It was only natural that the Jeongseon clan was thrown into chaos.
Not at a private event, but at a gathering where countless ears were listening, the Vermilion Princess of the Vermilion Bird Palace had declared her intention to step down from her position as a crown princess consort.
Could the position of crown princess consort be something one could simply relinquish at will?
Such a statement was ridiculous in itself, yet the troubling part was that it wasn’t entirely impossible.
Crown Prince Hyeon Won wouldn’t even be displeased when he hears this news. On the contrary, he would applaud and gladly let her leave.
Rumors had already become widespread that he regarded the consorts chosen by high officials as little more than pests.
“Haah…”
The position of a Chief Councilor was so demanding that he could barely afford a full night’s sleep.
Even so, the Chief Councilor immediately rushed to see In Ha Yeon upon hearing the news.
There, he found her kneeling calmly on the wooden floor.
She was the daughter he was prouder of than anyone else.
With her collar loosely draped and her eyes serenely closed, she looked less like a person and more like a doll woven from the finest silk.
He had thought he placed her in a position befitting her exceptional beauty and talent, yet now, In Ha Yeon was about to throw away that fortune with her own hands.
“I’ve heard the news, Ha Yeon-ah. How could you make such a grave decision without even a single word to your father?”
“Father.”
In Seon Rok only appeared when the prestige of the family was at stake.
Though he deeply cherished his daughter In Ha Yeon, it was almost unheard of for him to visit on personal matters.
He held a position of such great responsibility that he could barely spare time to look after his own family.
In Ha Yeon who was still bowing her head spoke with a voice filled with determination.
“Would you respect the decision of this foolish daughter?”
“Ha Yeon-ah…”
In Seon Rok felt as though his vision had gone dark.
Throwing away the position of the Vermilion Princess was akin to casting a lifetime’s worth of gold and silver into a river.
In Ha Yeon surely knew that fact.
Even so, the resolve in her eyes seemed unwavering.
For her, the grand ideal of protecting the Jeongseon clan was no longer something of great value.
***
“The Vermilion Princess…?”
“Yes. Once this matter is resolved, she said she would step down from her position as the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace. If His Highness the Crown Prince grants her permission, she will leave the palace immediately.”
“Hmm… It seems the cold reception last time had some effect after all.”
Crown Prince Hyeon Won stroked his chin a few times as he listened to the news delivered by a maid of the imperial palace. He held his breath as he pondered.
“What does the strategist think of this situation?”
“……”
“I want to respect her wishes. How much hardship must she have endured? To spend her entire life serving a partner randomly chosen by high officials and called her companion. The greatest mercy I can offer her is to free her from such shackles.
Hyeon Won spoke with a faint smile.
Sitting across from him at the table was Hwa An, the imperial palace’s strategist.
For many years, Hwa An had acted as Hyeon Won’s guardian and advisor while reporting his every move to the Emperor.
During Hyeon Won’s empty and desolate childhood, Hwa An had seemed like an unyielding wall. Now, however, he was seen as nothing more than an enemy to be defeated.
Crown Prince Hyeon Won who felt resentful of the high officials who ruined his childhood had grown into a man with a wild, untamable spirit that no one could control.
Above all, this was a chance to deliver a blow to the Jeongseon clan.
There was no way he would let such an opportunity slip through his fingers.
“The mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace should be newly chosen. Not someone decided by the high officials, but the person I most desire. Isn’t that the proper way to do it?”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. We must be very careful when choosing the mistress of one of the Four Palaces. If we do not choose someone who can serve as a model for all the women in the palace, discipline will be severely shaken.”
“Indeed. The strategist speaks wisely. And… I know just the person.”
When Crown Prince Hyeon Won sipped his drink again and smiled, Strategist Hwa An had to work hard to conceal his expression.
It felt as though cracks were forming in the political structure of Cheongdo Palace, which the high officials had tightly gripped.
The declaration of the Vermilion Princess’s departure seemed to have been the starting point, and Hwa An’s fingertips couldn’t help but tremble slightly.
In the history of Cheongdo Palace, had there ever been a single mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace who voluntarily relinquished her position?
Even if the world were to undergo countless cycles of reincarnation, such a ridiculous event would seem impossible.
And yet, such a ridiculous event had occurred… A seismic shift seemed to be brewing among the factions of the inner palace.
For now, the high officials who had aligned themselves with the Vermilion Princess must feel as though they had plummeted into ruin.
Their lifeline had vanished overnight, leaving them likely to become wandering ghosts in this political arena of Cheongdo Palace, with no place to call their own.
