A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 139

139. Headwind

With the martial arts bride selection over, the crowd in front of the Ice Palace dispersed to the surrounding villages. However, some remained.

Mostly elderly or middle-aged, they knelt before the Ice Palace as if in prayer, unwilling to leave.

Rustle, rustle.

Sarune and Namira passed them quietly. They were returning from escorting Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon to the Ice Emperor’s training chamber.

“Those former elders are really too much.”

Namira grumbled.

“We were just seeing her off, but they didn’t have to tell everyone else to get lost.”

The entrance to the Ice Emperor’s training chamber was on the outskirts of the Ice Palace, guarded by the former elders. These were old men who had left their high positions in the tribe and vowed to uphold the traditions and laws of the Northern Sea.

Stubborn and difficult, they were the Ice Palace maids’ number one avoidance target. The former elders didn’t associate closely with people to begin with.

“And the Vice Palace Lord too. ‘Do as you wish,’ I don’t know what that means.”

Upon entering the training chamber, Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon had said:

—Until I come out of this place, you may do as you wish. I leave it all to you.

The only ones who heard those words were Seomoksu Orhan, the Northern Sea Twelve Beauties, and Sarune and Namira. Orhan and the Northern Sea Twelve Beauties seemed to understand, but Namira couldn’t grasp it at all.

Afterward, Orhan and the Northern Sea Twelve Beauties remained motionless, guarding the entrance. In the end, only Sarune and Namira returned to the Ice Palace.

“Does it mean we should prepare something? Or does it mean that when the Vice Palace Lord becomes the Ice Emperor, she’ll give us high positions?”

“Who knows?”

Sarune replied quietly, but her mind was elsewhere. She thought Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon’s gaze had seemed to smile faintly at her.

Perhaps those words were meant for Sarune?

“Haa.”

Namira sighed deeply.

“I guess it’s all over now.”

Namira said, looking around at the almost empty front of the Ice Palace. As she said, the martial arts competition was over.

“All that remains is the trial of Mother Northern Sea, but since the Ice Emperor bestows it, it’ll probably be ceremonial.”

Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be as significant as the competition.

“Namira.”

“Yes.”

“Have the maids distribute warm food and blankets to the people.”

“Yes?”

“Because the nights here are still cold.”

Sarune’s gaze was fixed on the people who weren’t leaving the front of the Ice Palace. Namira smiled at Sarune’s consideration.

“Yes, Head Maid.”

The two entered the Ice Palace. Soon after, several maids came out, lit fires, and began distributing food and blankets.

*

*

*

Sarune entered the empty Seven Palace Lord Hall. As always, the vast, desolate space greeted her.

Before she knew it, dusk was falling. Sarune personally lit the many lamps in the hall, and looking at Sasu-yeon’s empty seat, she sighed.

‘Was it… the right thing to do?’

Sasu-yeon had passed the trial of the Great Plains. Even if it meant Sasu-yeon would leave the Northern Sea, Sarune would have been happy, if that was the Vice Palace Lord’s desire.

‘But…’

The current Vice Palace Lord was different.

Holding the Myeong [a ceremonial sword], she was so full of dignity that no one dared approach her, and her beauty grew more radiant every day.

But her smile had disappeared.

When had she stopped seeing that soft, warm smile, like her mother, Garyeo?

“Haa.”

Sarune shuddered, thinking of Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon. Her gaze was cold, and her smile was even eerie. It seemed no one else knew, but Sarune could see it clearly.

‘What… should I do?’

Thump, thump, thump.

At the sound of hurried footsteps, Sarune turned. Such rudeness in front of the Seven Palace Lord Hall made her frown.

“Head Maid!”

The person who rushed in was Namira.

Sarune said sternly, “Namira! How many times have I told you not to run…”

Rustle.

Sarune stopped. The person behind Namira was the Seventh Consort.

She was the one who had informed them of the Ice Queen’s scheme of the martial arts bride selection, and the one who had allowed Ibi to meet Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon. Among the consorts, she was the only one who sided with Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon.

“Have you come?”

Sarune bowed her head in respect.

“Where is the Vice Palace Lord? Is she not here?”

Perhaps because she was young, the Seventh Consort spoke informally, but she used honorifics for the Vice Palace Lord. In terms of hierarchy, she was actually higher in rank.

“Yes. She has entered the training chamber of the successive Ice Emperors.”

“Is that so?”

