Chapter 22: The Black Princess Part 1

Although the special unit members were numerous, Seol Tae Pyeong did not feel a great sense of crisis.

After all, there was no need to take them all down. His main goal was to create an escape route so he and the Black Princess could escape together.

The confined space made it difficult for the enemy to form a proper battle line. The cramped conditions made it difficult for their allies to wield their weapons effectively.

The collapsed wooden lanterns further restricted the enemy’s movements, and the rising dust clouds obscured their vision.

In the brief moment Seol Tae Pyeong flicked his sword, he took in the entire battlefield situation.

The essence of a sword master did not solely lie in physical strength or the speed of one’s sword swings. He instinctively knew the most efficient strategy to lead to victory.

“Capture him!”

“Make sure he doesn’t get out of this building!”

The Black Princess who was standing against the wall behind Seol Tae Pyeong surveyed the situation. There are nearly a dozen soldiers blocking the entrance.

Even for the agile Black Princess, it was too much to get past them.

“This might actually be a blessing in disguise! Since he has betrayed us, this could be our chance to be awarded the Great Star Sword!”

“Show no mercy! Our goal is to escort the Black Princess back to Cheongdo Palace!”

Blinded by their ambition for advancement, several warriors charged forward with their swords drawn.

As they attempted to charge through the dust at Seol Tae Pyeong, he up a wooden table stand with his foot without any signs of panic.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

“Ugh!”

The wooden stand spinning through the air forced them into a defensive stance for a moment. While the two warriors quickly regained their focus, Seol Tae Pyeong had already lowered his stance and lunged forward before tripping one of them by the leg. Immediately after, he kicked the hilt of the other, causing him to drop his sword and correct his stance.

“Argh!”

As one of the warriors lay on the ground howling in pain, Seol Tae Pyeong grabbed the disarmed warrior by the waist, lifted him up, and hurled him toward the group at the entrance.

Crash!

Then he picked up the fallen warrior, used him as a shield, and charged forward.

“Block him! Stop him!”

The warriors near the entrance tried to stop Seol Tae Pyeong’s charge, but he pushed through them like a wild boar and sent most of them flying.

Crash! Bang!

With that, Seol Tae Pyeong burst through the door and tumbled to the ground of the marketplace.

The quick-witted Black Princess seized the moment and darted out of the marketplace. Spotting Seol Tae Pyeong sprawled on the ground, she quickly reached out to help him up.

But Seol Tae Pyeong stood up, caught hold of Black Princess’s wrist swung her around, and hurled her onto a tiled roof.

“Waaahhh!”

Light as she was, Black Princess could not resist the force of Seol Tae Pyeong’s throw and flew through the air.

Upon landing on the roof, Seol Tae Pyeong also employed his agility to leap onto the tiles by stepping on a wooden pillar.

“She’s getting away!”

“Catch her!”

A few warriors capable of flying skills followed her onto the rooftops, while those unable to reach such heights spread out through the alleys to form a blockade.

“I-I didn’t know things would turn out like this…!”

“Don’t panic, Lady Black Princess. Now that we’re outside, escaping shouldn’t be too difficult.”

The Black Princess might not have any fighting skills, but she was gifted with nimble movements.

Even the warriors of Cheongdo Palace would find it difficult to catch her once she decided to flee.

“L-Let’s head out of the Black Tortoise Market area! We can easily lose them by moving through different alleys and streets!”

The Black Princess shouted in a loud voice. The surrounding warriors who heard that voice flinched and trembled.

The Black Princess quickly regained her composure and sprinted across the rooftops.

Although a few warriors managed to leap up from the streets below using their flying skills, Seol Tae Pyeong swiftly moved his body to kick them away.

“Ah! You’re super strong!”

“The way you speak…!”

“Yo-You truly are strong!”

“If they manage to form a proper formation, we’ll be in trouble! Let’s hurry!”

The pursuing warriors spread out to block all possible escape routes. They had to break through before the encirclement was fully established.

The Black Princess kept a vigilant eye on her surroundings as she ran while putting all her effort into leaping between buildings to escape the market area.

Glancing back, she saw that Seol Tae Pyeong was steadily keeping pace with her. Despite subduing the closely following warriors, he did not fall behind the swift-moving Black Princess.

The Black Princess swallowed hard. She had never seen anyone who could so casually keep up with her escaping skills.

Even more, he quickly dispatched the warriors who had clung to them while keeping pace with the Black Princess. It dawned on her that he likely had not used his full strength during their earlier chase.

And as Seol Tae Pyeong shifted from being a pursuer to an ally, she felt an oddly reassuring feeling.

Though it’s often said that enemies who become allies tend to become weak, but this man was unusually strong.

