"Didn't I tell you? You shouldn't be recklessly playing around the palace! How dare you frolic in His Majesty's snowy field? You're lucky His Majesty showed great leniency; otherwise, you'd have been in big trouble!"

 

Yeo So-ui fiercely scolded, hands raised. The fine, sharp whip struck the child's delicate skin like a lash. Despite the child's attempts to contain himself, he eventually cried out in pain. His exposed backside stung from the blows.

 

"I'm sorry, Mom!"

 

Despite the child's cute crying face, Yeo So-ui ignored it. Having been granted leniency by the Emperor, the young Kang had to endure a severe scolding to prevent such behavior in the future.

 

Kang's bottom turned red from the repeated hits, tiny droplets of blood appearing. The nanny fretted and bit her nails, while Eunuch An, with a sorrowful look in his eyes, read a book.

 

"I didn't mean to, Mom!"

 

As the child cried harder, Yeo So-ui’s hands grew even harsher. When the child first disappeared, she feared he might vanish within the golden palace, never to be found. Her heart raced. With trembling hands and unsteady breath, the child clung to the emperor and entered the palace. Anxiety turned to joy, then to worry, and finally to anger when the emperor left his son behind. Kang’s mistake not only angered Yeo So-ui’s but also almost cost the eunuch and nanny their heads.

 

What Kang did today was blasphemous. It was wrong for a prince who couldn't transform into a wolf to enter the field where the royal family members, capable of transformation, roamed.

 

Considering his grave error that nearly risked everyone's lives, it was only natural for Yeo So-ui to react strongly. Until the prince or princess turned six, childcare relied solely on their biological mother. Afterward, it depended on the mother's power and the emperor's affection. As Yeo So-ui didn't meet these criteria, she planned to educate the boy without making her seem unpleasant.

 

That was the best chance for the child to thrive. That was all a mother could do without receiving the emperor's attention even once. She hoped the child lived there quietly, avoiding hate, breathing freely, and moving forward, embracing a life of freedom. Becoming a ruler was never a thought. She didn't even acknowledge it.

 

All Yeo So-ui desired was for her child to grow healthy, become a leader, and leave the palace. She sincerely hoped that even if she perished here, her son would live and relish freedom.

 

"I can't forgive you. Don't you realize that everyone could be at risk because of your mistake?!"

 

Yeo So-ui shouted and spanked the child several times. Eventually, the whip snapped loudly. Kang buried his face in his hands, crying. Yeo So-ui gasped, looking at Yeon Kang's trembling back.

 

The child's rear was redder than his cheeks in the biting winter wind. It was as red and ripe as an apple. Staring at the swollen, bright-red bottom, Yeo So-ui sighed and glanced inward. Eunuch An, who had been watching closely, finally stood up, put down his book, and slowly approached to comfort Yeon Kang. Even though the child was crying and seeking solace, the Eunuch An gave him a stern look.

 

The child sniffled and trembled slightly. He was quite perceptive.

 

"How long are you going to act like a child? Soon, you’ll have to undergo training with other royal children. Will you cry when you join them?"

 

"B-but..."

 

The child wiped his teary eyes and spoke in a tearful voice.

 

"I-I didn't know. That place is Abamama’s..."

 

"How long will you persist using such language?"

 

Eunuch An carefully placed the child down, helped pull up his fallen pants, and tried to comfort him gently. Kang winced and trembled due to the pain in his sore, hot bottom. Only then did Eunuch An take a closer look at the child. His damp black hair clung to his forehead, and his swollen, red eyes from crying made him look like a lost puppy in the rain. His cheeks were red and roughened by the winter wind, and his lips remained swollen.

 

Eunuch An knelt down, locking eyes with Kang. Seeing the child fighting back tears, he couldn't help but feel a wave of empathy.

 

"I get it. Please, stop now."

 

It was unusual for Kang to react this way. Realizing he might have been too hasty, Eunuch An lowered his head in acknowledgment.

 

"Are you okay?"

 

Kang, feeling bristled at Eunuch An's question, nodded silently. Tears clung to his eyelashes, and his tear-streaked face was a heartrending sight. The palace official guided Kang to the chamber, where only a few on-duty officials remained.

 

An eunuch, noticing Kang’s absence from sweets, handed him a piece of candy.

 

"No sweets for you today, huh?"

 

The eunuch spoke kindly, offering the treat. Usually, Kang would have been eager to enjoy it, but he seemed preoccupied, crossing his legs and holding onto the candy. Eunuch An observed the child closely, noticing his distant gaze and round, teary eyes. Eunuch An couldn't help but feel curious.

 

"What's on your mind, young prince?"

