Chapter 53: Maid Seol Ran Part 5

“The Black Moon Unit?”

The court strategist referred to a high-ranking official who served directly under the emperor and gave advice and counsel.

Originally, it was an esteemed position given to individuals who had served the imperial family for a long time and had experience in various fields. However, due to the privilege of being able to advise the emperor directly without going through the administrative office, the importance of the position increased over time.

By the time Strategist Hwa An took the position, it had become almost equivalent in status to the three great officials. This made his name highly esteemed even among the high officials of Cheongdo Palace.

The old Strategist Hwa An was sitting in a pavilion in the palace while reading a book. A warrior he had placed in the Red Palace came to him, bowed his head, and made a report.

This news came from Sanseok District located on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. It was said that recently, a group of assassins from the outskirts of the Imperial Capital called the Black Moon Unit have been moving around the Capital to check the condition of the walls of the Cheongdo Palace.

This was a group that White Taoist An Cheon, who had recently been arrested for invading the outer palace, had been constantly warning about.

“Yes, Elder. We don’t know who hired them, but we heard that the Black Moon Unit is monitoring the situation in an attempt to infiltrate the main palace.

“Is this group, the Black Moon Unit, powerful? I’ve never heard of them before.”

“Little is known about them, from their leader down to the lowest member. We initially thought of them as insignificant, but the White Taoist Priest made such a fuss about being cautious that we looked into it further and found it to be quite serious.”

The warrior who was bowing his head looked around and lowered his voice to continue speaking.

“According to the information gathered from the Poison Gland District, we don’t know who hired them, but it appears they are planning an assassination.”

“Indeed, then it would be right to deploy the Red Palace warriors to eliminate them.”

Strategist Hwa An closed his book and rested his chin in thought.

“An assassination plan… These are individuals who have the audacity of a dragon born in a stream… Though it’s hard to imagine they would target high officials of Cheongdo Palace…”

“…. Elder?”

“Yes… Tell me the details. Capturing and imprisoning them is not difficult, but we need to understand the situation better.”

With his sharp eyes focused downward, Hwa An asked the warrior.

“Find out in detail who they are trying to assassinate. Seeing that they are carrying out their plan so carefully, it must be someone of great importance.”

“That… I obtained information through the assassins of the Poison Gland District, but… it seems to be merely a rumor, so I was hesitant to report it. If I make a mistake, the matter might escalate more than expected…”

“Alright, let’s hear it. I’ll take that into consideration and make a judgment.”

Indeed, Hwa An’s informant had a wide network and handled matters efficiently.

Of course, it was just a rumor but even that was a significant find.

However, the following words made even the experienced Hwa An furrow his brows momentarily.

“They say the target is… His Highness the Crown Prince…”

Someone intended to direct the blade of treachery toward the Crown Prince.

It was news that could turn the entire Cheongdo Palace upside down, and now this news has reached Hwa An’s ears.

“I didn’t expect the Black Princess to visit the Azure Dragon Palace in person. What brings you to honor us with your rare presence?”

Though it was a courteous welcome, the tone of the Azure Princess, the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace, had a strange chill to it.

In the tea room of the Azure Dragon Palace, the Black Princess, who was seated across from the Azure Princess at a tea table adorned with bluish Azure Dragon embroidery, smiled awkwardly.

The Azure Princess of the Azure Dragon Palace was indeed someone who smiled innocently and warmly at those she considered allies, but… if she regarded someone as an enemy, she would distance herself and close off her heart.

She was clear in distinguishing friend from foe. That trait made her look like a rodent hiding in a burrow.

It felt really awkward to feel the contrast directly, but the Black Princess steadied her resolve.

If Maid Seol is won over by the Azure Princess, Tae Pyeong will be in trouble…!

Seol Tae Pyeong who had returned to Cheongdo Palace after nearly two years.

Lately, she hadn’t seen Seol Tae Pyeong because he was managing the Hwalseong District, but the Black Princess still considered Seol Tae Pyeong to be her close friend.

In this Cheongdo Palace where scheming was rampant, having a friend of the same age with whom she could truly open her heart was more precious than gold.

Naturally, it was important to prevent anything that could cause trouble for that friend in advance. After all, it would be nice to see each other after such a long time.