The Seventh Consort frowned slightly. “This is a disaster.”

Sarune looked puzzled. The Seventh Consort lowered her voice. “The Ice Queen has begun to use force, along with the other consorts.”

Even Sarune didn’t understand for a moment.

The Ice Queen using force? What did she do at this point?

“What do you mean…”

“The Ice Queen has drawn her sword. Don’t you understand?”

The Seventh Consort looked straight at Sarune. “That old fox has been secretly gathering warriors from her own tribe. Combined with the warriors of the other consorts, they number a thousand.”

Sarune’s face turned pale. A thousand warriors were enough to take control of the Ice Palace.

“A thousand, how…”

“They started gathering right after the martial arts bride selection began, about half a day’s distance from here, on the Great Plains.”

Sarune realized the situation was serious.

‘This isn’t impromptu.’

The fact that they started gathering at the same time meant the Ice Queen had anticipated the direction and outcome of the martial arts bride selection.

How could she not? The Ice Queen had been through all sorts of schemes. Foreseeing the future, she had prepared the final means.

“Then they’re heading to the Ice Palace…”

“No.”

The Seventh Consort shook her head. “They’re heading to the training chamber. They’ll probably arrive before dawn, and after that, it’ll be us.”

Thump!

Sarune’s heart sank. The Ice Queen would target the Vice Palace Lord first, as she was at the heart of everything.

“The former elders and the Northern Sea Twelve Beauties are guarding that place.”

Sarune said, trying to stay calm. She steeled her wavering heart.

“And Seomoksu Orhan is there too. It won’t be easy…”

“How long can they hold out?”

The Seventh Consort said, “A thousand warriors, all skilled with bows and swords. Even if you call the Four Direction Generals, it’ll take at least three days, no, five days to get here. Can you hold out until then?”

This was a threat to the Ice Palace’s authority, grounds to move the Four Direction Generals.

However, they were too far away. Five days was optimistic, almost impossible.

“Then…”

Sarune was lost in thought.

The Seventh Consort asked anxiously, “Where are the Four Direction Generals now?”

“T-the Four Direction Generals are currently staying near the Ice Palace,” Namira answered.

“But they only have a small number of escort warriors.”

The Seventh Consort bit her lip. The Four Direction Generals were excellent warriors, but could they stop a thousand troops with just their escorts?

“Namira.”

Sarune raised her head. Namira answered unconsciously, “Yes?”

“Send people to the generals.”

Sarune said with a determined look, “To Altan of the North, Nergui of the West, Guntumur of the South, and General Bayama of the East. Request they mobilize all available forces.”

Namira nodded firmly. “Understood.”

“And tell all the warriors and tribal chiefs who have sworn allegiance to the Vice Palace Lord. We need every hand we can get.”

“Understood.”

Namira left immediately. The Seventh Consort looked at Sarune with a gleam in her eyes.

“Can you stop them with that?”

“It’s possible if we use the Ice Palace as a base,” Sarune replied.

“The maids here are all skilled with swords and bows. Even if it means giving up our lives, we’ll protect this place.”

Sarune’s voice was firm, with no fluster or panic. The Seventh Consort smiled.

“I don’t have many, but I have guards too. You can do as you please.”

“Thank you.”

Rustle.

The Seventh Consort turned.

“Where are you going?” Sarune asked. The Seventh Consort had even offered her guards. If she was in danger, there would be no one to protect her.

“It’s safer here than leaving the Ice Palace. Here…”

“No, I don’t want to.”

The Seventh Consort smiled brightly. “If the Ice Queen wins, it’s the same as me dying no matter where I go. If that’s the case, I prefer my room. I want to wear beautiful clothes and face my end with a pretty face.”

It was a chilling remark, but Sarune couldn’t say anything. If the Ice Queen took control, the Seventh Consort would be one of the first to be killed.

“And send someone to the Vice Palace Lord quickly. We need to bring her here, right?”

Rustle, rustle.

The Seventh Consort left the Seven Palace Lord Hall lightly.

‘Vice Palace Lord.’

As the Seventh Consort pointed out, they had to bring Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon here before dawn. Using the Ice Palace as a base was secondary to protecting her life.

‘But.’

Sarune questioned herself.

Would Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon come?

Sarune shook her head.

The Vice Palace Lord had said, ‘I leave it all to you,’ meaning she would never leave that place.

Even in this situation, close to rebellion, her decision wouldn’t change.

