Chapter 49: Maid Seol Ran Part 1

Shocking truth…!!

The White Immortal Palace’s senior maid Yeon Ri was actually the Heavenly Maiden of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, the most prestigious woman in Cheongdo Palace …!!

Unbelievable…

Moreover, as the Heavenly Maiden, she was desperately trying to twist the tragic story of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story …!

And I, Seol Tae Pyeong, rose from the brink of death several times under the protection of this Heavenly Maiden… In the end, I was able to win the favor of the crown princess’s consorts and take on the role of uniting them…!

Not only that, before the Plague Demonic Spirit descended, I had to rise to the highest possible rank and secure a political position as quickly as possible …!

I was also tasked with helping my sister Seol Ran establish herself as the next Heavenly Maiden…!

It had been 2 years and 7 months since I received all this shocking truth from the Heavenly Maiden…

And surprisingly…

Nothing happened…

…

That’s right.

There was quite a long time left before the story of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story began.

During that time, there were minor incidents but nothing significant enough to overturn the palace.

…In fact, that was to be expected.

The demonic spirits appeared, the Black Princess escaped, and the White Tiger Palace burned… each of these events was enough to turn Cheongdo Palace upside down, but such things couldn’t possibly happen frequently.

While reading the Heavenly Dragon Love Story, it often felt like Cheongdo Palace was constantly embroiled in schemes and rebellions…. A palace that never functioned properly…!

Even so, considering these incidents occurred once every few years, it was somewhat understandable. Since the story highlighted only those events, it felt like they happened more often.

Though the days in the tumultuous Imperial Capital were filled with continuous incidents, it was exceedingly rare for such major events to shake the foundation of Cheongdo Palace.

Maybe that’s why… the three years before the story of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story began were remarkably peaceful.

So peaceful that…. it made me wonder if Cheongdo Palace was just a beautiful and romantic place just like any romance fantasy novel setting. I even forgot about the Plague Demonic Spirit and other threats.

Indeed. When I think about it now, that space called Cheongdo Palace… felt quite livable.

And it was only normal.

– Whiiiiiing

“We will soon part ways with this bone-chilling cold! After subduing this last intermediate demonic spirit, we will return to our hometown, the Imperial Capital! It has been a long journey of subjugation! Soldiers! For His Majesty Woon Sung… let’s give our all one last time!”

– Waaaaaa!

– Let’s gooooo!

“…….”

In the biting cold, Vice General Jeong Seo Tae raised his sword and shouted in front of the soldiers.

The campaign to subdue the intermediate demonic spirits on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital had been assembled. The Vice General who personally took command and led the charge displayed a spirit that even seasoned veterans admired.

His courage and martial strength alone were enough to secure his position as a vice general.

Indeed.

At the northern edge of the Cheongdo Empire, in the Hanmul Mountain Range.

It had been a long time since I left the Cheongdo Empire as part of the campaign against the demonic spirits.

The number of demonic spirits slain reached the four digits.

Warrior Seo Tae Pyeong, at the age of nineteen.

I had joined the campaign…. to establish my achievements.

A triumphant return.

As the army entered the Imperial Capital along the Heavenly Dragon Road, cheers from the people rained down upon us.

The demonic spirits subjugation force led by Vice General Jeong Seo Tae had patrolled the northern border regions of the Cheongdo Empire and subdued thousands of lower demonic spirits and dozens of intermediate demon spirits.

He had taken responsibility for eradicating the demon spirits that were spreading day by day, mainly in the outer regions of the imperial capital.

There were hardly any generals willing to lead regular troops to the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, where the influence of the Heavenly Dragon did not reach well.

Most generals, once they reached such a rank, tended to get involved in politics.

However, Vice General Jeong Seo Tae could not stand by and watch the suffering of the people, so he personally received the troops from the palace and alleviated the people’s pain.

He was a hero, he is a hero, and he will always be a hero.

And the one who assisted him most closely was the senior warrior Seol Tae Pyeong.

Yes, that was me.

– Tae Pyeong-ah, I recommended you for the position of the commander of the Inner Swords…. but the council did not accept it. I thought about forcing it through, but that seemed a bit unreasonable.

– … Huh?

– Hmm… You need to at least reach the rank of general before the signs of the plague demonic spirit appear…. But if you’re already hitting walls at the rank of Upper Fifth Rank, this will be difficult.

– …Did you just say general? Did I hear that correctly, Your Highness?”

– Actually, as they said, you may still lack some achievements, and you’re still young, so it’s not that unusual. At the rank of Upper Fifth Rank, you’re in a position where no third-rate warrior can challenge you, so the council’s decision makes sense.

• .….

– So, Tae Pyeong-ah…. it pains me a bit to temporarily hand you over to the vice general… but you need to establish some achievements first…. since there’s still time before the Heavenly Dragon Lover Story begins, why don’t you head north and kill some demonic spirits?

– …What on earth are you talking about…. your highness?

