sunghoon, emperor of south korea, sat on his throne, his expression calm and composed, but his thoughts were heavy. the weight of his crown, the expectations of his lineage, and the unyielding demands of tradition bore down on him. yet, none of these burdens compared to the sorrow in his heart whenever he looked at his beloved wife.

she sat by his side, her hands folded delicately in her lap, her gaze lowered. she was graceful, elegant, and the love of his life. but no amount of her virtues could silence the whispers of the court or the demands of the ministers. the emperor needed an heir, and she could not give him one.

"your majesty," an advisor began hesitantly, "the law permits you to take a second wife. the future of the monarchy-"

"silence," sunghoon's voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade. "i will hear no more of this."

the court fell silent, but the tension lingered. as the meeting adjourned, sunghoon reached for her hand, pulling her gently to her feet. together, they walked through the palace gardens, away from prying eyes.

"i'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "i've failed you."

he stopped, turning to face her. his hands cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. "you are my wife, my empress, and the love of my life. there is no failure in that. i will not let anyone take your place."

tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she leaned into his touch. "but the kingdom-"

"the kingdom will endure," he interrupted firmly. "but without you, i would not. i made my vow to you, and i will not break it."