There are moments in life when everything is thrown into upheaval.
A time when the currents of the world overturn everything to such an extent that it becomes hard to come to your senses.
For Seol Ran, that moment had come now.
“If the Vermilion Princess steps down from her position as mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace, you are the one who will take her place. Though I address you informally now, once you ascend to the position officially, I will have to bow my head to you.”
The person who made this statement was none other than Jeong Rang, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
No matter how skilled a maid might be, it was inconceivable for someone of her status to even make eye contact with a high-ranking official.
Yet here was Seol Ran, elegantly dressed in a splendid court robe, seated in front of high officials of the palace.
“M-Me…?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince personally selected you. However, there is a need to examine whether appointing someone of your background to that position aligns with court etiquette.”
“That… that’s preposterous. How could someone like me take the position of mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace?”
“That may be true. However, even the current mistress of the Black Tortoise Palace, the Black Princess, comes from a commoner background. It’s a delicate matter to challenge this based on status alone, though it is necessary to review the rules within the palace.”
Though the idea of suddenly being placed in the role of mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace left her momentarily dizzy, it wasn’t a certainty yet.
Seol Ran was someone with exceptional resilience. She was always bold and active in her approach to life.
As a maid, she could not be more trustworthy, but whether she was fit to rule and command those beneath her was yet to be proven.
“I am deeply grateful to His Highness. It seems he must have thought highly of me when I worked as a special attendant maid in the Crown Prince’s Palace, but I understand that the abilities required of a maid and those needed to manage the Vermilion Bird Palace are entirely different.”
“We have already raised that very concern.”
“Ah… of course you would have…”
The concerns Seol Ran might have already thought of were likely the same ones that the other high officials had also considered.
Even so, the reason they had gone so far as to dress her in the robes of the Vermilion Bird Palace was undoubtedly because the Crown Prince’s will was firm.
Seol Ran took a moment to compose herself, and the high-ranking officials watching her fell into deep contemplation.
From appearances alone, she certainly seemed like someone who would not diminish the dignity of the position if she was seated as the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
However, when had the role of the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace ever been decided by outward beauty alone?
I am not someone fit to bear such a heavy responsibility. Besides… if I take that position, I won’t even be able to visit Tae Pyeong whenever I have a spare moment. This is all too sudden…
After taking a deep breath, Seol Ran spoke with conviction.
“I will not accept this position.”
Was she truly rejecting the Crown Prince’s direct appointment?
It was so typical of this girl named Seol Ran to do such a daring thing without a care in the world.
She then rose from her seat, dismissed the maids, knelt on the floor, and bowed her head deeply.
“There must be many noble women in the palace far more suited to this position than I am. Taking on such a heavy burden would only lead to great misfortune for me in the future. I believe… the Crown Prince would not wish for that either.”
“We understand your sentiments well, but the Crown Prince’s decision is exceptionally firm….”
“If it is truly difficult for you, simply relay my words to His Highness, and that will suffice.”
For an ordinary maid, this act was no different from committing social suicide.
What Seol Ran said next made even the seasoned high officials, who had experienced all manner of palace schemes, doubt their ears.
“To be granted such a noble position is an honor I could never repay, even with gratitude until my dying day. But for a foolish servant like me, this golden hairpin is far too heavy. And furthermore….”
“..…”
“His Highness himself once said that in choosing a partner, the individual’s own will is of the utmost importance. So how could he appoint me to such a position without consulting my wishes? Of course, if someone as powerful as the Crown Prince were to command me directly, I would do my best to fulfill the duties of that role. However….”
She placed the golden hairpin, this object that would make any woman in the palace drool with envy, in front of her and spoke with unwavering determination.
“If that happens… at the very least, I can promise that my heart will never turn toward the Crown Prince for the rest of my life….”
A heavy silence filled the room.
To utter such reckless words against a member of the imperial family could easily result in her head rolling on the execution ground the very next day.
“Do you not regret those words? If I convey them as they are, you will not keep your head on your shoulders.”
It was a chance to retract her statement.
Even so, Seol Ran shook her head.
“If speaking such a small conviction of mine means my head must fall, then I will consider my life to have reached its end and accept it.”
