Empress Handbook

Chapter Nine | Psychopath Circus

The door falls ajar with a quiet jingle. Gyowool carefully peers inside the apartment, and a group of formidable-looking bodyguards falls into his vision, suggesting that Taehyung is staying for the night.

Luckily, this apartment has five bedrooms. The Gwinyong Ceremony that forbids the newlywed couple from sleeping in the same room can happen without forcing Gyowool to share a room with his father. As Gyowool pulls his sneakers off, the ruffle of a female voice he has never heard of emerges from a room. Curious, Gyowool halts his movements to focus on gauging the situation.

"Taehyung? It is me. I have some things to report to you," the woman says.

Gyowool's face darkens at the sound of a woman other than Yeoreum calling Taehyung's name. He quietly treads into the living room to hear the conversation better.

"No," a man says sternly. "Not tonight, Noona."

Noona? No. That is impossible. Kim Taehyung's older sister Princess Eunseo died ages ago when she was sixteen. So, it's the other kind of Noona.

Before Gyowool can further study the suspicious relationship, a shrill scream emerges from the bedroom corridors. Gyowool follows the voice and finds himself staring at Soojung in an oversized white shirt.

Gyowool frowns. "Excuse me, who are you?"

Soojung bows at him. "You must be Her Majesty's little brother. I am His Majesty's chief assistant Yoon Soojung. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Gyowool says coldly. "Not to be rude, but why are you here at this hour?"

"I was reporting something to His Majesty," Soojung says without batting an eyelash. "By the way, Her Majesty was concerned over your whereabouts, Gyowool-ssi."

Gyowool narrows his eyes. If bitchiness could take human form, he would be staring at it right now. "And? Is that any of your business, Yoon Soojung-ssi? I didn't realise that common sense and social courtesy were not taught when you were trained to work for the Imperial Family," he counters.

Soojung timorously gazes into Gyowool's dark eyes that seem hollow of any emotions. Oddly, Soojung feels as if this delicate-looking teenager is capable of killing her without breaking a sweat.

"Now, please leave," Gyowool snaps impatiently. "It's weird to see a half-naked prostitute crawl around an exclusive family gathering."

Soojung is now actually frightened. She rushes out of the apartment without another word.

Gyowool rolls his eyes at her frantic motion and grabs a can of coke out of the fridge. Just as he heads to his bedroom, the sound of Yeoreum clearing her throat rises beside him.

"It is nearly midnight, Gyowool. What were you doing outside so late?" Yeoreum snaps.

Gyowool awkwardly meets her gaze. "I was just playing games at a friend's house."

"Playing games at a friend's house?" Yeoreum exclaims in disbelief. She realises how loud her voice is and subconsciously looks toward Taehyung's room further down the corridor. She hastily softens her voice. "Can we talk in your room? I don't want to disturb anyone."

"Sure."

Gyowool pushes the door open, allowing Yeoreum to enter the spacious room much emptier than she expected.

Yeoreum raps her fingers against the large leather guitar case next to the computer desk. A frown locks her eyebrows together when she surveys the black stains splattered across the dense material. Yeoreum bought Gyowool this case for his birthday when she got her first part-time job because his guitar is his only other passion apart from gaming. Gyowool excitedly vowed to take good care of this gift with a pinky promise, but it looks like he has slacked off with the maintenance.