When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 10
Side Story 10
“So?”
“So, while I was waiting for the right opportunity, I discovered the Left State Councillor doing unspeakable things with those Black Dragon fragments. He treasures them so much that I thought I could catch him red-handed with them, but I needed more evidence, so I added a few things of my own. Just a few small items, nothing worth Your Majesty's attention.”
“Evidence? What small items?”
Prince Yeong, his eyes downcast, licked his dry lips.
“I asked what the small items were.”
“…Well… they’re just small items.”
“Answer me properly.”
“Well… to be precise… they’re small sacks.”
“Sacks?”
“Yes… I had captured a few of the Left State Councillor’s subordinates and was dragging them around… but it became rather troublesome and bothersome…”
“Troublesome?”
“…So… I returned them to their master’s warehouse. I stuffed them into sacks, so they wouldn't be easily discovered, and as I mentioned, those fragments react to blood. I told them to cover them in blood, whether chicken or pig blood, so they’ll be devoured in plain sight, serving as undeniable evidence.”
Seeing Seong Ik-gwon staring at him blankly, Prince Yeong hurriedly added,
“They’re not ordinary citizens, Father. They’re heinous criminals who kidnapped and brutally butchered the villagers to feed the fragments. So they deserve to experience the same fear and the same situation…”
“No, wait. Alright, I understand those subordinates are despicable criminals. But didn’t you say you just added a few small items?”
“People become small when you fold them, Father.”
“...”
“You can fit them into small sacks just by breaking their arms and legs.”
He spoke so casually that Seong Ik-gwon didn’t grasp the meaning at first.
Blinking in confusion, Seong Ik-gwon jumped up, ran over, and, forgetting his composure, started hitting his son’s back.
“Are you out of your mind?! What were you thinking?!”
“What was I thinking? I wasn’t harming innocent, law-abiding citizens, Father. I told you about the Left State Councillor’s actions, didn’t I?”
“So you think you’re justified?”
“No one is completely innocent. If he had acted within reasonable limits, I might have turned a blind eye. But the things I discovered while dealing with his subordinates… it’s just the tip of the iceberg…”
Seong Ik-gwon sighed and rubbed his forehead.
‘This is just like him.’
‘He’s been like this since he was young; I thought he would change as he grew older, but he’s still doing the same things.’
Prince Yeong, still in the same position, continued to speak,
“I heard the Minister’s daughter distributed grain and medicinal herbs to the people for free during the drought? The Left State Councillor wouldn't have let her get away with that. He wouldn't allow anyone to gain popularity or lower grain prices by giving away grain like that.”
Seong Ik-gwon’s hand paused.
“If it had stopped there, I wouldn't have done this. But now, he’s sending armed men to climb over walls in the middle of the night. Threatening that young unmarried lady to adopt her and feed her to that fragment. The thought of it made my blood boil…”
Sensing his father’s silence as tacit agreement, Prince Yeong added,
“Anyway, I’ll take care of this mess before I leave, so please take care of your health, Father. You’ve lost weight.”
Just then, court attendants entered with breakfast, announced by Head Eunuch Hong’s voice.
Seong Ik-gwon, having lost his appetite after hearing his son’s story, pushed the tray aside.
“So, you’ll leave again once this is over?”
“If I stayed, it would look like I’m a madman trying to take my brother’s place the moment he’s gone. I just wanted to check on your health and the situation in the palace, Father. Since I’m already back, I might as well…”
“And you’ll continue to associate with those butchers when you leave?”
“Father, they are the most suitable people for this kind of work. Just look. A single word from me, and things are taken care of efficiently.”
“Yes, I suppose so. But that’s enough.”
“Pardon?”
“That’s enough running around.”
“But Father, I…”
“Head Eunuch Hong. Make sure he eats his breakfast, and then take him to the Royal Library.”
“Father! The Left State Councillor’s matter isn’t resolved yet. I need to…”
“Who said you couldn’t? I said eat your breakfast and wait.”
“?!”
“This time, spend some time with your father instead of those butchers.”
Seong Ik-gwon patted his son’s shoulder as Prince Yeong looked up at him in surprise. The muscles beneath his hand were firm.
It seemed he had been keeping himself healthy and honing his martial skills.
Knowing that alone made him feel like he could sleep soundly tonight.
…However, his son’s actions were one thing, and the Left State Councillor’s matter was too serious to ignore.
Even if he had been too preoccupied with being a puppet for those monsters who ruled the country, how could such ruthless acts have been allowed to happen?