In other words, it was best to bring junior maid Seol Ran to the Black Tortoise Palace.

…Even if the conclusion seemed a bit strange, it wasn’t entirely wrong from her perspective.

“You still look healthy, Azure Princess!”

The Black Princess was like a bright flower garden.

Rumors about her had already spread among the maids.

If one were to choose the most authoritative of the palace mistresses, it would be the Vermilion Princess of the Vermilion Bird Palace, but if one were to choose the best person to work under, it would be the Black Princess of the Black Tortoise Palace.

Perhaps because she came from a commoner background, she always smiled brightly, cared for her maids well, was understanding, and maintained minimal authority. Those around her all felt comfortable.

However, she wasn’t just an easy person who smiled all the time. Her words always carried clear intent; she had read numerous books, and she often showed insights that even the high officials of the main palace could not dismiss.

Was it because she had devoured all the books in the main palace during Seol Tae Pyeong’s absence?

The once bright and cheerful girl had become well-versed in the laws of Cheongdo Palace and had grown into a proper lady.

However, a person’s true nature doesn’t change that easily.

“It seems I haven’t seen the Azure Princess in a while, so I came to check in on you!”

“……”

The Black Princess was said to be the best among the four princess consorts in terms of sociability.

Just like the saying, “You can’t spit on a smiling face”, no matter how dignified the Azure Princess is, it was hard for her to reject someone with such demeanor.

This person, who seemed to embody the concept of brightness, has a mysterious ability to draw anyone into her flow with a gentle smile. It didn’t matter how fierce the other party in front of her was. Of course, the Azure Princess with her innocent nature had almost no resistance.

Indeed, if one were to pick the Azure Princess’s nemesis among the four princess consorts, it would undoubtedly be the Black Princess.

While the Black Princess often sought the maids’ permission to take night walks or meet with people in the palace, the Azure Princess rarely left her room.

Though their personalities were fundamentally incompatible, the Black Princess’s positive energy made her indifferent to such differences.

“…Oh, really, Black Princess…”

However, the Azure Princess knew.

She knew that the Black Princess’s visit to Azure Dragon Palace at this precise time, when Seol Ran was brought in, was no coincidence.

She knew that the Black Princess was scheming to take Seol Ran, who was Seol Tae Pyeong’s sister, to the Black Tortoise Palace…!

The Azure Princess who was blessed with a great talent for Taoist magic could see the delusion in people’s hearts.

She was well aware that the Black Princess’s actions weren’t purely out of a desire to help a troubled friend.

Nevertheless, no matter how naive she seemed, the Black Princess was still the mistress of Black Tortoise Palace.

She couldn’t be treated with indifference. As an honored guest of Azure Dragon Palace, she had to be afforded every courtesy.

“I heard that Maid Seol is also at the Azure Dragon Palace, so I wanted to see you too!”

A smile as clean as falling flower petals.

“I heard that you are the sister of Commander Seol, so I was quite curious about what kind of person you might be!”

There didn’t seem to be any hidden malice in the Black Princess’s words. It felt as if sunlight was pouring out from behind her, making one feel like they might melt and disappear in its warmth.

“……”

Of course, Seol Ran who stood beside her with her head bowed was having a miserable time.

Seol Ran was well aware of everything.

The Black Princess was here solely to take Seol Ran to the Black Tortoise Palace. However, from Seol Ran’s perspective, going to the Black Tortoise Palace wouldn’t change much of her situation.

“I apologize, Black Princess. I am just a maid who was expelled from the Heavenly Dragon Hall for my bad conduct…”

“Then you can work at the Black Tortoise Palace!”

The Black Princess’s words allowed no room for negotiation.

At that sudden suggestion, the Azure Princess couldn’t help but widen her eyes in surprise.

While the Azure Princess had been trying to win over Maid Seol’s favor with endless compliments and various gifts, the Black Princess simply pushed through with her energetic demeanor.

“Y-Yes? B-Black Princess.”

“Although I must maintain my dignity as the mistress of Black Tortoise Palace, I was a close friend of Commander Seol even before I took my position!”

To be precise, the friendship between the Black Princess and Seol Tae Pyeong developed after the Black Princess was appointed to her position, but such minor details didn’t matter now.

