Synopsis
A “fresh” royal concubine arrives—one destined to change the fate of Joseon!
Horangi (浩娘), a 3,900-year-old immortal, has inexplicably become human overnight.
Having even lost Dowongyeong, the sacred land where the immortals’ peaches grow, she sets out in search of the one who stole them—Lee Hyul.
“Hey, you seed-stealing bastard!”
“‘Seed-stealing bastard’? I am the King of Joseon!”
…The king, you say? Well, that works out perfectly.
“I’m going to become a concubine.”
“Wh- whose concubine?”
“Whose do you think? Yours, Hyul.”
Thus begins the story of an immortal turned concubine, a king who swings between tyrant and fool, and the grand assembly of Korea’s native deities circling around them.
A “fresh” palace romance upon which the fate of Joseon itself hangs!
Excerpt
“You madwoman!”
Hyul cried out with dramatic intensity. This time, it was Horangi who was left dumbfounded.
“…What?”
“Madwoman, as in ‘mi-chin-ja’ (美親者): ‘mi’ for beauty, ‘chin’ for closeness, ‘ja’ for person. It means someone so beautiful that one cannot help but wish to be close to them. In other words, it refers to you, Lady Horangi.”
“…Does it really mean that?”
“Yes. Truly. ‘Mi-chin-ja.’”
You little—
Horangi shot Hyul a glare, but he continued as if nothing had happened.
“Since I’ve started, I’ll give you one more.”
“What is it?”
“‘Dorai’!”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“‘Do’ (桃) for peach, ‘ra’ (邏) for patrol, ‘i’ (異) for extraordinary. ‘Dorai’ refers to someone exceptional who wanders in search of peaches.”
“Really? It sounds a bit strange.”
“Not at all. It’s a very fine meaning. ‘Dorai.’”
“…Hmm.”
As Hyul met Horangi’s gaze, his expression stiffened for a fleeting moment.
No matter how close they had grown, the relationship between Horangi and Hyul had always been one of clear hierarchy from the very beginning. Perhaps that was precisely why it felt all the more confusing.
Could this truly be jealousy? He found it difficult to accept.
Born a man in Joseon—moreover, one destined to become king—he had lived his entire life guided by the teachings of Confucianism. Admitting that he, of all people, was feeling jealousy was no simple matter.
And yet, when he thought about it, it was no longer an unfamiliar feeling.
Whenever he looked at Horangi these days, something would surge within him.
At times he grew irritable for no reason. At times he felt an impatient restlessness, like a child.
“…Are you done talking, Lee Hyul?”
