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Kim Dokja has read numerous webnovels in his life, and many of them were of questionable quality. In the vast troves of internet literature, statistically, most of the things he read were trash, but coming across a hidden gem made the effort worthwhile. He’d even read plenty of those isekai stories and ended up hating most of them. The authors were more worried about mass appeal and were spouting out nonsense that people ate up.
But he has to say, it’s helped give him some insight into his current situation.
Kim Dokja is a modern day Korean wage slave. But after his own run in with Truck-kun, he’s awakened as Kim Dokja, the evil emperor from a vaguely historical fantasy webnovel. He’s able to rein in his shock and keep his cool, enough to take in his situation.
In many of those isekai novels, the transmigrator decides to change the story, or conquer the protagonist. Kim Dokja isn’t an idiot, though, and has no delusions of grandeur. He knows he needs to get out of here as soon as possible! In this story, the emperor was cruel to his people, worked his servants to the bone, and treated his harem coldly. There’s no repairing his reputation, it’s better to let the protagonist take his throne without a battle.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy for an emperor to discreetly leave the palace. He has guards standing around every corner keeping watch, and countless more servants who will be witnesses to his escape attempts. Kim Dokja can’t rest easily. He knows the protagonist is set to assassinate him in a year’s time, but he’d be a fool to assume that it couldn’t happen sooner, depending on his choices now.
He’s got an eastern tour planned in a few months from now. Kim Dokja will slip away from his party during that and make his grand escape. He’s lucky his face is plain enough that no one will look twice at him!
Kim Dokja only needs to be on his best behavior until then and not incite any premature murder attempts. Anyone else might feel despair at their death and subsequent fate of being thrusted into a shitty online novel, but Kim Dokja is a reader. He loves stories. Ending up in a story is still better than whatever existence he was living before.
That’s why he isn’t prepared for his first big shock in this work. He had forgotten up until running into one of the harem members that this particular trash novel was a BL. Kim Dokja didn’t purposely try to read BL, he just read whatever he could. He was voracious for stories and wasn’t picky, ignoring genders and focusing on plots.
He’s lucky, though. Of all people, he meets Lee Hyunsung first.
Lee Hyunsung was a major character. After the protagonist overthrew the corrupt emperor, he saw Lee Hyunsung’s true potential and made him the general of the army. His character wasn’t one for manipulation or scheming, being a more straightforward, kind, and respectable man. He’s also currently the newest member of Kim Dokja’s harem, so he might be the most naive to the old emperor’s behaviors.
Kim Dokja needs to make a good impression now, then! He makes his way towards the man, waving, “Good morning!’
“Your majesty, you’re- you’re here,” Lee Hyunsung says in surprise, bowing deeply.
“You may rise, Concubine Lee. How are you?”
“I’m well. And… you?” Lee Hyunsung looks so tense, he’s probably nervous right now.
“Good, good. I know you’ve just arrived at the palace, I’m glad we could run into each other.” Kim Dokja takes Lee Hyunsung’s arm, walking together through the gardens, “Has there been any lacking amenities? Do the servants treat you well?”
“Of course, your majesty!” Lee Hyunsung says stiffly, glancing at their intertwined arms. Ah, was that too presumptuous of Kim Dokja? Even if they are emperor and concubine, Lee Hyunsung could still be uncomfortable touching him. He quickly draws away to look at some nearby hydrangeas.
Lee Hyunsung comes from humble origins. His family sent him here to try and gain political favor, but in the original story the man was abandoned just like every other concubine. He must be so terrified of having to do things he doesn’t want to do, he’s lucky Kim Dokja is the one here now! He has no interest in, uh, getting intimate with his harem.
“Are you free right now?” Kim Dokja asks.
Lee Hyunsung’s whole face goes red, “Very free!”
“Then, I’ve heard plenty of stories about you. I want to see your talents with a sword!”
Lee Hyunsung looks like he’s about to faint. Is Kim Dokja that intimidating? Well, it’s only something time can prove untrue, Kim Dokja is the most bland, harmless guy here.