Sarune knew that even if she died there, the Vice Palace Lord wouldn’t retreat.

‘Someone…’

Sarune bit her lip.

She needed someone who could move Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon’s heart, someone who could change her decision, someone who had more meaning than Sarune herself.

‘Ah.’

The image of a young scholar came to mind. The only person Vice Palace Lord Sasu-yeon treated with respect, the person she gave incomparable meaning to, was that scholar.

Thump.

Sarune moved immediately. There was no time to delay.

*

*

*

By the time Sarune found Son-bin’s group, they were having dinner.

“A thousand?”

Nogun, drinking tea after his meal, frowned. “You’re saying you didn’t even know they were gathering so many?”

Sarune didn’t understand. Dang-wolah answered, “Who would monitor the empty Great Plains? Of course, they wouldn’t know.”

“No, but there must be guys who come and go, right? Didn’t they think it was strange?”

“They’re originally wanderers. They might have thought it was a passing tribe.”

Dang-wolah answered lightly, bringing the teacup to her lips.

“Heum.”

Nogun shook his head, still not understanding, and turned to Sarune. “So, are those things coming to the Ice Palace?”

Sarune, who had come to find Son-bin’s group, could hardly understand. Her knowledge of the southern language was limited.

However, she understood ‘thousand, enemy, coming.’ Sarune had come to ask for help.

“You want us to protect the Ice Palace? Bad guys, hit, good?”

Nogun gestured, as if Sarune couldn’t understand. But Sarune shook her head.

“Ice Palace, no.”

Sarune was frustrated.

The object to be protected was the Vice Palace Lord. Moreover, Sarune wanted the young scholar to persuade the Vice Palace Lord to leave and take refuge in the Ice Palace.

But it was too complicated for her limited language skills. Above all, Sarune didn’t know how to say ‘Seventh Palace Lord’ or ‘Vice Palace Lord’ in the southern language.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, Sarune remembered. “Sa, Su, Yeon.”

That was the Vice Palace Lord’s southern name. The moment Sarune said it, the young scholar’s eyes lit up.

“Dangerous. Please, come with me…”

Clatter.

Son-bin rose and strode towards Sarune, his clear eyes fixed on her.

“Will you guide me?” he asked politely. Sarune didn’t understand, but the meaning was clear. Sarune nodded.

Thud.

Nogun put down his teacup and grumbled, “A thousand… Well, it’s perfect for an after-dinner exercise.”

Nogun got up. “Let’s go.”

Nogun’s words were unnecessary. Dang-wolah, who had been drinking tea as if it were someone else’s business, had already gotten up.

“You pack Buljin [likely a type of medicine or supplies].”

At Nogun’s casual words, Seo-rin, who had finished eating, quickly packed ‘Hongjinmanri’ [likely a specific item being packed].

*

*

*

Clatter, clatter.

Following Sarune, Son-bin’s group rode their horses. It was said to be close, but the road was difficult after dark.

How long had they been riding? The group arrived at a secluded and desolate place on the outskirts of the Ice Palace.

Thud.

Sarune stopped and dismounted. The group followed. Sarune said something, indicating they had to walk from here, showing the Northern Sea people’s reverence for this place.

Tying the horses to withered trees, the group walked, passing stone tombs that gave them a creepy feeling.

“Hmm?”

Nogun’s eyebrows twitched as someone appeared from among the tombs.

“What are you doing?”

The person who spoke in a hoarse voice was an old man with a white beard. His hair was as white as snow, but his eyes were sharp.

“A foreigner in this place? Are you out of your mind?”

Rustle.

Head Maid Sarune bowed her head and said, “I’m sorry, but I need to see the Vice Palace Lord immediately.”

The old man’s white eyebrows twisted. But Sarune didn’t back down.

“The safety of the Ice Palace is at stake.”

“Impossible!” the old man said.

“Even if the Ice Palace collapses, I cannot allow foreigners to pass through this place.”

“But this person is…”

“Shut up!” the old man said.

“This place is the heart of the Northern Sea. Before I die…”

Rustle, rustle.

While the old man was speaking, others appeared: two old men of similar age, and thirteen familiar women—the Northern Sea Twelve Beauties and Seomoksu Orhan.

“No one can pass through this place.”

The old man’s eyes flashed. The gazes of Seomoksu Orhan and the Northern Sea Twelve Beauties poured towards Son-bin’s group, sharp and murderous.