chapter 60
When I praised Hongram for being impressive and wonderful, his face turned red. The round, adorable boy looked really cute and dignified like that.
“Are you also taking the special examination, Hyeon?”
“No. I have no interest in holding an official position.”
Though I said that, the truth was that I couldn’t take the exam for fear my nose would get crooked. Even here in the banquet hall, the occasional wafts of stench gave me a splitting headache—so sitting for an exam? That was basically asking me to die.
“And if I were to take it, it would probably be a military exam, right?”
“Hyunga is a prestigious military family, after all.”
“Almost the entire family has military backgrounds. There are people who take the civil exams, but their number is extremely small.”
“Oh.”
Around that time, palace maids moved about, announcing that the special exam was about to begin.
At the same time, the floating dishes drifted toward the edges. Amusingly, as the food moved, people naturally followed.
“The floor isn’t even enough to hold an exam properly.”
Hongram whispered softly, looking at the banquet hall, which had an empty space in the center.
Although there was space, with water flowing here and there, it didn’t seem suitable for taking an exam.
“It’s almost noon.”
At that moment, a clear, piercing voice rang out. It was the Crown Prince. Just as he said, the sun was at its zenith.
The dazzling early spring sky was fully visible through the transparent glass windows, and the streams of water crossing the floor shimmered even more brilliantly under the intense sunlight.
“There are twenty-seven candidates for the special exam, I believe.”
Not a single breeze stirred.
The Crown Prince’s blue hair floated in the air like fish fins. Elegant and beautiful, the shadows formed by the water on his hair were mysterious.
“The space… yes.”
He smiled, and I felt the hairs on my arms stand on end. Not only me, but everyone who appeared to be a sorcerer widened their eyes, staring at him.
A blue aura began to ripple around him.
“This should suffice.”
In an instant, that aura dominated the surroundings, and the “space” began moving on its own.
Guruk. Grgruk. Guruk.
“What… what is this?”
“Huh!”
“The… the water!”
The solid stone floor rose and fell with a clatter, forming a square space in the center of the hall. Around it, the water flowed smoothly in an orderly fashion.
“What is this…?”
Someone muttered in a terrified voice.
I felt the same.
Looking at the walls, the floor, even the transparent glass ceiling, all filled with glowing magical circles, one couldn’t help but think that.
“How is it? This space for the special exam.”
No one dared answer the Crown Prince.
Even those who had been distracted by his charm looked pale.
By now, no one could fail to notice that he was the master of this space.
They weren’t in the banquet hall—they were dancing in the mouth of a beast, on its tongue.
“Isn’t it bright and lovely?”
Looking into his dangerously curved green eyes, I thought again:
Thump, thump.
The Crown Prince really did resemble Baeksan remarkably.
The stiff atmosphere softened under the Crown Prince’s mysterious voice and his clear smile.
I found that even more frightening.
To act like Baeksan while manipulating people with the face of His Highness—it was a truly terrifying sight.
“Good luck on the exam.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Hongram hesitantly stepped out to take the special exam. Almost immediately, Hwiruk appeared and stuck close to my side like a substitute. I quickly rested my head against Hwiruk’s chest.
“Welcome.”
“I missed you.”
“You were just gone a moment ago.”
“Being apart from you is always hard.”
People nearby overheard our whispering and made strange faces—more like disbelief than anything else.
Now I understood: my fiancé can be rather cold to others.
But he wasn’t being rude. He was just shy for various reasons.
Worried he might be intimidated by their gaze, I gently held his hand and shook it slightly.
“…?”
Hwiruk looked puzzled but smiled like a lily of the valley.
Ah, my beautiful tiger.
Even people nearby gasped at his beauty. There were occasional startled “hic” sounds, but I mostly ignored them.
Murmuring spread.
After a little time, all twenty-seven candidates had seated themselves in line.
Then, stationery flew through the air and landed in front of each candidate. They had to use only the provided materials to prevent cheating.
The special exam largely followed the format of the past civil service exams, with the first-time exemption as a prize.
But the difficulty was beyond imagination.
The total exam time was half a day. There were ten questions, each with a time limit.
Being a special exam, the format felt closer to a modern SAT than a traditional exam.
“When the time allotted for the first question ends, you must immediately turn your answer sheet to the second question. You cannot return to previous questions.”
Since watching others take the exam could get boring, the questions were displayed in the air for everyone to see.
In the palace, under multiple sets of eyes, taking a difficult exam in such an unfamiliar format made the candidates pale.
