“It seems there’s a lot to do. The place has definitely beco busier than when I used to sit here.”
In the aftermath of the incident at the recent birthday ceremony, several nights passed without sleep as efforts were made to manage the situation.
When Jang Rae who was weary from fatigue entered the office of the Red Palace, a guest had arrived and was examining a few bamboo slips while seated on the chair.
“Vice General Jeong, what brings you to the Red Palace?”
“I was discussing matters with the civil servants and felt so frustrated that I had to step out. Being here, in the Red Palace where I’ve worked for so long, sohow eases my mind. The warriors here seem to be in good spirits too.”
Vice General Jeong Seo Tae.
Originally, he held the position of Warrior Commander of the Red Palace, but he rose through the ranks to beco the Vice General following the events of the Huayongseol clan rebellion. With the death of many warriors at that ti, his promotion ca sowhat prematurely.
His burly physique and hearty deanor alone are enough to intimidate opponents.
Seldom does one find a person to whom the title of “great man” fits so perfectly. It was an observation that ca naturally.
“This ti, the demonic spirits caused chaos, so all the high-ranking officials gathered together and made a fuss.”
“We’ve managed to take care of most of the issues. The Crown Prince is also safe.”
“Indeed. Seeing the fatigue etched on your face, the palace warriors must have had a tough ti.”
With that, he grabbed the liquor bottle that was beside him and guzzled it down. It seed as if he lived on alcohol.
After a hearty gulp, he slamd the bottle down on the table with a “puff” and continued in a slightly subdued tone.
“To think that demonic spirits would erge from the White Immortal Mountain in my lifeti, I never imagined I’d see such a day.”
“I too have been sensing that sothing is amiss.”
“It must be because the energy of the Heavenly Dragon has weakened.”
“……”
“Well, there might not be any imdiate trouble, but it’s worrying all the sa. Burp.”
He let out a loud belch and glanced outside the window.
“Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun will handle it as she sees fit. We, who wield swords, should not concern ourselves with such matters.”
“Why did you even co to the Red Palace when you’re now affiliated with the main palace…”
“Anyway, I’m treated as an uninvited guest here too. Tsk tsk. The lack of gratitude… At least when you were younger, there was so charm to it.”
“Vice General Jeong…”
“Well, the matter of that apprentice warrior you ntioned ca up in the council eting. I ca to inform you about that.”
At this, Jang Rae showed interest and propped his chin on his hand.
“That crazy one from the White Immortal Palace. They say he cut down hundreds of demonic spirits in just one night, right? Even the warriors under my command were stunned.”
Jeong Seo Tae took another hearty swig of his drink and, with a loud belch, continued.
“The guy’s quite skilled, but he wasn’t wearing the uniform of the Red Palace warriors. It makes wonder if our Warrior Commander Jang Rae is neglecting his duties. Tsk tsk.”
“I was aware of him. Even had a talk. But he just wasn’t the right fit for the Red Palace.”
“Now that you’ve got the title of Warrior Commander your standards seem to have soared, you little bugger. Do you think skilled swordsn grow on trees?”
“It’s not about high standards; he just wasn’t suitable for the Red Palace. Maybe things will change as he grows older.”
Whenever Jang Rae patrolled the outer palace and passed near the White Immortal Palace, he would always find that young man sitting on the porch, diligently polishing or fixing sothing.
Sotis he’d be fervently sweeping the front yard, other tis repairing the fence, or drying herbs…
He cared for the White Immortal Palace as if it was his mission to protect it.
“Eventually, he’ll leave the White Immortal Palace on his own. We can dress him in the Red Palace’s warrior uniform then. After all, he’s not as old as he looks.”
“Anyway, not only did he save the Vermilion Princess, but thanks to him killing a lot of demonic spirits, the rescue of the Crown Prince was also expedited. The officials from the main palace were clutching the back of their necks when I suggested that a reward should be given to him.”
“…. Is it because he’s from the Huayongseol clan?”
“The cri of trying to trample on the emperor is not easily forgotten even as generations pass. You’re familiar with Lee Moon, aren’t you?”
