Surviving the Romance Fantasy

why do you ask that?

At the words of Po Hyeon-bi, the In-gwi-bi suddenly stopped talking.

….why did you ask that? I also had a reflexive question, so I didn’t have an answer.

“That, that’s…”

Lady Jin’s eyes are sharp again. It feels like there is a knife in front of me.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve wielded a sword lately… If that person’s condition got better, I thought I’d try another sword fight.”

It was a plausible excuse for rushing around. In fact, until a few months ago, Consort In was regularly sword-slicing with Seol Tae-pyeong.

Although he had kept his distance from Seol Tae-pyeong ever since he felt a strange delusion in his heart.

‘This, this is not good for Tae-pyeong…!’

And, Hyunbi Po clearly knew what situation my best friend was in.

“That, well. That lunar new year worker with the name Taepyeongi… looks pretty busy. Will I ever have time to come to the sword…”

“That’s right… hahahaha…”

“…Are you two even considerate of the schedules of third-rate fighters?”

Deokbi Ha, who was listening from the side, asked a pure question without any intention.

Actually, it didn’t make sense. Where in the world is there a princess who can’t change the schedule of a third-rate warrior to her liking?

“Aren’t you one of those who make this Qingdao palace run, even if you’re a low-level soldier? If you don’t look at the bottom, it’s the law to collapse from the top.”

However, the Ingwibi got out of the situation with a spirited speech. It was an impromptu response that could be said to be the standard of Jeong Seon-ga.

While Gwibi In looked around, Sookie Jin still looked down at the two of them with her gaze down.

She was usually a bright and lively girl at the Blue Dragon Palace, but when she came to the tea party, she was a strangely quiet girl.

Even though Hyeonbi Po thought that there was nothing she could not be proud of, she had to turn her pupils to the upper right or lower left whenever she glanced at Sukbi Jin.

How could the youngest girl in this position be able to radiate such pressure? In Gwi-bi and Po Hyeon-bi also swallowed dry saliva.

Looking at the superficial conversation, it was a friendly tea party, but somehow it feels like walking on thin ice.

Hoi-in and Hyeon-dang, who stood with their heads bowed behind each owner, had to be sweating profusely.

What the hell is this?

Historically, it was a frequent occurrence for tea parties to degenerate into a place where the crown princes’ war of nerves or shady workshops came and went… but this was the first time it had taken this form.

‘I just… I just hope it ends soon…’

Po Hyeon-bi, who picked up the tea and caught her breath for a moment, shed tears in her heart.

Still, thanks to Ha Deok-bi, who recently returned the topic with flowers blooming near the concubine wall… This thin ice board-like atmosphere was further relaxed.

The problem arose around the end of the tea ceremony.

“A person came from Baekseon Palace. Apparently, there was a problem with the jinbeop within the concubine, so they came to check it out. It seems to be a really important issue related to ghost prevention, but should we bring it to the Blue Dragon Palace now?”

Originally, it is a great disloyalty for a maid to speak out recklessly at a meeting between the crown princes.

However, it was an exception if there was an important matter that must be reported.

A warrior and a maid came from Baekseon Palace.

In the atmosphere of the tea ceremony coming to an end, the lady-in-waiting in the tea room reported that.

“What.. what..?”

“…Paekseon Palace?”

There was a momentary silence over those words. It was as if explosives had been dropped in the middle of the tea room.

However, Deokbi Ha alone was tilting his head.

*

“Since the tea ceremony is currently in progress at Cheongryonggung… All the secretaries of the four palaces are gathered. Normally, it would be right to arrange another day to visit again, but…”

The head lady-in-waiting may have been at a tea party, but another courteous-looking lady-in-waiting came out and bowed her head.

“However, as this is an important issue with the prevention of demons, it would be better to ask for your understanding and look inside. Since the truth is directly related to safety, it seems right to solve it as soon as possible. It could be a big comeback.”

