The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 93



< Meeting of Giants >

“Come in Unam.”

After the successful conclusion of the meeting of the Seven I immediately called Syngman Rhee to my annex in New York.

It became clear that Morgan had Woodrow Wilson in mind as a possible candidate for the next presidency.

He was summoned because we had to prepare countermeasures as soon as possible.

“Your Majesty the King how have you been? Please accept my greetings first.”

As soon as Syngman Rhee entered his office he tried to bow deeply in the Korean style.

Unlike Seo Jae-pil’s speech at the last scholarship award ceremony he advised people not to forget the spirit of the Korean people.

I guess you still remember this.

“Let’s just shake hands from now on. It’s not like I just came to America.”

Since when….

Syngman Rhee began using the word ‘little man’ whenever referring to himself.

Bow deeply here.

‘Was it when the gap between Syngman Rhee and me began to grow to an insurmountable level?’

I gave him a burdened look and urged him to get up quickly.

“Yes. Are you finishing up your master’s degree program?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“English isn’t my native language… You must have worked very hard.”

Syngman Rhee mentioned the Korean residents in the West and Hawaii with a serious expression.

“In these difficult working conditions Koreans are pooling their money and donating it to scholarship foundations. So how can we complain about the difficulty of pursuing academic studies?”

He then continued to praise me.

Because the majority of the scholarships currently available were funds that I contributed.

He seemed to be trying to capture my heart by mentioning this one more time.

‘I sent him to college to tell him to study but… he just kept getting more and more flattered.’

He really seems like a promising future politician.

Because he spouts out sweet words without any hesitation.

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‘Well that’s a talent too.’

Some people feel as if they are suffering from a serious illness when they are flattered.

That’s more than you think.

When I worked as a lobbyist and possessed Lee Kang’s body I saw several people with such a strong personality.

I recalled this and asked Syngman Rhee again.

“Rumor has it that you Woonam will soon be applying for a PhD.”

“Yes that’s right.”

“So did you apply for tuition assistance from the Synthetic Scholarship Foundation?”

“I am sorry but I have to ask for help from Your Majesty and the people once again.”

“Isn’t that why the Synthetic Scholarship Foundation was created? By the way the first Korean to receive a doctorate will emerge soon. Much sooner than I thought.”

Syngman Rhee smiled faintly.

I looked at Syngman Rhee like that and thought about his current status.

‘Syngman Rhee is currently… nothing except the fact that he is highly educated.’

Those who could be seen as his competitors were all one step ahead of Syngman Rhee.

Even the first senior to study abroad Yu Gil-jun was like that.

Aren’t you currently living in the United States not Japan and building your political career?

‘Yoo Gil-jun has grown to the point where he is working as my right-hand man and will challenge for the position of the next Synthetic Association representative after me.’

If we compare people of the same age we can say that Ahn Chang-ho and Kim Kyu-sik stand out by a wide margin.

Kim Kyu-sik is already widely known to the world as my confidant.

Dosan was performing the role of a bridge connecting the Korean community Namida and the Joseon mainland.

This news was so well known that even Syngman Rhee heard it.

That’s why Syngman Rhee in front of me looked very anxious.

‘Hawaii his base has been destroyed. It’s a real shame for him.’

The early Hawaiian immigrants came to America by signing three-year contracts with sugar plantations.

Immigration to Hawaii began in 1902 and ended in 1905.

Many Korean residents have moved to western California and are living there after their contracts expire.

As a result the Korean community in Hawaii which could be seen as his political base was greatly reduced.

“Ah! Thank you so much for the letter you sent me last time.”

I analyzed Syngman Rhee’s current situation and mentioned the contents of the letter he sent me last month.

“Did Philip Jason say he met with the rich people from Joseon?”

“Yes Your Majesty. You can trust me I went as an interpreter.”

Syngman Rhee recalled past events and told me in detail about Seo Jae-pil’s movements.

“Professor Seo Jae-pil has recently become interested in publishing.”

“publishing?”

“Yes. To be exact I think they are planning to establish a second Korean newspaper.”

“Because it’s a Korean newspaper…”

“majesty.”

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“Speak Unam.”

“Are you going to let Mr. Seo establish a newspaper company?”

Seo Jae-pil is one of the influential figures in American society.

Like many famous independence activists he was also very clever.

He knew very well what he had to do to expand his influence.

“An American is creating a new media company… How can I comment on that?”

Well that’s what I’m saying.

We will have to prepare accordingly.

The power of the media is surprisingly great.

‘You suggested that the Lee Hoi-young family lend you money?’

Several solutions came to my mind.

‘What if I gave my money to Lee Hoi-young’s family in someone else’s name and then invested or lent money to Seo Jae-pil when he set up a media company?’