Seol Lee Moon of the Huayongseol clan, the head of the clan.
The terrifying sight of his figure walking through the main gate of the main palace alone as he held a sword on a rainy day… was probably etched in the mories of the high officials of Cheongdo Palace as a nightmare.
The extraordinary swordsmanship of Seol Tae Pyeong might have reminded them of such an image of Seol Lee Moon.
Such is the shackle of a treacherous family.
Vice General Jeong Seo Tae spoke of this bitterly. However, at least he himself believed that a warrior should be judged by their skill alone. He was soone who cherished ability above all else.
“Well, even considering that, his achievents are significant. Even those bearded civil servants couldn’t deny it. So, I managed to push it through in the council eting rather forcefully, and he was awarded the Great Star Sword and so money. Moreover, he was an apprentice warrior, but I made sure to get rid of the ‘apprentice’ title for him.”
“Granting him the status of a regular warrior at his age might create a sense of unease. I’m not sure if standing out among peers is such a good thing.”
“What does it matter? Those who are ant to succeed enjoy even such pressures. It’s better to promote them early when the opportunity arises, so they can smoothly fit into our ranks later.”
Jeong Seo Tae pushed the wine bottle around and quietly stared out the window.
“As you know, regardless of one’s family background, skilled swordsn are too valuable. If you find a good one, you must tie them down firmly so they can’t go anywhere else. Whether it’s with money or official positions.”
“It’s ironic how the truly useful ones aren’t lured by such things.”
“Indeed. Anyway, nothing is easy. This world is sohow flawed by design. Tsk.”
With that, Jeong Seo Tae once again took to gulping down his drink.
– Work less, earn more.
– That’s my motto.
Jang Rae silently offered a prayer to Seol Tae Pyeong.
Now that he caught the eye of such a renowned hard worker like Jeong Seo Tae, it was obvious what his future would be like.
“…. That’s right. You’re correct.”
All Jang Rae could do was to echo Jeong Seo Tae’s words in agreent.
***
“So, is Ran-noonim still bedridden?”
“Yes. Heard it from a maid at the Heavenly Dragon Hall. But they say there’s no danger to her life, so it’s alright.”
“I see.”
A week had already passed since the chaos at the birthday ceremony
One big advantage for was that I could recover quickly, so I was able to get back to work at this point. Minor wounds and pain remained, but it was all bearable.
It seed I was nearly at death’s door back then, but coming back from the brink is kind of my specialty.
“You don’t seem as worried as I expected for soone who is the only kin of the severely injured court lady Seol. I thought you would make a fuss and break out in a cold sweat.”
“When you live with soone for over a decade, you co to understand them. Ran-noonim isn’t soone who’d die easily.”
Considering the content of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story, it was obvious she wouldn’t die … but I couldn’t say that.
Maybe it’s the protagonist’s unique indomitable spirit. No matter the circumstance, there’s no despair, and they keep bouncing back no matter how many tis they fall.
Living beside them, one can only shake their head in amazent.
Seeing as there were no rumors circulating about the maid who saved the prince’s life, it appeared that, just like in the original story, Seol Ran was rescued much later than the prince.
Afterward, it seed the pile of rocks had crumbled and split apart. In any case, it was clear that the two had been rescued separately.
The great rit earned by saving the crown prince had dissipated into thin air.
It was indeed a pity, but not entirely unexpected. After all, this turn of events aligned with the plot of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story.
The Crown Prince Hyeon Won was on the brink of death. He held onto a faint mory of the woman who had supported him within that pile of rocks.
I guess he was more drawn to the girl nad Seol Ran because she was the girl beyond his hazy mories that he had seen in his dying state.
And when he rembered the whole truth, he must have felt sothing akin to fate towards the girl nad Seol Ran and wanted her even more.
Considering this, should the rit now be viewed as an investnt for the future?
From my perspective, it still felt like a loss, but thinking about Seol Ran’s personality, she would probably just smile and say it wasn’t done for the sake of a reward in the first place.
“……”
Indeed, not just anyone could be the protagonist of a romance fantasy novel…
“Oh! This must be the Great Star Sword! Wow, it’s heavier than I thought!”
