Surviving in a Romance Fantasy Novel - Chapter 99

To put it bluntly, the Black Princess had no desire to become the Heavenly Maiden.

She lacked ambition for power, and to begin with, her position as Black Princess had been something the high officials had forced upon her.

Still, as the mistress of the Black Tortoise Palace, it wasn’t too bad to hone her skills, oversee various events, and observe the lives of others.

Where else would she receive such treatment? It would be a lie to say she disliked this life, but if asked whether she wanted higher authority, she could only shake her head.

She simply wished everyone could get along.

In some ways, it was a rather naive desire.

Yet the Black Princess, with her inherently kind nature, never let go of that thought.

Living in the murky political landscape of Cheongdo, such innocence usually withers away quickly. The fact that she still maintained that kind heart was nothing short of a miracle.

“I don’t really need to become the Heavenly Maiden, Azure Princess.”

Given the Black Princess’s temperament, it wasn’t surprising that such words came from her.

The setting was the porch in front of the central garden of the Azure Dragon Palace.

The Black Princess who was sitting next to the Azure Princess and sipping tea got straight to the point as soon as the brief exchange of pleasantries was over.

Flinch.

The hands of the maids attending to the two women trembled slightly.

The entire palace was abuzz with interest over who would take the seat of the Heavenly Maiden, but no one expected the Black Princess to suddenly declare her surrender like this.

The high officials were still mulling over where to place their allegiance.

At this moment, the news that the Black Princess didn’t harbor any grand ambitions for the position of the Heavenly Maiden… was information that would make every official drool.

However, it wasn’t as if the Azure Princess showed any sign of delight at this.

“……”

The Azure Princess rested her chin on the end of her sleeve, while her other hand absentmindedly twisted the ends of her gray-blue hair.

She had anticipated this kind of conversation ever since the Black Princess suddenly visited the Azure Dragon Palace. After all, the Black Princess was never someone who would covet the position of Heavenly Maiden.

The problem was… the Azure Princess didn’t have any great ambitions for it either.

“I don’t actually have any desire for the Heavenly Maiden’s position either…”

It would be a headache if the two of them were vying for more power, but the fact that neither had much interest in the seat was also a problem.

The influence of whoever sat in the Heavenly Maiden’s seat would be significant within the palace, so it wasn’t a decision that could be made lightly.

“Is that so…”

Still, it was somewhat of a relief. From the perspective of the Black Princess who loathed emotional conflicts, it was better than having their opinions clash.

“Then… it might be best to just follow whatever decision the council makes.”

“……”

To some, the seat of the Heavenly Maiden was so desirable they would invest their entire lives to claim it, but to these two, it held little appeal.

If someone like the White Princess had seen this scene, she would have coughed up blood in frustration over the wasted opportunity.

***

The council meeting held in the Heavenly Dragon Hall of the main palace was, in truth, a crucial gathering that decided the course of this vast country.

No matter how absolute the emperor’s authority might be, it was impossible for him to handle every matter inside and outside the palace.

As a result, the council became the place where serious matters that were not quite grand enough to be brought before the emperor himself, yet too significant to be dealt with lightly, accumulated.

Some agendas discussed at the council were nearly as important as those presented before the emperor, which meant no one living off a palace salary in Cheongdo could afford to ignore the council’s decisions.

As the cold of early winter began to settle in, a new face appeared among the gathered officials.

Seated in one corner of the Heavenly Dragon Hall and drinking cold water from a maid was a military officer who had never before been seen at these council meetings.

Bright Moon General; Seol Tae Pyeong.

Normally, with his lower third rank, it would have been impossible for him to attend the country’s highest council meeting, but from this session onwards, his presence was exceptionally permitted.

Compared to the other council officials, he looked exceedingly young.

Most high officials were in the twilight of their lives, but this officer had many more days to live than he had already lived, yet he had taken his place at the most important meeting of the country.

The fact that he would be appointed to the position of Vice General had already become an accepted truth among the high officials.

In fact, he had become a rising power among the military officers of Cheongdo Palace, to the point where even most high officials had to be mindful of him to some extent.