“…”

Yeon-ri and I had to look at each other and check the bloody faces.

Me, we’ll just go.

It felt like it was already too late to say that.

Tea Party of Chaos (2)

“I’m sorry during the conversation. We will quickly check only the amulets in the tea room and leave.”

When the paper door opened, Seol Tae-pyeong lowered his head and was talking.

The situation has already been described.

The princess of Cheonryongchae became very weak, so Baekseon became very busy.

Therefore, on behalf of Baekseon, his escort entered the concubine to look after the court. It is important to look at the law of the four palaces, especially because recently I felt that there was a big problem with the amulets of the blue dragon palace.

Looking at the situation, it seems to be a normal routine maintenance job.

It was just a matter of asking for understanding and leaving the warrior of Baekseon Palace alone, and continuing with the tea party.

However, a strange tension flowed between the crown princesses sitting together.

Even the crown princesses, as well as the chief maids who were bowing their heads in the back, some of them had to swallow dry saliva.

“Then… would it be all right if I take a moment to check the Jinbeop amulet inside the tea room?”

Seol Tae-pyeong asked in a tone full of tension.

Then, when I checked the inside of the tea room, which was quite large, the tension began to rise again.

Four princesses sitting around the table. Behind them were the maids who assisted their master.

On each of the four walls, five high-ranking ladies-in-waiting from each palace are sitting together, and the middle-class ladies-in-waiting are standing outside the paper-cut door of the tea room.

If you are the owner of the four palaces, is it possible to sit down and drink a cup of tea in this place?

It was a situation that would make anyone who saw it for the first time feel intimidated.

To make matters worse, no answer came back.

Among the crown princesses sitting together, they seemed to be at a loss as to which one to answer.

“Bird, you came earlier than expected. Certainly, the Baekseongoong is fast at work.”

In the end, if I were asked to pick one person who would take the lead in answering this question, there was only one, the owner of the Blue Dragon Palace, Auntie Jin.

You came ‘earlier’ than expected.

As soon as Seol Tae-pyeong heard that, it seemed that he could roughly see the whole story.

Perhaps it is Sukbi Jin’s pilotage that has influenced the talisman of the Blue Dragon Palace.

There was no way that someone the size of Sukbi Jin would break the intact Jinbeop to invite Seol Tae-pyeong to the Blue Dragon Palace. However, in the process of learning pilotage, you may have noticed that your pilotage has affected the position of Baekseon in some way.

In this way, it is not difficult to notice that Baekseon Palace will send someone soon.

However, no one would have known whether Baekseon would come in person or send a warrior under his command. From the standpoint of Lady Jin, she might have expected Seol Tae-pyeong to visit Cheongryonggung, but she did not think that she would come when the tea party was in full swing.

‘W-wouldn’t it be okay…?’

Sukbi Jin wanted to send Seol Tae-pyeong back from here and tell her to come back next time she was alone.

There were some things I wanted to tell alone with Seol Tae-pyeong, and I didn’t even want to accompany the nobles and Hyun-bi whose eyes were looking at Seol Tae-pyeong.

However… there is no justification…!

It is very important to look after the concubine’s court. If it was something that could be postponed, they would have sent it back from the ladies-in-waiting in the first place.

He has the position of being the owner of the Blue Dragon Palace, and he is not able to move as he wants because it is even a position where other maids keep their eyes open.

“No, of course.”

In the end, Sukbi Jin allowed Seol Tae-pyeong to enter the tea room.

Seol Tae-pyeong looked at Yeon-ri, who was lying down next to him. The idea was to get things done quickly and leave.

There are a total of 14 wooden pillars inside the tea room of Cheongryonggung. Amulets of white lines were attached to the inner four and outermost four pillars.

Seol Tae-pyeong went inside with Yeon-ri and began examining the outer pillars one by one.

“…”

“…”

There was an uncomfortable silence around the teak.

