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Chapter: 13
“Your Majesty, you know of the Snow Tribe, don’t you? I carry the blood of the Snow Tribe.”
“The Snow Tribe.”
For a brief instant, a glimmer of light returned to the king’s dull, bloodshot eyes.
The Snow Tribe had originally been a secluded minority that lived in the northern snowfields. Very little was known about them, and they only became famous because of the Pyeong Empire’s conquest.
Rumors spread that the Empire had forcibly annexed that seemingly worthless land because of the Snow Tribe’s terrifying abilities. Of course, since the nature of those abilities was kept under the strictest secrecy, people could only speculate.
Even within the Empire, only a handful of people—including the Emperor—know the truth.
The descendant of a clan with mysterious powers dangerous enough to attract the Empire’s attention.
In a situation like this, it was the perfect identity to exploit.
It’s not like I can tell him that I’m the only daughter of the King of the Underworld, who spent every day traveling back and forth across the River of the Dead, so I can bring the Queen back.
Besides, saying it was possible through the Snow Tribe’s powers wasn’t exactly impossible.
“My mother, who belongs to the Snow Tribe, told me that if their abilities are used properly, even someone who has slept for this long can be awakened.”
“Is that… truly the truth?”
A thread of hope appeared on the king’s face.
Seok-ran had told me that ever since coming into contact with the Darkness, the king had lost his sanity and become obsessed with only one thing—awakening the queen.
Countless physicians, Taoists, and shamans had already come and gone. All of them had failed, and it had been quite some time since there was anyone left to summon.
There was no way the king could let go of the hope I had just offered.
“The Snow Tribe’s abilities… the Snow Tribe’s abilities…”
The anger faded from the king’s face as he muttered to himself before asking,
“What exactly are these abilities? Can they truly heal the Queen?”
“I don’t know the details myself. I’m still young, so I can’t use them very well yet. But my mother knows.”
I didn’t actually need Seol Deunghwa, but this was the only way to save Ru-hwa’s mother.
At my answer, the king impatiently pressed me.
“Who is your mother? Where is she? Is she far away? Send a royal courier at once and bring her here immediately! Every moment counts!”
Since yesterday’s wedding, Seol Deunghwa had been staying in the palace’s guest residence with the Pyeong Empire’s envoys—a place reserved for honored guests that required the king’s permission to occupy.
Yet he was asking where she was.
He really knew absolutely nothing.
After saving the Queen, I should also find a way to treat the king.
If anyone knew how, it would be the Flower Keeper of the Western Heavenly Flower Garden.
When I had asked Mother what happened to immortals who went insane after being caught by the Darkness, she told me that the Flower Keeper Hallakgung had cured them.
That could wait for later.
For now, I had to save the Crown Prince and Ru-hwa’s mothers first.
“If Your Majesty will write me a royal decree, I’ll personally bring my mother here.”
The king immediately summoned the Chief Royal Secretary, had a decree written, and handed it to me.
Things are moving incredibly fast. He doesn’t even really know who I am, and he didn’t even verify whether I’m truly from the Snow Tribe.
Judging by the king’s condition, the Crown Prince’s wedding probably hadn’t been decided under normal circumstances either.
Did he just stamp the imperial seal on whatever the ministers submitted without even knowing what it was?
There was an enormous difference between the king knowingly approving this marriage and merely placing his seal on it without understanding the contents.
I’ll check with the Eye of Heavenly Fate later.
Using it now would be risky. I had no idea how the already unstable king might react.
Still…
The queen and king had both been in this state for two years, while the Crown Prince had been ostracized as a creature of Darkness.
Then who actually holds the real power in this country right now?
Did that person want this dangerous situation to be resolved?
Or did they want the instability to continue?
If the Crown Prince were executed without incident and Prince Wanyan became the new Crown Prince, what would happen to that person’s authority?
Besides the people supporting the Crown Prince, I should also investigate this angle as the mastermind behind Ru-hwa’s assassination.
The Crown Prince, Cheon Gyeol-woo, suddenly opened his eyes.
Bright daylight filled the room.
How long did I sleep?
He hadn’t intended to fall asleep, yet he couldn’t remember when he had.
Startled, he sat upright.
The blanket covering him slid softly down.
This is… the blanket I covered my wife with…
Still dazed, the Crown Prince clutched the blanket and looked beside him.
The place where his young bride should have been sleeping was empty.
She was gone.
“…!”
A chill ran down his entire body.
Did she die? Did my wife disappear because she died? While I slept without realizing it, did the darkness crawling out of me kill her? If so… where’s the body? Did the maids already carry it away?
Fear squeezed the air from his lungs.
Throwing aside the blanket, Cheon Gyeol-woo rushed outside in a panic.
The eunuchs and court ladies waiting outside nearly fainted when they saw him.
“Aaaah!”
“Eek!”
Instinctively, the Crown Prince covered his face with his sleeve, stopped on the wooden veranda, and shouted,
“My wife! Where is the Crown Princess?”
“Th-the Crown Princess has gone to pay her respects!”
“…She has?”
At those words, his heart, which had been pounding wildly with terror, finally began to calm.
She wasn’t dead.
I didn’t kill her.
He rubbed his face with both hands before asking again,
“Why didn’t anyone wake me?”
“P-Please spare me!”
He hadn’t even spoken that harshly, yet the eunuch immediately threw himself to the ground, trembling.
