Chapter 16
Two days after the state examination, Chae-woo and Pung met in the marketplace, heading toward a master tailor to be fitted for their new officer uniforms.
As they entered the shop, they were surprised to find Woon sitting quietly in a corner, his head lowered in thought.
“Woon? Is that you?” Chae-woo asked, stepping closer.
Woon looked up, frowning slightly.
“What are you two still doing in Hanyang?”
“Going all the way home and back would take too long,” Chae-woo explained, adjusting his coat.
“The seven days the King granted us wouldn’t be enough to travel to the countryside and return. So Pung and I paid royal relay messengers to carry our official passing certificates back to our families.”
Woon stood up, preparing to leave the shop, but Pung reached out and held him back by the arm.
“I know you have a quick temper,” Pung said calmly, “but shouldn’t you wait for us to finish up? We are going to be working together from now on, which means we all need to get along.”
Woon yanked his arm back.
“First of all, I have no interest in working for the King, nor do I care about his throne.”
Before Pung could reply, a familiar voice cut through the air.
The two princesses and their trusted court lady—still disguised in noblemen’s robes—stepped into the tailor shop.
“Why do you have no wish to serve the King and his throne?” the first princess asked, staring directly at Woon.
Silence met her question.
Woon simply stared past her, refusing to answer.
To break the heavy tension, Pung turned to Chae-woo, who was fussing over his hair in a hand mirror.
“Why are you constantly preening yourself in the mirror?”
“Who knows?” Chae-woo preened, admiring his reflection.
“Now that I’ve passed the military exam with high honors, maybe I can marry the princess.”
The second princess coughed softly, clearing her throat in disbelief.
“The princess would never be interested in someone like you.”
“Not interested in me?” Chae-woo smirked, lowering the mirror.
“There’s no way you could possibly know that—unless, of course, you are the princess.”
The disguised court lady stepped forward hastily, scowling.
“That is impudent! How dare you address a young master as a princess?”
“I was only joking,” Chae-woo chuckled, holding his hands up in peace.
“No need to take it so seriously.”
Just then, the sound of wooden wheels and heavy footsteps echoed through the main thoroughfare.
A grand procession of palanquins—carrying noblewomen, court attendants, and armed guards—made its way down the street toward the palace gates.
A large crowd of townspeople gathered along the roadsides to watch the spectacle.
Chae-woo leaned closer to the first princess and whispered, “My friend… are those noble ladies going to the palace for the Crown Princess selection?”
Pung looked between the disguised royals and the shop counters.
“What brings you here, anyway?”
“What do you think? We came to buy fine fabrics,” the first princess said, turning to Woon with a hopeful smile.
“Can you help us choose?”
“I don’t know the first thing about fine silk,” Woon grumbled, looking away.
“Ask Pung.”
The first princess turned her gaze to Pung.
“Pung, would you show me?”
“Of course,” Pung replied gracefully.
As Pung began guiding the first princess through the bolts of patterned silk, quiet white flakes began to drift down from the sky—the first snowfall of the year.
Meanwhile, high up in the royal pavilion, the King stood by the wooden railing, watching the gentle snow fall over the capital rooftops.
He let out a long, quiet breath as memories surfaced.
My dear friend Mu-shin…
the King thought, his eyes distant.
Do you remember this season thirty years ago?
We fought our very first duel for the honor of the kingdom.
You were assigned to defend the northern border, while I took the south.
Now…
I have met two young men.
I am still investigating to confirm if they are your sons.
One has a warm, steady nature, while the other is fierce and hot-tempered.
I believe he inherited that wild streak directly from you.
Footsteps rustled behind him as the Head Personal Eunuch stepped onto the pavilion, bowing low.
“Jeonha,” the Eunuch reported softly, “the young ladies gathered for the Crown Princess selection have all arrived at the palace annex.”
“Are they who we suspected?” the King asked, not turning around.
“Yes, Jeonha. The daughters of the Chief State Minister and his faction, as well as the daughters of the Right State Minister’s faction, are all present for the selection trials.”
“Good,” the King said, his voice hardening slightly.
“Keep a watchful eye on every single one of them. I do not know what orders their fathers gave them before sending them into the palace, but we shall soon see.”
“I will see to it personally, Jeonha,” the Eunuch replied.
Five days later, on the morning of the eighth day, Pung and Chae-woo stopped by Woon’s residence so they could walk to the palace together.
Before they set off, the old tiger hunter handed them a packed lunch box wrapped in clean cloth.
As they turned to leave, the old hunter called out to Pung and Chae-woo, his tone turning serious.
“Please, my boys… keep an eye on Woon. Help him keep that quick temper of his in check, will you?”
“We will, sir,” Pung replied earnestly, while Chae-woo nodded alongside him.
As they walked down the snowy road toward the palace, Chae-woo couldn’t help teasing Woon.
“Look at you—a stubborn son making your poor father worry!”
Woon shot him a sharp glare but said nothing, adjusting his sword belt.
When they reached the main palace gates, the guards on duty crossed their spears, halting the trio.
“State your names and credentials!”
Before an argument could break out, the heavy wooden gates creaked open.
The Chief Royal Guard stepped forward, flanked by his senior captains in full iron armor.
He looked the three young men up and down, his eyes lingering for a beat on Pung and Woon.
“The King’s personal choices have finally arrived,” the Chief Guard said sternly.
“Step inside. From this moment on, your lives belong to the palace.”
As they crossed the threshold, the Chief Guard’s eyes landed on the cloth-wrapped bundle in Chae-woo’s hands.
“That is not permitted inside the inner courtyard.”
“But Nari,” Chae-woo protested, holding up the bundle, “it’s just a lunch box Woon’s father packed for us.”
“Don’t bother, Chae-woo,” Woon interjected bitterly.
“They reject anything that comes from commoners, claiming it’s a security risk.”
“Watch your tone,” Pung warned Woon in a low whisper.
The Chief Royal Guard narrowed his eyes at Woon before turning to Chae-woo.
“Leave it with the gatekeepers,” he commanded sharply.
“They will have the servants transfer your personal belongings to your quarters later. You are on the King’s time now—move.”
The Chief Guard led them deep into the palace complex, stopping inside the massive courtyard of the Royal Guard Command Bureau.
He formally presented the three new recruits to the assembled guards, having them state their names and ranks.
Inside the tactical room, he unrolled a massive parchment map detailing the inner and outer palace grounds, secret passageways, and guard posts.
“You have twenty-four hours to memorize this entire map—every gate, every alcove, and every patrol route,” the Chief Guard declared.
As the Chief Guard turned his back to inspect the weapons rack, Chae-woo leaned toward Pung and whispered, “Can you really memorize a map like this in twenty-four hours?”
“I’ll manage,” Pung replied quietly.
“What about you, Woon?”
Woon smirked faintly, looking over the parchment.
“I’m a mountain hunter. Navigating complex terrain is just another day at work.”
The Chief Guard returned, supervising as their names were formally inscribed into the Royal Guard Register and presenting each of them with their official palace sidearms.
“Your martial skills got you through the gates,” the Chief Guard said, looking at the three of them intently.
“Now, your character will be tested. We will see what kind of heart you possess before any of you are considered for the King’s Seohonbu.”