“I heard that as a maid, your skills are excellent, so as the owner of Black Tortoise Palace, I can’t just let such a talent slip away, can I?”

“W-Wait a moment, Black Princess. We should also consider Maid Seol’s own opinion.”

“Oh, I see. Azure Princess, you are very determined to take Maid Seol with you as well!”

The very fact that she almost kidnapped Seol Ran and brought her to her palace in the first place meant that the Azure Princess had a strong will to somehow tie this maid to the Azure Dragon Palace.

Since it was impossible for the Black Princess not to be aware of this, the Azure Princess felt as if the Black Princess’s actions were a challenge toward her.

Throwing a sweet invitation to the maid she had her eye on and asking her to come to the Black Tortoise Palace. This was akin to disregarding the Azure Princess, wasn’t it?

“Indeed, Azure Princess, your insight is keen and profound! Since you have chosen her, there is no doubt about her qualities…!”

However, the Black Princess was a master of social skills.

The Azure Princess who had only trained in Taoism techniques in her inner chamber was no match for her silver tongue.

“Y-Yes…? Yes…”

“Every time, your eye for people amazes me, Azure Princess. No wonder the high officials of our palace look at you with admiration and call you a sage…!”

“Th-That’s not true…”

“So, I seem to have momentarily forgotten my manners. Of course, your opinion is important too, Azure Princess.”

Even though the Black Princess’s ability to praise the Azure Princess while leading the conversation into a less confrontational situation was remarkable…

“But…! In the end, the most important thing is Maid Seol’s own opinion, isn’t it? Whether it’s the Black Tortoise Palace or the Azure Dragon Palace, it would be best for her to go where she can showcase her abilities and work comfortably…!”

“B-But that is…”

The Black Princess deftly shifted the focus to Maid Seol’s wishes, making it seem as if a serpent had slithered over a wall.

Throughout this process, she didn’t offend her opponent, and her lively demeanor made it hard to argue against her.

Meeting her gaze felt like being surrounded by blooming flowers.

The Azure Princess was not someone who could dominate the atmosphere and lead the conversation.

“You know, the Black Tortoise Palace is rumored among the maids to be a great place to work, right? What do you think, Maid Seol?”

“Th-That is…”

The Azure Princess looked anxiously at Seol Ran from across the table.

In contrast, the Black Princess seemed to be urging her to come closer with her lively eyes.

How could they expect a mere maid to choose between the Azure Princess and the Black Princess?

Seol Ran felt a wave of darkness overcome her vision!

Please, someone help me…!

Standing at the crossroads of choosing between hell and purgatory, Seol Ran was shedding tears in her heart.

Creeeak

“Excuse me for interrupting, but a martial official has visited the Azure Dragon Palace.”

Indeed.

Whenever Seol Ran was in danger, that reliable swordsman would appear out of nowhere to protect her.

Seol Ran’s only brother… he always appeared like a hero in her moments of crisis.

“Who is it that has arrived?”

“I heard it is Commander Seol Tae Pyeong, who returned to Cheongdo Palace today.”

At this, a brief silence fell in the tea room with the arrival of the individual in question.

Indeed. For both the Black Princess and the Azure Princess, it had been nearly two years since they last met Seol Tae Pyeong.

Things always happened unexpectedly.

The reason Commander Seol Tae Pyeong came to the Azure Dragon Palace was, of course, because Maid Seol Ran was there.

Maid Seol Ran was his most cherished kin, more precious to him than his own life. It was said that if anything happened to her, he might turn the court upside down without hesitation.

But still, all the Azure Princess did after bringing her to the Azure Dragon Palace was serve her some fine tea and present her with a few gifts.

The idea that the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace would go to such lengths to win over a mere maid was so absurd that it was difficult for Seol Tae Pyeong to even imagine the situation unfolding this way.

Anyway, if Seol Tae Pyeong entered the tea room, all she needed to do was explain the situation.

She would say that Maid Seol Ran was so thoughtful and capable that she wanted to bring her to the Azure Dragon Palace.

She only wanted to give her some gifts, serve her some tea, and, if possible, establish a friendly relationship.

Considering Seol Tae Pyeong’s nature of loving and bragging about his older sister, it was much more likely that this would be a factor in adding points rather than deducting points.

…

Indeed.

The Azure Princess sometimes imagined herself wandering alone in a flower garden.