The court lady beside him squeezed her eyes shut and practically screamed her reply.
“H-Her Highness said Your Highness was tired and ordered us not to wake you before she left!”
“…I see.”
“Th-Then we’ll take our leave…”
Watching the Crown Prince’s expression, the eunuch and court lady hurried away as though fleeing for their lives.
The eunuch who had been prostrating himself couldn’t even stand. He crawled away until someone else helped him disappear.
The Crown Prince silently watched them flee as though they had seen a monster before returning to the bridal chamber.
The blanket that had covered him earlier lay near the doorway.
Did my wife cover me before she left?
Only now did his mind begin functioning normally.
He stared blankly at the blanket before slowly sinking to the floor in front of it.
The morning sunlight filtered through the paper windows, falling over the young man.
It really is morning.
The night he had always feared had ended while he had drifted into sleep.
His young wife was alive.
He was alive as well.
The very situation that would have framed him had vanished.
It wasn’t a dream.
As he sat there in disbelief, he suddenly realized something.
For the first time in a very long while…
He had slept peacefully.
He had slept so soundly that his entire body felt refreshed.
Ever since that day… I haven’t slept peacefully even once.
The Crown Prince’s nights were always terrifying.
He feared that while he slept, his darkness would harm someone.
Or worse, that once he fell asleep, the darkness would swallow him as well.
The memory of those who had gone mad within his darkness and collapsed haunted him, leaving him too frightened to sleep.
Every night, he sat alone in his room, curled into himself with his eyes wide open until exhaustion finally overwhelmed him and he lost consciousness.
Even while asleep, he remained so tense that his neck was always stiff when he woke.
Yet I slept this deeply…
He, who would spring awake at the faintest rustle, hadn’t even noticed the person beside him covering him with a blanket before leaving.
He hadn’t even dreamed that nightmare he always relived.
Probably…
Thanks to his wife.
“I’ll help you!”
The image of the smiling girl brightly taking his hand resurfaced in his mind.
If my wife stays by my side… could I keep sleeping peacefully from now on?
The Crown Prince stared blankly at his own hand before shaking his head and abruptly standing.
No. That’s selfish.
He knew it.
The only reason he hadn’t already been stripped of his title despite becoming a monster was because his royal father had refused to allow it.
Yet even that same father had now ordered him to die.
That was what this marriage meant.
If she stays beside me, my wife will be in danger too.
He couldn’t keep someone he couldn’t protect by his side.
Just as he had resolved last night, he had to send her out of the palace.
As quickly as possible.
If possible, today.
First, I should summon Eunuch Jang…
He hurried out of the bridal chamber and made his way toward the Eastern Palace.
As soon as I left the Queen’s Palace, the palanquin carrying me headed toward the guest residence.
Under normal circumstances, the imperial envoys would have made every excuse imaginable to keep me from meeting Seol Deunghwa.
But now I held the king’s royal decree, written in uncompromising language.
With this, I intended to meet Seol Deunghwa and use the excuse of treating the queen to prevent the envoys from taking her away, buying us some time.
As for how to remove her from the imperial family’s control…
I’d already come up with a plan while talking with Maegu earlier.
The only problem is convincing the person herself…
Would Seol Deunghwa be able to accept that her own daughter had already died, and that someone else now occupied Ru-hwa’s body?
How am I supposed to explain this…?
“Princess!”
Ansi’s sharp voice suddenly rang out.
At the same time, the palanquin tilted violently before crashing to the ground.
“Ow!”
The impact slammed my elbow and forehead against the frame.
My skin split slightly, and blood trickled down.
What the hell is happening?
“Your Highness, please don’t come out! Assassins!”
Assassins?
In broad daylight?
Right in the middle of the royal palace?
Security here is an absolute disaster.
Clicking my tongue, I calmly stayed inside the palanquin.
I wasn’t particularly worried.
Ansi could even beat up Maegu.
“Argh!”
“Ghk…!”
Thunderous crashes mixed with screams and groans echoed outside.
A moment later, Ansi opened the door.
“Are you unharmed, Your Hi—Gah! Your forehead is bleeding! Waaaah! Your precious face has been injured! Whatever shall we do?”
Making a tremendous fuss, Ansi carefully examined my forehead.
Looking past her shoulder, I glanced outside.
The area was surrounded by a bamboo forest.
This was probably the walking path between the Queen’s Palace and the guest residence.
Four assassins dressed in black martial clothing lay dead on the ground.
Every one of them looked as though they had fallen from a great height.
Typical Ansi.
She was a Phoenix.
As the divine beast from which the character for wind originated, she wielded the wind as naturally as her own hands and feet.
“Did you get them all?”
“Yes! Ansi has taken care of every last one of those wicked humans. Please come out for a moment so I can treat your wound.”
Supported by Ansi, I stepped out of the palanquin.
Both palanquin bearers had been struck by arrows and lay dead in pools of blood.
“So the assassins targeted the bearers first?”
“They attacked both the bearers and the palanquin at the same time. I focused on protecting Your Highness, so I couldn’t stop the attacks on them.”
“Even so… if you couldn’t block everything at once…”
Squatting beside one of the corpses, I carefully examined the arrow lodged in his body.
“As I thought… there are traces of sorcery.”
An evil aura lingered around the arrow’s fletching.
Could this be the same mastermind who had sent the deadly curse at Ru-hwa on the night before the wedding?
