THE PRINCESS' OFFER
Her sword still clear of blood she was forced to look up where she saw Princess Deokman and her disciples looking at her.
"How dare you disorganise the Hwarang in front of their own keeper?" Yushin asked angrily as he unsheathed his sword and then he jumped off the stairs and descended into the arena itself.
Princess Deokman was about to halt him but she was very much reluctant at that very moment to do so as Yushin was already furious she knew better than anyone else his anger was beyond her control.
Seungman summersaulted backwards as the old man stepped aside with the rest of the Nangdos while still trying to master the skill of the new girl.
She was very light on her feet but for some reason, her movements looked familiar that they seemed to remind him of someone whose name he couldn't remember clearly.
He had been with the Hwarang for nearly four decades so it was natural that as he'd seen many he had forgotten some.
Yushin crashed his sword right where Seungman had stood and at that time there was already a crack in the ground as he continued to attack with fury.
Seungman attacked and Yushin seeing her ceased her by her left hand before she would strike him with her blow.
She knew what was coming next was a blow for her so she leaped and tightened her legs around both their hands as she and Yushin both fell to the ground.
Yushin wasn't going to let himself be defeated that easily so gathering all the strength that he possibly could, he first started by positioning himself on his knees and then eventually he was able to stand while Seungman so worried was amazed by the immense strength of the gigantic man.
Yushin tossed Seungman off of himself and Seungman rolled onto the ground right next to her sword as Yushin picked up his and he advanced towards her.
Seungman was exhausted already but nevertheless she caught her sword and Alcheon who was still lost spectating the battle right next to the Princess wanted to see if Seungman could beat Yushin.
Princess Deokman was eager as well and all the other Nangdos and members of the Hwarang.
Seungman dived away and Yushin missed and leaping into the sky to throw herself at him, he saw and also stepped aside as he through a kick on which Seungman landed.
Eventually, she was thrust at a distance by the collision and then she rolled onto the ground a second time as Yushin walked up towards her while her eyes were closed.
"Your Highness." Alcheon said to Princess Deokman.
"Helping someone doesn't teach them to fight their own battles, today it's Yushin and for all that we know tomorrow could be Paekche or Gorguryeo." Princess Deokman replied.
Alcheon tightened his fist as he tightly gripped the arm of his sword.
Seungman remembered the same move that she had made on Alcheon and gathering every bit of strength that she could find withing her body, she launched herself towards Yushin.
He threw his hand at her with his sword but she mounted on it and positioned herself right above his shoulders.
She threw herself around as though Yushin was a pivot and eventually she caused them both to land ok the ground with herself on top of him it raised the dust of the arena.
Everyone was surprised and so was Alcheon, Princess Deokman on the other hand smiled as Seungman looked her in the eye from where she was.
"She's phenomenal." A few people said.
"Who has ever defeated our Yushin Rang?" Others started to Question.
Seungman voluntarily got off of Yushin who had calmed down and then Haesul ran up to her.
"Seungman." He called that even Alcheon was surprised that there was someone that knew her there. "Are you alright?" he asked which only seemed to increase his curiosity.
"Her Highness the Princess Deokman deigns you with her presence." Gopheung announced and at once everyone in the arena bowed down to her and Seungman looking around and still wondering what to do was dragged by Haesul onto her knees.
"Thank you Your Highness." Everyone said in unison as Seungman swallowed the words having spoken them for the first time.
"Ichan Chilsuk?" Princess Deokman called and the old man looked up at her.
"Yes Your Highness?" He replied.
"Please as Wonsanghwa give me an explanation for everything that has happened at this months Hwarang inspection." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Chilsuk replied as he stood up and walked up to the side of Seungman and Haesul.
"Everything was in order your Highness before you arrived but surprisingly, this female rafian set foot on the arena which if not a Wonhwa's doing in the customs of the Hwarang, it is abominable and must be punished because it is an act of disgrace to us as men that are fighting and putting our lives on the line for this Shilla." Chilsuk replied.
"How many rules has see broken and which ones in detail?" Princess Deokman asked.
"First she isn't a member of the Hwarang, secondly she is a woman, third she is not supposed to look up at the leaders in the eye without even a formal act of greeting she has been disrespectful, fourth she has disorganized the inspection of Your Highness and fifth she has vandalized a number of our weapons." Chilsuk replied.
"If you can assess everything that you have said for yourself, would you please tell me according to all the crimes that you have mentioned, which is the befitting punishment to give her?" Princess Deokman asked.
"According to the rules of the Hwarang, she should be caned to death." Chilsuk replied and at once Haesul and Seungman were alarmed.
Princess Deokman still wearing a serious expression on her face turned around and she looked at Seungman.
"Seungman, is it?" She asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Seungman replied.
"What have you to say in your defense?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I didn't know that there was an inspection for Your Highness in the first place, I knew nothing in the first place about the rules of the Hwarang.
I am an outsider of these elite soldiers on which the country has strengthened it's military foundations and even I am an outsider of Seoraebeol." Seungman replied.
"All in all Your Highness, I admit that I am at fault because of my ignorance." She added.
