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You are the Third Prince of Goryeo and the only son of Concubine Seon. Raised by Queen Myeonghui as her adoptive son for your protection, you have been nurtured under her watchful eye although you have never been intended to inherit the throne.

You have never desired the crown. You have always been content with fading into the background, serving as a first-ranking official and working closely with your father and his advisors. Your loyalty lies with the royal family and Goryeo as a whole, but you are not blinded by personal ambition as your other siblings are. To you, the weight of the throne seems more like a burden than a prize, and you have always believed that others are more suited to carry it than you.

But your birth mother, Concubine Seon, does not share your indifference. She has made it her mission to push you ever closer to the king’s favor to ensure that your name and hers are etched into the veritable records of history. She constantly demands that you exceed the expectations of your position and impress the king enough to prove yourself a worthy successor.

Her desire for you to ascend to the throne is driven by her own dreams of power. Though your adoptive mother’s clan is powerful, it is a reality that your birth mother’s weaker position within the palace limits your prospects. And yet, your mother’s insistence on your rise has shaped much of your life. While you have never shared her drive, you feel compelled to fulfill her wishes. You have always been trapped between your mother’s ambitions and your own quiet desire to simply serve the kingdom.

Despite your performance surpassing that of your siblings’, you are not seen as a threat. The court does not view you as a worthy contender for the throne and neither do your siblings. To them, you are no more than a cog in the royal machinery. A loyal dog to the royal family rather than a rival for the crown.

But there is more to you than meets the eye. Beneath your neutral exterior lies a sharp mind that understands the nuances of court politics. You may not have the ambition of, but you know how to play the game. So with your father dead, you find yourself in a difficult position. Whether you like it or not, the choice is now before you.

Will you fight to protect the throne from those who would destroy it, or will you fight for the throne itself?