Chapter 8
After spending several more days on the road, we finally arrived in front of the North Gate of Dae Bukseong. And just as I had expected, it happened.
“Get down from the carriage and walk!”
Chapter 3: A Cold Welcome
“Get down from the carriage and walk!”
The soldier guarding the city gate shouted harshly at the escort leading the princess’s party.
Inside the carriage, Nayoung closed her eyes and let out a quiet sigh. This was where Lee Eunjeong’s hardships would finally begin.
“What do you mean by that? This lady is a princess from the Seoyeon Kingdom! She will soon become the Empress of the Northern Empire!”
“But she isn’t the Empress yet, is she?”
“Why, you…!”
Just as I had expected, an argument was breaking out outside.
Nayoung called for Senior Court Lady Han, who was standing outside the carriage.
“Tell them I will get down.”
“That is out of the question, Your Highness.”
Senior Court Lady Han’s voice was firm.
“Senior Court Lady Han, this is the Northern Empire. I am someone who will soon become its Empress. Shouldn’t I follow the customs of this place?”
“Even so…”
Bowing her head, Senior Court Lady Han pleaded with her again. Nayoung spoke firmly, just as Eunjeong would have.
“Do it. Quickly.”
After hearing Senior Court Lady Han’s message, the escort approached the carriage window and bowed his head.
“Your Highness, you must not do that.”
“Do not argue over something so trivial.”
Nayoung knew what would happen because she had read the novel. There was no reason to argue here. It would not change anything anyway. However, the escort was determined to fulfill his duty.
“They not only ordered us to enter through the North Gate instead of the South Gate, but they did not even send anyone to welcome Your Highness. How can they treat us so rudely when we have come here to establish friendly relations between our countries? This is absolutely unacceptable, Your Highness!”
The South Gate of Dae Bukseong was reserved exclusively for the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager. Even high-ranking officials and foreign envoys rarely had to enter through the North Gate.
“What good will come from causing a commotion before we have even entered the city? I do not wish to sacrifice the greater good just to protect my pride for a moment. Besides, is everyone not exhausted by now? All I have to do is yield. Do not make things difficult for the soldier guarding the gate.”
After finishing her words, Nayoung was inwardly surprised by what she had just said. It felt as though Eunjeong herself had spoken.
So when she said she would help me, did she mean she would help me with my words?
While Nayoung was marveling at the thought, the escort withdrew with a troubled expression. Senior Court Lady Han suppressed her anger and helped Nayoung step down from the carriage.
“Show the princess the proper respect.”
A woman’s voice broke through the tense silence.
The startled soldiers quickly identified the speaker and hurriedly bowed.
A woman approached with elegant steps. Her elaborate hair ornaments were decorated with various jewels and pieces of jade.
Nayoung immediately recognized her. According to the novel, she was the highest-ranking among the Emperor’s consorts and enjoyed his favor.
“Your Highness, you must have had a difficult journey. I am Imperial Consort Jeong, Tae Hwa-jin.”
Hwa-jin smiled warmly, but her eyes gleamed coldly. More striking than her splendid jewelry was her commanding manner, as though she already stood at the very top.
“Since Your Highness has not yet held the wedding ceremony or undergone the formal investiture, I suppose the soldiers have been rather discourteous. I hope you will kindly overlook their behavior.”
Hwa-jin spoke calmly and slowly, gesturing toward the soldiers.
At last, the final part of the novel was approaching.
“Did you come here to welcome me?”
Nayoung took a breath and spoke in a quiet but firm voice.
Perhaps she disliked Nayoung’s tone, because Hwa-jin’s pretty lips briefly twisted into a pout. Everyone else had lowered their eyes and failed to notice, but Nayoung saw it clearly.
“I apologize. I should have hurried here sooner, but I was paying my afternoon respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, so I was delayed.”
Hwa-jin apologized with an expression that showed no regret whatsoever.
“We arrived a little earlier than expected, so do not concern yourself with it.”
Hwa-jin responded by slightly bending her knees, her posture rather disrespectful.
“This eunuch will escort you to the palace where you will stay. It is only a temporary residence until your wedding, so I am afraid there will be many shortcomings. I ask for your generous understanding.”
“I would like to pay my respects to His Majesty first.”
“You should rest and recover from your journey at your residence first. The Palace Administration Office will inform you separately about what happens next.”
“What do you mean by that? Our Princess is from the Seoyeon Kingdom…”
Nayoung raised her hand to stop the escort, who had stepped forward to protest.
