Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Your Greed is Excessive
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The front courtyard of a secluded annex on the western edge of the Imperial Palace was stretched taut with a bizarre tension. Where guards armed with spears and swords should have been standing strict vigil as usual, today an entirely different scene unfolded.
Amazoness.
The legendary tribe of female warriors who ruled the southern hemisphere's jungles. With their muscular, toned bodies and bronzed skin, said to crush wild beasts barehanded—what they held in their hands now were not deadly weapons.
Brooms made of broomcorn.
"Line up straight! Keep that angle at 45 degrees!"
"Third row there! Your broom heads are getting messy!"
The Amazoness maids stood in rigid formation, discipline drilled into their every move. Their expressions were grimmer than a suicide squad marching to behead an enemy general. And with good reason—the guest visiting the annex today was no mere noble visitor.
Screeech.
A heavy palanquin came to a halt, its silk curtains drawn aside.
The moment the woman's foot from the palanquin touched the ground, the surrounding air grew chillingly still. It was Empress Yeonhwa.
She wore a crimson ceremonial robe at the pinnacle of splendor, yet her steps were as light as a feather while radiating overwhelming dignity. The unusual detail was how she cradled her lower abdomen preciously with her left hand.
"Hoo..."
Yeonhwa lifted her head, scanning the annex's facade. A sinister smile curled at her lips.
"So you've poured the entire Eunuch Bureau budget into this place. Quite flashy for a fox's den."
The senior palace maid following behind flinched and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, please lower your voice. Those are barbarians. Who knows what they might do."
The maid's eyes darted busily, wary of the lined-up Amazoness. Even with brooms in hand, they were beasts.
But Yeonhwa scoffed.
"Doesn't matter. I'm here to let them know who the master is."
Yeonhwa strode unhesitatingly toward the annex entrance. Overpowered by her commanding presence, the Amazoness parted instinctively. It was instinctive submission—not to raw force, but to the higher concepts of 'authority' and 'bloodline.'
The annex's reception room.
The air here was even heavier than outside.
Across the central round table sat two women who embodied the empire's martial might.
The Iron-Blooded General and the Queen of Beasts, Tira.
"What brings Your Majesty to this humble abode?"
Iron Blood spoke first. Her tone was stiff, polite enough but devoid of any welcoming warmth. Her grip tightened on her teacup.
Tira, seated beside her, was even more blatant. She sniffed loudly, shoving her nose toward Yeonhwa.
"Hm? You smell like Cheonwi. And..."
Tira's golden eyes narrowed.
"You smell like milk."
Yeonhwa crossed her legs elegantly in the head seat, savoring their hostility. Only after sipping the tea poured by her attendant did she speak.
"What poor manners. Didn't anyone teach you etiquette? Well, what can you expect from street beasts."
"W-what?!"
Iron Blood bristled. It was an insult to a general's pride. Tira let out a low growl, baring her fangs.
In an instant, the reception room filled with killing intent. If force were unleashed, Yeonhwa would be reduced to a puddle of blood.
But Yeonhwa didn't bat an eye.
She set down her teacup and slowly tapped her belly.
"Sit."
A low but forceful command.
And the words that followed hit harder than any martial technique.
"This child is my blood—and Cheonwi's 'eldest son.' Startle him... and Cheonwi won't stay quiet, you know?"
"......!"
"......!"
Iron Blood and Tira froze mid-motion.
Like martial arts masters struck at vital points, their faces drained white.
Pregnancy.
In the battlefield of the rear palace intrigues, it was the ultimate trump card—the absolute authority wielded only by the principal wife.
Iron Blood staggered back into her seat. Her gaze locked on Yeonhwa's belly, a complex mix of jealousy, envy, and defeat.
"I-is that true...?"
"Would the Empress lie?"
Yeonhwa smiled like a victor.
Tira clutched the tablecloth in frustration. Even her beastly senses confirmed it—the life in that belly reeked strongly of Cheonwi.
"That's cheating! I can do it too! If I mate with Cheonwi...!"
Tira shouted, but the momentum had already shifted.
Right then.
"Your Majesty! To come all the way here yourself!"
The reception room doors burst open as Dokgo Cheonwi rushed in panting. He'd dropped Eunuch Bureau duties the moment he heard the news.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, he broke into a cold sweat but smoothly took a seat beside Yeonhwa.
"If you'd called, I would've come to you. How could someone in your delicate condition venture to such a rough place..."
Dokgo Cheonwi naturally massaged Yeonhwa's shoulders, playing the doting role. Iron Blood and Tira's glares sharpened. The anger they'd aimed at Yeonhwa now turned on him.
"I came to rein in my consort. He's been wandering outside too much lately."
Yeonhwa said languidly, accepting his touch.
"Cheonwi is mine! I claimed him first! I marked him with my scent!"
Tira couldn't hold back and yelled.
Iron Blood jumped in, refusing to back down.
"Nonsense! Our bond forged in battlefield camaraderie comes first! Cheonwi is practically my adjutant!"
Caught in the crossfire of glares, Dokgo Cheonwi shrank. He raised his hands placatingly, sweating bullets.
"C-come on, calm down. I'm public property... no, I belong to all of you. No need to fight..."
"Quiet."
Yeonhwa slammed her teacup down.
The room fell silent again. She drew a silk scroll from her bosom.
Flutter.
Unrolled, it revealed a chart like a calendar.