“Unfortunately, we got to preside over this Celestial Dragon Festival together at our sealing house. There are still many things that I lack, so I might ask for help in this or that. I hope that Biddle will watch over the Cheonryong Festival with a broad generosity.”

Only Ha Deok-bi, unaware of the situation, was talking softly while enjoying the scent of tea.

Usually, at this point, it was a natural flow for a noble or a hyeonbi who was good at conversational skills to skillfully accept the topic of Ha Deokbi.

However, no answer came back.

Ha Deok-bi, who was enjoying the scent of tea with her eyes closed, noticed something strange and looked at the other rains.

“Is there anything you are worried about?”

“…!”

“Oh, no. Then Deokbi Ha will also perform something at the Cheonryong Festival.”

“no. I think I will just go out as a representative and fly a lantern.”

“It’s a sky lantern… I haven’t blown it since I was a kid. I really look forward to it.”

At least, Gwibi In quickly came to her senses and answered Deokbi Ha’s words.

However, Sukbi Jin, the owner of the Blue Dragon Palace, openly focused her eyes on Seol Tae-pyeong, who was looking at the pillar with Yeon-li in the corner of the tea room, and was looking sideways at him, as if he were not the same as Po Hyeon-bi.

Consort In prayed to the Celestial Dragon that Deokbi Ha would not notice that the two were acting strangely.

– percussion

“Kyaa!”

At that time, Yeon-ri almost stumbled and fell, probably because she was so nervous about this situation that she was about to get dizzy.

Seol Tae-pyeong, who had stepped on a small table and looked over the pillar, quickly lowered his stance and wrapped Yeon-ri around her waist to support her body.

– Flinch!

A strange tension spread around Dayak.

“Oh, be careful.”

“I have committed rudeness. Sin, sorry.”

When Ha Deok-bi spoke in a benevolent tone, Seol Tae-pyeong spoke apologetically.

“…”

To be sure, Yeon-ri has never seen a man named Seol Tae-pyeong as a member of the opposite s*x in her life.

However, the way she carefully raises Yeon-ri, who supported her waist, looks like a long-time lover to the princesses.

– Dig!

There is a story that a person’s gaze flows with energy.

In fact, there could be no such thing as energy or physical force in her gaze, but Yeon-ri felt goosebumps running through her entire body.

In this part, Yeon-ri feels strangely good.

Sukbi Jin, Hyeonbi Po, and Gwibi In seem to be gulping dry saliva and staring at their hands wrapped around their waists.

As the owners of the Four Great Palaces, they are people in a far-flung place, so it is unlikely that they would come into contact with low-level warriors like low-ranking samurai.

There is no hesitation at all in Seol Tae-pyeong’s movements that support Yeon-ri, who was about to fall, as if he were dealing with a far-high being. It is literally a natural touch as if helping an old friend.

However, that natural and equal hand could only be directed to a fellow lady-in-waiting of Baek Seon-gung.

“Tae, Tae-pyeong… It’s okay now.”

“okay. There is a step next to the outer pillar, so be careful not to trip.”

“Yes.”

Yeon-ri licked her dry saliva several times at the cool sensation.

At the stares of the crown princes stuck in their backs, the blade is standing up to the point where they wonder if it’s okay to do this. I never imagined that a mere middle school maid would receive such stares from the princesses.

Is this… dying together…

The series of actions taken by Seol Tae-pyeong, if it goes wrong, will not even know what will happen to Yeon-ri.

It was because, for someone who was at the level of the crown princess of the four major palaces, getting rid of a middle-class lady-in-waiting was no big deal.

Yeon-ri hurriedly straightened up and stood three steps behind Seol Tae-pyeong. Her demeanor is so modest that there is no other elegant girl like her in the world.

…It was a struggle to live.

*

“I looked at the interior as a whole, but it doesn’t seem to be a major problem. I haven’t checked all the external talismans yet.”

“How fortunate. The ecliptic is noisy inside and out these days, and I am very worried that there is a problem even with the jinbeop.”