What kind of position was the Vice General, the third highest in the military hierarchy of Cheongdo Palace?

The Vice General two generations ago, In Chang Seok, had been a person who could directly discuss military organization with the Emperor,

While the previous Vice General Jeong Seo Tae was a fierce man who would express his opinions privately to the Chief Councilor during personnel appointments.

It was no easy decision to place such a young man in a position where if he wished, he could even oppose the top three great officials (though most wouldn’t because of the great political damage).

However, considering the merits he had achieved since his days as an apprentice warrior, along with his outstanding performance during the recent Sun Demonic Spirit incident… this was, in fact, one of the most unprecedented and dramatic promotions inside Cheongdo Palace.

“General Seol who holds the lower third rank title of Bright Moon General is not yet in a position to attend the council meeting, but it is certain that his position will soon change, so we have granted him a seat to familiarize himself with the atmosphere in advance.”

Chief Councilor In Seon Rok spoke in a low voice as he presided over the meeting.

Seol Tae Pyeong took a sip of cold water and observed the members of the council.

At the highest seat were the Chief Councilor, the Central Councilor, and the Under Councilor.

Below them were the Ministers of the Six Ministries, their deputies, and seven secretaries.

On the military side, there were eight general-level officers centered around General Seong Sa Wook. The Vice General’s seat remained vacant for now, but it would soon be filled.

When the deputies of the generals were added to the count, there were quite a few people for what was supposed to be a discreet state council meeting.

This feels incredibly tense…

Seol Tae Pyeong sighed heavily as he took several more sips of cold water from the corner.

There was no agenda in this council meeting that seemed likely to cause any major disputes.

However, just from the way everyone kept glancing at the new face, it was clear they were still sizing up Seol Tae Pyeong and trying to determine if he was an ally or an enemy.

That alone was enough to leave him feeling drained.

“The thought of my childhood friend sitting in the council as a high official is making my heart swell with pride.”

Since Seol Tae Pyeong spent most of his time in the Hwalseong District, it was best to take care of all matters when he came to the main palace.

As soon as the council meeting ended, the first place he headed was the Ministry of Justice where Wang Han was.

Wang Han who was a secretary in the Ministry of Justice had somehow become the most trusted chief secretary to the Minister, making quite a name for himself.

Seol Tae Pyeong had always known he was someone destined for success, but seeing him rise so quickly was still surprising.

“Hmm… you’re going to be appointed Vice General soon, so it’ll be hard to act so casually with you, even as a friend. I think the day is coming when I’ll have to speak respectfully to you even in private, Tae Pyeong-ah.”

“When it’s just the two of us, it doesn’t matter, Han-ah. But in official settings, you might have to be more formal.”

“Hmm… so what brings you to the Ministry of Justice? Someone about to become a key figure among the Cheongdo Palace’s military wouldn’t come all this way just to share a good drink.”

As someone slated to become Vice General, Seol Tae Pyeong could now freely drink at a scenic pavilion near the Imperial Garden.

Wherever he went, military officers would bow deeply the moment they saw him, and places he couldn’t even dream of entering in the past were now easily accessible. This left him with a strange feeling.

The pavilion where he was sharing drinks with Wang Han, the Peaceful Lake Pavilion, was also a favored spot where high officials enjoyed their drinks.

It was mostly used for private, or behind-the-scenes discussions, but on the surface, it served as a place to foster friendship and exchange pleasant conversation.

“When I come to find you, Han-ah, it’s usually for a similar reason. I need someone for a position, but there’s no one suitable to fill the role, wouldn’t you say?”

“Ugh… right. That manager, Ha Si Hwa, who I recommended to you last time. Is she doing her job well? When all that trouble with the demonic spirits happened, I went to check on her, and she seemed quite calm like she was handling the crisis smoothly.”

“She’s excellent in many ways. I’ll probably keep her until the end. However… I think I need to appoint more aides beside her.”

“Why? You’re not the kind of person who usually surrounds himself with a large entourage…”

Wang Han had a keen eye for people.

His insight into relationships between individuals was razor-sharp.

He had a thorough understanding of most palace personnel, their temperaments, and their abilities, which made him a valuable friend to keep close.