He guides Lee Hyunsung to the training grounds, having a servant fetch a wooden sword for them. Lee Hyunsung holds the weapon with some disappointment, “Oh, you meant…”
He laughs and waves a hand, “Sorry, it’s only a wooden one for right now, I know a metal one is probably preferable.”
The wind leaves Lee Hyunsung’s sails for a moment, but he perks up, “Thanking his majesty for inviting me here. I will not let down your expectations of me.”
Lee Hyunsung’s whole demeanor changes as he shifts into proper form. His soft smile fades away, leaving nothing but pure determination on his face. For the first time, Kim Dokja realizes how tall Lee Hyunsung is. He’s an imposing man, but it’s easy to forget it. He watches raptly as Lee Hyunsung does a few simple swings with the sword before it starts to glow in his hands.
This is a bit of a guilty pleasure for Kim Dokja. He read so many gratuitous descriptions of Lee Hyunsung’s abilities, but it’s one thing to imagine it and another to finally get to see it!
This is a fantasy novel, after all.
Even with just a wooden sword, the weapon comes alive, thrumming with power. Lee Hyunsung starts with some flashy and harmless tricks, but then starts slicing through the ground like it’s butter.
By the end of it all, the training grounds are a mess, but Kim Dokja is starry eyed, “That’s amazing! I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Lee Hyunsung flushes, his shy demeanor returning, “Oh, ahah, I’m sure his majesty has seen plenty more skilled fighters than me, but I thank you for your praise.”
“Concubine Lee,” a cool voice rings out across the field.
Lee Hyunsung stands up straight, “Your highness, I- uh, welcome. The emperor and I were just- spending time together.”
Kim Dokja turns around to see the newcomer. A tall figure dressed in fine black robes approaches them. “I greet his majesty the emperor,” Yoo Joonghyuk bows, looking pointedly at Lee Hyunsung, ignoring Kim Dokja completely.
It’s well known that Kim Dokja doesn’t have an empress. When he came into power, he claimed that since his parents had just died, he must follow the proper mourning rituals and refrain from celebrations like marriage. Bold words for a man who killed his own family to steal the throne.
Even after the proper mourning period had passed, however, he did not promote any of his harem members to the position. He accepted men for the political ties, but never spent a moment with them.
The evil emperor sat at the top of the hierarchy with no empress to keep him in check. It was well known throughout the palace that the most deserving of the empress’s title was Consort Yoo Joonghyuk- better known to Kim Dokja as the protagonist of the novel and the one who is fated to depose him and steal his harem.
And let him do it! Kim Dokja doesn’t want to worry about running a kingdom or trying to please a flurry of different men!! That’s too much work for him, he knows Yoo Joonghyuk is better suited to the task. He’s literally written to be the most competent, coolest emperor one day, it’s in his character profile to excel at everything he does.
The plot had been one of those that was grating yet still so satisfying, since no matter if something went wrong, Yoo Joonghyuk always won. It was annoying that nothing could seem to push him down, but you were also so thrilled every time he outwitted other officials or subverted treasonous plots. Even when things went wrong, they went wrong because Yoo Joonghyuk had planned for it to be that way.
“I require Concubine Lee’s presence. We shall both take our leave,” Yoo Joonghyuk excuses the two of them, leaving Kim Dokja suddenly alone. Lee Hyunsung glances back once or twice, but isn’t brave enough to defy his superior.
“Thank you for today, your majesty,” he says quickly before leaving the training grounds with Yoo Joongyuk.
Even without the formal title of empress, Yoo Joonghyuk is the one who took up the responsibility for managing the harem. All other concubines listen to his command, never daring to question his authority.
Ah, what a chilly person, Yoo Joonghyuk barely acknowledged his presence. Kim Doka deserves it, of course, his predecessor was ten times colder to his harem than he is. Yoo Joonghyuk came from a prominent family but has been languishing as a mere consort living in the cold palace, the grudge he must have is insurmountable.