While I was mulling over this, Yeon Ri who was sitting next to on the porch exclaid in surprise.
Although the credit for saving the crown prince had evaporated, it seed my rit for saving the Vermilion Princess had been fully recognized at the council eting.
Along with the Great Star Sword, a symbol of honor that every warrior coveted, I received a considerable amount of money.
On top of that, I was able to beco a regular warrior at this age. This was equivalent to a double promotion in military terms which was quite the unusual treatnt for an illegitimate child of a treacherous family.
“Yeon Ri, don’t draw the sword. It’s heavy.”
“Tae Pyeong, do you really think I can’t handle sothing like this?”
“…It’s also expensive.”
“…..”
Yeon Ri had a chronic fear of handling expensive items. This fear of hers stemd from a nightmare incident where she broke a jar while working as a court lady in the main palace. Sure enough, Yeon Ri suddenly swallowed dryly and hastily put the sword back.
Having quietly set down the Great Star Sword, Yeon Ri suddenly stood up as if she had a change of heart and looked down at .
“Hmph! When you talk to like I’m a kid it just makes want to rebel! Tae Pyeong, you treat court lady Seol with so much respect, but you’re so casual with ?!”
“……”
“I’m older than court lady Seol by a year and I’m a full-fledged court lady… Why don’t you show the sa respect?!”
“Ran-noonim is… well, my ‘noonim’…”
“What kind of logic is that…”
Yeon Ri continued with her hands on her hips and chest puffed out.
“Co on, try calling ‘Yeon-noonim’!”
“What are you talking about… Yeon Ri…”
“Just try it. Co on, ‘Yeon-noonim’!”
“What are you saying… Yeon Ri…”
As we were speaking, Yeon Ri sighed deeply. She seed to have given up on receiving the respect of a “noonim”.
“Ah, what was I expecting? Fine, you win.”
Yeon Ri then hopped down from the porch and put on her shoes. Being in charge of the household chores at the White Immortal Palace left her little free ti.
“I should go collect the laundry. Call when it’s ti for dinner, Tae Pyeong.”
“Okay.”
Her grumbling had been rely a fleeting display of caprice as her pouting lips quickly retracted. It was just like Yeon Ri to beco serious at the thought of work.
Thus, Yeon Ri made her way towards the backyard of the White Immortal Palace.
…And then, a short while later, she returned with a worried look to share so news.
“Tae Pyeong, the Vermilion Princess has just entered the White Immortal Palace…”
“…..”
What on earth do you an… Yeon Ri…
***
“You look well!”
The breath misting in the winter air.
The Vermilion Princess’s breath seed to fog up more thickly. I could feel that her voice was getting louder with joy.
Yeon Ri and I, who had been sitting on the porch, had to quickly kneel and bow our heads as soon as we saw the princess consort arrive abruptly with her maids. It was more unexpected than a bolt out of the blue.
As I had said before, it was rare for the crown princess consorts to venture outside of the inner palace.
Moreover, to enter the White Immortal Palace without any prior notice. Such impulsive behaviors were usually strongly discouraged by the headmaid, but it seed this ti, the headmaid had not intervened.
The result was Yeon Ri and I sweating and bowing our heads on the porch.
“Vermilion Princess.”
It was only in the solitude of the cave under extre conditions where no prying eyes could reach that it was sowhat possible for to speak with a degree of ease with her… But inside the bustling Cheongdo Palace, where there were many eyes to see, the situation was entirely different.
Though I had shed my apprentice status, the gap between a re warrior and the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace was imnse. It was a gap so vast that emphasizing it was almost pointless.
“I’ve co because there are matters we need to discuss. As expected, your constitution is robust; you recover swiftly.”
The Vermilion Princess’s voice, tinged with a hint of warmth, wafted through the winter air.
It was hard to believe that she was the sa person who had scorned from the stage for being the bastard child of the Huayongseol clan.
Despite having sustained considerable injuries that day, she still maintained her dignity and beautiful composure.
Even though most of the wounds could be covered with powder, the scratches on her fingertips were deep, and she was wearing loose roes that left room in the sleeves.
