Chapter 111: Thin Ice Part 1

“The Heavenly Maiden will enter the Heavenly Jade Pavilion starting today to train in the energy of the Heavenly Dragon within the Clear Waterfall. You must guard the entrance to Heavenly Jade Pavilion at all times and make sure that anything she needs is delivered promptly. Organize shifts efficiently to ensure smooth handovers.”

“Yes, Headmaid.”

Only the high senior maids were permitted private audiences with the Heavenly Maiden.

For anyone ranked below that, it was impossible to even approach the Heavenly Maiden without a supervising figure present, as she was the most noble woman in the country.

The Heavenly Maiden was someone who had to be treated with utmost care, and every action toward her required the highest form of etiquette. She was always accompanied by maids, but when she sat alone in the Heavenly Jade Pavilion to receive the energy of the Heavenly Dragon, she had no choice but to be alone.

That was why every private audience Seol Tae Pyeong had with Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun had always taken place at Heavenly Jade Pavilion. Elsewhere, he could hardly even speak to her. The only other place she spent time alone was her inner chambers, where it would have been impossible to allow an outsider, especially a man, to enter.

“Maid Seol, you will be in charge of guarding the entrance to Heavenly Jade Pavilion during the early morning hours.”

“Yes, understood.”

When Headmaid Lee Ryeong gave these instructions, high senior maid Seol Ran lowered her head and replied softly.

***

“Tae Pyeong-ah, remember how I said the White Demonic Spirit would be showing up soon? From today onward, you need to stay sharp and focus on your work every day.”

“You should at least give me a hint about how the White Demonic Spirit appears, so I know what to watch out for….”

“Well… it’s tricky. The White Demonic Spirit appears differently every time it comes to the palace.”

The next morning.

After checking all the information that came up in the early morning report from the Hwalseong District, I was getting ready to go to the main palace after giving appropriate instructions to my adjutants.

As Yeon Ri helped adjust my attire, she spoke with a cautious expression.

“Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran tried to tear down the palace from inside, while Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang went about it literally by trying to destroy the entire palace with brute force. Neither of them was easy to deal with, but the White Demonic Spirit… sometimes it shows up in this way, other times in that way… it came to the palace differently every time, depending on the situation.”

“Really…?”

“Mhmm, since the situation is different each time, the White Demonic Spirit’s methods change to match. It’s flexible in its thinking and quick to adapt, which makes it a tricky opponent.”

“…The White Demonic Spirit was you in the very first cycle, right?”

“…I was a fairly respected strategist back then.”

“…….”

“…….”

How did it even end up like this…?

No, never mind… What’s the point in asking that now?

“Like I said, this time is the most promising out of all the cycles in history. In short, it’s the first time things have gone this smoothly, so we have no way of knowing how the White Demonic Spirit will act.”

“Yeon Ri, your advice is helpful, but you always leave out the most important parts….”

“What can I do? This is my first time in this life too….”

Well, the fact that she gave advance warning about the White Demonic Spirit’s arrival has some value in itself.

The problem was that I couldn’t figure out how to deal with it.

***

“The Heavenly Maiden has retired early to her inner chamber. She left word that when the Vice General arrives, she has something important to discuss, so she asked that you call him to the inner chamber.”

“Is it alright for me to enter the inner chamber?”

“General Seol, you’ve already been examined and are serving in an official position as her aide, so it wouldn’t be inappropriate.”

When you have a lot to lose, trust builds up around you.

They believed I wouldn’t be foolish enough to act improperly in front of the Heavenly Maiden and risk losing the hard-earned position of General.

I nodded at Headmaid Lee Ryeong’s words and went to the innermost part of Heavenly Dragon Hall, where the inner chamber was located.

Of course, the inner chambers of Heavenly Jade Pavilion and Heavenly Dragon Hall were completely different.

