Chapter 63
I deliberately didn’t ask what had happened to Siimo.
It was also today that I first learned the Emperor had twin daughters.
Given how hush-hush everything had been, it wasn’t hard to guess that the outcome wasn’t good.
And I realized just how precariously the current royal family was holding itself together.
It was a heavy truth, just as Hwirok had warned.
Especially the baby in the ice—it looked so fragile that my heart ached. The child hadn’t even turned one, it seemed, yet was innocently cradled in their father’s arms, eyes tightly shut.
Sniff.
I tried smelling, but there was no sense of life.
Indeed, their hearts had stopped, and they weren’t breathing. They simply lay still, using the ice as their coffin, eyes peacefully closed.
I took in the sorrowful scene, as if time had stopped, before finally speaking.
“When did you learn this, Hwirok?”
“At fourteen.”
Fourteen… That would have been when His Majesty came to Seolgokdo.
Right, there had been a severe spring drought then. The Emperor created rain clouds with Baeksan, and Baeksan had mentioned the seals on the Four Great Gates.
“So that was when you became an advanced sorcerer?”
“Yes.”
An advanced sorcerer receives imperial orders directly from the Emperor. I recalled Hwirok going to the capital because of this.
He stayed several months to repair the cracked seals on the Four Great Gates.
“Hwirok.”
I turned and hugged him.
Due to our size difference, it looked like I was being hugged, but I held him as tightly as I could.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Only fourteen. I felt pity for my fiancé, bearing such a heavy truth at such a young age.
“Now I’m here, so don’t suffer alone.”
“…”
“You know I’m strong, right? If the burden is heavy, pass it to me. I’ll carry it all.”
Hwirok let out a laugh, like the air had gone out of a balloon, then leaned into me, pressing close.
“I was scared you’d run away, Hyeon.”
“Why would I run away?”
“Normally, people wouldn’t be brave enough to face something like this on their own.”
Hmm. I can’t deny that.
If I weren’t a reincarnator, or even a Haetae, I probably would have bolted using every trick I knew.
“I’m not going anywhere. Why would I leave my beautiful tiger?”
“Mm. Right. Hyeon won’t go anywhere without me.”
Hwirok, in his tiger form, rubbed his cheek against the back of my neck, purring. It tickled, making me giggle—but then I heard a sighing voice from somewhere.
“Why would a lonely person want to live miserably?”
Ah. It wasn’t just the two of us here.
But Hwirok was in such a good mood that I didn’t have the heart to pull away. I relaxed completely and let my fiancé hold me.
We left the palace and returned home under a bright, full moon.
Had we been in human form for too long? We were both tired, and we transformed into our beast forms.
Riding atop a massive tiger’s head as we flew through the sky was rather fun. The night wind was cool and refreshing.
The servant guarding the mansion stared in surprise at me riding the white tiger’s head, but quickly regained composure and greeted us.
“Hyunsion has gone to the Hyunga residence.”
“Mang?”
“They said it would be late by the time they returned.”
We were staying at Baeksan’s residence because Hyunga’s main house was occupied by relatives and guests. Normally, when direct family came, arrangements would be made for them to stay, but this time, it wasn’t possible.
“They said a child was born.”
Apparently, the location was favorable, and couples staying there kept having babies—three just this month.
As a result, the main and annex buildings were wrapped with protective ropes, and Hyunsion had gone to congratulate the newborns and bring necessary items.
“Mangmak! Mangmangwang!”
My drooping tail perked up.
Flapping, I playfully hit the back of the tiger’s head with my lush tail—sorry, but I couldn’t resist.
It was joyful news about a newborn!
After hearing so many death-laden stories at the palace, my heart, like it could float to the moon, lightened.
“Grrrrr.”
Hwirok, sensing my improved mood, let out a low growl-like sound.
After a late dinner, we lay on the carpet in the pavilion waiting for Hyunsion, and both of us fell asleep. We were clearly exhausted in body and mind.
I wanted to sleep soundly, but…
“Hey! Men and women have boundaries, where do you think you’re going!”
Our deep slumber in the pavilion was abruptly ended by Hyunsion, returning close to midnight, lifting me, the dog, up in his arms.
Two days later, I invited Hongram to the mansion.
“You’re so pretty!”
It was Hongram’s first invitation to another family’s residence. Despite being the Prime Minister’s daughter on paper, she had only lived between the academy and the market, never meeting many people.
“You must have traveled and met many people, Hyeon?”
“Not really. I rarely went outside Seolgokdo either.”
