When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 1
Side Story 1
Seeing the days gradually grow shorter, it seemed the arduous summer was finally retreating.
A man in a long, ash-grey robe looked out over the sunset-tinged mountain path, gauging the time.
As if the world had never been parched and withered, everything around was vibrantly green and pleasant to the eye, but the man, thoroughly sick of the heat, thought it would be nice if winter came soon.
“Standing here in such a scenic place, it would be even better with some good liquor.”
Thwack. Thwack! Thwack.
“...Ugh! Uhuk! Please spare me. Spare, spare...! Gasp!”
“It saddens me that I cannot do so, thanks to you blocking my way earlier.”
Thwack! Thwack!!
A large man, who had been busy beating someone lying on the ground a short distance away, pouted at the words and retorted.
“I did it all for Your Highness’ sake, yet you don’t understand my heart. Why don’t you compose a poem instead? Usually, noblemen compose elegant poems in places like this, instead of drinking.”
Thwack! Thwack!!
“Uh... Please, gasp! Ugh, cough. Please spare... spare me...”
“Making such requests without any liquor? That's why I said we should stop by that tavern!”
“...M-Minister…!”
Thwack!!
“Gasp. Cough. Cough…”
“Who did you say?”
“...M-Minister Jung… Minister Jung ordered… brought me…”
“Proof?”
“...O-Over there, so…”
The person, whose body was swelling from the man’s blows, finally lost consciousness from the pain.
“What! Finish talking! Finish talking before you faint!”
The flustered man shook him, trying to wake him up, but the unconscious man remained unresponsive.
Swallowing hard, the man approached the one in the ash-grey robe with an awkward smile.
“Phew. This crybaby. He hasn’t even been hit that much, and he’s acting like he's in so much pain. If I had known he was such a crybaby, I would have handled him more gently.”
“Well, well. I didn’t really do much. But this guy, so kindly, was just about to tell me what he knows. I’ll carry, no, I’ll piggyback him. He seems to want to play a little prank, so he’ll open his eyes soon. Then I'll find out what he was going to say. Of course.”
“...”
“Really. I’ll figure it out soon. I mean, this bastard hasn't been beaten that much, but he's pretending to be dying, damn it, no. What I mean is, I can figure it out.”
“Alright. Then carry him.”
The man’s face brightened at the words that seemed to excuse his mistake.
He quickly ran over, hoisted the bloodied, unconscious person onto his back, and hurried back to stand beside the man in grey.
“Palbong, because of you, we’ve lost more time, so you’re buying the drinks at the next tavern.”
“But where do I have the money to keep buying drinks with all these excuses, you know. Yes, I’ll buy them. Of course, I should buy them. But where are we going? Aren’t we going back down to the tavern?”
“There’s nothing to be gained by delaying, so let's go to the place he mentioned for now.”
“Aren’t you going to look for the proof?”
“Considering the scale of this operation, I doubt the proof is only in his hands. I also need to find out what that black, wicked-looking thing is, so if we catch anyone along the way, I'll beat the information out of them. So hurry up and follow me. Unless you want to spend the late night on a mountain road.”
“Are we really going to the capital?”
“Hmm.”
“That's surprising. You acted like you'd never set foot there in your life.”
“......Hmm.”
“Sometimes, for the sake of precious people, one must become the villain.”
At the mention of the ‘capital,’ the man in the ash-grey robe suddenly recalled a voice and seemed to slow his steps. But in the end, he walked forward.
The man carrying the other on his back hurriedly followed behind.
Between their light footsteps, the occasional groans of the person slung over the man's shoulder could be heard.
“Where should I put all of this, My Lady?”
“Gather everything that was taken out in front of the annex. Repair what can be repaired and burn what needs to be burned.”
“What about this?”
“Take that to the back garden.”
Amidst the servants busily cleaning the residence, Jung Chihwa quickly sorted through the items continuously brought before her.
Since the shining hawk took flight, everything in the dying country had changed.
To think that the disaster, which seemed like it would go on forever, had finally come to an end.
Not only that, but the dead land and the weakened people had also recovered.
Where the Lake of Blood had been, only dry earth remained, with tender grass sprouting.
The horrific stench and the deathly energy could no longer be felt.
Everyone in the capital was rejoicing, but there was no time to be complacent. The places that had been neglected during the long drought were all in disarray.
“By the way, you’re free to leave now.”
“Leave? What are you talking about?”