With no Empress in place, Imperial Consort Jeong was effectively the head of the Emperor’s inner palace. Even so, she was still only a consort. There was no need for Nayoung to explain at length to a mere consort, who was not even a high-ranking official, that she had come as the head of the delegation and carried a royal letter from her king.
“Very well.”
“Then I must take my leave. I have other matters to attend to.”
Hwa-jin bent her knees slightly in farewell once more, lifted her chin, and turned away with an air of arrogance. She climbed into a waiting palanquin and glided away without a care.
“This humble servant will guide you.”
The man who had introduced himself as a eunuch from the Palace Administration Office bowed as he spoke.
“Princess Uihyeon is unwell and will have difficulty walking. Could one of our eunuchs carry her on his back?”
The eunuch glanced toward Nayoung’s party before reluctantly nodding.
“Very well. However…”
He trailed off, looking troubled.
“Speak.”
“When you arrive at the palace where the two of you will be staying, all your eunuchs must leave.”
“What do you mean?”
“According to the rules, only two palace attendants for each of you may remain to serve you. No one else is permitted to enter the palace with you.”
“What kind of absurd rule is that?”
Senior Court Lady Han spoke with disbelief, but the eunuch seemed almost unconcerned.
“Normally, only one palace attendant is permitted. Since you are a princess and an ongju, an exception has been made to allow two attendants each.”
“Are you saying that our two ladies must live without any servants to assist them?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Senior Court Lady Han stepped forward and shouted.
The eunuch gave an awkward smile.
“That is the law of this country, so there is nothing we can do about it. Besides, the Palace Administration Office will assign suitable palace attendants to serve them.”
Once again, Nayoung stepped in to stop Senior Court Lady Han from arguing.
“I understand what you are saying, but we also need people to carry our belongings. These are the people who have traveled with me for more than a month, serving me along the way. Even if they must eventually return home, would it not be only natural to let them rest and recover from the journey for a few days first? How are they supposed to find somewhere to stay at such short notice, especially in this cold weather and in an unfamiliar land?”
At Nayoung’s gentle, measured words, the eunuch found himself bowing more deeply without even realizing it.
“Very well. I will arrange a place for them to stay as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.”
Once the matter had been settled, Nayoung waited until she had confirmed that Princess Uihyeon was being carried on a eunuch’s back before moving forward.
The place where they would stay until the wedding and formal investiture was about a thirty-minute walk from the North Gate.
Since Princess Uihyeon had already received her official title at the border, she was escorted by another eunuch to Seon-i Palace, the residence assigned to her.
Nayoung, meanwhile, was led to a shabby place without even a signboard bearing its name.
“This is the detached residence where Your Highness will stay until the royal wedding.”
At the eunuch’s words, Senior Court Lady Han looked around at the gloomy buildings with an expression of disbelief.
The detached residence consisted of three buildings surrounding a small courtyard. After explaining the layout to Senior Court Lady Han, the eunuch hurriedly left.
Nayoung first entered the room that had been designated as her bedroom. The moment she opened the door, a bitterly cold draft swept over her entire body, making her feel as though her skin might split.
The interior was clean, as if someone had tidied it beforehand. However, all the furniture was old, making it seem as though the place had not been used for quite some time.
“I am sorry, Your Highness. It will take some time for the room to warm up.”
Senior Court Lady Han looked around the room and spoke in an uneasy voice.
Nayoung removed her veil and replied, “I am fine. Take your time. More importantly, I wonder how Princess Uihyeon’s residence is.”
“The eunuch said he would send palace attendants soon. Once they arrive, I will go and check on her.”
“All right.”
“Your Highness, please sit on the bed. I will cover you with a blanket.”
At Senior Court Lady Han’s words, Nayoung nodded and climbed onto the bed. Senior Court Lady Han carefully took the blanket that had been placed at one side of the bed and spread it over Nayoung’s knees.
“The Northern Empire seems much colder than I expected.”
“Surely even this place will have warmer days someday, won’t it?”
Nayoung gave a faint smile at Senior Court Lady Han’s worried expression.
From this point onward, Nayoung would have to face everything herself. Only the author knew how the story would unfold from here.
“The author said so.”
“…The author?”
Senior Court Lady Han looked at Nayoung in confusion.
“She said this novel would have a happy ending.”
“I do not understand what you mean, Your Highness…”
Nayoung gave a faint smile at Senior Court Lady Han, who clearly had no idea what she was talking about.
“It means I will not die.”
“Why would you say such a thing, Your Highness?”