And so, I, Seo Tae Pyeong, spent nearly two years slaying demonic spirits and gathering achievements before returning.

…

Camping out at the soldiers’ base, enduring the biting cold while cutting down demonic spirits, treating injured soldiers, strengthening our camaraderie, drinking, and cheering in the villages we visited briefly…

Contrary to my motto of working as little as possible and earning as much as I can, I went through a refreshingly clear hardship.

Indeed, I wish I could say nothing happened…

But so much happened; it was really tough.

“Oh my… Tae Pyeong-ah…! You’ve been through so much… I’m tearing up… Ohhh… sob sob…”

A hug from an older sister welcoming her younger brother who returned to the imperial capital after two years.

The sight of us clinging to each other and shedding tears in front of the pavilion was a bit different from what I had imagined.

After enduring all kinds of hardships over the past two years, I thought that when I returned to Cheongdo Palace and said, “I’m back”…. my sister would greet me gently with a tearful smile and say, “Welcome home.”

I envisioned a touching reunion of a family separated for two years.

“Uwaaa… sob sob… phew… sniff…!!!”

However, in reality, Seol Ran was crying so noisily with tears and snot streaming down her face that it made me question if this was really the same protagonist I knew.

Her crying was more like that of a child who had fallen and hurt themselves than tears of joy; it completely shattered the atmosphere I had in my head. Watching her blow her nose and sob intermittently, it felt more like a mother welcoming her son home from prison.

…You’ve become even more maternal while I was away, noonim…

I almost said that, but stopped myself. It would sound like I was mocking her.

“Oh Tae Pyeong-ah, you’ve grown taller… I hardly recognized you… I really didn’t recognize you…”

“Well, we have plenty of time to catch up, but I need to go to the palace first. The vice general has called for me.”

“Okay, Tae Pyeong-ah… I’ll be at the pavilion, so come back quickly. I have so many things to tell you about what happened while I was working at the Heavenly Dragon Hall…!”

“Yes, noonim… please wait just a little longer.”

After saying that, I grabbed my Jade Leaf Sword, strapped it to my back, and quickly ran out of the pavilion.

During the last campaign to subjugate the demonic spirits, I had endured all kinds of hardships. Fortunately, I didn’t seem to have returned to the palace too late.

Seol Ran didn’t look to have changed much…. so it seemed everything was finally ready.

Yes.

It was now time for the story of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story to begin.

And for the trials and tribulations that would unfold before Seol Ran was about to make her grand appearance.

The Vice General who led the subjugation army had safely returned to the imperial palace.

The news brought joy not only to the main palace but also to the inner palace, with everyone exchanging congratulatory remarks.

Vice General Jeong Seo Tae who led the campaign was hailed for his martial strength, and the soldiers who returned alive were highly praised as heroes who contributed to saving the nation.

“His Majesty Woon Sung greatly commended the Vice General’s efforts. It seems he is likely to be appointed as the next general.”

“He is a resolute and brave man. His magnanimous nature makes one think that this is what a true man should be.”

“He went through the countless life-threatening moments while exterminating the demonic spirits, but he always laughed heartily in front of the soldiers.”

Everywhere in the palace, people were talking about the Vice General.

The atmosphere throughout Cheongdo Palace was filled with such stories, so it was inevitable that the conversation would also arise at the tea gatherings of the crown princess consorts, who were most sensitive to the palace’s affairs.

“Speaking of which…”

Amidst this, the Azure Princess began to speak.

The Vermilion Princess, the Black Princess, and the White Princess often engaged in various conversations among themselves, but the Azure Princess Jin Cheong Lang rarely joined in their discussions.

She was always smiling softly or nervously while observing others. When Seol Tae Pyeong came in and out of the inner palace, she seemed a bit more aggressive, but during the two years he was away exterminating demonic spirits, she had become much more subdued.

“Warrior Seol must have returned with him.”

She directly addressed the topic that had been subtly avoided among the crown princess consorts.

A brief silence lingered among the group at the Azure Princess’s words.

Indeed, they had not seen Seol Tae Pyeong for two years.

Two years is significant.

It is enough time to forget someone, yet also enough time to cherish memories of someone dearly missed.

Though it seemed unlikely for anyone to wait two years for a man who left for military service, reality often proved otherwise.

Two years. Two full years.

During the two years Seol Tae Pyeong was away from Cheongdo Palace, there were minor incidents and accidents among the consorts, but nothing major happened.

Looking back, the memories from two years ago remained vivid.

On the day Seol Tae Pyeong left to subjugate the demonic spirits, a serious silence enveloped the tea gathering.

It was hard to imagine someone of his strength dying during the campaign, yet the fact remained that they wouldn’t be able to see him for two years.

Some thought it was right, while others felt deep sorrow.

There were even those who thought they might stop eating and drinking for the entire two years they couldn’t see Seol Tae Pyeong’s face.

Outwardly, they wished him luck, but inwardly, they suffered greatly. The Vermilion Princess was no exception.

