In the Joseon Dynasty, where the law is absolute and tradition unshaken, Emperor Kim Taehyung, a true-blood Alpha, rules with unrivaled dominance. His mere presence demands respect, fear, submission, even from alphas and desire, drawing Omegas to him like moths to a flame. But duty calls for an Empress, not just pleasure.
At the Queen Dowager's decree, a match is arranged with General Kim's esteemed Omega daughters-the graceful and intelligent Kim Jin as Empress, and her younger sister Kim Ning as the First Imperial Consort. Alongside them, other concubines and imperial consorts are placed in the Harem, eagerly awaiting the Emperor's touch, his attention-his claim.
But unlike them, Empress Jin is bound by decree, not by choice. And to her shock, the golden-eyed Alpha she once dared to demand an apology from in the marketplace is none other than the Emperor himself. Taehyung, both impressed and infuriated by her defiance, chooses to let her be-for now. He watches, intrigued, waiting to see how long she will resist the instincts that bind all Omegas to their Alphas.
Yet, the palace suffocates her. With every step, the weight of Omega restrictions presses down on her. She is expected to be silent, submissive, a vessel for the Emperor's needs and the empire's heirs-nothing more. But then, hearing a glimpse of the past awakens something deep within her. A memory. A legacy. A rebellion that was crushed before it could begin.
Determined to break the chains that have bound Omegas for generations, Jin dares to defy fate itself. But the nobles, guardians of the old ways, have seen such sparks of defiance before. They will not stand by and watch history repeat itself.
They will cut the root of rebellion-just as they did before.
Will Jin shatter the invisible chains that bind her?
Or will she meet the same fate as the one who came before her?
And will the Emperor-a man who embodies the very system she seeks to destroy-stand in her way, or let her burn the world down?
Kim Taehyung, an omega from one of the most influential families, has always dreamed of a love story straight out of a fairytale. So when he is promised to Jeon Jungkook-the true-blood alpha of a powerful lineage-his heart soars. For as long as he can remember, Taehyung has adored Jungkook from afar, weaving romantic fantasies about their future together.
But reality is far from his dreams.
Jungkook does not want this marriage. His heart still belongs to someone from his past, someone he lost but can never forget. To him, this arrangement is nothing more than a duty, a political alliance to strengthen their families. He does not hate Taehyung, but love? That feels impossible.
Still, Taehyung tries. He loves Jungkook wholeheartedly, showering him with warmth and affection, hoping-praying-that one day, Jungkook will look at him the way he once looked at another. But every kind smile, every lingering touch is met with cold distance.
And yet, fate is a cruel thing. Because the longer they are bound together, the more Jungkook starts to see Taehyung-not as a duty, but as someone who is slipping through his fingers. And by the time he realizes his feelings, it might be too late.