 

Seeing that Kang was trying to hide the sweets, Eunuch An chuckled. Despite trying to conceal them, it was obvious—a typical childish act. Yeon Kang was endearing to Eunuch An.

 

"Who were you planning to share those with?"

 

When Eunuch An quickly asked, Kang awkwardly smiled and said, "Ugh... that's all." He mumbled, shifting his body. He asked, licking his lips into a pout. "My bottom hurts. Can I have a hug?" With calm eyes, Kang asked Eunuch An for a favor. Eunuch An, ready to listen to whatever Kang had to say, embraced Kang and led him outside. The child seemed relieved to reach a sparsely populated area, took a deep breath, and looked at the eunuch.

 

Unable to sit due to the soreness, the child stood, glanced at the eunuch, and giggled. When the sweet boy smiled gently, Eunuch An's heart sank and he felt dizzy.

 

"Today I met a very big puppy. That puppy was very friendly. It brought me here... I felt so grateful that I promised to give them some sweets."

 

At the mention of a puppy, Eunuch An's eyes hardened. Although hunting dogs were raised in the Imperial Palace Park, there were no puppies now. Aren't puppies small creatures? He has never heard of the Emperor's dogs breeding.

 

But a dog... Out of anxiety, Eunuch An leaned in, making eye contact with the prince. Kang innocently smiled, oblivious, and hugged the sweets tightly.

 

"The puppy was very kind. It even comforted me by licking me..."

 

"By any chance, do you remember the eyes of that little creature?"

 

Eunuch An lowered his voice and asked. Yeon Kang blinked and answered softly.

 

"Yeah. They were golden, just like Abamama's."

 

The Eunuch An's face lost color. It wasn't an ordinary dog; it was the emperor himself. Known for his love of snow, the emperor was thrilled enough to turn into a wolf and frolic in the snow, and seemingly encounter a child.

 

He only witnessed Yeo So-ui scolding the child after guiding him to sit down, missing the context of who had taken Kang to the flower garden. It took Eunuch An a moment to realize, and he closed his eyes, letting out a sigh.

 

He understood why Yeo So-ui was furious. Not only did the child venture into the snowy field, but he also dared to call the emperor a puppy. That was a blasphemous offense, one that could cost the heads of not just the eunuchs, court ladies, and caregivers responsible for the children.

 

"Oh my..."

 

Eunuch An groaned and rubbed his forehead, catching Kang’s attention. The boy clasped his chubby fingers together, seemingly reflecting on what other mistakes he might have made.

 

However, with nothing else on his mind, the child started crying, gripping the eunuch's sleeve.

 

"What did I do wrong? I don't know. Please tell me."

 

Eunuch An looked at Yeon Kang, resembling a small, helpless creature, leaning against the wall. His mother had received no love, leaving him as a pitiful prince who had never felt his father's embrace. Without even a name until a year after birth, he hadn't seen his father transform into a wolf. It was common knowledge that the emperor paid no heed to Yeon Kang. There was only one reason why Yeon Kang wasn't loved by the emperor and grew up as a child with no care for his life. Kang could not transform into a wolf. He was just an ordinary child, cute only due to his mother's striking appearance. He was a child unwanted in the palace.

 

Indeed, other sons of emperors lived like Kang and then disappeared. Many children born to lovers and concubines met their end before reaching 6 or even at that age, so the eunuchs weren't overly invested.

 

Even when the empress passed away at 17 and two of her children followed, the emperor remained indifferent. He was a ruthless man who ordered the demolition of the palace where the empress and her children had died, claiming it was cursed. Despite ministers' warnings about the presence of the Widowed Empress¹His non-biological mother in that palace, the emperor didn't revoke his orders.

 

Why did an emperor like that spare Kang? Eunuch An was puzzled.

 

"What's the reason?"

 

Innocently, Yeon Kang asked, peering at the pale face that stood out in the darkness. Eunuch An sighed and touched the child's cheek. He felt sorry for this child’s cheeks, which had become redder than yesterday.

 

The innocent smile, unaware of everything, was so pitiful it tugged at his heartstrings. He was a prince one could love, yet he felt sorry that he was treated like a weed growing in the streets, underestimated by others.

 

"He's not a puppy."

 

"What?"

 

Yeon Kang tilted his head, asking. Eunuch An held the child's cheek with his wrinkled, rough hands and spoke clearly.

 

"He is the His Majesty the Emperor. Did you know that?"

 

The child looked at Eunuch with innocent eyes that seemed to know nothing, tilting his head once to the right and then to the left. His stubborn heart almost melted at the sight of the child tilting like a flower. While Eunuch smiled kindly like a gentle grandfather, Kang replied with a clear voice.

 

"No."

 

"Yes?"