It’s best for his health if he avoids Yoo Joonghyuk as much as he can from now on. That doesn’t mean he can’t try and make some amends with the other concubines! Kim Dokja tells himself that what he’s doing is helping the future Yoo Joonghyuk by setting up the different harem members in their future positions sooner- but the truth of it is that he’s excited to see all their cool powers.
Later that week, he visits another prominent character’s palace: the palace of Sun Wukong, the wealthiest man in the empire. The evil emperor had such a powerhouse in his harem but even dared to ignore him! Seriously, sometimes he hates these types of novels so much, they never give depth or characterization to their villains. Being ‘evil’ is enough, even if no one would be that dumb. Shouldn’t the emperor have drained Sun Wukong’s money dry if he were a consistent villain? Oh, but no, instead he neglected the concubine the same as everyone else did. Curse lazy character writing.
Unlike Lee Hyunsung, he’s prepared for this interaction to be painful. Sun Wukong has been in the inner palace for a long time.
He’s sent word ahead of time, but he’s still surprised when he sees Sun Wukong standing out front to welcome him. “I humbly welcome his majesty the emperor,” Sun Wukong bows, flashing Kim Dokja a dashing smile.
Harem dramas are scary. The concubine characters are two-faced, acting sweet on the outside but are pure poison within. From what he remembers, Sun Wukong was an easy going character who preferred to stay out of political conflicts but also enjoyed throwing large amounts of money at Yoo Joonghyuk’s projects. He was the kind of character who existed mostly as a wallet. But around Kim Dokja, his asshole husband, who can say if that remains the same?
It’s hard to stay on guard when a ridiculously handsome man is trying to handfeed your grapes, however.
“As I was saying, last week I heard- oh, thank you.” Sun Wukong places another piece of fruit between his lips.
“Have you gotten thinner lately? You should eat more, here,” the concubine grabs a plate of pastries, holding one up to his mouth.
“I- I- I can feed myself,” he stutters, taking the food from Sun Wukong’s hands.
Sun Wukong is a friendly guy, he doesn’t seem like he’s trying to deceive anyone. Maybe Kim Dokja is too gullible for palace intrigue stories. What powers above decided he’d make a good replacement for a villainous emperor?
“You should visit more often, your majesty,” Sun Wukong says. He must be a good actor, to be able to be friendly to his asshole husband.
“I’ll keep your words in mind.”
“Of course, you should prioritize your work as the emperor. You’ve been busy lately.”
“A little, yes.” A whole lot! He’s been swamped with work the original emperor ignored! This man didn’t just neglect his harem, but also his government responsibilities! Kim Dokja has been neck deep in trying to clean things up, meeting with countless officials and spending late nights reading through proposal after proposal.
“I did hear from my uncle about the ongoing discussions about the eastern dam project. If you have any concerns, the Sun Clan would happily fund the endeavor.”
“That won’t be necessary. The empire still has plenty of reserves to pay for the construction, but I admire your dedication to serving our people.” More like Kim Dokja isn’t the kind of scumbag to ignore someone until he needs to ask them for money! And he’s telling the truth, the original evil emperor’s conduct was lazy and incompetent, but one man couldn’t topple a thriving empire that has existed for centuries.
Sun Wukong swirls his cup of tea in his hand, his eyes squinting as he smiles, “Of course. My family members are in full support of your plans, you can trust they’ll vote with you. I’ve heard you’ve had some dissidents in court lately.”
Kim Dokja sweats. That’s one way to put it. Those old men keep shutting down his proposals regardless of what they are. He wants to throttle all of them, but he’s supposed to be better than the original evil emperor. He can talk things out like an adult. Maybe. Time will tell. Kim Dokja’s patience has run incredibly thin.
“This is nice, your majesty. We haven't had many chances to talk since your ascension on the throne,” Sun Wukong says, “I’ll admit I was baffled for a while by your choices, but I understand now. Your actions with the court and the harem, they were deliberate, weren't they? Others may have doubted you, but I never did. I hope you know that I’ll always be here for you, there’s no need to be so shy around me.”