However, the warriors charging at them were no ordinary foes. Blinded by the prospect of glory, their aim had shifted from safely escorting the Black Princess back to Cheongdo Palace to capturing her for the reward.

In their eyes, the Black Princess must have seemed like a prized Great Star Sword who was darting around the place.

After passing through one building and into the city center, the Black Princess began to look around.

After looking around the dimly lit alleys, she closed her eyes for a moment. Then she grabbed Seol Tae Pyeong’s hand and pulled him with her.

“This way! Over here!”

“Huh?”

She led Seol Tae Pyeong through a maze of intricate alleyways with several sharp turns with her hand grasping his.

“Go in this way, turn left, and it’s the fourth building in front!”

Led by the Black Princess, they arrived at an old warehouse.

The Black Princess pulled open the large wooden door with great effort and called for Seol Tae Pyeong to hurry inside. He swiftly entered and pulled the door shut behind him.

Creak—

As the large wooden door closed behind, darkness enveloped them.

“Once your eyes adjust to the dark, we’ll go deeper in! Actually, let’s just go.”

“What is this place?”

“It’s just a warehouse. It’s used to store rice, but hardly anyone comes here all year.”

It was only then that he remembered.

The Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong was a person who memorized the entire map of the vast imperial capital.

***

“Over here, they’ve fled this way!”

“Station people at every alley!”

Sounds of military officers scurrying outside the warehouse reached their ears.

When the Black Princess struggled to push a few sacks of rice to block the entrance, Seol Tae Pyeong quickly joined in and helped to secure the blockade.

Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, the interior revealed itself to be more spacious than anticipated.

Even after a considerable amount of time passed, it seemed no warrior had managed to find their hiding spot.

Only then could they sit atop the rice sacks and catch their breath.

“I used to hide out here quite often back in the day!”

“Do you still remember that?”

“I never forget anything I’ve seen once.”

When he thought about it, that was indeed the case.

Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong possessed an uncanny ability to never forget anything she saw once.

Even in Heavenly Dragon Love Story, she had once astonished everyone by reading all the books in the main palace’s library and committing them to memory. Months later, she gave everyone goosebumps after reciting the contents almost perfectly.

“When I was escaping, didn’t I loudly say we should escape beyond the Black Tortoise Market? The warriors must have clearly heard that and probably think we’ve fled the Market altogether.”

“Was that comment meant not for me but for our enemies to hear?”

“In order to deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your friends.”

Although he knew how good she was at improvising, Seol Tae Pyeong had not expected her to make such a ruse under such urgent circumstances.

He sighed deeply and finally relaxed his tensed muscles.

“So, we just need to wait for their guard to drop before making our escape from Black Tortoise Market.”

“That’s right. However… it’s hard to say how long the warriors will keep up their guard. Actually, I don’t know.”

“They likely won’t give up easily. After all, the Great Star Sword is tied to the Black Princess.”

“What?”

Even the Black Princess who had little interest in the path of the warrior knew of the Great Star Sword’s significance.

It seemed she hadn’t considered herself of equal value.

“Did you make this choice and even give up the Great Star Sword?”

“I already have one to begin with.”

“But still… it’s irrational…”

“……”

“From your perspective, wouldn’t the best choice have been to simply hand me over to the warrior commander? Though I received your help, I never expected you to turn the tables so abruptly.”

The Black Princess was right. From Seol Tae Pyeong’s standpoint, handing her over to the warrior commander and taking the Great Star Sword before returning to his life at the White Immortal Palace would have been the best choice.

Therefore, when Seol Tae Pyeong drew his sword in the restaurant, even the Black Princess herself was taken aback with shock.

“Taking a stand against the special unit? You might face severe punishment… because of me…”

“Don’t worry. After I return the Great Star Sword I possess and receive a moderate punishment, it should be resolved.”

“Is that really all it will take…?”

“Because, in the end, I’ll take you back to Cheongdo Palace.”

Despite the urgent circumstances, Seol Tae Pyeong had already completed his profit and loss calculation.

Turning the special unit into enemies and escaping with the Black Princess was, in essence, a serious crime of disobedience.

The consequence might not just be a punishment but could even lead to being expelled from the palace.

However, there is a saying that one should resolve the problems they have caused. It was a matter that could be settled if Seol Tae Pyeong himself escorted the Black Princess back to Cheongdo Palace. After all, a crime can be offset by merit.

Concerns of disobedience and such could likely be resolved by simply returning the Great Star Sword and apologizing to Jang Rae.

“Above all, once you are back in the Black Tortoise Palace, you could speak on my behalf, couldn’t you?”

“That is…”

“When you consider everything, it’s a manageable situation. Rather than worrying about me, you should focus on letting go of any lingering regrets.”

Seol Tae Pyeong dusted off the hem of his pants as he spoke.

