Himemko's Imperial Delusion
“Kim Hoyoung…? Why are you here?”
Ignoring Himeko's shocked exclamation, a group of people filed into the house one after another. It was the previous generation of W.L.K members, led by Kim Hoyoung.
“Whoa~ So this is the Fujiwara estate? It's insane. Isn't this way better than our place in Pangchang-dong?”
“It really is nice. Probably built on the blood and sweat of the commoners.”
“Our house was personally built by Emperor Higashiyama 350 years ago.”
“Whoa~ Then it's basically a cultural treasure, right? Deeper history than America even?”
Following Kim Hoyoung, Park Jisoo, Sumire, and Scarlett chattered noisily as they set down their luggage. Himeko couldn't help but freak out at how casually they acted, like they owned the place. These were utterly mannerless commoners. This was the sacred estate of the great noble Fujiwara family—a sanctuary only for the chosen elite.
“Hold on, all of you! How did you even get here?! Sumire, did you tell them?! You shameful daughter, bowing to the likes of Kim Hoyoung despite being the emperor's close aide!”
“Don't bully your harsh daughter. I just came as per the invitation you sent.”
“Invitation?!”
Right. That had been nagging at Himeko since earlier. The gold-embossed invitation dangling from Kim Hoyoung's hand. It was unmistakably the same design as the stationery reserved for letters to His Majesty the Emperor. And faintly, she could even make out her own handwriting.
“Give that here!”
“If you want it.”
To My Revered Emperor,
Your faithful subject Fujiwara no Himeko has been granted the honor of celebrating Your Majesty's birthday. If it pleases you, I humbly beg you to grace my estate with your sun-like presence and bestow your mercy upon our unworthy family. Please bring the previous W.L.K members to witness my pathetic display—it shall provide modest amusement.
It was definitely her handwriting. No way she wouldn't recognize her own script. But there were two odd things. The content had been altered slightly. The tone of praising the emperor and debasing herself was as she remembered, but phrases like “pathetic display” or “bring the previous members” were things she never wrote.
Or... she shouldn't have written them.
Himeko's head suddenly throbbed, her heart pounding faster. Something terrifying was happening.
“Whoa~ Check that out. What's with that huge photo?”
Scarlett, the most energetic and least educated of the previous members, wandered the interior without the host's permission and took interest in the ceiling-adorned photo. It was Himeko's most treasured portrait of His Majesty the Emperor. No way should a brainwashed slut like her touch it.
“Get down, Scarlett! If even a speck of filth touches His Majesty's photo, I'll sever that filthy Anglo-Saxon beast's neck!”
“What~ Himeko, don't get so mad. My love for Hoyoung-nim is just as deep. I wouldn't dare touch his photo carelessly.”
“What? Hoyoung-nim's photo? That's... His Majesty the... Emperor's...”
Himeko's pupils slowly dilated.
“Even uneducated Harlem blacks in America know not to damage paintings or photos of Hoyoung-nim.”
Where His Majesty should have been smiling, Kim Hoyoung's subtle grin now occupied the frame. And he was even wearing the sokutai—the ceremonial robes permitted only to the emperor. The audacity... a mere Korean mocking the imperial lineage of the eternal empire.
“Wow. Hoyoung-nim photos everywhere. Is this a figurine of him? Japanese people really love this stuff.”
Park Jisoo gazed fondly at the study-decorating figurine. It was a high-quality piece capturing Kim Hoyoung's features perfectly.
That was... His Majesty's figurine, wasn't it?
“Now I get why Mom said never to come to this estate. It's like some idol superfan's room. Whoa~ Even worse than mine.”
Sumire, who had lived only at the hideout since Kim Hoyoung's arrival and never seen the new estate her mother had decorated, was stunned. Bromides of Kim Hoyoung plastered every wall, the study crammed with love letters to him and books praising him, plus dolls in his likeness and dakimakura printed with his face. It was designed to surround her completely with him.
Not even a fanatic would go this far.
“Wh-what the hell? How...? Where did His Majesty go...? Why is Kim Hoyoung...!!”
