Here’s the thing, though, I never thought Dam would get revenge. From everything we’ve seen from him he just wants a peaceful quiet life helping people and know just to be left alone. So the best revenge would have been to just leave and live his life. Which it seems like from the comment above yours he did. Looks like eventually he comes back, sure, but at least the king gets to suffer in his depression and longing, which is all I really want to see.
What you just described is a form of revenge. I had a bit of hope that this would happen (since the rape was realistically represented), i didn't want anything grand. I just wanted Dam to not end up with this beast. Alas, i had way too many expectations. It was in the end, another cheap, overused plot. The fact that the king suffered for a bit but still ended up with what he wanted(Dam), is beyond disgusting to me.

I'm here to warn some of you people, so you don't make the mistake of continuing this story. I checked the Korean comments of the novel readers. Read the rest at your own risk:
The emperor apparently "changes" and starts "pampering" him after finding him and apparently this is supposed to be "redemption". Dam accepts him, the emperor steps back from the throne and marries Dam.
Yes, you read this bullshit right.
Remember the first chapter in which he rapes Dam telling him he "loves" him? Apparently the rape is the very start of his "change". All the shit he literally did are just thrown to the side because he starts being "nice" and "protective" and magically Dam falls in love with him and forgets revenge. LMAO. Apparently it's redemption to still get to selfishly covet Dam and "kindness" to protect him from his political opponents, when he could achieve all that by leaving him THE FUCK ALONE. But as expected of a selfish sociopath who only cares for himself.
Disappointing story. I could give it zero stars if i could.
It's just the usual shitty toxic trope that encourages forgiveness towards abusers and giving in to their will because they apparently magically change. Nevermind that they killed your only family, raped you until you bled, beat you near to death and treated you as a subhuman. It's alright guys! Let's hold hands and all is forgiven!
Trash. Pure trash. Worthless even. Like, what is the point of making the rape realistic? The author might as well eroticise it like the bullshit ending they created.