“Don’t you see why I chose to side with you over the safer option?”

“And what might that be?”

“Because it was clear that choosing the life of a princess consort would leave you with a lifetime of regrets.”

This was less a prediction and more of foresight.

Black Princess P Hwa Ryeong in the “Heavenly Dragon Love Story” was portrayed as a woman living with nothing but regret. He could say this because he knew it.

Once a woman entered into the life of a princess consort, she must live according to the laws of the inner palace.

Even stepping outside the inner palace involves a complex series of procedures, and within its walls, even the smallest action is subject to numerous restrictions. It’s almost a given that it’s almost impossible to meet people from outside Cheongdo Palace.

With great power and authority comes great responsibility. A bird flying high must withstand stronger winds.

“Even so, you…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Seol Tae Pyeong cut off the Black Princess’s words.

Such an action would be unthinkable in a setting with many prying eyes.

“I have lived a life without regrets, Black Princess.”

“…….”

“I never make choices that I might regret later.”

Such was the confidence Seol Tae Pyeong could speak with.

The last time he felt regret was when he had cut down dozens of bandits. Since that shocking experience, Seol Tae Pyeong always lived according to his beliefs without regret.

Even when his life hung in the balance, he did not regret his decision to help the princess consorts.

It was natural to help someone struggling in pain in front of his eyes.

Despite the complications that arose, he did not regret not flattering the Vermilion Princess and crossing swords with her seriously.

He lived believing that those who work hard throughout their lives deserve their reward.

“…For you, today is the first time you’ve seen me and yet…”

“…….”

“What exactly do you see in me that makes you think I am someone worthy of being rewarded? What potential did you find in a crown princess who was merely playing the role of a waitress in a roadside soup restaurant?”

“You fled from Cheongdo Palace.”

The girl flew over the wall.

Despite the fact she could have stayed put and become the mistress of the Black Tortoise Palace, commanding numerous maids and living comfortably, she chose to fly over the wall under the moonlit night.

Running away is a crime.

The reason people run away is to get away from something they find scary and frightening.

But this girl, with wealth and glory within her reach, fled because of the lingering bonds of her past, leaving behind only a promise to return to her maids.

“You speak as if I’m the one making strange choices, but the truly strange one is you, Black Princess.”

“……..”

“Ordinary people would not commit such a strange act of abandoning the position of mistress of Black Tortoise Palace to flee.”

At first, Seol Tae Pyeong spoke with a hint of disbelief, but his tone soon softened.

His voice was calm and different from his usual self. It seemed too gentle and comforting.

“It simply made me realize how precious that person and bond were to you.”

That’s why he drew his sword. That was the sole reason.

But that single understanding remark to the Black Princess carried a surprisingly deep weight, probably because it came from Seol Tae Pyeong’s honesty.

“……..”

The Black Princess who was listening quietly to what he had to say lowered her head.

As she watched Seol Tae Pyeong sheathe his sword as if it were nothing, she felt as if she could grasp the entirety of this man’s life who was dedicated to pursuing his beliefs with unwavering determination.

Black Princess Po Hwa Eyeong is a really strange person.

I have no idea why she shuns the coveted position of Black Princess and runs away.

The palace was rife with such murmurs, which, in a way, seemed justified.

No matter how precious the bonds of the past might be, why would one go to the trouble of evading numerous pursuers just to wander outside the palace while leaving behind a position that would be the envy of all the women of Cheongdo Palace?

The answer appeared quite straightforward when he thought about it.

It was simply because those bonds were that precious.

Seol Tae Pyeong was the sole individual in the entirety of Cheongdo Palace who understood this simple truth.

“…When I was young, I suffered from divine fever.”

The girl spoke as if confessing.

“……”

“.… As you may know, those who fall ill with such a fever almost always die. And my family was not able to take care of a child who was as good as dead.”

“…. And then?”

“And then I was abandoned at the foot of White Immortal Mountain. At that time when even my family abandoned me while thinking I was as good as dead… There was an old woman who picked me up…”

The Black Princess who was usually brimming with energy was unexpectedly bowing her head in silence.

Did this story strike a chord with her? Seol Tae Pyeong just listened quietly to her story.

“She was an old woman who made out a living by gathering herbs around the slopes of White Immortal Mountain… truly, she had warm hands and a gentle, soothing voice…”

“……”

“Despite having hardly enough food for herself, she shared even a single bean with me, who was nearly dead from the divine fever… She would wipe my sweat with a dry cloth every day and give me cold water.”

Surviving the divine fever alone is impossible.

Throughout that long ordeal, there needed to be someone by your side, tirelessly caring for a patient almost certain to die.

Seol Tae Pyeong knew this better than anyone.

“However, just a few days before my fever broke… the old woman eventually abandoned me on the streets again…”

“…. Why did she do that?”

