A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 399

The Imperial Invitation

Tension rippled through Son Bin’s group. The cavalrymen standing before them bore the flag symbolizing the Imperial Family.

“Didn’t I ask if you were envoys from ‘Rani’ of the Northern Sea?”

The young, high-ranking officer of the cavalry frowned slightly.

“Ah, yes.”

Hwang Bang-ju hurriedly dismounted from the elephant, bowing respectfully to the high-ranking cavalry officer as he replied.

“That is correct. We are the envoys of ‘Rani’ from the Northern Sea.”

Hwang Bang-ju answered instead of Sa Su-yeon, mindful of the Hui-kyo precepts [a set of social and religious rules]. Here, a woman speaking directly to an unfamiliar man was a grave offense.

Even if ‘Rani’ of the Northern Sea had nothing to do with Hui-kyo.

As expected, the high-ranking cavalry officer nodded, a satisfied expression on his face.

Hwang Bang-ju also breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, pleased with the outcome created by the ‘rumor of Rani from the Northern Sea’.

However, the high-ranking cavalry officer’s next words were entirely unexpected by Hwang Bang-ju.

“Then where is ‘Raja’?”

Hwang Bang-ju blinked. Unlike before, the officer was using great honorifics. Even his tone was polite.

It was clear that the ‘Raja’ he spoke of did not mean lord. Perhaps he was asking if a male young lord had come from the Northern Sea.

“Uh, that is…”

But Hwang Bang-ju couldn’t help but turn to Son Bin. The only person among them recently called ‘Raja’ was Son Bin.

As Hwang Bang-ju hesitated to answer, the high-ranking cavalry officer frowned slightly. But he could clearly discern the answer to his question.

The group of the young lord ‘Rani’ from the Northern Sea, not just Hwang Bang-ju but the entire group, was looking at one person in unison.

Thud.

The high-ranking officer dismounted from his horse. He walked towards the elephant and bowed respectfully.

“Welcome to the Empire.”

The handsome young high-ranking officer bowed, wearing a gentle smile. The overbearing attitude he had shown when addressing Hwang Bang-ju had vanished without a trace.

Even though the person he faced was a young man dressed as a common scholar, the young high-ranking officer was careful not to be rude. He was already familiar with the appearance of various dignitaries from different cultures.

“I am Rahman, an Imperial Guard. A noble of the Imperial Family has invited ‘Raja’ to the Imperial Palace.”

Hwang Bang-ju’s mouth dropped open. Sa Su-yeon and Seo Rin also widened their eyes, unable to hide their surprise. Dang Wol-ah was the same.

But Son Bin did not understand what was happening. He had studied Tianzhu language [ancient name for India] diligently, but he had missed most of it, and the other party’s words far exceeded his expectations.

“What did he say?”

No-gun, who didn’t know Tianzhu language, urged Hwang Bang-ju. But Hwang Bang-ju was too surprised to answer.

“T, the Imperial Family… Son Gong-ja, no, Son Gong-ja-nim…”

Flutter.

Behind Rahman, the Imperial Guard who still maintained his courtesy, the green flag embroidered with golden lions and the sun fluttered in the wind.

***

Following the Imperial Guard Rahman’s cavalry, Son Bin’s group headed to the Imperial Palace.

The wide avenue, once bustling with horses, carriages, and people, was now literally an open road. People cleared the way and paid their respects to the procession of white elephants accompanied by the Imperial Guard.

People on the balconies of the buildings also watched the Imperial cavalry and Son Bin’s group with curious eyes, and some even threw flowers at Son Bin’s group.

“Who is this noble of the Imperial Family?”

No-gun’s voice echoed in Hwang Bang-ju’s ear. Even though they were riding on different elephants, it was as if he was speaking right next to him.

“I don’t know. I think they’re being vague to avoid alarming people.”

Hwang Bang-ju answered without looking at No-gun. Still, No-gun would hear everything.

“But it’s definitely not the Emperor. If it were the Emperor, they would have said it was an Imperial Order.”

Instead of the title ‘Shah’ [Persian word for King], Hwang Bang-ju deliberately used the word Emperor, hoping the guards might understand.

“Of course, it’s not the Emperor.”

No-gun frowned, though Hwang Bang-ju couldn’t see it.

“But calling Bin-yi ‘Raja’ means he might be the same kind of guy as the Water Demon God.”

Sa Su-yeon, who was riding on the white elephant, and Seo Rin also nodded in agreement.

“Anyway, this country is seriously doomed. A Demonic Cult in the Imperial Family…”

Son Bin couldn’t laugh at No-gun’s clicking tongue. Hadn’t there once been ‘Hwanma’, the Supreme Protector of the Demonic Cult, in the Imperial Palace of Beijing?

Thump, thump, thump.