Internally, Kim Dokja can only think: "???"
Outwardly he says, “Thank you, Concubine Sun. I’ve got to return to my palace now and continue working on paperwork.” Good job Kim Dokja, your voice didn’t even waver!
Sun Wukong pokes and prods at him, asking him to stay longer but he makes his escape.
As Kim Dokja walks as quickly as he can without losing his dignity as an emperor, his mind rushes. What did Sun Wukong mean, ‘I understand your actions.’ Even Kim Dokja doesn’t know what he’s doing right now besides trying to clean up his predecessor’s problems. Sun Wukong, you’re giving him too much credit! There are no clever schemes going on here!!
Is Sun Wukong assuming he purposely isolated himself? Who would that help? Now he has no allies in court and is busy having to oust the corrupt officials. Or, does he think Kim Dokja did all of this to reveal the officials who aren’t loyal to the royal family? That’d be so wild.
And what was with him saying he never doubted Kim Dokja? In the novel it was made abundantly clear that after years of neglect, the entire harem hated the emperor.
Well, that’s what everyone said.
Words spoken are different from true feelings, especially in harem dramas. But the only thoughts the reader were privy to were Yoo Joonghyuk’s, and he never spared a thought for his dead husband after he murdered him.
What was the original emperor’s relationship like with his concubines? Kim Dokja assumed he never even introduced himself to them as they were brought into the palace, but the high profile members like Yoo Joonghyuk or Sun Wukong would’ve met the emperor in court while he was still a prince. Did they get along then? Were they hopeful to enter the harem and had those dreams slowly crushed? Did some of them hold out hope right until Yoo Joonghyuk slayed him? Did they mourn him in secret, out of view from Yoo Joonghyuk’s watchful eyes?
The novel went very little into the evil emperor’s backstory. He was a typical one-dimensional villain who thirsted for power and killed his family to seize it. And after gaining control of an entire kingdom, he neglected his harem and imperial duties. He sucked! The common people suffered due to his laziness! Yoo Joonghyuk killed him for the greater good.
Wasn’t that how it went?
All of this is too confusing for Kim Dokja.
Engrossed in thought, Kim Dokja almost passes by someone without acknowledging them. He pales when he sees he’s run into Yoo Joonghyuk again. It’d be improper to run away, oh, but he wishes he could. He stops on the pathway, waiting for Yoo Joonghyuk to speak first.
“I greet his majesty,” Yoo Joonghyuk bows.
“Consort Yoo, please rise.”
Yoo Joonghyuk raises his head, “You were visiting Concubine Sun?”
He glances back to Sun Wukong’s palace, “Ah, yes. We just talked for a bit.”
Yoo Joonghyuk nods, his expression unreadable. Even his thoughts evade Kim Dokja now. He assumed that upon entering this novel, he’d understand Yoo Joonghyuk best since he read thousands of words from his point of view, it feels unfair that even that advantage has been lost. The Yoo Joonghyuk he knew hated the emperor and would have avoided him at all costs. So why have they bumped into each other?
“All you did was talk?” Yoo Joonghyuk asks.
“Yes, yes. He also assumed I was there for politics but as of right now, the empire is stable financially. It isn’t necessary for Concubine Sun to personally pay for something,” he laughs nervously.
“I didn’t assume that.”
“My bad, ahah.” Then why did Yoo Joonghyuk sound like he was accusing him of something more??
“The empire is in a time of prosperity and peace. The heavens smile upon us. And if we ever did need money, there’s no need to ask that monkey for scraps. In the entire nation, the Yoo Clan is only second to the Sun Clan in terms of wealth.”
A chill floats through the courtyard.
“Consort Yoo is- that is, thank you for always being considerate towards the well-being of the common people.” Ugh, the protagonist’s ego strikes again. Yes, Yoo Joonghyuk, we get it, your family is so rich and powerful, you’re so hot and clever, you’ve got the biggest dick, you hate being ignored, yada yada yada.