The high officials present could do nothing but click their tongues in astonishment at her resolute expression.
This young woman had just rejected the Crown Prince.
And she might pay for it with her life.
Yet, this girl was no ordinary person.
***
“Ran… noonim… is it true?”
“It’s already a problem that a mere maid like me was offered the position of Vermilion Princess, but how could they decide on the Crown Prince’s partner without consulting her own feelings?”
“Who in this world would dare refuse a position as a princess consort? Most wouldn’t even have the right or the audacity to do so.”
“But wasn’t it the Crown Prince himself who went around preaching that an individual’s own will is the most important thing?”
Seol Ran, with her lips slightly pouting, blew on her hot rice cakes before chomping into them with enthusiasm. She had already changed back into her maid’s uniform.
She had been summoned to the main palace itself to discuss the position of Vermilion Princess, only to outright kick the offer away.
When I turned my head to sneak a glance at Yeo Ri’s face, her expression was deathly pale. Clearly, even Yeon Ri hadn’t anticipated such a brazen act from Seol Ran.
“I-I thought… of course, you would take the position of Vermilion Princess….”
“Tae Pyeong-ah, I’m a bit busy. I have to look after the Heavenly Dragon Hall, there are plenty of maids I need to care for, and honestly, if not me, who else would look after you? Now that you’re the Vice General, you’re probably surrounded by people constantly watching their step around you. Someone like me, who nags you about everything, is necessary. Ahem.”
Her hands rested on her hips as she cleared her throat. This stance was so unique of her that it hadn’t changed even after she became a high senior maid.
The sight of her munching away on rice cakes with crumbs at the corners of her lips was striking. Seol Ran had a peculiar habit of devouring rice cakes whenever she was upset.
“…If rumors start spreading that you rejected the Crown Prince, who knows what might happen?”
“I’ll handle my own affairs. I may not have spent a long time with His Highness, but at least I know he isn’t the kind of person who would send someone to the execution grounds so easily.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
To be exact, he wasn’t the type of person to send Seol Ran to the execution grounds.
If Crown Prince Hyeon Won heard that Seol Ran had declined the position of crown princess consort, he wouldn’t get angry; he would be terrified instead.
If you try to force me into this, I’ll stop caring for you entirely!
It might seem like a ridiculous form of emotional leverage, but when you think about the Crown Prince, it makes perfect sense.
Being at the mercy of the heroine’s emotional whims.
This sadly…. is the fate of male leads in romance fantasy novels.
“I’ve said this many times before, but I’m simply not fit to take on such a serious role.”
Of course, Seol Ran wasn’t the kind of person to devise such a manipulative plan.
She was simply staying true to her beliefs.
She was even a little dense.
To her, someone like Crown Prince Hyeon Won couldn’t possibly harbor feelings for her; she assumed he only wanted to place her in the position of mistress of the Vermilion Palace because it was convenient.
Indeed, she checked all the boxes for a classic heroine…. the kind who could be called a “bewitching woman”.
Ironically, it was this straightforwardness that completely captivated Crown Prince Hyeon Won.
The punishment for loving the most unattainable woman in the world was to be swayed left and right, even with the authority of the Crown Prince behind him.
Still… it’s a problem those two will figure out one way or another….
At the very least, Crown Prince Hyeon Won would never harm Seol Ran.
As long as that fundamental premise held, there was no reason for things to spiral out of control or for trouble to come my way.
That’s what I thought.
Until the next day, when Crown Prince Hyeon Won summoned me to the Crown Prince’s Palace.
***
“…I was rejected.”
“….…”
If someone like the Crown Prince couldn’t find drinking companions, it was hard to imagine who could.
This palace was likely filled with people willing to sell their very souls for a chance to sit across from him at his table.
There were undoubtedly countless others willing to listen to his complaints, so I couldn’t fathom why I had to be the one dragged here.
And yet, when I looked up, there he was. Crown Prince Hyeon Won was sitting across from the grand table and looking anything but pleased.
His complexion was pale, almost blue, as though he hadn’t digested his food properly or slept a wink the night before.
Yes, he was a man who had just been rejected by a mere maid.
