TKEP 38🔐

Chapter 38

After placing the eavesdropping device back in its original spot, he fell into thought.

As Yeon had said, this selection process was going to be no easy task.

“I wonder what the other candidates are up to.”

Before entering the palace, Yeon had informed Seojun about the candidates over a phone call. Seojun clicked his tongue, recalling each one.

Time was tight, and he hadn’t had a chance to learn enough about them.

If he had even one weakness to exploit, dealing with them would have been easier.

Just as he was lost in thought, footsteps were heard outside.

“Candidate Kang Seojun, this is Eunuch Oh. May I come in?”

“Please, come in.”

Seojun stood up to welcome Eunuch Oh.

Upon seeing Seojun rise, Eunuch Oh flinched slightly.

“You may sit comfortably.”

“Is that how things are done in the royal court?”

“Yes. I am an eunuch, and you are a precious person destined to become the royal secretary.”

“I’ll try to get used to it.”

He suddenly recalled Yeon’s words:

–Once you enter the palace, it will feel like stepping into a time machine.

He had thought it was a joke, but it was true.

“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Oh Ildo, the eunuch assigned to you, Candidate Kang Seojun.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Oh Ildo.”

“Please call me Eunuch Oh.”

“I heard you have other titles too—like Director or Chief. ‘Eunuch’ doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Officially, I am Team Leader Oh.”

“Then I’ll call you Team Leader Oh.”

“But within the palace, please call me Eunuch Oh. That… will be helpful to you.”

Eunuch Oh paused briefly and lowered his voice to give the advice.

Seojun raised an eyebrow.

“This is your schedule and the annex guide. When you have no appointments, you must stay within the annex.”

“So no walks outside?”

“You may walk in the courtyard attached to the annex.”

The high walls blocked the view outside.

Calling it an annex felt like a prison.

Already feeling stifled, Seojun looked down at the schedule on the table.

Between the schedule and the guide, however, was a pink note that seemed out of place.

Seojun looked up at Oh Ildo, asking what it was.

Oh Ildo slightly lifted the corners of his mouth in a smile and stepped back.

“Take your time to review it. If you need anything, call me. I’ll always be in the hallway.”

From his attitude, it seemed the pink note was meant for Seojun alone.

Who had sent it?

Seojun unfolded the note to reveal neat handwriting.

It was from Yeon.

A small smile curved Seojun’s lips.

[Eunuch Oh is trustworthy. If you need anything, tell him. This is my gift to you.]

He rubbed the smile at the end with his thumb.

To provide an ally in a place full of enemies—Yeon had style and capability.

For the first time in a long while, Seojun smiled comfortably.

Kyujanggak, Gyeongbokgung Palace

The candidates for royal secretary that Seojun had been so curious about were all gathered in one place.

“Have you heard about the exam task? This is ridiculous! Even in the royal court, they should at least provide some information. In modern companies, people would complain if information isn’t given!”

The voice belonged to Na Hyukjin, who was agitated and fidgeting.

Thanks to his family connections—descendants of a Joseon-era “Three Prime Ministers”—he had scored high in the document review, making him a candidate.

Perhaps all he had relied on was family connections, because even before the first exam task was announced, he had been barking like an angry chihuahua.

His small stature and big eyes did resemble a chihuahua.

“I don’t mind the exam at all. At least it’s fair. You don’t know everything, right?”

The man adjusting his glasses with a gentle smile was Park Wonyoung.

According to Yeon’s guess, he was favored by the Crown Prince, which was believable given his family background.

His father had been chairman of the Free Economy Federation and CEO of a Korean history company—someone who valued money above all else. Clinging to power was in his nature.

The other two candidates didn’t seem particularly threatening. One was a biologist who had lived abroad for a long time, and the other specialized in traditional culture.

As the candidates chatted, a bell rang, signaling the start of the first test.

Shortly after, the side doors opened, and about a dozen people entered.

They split to the left and right and sat down, while a man who appeared to be the examiner turned on a monitor on the podium.

The exam task and instructions appeared on the screen.

“The first selection task is to bring back a ‘non-swimming carp.’”

“Carp? That’s easy to catch!”

Na Hyukjin nearly bounced out of his seat.

But the others waited calmly for the examiner to continue.

This was a selection exam. There had to be some hidden meaning behind the task.

“You have two hours to complete the task. You must remain within Gyeongbokgung Palace and receive no assistance. From now on, silence is required.”

There were many restrictions.

“Two supervisors will watch each candidate. Any questions?”

“Do we just stay silent?” asked Park Wonyoung.

“Yes, that is correct.”

A faint smile appeared on his face and then disappeared—probably planning to send a note to ask someone for help.

‘That would be cheating.’

Pulling off a trick without getting caught could be considered skillful.

Where would he find a carp, anyway?

As Seojun pondered, another bell rang.

“We will see you in two hours.”

The first selection exam had finally begun.

While others rushed out, Seojun remained seated in thought.

‘A carp… they want a real, living carp?’

If so, it was easy—Gyeongbokgung’s lakes were full of carp.

To catch one, he would need to show a ridiculous sight jumping into a lake, but if it passed the test, there was nothing he couldn’t do.

Still, it didn’t feel like the intended answer.

‘A non-swimming carp… could it mean I need to capture it dead? That seems unlikely. The Empress must have sent me the palace guide for a reason.’

It probably meant he needed to explore the palace thoroughly.

Seeing Seojun not leave, the examiner asked,

“Are you giving up?”

Seojun opened his mouth to respond but quickly closed it.

The examiner and supervisors monitored candidates not only for cheating but also for interference.

The two-hour silence tested patience in palace life.

As soon as the question was asked, Seojun realized:

This exam wasn’t just about catching carp.

His behavior during the two hours was also being evaluated.

‘Interesting.’

He smirked and scribbled a note:

[No. I’m thinking.]

He handed the note to the examiner and stood up.

Finally, he moved.

The examiner smiled faintly at Seojun’s departing back.

Seojun’s pace outside was slow.

“There’s an hour and a half left,” said the examiner, reminding the candidates of time.

But Seojun showed no sign of rushing.

Of course—he had already found the carp.

The problem was how to move it to the pavilion.

‘There’s only one way.’

Seojun smiled and gestured to the examiner, pretending to write on his palm.

The examiner immediately handed him a pen and notebook.

Seojun scribbled a few words and handed it back:

[I need a camera.]

As if expecting it, the examiner produced a camera from his pouch.

Now Seojun was confident in his solution.

His face shone with satisfaction.

Two hours later, the candidates reconvened at Kyujanggak.

The five candidates looked variously tired and disheveled. The carp they presented were equally varied.

The examiners twitched slightly at the assortment on the long wooden table.

“Please explain the significance of your carp.”

The two-hour silence was over.

“Wasn’t this just about catching a carp?”

Na Hyukjin, soaking wet and stinking, had brought a live carp.

“The task includes understanding the intentions of the examiner. The Imperial Court values filial piety, and the first step is to understand the feelings of the elders.”

Na Hyukjin sat down, opening and closing his mouth like the carp he had caught.

“Let’s hear from everyone in order.”

He clenched his jaw.

Seojun smirked at him.

‘Simple-minded and brute.’

He would not be a threat to the author.