There was only one person, Deokbi Ha, who answered Seol Tae-pyeong’s words properly.

The other rains tended to ignore it by turning their eyes around when Seol Tae-pyeong raised a voice, as if there was something that bothered them.

‘…Is this man Seol Tae-pyeong?’

Even so, if you come this far, Deokbi Ha will also notice.

The attitude of the other princesses towards this warrior is unusual. It was also very strange to decide to join Seol Tae-pyeong’s petition for a reduced sentence at the last tea ceremony.

‘The appearance is perfect, and the weapon seems to be quite good… No matter how much I look at it, I can only see it as a clunky third-class soldier…’

When you become the crown princess of the four major palaces, you begin to see how the power structure within the palace flows.

Seeing that the other princesses cared so much for this man, it seemed that there was something in the man that Deokbi Ha did not yet know.

There is no way that the owner of the Four Great Palaces would have tried to help a third-rate warrior who had nothing with only personal feelings (true), and there was no way he would have defended this man without even considering the basic gains and losses (he did not argue), It was clear that there must have been some political reason (there is no specific reason).

“I am very sorry to interrupt this valuable meeting. Then, let’s look at the talisman outside and then go back…”

“Some of the amulets of the Blue Dragon Palace… I heard they fell off…”

At that time, Suk-bi Jin, who had been silent, spoke up.

Perhaps he had the feeling that something shouldn’t go on like this, so he hid his expression behind his sleeve and looked down, talking as if it was nothing special.

“I-I couldn’t tell you beforehand, but in the process of training pilotage, I don’t know what effect my pilotage might have had on Baekseon’s talisman.”

“yes. We also took that into consideration and visited the Blue Dragon Palace first.”

“So… I… have a little bit of doubt, so I’ll have to take a look at it separately. Could you take a look around my training ground outside the Blue Dragon Palace…”

“Well, it’s not difficult, but…”

Seol Tae-pyeong felt strangely uneasy. It was as if Suk-bi Jin was trying to catch her so she wouldn’t leave.

“I often learn piloting there. Ho, maybe… After the tea ceremony is over, can you wait and see if my powers will have a bad effect on the other jinbeop? I’ll have to try out my own piloting and check it out.”

“…”

“I don’t think it’s okay if there’s another problem with the jinbeop because of my help, so I think it’s necessary to check. We can’t just let the same thing happen over and over again.”

can you confirm? I asked, but that just meant to confirm. Here, as a third-rate unmanned person, I couldn’t shake my head saying it was difficult. There were dozens of eyes watching.

Seol Tae-pyeong thought about what to say no to, but… there was no way he could refuse.

Only an empty sound seemed to echo around the neck. I can’t wait any longer, and the moment the positive voice is about to go out… the savior has arrived.

“Yeah, that might be embarrassing. Mrs. Jin.”

It was Seol Tae-pyeong’s helper (myself), a gwibi.

“Yes, yes?”

“Actually, I, our Suzakugung, also have a lot of problems with the jinbeop. As you know, the problems that occur in the jinbeop are directly related to safety, so we also want to take a quick look inside the palace with the help of Baekseongung. Even the maids will be anxious.”

“…?”

Hyeondang, the maid of honor, had a puzzled look on the world, but Ingwibi didn’t care and talked like a liquidator.

“In the first place, the warrior to stand must have come to inspect the entire concubines, including the Blue Dragon Palace, right?”

“Yes, yes… I am.”

The 100 Royal Court Officers clearly instructed to inspect all the four palaces. It was impossible to keep an eye on the Blue Dragon Palace endlessly.

“That, so… First of all, it seems important to take a look at the Suzaku Palace. And, wouldn’t the old man with the white line see better than the warrior who handles the sword the influence of power?”

“…”

“So… why don’t you just focus on the original problem of checking the true method?”

Gwibi In swallowed her saliva and looked at Sookie Jin’s expression.

