Season 4, Episode 3: A Monster's Heart
The Red Emperor was feared. His hands were stained with blood, his rule built on war and destruction. But now, he faced a battle unlike any other—the battle within himself.
For the first time, he was not fighting for power.
He was fighting against his own nature.
A Wife's Patience
The Empress knew what kind of man she had married. Ruthless. Cold. Unforgiving.
But she also knew he was broken.
She did not demand love from him. She did not force her way into his heart. She simply remained by his side—soft where he was harsh, warm where he was cold.
Each morning, she prepared his tea, standing silently beside him as he read military reports.
Each night, she sat by his side, speaking softly of the empire's progress.
At first, he ignored her.
But slowly, he began to listen.
And then, without realizing it, he began to reply.
Cracks in the Ice
One evening, as the Empress reached to pour his wine, her sleeve slipped, revealing a scar on her wrist—a reminder of her past punishment.
She quickly covered it, but the Red Emperor had already seen.
For a moment, his hand twitched, his mind recalling the countless times he had hurt her.
She expected him to look away, to dismiss it.
Instead, he reached out, his fingers grazing the scar.
"Does it still hurt?" His voice was barely above a whisper.
The Empress froze, startled. The monster had just shown concern.
"...No," she answered softly. "Not anymore."
He said nothing more, but that night, for the first time, he did not drink himself into oblivion.
A Change He Never Expected
Days turned into weeks. The Red Emperor found himself watching her more often, noticing the way she cared for the palace servants, the way she always made sure his meals were to his taste, the way she never once left his side, despite everything he had done.
He had destroyed her once. And yet, she had chosen to rebuild him.
One night, as they sat in the garden, the Empress reached out and placed her hand over his.
"You are not alone," she whispered.
The Red Emperor did not pull away.
For the first time in his life, he did not feel like a monster.
For the first time, he allowed himself to hold her hand in return.
___________________________________