If Seo Jae-pil were to anonymously write an article that was harmful to me wouldn’t I be able to quickly collect the debt and shake up his company?

That may not happen.

However given Seo Jae-pil’s personality it was not possible to be 100% at ease.

Since I happened to have a lot of money in my pocket it seemed like a good idea to prepare for this kind of misfortune in advance.

“Well come to think of it it’s a shame to have only one Korean newspaper. There’s also a need to represent the voices of Korean residents from various perspectives. Aren’t there hundreds of thousands of Korean residents?”

I said to Syngman Rhee with an indifferent expression.

Because we are not close enough to reveal my true feelings to Syngman Rhee.

“Dosan also talked about the second and third media companies. I will talk to Dosan separately sometime.”

If there are many media outlets that are friendly to me the influence of the media outlet founded by Seo Jae-pil will decline even further.

The voice of one out of two Korean newspapers has a different impact than the voice of one out of ten.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

“Oh no.”

Syngman Rhee took my plan to establish a second or third media outlet quite seriously.

To be exact it was a regretful expression but it seemed that Syngman Rhee also wanted to run a media company.

‘Didn’t you say that you founded the Independent Newspaper together with Seo Jae-pil? Well in terms of history he was the one who rose to the position of President so he would know the importance of the press better than anyone else.’

I stared blankly at Syngman Rhee and said the following.

“For now I’m going to focus on getting my Ph.D..”

“….”

“If you just get a degree you will be able to use your skills in the Korean community someday.”

“yes.”

As I said before Syngman Rhee’s position in the current Korean community was ambiguous.

If I can get a doctorate and beat Seo Jae-pil I will be in a position to speak out to the Korean community.

‘So you’re going to keep me informed of Seo Jae-pil’s current situation and keep him in check. You’re going to win my favor.’

I approached Syngman Rhee and suggested his future direction which everyone knew.

“I have a favor to ask.”

I whispered lowering my voice a lot more than I usually do.

Then Syngman Rhee’s eyes sparkled.

You could tell just by looking at my expression that this was an important story.

I focused on the conversation so as not to miss anything.

“Just speak Your Majesty.”

“You’re going to Princeton to get your Ph.D.?”

“you’re right.”

“The president there is currently a man named Woodrow Wilson.”

“yes.”

“I might meet that guy sometime soon.”

“Are you talking about President Wilson?”

“Yeah. I’d like you to find out what he likes and what he’s interested in.”

Syngman Rhee rolled his eyes.

Because I’ve been spending a lot of time interpreting the implications of my last request.

“Your Majesty please trust me and leave it to me.”

“okay.”

We may also try to find Woodrow Wilson’s weakness through the Ikmunsa agent.

Wouldn’t Syngman Rhee also ask for some useful information?

I watched him leave the office with anticipation.

“majesty.”

“okay.”

“Young-ae has arrived.”

“Tell them to come in.”

Syngman Rhee has left.

And then the woman who would be my companion for the rest of my life came into my temporary office.

* * *

“Ethel.”

“This prince.”

At the meeting of the seven he revealed that he was dating Ethel.

I am 31 years old and Ethel is 26.

Both are not young.

So once the direction is set I think we will quickly move on to the next steps.

“Are you feeling better? You must be quite tired from coming all the way here from New Jersey.”

“Thank you for your concern Your Highness.”

Ethel bent her knees slightly lowered her head and then looked at me again.

Afterwards he sat down on the sofa in one corner of the office and spoke to me while drinking the tea my people had brought.

“Thanks to you I am very healthy. Since the announcement of my marriage my family has been taking such good care of me… I don’t have time to be tired.”

Ethel carefully placed her teacup on the table and relayed her family’s reactions to me.

“My father and uncle are smiling brightly today as well.”

“exactly?”

“Yes. Because things went smoothly the way you both wanted.”

As you wish.

As I squinted my eyes and tried to interpret Ethel’s words Ethel was the first to explain the meaning to me.

“They were both very eager. They wanted me to marry this prince.”

Ethel asked me her long hair flowing naturally.

“Excuse me Prince but may I ask you one question?”

“Okay! Ask me anything you’re curious about. I’ll answer.”

“Why did you choose me… as your prince’s companion?”

The reason I chose it…

His uncle is the richest man in America.

The first reason is that he is one of the top ten fathers in the world right?

‘She is also more attractive in appearance than other brides.’

That too huge.

But if I tell her this out loud won’t she get hurt?

I intend to put it in a roundabout way.

After searching for a plausible reason for a while I blurted out the very cliché that our meeting was fate.

“How can I stop what I feel like doing? That’s why I chose it.”

“P- You’re really good at lying. Seeing you say that without changing your expression I’m going to have a hard time from now on.”

Oh?

I crossed my arms and looked at Ethel.

“Then why did you choose me? I heard that your father asked for your opinion before introducing you to me.”

