Chapter 74: You Should Have Done Better When You Had the Chance Part 2

“…Tae Pyeong-ah, how should I react to this?”

“……”

“At twenty years old, you’ve started daydreaming of acting like an assassin.”

The next day I entered the Heavenly Dragon Hall. I was fully dressed in the uniform of the Black Moon Unit and was wearing the hood worn by the Black Moon Unit members.

Since I took the position of Bright Moon General, there were too many eyes watching me, so I decided to pretend to be a Black Moon Unit member when entering the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

Anyway, as long as I had my authorization, I could enter and exit the Cheongdo Palace freely, and showing my Heavenly Dragon Tablet would allow me to access the Heavenly Dragon Hall, so it wasn’t a big problem.

There was no benefit in frequently showing myself entering and exiting the Heavenly Dragon Hall, so it seemed better to pretend to be a Black Moon Unit member on a mission from the Bright Moon General when working secretly within the Cheongdo Palace.

“Due to various circumstances, I’ll be visiting in this appearance for a while. It’s not like you didn’t see this coming.”

“That’s true. But now that you’re a third rank high official, wouldn’t acting as an assassin damage your dignity?”

“…Dignity, you say…”

“……”

“……”

“…Tae Pyeong-ah. Did you hold back your words just now?”

“…No, I didn’t.”

“……”

When thinking of dignity… what came to my mind was the image of the Heavenly Maiden nearly flipping her skirt in front of the Emperor.

Yes, lately, I felt that I was lacking a sense of danger.

No matter how much the image of Yeon Ri flashed before my eyes… the Heavenly Maiden standing before me was the mistress of this Heavenly Dragon Hall and the woman who held the highest authority in the Cheongdo Palace.

No matter how reckless she appeared… she was someone who must be respected and served with the utmost courtesy…

I must not forget that fact…

“Yes, Tae Pyeong-ah… I called you here today because there is something I must do…”

“Something you must do?”

“…Listen but don’t misunderstand, Tae Pyeong-ah.”

Yeon Ri hesitated, took a sip of cold water, lowered her gaze, and said.

“For my plan for the Moon Demonic Spirit incident … things turned out a little differently than I expected, so I hurriedly kicked out Maid Seol to the Great Prison Hall…”

“……”

“But now that everything has been resolved, we need to bring Maid Seol back to the Heavenly Dragon Hall…”

Seol Ran, the protagonist of the “Heavenly Dragon Love Story” had become a senior maid due to her contributions in saving Crown Prince Hyeon Won’s life during the last assassination attempt.

It was unbelievable that I had been appointed to the position of Bright Moon General at my age, but it was equally remarkable that Seol Ran had become a senior maid given her experience and age.

A senior maid held a position where she could take responsibility for various matters inside and outside the palace. Senior maids often manage a group of ten or so court ladies on their own or enter a senior management position in a department that oversees a large section of the palace.

Normally, when a maid entered Cheongdo Palace, becoming a senior maid was often the last position she would reach.

The gap between a senior maid and a junior maid was too great. In other words, Seol Ran had become someone who was fully recognized as a maid.

“Normally, Maid Seol should work in the Heavenly Dragon Hall and check on the affairs of the Crown Prince’s Palace whenever she has time…”

“……”

“But because I sent her to the Great Prison Hall, she ended up becoming a maid in the Crown Prince’s Palace entirely… We need to bring Maid Seol back to the Heavenly Dragon Hall somehow so that she can eventually take the path to becoming the Heavenly Maiden…”

One of the most important tasks for Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun was to ensure that Seol Ran could smoothly take over her position.

“…Can’t you just order it, Your Highness? Isn’t it possible to bring in at least a senior maid with the authority of the Heavenly Maiden?”

“That’s… It’s different if she’s a maid of the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

“Ah… I think I understand the situation roughly.”

Who could possibly defy the will of the Heavenly Maiden?

However, there was someone.