He was distressed, but he couldn't change the past.
Seong Ik-gwon ran his hand over his face and then opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
“Commander Jang, are you there?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. What are your orders?”
“I have a task for you. A discreet investigation.”
Yes, the past couldn’t be changed. There was no such thing as an alterable past.
But he could at least correct the course of the present.
Seong Ik-gwon had put so much effort into the Funeral that everyone in the capital knew about it.
However, while Funerals usually began early in the morning, this joint Funeral, led by Seong Ik-gwon, was unusually scheduled to start at midnight.
Thus, since late at night, solemn drumbeats had been emanating from the palace, creating a reverent atmosphere.
The Left State Councillor, who hadn’t had a moment’s peace these past few days, frowned as his servants dressed him.
“Can’t you tie the sash properly?!”
“I-I apologize, Lord Left State Councillor.”
“Tsk. Useless fools.”
The servant nervously glanced at the Left State Councillor.
Ever since those various rumors about him had spread throughout the capital, his mood had soured considerably.
“Enough! Get out!”
Finally, irritated by everything, the Left State Councillor shouted, dismissing the servant.
He had carefully orchestrated the situation so that when Minister Jung was alive, the blame would fall on him, and now, on his daughter.
‘Sacrifices for the drought? Who in their right mind would dare slander me like that?!’
Moreover, the adoption, which he had expected to resolve quickly, hadn't progressed at all, causing him further frustration.
‘I need to feed the fragments soon.’
But what worried him most was that no one was offering to sell him any more fragments.
At first, acquiring the black, auspicious energy hadn’t been difficult. But recently, he couldn’t find a single piece.
Perhaps, among the originally limited number of fragments, some had been destroyed by their owners, unaware of how to sustain them.
Or perhaps, sensing the life force emanating from them, others were cherishing them just as he was.
Whatever the reason, if the auspicious energy he possessed disappeared, he might not be able to find any more.
‘That can’t happen. Absolutely not.’
Since the disaster had only recently ended, Seong Ik-gwon had countless matters to attend to.
So he had assumed Seong Ik-gwon would leave the matter of Minister Jung's daughter to him and focus his attention elsewhere.
‘That damned girl… It must be because of those celestials.’
He himself was trying to take her in because she was a friend of the celestials, so it wasn’t strange for Seong Ik-gwon to have similar intentions.
‘Those rumors won’t lead to any concrete evidence, so that should be the end of it.’
It was a crucial time for him to gather every last bit of auspicious energy in the country; he couldn’t be held back by such petty rumors.
‘The rumors won’t lead to any evidence, so it should be over.’
It was the same with Minister Jung’s daughter. He had tried a few things, but they were all insignificant, and in the end, nothing he had done had actually harmed her.
‘That’s good enough. Once the Funeral is held for Minister Jung, His Majesty’s guilt will lessen.’
‘And then his interest will naturally fade, and I can kidnap her then.’
The Left State Councillor adjusted his sleeves and turned.
Since he couldn't take his usual palanquin on the day of the Funeral, a horse was prepared in the courtyard.
Ignoring the bowing servants, he mounted his horse and set off for the palace.
“Make way! Out of the way!”
His subordinates cleared the path through the crowds.
However, unlike usual, when people would bow respectfully, today they glanced at him with unsettling looks.
They clearly believed those rumors spreading throughout the capital.
‘How dare those lowly peasants look at me with such insolence? If it weren't for the officials, I would gouge out their eyes.’
The faint hostility emanating from the commoners infuriated him.
He wanted to dismount and teach them a lesson, but he was on his way to the Funeral. He couldn’t cause a scene.
As he suppressed his boiling rage, he heard a voice,
“L-Lord Left State Councillor! Lord Left State Councillor!”
“What is it?”
“Lord Left State Councillor! Smoke is coming from your residence!”
“What?!”
‘Smoke? What nonsense… Why is he talking about smoke on the way to the Funeral…?’ The Left State Councillor turned around at his subordinate’s sudden report.
And he was stunned by the sight of a massive fire, its flames so bright they seemed to push back the night sky. He recognized his residence immediately.
He didn’t have time to worry about the countless treasures stored in his residence. Those weren't important to him.
‘No!’
He could acquire any amount of gold and jewels, but not the fragments.
He didn’t know if the fragments would burn, but if they were lost, it would be irreversible!
He yanked the reins frantically, and the startled horse reared.
Several people screamed as the horse trampled them, but the Left State Councillor ignored them and galloped towards his residence.
“Hiya!”
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