Empress Handbook

Chapter Ten | Imperfect Perfection

Soojung wraps her hands over the vintage dome shade lamp. The light filters through the stained crystal lampshade and vivaciously casts a kaleidoscope of dazzling colours over her pale hands. Crimson, emerald and navy.

For a fleeting moment, it almost seems like Soojung is holding a minuscule world.

Soojung wants to shatter it, but she can't. It's Taehyung's property, just like Yeoreum, even though she has broken Yeoreum countless times now. Leaving a strand of hair on Taehyung's suit jacket just before he approached Yeoreum, kissing Taehyung when Yeoreum was nearby and embracing Taehyung the second Yeoreum reached the door. If Soojung can shatter Yeoreum, why can't she shatter this lamp?

Crash.

The stained crystal splinters across the ground, casting brightly coloured shards over the timber floor. Soojung reaches for Taehyung's suit jacket and throws it over her shoulders. She fishes out a wooden cigar box he fails to abandon during this stressful time.

As Soojung places a cigar in her mouth, her own reflection in a clear piece of smashed crystal captivates her attention. She looks like a train wreck, a half-naked train wreck. Taehyung's black suit jacket loosely hangs to her right shoulder, half-covering the black lace over her breasts.

Soojung is once again in this situation, abandoned like a ragdoll that got thrown aside because a flashier toy stole its thunder. It has always been like this, from Yoojung to Yeoreum. Soojung will reach someone first, and then someone else will arrive out of nowhere, and she is suddenly swept under a rug—concealed, shushed, forgotten. Like when Yoojung crawled out of that repulsive home-wrecking vagina and hypnotised their father.

Soojung can still hear the ugly cry Yoojung emitted after eighteen years. The jingle officiated the most pathetic chapter of her life filled with her mother's towering heap of alcohol bottles.

Soojung takes a deep breath. It's okay—she doesn't need anyone.

"Soojung, let's play doll," Soojung murmurs stiffly in a childlike voice. She fetches a piece of glass and fiddles with it like it's a human figurine, but before she can find her little glass friend some company, a loud knock disrupts her.

"Assistant Yoon, is everything all right?" Hoseok says from the other side of the door. "I heard some loud noises. Is something damaged in there? His Majesty would not be too happy to find anything impaired when he returns. You know all the furniture pieces are priceless antiques, so please be more mindful."

Soojung purses her lips. "I am sorry. I will file for a replacement immediately."

Soojung's phone emits a chime, signalling a new text message from Taehyung.

Noona, let's not do anything normal co-workers won't do in the future.

———

The chandelier lamp on the bedside table projects a soft shaft of gold over the white muslin drapes around the post bed, coiling a pale glisten around Yeoreum's gorgeous features. She is sound asleep with her arms tightly clutched to Taehyung. She presses her head against his bare chest as she sleepily adjusts to a more comfortable position.

Strangely, Yeoreum's quiet breathing soothes the anxiety Taehyung didn't even realise he had. A crazy thought abruptly dawns on his mind—he wants time to stop at this moment so he can hide her in his arms forever.

Yeoreum sluggishly opens her eyes. Her face flushes red as she feels their naked bodies press together.

"Did I wake you?" Taehyung says gently. "I am sorry."

Yeoreum shakes her head. "No, you did not. You do not need to apologise, Your Majesty."

Taehyung sighs. "I apologise if I hurt you, Yeoreum-ssi."