There were only a few in the Cheongdo Palace who could challenge the authority of the Heavenly Maiden without hesitation. Those few were the imperial family members.

No matter how high the Heavenly Maiden’s status was, it wasn’t easy for her to take a maid favored by Crown Prince Hyeon Won.

“…So Crown Prince Hyeon Won has appointed Ran-noonim as his personal maid.”

“Yes… Now your sister will start to captivate all the peerless handsome men in the palace… As time goes on, Maid Seol’s value will only increase.”

The story of the “Heavenly Dragon’s Love Story” was now entering its main trajectory.

Seol Ran who was both determined and strong-willed had the ability to attract people to her. If she could influence various factions within the palace, many would want to bring her over to their side.

It was to the extent that they needed to bring Seol Ran back to Heavenly Dragon Hall before the competition intensified.

“We could try various tricks… but the most effective way is for Ta Pyeong to use his power.”

What kind of person was Seol Ran? When she decided to do something, she would roll up her sleeves and confidently raise her voice. If I asked her directly, she might come to the Heavenly Dragon Hall …

“Maid Seol cares about you very much, so she would probably agree to your request. Wouldn’t she?”

“That’s true, but there’s no justification for it. If I ask her out of the blue, she will be suspicious and ask for a reason.”

Staying in the Crown Prince’s palace was convenient for her career and offered many benefits.

Moreover, if she stayed still, she would receive various forms of support from Crown Prince Hyeon Won. There was no reason for Seol Ran to leave the Crown Prince’s palace.

In order to persuade Seol Ran, we needed a reason…

“Then… since it’s okay for a temporary period of time, what if Tae Pyeong becomes a member of the Heavenly Dragon Hall?”

“Joining the Heavenly Dragon Hall? Even though I’m a third rank official, how could I belong to a place that’s almost off-limits to men?”

“Hmm… Could we pass it off as a guard position? Since you have the title of the Inner Swords Commander, you can freely enter and leave the inner palace. If we use the excuse that I’m too anxious because of the Moon Demonic Spirit incident, it might work. Especially since I collapsed in front of the Emperor which helped emphasize how frail I am; we could try it. Look, I’m a sickly girl.”

“……”

“…Answer.”

“Ah… Yes… That’s true…”

“…I feel like I’m going to cry…”

Anyway, everyone who knew me knew there was some sort of supportive relationship between me and the Heavenly Maiden.

Even if I joined the Heavenly Dragon Hall now, no one would question it…

“And, you know… We can start spreading rumors. Like how Bright Moon General Seol Tae Pyeong is working so hard at the Heavenly Dragon Hall that his health is deteriorating and he’s mentally struggling. When you see Maid Seol, you should lament about how the work is too tough and how it is causing you so much stress.”

“…Is there really anything in the Heavenly Dragon Hall guard duties that would cause such mental stress?”

“It’s just for show… Then how do you think Maid Seol will react? She always loses her composure when it comes to you.”

Seol Ran’s reaction was easy to predict. She had reacted similarly when I was imprisoned in the underground prison of the Red Palace.

She would rush out with all sorts of bundles while fussing over who had been tormenting her precious brother.

And since she had become a senior maid and could somewhat choose her workplace, she would want to work at the Heavenly Dragon Hall where she could also look after her brother. That was the Heavenly Maiden’s theory.

“No matter how much she wants it, if Crown Prince Hyeon Won insists on keeping her, it won’t matter. How can a mere senior maid defy the Crown Prince’s orders?”

“Well… the will of the person is important. If Maid Seol is always worried, always sighs deeply, and thinks about her brother all day long, even the Crown Prince wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. You can command a person with power, but you can’t command their heart.”

“Hmm…”

That made sense.

I felt a little uncomfortable because it seemed like I was taking advantage of Seol Ran’s concern for her younger brother…. but the intention behind this plan was to elevate Seol Ran to the status of the Heavenly Maiden. It wasn’t like I was going to use her for my own personal gain.