She was dressed in a red silk dress befitting the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace and had a golden hairpin in her hair. Although there was an unfortunate incident, it seed that the Vermilion Princess had beco the rightful owner of this treasure in the end.
Tae Pyeong…
Yeon Ri, who had been bowing her head beside , was now sweating profusely.
Could it be…?
The issue with the Azure Princess hadn’t been resolved yet, and now the Vermilion Princess had entered the White Immortal Palace.
From Yeon Ri’s perspective, it was a situation bound to induce cold sweat, but I had my own set of grievances. Amidst the chaos caused by the rampaging demonic spirits, how could there have been any ti to consider matters related to the Vermilion Princess?
“Indeed. I’ve heard you’ve received quite a few things. Those stiff officials made the correct judgent to grant such favors to a descendant of the Huayongseol clan.”
“Um… that is…”
Wasn’t it you who were most opposed to the descendants of the Huayongseol family?
I couldn’t dare to voice such a thought, as insane as it would be, and could only express my gratitude for what I had received. That was all I could do.
“Hmm… The man who used to speak his mind freely at White Immortal Mountain now has beco really quiet with his head down. Perhaps the presence of so many maids around makes you uncomfortable.”
That was stating the obvious.
“Should I dismiss my maids then?”
“…Would it be proper to dismiss the maids so casually?”
“Why? Do you think I need a guard? Haha. Oh!”
She laughed as if amused but then got startled and covered her mouth with the sleeve of her robe.
She looked around in a mont of panic, and after seeing so of her maids flinching, she composed herself. The flustered and wide-eyed Vermilion Princess was a rare sight.
“I laughed too frivolously. My apologies.”
“Not at all.”
“Listen, Hyeon Dang. I will have a brief conversation with the savior of our lives, so have the maids wait outside the central gate of the White Immortal Palace for a while. This will be a crucial discussion with the fate of the nation at stake, so make sure not to eavesdrop.”
“V-Vermilion Princess.”
Before Hyeon Dang could respond, a maid who seed to hold a position akin to a deputy headmaid started to stand up with a trembling voice.
It was frowned upon for a crown princess consort to remain alone with a man for a conversation.
However, Hyeon Dang rose to respond.
“It should be fine since there is a maid by their side as well.”
She was talking about Yeon Ri. The statent itself wasn’t wrong.
With that, Hyeon Dang led the maids out through the central gate. While watching their departing figures, Yeon Ri lifted her head and whispered urgently.
“Tae Pyeong, please… don’t you value your life…? This isn’t right…”
“I’m just as surprised… Let gather my thoughts… It might not be what we’re imagining…”
After our brief exchange, the Vermilion Princess who had dismissed her maids turned around once more.
As I watched the elegance of her court robe, flowing with the grace of a Vermilion Bird’s feathers, the mud-streaked appearance of the Vermilion Princess the night before seed like a distant dream.
“There are two reasons I entered the White Immortal Palace unannounced. First, I wanted to check on your well-being. After all, thanks to you, I survived. It’s only right to personally co here.”
“If you had called for to the Vermilion Bird Palace, I would have happily obliged. But such a gesture seems too grand just to check on a re warrior.”
“Kahaha! It seems you too can speak eloquently when your position is important.”
And then, with a teasing gleam, she opened her eyes wide like crescents and spoke. The corners of her mouth, curling up in a grin, seed to express her satisfaction.
“I’m not entirely displeased.”
“This wasn’t flattery, though.”
“Well, you don’t seem the type, but you do have a way with words, don’t you?”
The Vermilion Princess said this then brushed off her court robe’s feathers before continuing.
“Teach how to use a sword from now on. That’s the second reason I ca.”
“…huh?”
“The swords of the Cheongdo Palace guards carry fear in their strikes. But your sword, it has spirit.”
Perhaps the mory of the sword dance we had on the stage at the birthday ceremony left an impression on the Vermilion Princess?
“Since you claim no interest in climbing up the ranks, let offer you sothing else in return. I’ll need to give it so thought… but you might be surprised at what I’m capable of. So…”
“Vermilion Princess.”