To enter Heavenly Dragon Hall, no matter who you were, you had to undergo a purification ritual. You needed to spill a drop of blood into clear water to prove you weren’t possessed, then bow before the enormous heavenly dragon statue and perform a ritual to make sure the dragon’s wrath wouldn’t be incurred before you could enter.

During the time when Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun ruled over Heavenly Dragon Hall, there was a Heavenly Dragon tablet, which allowed me to bypass these steps. But since the new Heavenly Maiden had yet to give me the tablet, I had to go through the entire process.

Next time, I should subtly suggest that she give me the Heavenly Dragon tablet.

Creak

And so, after completing all the long tedious rituals, I made my way to the inner chamber.

As to be expected from the grand scale of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, I had to open and pass through five elaborately designed paper doors just to reach the inner chamber of the Heavenly Maiden.

When we arrived at the final door, the maid guiding me bowed her head and retreated quietly.

“Haah… I really need to get that Heavenly Dragon Tablet this time.”

I let out a deep sigh as I opened the last paper door leading to the inner chamber.

The inner chamber of the Heavenly Maiden was far too large for just one person. Along one side, luxurious bedding and wardrobes adorned with elaborate floral designs were neatly arranged. On the opposite side, where the warm sunlight streamed in through the wooden window, there was a low tea table and a wooden chair that were perfect for enjoying tea. A young girl sat there.

Heavenly Maiden Jin Cheong Lang.

She was quietly gazing at the plum tree branches visible outside the window and basking in the sunlight.

The teacup placed before her seemed to have been untouched for quite some time. Steam rose gently from the cup and it drifted out of the window with the breeze.

“Oh…”

She glanced at me briefly, then smiled warmly as if she was pleased to see me.

“Come, sit here, Tae Pyeong-ah.”

It was in her next words that I sensed an unsettling feeling.

“H-Heavenly Maiden, it’s not proper for you to use such a casual title.”

“Why…? Do you dislike it…? I wish to call you something familiar…”

“Heavenly Maiden?”

It was only then that my instincts began to fully detect a strange sensation.

There was something about Jin Cheong Lang that felt different from usual, as if a subtle layer had shifted.

Even though my vision seemed strangely out of focus, when I blinked and looked again, everything seemed normal. Still, the atmosphere was far from ordinary.

“Heavenly Maiden, regarding the relationship between a ruler and their subject…”

“Don’t bother with such boring talk… hmm?”

Jin Cheong Lang stood up and walked over to me, then crouched down in front of where I knelt, before brushing her hands over mine.

“These hands, with their raised veins and hardened calluses, are truly manly. They’ve surely soaked in much unspoken pain from shedding blood on the battlefield.”

“Heavenly Maiden.”

“Stay still. Now, let me stroke your hands. Ssshhh, ssshhh.”

“Heavenly Maiden, this, this is inappropriate.”

“May I touch your shoulders or back as well? Your sturdy build is fascinating to me. I’d also like to feel your broad chest, just once…”

Was she openly flirting with me…?

I swallowed and took a deep breath to regain my composure.

I had anticipated that working in the Heavenly Dragon Hall e would be a constant battle of defense, but I hadn’t imagined such trials would start right from the beginning.

Even so, no matter how reckless Jin Cheong Lang was, I had thought she understood at least basic decency.

In fact, she had a surprisingly innocent side to her. She never openly made any bold advances.

But the current Jin Cheong Lang had a strange aura about her….. It felt as if she had severed some string in her mind.

If I get swayed here, I would die…

Not figuratively, but literally…!

“Heavenly Maiden, if you continue like this…”

“Do you think I’m joking? Look into my eyes… my eyes are sincere….”

Why was she suddenly acting like this?

The moment I looked directly into Jin Cheong Lang’s eyes, a sensation began creeping from my spine before spreading through my entire body. It made me feel as if I were turning to stone.

“Now… look into my eyes… can you feel my sincerity…?”

“Haah…”

“Why do you think I go to such lengths to make my appearance beautiful…? It’s all to win your favor… What’s the point of having the world beneath me if I can’t capture your heart…? If I can’t even get a glance from you, what does it matter…?”