However…

“…May I speak honestly and without any reservation?”

“Yes, go ahead. Besides, Tae Pyeong-ah, you’ve been speaking honestly and without reservation lately anyway.”

“Really…? I always try to be aware that I am in the presence of the Heavenly Maiden and to maintain proper etiquette…”

“You say that, but… Tae Pyeong-ah, you have a knack for cursing with your facial expressions alone…”

“……”

“……”

“…Anyway, while the plan itself makes sense… I feel a bit uneasy.”

Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun responded while adjusting her sleeves as she sat in the pavilion.

“Uneasy? Which part are you uneasy about?”

“…The fact that it’s your plan, Your Highness.”

“Our Tae Pyeong has become quite mean…”

“Your past records are too colorful…”

I rested my chin on my hand and went into deep thought.

Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun’s plan couldn’t possibly be flawless…! If I think about it carefully, there must be some loopholes…!

“Well, anyway, I will consider various options to bring Ran-noonim to the Heavenly Dragon Hall. If there’s no other way, we will follow your plan, Your Highness. Although it doesn’t inspire much confidence…”

“…I feel like Tae Pyeong’s attitude towards me is getting harsher as time goes by …”

“…That can’t be possible. By the way, Your Highness, I actually have another favor to ask of you.”

Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun had called for me, but I had some business of my own to discuss.

“A favor? Well, as long as it’s within my authority, I’ll help, but is it about the Hwalseong District?”

“Yes, exactly. We need more personnel to manage the Hwalseong District, but I’m not sure where to recruit them from.”

“There are many who would join, but you can’t just use anyone.”

There was no one to use.

It was something people in high positions often said, and now that I was in that position, I fully understood what they meant.

There were many people, but no suitable ones.

Even if you tried to train them, it took a lot of effort, and most of the good ones were already taken.

“We need a few more civil officials to manage internal affairs, a headmaid to oversee the maids, and additional personnel for various tasks…”

“Indeed… when some military officials gain a bit of power, some influential people often cozy up and get introduced to them. It’s probably a display of their ambition to position their family members under powerful military officials, but if this gets used well, you might be able to find some useful people.”

Was she suggesting I ally myself with influential figures?

However, most of the powerful families in Cheongdo Palace were deeply corrupt.

While I wasn’t keen on joining hands with them, it seemed unavoidable.

“I understand your concerns, Tae Pyeong-ah. I’ll see if I can find some people on my end too. There are quite a few decent individuals within the Heavenly Dragon Hall as well.”

“Ah, yes… thank you.”

“……”

“…Why do you look like that?”

“It’s been so long since I received a sincere thank you from you, Tae Pyeong…”

Isn’t that your own doing?

I couldn’t bring myself to say that out loud.

Let’s not forget…

The girl in front of me is the Heavenly Maiden…

“Oh, right. There’s another important matter. This is really important, so listen seriously.”

“…Yes.”

Eventually, Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun adopted a very serious expression on her face as she spoke.

Given that she could foresee the future to some extent, her serious demeanor made me even more tense.

“…Tae Pyeong-ah. What do you think? Do I look like I’ve gained some weight lately…?”

“……”

“Does it show on the outside?”

“……”

Let’s not forget…

The girl in front of me is the Heavenly Maiden…

The White Princess who was walking through the inner palace with her maids was deep in thought.

What must she do to win over Bright Moon General Seol Tae Pyeong?

Flattery and fawning wouldn’t work, and forcibly offering bribes would only backfire. While there was talk of charming him, he wasn’t someone who could be swayed by such tactics.

Whether it was the Azure Princess or the Vermilion Princess, they were the most beautiful and noble women who were selected and meticulously guided over the years which resulted in them becoming beauties among beauties. However, the Bright Moon General didn’t even bat an eye and pushed them away.

There was no fortress like his ironclad walls.

If he were at least a highly ambitious man, she could promise rewards befitting his aspirations, but that didn’t seem to be the case. There was no point in delving into that line of thinking.