In these whimsical daydreams, Seol Tae Pyeong occasionally said such things.

Oh, thank you for taking care of my sister, Azure Princess. I’ve been so distant and didn’t show my face around here. I’ll visit the Azure Dragon Palace often to take care of my sister and see you too. You’ve grown so much in the past two years that I almost didn’t recognize you. You’ve become a real beauty. Damn, I can’t hide my feelings anymore. Azure Princess, the truth is, I fell in love with you at first sight. On the next crescent moon night, let’s escape the palace together to find our own future. A bright future as radiant as the full moon awaits us. Look at the sky. That vast and blue sky represents our hopeful tomorrow.

“Aah.”

The Azure Princess quickly composed herself as she examined her makeup in front of the mirror.

Since Seol Tae Pyeong said he would visit the tea room, she thought she should check her appearance once more.

Though one might say it was excessive to fuss over a mere upper fifth rank military officer visiting as a guest, Headmaid Hwa In who knew of the situation well bowed and helped adjust the princess’s clothing. Her expression was as lifeless as a dying corpse.

Meanwhile, the Black Princess who remained in the tea room started dusting off the ends of her court robe.

Yes, it had been two years since she last saw Seol Tae Pyeong.

She had heard the news. There were many stories about how his appearance had changed due to the hardships he endured while hunting demonic spirits.

Moreover, he was no longer an apprentice warrior but now held an upper fifth rank official position, so his uniform and demeanor must have changed significantly.

The thought of seeing Seol Tae Pyeong so suddenly made her heart pound, but as the mistress of one of the four great palaces, she couldn’t afford to be overly excited.

…I can’t miss this opportunity just because my heart is fluttering.

The Azure Princess also firmly steadied herself.

After all, this was the Azure Dragon Palace. Although there was little hierarchy among the crown princess consorts, in this place, the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace should hold the initiative.

Let’s set aside my excitement about seeing Tae Pyeong for now… and think calmly about how to keep Maid Seol in the Azure Dragon Palace…

The Azure Princess took a deep breath and regained her calm.

Yes, for now, she needed to focus on bringing Maid Seol to the Azure Dragon Palace by any means necessary.

In fact, the method wasn’t difficult. She just needed to push forward.

What did it matter if he was a Fifth Rank Commander? No matter how high a military official’s position was elevated, they couldn’t challenge the authority of the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace. Only positions like General or Vice General were high enough to warrant respectful speech.

So… she just needed to “inform” him.

Hey, your sister is nice. I’m taking her. Simple as that.

Even if the Azure Princess declared this, what could Seol Tae Pyeong do with his authority?

He couldn’t do anything. Nothing at all.

If, in the process, Seol Tae Pyeong harbored any resentment, it would be heartbreaking for her, but even so, there were limits to how he could oppose a benefactor who cared so much for his sister.

The only variable was if the Black Princess got in the way, but she wouldn’t be fooled twice by that radiant and lively demeanor. the Black Princess also knew. This was the Azure Dragon Palace.

In the Azure Dragon Palace, it was natural for the mistress to take control of the situation.

“Commander Seol Tae Pyeong is here.”

As soon as the Azure Princess finished organizing her thoughts, a senior maid entered the tearoom and announced this.

The Azure Princess cleared her throat and ordered him to be brought into the tearoom.

No matter how highly ranked a military official was, they couldn’t freely come and go in the inner palace.

He probably came with some justification, but it would be better to establish her dominance before even hearing that justification.

The Azure Princess pressed her chest to calm herself… and slowly watched as the paper door opened.

Slide

When the paper door opened, she saw Seol Tae Pyeong bowing his head and kneeling.

Yes, it had been a full two years since their last meeting.

“Commander Seol Tae Pyeong here. As I am soon to be appointed as the inner swords commander of the inner palace, I came to pay my respects in advance.”

A formal appearance

Was that the pretext Seol Tae Pyeong had chosen?

Certainly, if he were to be appointed as the inner swords commander overseeing the maids of the inner palace, it was proper court etiquette to make a formal appearance before the mistresses of each palace.

In truth, he had likely rushed here upon hearing that Maid Seol was present.

Seeing Seol Tae Pyeong kneeling down, the Black Princess and the Azure Princess swallowed dryly.