Interrupting the words of a princess was unthinkable for a warrior, but with no one else watching, I boldly spoke up.
Her eyes were filled with the certainty that I would accept her offer which made it even harder to voice my concerns.
“To teach you the sword… that’s a bit…”
“…….”
“Complicated… It might not be possible…”
Instead of looking disheartened, she appeared puzzled. This was a very typical reaction from the Vermilion Princess. She ca here thinking that I would naturally accept her offer.
After all, who would imagine a re third-rate warrior of the White Immortal Palace denying a princess consort’s request?
The Vermilion Princess then looked at and Yeon Ri’s expressions in turns… Her face changed and she seed to catch on to sothing with her almost ghost-like intuition.
“I’ve had this feeling for a while now, but you two are hiding sothing from .”
She was eerily sharp in such matters.
She walked over with heavy steps, then, lowering her head to et my gaze, she spoke. Cold sweat began to bead on my forehead.
“Spill everything. Depending on the situation, who knows, I might be able to help you?”
“……”
“……”
Was this the temptation of the devil?
Yeon Ri and I were plunged into deep contemplation before we explained everything.
“Kahaha. Ahahahaha.”
Even though the maids weren’t here, the Vermilion Princess still laughed unrestrainedly.
Yeon Ri and I had no choice but to lower our heads in her presence and awkwardly avoid her eyes.
“Hahahah, I see. So sothing like that happened. Indeed, if you monopolized the love of the Azure Princess, it would indeed be a disaster for you.”
“This is a life-or-death matter for .”
“I see. Yes, I understand. I won’t take it lightly. However, the situation was amusing to a degree that I lost my composure. I apologize.”
The Vermilion Princess wiped away tears of laughter and sat down on the porch.
At the sa ti, Yeon Ri and I, who had been kneeling on the porch, hurriedly got down. We couldn’t possibly sit in the sa place as the Vermilion Princess.
the Vermilion Princess looked sowhat dissatisfied with that but closed her eyes for a mont as if she thought that it couldn’t be helped. Perhaps she was newly confronted with the reality of our differing statuses.
“So, this is why you found the idea of crossing swords with troubleso. Did you think I might harbor feelings for you? Did you really believe that I couldn’t even discern that much? Kahaha.”
And then she smiled with half-open eyes.
“You don’t seem the type, yet you’re surprisingly self-consciousness.”
“…….”
“The Azure Princess is simply young and not yet fully capable of sound judgnt. Ah, it’s been a long ti since I’ve laughed this hard. Indeed, you always manage to exceed my expectations.”
When the other party spoke like that, I actually felt embarrassed. In fact, looking at it objectively, it was true that this was excessive self-consciousness.
Was this unnecessary fear a result of being steeped in a life-threatening crisis because of the Azure Princess?
Really, is that so… Yes… That’s right…!
In fact, this was to be expected…! Why had I forgotten such an obvious fact…?
“Yes, when I consider it from your perspective, I see it’s a tricky situation. Given the laws of the consorts, it’s best to avoid unnecessary complications. Until the Azure Princess becos more sensible, I’ll make sure to keep an eye on the situation to prevent any issues. After all, such fleeting affections are common, nothing more than a phase that everyone experiences.”
“Ve… Vermilion Princess…!”
“Moreover, I’ll continue to watch over the Azure Dragon Palace to ensure there are no issues within the inner palace. Now, with all this in mind, would you consider teaching the sword?”
“Vermilion Princess…! The life-saving grace… it’s not mine, but yours…!”
Suddenly, a halo of light began to emanate from behind Vermilion Princess.
Overwheld with sincere gratitude, I bowed my head deeply to the Vermilion Princess.
“With the Vermilion Princess personally overseeing matters, how could my life possibly be in danger!”
She was the very talent I had longed for!
A person who could prevent any incidents until the situation with the Azure Princess becos clear…!
Given her authority that was equal to that of the Azure Princess herself, even the Azure Princess would find it difficult to ignore her words…!
She even had the ability to check the inner palace’s condition in general to prevent the situation from getting complicated…!