“That’s right. We’ll protect you, My Lady, until the Lord returns, no matter what.”
Jung Chihwa chuckled at their confident voices.
Except for those who had fled when things became difficult, she had emancipated all those who had remained by her side as soon as she felt reasonably safe.
Not only that, but she also divided her remaining assets generously among them.
So now, they were no longer slaves, and they had money in their hands. She had assumed they would leave immediately.
But instead, the emancipated servants remained at the residence, offering to help her.
They voluntarily divided the work amongst themselves and tidied up the household belongings that had been rummaged through multiple times by the officials.
The men diligently repaired the broken doors and walls.
Thanks to their busy efforts, even the kitchen utensils, which hadn't been properly used for a long time, became reasonably clean, although it took some time.
Jung Chihwa went around, organizing the items that had been sold, given away, and those that remained, recording them in a ledger.
It was then that the head servant came rushing in, making a fuss.
“My Lady! My Lady, it’s a disaster!”
A disaster?!
“What? What is it?!”
Jung Chihwa, whose heart now plummeted at the mere mention of trouble, asked urgently.
“What disaster? Are the officials swarming in again?”
“Th-That, that is, His Majesty…”
“His Majesty? Has something happened at the palace?”
“No, it’s not that! Well, His Majesty…”
“I suppose he wants to make my visit known.”
Jung Chihwa’s eyes widened at the voice that followed.
“Your, Your Majesty!”
If he had business, he could have summoned her to the palace. The person approaching across the cluttered courtyard was the King of this country, Banhyeonjong Seong Ik-gwon.
“What brings you here in person?”
Jung Chihwa hurriedly knelt before him and asked in a trembling voice.
Why would someone like him, who was above everyone else, come all the way here to see someone insignificant like her?
Her father hadn't returned yet; was he here to reprimand her for something again?
“F-First, this isn’t a suitable place for Your Majesty, so let us move to…”
“No. I just stopped by briefly to deliver a message. I'll be going soon.”
A message?
Not her father,
“…To me?”
Seeing her bewildered expression, Seong Ik-gwon also swallowed hard.
He had decided to come in person, judging that the news was not suitable to be relayed by others, but actually saying it out loud was more difficult than he had anticipated.
Nevertheless… he had to do it.
So he slowly opened his mouth.
He had already anticipated Jung Chihwa’s face turning pale.
“…Found dead? You say my father was…?”
“It seems he was trying to enlist the help of shamans to ensure the success of the next rain ritual. However, considering how dangerous it was outside the capital at the time…”
“So he met with an accident on the way? Wh-When was he found?”
“The urgent report arrived at the palace just a moment ago.”
“…”
He had returned directly to the palace after delivering the news, so there was no reason for him to be tired. Yet, even late into the night, Seong Ik-gwon couldn't fall asleep comfortably.
‘I heard she lost her mother and siblings early, and the Minister was her only family… After all that, I've made her lose her last remaining family member.’
…My sin is truly grave.
She wasn’t even married yet, so her situation must be even more bleak. What could he possibly do to compensate her adequately?
The image of the Minister's young daughter, frozen in shock after hearing his news, continued to weigh heavily on his mind.
Added to his guilt was a small worry, and that was because of the celestials who called the Minister’s daughter their friend.
‘…I hope this doesn’t become another reason for them to intervene in the affairs of this country.’
He didn’t mind if the anger over the death of her friend’s father was directed at him. But if that anger were to be directed at the entire palace, or even the country…
‘No. Neither the Minister’s daughter nor the celestials seemed to be the type… But grief over the death of a family member is not something that can be controlled with reason.’
If he offered her overly generous compensation because of that, others would likely object.
Seong Ik-gwon’s head throbbed from the continuous deliberation as he tried to find a reasonable solution.
In the end, he abruptly sat up in bed.
“Head Eunuch Hong. Head Eunuch Hong, are you there?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The eunuch who served him hurriedly entered.
“What do you think about holding a somewhat grand funeral for the Minister?”
“Pardon?”
Head Eunuch Hong blinked at the sudden topic in the late night.
Could His Majesty be suggesting he would personally oversee the Minister’s funeral?
“By ‘grand,’ you mean to what extent…”
“We haven't yet held the funerals for the Queen and the Crown Prince, have we? My heart is heavy because of this. Moreover, the Minister's situation has many points to consider, making it even more difficult. What do you think about holding a joint funeral?”
A j-joint?
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