“Are you ready?”
The Crown Prince paid no mind to their anxiety.
Shwaah!
As soon as he spoke, the water surrounding the exam hall surged upward.
A solid wall of water enveloped the exam space like a box. Transparent, yes, but completely soundproof—nothing could be heard.
“Then, let the special exam begin.”
The candidates, swallowing dryly, lifted their brushes.
While the candidates calmly wrote their answers, I finally found a moment to seek out Sion oppa.
“Tough, huh?”
“Thanks.”
He had carried delicious food even though it had cooled.
Hungry, Sion oppa welcomed me warmly and took the plate. Hwiruk helped with drinks and other things.
“Good job.”
“It was something that had to be done eventually. More importantly, Hyeon, are you okay? It wasn’t too hard, was it?”
He had a genuinely kind reaction that made me feel guilty.
I had abandoned Sion oppa earlier without mercy! I felt sorry!
As a token of apology, I prepared some delicious food combinations for him.
I noticed the Crown Prince seemed somewhat interested, but I deliberately ignored him.
Hmph.
Avoiding his persistent gaze, I added chicken, glutinous rice, and vegetables, warmed them with magic, and fed them to Sion oppa and Hwiruk. Before I knew it, the special exam was over.
Shlaruk!
The wall of water covering the exam hall receded, flowing back along the grooves in the floor.
“Put down your brushes.”
In a low voice, the candidates froze.
Not out of obedience, but due to magic.
Then the Crown Prince whispered a small chant, and little azure dragons, about the size of an arm and made of lightning, appeared in the air.
Each tiny dragon rolled up an answer sheet in its mouth and darted away at incredible speed.
Where on earth were they taking them?
“To the highest authority, probably.”
Sion oppa, hearing my mutter, answered.
“You know the prize for this special exam is huge, right?”
“Yes. The top prize is ten gold bars and first-time exemption.”
“Who do you think allowed that?”
“Well…”
A cold sweat ran down my back.
The only person who could appoint officials was His Majesty the Emperor.
Moreover, the results of this special exam were to be announced immediately. Normally, it would take several days for official approval, no matter how fast the grading was.
There was only one way to process it at lightning speed.
“Could it be… His Majesty grades the answer sheets himself?”
“Probably. I think the rankings will mostly be decided in the final descriptive question.”
Whether or not our conversation was overheard, the already pale candidates looked even worse.
I checked if Hongram was okay. Luckily, the young miss seemed satisfied with her answers and showed no regrets.
By the time we had a chance for tea, distant thunder rumbled.
Rururung!
Earlier, tiny dragons had carried the answer sheets away, but now a giant dragon, made of lightning and as large as a house, arrived carrying a scroll.
“That is the Emperor’s lightning.”
No one in the empire could mistake the Emperor’s lightning. People bowed respectfully before the magical azure dragon.
The Crown Prince also received the scroll with both hands.
Rururung!
The dragon, having completed its task, vanished down the palace corridor.
Pajik, pajik. The Emperor’s power was so great that remnants of lightning sparked along the path the dragon had flown before disappearing.
Most showed reverence, and some realized this event wasn’t just about finding a candidate for Crown Princess.
The essential purpose of this examination was to strengthen the imperial authority.
“This year’s top prize…”
“Gah.”
“Ah!”
But our Crown Prince allowed no time for reflection.
He immediately unrolled the scroll and, without hesitation, announced the top prize winner.
Usually, the first place is revealed last.
Yet this was only the beginning of the surprises.
“Hongram of the Hong family!”
“…Huh?”
Hongram had won the top prize.
I was shocked, but Hongram himself looked even more astonished, lifting his head to stare at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince smiled knowingly and nodded, as if to say, “Yes, it’s you.”
“Uh, uh? No? Uh?”
Hongram was completely flustered.
People were amazed that such a young girl could win the top prize.
“Could this break the record for youngest first-time pass?”
“The youngest ever was nine, the current prime minister. This girl is twelve or so, so not a record, but still…”
“I didn’t know the Hong family had such a talent.”
“She is the prime minister’s foster daughter. Truly, the Hong family has many outstanding talents, even this young girl…”
All attention focused on Hongram.
Unlike earlier, when no one had paid attention, now the opposite had happened. Yet I couldn’t simply rejoice.
From the moment Hongram’s name was called, the faint stench began spreading.
“Ugh.”
“Hyeon?”
Now it had grown enough to fill the entire banquet hall.