…When he kneeled at the White Tiger Palace and said all those shameless things…!

The White Princess fanned her face vigorously and closed her eyes tightly.

I should have handled it better back then…!

One should do well when they have the chance.

Now, it’s pointless to regret.

Even if she brought up things from years ago now, she’d be lucky if her sincerity wasn’t doubted.

Anyway, in terms of political protocol, the White Princess ranked much higher than the Bright Moon General, so if she formally expressed respect, it would be difficult for him to outright refuse.

While he might not accept bribes, it would be hard to reject formal gifts as it would seem rude to the giver.

The problem was that recruiting him as an ally was an entirely different level of difficulty.

Yes… They say to shoot the horse before taking the general.

She needed to reconsider her approach.

First, if she had to pick the person he cherished most in Cheongdo Palace, it would be his sister Seol Ran.

However, the plan to recruit Seol Ran had been attempted by other crown Princess consorts as well.

Each time, Seol Ran firmly refused which caused most of them to give up. Forcing her would only breed resentment from Seol Tae Pyeong and would be meaningless.

That maid must know that if she gets entangled with someone, it would be a burden to the Bright Moon General.

Recruiting Seol Ran seemed difficult.

Not only was her resolve strong, but approaching her suddenly would arouse the suspicion of the other crown princess consorts.

Though she had no interest in Seol Tae Pyeong!

She just wanted to use him for her clan’s benefit and her personal benefit!

Didn’t it make her look like a scheming woman trying to entangle herself with Seol Tae Pyeong out of some personal desire…?

The White Princess suddenly felt a wave of heat down her spine, and she quickly turned her gaze to the wall and let out a hollow laugh.

In retrospect…I should have tried to get involved with the Bright Moon General in some way…

As she sighed, the White Princess felt a sudden sting to her pride.

Indeed, even if the other party was a third rank official, wasn’t she the mistress of the White Tiger Palace?

Although the White Princess was willing to put up with her humiliation to some degree for her own self-interest, she suddenly felt angry because it seemed like she was going through all the hardships of the heart every time because of that person named Seol Tae Pyeong.

Of course!! She had received some help from him when she was schemed against by that fourth consort Ha Chae Rim!

Of course!! She couldn’t deny that seeing him support her in the burning backyard of the White Tiger Palace made her think, even just a little, that he was a reliable man!

Of course!! She couldn’t deny that there were times when she shuddered to think what might have happened to her without Seol Tae Pyeong.

Right. His martial arts are somewhat good and he seems to be a decent person… but who does he think he is to try and control me, the mistress of the White Tiger Palace and a noblewoman from the Inbong clan?

Seol Tae Pyeong didn’t actually try to control her.

It was just that there was no one else around for her to get angry at …

My pride is starting to get hurt… Yes, I’ve always been the one being swayed… This time, I need to pay him back.

As she had always said, the White Princess was not a gentle woman. If anything, she had a rather bad temperament.

Repaying kindness with enmity? She did it as easily as eating a meal. She never let such trivial emotions get in the way of political gain. No matter what anyone said, she was a cold-hearted person.

Still, it was a strange thing. Even she found it puzzling that, despite being someone who could throw away her pride for the sake of gain, she wanted to maintain her pride particularly when it came to Seol Tae Pyeong.

In fact, even while dealing with Seol Tae Pyeong, it wasn’t that she didn’t have a clever plan to bring him down a peg…

A very satisfying and certain way to take control of the relationship…

A way to make Seol Tae Pyeong unable to do anything but be swayed by her… A way to hit him hard… it wasn’t that she didn’t have it…

But it was something that would require a lot of determination from the White Princess as well.

“…….”

The White Princess felt a rush of blood in her head.

Her chest felt heavy, and it was something that required a lot of courage…

But the White Princess was a woman who did what she set her mind to…

———————————==

Have you been well?