A current of unsettling thoughts spread from the center of my mind.

It was as if some strange compulsion was taking hold of me, making me feel like I had no choice but to follow whatever this girl before me said.

—It’s an illusion spell.

I realized it in an instant. The key to breaking free of such a spell lies in the initial response.

If you try to resist after it’s already gotten a hold of your heart, it’s too late. You will end up as nothing more than a puppet, pulled along by her every whim.

Jin Cheong Lang’s spell was the real deal. She was a girl who experienced the divine fever after all. If I let my guard down, I would fall for it in an instant.

“Now, keep looking at me… only at me… Isn’t the woman of your dreams standing right here…? The one you… love, is here….”

Tik!

I bit down hard on my tongue and quickly jumped to my feet before stumbling backward.

Crash!

Bang!

One of the paper doors fell over with a loud clatter.

Jin Cheong Lang, who had been leaning against me, lost her balance and collapsed to the floor. Then I stood up and put distance between us.

Whoosh!

I quickly shook my head and wiped away the blood trickling from my mouth.

If I had let my guard down for even a moment longer, I would have been completely consumed by Jin Cheong Lang’s illusion spell.

I shook my head again and desperately tried to clear the lingering enchantment from my mind.

After taking a deep breath, I looked back at Jin Cheong Lang. She was sitting on the floor, propping herself up with her hands, and tears welling in her eyes.

“Do you…Do you hate me so much…? So much that you had to jump away in such a panic…?”

“Th-That’s not it. You’re not yourself right now, Heavenly Maiden. We should call for someone and assess the situation…”

“I asked if you hate me … I see… you must have many fine women around you. Someone like me… would never catch your eye, would I…?”

She wiped her tears away with the wide sleeve of her robe. The way she sniffled and whimpered made her look like a wounded, small creature. For a moment, I almost denied it and told her that wasn’t true.

But I had to recognize the truth by now. Jin Cheong Lang was not in her right mind.

As the Heavenly Maiden, the one who held direct authority over me, if she was under some kind of spell like this… I had to be careful.

Whoosh!

In that instant, a new energy wrapped itself around me.

Jin Cheong Lang was a rare genius. When it came to the art of Taoist magic, she was second to none.

The Taoist spell she cast bound my feet, and soon she stood up, letting her robe’s collar fall loose.

“It’s all right. Soon, you’ll start to like me. The turmoil in your heart will settle and become as calm as a still clear mirror. So, just trust your heart to me.”

With that, she tightened the energy wrapping around me and strode forward confidently before sliding into my arms with a soft laugh.

Just as I noticed the unsettling aura surrounding her, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching and someone opening the multiple doors.

Thud, thud, thud.

It was undoubtedly the footsteps of the maids who alternated shifts guarding the Heavenly Maiden’s chamber.

The sound of something breaking echoed from the inner chamber, and they were clearly rushing to investigate.

But Jin Cheong Lang wrapped herself around me and tried to steal a kiss. As if she was completely unbothered by the noise.

Since she was small in stature, she couldn’t quite reach my lips even while standing on tiptoe. So she grew frustrated and pressed down hard on my shoulders with an annoyed expression.

If anyone saw this scene, it would be instant execution.

That undeniable truth seared into my mind, and the approaching footsteps of the maids sounded like the footsteps of death itself.

“Heavenly Maiden, please. Calm down. If this continues, we’ll both be executed.”

“Even if… even if death tries to part us… how could I possibly calm this storm in my heart? I’ve decided I won’t suppress my feelings any longer.”

“Heavenly Maiden! You’re not in a normal state right now! You’ve lost control. You must gather yourself!”

No matter what, I had to stop this scene from being witnessed by anyone.

Just as I tried to gather my strength to break free from Jin Cheong Lang’s spell…

Creak.

Sadly, the paper door opened, and the maids entered the place.

It all happened so quickly.

Before I could even think of how to react… was this how my life was going to end?