“Also, keep in mind, your majesty, that my palace is the closest one to yours. It takes more time to travel to Concubine Sun’s or Concubine Lee’s places.” With those words, Yoo Joonghyuk excuses himself.
Did… Yoo Joonghyuk mean that as a threat?? In a ‘Don’t forget I’m always near enough to attack you, don’t sleep easily at night’ way? This damn protagonist is too cryptic.
Kim Dokja doesn’t sleep that night. He tries to rest for a few hours before giving up and returning to his office. There’s plenty of work to do until the eastern tour.
Life as a reformed evil emperor is nothing like the novels portray. It’s filled with a lot more boring meetings with stupid old men than is portrayed in the stories. While he may have opposition in court, he’s still emperor. Kim Dokja pushes up priority on certain projects, discarding the useless ones entirely. He’s already punished officials who were not discreet with their criminal actions, but he’s building a ledger for the ones who have been sneakier.
He’s been aware that there are people unhappy with him. He’s an evil emperor, after all, but the assassination attempt the next day is a bit of a shock. Nothing terrible, he isn’t scared, it’s a little fun there’s something to spice things up.
Masked men rush into the grand hall while Kim Dokja is eating dinner alone. The guards by the door are knocked out and the others nearby won’t reach him in time. He watches, hesitating for a moment if he should use his powers. He’s an overpowered final boss, if he punched one of them they might explode from the force!
But the attackers can’t even enter halfway through the grand hall before a ball of electricity slams into them. The men fall down like bowling pins as a lithe man knocks them all out with bolts of lightning.
“Concubine Rodgraim, that was amazing!” He can’t help shouting before remembering himself. Oops, he got a little too excited there.
Seriously, though, who can stay straight faced when witnessing lightning magic?!
Kyrgios Rodgraim pauses for a moment, letting the guards arriving at the scene tie up and drag away the intruders. “Your majesty, I live to serve you. This was nothing.”
So- Kim Dokja wasn’t in danger, he’s a major villain after all! He’s far from the strongest man in the novel, but he’s supposed to be a hurdle for Yoo Joonghyuk before he takes the throne. He would've flicked away those measly intruders like nothing. Surprisingly, one of his concubines came to his aid. They all know he’s capable, so why would Kyrgios Rodgraim endanger himself?
He’s starting to doubt what he knows of this novel more and more.
Does Kyrgios Rodgraim hate him like he should? Is he acting helpful but harbors animosity toward him? Through Yoo Joonghyuk’s point of view, did he wrongly believe the entire harem hated their husband? Or having transmigrated, is this novel nothing like the initial one he read about?
That’s too intimidating a question to consider. Kim Dokja will ditch this place and the plot won’t be his concern anymore. He shouldn’t dedicate more brain power than he should to pondering those questions.
“What is going on?” A strong voice resounds in the hallway. A familiar, tall, and handsome man enters the grand hall.
Yoo Joonhyuk again? He seems to be everywhere. Kim Dokja would’ve suspected him of being behind this if it weren’t antithetical to his beliefs, preferring to face adversaries head-on.
The guards flounder around Yoo Joonghyuk, explaining what just happened.
“This oversight in security must be investigated. Whoever is in charge will be interrogated and punished for risking the safety of the emperor.” Wow! Kim Dokja can really see the future emperor in him in the way Yoo Joonghyuk commands authority. People quiver in their shoes as they run around to grab the head of security, trying to avoid his ire.
Is punishing someone necessary, though? Kim Dokja doesn’t think it’s that serious. He’s not weak, the plot won’t derail for some no name grunts. No one else but him knows about that plot armor, but they do know he’s a competent enough man.
“There’s no need, Consort Yoo.”
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes sharpen, “We’re in the inner palace, your majesty. No one but high ranking officials, the royal family, and the harem should have made it this far. This is a conspiracy; many people had to have colluded on this.”
“Yes, yes, I know. Let’s not worry about it, however.” It’s obvious there are groups in the palace against Kim Dokja. That’s the plot of the book.