It has been quite some time since you ascended to the position of Bright Moon General, and I apologize for not asking after you.

As you know well, my status keeps me bound to the White Tiger Palace. So it is difficult to meet you freely.

However, I have always remembered your loyalty which you showed by believing in and helping me when the fourth consort tried to slander me. It has always weighed on my heart that I couldn’t thank you properly.

When the whole world doubted me, and my life hung by a thread, you believed in the truth and stood by me. You can’t imagine how grateful I was for that.

Even back then, I praised your deeds many times, yet I still often wanted to check on your well-being. I often thought of calling you to the White Tiger Palace.

Since I knew how capable you were, I wasn’t all that surprised to see you rise in the world so quickly. Instead, I felt joy as if it were my own success, and I would smile when I gazed at the tip of the plum branches outside my window. You were always someone who deserved to shine.

General Seol.

Please, don’t misunderstand what I am about to say.

Your character is as honorable as if you had been taught by the Emperor himself, and your skills as a warrior are like a god of war descended to earth; you are a master who possesses both wisdom and strength.

However, one day I came to a realization. I wasn’t looking at you with pride as a capable military officer.

On a beautiful night with a gentle breeze, when I looked up at the night sky alone, sometimes your face would overlap with the full moon.

Or when I received a fragrant vase as a gift, I would sometimes think of sharing that scent with you for no reason.

When I tasted delicious food, when I received high-quality silk, when the embroidery turned out beautifully today…

I would think of your face for no reason, and suddenly feel a prick in my chest as if a thorn had lodged there. It feels as if your face was engraved on my eyelids.

And then, the memory of you confessing your feelings to me comes to my mind again … and my heart becomes even more troubled.

I feel regret for how coldly I treated you back then. This is the first time I’ve felt this way about myself.

I know too. As the mistress of the White Tiger Palace, I am bound by many things.

However, how can a person’s heart move according to reason?

But this feeling must always remain within me, it would do no good to reveal it.

However, to you… I hope this feeling isn’t seen as a flaw.

It may be a foolish hope of a foolish woman, but I don’t want you to see this feeling as a burden.

What one calls this feeling may differ for each person… but at least I have decided what to call it.

Even as I write this letter, hesitation and reluctance seem to torment me.

I know well that informing you of this is nothing more than an act of tightening my own bonds.

However, in life, there are things that you just can’t get through without doing them. So, I hope you too will respond.

Is this feeling I have for you a flaw in your eyes?

Or will you gladly accept this flaw of mine with joy?

I wanted to ask this, so I spent several nights tossing and turning in bed while trying to sort out my troubled heart.

I suppressed my frustrated heart and wiped away the tears that were forming for no reason over and over again.

I had to calm my racing heart over and over again.

Please, I hope to hear your answer to my confession.

On the night of the next full moon, I will send away the maids in the inner chamber of the White Tiger Palace.

As the Inner Swords Commander, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to slip in unnoticed.

Please, comfort this heart of mine that has nowhere else to turn… I beg you…

I want to see your face.

I miss you, deeply and desperately.

Ha Wol

———————————==

“General Seol, you don’t look well. Is something wrong?”

In the Bright Moon General’s office.

Seol Tae Pyeong placed the silk scroll that was filled with sincerity down and bowed his head with a pale face.

His adjutant Bi Cheon asked about his condition out of concern, but no answer came.

The political landscape of Cheongdo Palace was said to be a continuous battle of wits. And the White Princess was like a fox who had survived there for a long time.

Indeed, no matter what, the strongest weapon the White Princess possessed was her status as the crown princess consort.

No one could challenge Seol Tae Pyeong in a battle of wits with half-hearted resolve.

To attempt to subdue a person like the Bright Moon General, one needed the spirit to stake even their own life…!

The secret technique Seol Tae Pyeong had unleashed on the White Princess was skillfully turned back against him.

Confession as punishment──the art of counterattack.

“……”

Seol Tae Pyeong was left in a daze!