My life flashed before my eyes, a life full of regrets.

It was in that moment of silent reflection.

Whoosh.

──The one who opened the door and came in was maid Seol Ran.

Being the most swift among them, she had entered the inner chamber faster than anyone else.

When she saw the situation inside, her eyes widened in shock. After about two seconds of processing what she had just seen, she quickly closed the door again.

“It’s maid Seol Ran… There’s nothing to worry about, so for now, you may leave…”

“I’m sorry, your highness!”

Without hesitation, Seol Ran charged at Jin Cheong Lang and wrapped her arms around her waist.

Crash!

She tore Jin Cheong Lang away from me, and the two of them rolled across the floor several times before stopping. They were both gasping for breath.

“Why, why are you doing this! Let go of me! I… I need Tae Pyeong-ah!”

“Heavenly Maiden…! Please, keep your dignity!”

“I ordered you to step aside!”

Jin Cheong Lang’s eyes flashed as she glared at Seol Ran. Her gaze turned red, and the power of her illusion spell began to encircle her.

However, at Seol Ran’s waist hung an ornament embedded with the Black Pearl of Jangrim. This was a treasure she received from White Taoist An Cheon.

Seol Ran was immune to all forms of illusions. She gripped her tightly and signaled to me.

I nodded and quickly pulled myself together.

Then I picked up the teacup and tray from the table, opened the paper door, and stepped out into the hallway.

Rattle.

I turned to the maids who were rushing over and spoke.

“Her Highness merely stumbled and fell for a moment. It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry too much. The teacup the Heavenly Maiden was drinking from—I brought it out with me, so you can dispose of it.”

I spoke as calmly as possible while trying to make it seem like everything was normal. The maids who had come running nodded their heads for a moment.

Eventually, they quietly understood and returned to their duties.

After we finally managed to organize the chaotic situation, Jin Cheong Lang sat on the bed and cried for a long time.

“Do you…. Do you hate me so much that you’d push me away like that?”

“No, no, that wasn’t it at all…”

“Do you… do you know how much I’ve done for you? Couldn’t you at least recognize that much?”

“I know. Of course, I know, Heavenly Maiden. You’ve done so much for me… but there are matters of dignity… and the situation as well…”

Seol Ran’s face was frozen. She was as stiff as a statue.

– Wh-What in the world is going on, Tae Pyeong-ah?

– I-I’m not sure either, Ran-noonim. But one thing’s clear. The Heavenly Maiden is definitely not in her right mind.

While I tried to respond to Jin Cheong Lang’s words, I exchanged looks with Seol Ran and both of us were completely bewildered.

One thing was certain. Jin Cheong Lang was not in a normal state.

It wasn’t just anyone; it was the Heavenly Maiden, and not only that, the one who had the authority over my fate. Her mental state had become utterly unstable. This was not a situation that could be easily dismissed.

“…Really?”

“…Yes?”

“Do you truly understand my heart? Do you know how hard I’ve worked for you…”

“O-Of course. I live every day with gratitude.”

“Then give me a hug.”

“Huh?”

“I ordered you to hug me.”

This is crazy.

When I hesitated, tears began to well up in Jin Cheong Lang’s eyes again.

When I quickly spread my arms while still on my knees, only then did Jin Cheong Lang brighten up and eagerly run into my embrace.

She seemed so thrilled; if she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously right now. Finally, she buried her head into my chest and started rubbing against it as if satisfied.

“You’re so warm~.”

“…….”

I exchanged a glance with Seol Ran who was watching this and swallowed dryly.

– Tae Pyeong-ah… in about an hour, the Heavenly Maiden has to preside over the ceremonial event…

– …In her current mental state…?

– .…..

The Seol siblings of the Huayongseol clan.

The two of us were facing the worst crisis of our lives.

Whether she knew that the two of us were losing our minds or not, only Jin Cheong Lang remained blissfully cheerful.

She seemed utterly content to be held in my arms.