The elephants carrying Son Bin’s group slowly crossed the Imperial capital, Delhi. And after a while, a massive fortress, entirely red, came into view.

“T, this is ‘Lal Qila’ [Red Fort].”

Hwang Bang-ju said in a stammering voice, looking up at the red fortress. The thick gates, the towering, toothed walls, the Imperial flags fluttering everywhere, and the towers were quite imposing.

“What’s that? Do they call the Imperial Palace that here?”

“Not exactly the Imperial Palace, but it means the red fortress surrounding the Imperial Palace. There’s a similar one in the old capital, so it’s a bit confusing.”

“What’s the old capital?”

“This city was actually rebuilt after moving the capital. Anyway, inside ‘Lal Qila’ there’s the Imperial Palace, gardens, temples, and so on.”

“Building the Imperial Palace inside a fortress like that…”

No-gun chuckled.

“You can tell what kind of Empire it is.”

Son Bin agreed with No-gun. After all, the Emperor of the Empire claimed to be of conquering lineage.

Only Son Bin’s group was allowed to pass through the thick gates of ‘Lal Qila’.

After making the guards, carriages, and elephants wait, Son Bin’s group entered the red fortress, guided by Rahman.

And the first sight that greeted them was a scene that didn’t suit the name ‘Red Fortress’ at all.

“Wow.”

At Seo Rin’s exclamation, No-gun said grumbling.

“…Is this really a fortress?”

No-gun said with a sigh. Son Bin couldn’t help but agree this time as well.

Inside the red fortress, a truly beautiful garden unfolded. Clear, clean water flowed along red stone waterways, and various flowers and trees, large and small, cast shadows over the wide, green lawn.

“It’s a completely different world. It’s so hot outside…”

As No-gun grumbled, it was true. It was so hot outside Lal Qila that it was hard to breathe, but here it was much cooler, and even a gentle breeze seemed to blow.

“Here, decorating the garden so grandly is a kind of display. The Imperial Palace in Beijing is the opposite, with nothing at all, right?”

Son Bin nodded at Hwang Bang-ju’s explanation.

“Yes. But the purpose seems to be the same.”

The Imperial Palace in Beijing, specifically the Outer Court, has not a single tree. The vastness and the imposing grandeur of the buildings themselves are devices to show the majesty of the Imperial Family.

The beautiful and splendid garden before them is the same. It looks completely different from the Imperial Palace in Beijing, but in the end, it has the intention of showing how great the Imperial Family is.

“More importantly, where are we going now?”

Hwang Bang-ju shrugged at No-gun’s words.

“I don’t know. This is my first time here too…”

In fact, Tianzhu itself was Hwang Bang-ju’s first time. He just knew and had heard a lot.

“Are we going to a strange place?”

Such a question from No-gun was natural. Instead of following the straight avenue, the group was now going deeper and deeper into an unknown place.

How long had they walked like that?

“Oh my.”

“Wow.”

Exclamations burst from Sa Su-yeon and Seo Rin. A small, charming flower garden full of flowers appeared before them.

Chirp, chirp.

The sound of birds chirping could be heard from all directions. Colorful butterflies fluttered everywhere, and a small fountain spouted water.

Like a small garden of the gods, this place was by far the most unique place inside Lal Qila.

“Now is not the time to say ‘oh my’.”

No-gun frowned.

“The guy who called us is right there.”

In the middle of the flower garden stood a white gazebo, open on all sides. The gazebo, with its slender pillars supporting a light roof, was surprisingly made of marble, not wood.

“…Not a guy, though.”

In the middle of the marble gazebo, a young woman sat on a white chair, looking like a painting.

Bright tan skin and sparkling black eyes, glossy black hair flowing down to her waist, and the unique, colorful clothes of Tianzhu, a Sari [traditional Indian garment], wrapped around her attractive body.

Her appearance, looking down at a small cup and lost in thought, was truly beautiful. Even Sa Su-yeon was momentarily impressed.

Step.

Imperial Guard Rahman carefully approached her. The woman, who had been looking at the teacup, raised her head.

A small red jewel adorning the center of her forehead sparkled.

“You’ve arrived, Rahman.”

Her voice echoed in people’s ears like magic. Her voice, clear yet soft, made even the chirping of birds lose its luster.

Swish.

Imperial Guard Rahman knelt. And he bowed to her with the utmost respect.

“I have brought the people you mentioned, Your Majesty the Empress.”

‘Gasp.’

Hwang Bang-ju swallowed hard for a moment. The young woman before him was the Empress of the Empire, something he couldn’t have imagined. But soon, he thought it was the most natural thing in the world.

If this woman before him was not the Empress, who could be worthy of that noble position?

“Thank you, Rahman. Your loyalty and devotion always bring me joy.”

