It could be described as a sort of three-way meeting.
As I opened the door with a creak and stepped inside, the Lord of Namakseong and the man in green-gold robes were already seated in the room.
“Well, well.”
Upon spotting me, both men immediately stood and bowed.
“That’s enough, enough!” I said casually as I entered the room.
“I’m late, aren’t I?”
As expected, the Lord of Namakseong responded, “Not at all, Your Highness. I, too, only just took my seat.”
I smiled and said, “If the host only just arrived, what’s to be done? You should’ve come early to prepare. Turns out you’re not as thorough as I thought.”
As I rambled on, the Lord of Namakseong replied a beat late, “…My apologies, Your Highness.”
I sat down, waving my hand dismissively. “Oh, come now. It’s a joke, a joke. No need to apologize.”
“Is that truly so? Your words put me at ease, Your Highness.”
“Indeed.”
I nodded. “Are you planning to introduce this one as well?”
Behind the Lord of Namakseong stood a servant. Of course, we weren’t likely to discuss anything too serious, but… I hadn’t brought any attendants, so for a mere lord to have a servant on standby could be seen as an act of disrespect, almost treasonous.
The Lord of Namakseong, flustered, said, “He’s merely here to prepare tea.”
“Is that so?” I replied indifferently.
“If this one disturbs Your Highness’s peace, I’ll send him away at once. You, what are you doing? Didn’t you hear? Get out!”
I mildly restrained the Lord. “Let him serve the tea before he goes. My throat’s parched, probably from all the ashes.”
The Lord of Namakseong started in alarm.
The servant waiting behind him prepared a teapot and cups. After filling the cups before the three of us with golden tea, he left the room.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I’ve caused offense again,” the Lord said.
I graciously accepted his apology. “I forgive you.”
The Lord’s expression hardened slightly. “I’m deeply honored, Your Highness.”
Meanwhile, the man in green-gold robes, Seungmurang Jongsangye, silently stared at me. He wasn’t as old or seasoned as the Lord of Namakseong. At best, he might be around Heoseokgyeom’s age. However, Heoseokgyeom likely held a higher rank.
“Pfft.”
Seungmurang’s tense expression clearly showed he was trying to gauge my thoughts.
“So, who are you? I’ve already heard from the Lord of Gaeseong that you’re a close friend of the Lord.”
I emphasized the word “friend.”
Seungmurang looked puzzled.
But he wasn’t foolish or tactless enough to deny it. He replied, “Yes, Your Highness. That is so.”
It was a somewhat awkward response. I smiled slyly and asked again, “Who are you?”
Seungmurang’s face betrayed a moment of panic.
He answered as I’d heard from Heoseokgyeom and Yu Geung: his title is Seungmurang, and his name is Jongsangye.
It was strange for someone who wasn’t just a loafer to be staring at me like this.
For Seungmurang to be here in far-off Namakseong, neglecting his duties at court, was itself a problem. The capital to Namakseong isn’t a distance you can travel in a day, so he must have gotten permission to be here.
They say the court is rotten, but half the time, that’s just a joke. Yet, to think that someone who studied for years to become a Seungmurang is out here drinking tea with a lord.
If I weren’t here, what would they have talked about over tea?
They wouldn’t have come all this way just to trade jokes, so it must be something important.
Seungmurang isn’t in a position to pull off big schemes alone. So, Jongsangye’s role is likely that of an errand boy for someone else.
“A talent serving the court.”
I won’t call him trash. He’s got his own circumstances, I suppose. I respected Jongsangye’s circumstances.
I also respected my own circumstances.
I won’t say there’s a hierarchy, but you know without saying.
Seungmurang gave a wry smile. “I’m deeply honored.”
“It’s a compliment, so no need to feel honored.”
In my opinion, Seungmurang was someone’s lackey. And the one the Lord of Namakseong was aligning with was clearly the Second Prince’s maternal family.
Considering Gaeyeohwa will later go to Duke Mungong, the Second Prince’s maternal family connected to the Lord of Namakseong is probably Duke Mungong.
Besides Jongsangye, plenty of court officials have likely already been won over by the Woo family.
Thinking about it made the future seem bleak.
This damned country was one worth letting fall apart.
At this point, why not just make Seopyeong independent from Mokryeo Kingdom?
Like cutting off the rotten part of meat or fruit.
The part to cut away might be large, but…
Then, a sharp phrase came to mind.
“If you pull any reckless stunt, I’ll kill you myself.”
Hmm.
A bit scary?
Maybe that’s not the way to go. If I die early, things that could work out won’t. Seopyeong’s independence will have to stay in my imagination.
“Seeing a Seungmurang in Namakseong is quite a novelty.”