The only rope left for them to grasp… would ultimately be whoever succeeded the position of the Vermilion Princess.
However, no matter which woman they brought forward, could they find anyone as noble and perfect as the current Vermilion Princess?
The daughter of the Jeongseon clan, who had always chosen the righteous path throughout her life, was the epitome of a role model in the inner palace.
Where could they find a woman to match her?
And even if they did find one, would Crown Prince Hyeon Won acknowledge her?
In the end, whoever took that seat would inevitably be most influenced by Crown Prince Hyeon Won’s will.
“Among all the women I’ve encountered in my life… there is one I know, someone most noble and magnificent….”
And the Crown Prince’s subsequent choice of candidate was nothing short of shocking.
***
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…Uh, General Seol. Maid Yeon. Is there some sort of problem…?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Nothing.”
As we sat in deep contemplation within the mansion of the Hwalseong District, manager Ha Si Hwa who had come to report swallowed hard.
Perhaps our expressions looked more serious than ever, as Ha Si Hwa hesitated to speak first; she started fidgeting awkwardly while stealing glances at me.
“I… I’ll just place the report on the floor. If you approve it by tonight, I’ll handle it after confirming everything….”
Upon seeing the two of us sitting side by side with grave expressions, Ha Si Hwa quickly retreated, leaving the mansion of the Hwalseong District.
I repeatedly rubbed my chin in thought before finally addressing Yeon Ri.
“Ha-Have you ever seen anything like this before?”
“I-I’ve told you again and again, there’s no way something like this could’ve happened…. Why is everything happening like this in the final cycle when nothing like this has ever happened before?”
And it wasn’t just some trivial incident. The matter of the Vermilion Princess stepping down from her position was a major incident.
Speaking of the Vermilion Princess, she was one of the most influential and important figures in the Heavenly Dragon’s Love Story.
In the early to mid-parts of the story, she was hostile toward Seol Ran, but as the story progressed, she came to recognize Seol Ran’s abilities and character, then she eventually became an ally of her.
Her dynamic transformation made her a central figure who carried much of the narrative.
Even if she simply stayed in her role as the Virmilion Princess, her actions and decisions could be somewhat anticipated. But with her stepping down entirely, it was impossible to predict what might happen next.
“Oh my, Tae Pyeong-ah…! I knew it, you’ve been eating rice soup all day just because I haven’t visited lately…!”
It was then…
Amidst the chaos surrounding the founding of the Demonic Spirit Subjugation Unit, the search for the Plague Demonic Spirit, and now the departure of the Vermilion Princess…. Amidst all of this many layers of unexpected events….
Someone entered the courtyard of the Vice General’s mansion with arms full of multicolored bundles.
Very few individuals could come and go from the Vice General’s mansion of the Hwalseong District so freely.
It was an unwritten rule that unless they were aides or personal maids, it was strictly forbidden to approach the mansion where the Vice General lived.
However, there was one person who completely ignored such unwritten rules and freely came and went as she pleased. It was Seol Ran, the high senior maid of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.
Since I had absolutely no reason to stop Ra-noonim, she treated the Vice General’s mansion in Hwalseong as if it were her own home. She came and went away without hesitation.
Whenever she found the chance, she would bring all sorts of side dishes and fill up the kitchen, and each time, I remembered Yeon Ri bursting into tears and clasping Ra-noonim’s hands in gratitude.
Still, once things got busier at Heavenly Dragon Hall, she rarely visited, but today, she had taken time out of her busy schedule to stock the kitchen herself.
“Ra-noonim, you must be very busy. Why did you come here yourself? You could’ve just sent one of your maids.”
“Ah, seriously… As if I’d trust just anyone with what goes into Tae Pyeong’s mouth. Tae Pyeong-ah, you’re a Vice General now, so you need to be careful about what you eat.”
“I-If you just leave it in the kitchen, I’ll have a maid organize it for you, so please feel free to head back to your work.”
“Oh… Well, that… maid Yeon … Hmm, never mind! I’ll take care of it myself, so don’t you worry…!”
I couldn’t bring myself to say out loud that if I left it to Yeon Ri, she might just end up eating it all herself.
A senior maid was in a position respected even by those holding official ranks.
Yet Seol Ran rolled up her sleeves and personally handled matters herself. It was just like how she worked back when she was an apprentice court lady.
At first, many couldn’t get used to her approach, but over time, even the palace staff came to accept it while saying, “That’s just the kind of person Maid Seol is.”