If this isn’t having an army of a thousand at my back, then what is?
Vermilion Princess is not just a person. She is a goddess.
The presence of the Vermilion Princess alone nearly resolved all these dire situations, as if a knife to my throat was being withdrawn.
With the support of the Vermilion Princess…! What is there left to worry about…!
“Ah, seeing you like this, I can see how desperate you were.”
“It was indeed a great crisis for . But with the Vermilion Princess’s help, it feels like dawn is breaking.”
“Since you are so happy, I don’t feel too bad. Let’s consider the matter settled then.”
The Vermilion Princess stood up and dusted off her court robe. She looked quite satisfied with how the conversation had concluded.
“I’ll send soone else next ti.”
As she spoke, the Vermilion Princess headed towards the main gate of the White Immortal Palace with her court robes trailing behind her.
I was nearly moved to tears by the refreshing smile on her face, haloed by an ethereal glow.
I bowed at a 90-degree angle towards the Vermilion Princess as she departed through the main gate of the White Immortal Palace with her maids in tow.
“Thank you, thank you. Loyalty, loyalty to you, dear Vermilion Princess!”
“Ta… Tae Pyeong…”
“Ye… Yes, Yeon Ri… With things as they are, there’s no longer any need to worry…”
“Yes… That’s right… The very fact that the Vermilion Princess is personally intervening ans that we can handle almost any unexpected situation within the inner palace …”
Before long, Yeon Ri and I were hugging and jumping for joy. We had finally been freed from all these troubles.
Since I was living each mont with sincerity, it seed like even the heavens were moved to assist .
Yes! Every crisis has ended! I am finally free!
Surviving in a romance fantasy novel!!!
The end!!!!
***
Spring must be near.
In the courtyard of the Vermilion Bird Palace, a few sprouts were poking their heads through the soil of the garden.
It was welco news for the Vermilion Princess who detested the bitterly cold winter.
How I wish for the warmth to co quickly.
She observed the line of maids following behind her with modest grace. Having walked out to the White Immortal Palace for the first ti in a while, she thought it best to return to her chambers quickly so that the maids could also take so rest.
While walking with these thoughts in mind, she suddenly stopped to look at the empty courtyard of the Vermilion Bird Palace. The late-night moonlight softly illuminated the courtyard and enveloped it in an indescribable romantic aura.
It was a thought that had crossed her mind even back in the cave the night before. Could it be that the reason for living need not be sothing grand?
Even if she was a mber of the Jeongseon family. Even if she was the mistress of Vermilion Bird Palace.
Just looking up at the high moon and thinking it’s beautiful, and just watching the courtyard bathed in its light.
Could she feel that it was good to be alive just for that?
The man who quietly wrapped a cotton cloth around Hyeon Dang’s arm in the cave seed to have been thinking that way.
Yet, there remains a strange sense of shyness in fully accepting that thought.
Still, she was unable to deny it and just thinking of that man might just bring a smile to her face.
“The night is cold. Let’s go inside.”
When Hyeon Dang said that, the Vermilion Princess gave a slight smile and agreed.
As she slowly walked back in again and started recalling those thoughts, she felt sowhat nostalgic. Though it was a mont of life and death, didn’t she overco it? After trials pass, it is only natural to selectively rember only the good mories.
The conversation she had with that man was enjoyable because it was unpredictable, and she found herself admiring the man’s convictions towards life.
Suddenly, she found herself humming a tune she’d never humd before, surprising even herself.
As she walked while thinking about this, the image of the man who tore off his clothes wrap it around Vermilion Princess’s body also ca to her mind. His naked upper body was fully honed by training,
Her shoulders trembled and she touched the tip of her chin with the sleeve of her robe.
“Vermilion Princess?”
“…My feet just got a bit cold, let’s hurry inside.”
“Yes.”
As the Vermilion Princess hurried forward, she lowered her head deeply and hid her expression.
Must be my heart demons…
After muttering that to herself, she made her way swiftly to the inner chamber.
.…..
Seol Tae Pyeong might have been overjoyed…. but he had yet to know.
Life, after all….is a series of trials…
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