For an ordinary imperial family member, the reaction would have been anger. “How dare she refuse such an honorable position?” And that would be followed by summoning the maid to punish her. But Crown Prince Hyeon Won instead looked utterly defeated.
“……”
“To be so firmly rejected, even with the position of Crown Prince behind me… How worthless must I be as a person?”
“I-It’s just that… Maid Seol is quite unique. You shouldn’t take it so personally…”
“It’s not about others. The fact that Maid Seol rejected me so decisively feels like a dagger in my heart. Isn’t she known for being kind to everyone?”
“……”
Kindness can sometimes become a weapon.
When someone who is kind to everyone bares their fangs at you alone, it forces you to reflect on your own behavior.
All I could do was drink alongside him, matching each bitter cup of his despair with one of my own.
“Life feels meaningless. How can I aspire to rule as an Emperor when I can’t even win over one maid?”
“……”
Among all drinking sessions, the worst was sitting through the complaints of someone rejected in love.
And when that someone was the Crown Prince of a country, even breathing properly felt difficult.
“You’ve spent your whole life by Maid Seol’s side. You must know her better than anyone.”
“Th-That’s right, Your Highness…”
“Why would she throw away the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace? I’m truly curious about her reasons.”
“T-That is… Well, since Maid Seol, uh, has a strong conviction, and… as her younger brother, I find this situation profoundly regrettable. However… if punishment must be delivered, please let it be upon me instead….”
“Enough. Punishing someone for not returning my feelings would make me appear all the more petty. I’m simply curious about the reason, that’s all.”
Crown Prince Hyeon Won placed his cup down with a firm clink and spoke with a voice heavy with intoxication.
“To be honest, even if she doesn’t return my feelings, I still want to bind her to the Vermilion Bird Palace. If I keep her by my side, wouldn’t there be a chance she might eventually turn her gaze toward me? Such thoughts cross my mind.”
“…….”
“But then, what if doing so causes her to resent me for the rest of her life? If the smile she offers so kindly to everyone else transforms into cold disdain directed only at me… I… that thought terrifies me.”
He’s completely smitten.
Sweating profusely, I nodded my head along with the Crown Prince’s words. I offered just the right amount of agreement.
If all he needed was someone to listen to his grievances, there wasn’t much harm in it. All I had to do was lend an ear, empathize a little, and leave when the time came.
Yet, there had to be a reason why he summoned me, Seol Ran’s younger brother, specifically.
“What should I do to make Maid Seol change her mind and take her place in the Vermilion Bird Palace? I’d like to hear your opinion.”
It was just as I feared.
The strong bond between the Seol siblings was well-known throughout the palace, and the Crown Prince had sought out the person who knew her best for advice.
He wanted a way to make Seol Ran the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace without upsetting her.
He wanted me to provide a solution that would allow her to ascend to the position of Vermilion Princess willingly and happily.
“…….”
Closing my eyes, I sank into deep contemplation.
I, Seol Tae Pyeong, take pride in knowing Seol Ran better than anyone else in the world, as she is the only family I have left.
And Seol Ran who was truly a saint of her time was someone who deserved happiness more than anyone else.
The bond between us, the Seol siblings, was unshakable, no matter who tried to come between us. In situations like this, I found myself thinking even more about Seol Ran’s well-being.
As her brother, I sincerely wished for Seol Ran to take her place as the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
She had the qualities to one day become the Heavenly Maiden, and it would be better if she could secure a powerful position early. Her living conditions would also greatly improve.
However, Seol Ran was not one to easily accept such a position.
There weren’t many ways to change her mind. But… there was one method I knew would work for sure.
“……”
“It seems something has come to mind. If I can benefit from your clever idea, it would be a debt greater than any other.”
Crown Prince Hyeon Won leaned forward and fixed his gaze on me.
“To place the Crown Prince of a nation in your debt; that’s no small matter, and I trust you understand its weight. So, speak freely.”
“…….”
But that method…
That method… Damn it…
Oh, heavens…
***
A mere maid had rejected the chance to become the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
Such rumors briefly circulated among the Inner Palace but faded within days.