"No fighting. Let's settle it fairly."
Yeonhwa pointed to the grid with her brush.
"Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays are mine. Principal wife's prerogative. Weekends are mine too—for prenatal care, Cheonwi stays by my side."
"What?!"
Iron Blood shot to her feet. This time, she couldn't tolerate it.
"Five days a week?! Your greed is excessive! This is a dictatorship! I guard the front lines, building up fatigue that needs treatment! Without Cheonwi's yang energy, my internal energy will go berserk!"
She invoked 'treatment' as her excuse, but it was a desperate plea for sex.
Tira slammed the table too.
"I need it every day! Ovulation is coming! I can smell it—right now's perfect! Species propagation is nature's law!"
It was pandemonium.
One side demanded treatment, the other propagation, and in the middle, prenatal care.
Dokgo Cheonwi sensed his waist would be pulverized amid these madwomen. At this rate, one might kidnap him and lock him in a basement.
"Enough! All of you, stop!"
Dokgo Cheonwi slammed the table and stood.
His firm shout drew three pairs of eyes. He took a deep breath, snatched the brush from Yeonhwa's hand.
"Let me sort this out. My body's just one—I can't split it up."
With a resolute expression, he wrote on the chart.
"Your Majesty isn't alone, so overdoing it harms the child. Twice a week: Monday and Thursday. For stable emotional nurturing."
Yeonhwa's eyebrow twitched, but 'harms the child' silenced her.
"And General."
Dokgo Cheonwi looked to Iron Blood.
"For stamina recovery and internal energy tuning, a regular cycle is needed. Tuesday and Friday. Two days is plenty to replenish yang."
"Hm... twice a week..."
Iron Blood calculated briefly, then nodded—it wasn't bad. Teasingly insufficient, but guaranteed dates appealed to her soldier's mindset.
"Finally, Your Majesty the Queen."
Dokgo Cheonwi turned to Tira. She wagged her tail, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"You overflow with stamina, so... weekends concentrated. Saturday and Sunday. Two-night, three-day course."
"All weekend? Great! Approved!"
Tira cheered. Back-to-back days thrilled her.
Dokgo Cheonwi set down the brush with a sigh of relief.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
A suffocating schedule, but one day free.
"Wednesday is rest. Even I need to live."
As he went to boldly write '休 (Rest)' on Wednesday.
Thud.
Yeonhwa's pale hand grabbed his wrist.
"Hold on."
Her eyes gleamed seductively. She took the brush, circled Wednesday in red.
"Rest? That's too wasteful, isn't it?"
"Y-Your Majesty?"
Yeonhwa glanced between Iron Blood and Tira.
"Fine. Wednesday is 'Free Use Voucher.'"
"Free Use Voucher?"
"Yes. No fixed owner that day. Whoever wins Cheonwi's heart takes it—flaunt your cooking, show off new bedroom techniques, or just kidnap him by force... take it with your abilities."
Sparks flew from Iron Blood and Tira's eyes.
A bonus stage beyond the fixed rations. Irresistible to these competitive women.
"Challenge accepted. In strategy and tactics, I yield to no one."
Iron Blood murmured grimly.
"Hmph, hunting's my specialty. Wednesday night is mine."
Tira licked her lips.
Dokgo Cheonwi paled.
"H-hey... what about my say? My human rights? My rest?"
The three women turned to him in unison. Their gazes unanimously declared:
"None."
The negotiations concluded.
Or rather, a treaty imposed unilaterally.
Yeonhwa left satisfied, Iron Blood and Tira burning with ambition for Wednesdays as they returned to their quarters.
Left behind was Dokgo Cheonwi, clutching his tattered soul.
'Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday... Monday Tuesday...'
The grinding millstone of a weekly phantom echoed in his head. Blessing or curse? Others might envy it, but he saw his own desiccation plain as day.
"Eunuch... fetch some grilled eel."
He called weakly toward the door.
"Pardon? Vice Chief, didn't you eat lunch?"
"No backtalk—just bring it! Tails only! No, boil it up with some Ten-Strength Great Tonic Soup!"
Dokgo Cheonwi wiped his dry face, staring at the 'Hell Schedule' on the desk.
The weight his lower body must bear felt heavier than a mountain.
But then.
As he stared blankly at the chart, a thought flashed through his mind.
'Wait... something's missing?'
Monday, Thursday: Yeonhwa.
Tuesday, Friday: Iron Blood.
Saturday, Sunday: Tira.
Wednesday: Battle Royale.
A packed week, but his harem held one more—the most dangerous time bomb not yet on this chart.
Sword Empress.
Daughter of Martial Alliance Leader Nangong Pae, the world's top female swordswoman, now his submissive 'pet dog'—the madwoman Nangong Soyeon.
Frost Palace's Princess Snowflower might not be the type, but if the Sword Empress learned of this schedule? If she realized she alone was excluded?
The palace roof would fly off, and Iron Blood with Tira half-dead.
'Wednesday... yes, the Free Use Voucher is the problem. If she crashes that, balance collapses.'
Dokgo Cheonwi's eyes gleamed.
Before this schedule officially activated, he had to strike first. 'Educate' her in advance so she wouldn't feel alienated or cause an incident the others couldn't handle.
"Cancel the eel! Instead... bring rope."
"Pardon? Rope for wha—"
"Red. Very sturdy and soft."