“Do you really need more people?”

Indeed, every member of the Hwalseong District had a solid reputation.

There was Bright Moon General Seol Tae Pyeong, Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong, Headmaid Yeon Ri, Manager Ha Si Hwa, Adjutant Bi Cheon … and beyond them, the Black Moon Unit soldiers and several craftsmen.

At first, Hwalseong District was little more than a slum, but it had made such dazzling progress in a short time that it now felt almost sacred.

As the organization grew in scale, it was only natural that more people would be needed. Still, it didn’t seem like a situation dire enough to warrant Wang Han personally seeking someone out.

“There’s a situation.”

“A situation?”

By now, the Hwalseong District had become a workplace that many inside and outside the palace were eager to join.

After all, one’s future often depended on who their master was.

In the case of Seol Tae Pyeong, his position as a general-level officer had already been confirmed, and since he was still young, his prospects of rising even higher were strong.

By the time he reached his forties or fifties, Seol Tae Pyeong might truly have a chance at the position of Grand General. If someone became his right-hand man, they could rise to an exceptionally high rank in the military.

The hardest part was getting on the right track in the first place, but once that was achieved, there would be a line of people wanting to join under him.

It wasn’t that there was a shortage of talent, but rather that it was difficult to discern who was truly a useful talent.

However, the dilemma Seol Tae Pyeong was facing wasn’t of that nature.

***

“I think I need to appoint someone from the Jeongseon clan … but I’m not sure who would be suitable.”

“Jeongseon clan…? Ah, I see… It’s true that the Chief Councilor wouldn’t stay idle in this situation.”

Wang Han who was quick to catch on seemed to understand the entire situation just from that comment.

“Right. Considering your future position, it’s probably best to appoint talent evenly. Balancing between the Jeongseon clan and the Inbong clan is a smart move.”

“So, do you know of anyone useful?”

“From Jeongseon clan… well, there are plenty of people in important positions, but those deeply rooted in Jeongseon clan are tough to handle. Hmm… perhaps Segongsa In Yun might be a decent choice.”

Segongsa In Yun.

I heard of that name before.

Quite a few technicians from the Jeongseon clan had been brought in to push forward the Hwalseong District development plan.

Segongsa In Yun was the representative figure of them. With her red hair tied back and her arms rolled up, she really gave off the impression of a strong woman.

And… another thing that stood out about her…

“She’s sworn enemies with Ha Si Hwa, the manager from the Inbong clan. If you set up a dynamic where the two compete for loyalty, it’ll be easier to control them both.”

“Hmm… I’m not sure if Segongsa will be loyal to me. She seemed like a strong-willed person.”

“Was Ha Si Hwa weak-willed? It’s all up to how you handle it.”

Wang Han took a swig of his drink. He then out a hearty laugh as if he was in a good mood, and gazed at the scenery beyond the Peaceful Lake Pavilion.

The greenery next to the vast lake was lush and vibrant. Just being able to drink in a place like this seemed to put him in a satisfied mood and he spoke with a contented expression.

“I see that In Yun also seems to have been dispatched to Hwalseong District. When the time feels right, ask her about it. If that woman sees it as a chance to advance, she’ll likely jump at the opportunity.”

“Should I?”

“I’ve heard she genuinely respects the Vermilion Princess. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to play on that. After all, if we’re talking about the Vermilion Princess of the Vermilion Bird Palace, she’s entirely on your side, isn’t she?”

“Hmm… I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.”

I offered a casual word of thanks and poured Wang Han another drink.

“Ah… Being personally served by someone destined to become a general, even though I’m just a humble secretary of the Ministry… What an overwhelming honor…”

“You don’t have any thoughts about joining the Hwalseong District?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’m going to be the Minister of Justice.”

Wang Han downed his drink and chuckled playfully.

“One day, you’ll think, ‘I’m glad I had Wang Han as a friend’. Heh heh.”

The next morning, a letter from the main palace arrived at the Hwalseong District.

The silk scroll on which the imperial decree was written was filled with various details, but if you just looked at the main point, it was simple.

Bright Moon General, you are to become the Vice General.

There will be an inauguration ceremony in four days, so dress appropriately and attend.

