Chapter 12
“That is out of the question, Your Majesty!”
Inside the Royal Secretariat, the shadows of the pillars stretched out, following the morning sun.
Hyun slowly lifted his head, following the shadows. He saw the man bowing before him.
He didn't like him at all. It was always like this. Even while bowing his head, he would spout complaints with his mouth.
Hyun let out a long, heavy sigh, making his displeasure blatantly obvious.
“What is it that you say is out of the question?”
At that, the man lifted his head slightly.
“At a time when an unknown enemy is holding a blade to our throats, you speak of a rain-praying ritual? This is a move that grants the enemy an opportunity.”
“That is correct. If only for the sake of Your Majesty’s safety—.”
“Build the walls thick and hide inside, is that what you are saying again?”
The Left State Councilor went silent, seemingly embarrassed by Hyun’s sarcasm.
“Even when my people are holding blades to their own throats, you lot still chatter away, telling me to hide inside.”
As Hyun spoke with blatant mockery, the ministers glanced at one another, reading the room.
A moment later, the Right State Councilor stepped forward as if he had made up his mind.
“It is all for the sake of Your Majesty’s safety. Please, I implore you to reconsider.”
“Please, I implore you to reconsider!”
Following his lead, the ministers bowed their heads in unison. Hyun let out a scoff of disbelief.
“You lot, who usually spend your time bickering and turning red in the face, become so united in heart and mind the moment the rain-praying ritual is mentioned. It warms my heart, truly. Very well, Right Councilor.”
Hyun smiled brightly and leaned forward.
“Then I shall postpone the date for the consummation with my new consort, which was scheduled for today.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by……”
The Right State Councilor lifted his head abruptly, looking flustered. Hyun began to stroke his chin slowly, wearing a thoughtful expression.
“Did you not tell me to hide inside? Who knows? Perhaps the newcomer might hold a blade to my throat. Even if she is the daughter of the Right Councilor.”
“Your Majesty!”
As the man’s gaze wavered, Hyun rested his chin on his hand as if it were all a joke.
“I jest. I was merely providing an example. Should it not be fair for everyone?”
“Th-that is……”
The Right State Councilor trailed off, too flustered to finish his sentence. Then, the man standing opposite him stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, would it not be better to observe the days a bit longer before deciding on the rain-praying ritual?”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“If you force the ritual now, I fear that an unexpected misfortune may befall Your Majesty’s royal person.”
“In the end, are you, too, the Chief State Councilor, telling me to hide inside? My people are starving day after day. All because it does not rain. Yet, how can you tell me to simply watch and do nothing?”
As Hyun narrowed his brows, the Chief State Councilor bowed his head even lower.
“That is not it, Your Majesty. We are currently mobilizing all our troops to identify the culprit. We shall find a lead on the enemy soon, so would you not wait until then?”
Hyun stared down at the Chief State Councilor, who was bowing so low he looked as if he might touch the ground.
After staring at him for a long while, he finally let out a heavy, defeated sigh.
“Very well. Then I shall wait a little longer.”
“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty.”
“Your grace is boundless!”
Leaving the voices of the ministers behind, Hyun slowly picked up the royal seal.
A shadow fell over the royal edict. Just as he was about to press the seal, he hesitated and stopped his hand.
***
As the morning assembly ended, the ministers filed down the stairs. Minister Kim muttered in a frustrated tone.
“Why is His Majesty so obsessed with this rain-praying ritual? I wonder if he is truly worried about the people……”
“Impossible,” the Right State Councilor shook his head vigorously, as if the idea were absurd. “He must have some scheme in mind. He likely thinks he can reclaim his lost power if he holds the ritual.”
“I suppose. He has been hiding inside for quite some time now, ever since the intruder began appearing these past few years. I wonder if a single rain-praying ritual can truly reverse all of that.”
“Perhaps you have already forgotten the past, where he lost all his brothers to poison.”
“If you do not wish to die, keep your mouths shut!”
At the sharp exchange between Minister Kim and Minister Yoon, the Chief State Councilor glared at them with piercing eyes. He strode toward them.
“How dare you speak so carelessly of His Majesty’s affairs in such a place!”
The ministers bowed their heads in unison before him. However, Minister Kim grumbled, his face still full of dissatisfaction.
“But you, too, were clearly against it, Excellency. You were of the same mind as us……”
“Hold your tongue. I spoke out of genuine concern for His Majesty’s safety. I am not like you lot, who only care for appearances.”
The Chief State Councilor turned on his heel the moment he finished speaking. As his footsteps faded, the ministers slowly lifted their heads.
“Why must you say such things?” the Right State Councilor scolded, to which Minister Kim muttered, “But the Chief Councilor did not take our side, did he? Perhaps he, too……”
“Do you still not understand?”
The Right State Councilor glared at Minister Kim.
“The Chief State Councilor, who has the Queen at his back, will never share our intentions.”
“But Excellency, we still have cards left to play, do we not?”
As Minister Kim whispered into the Right State Councilor’s ear, the latter curled his lips into a cunning smile.
***
Inside the Royal Secretariat, Rang glanced at Hyun.
His role was to protect the King. But in another sense, Rang was also his oldest friend.
Perhaps because of the years they had spent together, he had been able to tell what Hyun was thinking just by looking at his face since they were very young.
However, for once, even Rang could not find his footing. He had no idea why Hyun was doing these things; everything was a mystery.
“Are you truly planning to postpone the consummation?”
“There is no reason I cannot.”
“But Your Majesty, the Right Councilor will not sit idly by.”
“Did you not just see him foaming at the mouth over a mere rain-praying ritual? They are people who cannot leave me alone even on a normal day. What difference would postponing one night of consummation make?”
It wasn't a wrong statement. No matter what decision Hyun made, they always found some absurd reason to pick a fight.
Their stubbornness was also beyond measure. The fact that the Right Councilor had forced his own daughter into the position of consort was proof enough of that.
Watching Hyun accept the proposal without a word, Rang thought to himself: he seemed to have grown far too weary.
“If that is the case, I shall follow Your Majesty’s will.”
“You were nagging me just a moment ago.”
“The daughter of that Right Councilor—it is obvious. She must have a dozen vipers hidden inside her.”
“Hmm, then I shall have to verify that.”
“Verify what, Your Majesty?”
Hyun smiled meaningfully.
“What she might be harboring inside.”
***
「Cannot terminate game」
Danbi left the window floating in the air behind her and shook Som’s shoulder.
“What on earth does that mean? We were just in the palace, weren't we?”
“The palace, My Lady? We still have half a shijin to go.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember anything?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
Just then, with a crackling sound, another blue window appeared.
「Sub-quest has arrived.
―Enter the Palace」
Inside the palanquin, Danbi crossed her arms and organized the situation in her head.
“For starters, this is still inside the game, and I just……”
The blade of the Royal Guard that had soared toward her head flickered before her eyes.
Without realizing it, she touched her neck. The pain, which could not be described in words, still lingered.
“Right, I definitely just died. That pain was real. Come to think of it.”
Danbi recalled the moment she took a bite of an apple. The sweet juice had spread throughout her mouth.
“The taste felt on my tongue……”
The soft sensation of Som’s cheeks when she pinched them had been transmitted perfectly to her fingertips.
“Even the sensation of touch.”
Everything was identical to reality.
Does that mean, even if it is a game, what I feel is the same as reality?
Does that include, by any chance, the pain of dying?
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