"If in your defense ignorance is the primary cause, then you should learn that even in Seoraebeol ignorance is punishable.
If I let you walk out of here without a justifiable reason, before I know it many like you shall have set foot on this ground as well claiming to be ignorant as well." Princess Deokman said.
"Then understand me your highness, we are not that different and the both of us are women." Seungman said.
"How dare you compare yourself to our Princess?" Yushin said as he held up his sword but Princess Deokman raised her hand and she halted him.
"Neither am I a Wonhwa, nor am I a Hwarang, I am Princess Deokman the keeper of the Hwarang of this, our heavenly kingdom of Shilla.
When Hyeokgyeose gave us this proud land, the kings before to begin with King Jinheung gave us this family which became a jewel of our crown.
The Hwarang are our proud ancestral heritage of warriors, they are the spirit of our Fortresses and they are the souls that drive our victory.
In your understanding the Hwarang are noble warriors and defenders of Shilla but in mine they are Shilla itself." Princess Deokman said.
"Even I am a citizen of Shilla and a proud one, if the Hwarang cane me to death I would die questioning and dissatisfied wondering whether it is Gorguryeo or Paekche that is our enemy, or it is me, the very blood and sweat of this land?" Seungman asked.
Princess Deokman smiled and everyone of the Hwarang looked at one another.
The Wonsanghwa kept quiet as he tried to recall who the person that was itching at the back of his mind is.
"What do you know about Shilla and what is Shilla to you?" Princess Deokman asked and Seungman looked at Alcheon who was standing right by the Princess' side.
All I know is that Shilla is neither the mountains nor is it the hills, the rivers, the lakes and the valleys, it's none of these things that we are fighting for." Seungman replied. "Shilla is the people that we all love and cherish, our family and friends, those that are rich and poor happy and destitute, as long as they are one with us in blood or in soul or by promise, even with their thoughts just as similar as ours then that as Shilla to me." She added.
Princess Deokman smiled.
"You are all pardoned." Princess Deokman said and the Hwarang stood up.
"Seungman." She summoned.
"Yes Your Highness?" Seungman replied.
"Yushin shall escort you to come and see me in a while." Princess Deokman replied as she turned around and walked away while she was followed by Alcheon.
Ichan Chilsuk looked at her as he turned around and faced the rest of the Hwarang.
"The Phoenix corps you stay behind and clean up the Arena, the rest of you are dismissed." Chilsuk said.
"Thank you Wonsanghwa." They all said in unison as the teams scattered about the place and Yushin Rang walked up to the side of Seungman.
"Yushin Rang." She said with Haesul as they bowed their heads.
"You heard Her Highness' order." Yushin said. "Come with me." He added as he led the way through to one of the exits of the Arena.
"Alcheon Rang." Princess Deokman said as she halted in her steps and seemed to be so concerned about him.
"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon replied.
"You seemed to care towards Seungman, do you know her very well?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon Rang replied.
"How are you two acquainted?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Remember when I was attacked by the Gorguryeo soldiers during our conquest in the North?" Alcheon Rang asked.
"Was she the one you talked about who saved your life?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon Rang replied.
"I see." Princess Deokman said.
"She lives far north with her father, I am just surprised that I don't seem to know as well what her reason for coming to Seoraebeol." Alcheon Rang said.
"Her martial arts is too good, she is an equal to Yushin Rang." Princess Deokman said.
"In terms of fighting, she is quite creative with her strategies." Alcheon Rang said.
"Her teacher must be a very brilliant man." Princess Deokman said as they continued walking.
"He lives a very simple life but even I am curious, he does seem to know the song of the Hwarang at heart and yet I asked him if he knew who they were or was a part of them he denied it.
Seungman had always been curious what Seoraebeol was like given the fact that she grew up in a rural area while he on the other side convinced her to never foster any kind of relationships with people from here." Alcheon said.
"Then she wouldn't be here on her father's will." Princess Deokman said.
"Perhaps, could it be because she knows me?" Alcheon asked.
"That possibility can not be ruled out as well." Princess Deokman said. "and on top of that for her father to resent Seoraebeol that much I am just as curious, there must have been something bad that was done to him." Princess Deokman said.
"I wonder what it could be." Alcheon Rang said.
"If you are suspicious whether he was a Hwarang then there is one way to find out." Princess Deokman said.
"Your Highness, I would go through the records of the Hwarang before when I had returned because my curiosity had the best of me and the only place that I knew possessed them was the Royal library in which only members of the Ruling Royal family alone can go." Alcheon Rang said.
"You did not wish to impose on me?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes." Alcheon replied.
"I understand very well that there are limits between my privacy and yours but I'd very much desire it if you confided in me for you and Yushin Rang are my pillars and at the same time my hands.
If I can confide my all in you then you can confide your all in me because what is bothersome to you is just as bothersome to me and should you fall then I shall fall as well." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon replied. "I certainly shall do so in the Future." He added.
"Very good." Princess Deokman remarked. "What was her father's name?" She asked.
"Kim Moo Mak." Alcheon Rang replied.
"I'll see what I can find out about him." Princess Deokman said as she continued towards her Chambers.