Rahman’s cheeks flushed slightly. He couldn’t hide the rising joy and bowed deeply.

“You may leave now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Rahman bowed with a moved expression. And he immediately left the flower garden, following her command.

Leaving only outsiders in this place, something a guard would naturally worry about, was not a concern for him. Because she had ordered it directly.

As Imperial Guard Rahman retreated, the woman called Empress quietly turned her head and looked at Son Bin’s group.

‘Hmm.’

No-gun groaned inwardly without realizing it. The moment her shining black eyes turned to him, he felt his heart waver rapidly.

Immediately, No-gun stirred his inner energy to calm his mind. But Hwang Bang-ju was already staring blankly, unable to take his eyes off her.

Sa Su-yeon also had an admiring expression, and Dang Wol-ah’s eyes were shaking. Only Geom-hui remained expressionless, without any reaction.

“Waaah, pretty.”

Seo Rin said in an admiring voice. The woman called Empress smiled slightly at those words.

No-gun’s composure was shaken again by her smile. No-gun frowned and controlled his inner energy.

‘This is…’

No-gun felt like he had experienced this once before. It wasn’t difficult to realize when that was.

‘Back then, Yeon-ah’s…’

This feeling was essentially the same as what he had felt in the Northern Sea when he saw Sa Su-yeon resonating with the Eternal Ice Crystal. Except that it was stronger and more fatal.

“Thank you, handsome Gong-ja.”

“Heeheehee.”

Seo Rin giggled. There was no tension or wariness in her expression. She didn’t even seem to realize that she was speaking the language of the Central Plains.

Rustle.

The woman called Empress rose from the white chair. The colorful and thin Sari rippled subtly, further enhancing her attractive figure.

Step.

While everyone couldn’t take their eyes off her, the beautiful woman called Empress took a step forward.

Not towards No-gun, Seo Rin, or Sa Su-yeon, but directly towards Son Bin.

“Finally, I meet you.”

The woman, who had been smiling gently, slowly lowered her head. And the next moment.

Swish.

No-gun couldn’t help but widen his eyes in surprise. Seo Rin, Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and Hwang Bang-ju were the same.

Because the woman called Empress was now kneeling on one knee before Son Bin.

Such extreme courtesy at a first meeting was incomprehensible. Especially since she was the Empress of the Empire, it made even less sense.

But she didn’t seem to mind at all, kneeling and bowing her head respectfully.

“The Water Demon God was a proud warrior of the steppes.”

She said in a small, trembling voice.

“He always wanted to return to his land. Thank you for granting his last request.”

Son Bin sighed softly. He was the only other person who had not changed his expression at all while looking at her, Son Bin.

“I only said that I hoped it would be so.”

“That is enough, ‘Raja’.”

Swish.

She raised her head. Her sparkling black eyes looked straight up at Son Bin.

“My name is Saraswati.”

She said, folding both hands over her chest.

In fact, it was extremely unusual for her to reveal her name. Only a very few members of the Imperial Family in this Empire were qualified to say and hear that name.

But she revealed her name without any hesitation and continued with a small smile.

“The Empress of the Empire, and one of the six Demon Gods serving the Ruler of the Demonic Sky.”

Gritting.

No-gun clenched his teeth as hard as he could. It wasn’t because of surprise.

A thought that she could never be, a baseless thought, was rising from a corner of his mind. Even now, after she had revealed it herself.

Seo Rin, Sa Su-yeon, and Dang Wol-ah were the same. Despite having already predicted it, they also couldn’t hide their confused expressions. Hwang Bang-ju was even wearing a foolish smile, as if it couldn’t be true, or as if it didn’t matter at all.

But Son Bin was neither surprised nor flustered. Empress Saraswati looked up at Son Bin and smiled gently.

“You already knew, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

Son Bin said in a quiet voice.

Son Bin’s gaze, looking down at the incredibly beautiful Empress, beautiful and charming enough to bring down a country, was serene.

“I already knew.”

It couldn’t be helped. The moment he entered this flower garden, the blue energy emanating from her was clearly visible in Son Bin’s eyes.

The same blue energy that the Water Demon God had given him, and that was still with him now.

“Raja, you may not be familiar with my name, so you can just call me ‘Saras’.”

Empress Saraswati said with a bright smile. Her beautiful black eyes sparkled provocatively.

“Anytime, anywhere, and in front of anyone.”

It wasn’t as if Son Bin didn’t know what it meant to call the Empress of the Empire by her nickname.

Son Bin sighed softly and quietly looked down at the beautiful and young Empress kneeling before him.

Empress Saraswati in Lal Qila, the heart of the Empire.

She was the ‘guide’ that the Water Demon God had spoken of, and another Demon God of the Demonic Sky.

(Author’s words)

My name is Saraswati. My hobby is being the Empress.