“As you know Your Majesty upper-class women are not able to date as they wish. This is especially true in families with strict family traditions.”

Ethel made a bored expression then looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“One day I will have to choose one of the marriage partners that my father has chosen for me. Among the many candidates who came and went as potential grooms the prince suddenly appeared in front of me. How could I refuse?”

In this day and age.

The romanticism about princes and princesses is truly enormous.

Especially among America’s upper class who have no foundation.

I nodded and told Ethel one thing with careful eyes.

“Ethel. If you marry me you will become the queen. At least a year ago.”

“….”

“But I was officially stripped of my title last year. It was because my brother gave in to Japanese pressure and took it.”

“I know.”

Ethel Rockefeller looked extremely sorry.

I was the one who had my title taken away.

Somehow it seemed like she had to be more depressed.

“But someday I will find it again. And maybe even rise to a higher position than before.”

“Do you think so?”

Ethel’s eyes changed slightly.

Previously.

It was similar to when we talked about art rather than charity work.

“Your Majesty you can’t even imagine it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The people in my family have something in common.”

“What do they have in common?”

“Yes. We the Rockefeller family are the most greedy of all. We have to be the best at everything.”

That’s why the Rockefeller family became the richest people in America Ethel added.

“Father and uncle badmouth to the prince the greed of Morgan and Baron Rothschild but… the world does not look favorably on our family at all.”

I know.

How did Rockefeller become the richest man in America?

They mercilessly kill their competitors and do not care about the means and methods for profit.

By intimidating them and taking over their rivals they monopolized the American oil market.

If they were people with gentle personalities this would be impossible.

“A Rockefeller never lets anything he has get taken away from him especially if it’s something valuable.”

Ethel emphasized that she also had Rockefeller blood in her blood.

“As Your Majesty knows I am also a member of the Rockefeller family.”

“I know.”

Ethel carefully confided her feelings to me.

“I want to be a princess. A princess loved by everyone.”

“Princess….”

“Yes. Since I’m marrying the prince the position of princess is mine. Isn’t that right?”

“yes.”

“I won’t let anyone take what’s mine.”

I leaned back slightly.

Seeing her words and actions that were completely different from before I was impressed on the one hand but also surprised on the other.

“You don’t hide anything from me. You show me everything as it is.”

“Desire is human nature. As a couple we will be together for the next fifty years or more so why should we hide it?”

okay.

It’s much better to state your demands out loud than to scheming behind their backs.

“Is there anything you would like to ask of me?”

“It may be rude but I have some demands. I have even put them in writing.”

Are you planning on writing a prenuptial agreement?

After I received the documents she had brought I began reading them out loud from the top.

“Ethel Geraldine Rockefeller Lee?”

“That will be my new name if I marry this prince.”

When Western women get married they change their last name from their father’s to the last name of the man they marry.

Well this is a well-known fact.

So I nodded and turned my attention to the next detail.

“Please name your first daughter Ethel and your second daughter Geraldine?”

“yes.”

Westerners always give their children my name.

“Please make sure to include Rockefeller as your middle name.”

Instead.

He said he would leave all his sons’ names to me.

However I asked again that if I were to create an English name I must include Rockefeller as my middle name.

‘You have tremendous confidence in your family line?’

what.

Not bad.

Because the Rockefeller brand was very popular in America at the time.

I also had plans to give my children Rockefeller as their middle names so I had no intention of fighting over this.

“If I move to San Francisco I’ll completely change the interior of my house?”

“Yes. Isn’t that a natural request as a future hostess? I included it because I wanted to make it clear.”

The official residence where Governor Padi lived was also decorated according to his wife’s taste.

In this era women were originally responsible for decorating the interiors of mansions.

The only exception is my office.

‘Are you planning to decorate the villa in the Joseon style?’

I want it.

What a great J-type talent.

If you look at the list of things to do in the future it looks like this.

‘The wedding is whatever I want… whether it’s Western or Eastern it doesn’t matter? Whether it’s big or small. And you’re leaving the size up to me?’

But if I ever regain my title of King or ascend to the throne of Emperor.

At that time I asked him to hold the biggest and most magnificent wedding in the world again.

‘Wow… you’re a bundle of desires. Really.’

Judging from his words and actions it was clear that he had the Rockefeller blood in him.

“Did you write this long list by yourself?”

“Yes. I’ve been getting through each day thinking about things like this. As you know women at home don’t have any hobbies to do. Oh I added the last one recently.”

They say cheating is okay.

However he asked that it not reach his ears.

“I only want my child to be the prince’s child. No illegitimate children. If you only keep that I will ignore anything else.”

anything.

I feel like I’m married to an amazing woman.

I opened my eyes wide and continued to stare at Ethel Rockefeller in silence for a while.

< Meeting of Giants > End