At my words, Seungmurang flinched.
“A place you can’t travel to and from in a day.”
He flinched again.
Then, he lowered his head entirely, showing he wasn’t someone who could act like the Lord of Namakseong.
I said casually, a sort of compliment, “You must be quite the horseman. A talented rider stuck at a desk, wasting your skills.”
“I’m deeply honored.”
Whether I riled him up or set his temper ablaze, I wanted some reaction, but contrary to expectations, Seungmurang was just shy. He didn’t even hide his discomfort, confirming he’s a lackey of my unsightly friend, yet he managed to annoy me.
…Should I just quietly get rid of him?
He’s already aligned with the Second Prince, so there’s no room to win him over or reform him.
Unless he’s cast aside early, he won’t turn his back on the Second Prince. He’s someone I’ll never need. And this guy will play a part in sending Gaeyeohwa to Duke Mungong, ultimately leading to her death.
Is there any reason I shouldn’t kill him?
One swing of the blade would do it.
Hesitating now might cause bigger problems later. Removing one lackey now would make things much easier down the line.
But.
The Lord would probably say, “Yeon, even if it’s the long way, take the right path.”
Yes, my lord. I’m already worn out from hardship. A bit more won’t make a difference.
…But, my lord.
“It’s not just anyone, but a Seungmurang not even greeting me properly? That makes me feel quite neglected. Aren’t we both from the capital?”
I laughed heartily with the joke.
Seungmurang was flustered. “That’s not it…”
“Did you not know I was staying in Namakseong?”
I spoke as if playing a fun prank. “Circumstances led me to stay longer than planned, so don’t hold it against me.”
“I would never, Your Highness.”
Seungmurang answered obediently.
I got bored. It wasn’t fun. Conversations have two main purposes: to be entertaining or to learn something from the other person.
Seungmurang was neither. I lost interest and changed targets. My goal today was to put the Lord of Namakseong in a bind, so Seungmurang wasn’t my focus.
As long as I get to the capital, any path will do.
I chose a childish method.
“Lord of Gaeseong.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Honestly, I wondered if this was okay.
“My departure is near, isn’t it?”
But I’m already the mad prince, so what does it matter?
“Such a regrettable thing to say.”
“Hmm, I feel the same. So, here’s the thing…”
Who’s going to stop a mad prince?
In the city, I threw a drinking party.
“Drink, drink!”
It could be called a celebration of this moment. With ample justification, the Lord of Namakseong nodded to every request.
I sat Seungmurang beside me and kept making him drink.
Until he was thoroughly drunk, his nose twisted with intoxication.
“Here, one more!”
“Your Highness…”
Seungmurang looked at me with a desperate expression, clutching his cup with both hands as if it were poison.
“Hmm, calling me? Still got some wits about you? Then one more. Here, cheers!”
Getting the Lord of Namakseong himself wasted was no easy task. Fundamentally, the Lord and Seungmurang were wary of me to different degrees. Even if he smiled, the Lord put up a stronger wall.
That was fine. I hadn’t expected to take down both of them.
Oh, and “take down” didn’t just mean getting them drunk.
What mattered was what would happen after leaving this pavilion.
The drinking continued for a while.
Seungmurang stood up when he was nearly passed out.
“I hope he didn’t get this drunk because of me. I feel bad. Let me take him back.”
The Lord tried to stop me, but I refused him too. I stubbornly hoisted Seungmurang onto my shoulder and left the pavilion where the drinking party had taken place.
The servants were already asleep at this late hour.
The moon wasn’t bright tonight. Only the stars watched me.
No matter. Unlike the moon or sun, stars move with the seasons, so they’d soon forget tonight.
After walking a bit, I set Seungmurang down on the back porch of the pavilion where he was staying.
The surroundings were eerily quiet.
I sat beside him for a moment.
Looking at the stars again, they were dimmer than before, obscured by clouds.
A black bird flew across the faint starlight, leaving a trail.
It circled, a prearranged signal that no one was around.
I pulled some dried Jongmeoki Flower from my sleeve pocket. I stuffed some into the unconscious Seungmurang’s mouth and placed the rest tightly in his hand.
Before dawn, I planned to have my men scatter Jongmeoki Flower around the pavilion where the drinking party was held and near the Lord’s quarters.
Someone would find it in the morning. I hoped I hadn’t acted rashly. The future me might regret today’s actions. Not killing him, that is. It’s better to be thorough.
I looked up at the sky again.
A mutter slipped out, whether it was something I wanted to say or had to say.
“My hands won’t be stained with blood. You might still blame me, but… I’ll take the scolding later.”
I murmured quietly.