Congratulations on becoming a key figure among the military officers of Cheongdo. Don’t grow arrogant, and work hard for the country.

The ability to write out in detail what could be summarized in three lines was the most essential skill for an Under Councilor.

As I set the silk scroll down with a thud on the table in the office, the paper door creaked open.

“Con~gra~tula~tions~.”

“……”

“Congratula~tions~~~. On Bright Moon General’s promotion to Vice General~ I con~gra~tulate~ you~.”

Watching Yeon Ri stumble into the office while singing a song she had composed herself, only one word came to mind… ridiculous.

“…….”

“Why the long face, Tae Pyeong-ah? On such a joyous day. Now that you’ve risen to the rank of Vice General, you’re more than halfway to killing the Plague Demonic Spirit. From now on, all you have to do is move carefully. And since we’re celebrating, how about we have a big feast tonight? Maybe some grilled chicken skewers or roasted pork?”

“Hmm… Of course, it’s good that my authority is rising, but the more I advance, the more it feels like there are forces trying to keep me in check. It’s not a pleasant feeling. Though I guess that’s just the nature of politics… Ah, and let’s have minari soup rice tonight. A fresh batch of high-quality minari just came in.”

Yeon Ri propped her chin up and went into deep thought.

“Still, the plan is steadily moving forward, so you can be genuinely happy about that. The problem is Maid Seol.”

“Ran-noonim?”

“Mhmm, your sister, Maid Seol. We need to bring her to the Heavenly Dragon Hall first, whether we make her the Heavenly Maiden later or not. But she’s already become someone the Crown Prince cherishes deeply. It won’t be easy to pull her out of the Crown Prince’s palace. And if we’re going to have minari soup rice, how about we try minari pork stew instead?”

Yeon Ri’s suggestion was also valid.

There had been so many things going on that we still hadn’t managed to pull Seol Ran out of the Crown Prince’s palace. If we kept delaying this, it was only going to cause more headaches.

“Indeed, it doesn’t seem like His Highness the Crown Prince will let Ran-noonim go easily. Now that I think about it, didn’t you mention you were working on some kind of plan? Oh, and let’s just stick to minari soup rice since pork stew takes too much effort.”

“Hmm… I do have a plan in mind, but it’s not without its risks. If we want to be cautious… we should first keep an eye on who takes the position of the Heavenly Maiden. And if the pork stew is too much work, grilling it wouldn’t be a bad option either.”

Yeon Ri was someone who knew the general flow of the future, but the course of events this time had changed far too much compared to the past. While she likely had a grasp on the larger picture, it doesn’t seem easy to guess all the small details.

Of course, it also meant that this cycle appeared to have the highest chance of killing the Plague Demonic Spirit…. so it seemed Yeon Ri had become even more cautious.

I organized my thoughts carefully and spoke.

“There’s so much to do. We need to bring in craftsman In Yun, secure the position of Vice General, repair the broken Cold Iron Heavy Sword, get Ran-noonim out of the Crown Prince’s palace, and approach the political struggles surrounding the new Heavenly Maiden with caution.”

“And if we want grilled pork for dinner, we’ll need to start draining the blood now.”

“It’s fine. I’ve already soaked it in water to use for the soup broth.”

“…….”

Yeon Ri collapsed onto the seat with a look of exhaustion on her face.

However, what she said next couldn’t be easily dismissed.

“And we also have to kill the White Demonic Spirit.”

“…….”

Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran

Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang.

The further things progressed, the stronger the demonic spirits became under the growing influence of the Plague Demonic Spirit.

Now, only one of those monsters, which moved like a close confidant of the Plague Demonic Spirit, remained.

So what kind of demonic spirit was this one called White Demonic Spirit?

Yeon Ri had already told me some of what I needed to know.

“White Demonic Spirit Ah Hyun.”

I couldn’t help but fall silent at the mention of that name.

“It’s likely… the version of me from the first cycle…. when I wielded the full power of the Heavenly Dragon…”

Now, Yeon Ri no longer had any trace of the Heavenly Dragon’s power left.

But what her original form had been like… I couldn’t possibly know right now.