“She must have reached her limit… Even as a small child, I consumed too much food by the standards of the poor people. It must have been time to reduce that burden….”

“……”

“But somehow I survived. As the fever almost subsided, strength returned to my body. I became skilled in flying techniques I had never learned before, and I developed a memory that never forgot anything I saw. The old woman probably thought I’d been eaten by wild animals and died, but it was as if heaven had intervened.”

The Black Princess continued her story with her head still bowed.

The reason her usually cheerful voice had deepened didn’t need to be explained.

“But… the face of that old woman, as she left me… I just can’t forget it…”

“……”

“She seated me on a rock at the foot of the mountain and repeatedly held my hand, apologizing over and over again. I’m sorry for leaving you, I’m sorry for leaving you. After a long while of holding my hand and crying profusely, she left me, weighed down by her guilt.”

“…. Do you resent her?”

Seol Tae Pyeong asked, though he had a rough idea of the answer.

“No, not at all. The reason I survived until the divine fever went away was all thanks to that old woman… In the end, she couldn’t bear it any longer and abandoned me just like my family had, but that didn’t change the fact. I lived because of that old woman.”

“…….”

The Black Princess took out a small piece of dry cloth from her bosom.

It was the cloth the old woman had used to wipe her sweat before she left. The last remnant of the old woman, and an item the Black Princess cherished to this day.

A sniffle broke the silence.

Seol Tae Pyeong tactfully pretended not to notice the trembling in her voice.

“She gave me life, and all I gave her in return was a sense of guilt…”

That was the burden the Black Princess had been carrying in her heart.

Seol Tae Pyeong kept his eyes gently closed and didn’t say anything. Truth be told, he found himself at a loss for what to say.

Perhaps he had simply come to share in her sorrow.

Because of you, I was able to survive.

Seol Tae Pyeong too had someone he could say the same about.

“I spent the last month expressing my gratitude to many people I’ve met and sharing my news, but… I couldn’t find the most important old woman.”

“Did you visit the slopes of White Immortal Mountain as well?”

“Of course. The humble home where the old woman once lived was now completely abandoned. I searched and searched for the past month, but I could never find her. It seems that no one knew the whereabouts of the old woman who had no family.”

After a moment, the Black Princess shook her head vigorously a few times and then quickly composed herself.

She seemed to dislike such a gloomy atmosphere. She then spoke with a voice noticeably brighter.

“Now that I’m fine with others, I really want to find that old woman. I want to stand before her with my chest puffed out and confidently say, ‘Look, the girl you left on White Immortal Mountain that day is alive and well! Hahaha!’”

“…….”

“Even more, I’ve caught the eye of the Under Councilor and risen to the position of the Black Princess, so I’ll be living a life of luxury, envy of none, and in full comfort for the rest of my days! How wonderful! That’s great!”

Did she just think these words would comfort the old woman’s heart?

I am alive and well here. That single sentence was what the girl longed so much to say.

“Anyway, since the situation has come to this, let me help you. It won’t be easy to escape the pursuing special unit and ask about the old woman at the same time.”

“I am truly grateful to you for your help all down to my bones! If you visit my Black Tortoise Palace again, I will reward you by any means necessary and clear any stain on your name, even if it costs my life! If anything, I’ll help you rise up through the ranks as much as possible!”

The excited chatter seemed to be an effort on her part to lighten up the gloomy atmosphere that had been going on up to now.

“Those matters will be resolved one way or another… but there is something you must agree to before I can help you.”

“Hm? What is it? Speak up! I’ll grant it if it’s within my power!”

“……..”

“……..”

“…. What are you hesitating to ask for?”

Seol Tae Pyeong took a deep breath. This was… exceptionally difficult to say.

The reality that he had to voice this request was nearly unbearable, but for the sake of Yeon Ri and Seol Ran who were worried about him, it was important to bring it up.

Yes, no matter what I do with the Black Princess from now on… I have to make this one thing clear.

It’s really not easy.

But it must be done.

Alright, it’s like drawing a sword. Do it swiftly in one go. I am a man of action, am I not…!

“W-Well…”

“……..”

“…….”

“I’m fully aware that what I’m about to ask is quite unusual… but please, don’t misunderstand and hear me out…”

“What on earth could it be that you’re beating around the bush like this…”

Seol Tae Pyeong took a deep breath and said it all at once.

“Just in case…. under no circumstances… should you fall for me…”

“……..”

“……..”

“……..”

“……..”

The Black Princess stared at him quietly for a moment…. But eventually, her attempt at keeping a straight face failed and she twisted her features in disbelief.

Judging by her reaction, it seemed like the original goal was achieved…

But for some reason… he found himself wishing he could disappear…

**********

TN: Lmao