The previous W.L.K members savored Himeko's panicked face—it was the first time in a year they'd seen it. Fujiwara no Himeko, the haughty Japanese noble, couldn't comprehend the situation and looked on the verge of breakdown.
“This... this is a trap. Someone swapped all His Majesty's photos with Kim Hoyoung's! Y-you traitorous scum!”
“No, no. Who'd waste effort on something so pointless, Himeko? You did all this yourself.”
“M-me? Why would I... plaster Kim Hoyoung's photos everywhere? The one I revere is His Majesty alone... Huh? Suddenly, I can't picture His Majesty's face.”
“Form W.L.K and entertain me.”
As His Majesty commanded, she'd worked diligently. For him alone. To protect him. To please him.
“Acted to help him.” “Lived for him.”
“Ponder deeply how to act helpfully for me, Kim Hoyoung, and always put it into action. You live for me.”
“Aaaahhh!!!!”
A splitting headache hit Himeko; she clutched her head and collapsed. The forgotten past surged back like a tidal wave.
“Why aren't you hypnotized? You're special.” “You'll understand if you listen.”
The day Kim Hoyoung and Himeko first met. Back when resistance still lingered in Japan, Himeko—the survivors' leader—had requested a private audience. Intrigued by her stiff demeanor even before him, he was caught off guard as the Japanese noblewoman crumpled to the floor in her wrinkled kimono, ass trembling.
“Th-this Fujiwara no Himeko has awaited this day! H-honored to meet you! M-my body, heart, soul, homeland, noble pride—all offered to Master! P-please use this worthless hag like a tool! I-I love you, Master!”
“Huh?”
Himeko was foaming at the mouth from excitement, even pissing herself.
“The Fujiwara have foolishly served emperors for generations, but I've realized! I was born solely to meet Master and offer everything! Our ancestors lived to serve you today! C-command me, and I'll do anything—even assassinate the emperor!”
“Nah, not into murder.”
“Then shall I eat your shit? To prove my loyalty! Aaah! Master! Master! Master!! Let me lick your shoes!”
Himeko eyed his shoes like a Michelin three-star steak, drooling like a dog before kibble, hiding nothing of her ugliness.
“What is this? Thought the resistance leader would resist hypnosis. Never seen anyone grovel like you. Even my specially trained mom and sister aren't this bad.”
“But I must live for Master! Act helpfully for Master!”
“Oh, right, said that on broadcast.”
“So I pondered how to help you, confirmed with the prime minister you meant no harm, then stirred up rebels to crush them like flies. Pretending resistance to gather micro-brains for easy extermination. I even sent you this location.”
“For real? Got an email about a rebel hideout, checked it out just in case.”
“Yes! That you read my mail is an unrepayable grace! Aaah! Take all our family wealth?”
“Why?”
“Or I'll die from gratitude!”
Now nosebleeding too, Himeko was unprecedented in loyalty. Direct hypnosis was stronger than TV indirect, yet she'd flipped her life from a mere broadcast command to spy on micro-brains unbidden.
“You're fun.”
“Th-thank you for the favor!”
“Favor? Oh, you serve the emperor?”
“Yes! Foolishly served a mere nation's king! Unforgivable sin ignoring great Hoyoung-nim...”
“Hmm... That historical drama speech is kinda fun? Just think of me as emperor. No—think of me as the emperor.”
“Ah...!”
Ancient Egypt was polytheistic, but top was sun god Ra. Pharaohs justified power via Ra—equating Horus to Ra-Horakhty, or Amun-Ra in New Kingdom. Propaganda to claim sun-god greatness, swallowed by the masses.
“Emperor... Your Majesty...!!”
Now, in Himeko, generations of emperors merged with Kim Hoyoung into one great sun. Her emperor was Kim Hoyoung.
“I'll burn this body to protect Your Majesty! Use me as you will, discard like trash when useless!”
Overjoyed, Himeko prostrated. Working for the emperor was transcendent bliss. Thus was born Kim Hoyoung's most faithful hound, Himeko.