However, there was no logic to refute from Jin Sukbi’s point of view. I’m just lost in thought for a while, running the tip of my nose with the sleeve of my clothes.

“Since the story is like that, when the inspection of Cheongryonggung is over, the soldiers of Seoll will enter Jujakgung and look at the tactics… If there is time left, they will even meet swords..”

“Yeah, that can be difficult. Dear Lady.”

“…yes?”

There, Seol Tae-pyeong’s best friend (person said) Po Hyeon-bi broke the story.

Hyeonbi Po himself must have said the first thing, and when Gwibi In turned her head and looked at her, she took a deep breath.

“Actually… Hyeonmu-gung’s Dharma Jin also had a very serious problem. I have been desperately waiting for the help of the Baekseongoong since several days ago.”

“…?”

Anlim, the maid of honor, was making a puzzled expression, but Po Hyeonbi tried to ignore it.

“As you know, the maid of the concubine has no knowledge of pilotage, so I was in trouble because I didn’t know how to deal with the strange incidents that occurred around Hyunmu Palace.”

“…????”

did you?

It was clear that Anlim’s expression was holding back what she wanted to ask.

On the one hand, I was very ashamed of my own vices for not noticing such a huge fact.

Hyeondang and Hoein closed their eyes tightly while watching Anlim’s expression.

“Lord, there doesn’t seem to be any major problems with the Palace of the Emperor right now… Why don’t you take a look at the Palace of Hyunmu first? I want to ask for your understanding…”

“Is that so…?”

‘As expected, Mr. Po Hyeon-nim harbors some kind of delusion towards the Lunar New Year…!’

In Gwibi noticed.

I don’t know if Seol Tae-pyeong knows this fact or not. It would be fortunate if Seol Tae-pyeong himself knew about it, but if he entered Hyeonmu-gung without knowing it, there was no way to know what would happen.

We must protect Seoltaepyeong…!

First of all, it is necessary to call the Suzaku Palace first and see if you are familiar with the situation.

And if I have some time left, I would try some of the usual, obvious, and very obvious exchanges such as sword fighting, having a cup of precious tea brought from the Byeokla region, and asking how the life of Baek Seon-gung is like these days.

‘Princess In’s condition has been unusual for the past few days… I have to tell Tae-pyeong about it first…!’

Of course, Pohyeonbi also had the same thoughts as Pohyeonbi.

They say that when the body is far away, the mind is far away. However, Po Hyeon-bi noticed that the sensible In-gwibi’s eyes became sharper when Seol Tae-pyeong’s name became a topic of discussion these days.

It seemed good for Seol Tae-pyeong to recite such things in advance before visiting the Suzaku Palace. If you are going to visit all the four major palaces anyway, it would not be strange if you visit Hyeonmu Palace first.

Of course, in order to visit Hyunmu Palace and tell you about the current situation, now that I am here, I will eat a bowl of soup and ask where I will be at the Cheonryong Festival this time, and I will share some very normal daily conversations about how I am doing. It was as if it was not at all.

“Since we’re looking at the Blue Dragon Palace, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to check it thoroughly before going?”

“It seems that the Blue Dragon Palace has been settled, so let’s look at the situation at Suzaku Palace first…”

“Tongue, Hyeonmu-gung is also in an urgent situation…”

There were several conversations between the crown princes.

You can’t tell just by looking at the outside. The women’s war of nerves was originally about digging into the inside to reveal their true face.

It was a conversation that was uttered calmly, with dignity and respect for the other person, but somehow a strange spirit flowed between the crown princes, as if they could not yield even a single step.

‘…Could the question of the truth be so serious?’

‘Well… it’s a matter of safety, so it’s probably sensitive.’

However, Deokbi Ha was just listening to the story of the three people, enjoying the scent of tea.

“…”

“…”

Of course, Seol Tae-pyeong and Yeon-ri, who were sitting with their knees folded, felt as if they would die of suffocation at any moment.