It had been two years since they last saw Seol Tae Pyeong.

Compared to his days as an apprentice warrior, he looked much more reliable now. He seemed taller and his shoulders were broader. He now gave off the impression of a young man rather than a boy.

His well-fitted military uniform was of much higher rank now. Yet his face bore no traces of time, making it easy to recognize him as the Seol Tae Pyeong they knew.

Two years. A long time for some, short for others.

In truth, how much could they have missed him? Life in Cheongdo Palace wasn’t relaxed enough to allow for idle thoughts.

However, upon seeing Seol Tae Pyeong’s face after such a long time, both of them found themselves momentarily speechless.

“I greet the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace, the Azure Princess.”

As he said this and bowed his head… the Azure Princess’s lips trembled, and she found herself unable to speak.

However, she had made a decision.

Here, she had to take control of the atmosphere.

The resolute Azure Princess spoke first in a stern voice.

“……”

No, no words came out.

The Azure Princess quickly covered her face with the edge of her court robe’s sleeves and glanced sideways at the edge of the paper door.

She was too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

The Black Princess still had her lively smile, but she awkwardly observed Seol Tae Pyeong’s features.

Tae Pyeong-ah… you came to save me …!

Only Maid Seol Ran showed a delighted expression upon seeing Seol Tae Pyeong…

But for some reason, Seol Tae Pyeong had a worried look as he bowed his head.

Tae, Tae Pyeong-ah… why do you look so troubled…?

It was as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have before entering the Azure Dragon Palace.

Seol Tae Pyeong had entered Cheongdo Palace early in the morning, visited the Crown Prince’s palace, met the vice general of the main palace, and even saw the Heavenly Maiden of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

Seol Tae Pyeong who left Heavenly Dragon Hall and was heading towards Azure Dragon Palace… saw a group of maids slowly moving towards the Azure Dragon Palace as well.

Seeing someone leading over twenty maids toward the Azure Dragon Palace in a hurry, Seol Tae Pyeong realized he needed to enter the palace quickly before things worsened.

However, no matter how fast he was, there were limits.

Behind Seol Tae Pyeong who was kneeling, the same senior maid of the Azure Dragon Palace appeared. Her sleeves pressed together as she bowed her head.

“Um… Azure Princess…”

She seemed embarrassed, thinking she might be reporting too frequently.

Nevertheless, she had to do her duty.

“What is it? With so many esteemed guests here…”

“That is … the Vermilion Princess…. has entered the Azure Dragon Palace…”

“……”

Was there some annual event being held at the Azure Dragon Palace today?

It seemed that way, with so many important guests arriving.

However, none of them had been invited.

From the Azure Princess’s perspective, aside from Seol Tae Pyeong and Seol Ran, they were all unwelcome guests.

However…. no matter how much she was the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace, she could not neglect the mistresses of the other four great palaces. Such was the law of the palace.

…Is this place a living hell?

The Vermilion Princess thought this as soon as she entered the Azure Dragon Palace’s tea room.

The mistress of the palace, Jin Cheong Lang, sat at the head of the table while looking at her surroundings. Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong sat to one side while awkwardly smiling.

Next to the tea table, Maid Seol Ran was sweating profusely with her head bowed… Meanwhile, Seol Tae Pyeong also had a frozen expression on his face as he knelt in front of the paper door.

The headmaids of each palace stood behind their mistresses and nervously swallowed their dry saliva.

Just witnessing the scene would make one feel as if they had stepped into the middle of a battlefield.

The Vermilion Princess had to steady her head which started to feel dizzy for a moment.

There was no chaos like this chaos.

The air is cold.

The Great Prison Hall. A place that detained and managed the outer palace’s criminals.

A man with a terrifying appearance stood outside the small iron bars and he was quietly gazing at the rising sun.

His disheveled white hair was covered in mud, which made him look no different from a beggar.

The robe he wore had once been a luxurious one, but now it was filthy after it met the wrong owner.

“.…….”

White Taoist priest An Cheon.

A young Taoist who would inherit the energy of the White Immortal Mountain. The man destined to become the next White Immortal of the palace.

Together with Warrior Commander Jang Rae, he would become one of the strongest allies of Seol Ran, the future Heavenly Maiden.