4. Plans

The empress dowager quickly ordered her own Imperial Guards to look for July.

"You're all aren't allowed to come back until you found her! Understood?!"

"YES! YOUR MAJESTY!"

But just like Taehyung, she didn't got a single information about where she is. But she didn't give up because she's the only one who could help her son.

While the empress dowager and emperor are busy, the consorts thinks of their own plan on how to catch the emperor's attention and make him fall in love with them so they could become his empress.

Dianne, one of the five consorts, knocks on Taehyung's office door. And went in with a tea and snacks.

"I'm sorry, I don't like to eat and drink while working. Don't disturb me ever again if you still want to keep your position as a consort." Taehyung quickly said, annoyed.

"I-I apologize, your majesty. I didn't know that. Thank you for sparing me." Dianne said and left his office, biting her lower lip.

Alexa, one of the five consorts, dressed up for Taehyung. She's planning to ask him to let her sleep with him tonight.

She knocks on his door and starts acting.

"Um... y-your majesty? Can I... sleep here with you tonight? I-"

"Aren't you old? You came here to the palace because you are independent and strong enough to become a consort. Not because you want to be spoiled. If you want, you can go back home to your stupid father, the minister, and tell him that you don't like the palace because it's haunted and scary, and don't ever come back or go inside the palace ever again." Taehyung said while his eyes were closed.

"I'm sorry, your majesty-"

"If you're sorry, then quickly leave. Don't come here without any warning." He said.

Alexa bowed and left, mad.

The third consort, Sophia, planned to cook some lunch for him.

"Done! Everything's prepared! Where's his majesty?" Sophia asked the palace servants.

"Umm..." They couldn't answer.

Sophia was about to shout but someone knocks and came in. It's Dylan, Taehyung's left-hand man.

"Your majesty, his majesty, the Emperor, told me that he had already eaten earlier in his office, so he won't be eating with everyone. That's all, excuse me." He bowed and left Sophia speechless.

The fourth consort, Aileen, she is the consort that Taehyung always bring at events and important gatherings. So she decided to catch his attention using her looks.

"Where is that woman? Tell her that I'm leaving." Taehyung said and was about to leave.

"Wait!" Aileen said.

"You're done? And-" Taehyung looks at her in disgust.

"You're wearing too much makeup, you look like a clown. Your dress is too inappropriate, wear something simple, you're going to ruin the Imperial family's image. Go change and don't ever follow me at the ceremony if you don't want to follow what I've said." Taehyung said and went to the carriage.

"Wait-"

And the last consort, Anna, invited Taehyung to join her for a tea. But just like the others, she was rejected.

They all thought of another plan after another. But they all failed and Taehyung became more colder to them.

"Dylan, remind all the servants that if one of the consorts came, don't let them come in and tell them I'm busy." He said.

"Yes, your majesty." Dylan bowed and left.

"And Ryu, any news about July?"

"I apologize, your majesty. But we got nothing." Ryu answered.

'Where are you, July? I'm waiting for you to become my empress.' Taehyung thought.

The consorts did come and together. But they lost another chance.

"Why is his majesty avoiding us?" Aileen asked.

"Maybe because we're annoying?" Dianne said.

"Our last chance is on the Empress Dowager's birthday. I'm planning to work together. Do you guys have any plans?" Alexa said.

"How about..." Anna paused to think.

"... how about we act like July? Remember his majesty's words about her? We've been using our charms but nothing worked. Maybe if we match ourselves with his description about her, we'll be able to attract his attention." Sophia said.

"You're right. Let's do that on her majesty's birthday."

They all followed the plan and picked everything that matches July's character.

"Is everything prepared?" Taehyung asked Dylan.

"Yes, your majesty. We've already sent the dress to her majesty and she loves it. She even plans to wear it later." Dylan said.

"Really? Then, July is truly talented. Even though she haven't seen or talked to mother before. She created a perfect dress for her on her 50th birthday." Taehyung said with a warm smile.

'The only time I see his majesty smile genuinely is when he talks about the empress. I never knew that someone could actually warm his heart.' Dylan thought.

"Really? The empress created the dress, your majesty?" Dylan asked, amazed.

"Yes, she asked about me and knew about mother. She said that she was wonderful and was excited to meet her. Since she can't come with me, she created a dress based on how I described her in our previous conversation and told me to give it to her on her 50th birthday. I wish she's here... also wearing the most beautiful dress and maybe even having a great time with mother while she's preparing." Taehyung said and his mood suddenly changes into a sad one.

Dylan felt bad for Taehyung.

'I also want to meet her. I bet she's even more wonderful and beautiful than how his majesty described her.' Dylan thought.