Even when he’s trying to act differently from the original emperor, his advisors are unhappy with his abrupt personality change. Kim Dokja has been attending court meetings regularly, unlike the original goods. They keep trying to pass shitty new laws and to increase their own paychecks, but the moment Kim Dokja saw the corruption in his own court he’s been tossing people out of the palace left and right. He’s planning to ditch this place, but he isn’t shameless enough to leave a mess on his way out.
There were dozens of chapters Kim Dokja had to slog through about Yoo Joonghyuk having to deal with external and internal opposing forces. In the novel, war broke out soon after Yoo Joonghyuk came into power. It would be easier for everyone if the internal problems were dealt with now.
“Kim Dokja,” Yoo Joonghyuk grits out.
“Consort Yoo, his majesty has said to let it be,” Kyrgios Rodgraim says. The two concubines glare it out for a moment, the air between them going taught with tension, but Yoo Joonghyuk scoffs and turns around, exiting the hall.
In the novel, didn’t those two get along really well? What was all of that about?
“Oh, Concubine Rodgraim, what were you doing near the dining hall this evening?”
Kyrgios flushes, stuttering out, “Y-your majesty, I had wanted to offer… that is, if you wanted, I can play my viola for you as you eat.”
“You’re so sweet! Surely you have more interesting things to do than entertain me-”
“There’s nothing else I’d rather do!” Kyrgios says quickly, his face rapidly turning red.
“Then I’d be honored!”
Kim Dokja eats a decadent meal while accompanied by Kyrgios’s lovely viola playing. How could the previous emperor be so cold to such good people? Kyrgios Rodgraim is an honored warrior who could be doing anything else, but he’s here, playing music for him.
“Do you have any other plans this evening?” Kim Dokja asks as he finishes up his meal.
“N-no! No, I have plenty of time for you, your majesty.”
Kim Dokja grins, “Then let’s get going!”
He drags the both of them into an indoor training room and asks Kyrgios to show off more of his powers. The man seems hesitant, asking if they can go back to Kim Dokja’s palace, but there are too many valuable things there, it’d be a tragedy if something got destroyed. Kyrgios sighs, but puts on a beautiful show.
So cool! There are some amazing upsides to transmigrating into a fantasy world.
“It’s gotten so late now, my apologies. Let’s retire for the evening,” Kim Dokja says. He starts walking back to his bedroom, but notices Kyrgios following him.
“Isn’t your palace in the other direction, Concubine Rodgraim?”
“... yes, it is. Good night, your majesty,” he says sullenly.
Hm. He seemed eager to visit Kim Dokja’s place. Maybe there’s a painting on display he wishes to see, or something like that? He’ll have to remember to invite him over sometime. They could go out to the gardens together, too!
Kim Dokja settles in his office chair with a large grin on his face. Today was fun! But he needs to refocus on his work now. He grabs his brush and inkstone, returning to his writing.
The lanterns burn low. He works long enough that the servants have to switch them out for new ones.
A knock at the door startles him, “Your majesty, you’re still awake?” In the doorway, Yoo Joonghyuk blends in with the inky shadows. He slinks into the office just as silent as one.
“Ah, dam and canal proposals won’t approve or reject themselves,” Kim Dokja laughs. The backlog the original emperor left him with is still piled high around him. He’s hoping to make at least a little dent, maybe Yoo Joonghyuk won’t curse his name so much when he eventually takes the throne.
Yoo Joonghyuk joins him at the table, peering over his shoulder to look over the sheets of paper. “If I may speak out of line, you haven’t been mindful of your health as of late.”
“I’m still young, Consort Yoo. Missing some sleep won’t make me keel over.”
“As emperor, you shouldn’t even joke about those things. And I don’t mean just this. Everything. Someone wanted you dead today and you called off my investigation.”
Ah, Yoo Joonghyuk is probably upset that Kim Dokja undermined his authority. It’s not a good look for a consort to be shut down by the emperor. He even got scolded by Concubine Rodgraim! “We’re both smart enough to know Official Yang would’ve set up a scapegoat. I wanted to avoid that outcome.”