That bold spirit of hers hadn’t changed a bit. Seol Ran hummed a tune as she stepped onto the porch and put down the bundles of food.
Yeon Ri eyed the bundles greedily with her eyes sparkling like stars, but she quickly slipped behind the paper doors, knowing better than to overstep in front of a high senior maid and the Vice General.
Say what you will, but Yeon Ri knew when to step in and when to step back.
“I can’t stay long today because I have to watch over the year-end cleaning at the Heavenly Dragon Hall! Here are some eggs, beef pancakes, and even some leftover water parsley. Don’t just make it into rice soup; try to diversify your meals a bit, okay?”
“Ah, yes…”
“Hmm… Tae Pyeong-ah, you should bring in more maids, too. You’re a Vice General now, but you barely have any subordinates and just hole up in this corner of Hwalseong. You’re such an odd one.”
“Well, I don’t really have much of a choice.”
I added with a faint chuckle.
“I grew up following the White Immortal Elder… what else could you expect?”
“…That’s true…”
The White Immortal Lee Cheol Woon who had been the pillar of my life never kept more than four people under his command. Even after he rose to the position of the Palace White Immortal.
He was someone who focused on fulfilling his duties without clinging to empty formalities, and I too followed his example. I devoted myself solely to my responsibilities.
“You know how things have been a bit noisy in the inner palace lately, right? Actually… I came because I wanted to ask you something.”
It made sense now why Seol Ran, the senior maid of the busy Heavenly Dragon Hall, had gone out of her way to visit here.
“That… Tae Pyeong-ah… The Vermilion Princess announced that she’s stepping down from her position as the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace and returning to live as just a woman…”
Her usually lively and confident expression dimmed slightly, and Seol Ran wiped a bead of nervous sweat from her forehead.
Then, glancing frantically around, she leaned in close and whispered into my ear.
“You… you. This doesn’t have anything to do with you, does it?”
“……”
“To suddenly give up her position as a crown princess consort and say she wants to live as just a woman… This… this feels like…”
“No-Noonim…”
I never lied to Ran- noonim.
I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but speak the truth.
“Well… I-I can’t say it’s entirely unrelated or not related or… or… it might not not be unrelated…”
“So, it is related.”
“I-I’d really like it to just be me being overly self-conscious…”
“Tae Pyeong-ah… One thing this big sister of yours has realized is that you have an uncanny talent for never being wrong when it comes to ominous intuitions…”
“Is that supposed to be a good thing…?”
“What kind of answer do you expect me to give you to that?”
Seol Ran let out a deep sigh. She was clearly anxious.
Afterward, she began twisting a strand of her hair as if lost in thought, then shook her head and changed the subject.
“But… if the Vermilion Princess really does succeed in stepping down from that position…”
“……”
“As a partner… wouldn’t she be quite suitable? After all, the only reason you’ve been keeping her at a distance until now is because of her title as crown princess consort. As just a woman, there’s not a single flaw you could find in her…”
“…Huh?”
In hindsight, the matter was overshadowed by my relationship with the harem, but Seol Ran’s original goal was always to find a partner for Seol Tae Pyeong.
Since her days as an apprentice maid, her goal had been to find a decent partner for her younger brother, who had lived without ties to women, and to help him leave the palace behind.
At some point, her focus had shifted to survival within the inner palace, and she had nearly forgotten her original purpose.
However, if the Vermilion Princess who was now freed from her status as crown princess consort were to pursue Tae Pyeong… from Seol Ran’s perspective, there was no reason to look unfavorably upon her feelings.
After all, where in the world could one find another person like In Ha Yeon?
“…Is this really the time to be talking about such things? Besides, if I were to become involved with someone who has only just stepped down from being the crown princess consort, my reputation would…”
“Who cares about that? Those things will work themselves out over time! If the Vermilion Princess really steps down from her position as crown princess consort… Tae Pyeong-ah… this big sister of yours wholeheartedly approves! A person so dignified and elegant like her…!”
In a situation where the Plague Demonic Spirit was on the brink of swallowing the world whole, what room was there to dream of such a future?
Yet Seol Ran who couldn’t grasp the weight of those circumstances was instead painting beautiful fantasies in her mind and filling her thoughts with flower-filled visions.
“T-Tae Pyeong-ah, just imagine. That lovely crimson hair of hers, like blooming plum blossoms, beautifully tied up as she clings to your arm. And you, standing tall and proud at her side… I can’t think of a better match! Both of you share a deep understanding of the sword, so you would make a good match, and when life’s hardships come, you’d be there for each other…”.
“…….”