“……”

But even with Seol Tae Pyeong gone, and even with the pain in their hearts…

It lasted only for a moment. They still ate well. They did not die.

However, the Azure Princess could not hide her tears. She often looked up at the night sky while imagining Seol Tae Pyeong’s face.

Indeed, the mistresses of the four great palaces each had their own way of distancing themselves from Seol Tae Pyeong. They all thought it was the right thing to do…

But strangely enough, the Azure Princess longed to see him like a sunflower turning towards the sun.

So, it wasn’t surprising that the Azure Princess was the first to mention Seol Tae Pyeong’s name when the demonic spirits subjugation army returned.

Seol Tae Pyeong’s name was taboo among the crown princess consorts.

But this young fairy who was unbothered by the flow of the world had no hesitation in calling that name.

The other crown princess consorts, especially the Vermilion Princess, swallowed dryly as they watched the Azure Princess. It was clear that she was on the verge of causing some trouble.

No one could predict what the Azure Princess would do when she saw Seol Tae Pyeong returning to the capital after two long years.

“Azure Princess.”

“Yes?”

“A-Are you… are you planning to call Warrior Seol privately?”

“………”

There was no answer.

The Azure Princess often drifted off into other thoughts while talking. However, the timing now was too perfect.

From the Vermilion Princess’s perspective, she couldn’t imagine how to dissuade the Azure Princess.

After all, Seol Tae Pyeong’s absence for two years might have been his own effort to distance himself from the crown princess consorts.

Not wanting to undermine his painstaking efforts, the Vermilion Princess couldn’t just stand by.

“The warrior named Tae Pyeong…. He will be quite busy under the command of the Vice General for a while…! And he’s probably very tired from that long journey…!”

At that moment, the Black Princess lent her support.

In fact, most of those present at this tea gathering had some sense of discernment.

Stopping the Azure Princess who was particularly obsessed with Seol Tae Pyeong was a common task they worked together on.

Of course…

Everyone… really goes through a lot of trouble…

The White Princess who sat there blankly watching the farce merely scoffed once.

Still… Seol Tae Pyeong had returned to the palace after two years.

That fact alone was engraved in her mind and wouldn’t easily fade away.

After the tea gathering ended, the Vermilion Princess sat quietly in a corner of the Vermilion Bird Palace’s tea room.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t happy about Seol Tae Pyeong’s return to the palace.

She had thought that her longing heart would wane after such a long time without seeing him, but affection had a surprising tendency to mature with time.

If it were possible, she would have seized the chance to meet him immediately, but considering her status, that wasn’t possible.

Up until just a moment ago, she had been speaking in a rude manner to the Azure Princess, but it would become a big problem if she herself failed to maintain her integrity.

In any case, the people of the Jeongseon clan did not have a very good impression of the people of the Huayongseol clan. The resentment towards Seol Lee Moon who killed Vice General In Chang Seok was not harbored by the Vermilion Princess alone.

The Vermilion Princess herself did not doubt Seol Tae Pyeong’s character, but there was no guarantee that the other people of the Jeongseon clan would think the same.

That’s right.

1st Act of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story.

The first villain the heroine Seol Ran encountered was the Vermilion Princess In Ha Yeon of the Vermilion Bird Palace.

What kind of person was the Vermilion Princess In Hayeon?

She was filled with deep resentment toward the Huayongseol clan who killed her uncle.

She was the crown princess consort whose heart was greatly eroded by the death of her maid Hyeon Dang, and whose heart was as cold as ice.

She was the most authoritative crown princess consort who for many years had never once let go of the golden hairpin.

Among the villains blocking Seol Ran’s path, she was a figure of exceedingly high stature.

How on earth could Seol Ran, a mere lowly maid, ever hope to achieve her goals against the Vermilion Princess?

When the Vermilion Princess learned that a descendant of the Huayongseol clan was serving as a maid in the palace… how would Seol Ran overcome the vicious torment and hone her qualities as the next Heavenly Maiden? And in the end, how did she melt the Vermilion Princess’s heart and gain her trust?

The inspiring true story of the heroine Seol Ran’s growth, who never cowered before great trials but encouraged herself and grew stronger.

The 1st Act of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story.

—The Mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace—

The epic saga filled with countless joys and sorrows, trials and tribulations, and a whirlwind of emotions.

The starting point of all stories where Seol Ran, as the heroine, finally began to reveal and gradually develop her character.

With the Vermilion Princess’s soliloquy revealing her deep-seated grudge against the Huayongseol clan, the grand first act finally started──

“… Come to think of it, just because someone is from the Huayongseol clan doesn’t necessarily mean they are a corrupt person…”

“I heard that the sister of Warrior Seol is also serving as a maid in the palace… Considering how Warrior Seol is, she must be quite reliable too…”

.…

The 1st Act of the Heavenly Dragon Love Story── End.

And just like that, the mistress of the Vermilion Bird Palace became an ally of Seol Ran…