Yoo Joonghyuk sighs, “You knew?”
With his knowledge of the novel, Kim Dokja knows plenty of things he shouldn’t. Even if this plot point played out a little differently, Official Yang was a greedy man who sought to put his own puppet on the throne, and opposed both Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk’s rules. What an annoying guy. “Of course I knew. Nothing happens in the inner or outer palaces without my knowledge.”
He’s exaggerating, but it’s fun getting to show off in front of the supposedly invincible protagonist.
“Then, your recent interest in your harem is…”
“Concubine Lee is knowledgeable of the battlefield and holds potential as a commander of armies. Concubine Sun comes from the richest family in the empire and is a valuable sponsor. Concubine Rodgraim’s electricity powers are one of a kind and if utilized, will make the inner palace untouchable.”
He seems to have misspoken, as Yoo Joonghyuk scowls. “So that’s what you’ve been doing. Then you don’t even know what those fools are really thinking.”
No, Kim Dokja knows they all hate him. He’s just hoping they’ll be practical enough to want to assist him for the betterment of the empire. “I also know… you’re capable enough to be more than a consort, Yoo Joonghyuk.”
The room grows silent. Yoo Joonghyuk studies him with the precision of a predator.
When he speaks, Yoo Joonghyuk whispers, but it feels as forceful as the crack of a whip. “Your majesty is correct. I don’t want to be a mere consort anymore.”
Is- is Yoo Joonghyuk making his move tonight? It’s far too early for his grab for the throne; doesn’t he still need to make alliances with the other concubines and uncorrupted officials? Did Kim Dokja fuck up the plot enough to piss the protagonist off even more??
“It’s- it’s getting late, you should retire to your palace, Consort Yoo.”
Yoo Joonghyuk grabs him by the neck of his robes, shoving him against the wall, “We’re not done, Kim Dokja. Make me your empress already.”
Huh?
Whaaat???
He blinks once. Twice. The sight in front of him doesn’t change, so he isn’t hallucinating. He grabs Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands around his neck, struggling in his hold.
Yoo Joonghyuk growls, “I see everything you do, conversing with the other concubines. You’re acting friendlier, but still holding us at arm's length. You’re still too cold, emperor. That’s alright, be as cold as you like to the rest of them, you can have anyone as a concubine, but in all this world- the only empress you’re allowed to have is me!”
Kim Dokja is too baffled to do anything as Yoo Joonghyuk drags him out of the office and back to his bedroom, tossing him onto the bed. His brain kicks back into gear when Yoo Joonghyuk crawls into bed on top of him, his eyes burning furiously.
“Yoo Joonghyuk, are you crazy?” he shouts.
“No. I just know what I want,” he says before diving down and kissing Kim Dokja.
Kissing! Him! On the mouth!
He wants to scream, but opening his mouth only allows Yoo Joonghyuk to deepen the kiss, shoving his tongue into Kim Dokja’s mouth. It’s hot and wet. In his past life he never had a girlfriend, never even held hands with a girl. This is moving too fast for him!
Then suddenly Yoo Joonghyuk is pressing a hand to Kim Dokja’s clothed cock, which has already started to harden. The pressure is delicious, drawing a loud noise from him. The next moment his face erupts into a blush. What was that, did he just fucking moan?
Yoo Joonghyuk smirks above him as he starts to untie his robes, “Don’t you think I’ve been patient enough, your majesty?”
As emperor it’s his duty to, hm, have sex with his harem. It’s part of the system of favoring certain clans, lifting other clans into prominence and political power. Having a son invited to the harem can even elevate a lower class family. In return for these benefits, the emperor gets to have a bunch of sex. Kim Dokja doesn’t care, though, he never expected to, ahhh, sleep with anyone.
He can’t deny his impure thoughts about Yoo Joonghyuk, however. Can you blame him? Kim Dokja read a whole explicit novel about Yoo Joonghyuk’s escapades with his harem, he knows way more than he should about the man’s sex life. After so many descriptions about his huge, thick cock, who wouldn’t be a little curious about getting to see it?
