Empress Handbook

Chapter Fifteen | A Scum's Wish

"Monday is generally Noh Jaehyun, a member of a failing idol group. I think he is a little depressed these days, and Her Highness is slowly losing interest in him."

Wooseok swiftly pins a white gusset envelope on the bench between the two confessional booths like he is dealing with a playing card. The Moroccan pendant lanterns shed a delicate brilliance over the slender hand that grips the other end of the envelope through a small space between the frosted glass screens.

"Good job. What about the other days?"

"Tuesday is new. The old Tuesday was Hong Minwoo, a relatively unknown model. I have many photos, a phone call recording and even a video. The new Tuesday is Park Soomyung, the man who took the nation by storm with his acting. He is still quite resistant even though he already did that with Her Highness, and I could not get much on him aside from a photo of him leaving Myungbok Palace looking super tired. I can't blame him, though. Her Highness is insatiable."

Taehyung clears his throat. Even with the frosty glass in between them, Wooseok can imagine the daunting look on his face.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty," Wooseok says, panicking. He slips a smaller envelope to Taehyung and sighs. "There are two Wednesdays, the first one is unpopular idol group member Aaron Park and the second one is television show host Baek Ryuseong. I have photos and voice recordings on both of them. Thursday is me, and Friday is actor Doh Changjun. His marriage with Doh Haneul is just a cover. He was the person who introduced me to Her Highness, and he is her longest-serving plaything."

Wooseok pushes another bigger envelope through the window space with a soft crinkle. The flashy rings on his fingers emit a series of metallic clicks at his slick motion.

"Saturday and Sunday can be anyone. Sometimes Her Highness goes scouting for new people, sometimes she makes one of the weekdays accompany her and sometimes, she experiments with random people. I couldn't do much for that because I am rarely called in for weekends, but I still managed to get a couple of photos."

"Okay, good," Taehyung says.

Taehyung puts a thick envelope through the window, and Wooseok immediately takes it with a wide smile.

"Thank you so much, Your Majesty," Wooseok says. He takes a deep breath. "I feel horrible for asking this since you have already given me so much, but is it possible if you could lend me an extra two million won? Ara's father died, and cemetery plots are more expensive than actual houses these days, so it is challenging for a regular office worker like her. It is okay if this is too much to ask."

"You are really serious about Ara-ssi." Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

"Well, I was always serious about her," Wooseok says nostalgically, "She supported me through my crazy pre-debut days when my group was literally nicknamed the Doomed Boys."

"And yet you are still a loyal plaything for my mother?"

"Well, I don't have any other choices, Your Majesty. It's like stepping on a pirate ship. Now that I'm onboard, I can't leave unless I want to drown. With Her Highness, it is only game over when she doesn't want to play anymore. If I suggest the idea of ending the contract or make it too obvious that I want her to get sick of me, she will lash out and end my career."

"Do you even care about your career?"

"I once did, incredibly passionately. But my passion was not what brought me my success. My underground relationship with Her Highness is what brought me to this height."

It is pathetic that these confession sessions are the only time Wooseok doesn't feel the urge to lie. Two years ago, when Wooseok started working for Taehyung, he was tense and nervous. Taehyung is that demonic woman's son, and he discovered his relationship with Ara. If Yunhee is a poisonous flower, then Taehyung is its poisonous leaf, right? It was a day just like today, a cloudy yet sunny day.