“Watching the two of you walking down a path filled with flowers together… I… I could die happy seeing that…”
“Let’s calm down and talk rationally, Ran-noonim…”
Seol Ran was practically bouncing in excitement. Her words were pouring out in a frenzy.
It was no wonder people said her dignity as a maid was sometimes hard to see.
“Instead of drawing such distant futures, shouldn’t we focus on the present? This is about the political structure of the inner palace being completely overturned. No one can predict how this will affect your situation in the palace, Ran-noonim.
“Aha! Tae Pyeong-ah, you really don’t know anything about the inner workings of the inner palace, do you? Even if there’s a great change in the political landscape of the palace, that’s only a problem for the higher-ups. For the maids and court ladies, it just means the person they serve changes.”
Seol Ran spoke with her signature bright smile, one that bloomed like a flower.
“All I have to do is fulfill my duties as I always have!”
***
“Try wearing this golden hairpin.”
“…………………………Huh?”
The next morning.
Seol Ran was summoned to the main palace, where she found herself seated across from individuals so distinguished that their very presence would leave anyone speechless.
Chief Councilor In Seon Rok.
Central Councilor Chu Beom Seok.
And Strategist Hwa An.
These were some of the most prestigious officials in the court. These were figures considered directly beneath the emperor in authority, and now they were issuing a ridiculous order to a mere maid.
The Golden Hairpin which was only allowed to the most prestigious crown princess consort.
They were giving her an instruction that was close to blasphemy, to try it out on her hair.
A mere maid.
An illegitimate child of a treacherous clan was told to adorn herself with a hairpin that even noble daughters of prestigious clans had never dared to touch.
It seemed like an inappropriate joke, but their expressions were far too serious to dismiss.
What… what is this…?
Realizing there was no room for humor in the atmosphere, Seol Ran carefully placed the hairpin in her hair with trembling hands.
What followed was even more incomprehensible.
When the paper doors opened, maids appeared and took Seol Ran to another room where they produced a set of clothes and instructed her to try them on as part of the “test”.
A beautifully and neatly maintained set of clothes spread out on one wall decorated one side of the wall.
The clothes which were filled with beautiful gold embroidery and silk were something Seol Ran knew well. They were so beautiful and delicate that she couldn’t even wear them properly by herself.
It was the court robe of the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace. The Vermilion Feather Brocade.
The elaborate attire known as the “Vermilion Feather Robe” which was said to embody the grandeur of the Vermilion Bird, was an outfit no maid could ever hope to wear.
Yet the gathered maids tended to Seol Ran without hesitation and started dressing her in that very robe.
It seemed slightly short for her frame, which meant that some changes would be necessary. The maids meticulously recorded every detail of the necessary adjustments.
By the time Seol Ran returned to the meeting room of the main palace, she was dressed in a manner no one could possibly mistake for that of a maid.
The remarkable thing was how surprisingly well the attire suited her.
Seol Ran was a woman whose elegance could seem noble when it needed to or confident when the situation called for it…. She was always a mysterious figure who was naturally beautiful.
“…Her appearance shows no issues at all.”
“But… how could someone of maid origins…”
Even so, it seemed the officials in the room were still deep in debate.
They appeared consumed by their deliberations and their expressions were heavy with worry.
Seol Ran watched them quietly as she adjusted the unfamiliar sleeve of her robe. Her hands were shaking as cold sweat ran down her back.
What on earth… is happening right now…?
Her pupils darted frantically in confusion. She couldn’t make sense of the situation.
In reality, no one could have easily adapted to circumstances as bewildering as these.
Even Seol Tae Pyeong who was in the Hwalseong District wore a similarly stunned expression on his face.
He had just finished reading a letter from the palace. The letter contained surprising news. The Crown Prince of the Imperial Palace had officially named the next mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
This announcement signified a seismic shift in the political landscape of Cheongdo Palace.
In an instant, Seol Tae Pyeong found himself as the brother of the newly appointed mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
What does it mean to have a family member in such a position of power?
The seat that was coveted even by the famous power holders like the Jeongseon clan, who would have taken it in a heartbeat if given the chance, had been given to his sister as if it were nothing.
Seol Tae Pyeong had already been rising through the ranks as a military officer.
However, this was something entirely different from simply being acknowledged as a military officer.
“At this rate… could she really become the Heavenly Maiden within the year…?”
“I… I didn’t expect things to escalate this quickly…”
Not only Seol Tae Pyeong, but even Yeon Ri who stood nearby appeared visibly shaken by the magnitude of the revelation.
It was that kind of extraordinary change.
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