Kim Dokja definitely gets to see it. A whole lot. And feel it.
Yoo Joonghyuk complained about Kim Dokja not taking care of himself, but the man keeps him awake the whole night. On his back, on his stomach, even sitting in Yoo Joonghyuk’s lap, the man is insatiable. Kim Dokja orgasms too many times to count, sobbing on that delicious dick.
The last thing he remembers before passing out is being fucked into the bedsheets again, his cheek pressed into a pillow.
(He’ll deny it later on, but in his mindless stupor of pleasure, all he could do was beg ‘more, more, more.’ Yoo Joonghyuk was more than happy to answer that plea.)
Kim Dokja wakes up sore.
He squints at the light filtering in past the paper window. Is it already the afternoon? How long did he sleep for?
And was. Was last night even real?? Did he really do all those things? And with Yoo Joonghyuk of all people.
He hears the door slide open and pulls the covers up over himself, unable to hide the dark purple love bites blooming across his chest and neck. Yoo Joonghyuk enters the bedroom with a tray of food. He doesn’t say anything, but his smugness permeates the air.
“Your majesty, you should drink some water. You lost a lot of liquids last night.”
Bastard! Wasn’t it you who made him sob, sweat, and- and other things. This is Yoo Joonghyuk’s fault.
“Didn’t- didn’t you want to be emperor?” Kim Dokja blurts out in his moment of hysteria. He’ll later blame the fact that he just woke up for speaking aloud major story spoilers.
Yoo Joonghyuk chuckles, “Emperor, me? No, that position is for you, your majesty. I would never dare covet it. But I do think it’s time for you to formally enthrone me as your empress.”
Kim Dokja swallows roughly. Yoo Joonghyuk looks at him like a ravenous predator, but he gets a feeling there won’t be any stabbing-related incidents in Kim Dokja’s future. More like his ass is going to be so sore he won’t be able to walk!
Wasn’t Yoo Joonhyuk supposed to hate Kim Dokja? He only transmigrated into this story a few months ago, and he’s barely had any chances to talk with his concubines but they’re all vastly different from the novel he read! What could’ve led to their changes of heart?
“Empress…?” he repeats in disbelief.
“Yes, I understand you need a large harem to keep political ties, but from now you should never forget: I’m more important to you than any of those fleas.”
That’s, uh, kind of rude. Yoo Joonghyuk was destined to inherit the harem after him, they were supposed to be his future lovers. Kim Dokja was prepared for the waves of change his actions would bring, but isn’t this too drastic, too unexpected?
Yoo Joonghyuk grabs Kim Dokja’s chin, tilting his head up to meet his eyes, “Your majesty, I’m far from done with you.”
Kim Dokja gets a feeling he doesn’t just mean in this bed, for matters of carnal pleasure. They’re partners in marriage and the plot may be derailing, but it was initially a story about Yoo Joonghyuk fixing up a corrupt government. His goals couldn’t have changed that much, even if now he’s choosing the position of empress instead of emperor.
Right?? Why does that still feel like the wrong conclusion?
It can’t be that Yoo Joonghyuk has fallen in love with him, that’s preposterous. But even as Kim Dokja grabs a plate of food, Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes never leave him, burning with barely held back desire.
Well… it wouldn’t be so bad. Last night certainly wasn’t bad. Kim Dokja wouldn’t mind more of that. Even if he could complain about shitty isekais all day long, he admittedly enjoyed getting to be Yoo Joonghyuk’s reader in one life, and by his side in another. And- and Yoo Joonghyuk could still seize a lot of power as empress, the plot doesn’t have to change that much. Isn’t it better to circumvent the assassination plotline entirely? He still feels confident in knowing Yoo Joonghyuk is a straightforward man; if he wanted to kill Kim Dokja, he would never attempt to do it in secret while seducing him.
It’s confusing. Maybe it’ll make more sense later. Or maybe he’ll get his brains railed out again, then he won’t have the brain capacity to worry. Either way, he’ll be fine.