious.

—

The Dowager tapped her fingers lightly against the table.

"And the strange incidents?"

—

The Emperor’s expression shifted slightly.

"...Those reports also decreased."

—

The Empress immediately looked at him.

"What kind of incidents?"

—

The Emperor answered calmly.

"Reports of people acting strangely."

"Sudden disappearances."

"Villagers claiming unusual sightings."

—

The Dowager scoffed softly.

"Superstitious nonsense."

—

But the Emperor didn’t fully agree this time.

Because after everything involving the Empress—

Even he could no longer dismiss everything easily.

—

The Empress spoke quietly,

"The Duke mentioned something similar before."

—

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"...He told you?"

—

She nodded.

"He said unusual things were happening outside the capital."

"People becoming stronger suddenly."

"Some disappearing."

—

The Dowager frowned slightly now.

"I heard rumors too."

"But rumors spread easily."

—

The Emperor rested his fingers against the table thoughtfully.

"At first I believed it was exaggeration."

"But after the lake incident..."

His eyes moved toward the Empress.

"...I’m no longer certain."

—

Silence settled heavily.

—

The Empress looked down at her tea.

She still remembered that feeling.

Her body moving on its own.

Unable to stop herself.

As if something invisible had been pulling her.

—

Even now—

Thinking about it made her uneasy.

—

The Dowager noticed her expression immediately.

"Enough."

Her tone softened slightly.

"No need to think about that now."

—

The Empress nodded faintly.

—

The Emperor spoke again after a pause.

"The attack outside the palace also bothers me."

—

The Dowager’s eyes darkened.

"Yes."

"That was too precise."

—

The Emperor nodded slowly.

"They knew exactly where she would be."

"No ordinary assassins could manage that."

—

The Empress quietly asked,

"Do you believe someone inside the palace is involved?"

—

The room fell silent.

—

The Emperor didn’t answer immediately.

Because truthfully—

He did.

—

But saying it aloud would make everything more dangerous.

—

Finally, he spoke carefully.

"...I believe someone is manipulating events."

"Whether inside or outside the palace..."

"...I still don’t know."

—

The Dowager leaned back slightly.

Her expression thoughtful now.

"The palace has always been dangerous."

"But this feels different."

—

The Emperor nodded.

"Yes."

—

Not political.

Not ordinary ambition.

—

Something darker.

Something hidden.

—

The Empress looked toward the garden quietly.

"...It feels like someone is waiting."

—

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to her instantly.

"Waiting?"

—

She nodded faintly.

"For everyone to relax."

"For everyone to think things are peaceful again."

—

The room became colder.

Because both the Emperor and Dowager realized—

That thought matched exactly what they themselves feared.

—

The Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly.

"...You’ve become more perceptive."

—

The Empress smiled weakly.

"I nearly died."

"It changes a person."

—

The Emperor’s chest tightened at those words.

Even now—

Hearing her speak about death made him uncomfortable.

—

The Dowager noticed his expression again.

And internally sighed.

—

Hopeless son.

—

The Emperor spoke quietly after a moment,

"I already increased surveillance."

"Both inside and outside the palace."

"But nothing suspicious has appeared."

—

The Dowager snorted softly.

"That only means whoever is behind this is intelligent."

—

The Empress looked thoughtful.

"...Or patient."

—

Silence.

—

A soft breeze entered through the open windows.

The curtains moved gently.

Lantern bells chimed quietly outside.

—

Then suddenly—

The Dowager changed the topic slightly.

"The banquet preparations are going well?"

—

The Empress blinked at the sudden shift.

Then nodded.

"Yes."

"The invitations were sent this morning."

"The sweets too."

—

The Dowager hummed approvingly.

"That’s good."

"At least the palace still has something joyful happening."

—

The Emperor looked at the Empress.

"You worked hard preparing everything."

—

She looked slightly surprised.

Then smiled faintly.

"It’s for family."

—

The Emperor’s gaze softened again.

Family.

That word sounded warm coming from her.

—

The Dowager drank her tea quietly while observing both of them.

Then suddenly said,

"You should accompany her more often."

—

The Emperor blinked slightly.

"...Mother."

—

"What?"

She looked completely innocent.

"She clearly likes going outside more than staying trapped in the palace."

—

The Empress coughed lightly.

The Emperor looked awkward.

—

The Dowager continued mercilessly,

"If you want your marriage to improve, stop behaving like a cold emperor all the time."

—

The Empress quickly lowered her head to hide her expression.

Her ears were already red.

—

The Emperor sighed.

"...Can we not discuss this now?"

—

The Dowager smirked slightly.

"No."

—

The atmosphere lightened slightly after that.

The tension from earlier conversations eased.

—

For a while—

They simply sat together.

Drinking tea.

Speaking occasionally.

Listening to the quiet sounds of the courtyard.

—

And yet—

Despite the calm atmosphere—

All three of them understood one thing clearly.

—

The kingdom was not truly peaceful.

Something was moving beneath the surface.

Waiting.

Watching.

—

But for now—

None of them spoke further.

—

Because some fears—

Once spoken aloud—

Become real.