 

Eunuch An asked, not sure what the child meant. Kang tried to cut the candy in half to make it easier to eat, but it crumbled in his chubby little hands. Kang looked somber. He glanced at Eunuch An’s face and handed him the shorter piece.

He had to be considerate in his own way and want to eat candy. In the end, Eunuch An burst into laughter at his behavior fitting for his age. He placed the candy, now losing its pretty shape due to squishing, and murmured in his mouth before opening it.

 

"Isn't that Abamama’s puppy?"

 

"Huh."

 

"No. He's His Majesty."

 

"It's a puppy. His Majesty was scary, but the puppy wasn't. So... it can't be Abamama."

 

Kang smiled, satisfied with his reasoning, but Eunuch An paled. If he were to say something like that somewhere, it would be a big problem. In the end, Eunuch An made eye contact with the child and explained clearly.

 

"You might not understand it yet, but that puppy is His Majesty. Do you understand? If you go elsewhere and say that, your mom will be in big trouble. So please remember. He is His Majesty."

 

"It's a puppy..."

 

Eunuch An, surprised by the insistence, spoke hurriedly.

 

"You can't call it a puppy. That itself is a blasphemy offense. If His Majesty walks in wolf form, you should quietly bow to the ground and attend to His Majesty. You know how to bow, right?" Eunuch An asked. When he removed his hand and gave a stern look, Yeon Kang rolled his eyes and nodded. Although his face shows he did not fully comprehend, he showed signs of trying to memorize when he stated that that puppy was not a puppy but His Majesty. That was better. It was better than going somewhere and getting one's head chopped off for blasphemy by shouting 'Puppy!'

 

After being disciplined by Eunuch An, Kang was about to eat a sugarcane when a strong gust of wind whistled, startling him and making him drop the fruit, thinking it was a ghost.

 

"Ghosts!"

 

The child called out and hugged him tightly. Eunuch An patted the trembling child. Kang, considering Eunuch as a father figure and following him closely, nestled into his arms. Eunuch An smiled at his adorable appearance. No matter how articulate he is, a child is still a child. Eunuch An relented and continued to stroke Kang's back. After calming down, Kang turned his head to look for the sugar cane, and when he saw it lying on the ground, his shoulders slumped. His calf-like black eyes trembled in shock.

 

"Candy…”

 

Yeon Kang muttered anxiously. But Eunuch An stood firm.

 

"No, it doesn't work. You get two candies a day."

 

"Why?"

 

Kang lifted his head and inquired. Eunuch An extended his hand. Without hesitation, Yeon Kang reached out and tightly grasped Eunuch An's hand. They seemed intimate, like a grandfather and grandson. Though it didn't last long, Eunuch An resolved to cherish Kang as a grandfather, at least for the time being. When Yeon Kang turned 6, he could no longer be with them. By law, they were meant to live separately. Unless it was a special occasion, Yeo So-ui’s face would likely remain unseen.

 

"That's the law. According to the rule that only if the mother is esteemed, her children can be treated with honor, the types of food, sweets, and fruits served vary according to the queen's rank. Hence, the crown prince can have two sweets."

 

Even though it was a very small number. However, the princes above him couldn't eat much either. This was because early exposure to sweets made children picky eaters and hindered their growth. Additionally, children born as wolves preferred fish and meat over sweets, hence their preference.

 

"I see... But Song hyung²brother said he eats six sweets a day."

 

Concubine Sook's eldest son, Yeon Song, was the one who looked after Yeon Kang. He was a kind prince who knew his brother liked sweets and sweet fruits and often hid them to gift to him when they met. Yeon Kang didn't get along well with the other princes, so out of pity for the child, he would give him one or two at a time and thought it was adorable how the child followed him like a puppy.

 

Yeon Kang spoke in a gruff voice, perhaps feeling regretful despite Yeon Song's good care. Eunuch An found the pitiful shoulders endearing but felt so sorry that he almost patted the child's head. The eunuch, striving to suppress his affectionate feelings, looked at the child and spoke gently.

 

"Don't worry. Once you're 6, you'll get to eat good snacks and sweets in better places."

 

The child sighed, feeling frustrated despite getting the answer he wanted. As they entered the palace, Eunuch An let go of Kang's hands. The child was the first to stride proudly. They headed toward Cheonggeum Palace's oldest and darkest bedroom. There were women of lower rank than Yeo So-ui, but since the emperor embraced them more often than Yeo So-ui, she used the most pitiful spot. Yeo So-ui wasn't the type to complain. Rather, she felt relieved by the emperor's indifference. Every time she made eye contact with the emperor, she got goosebumps and couldn't bear it.

 

He was beautiful, but not in the human eye.