It was soon decided that Seol Ran would take the position of the new mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace. The whispers among the Inner Palace were dismissed as baseless gossip. Though in reality, they weren’t entirely unfounded.
“……”
Tension filled what had become a routine tea gathering of the crown princess consorts.
This was the day the new mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace, who had stepped in to replace In Ha Yeon, who folded her wings in her retreat to the Jeongseon clan, would make her first appearance.
The Azure Princess, the Black Princess, and the White Princes. All of them wore visibly tense expressions.
Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon had been no easy figure to contend with.
However, the new Vermilion Princess who wore the red court robes after her predecessor was not someone to be underestimated.
She was a figure entirely different in nature from In Ha Yeon, making it impossible to predict her actions.
No one could guess how she might disrupt the tranquil waters of the Inner Palace.
The tea room was filled with an oppressive silence.
Creak.
At that moment, the paper door opened, and the new mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace entered.
A few stray flakes of early winter snow followed her inside, carried in by the wind.
“The weather has grown so cold. I hope everyone is doing well.”
Her voice was as clear and melodious as jade beads rolling over one another.
The new Vermilion Princess, Seol Ran, exuded a noble dignity as she quietly entered the tea room and took her seat.
After carefully straightening the loose folds of her court robe, she exchanged a glance with Hyeon Dang, the headmaid standing respectfully behind her.
Every movement she made was steeped in elegance, as though she had held the position of Vermilion Princess for a long time.
Yet, she was only the newly appointed mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
When her briefly closed eyes opened with a calm lift, her bright eyes sparkled like jewels.
Vermilion Princess Seol Ran.
She was now officially the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace.
“I am truly grateful to see everyone gather here in such cold weather.”
The Azure Princess, the Black Princess, and the White Princess exchanged cautious glances among themselves.
Her presence alone seemed to dominate the room. It was impossible to tell if she was friend or foe.
“Oh my, look at me. I didn’t come here alone today.”
Seol Ran didn’t seem to care about the wary looks directed her way. She turned her eyes back to the paper door.
Creak.
The door opened once more, and another figure entered the tea room.
It was Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong.
The fact that he was in the Inner Palace after being dismissed from his position as Inspector was highly unusual.
“G-General Seol…?”
The startled Black Princess murmured his name softly, and Seol Tae Pyeong bowed his head in greeting.
“Yes… I-It is I Seol Tae Pyeong.”
“…How is it that you are here…?”
“Because I failed to prevent the Vermilion Princess from leaving the palace, I was stripped of my position as Inspector… but His Highness Crown Prince Hyeon Won took pity on me and reappointed me.”
– How can the Vice General, who bears countless responsibilities, be chastised for a single mistake and stripped of his rank? Since the matter of the Inner Palace is ultimately my responsibility, I will personally pardon this offense. Vice General, engrave this failure upon your heart and make sure such an issue does not arise again.
This was written directly in the statement by Crown Prince Hyeon Won.
With the Crown Prince personally stepping forward to defend the Vice General, even the high officials present at the council meeting could only swallow their dry throats and remain silent.
“I-Is that so….”
The crown princess consorts had assumed they would never see Seol Tae Pyeong in the inner palace again.
When they saw him, they instinctively averted their eyes, pretending to focus on something else. It would not do them any good to show any excitement about the situation.
Yet, among them, there was one person who made no effort to conceal her emotions and instead let out a series of obvious, satisfied chuckles.
“Ahem~ hem~.”
It was none other than Vermilion Princess Seol Ran. She was delighted to see her younger brother regain his position.
Indeed, the best way to please her was to take care of her one and only brother, Seol Tae Pyeong, and ensure his rise to success.
Though, as for Seol Tae Pyeong himself, his face had gone pale.
Still, for the sake of his sister’s happiness, he resolved to do what needed to be done, no matter what.
“Work as little as possible, earn as much as possible” This had always been his motto. He had never cared for fame, success, or prestige. All of this stemmed from his lazy nature.
Those long-abandoned beliefs now felt like relics of a distant past, fading into the cold chill of early winter.
Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong. He was destined to work.
The expression on the overly competent man’s face was truly pitiful and wistful.
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