But many families visited Hyunga’s main house, so I had been exposed to various guests.
“When there’s a wedding in a large family, many guests come.”
“Even from the Five Great Families?”
“My fiancé is from the Baek family, my uncle married someone from the Geum family, and my aunt’s husband is from the Cho family.”
“Wow.”
“Do you want a fun fact?”
I told the sparrow, knowing it would surprise any other guest.
“All of my direct family married for love, except me.”
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
Love marriages started from my grandparents and continued to Hyunsion and my new sister-in-law.
Everyone says:
“You two seem so close, I didn’t realize it was an arranged meeting!”
“Not that arranged meetings are bad. Many couples are happy that way, but yours felt… extra special.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Here, take this.”
Hongram handed me a silk-wrapped box.
“It’s tea leaves. The Prime Minister’s wife said you shouldn’t come empty-handed.”
“Thank you! I’ll enjoy it!”
I led Hongram to the parlor.
There weren’t many people at the mansion today. Hyunsion had gone out, and Hwirok had duties at Sobaksan, so it was perfect to play with the sparrow.
Hongram kept exclaiming at the cozy decor.
“It looks so warm and inviting.”
“My prospective father-in-law arranged it himself.”
“He seems very kind… hmm.”
The sparrow paused mid-sentence, suddenly realizing my future father-in-law was Baeksan.
Thinking back, I marveled at how even a young Hongram knew of Baeksan’s temperament. A few days ago, I had been saddened by the Emperor’s tragic story—but now, that gloom disappeared completely.
Daringly, I thought: my future father-in-law, even as the head of the state, would have survived and thrived beside the Emperor.
Sitting in the parlor, I brewed tea with the leaves Hongram had gifted.
I enhanced local mooncakes with ice cream, nuts, and honey to boost both flavor and calories.
The sparrow devoured the mooncakes happily.
I poured tea, waiting for Hongram to finish, then asked how she had been.
“I was worried.”
“Worried?”
“Yes. Hongram did well, but other children in the Hong family also took the exams.”
Understanding my meaning, Hongram furrowed her brow.
“I received praise from the Prime Minister.”
“‘From’ the Prime Minister?”
Hongram sighed deeply and explained.
The previous day, the palace had delivered a report card with exam ranks and scores. Only Hongram, the top scorer, was named in the special exam. The second place? Another Hong family member.
The second-place candidate also did well, but their grandfather wasn’t satisfied.
“He called me to suggest I forfeit.”
“What?”
I thought I’d misheard. Forfeit what?
“It wasn’t free. The prize was ten gold bars, and he said he’d give twenty and arrange a good marriage if I stepped aside.”
“Wait, Hongram, something’s off.”
I understood that if Hongram forfeited, the grandchild of the elder would become top scorer, gaining the same privileges. But was it necessary?
Anyone who placed second in the special exam was capable. The grandchild could pass the regular exam without trouble later.
Why then did the Hong elder spend gold bars and force the matter? I couldn’t understand.
“The elder is obsessed with his grandchild becoming the head, for succession purposes.”
“Succession?”
The Baek family considers various traits for heirs. But the Hong family chooses the smartest person as the head.
The current Prime Minister of Hong did the same.
But now, there was no heir. Among the Five Great Families, only Hong lacked one because everyone else failed to find a unanimously agreed candidate.
It was their own fault.
Now, in his late fifties, the Prime Minister could no longer delay choosing a successor.
They had to select a minor head, train them, and then retire.
The elders were screening candidates of all ages, from toddlers to those in their late thirties, regardless of species—brainpower mattered more than anything.
And the proof of intelligence was ranking first.
“Whether in school exams or work assessments, having a record of first place makes one favorable for succession.”
“So young candidates have a tough fight?”
“Yes, but there’s a way to overcome the age gap.”
Hongram explained that achieving top rank in national exams gave tremendous points in succession evaluation.
But realistically, a pre-teen elder’s grandchild couldn’t compete with twenty- or thirty-year-old exam-takers.
Since another Hong family child won first place, the elder could negotiate, offering Hongram a deal.
After hearing this, I had to ask:
“Didn’t you want to become head yourself?”
If species didn’t matter, the sparrow Hongram qualified. A sparrow who ranked first in the special exam!
“No.”
Hongram shook her head firmly.
“Although I was raised by the Hong family’s favor, I don’t want to work for this house.”
“Ah.”
“Especially because the elders are unpleasant.”
Cough! Cough cough!
The sparrow’s blunt honesty caught me off guard, and I choked.