At that point, Galmunwang Gukban happened to be walking through the Palace when he halted right in front of Princess Deokman.
"Your Highness." He said as he bowed his head.
"Galmunwang Gukban?" Princess Deokman called. "What brings you here?" She asked.
"I wished to have an audience with Her Highness that is if you don't mind." Gukban replied as he bowed his head.
"Very well then." Princess Deokman said with a smile on her face. "I am very much humbled to have you here." she added as she pointed towards her quarters and she led the way.
"Thank you Your Highness." Gukban replied as he followed Princess Deokman inside the both of them sat down at her table.
"I didn't realize that you were busy with the inspection of the Hwarang so I turned up a little bit too early." Gukban said.
"My apologies to keep you waiting, there was some bit of ruckus at the Arena and it was quite interesting to watch." Princess Deokman said.
"Under the watchful eye of our Wonsanghwa Ichan Chilsuk, how could ruckus erupt?" Gukban asked as Princess Deokman poured him a cup of tea and one for herself.
"You needn't have Your Highness." Gukban said.
"I must have." Princess Deokman insisted. "We are allies and we must take such good care of one another for our own sustenance." She added.
"Thank you Your Highness." Gukban said as he held up the cup to his mouth and sipped it.
"The tea tastes so natural, you are in deed a talent at making it." Gukban remarked.
"I am certain that a number of people think that my future husband would be a very lucky man." Princess Deokman said.
"But you do not intend on getting married." Gukban said.
"You figured it out but not the whole world knows that." Princess Deokman said.
"Yet you give some degree of grace and affection to Alcheon Rang so he is the lucky breadwinner." Gukban said.
"Some times to see to it that you get what you want you must be cunning so as not to let the whole world especially your enemies to read your mind." Princess Deokman said.
"I see." Gukban said as he sipped his tea again before he placed it down on the table and then he looked at the Princess with a smile on his face.
"Tell me Your Highness." Gukban said.
"What is it?" Princess Deokman asked.
"The Ruckus that happened down at the arena, I am inquiring what it was about." Gukban replied.
"Nothing much." Princess Deokman replied. "Everyone is used to the fighter always being something between a boy and a grown man.
I was just as surprised as they were when one young girl took down more than a hundred and twenty one Hwarang and their prestige, she wound up with Yushin who was perhaps her most competent opponent throughout." She added.
"What has become of the Shilla women of this era?" Gukban asked.
"You know me, if such a talent could be intriguing even to me, I am most confident I shall put her to the best use in the near future I can not abandon her." Princess Deokman replied.
"That's true." Gukban said.
"You have travelled all the way from your Manor so see me here, I don't believe it was to just ask me how the Hwarang inspection went." Princess Deokman said.
"Of course Your Highness, it wasn't about that." Gukban replied.
"Then what was it?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Are you not curious your Highness where the weapons that they were accusing me to have are?" Gukban asked.
"Even if I were, I'd still trust that with you they are in the right hands." Princess Deokman said.
"I too was curious your Highness, if I can not rob my office then who could it have been?" Gukban asked.
"You have very many enemies around you." Princess Deokman replied.
"And of all those who could possibly do such a thing?" Gukban asked.
"Someone powerful." Princess Deokman replied.
"Along side me and all the Princes of blood, some of those Jingol Courtiers, who could possibly be that envious of my power?" Gukban asked.
Princess Deokman smiled.
"Are you curious who it is or you wish that I should be the one to say it for you that it might sound believable coming from my own mouth?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Please understand that I too do not wish to draw a distinction between my brothers and myself." Gukban said.
"You don't have to draw it because it's already existent by the fact that the three of you are alive.
You are all Seonggols in the same court and wielding just as much power that it's natural that each one of you could suppress the other unless two of you were to gang up in an alliance to oust the other." Princess Deokman said.
"I can not suspect the King because of you." Gukban said.
"Yet even with our alliance you still have doubts of your own and can not fully trust me." Princess Deokman said.
"Trust is wide, a single agreement or an alliance is not enough to define it." Gukban said.
"Then perhaps we both have things we could keep hidden from one another but think about it and accept it, by now you should know better than anyone else who we are up against." Princess Deokman said.
"But now that I have allied with you then who do you think that he is going to ally with him because you might not have noticed this but the reason that Queen Maya was sent to a nunnery was because he was responsible." Gukban said.
Princess Deokman was shocked.
"What do you mean he was responsible?" She asked.
"Who would be Keen enough to trace a woman of Seonggol heritage and propose her to the King for marriage?" Gukban asked.
"On top of that would the King die even if the new Queen is with a child, he was afraid that Queen Maya being the older would be most eligible to take the reins if power into her hands just as it was with the Queen Dowagers Sado and Ji Soo.
The influence of her in court would be to vote in the favour of you her daughter so all he would need is a Queen who would support his cause and not yours." Gukban added.
"You are saying that...?" Princess Deokman asked as she clenched her fist.
"You know now Your Highness." Gukban said.
"Quite a very distant but well calculated move even I couldn't see it coming." Princess Deokman said.
"After the Victory at Nangbi the King hasn't been himself and he is bedridden most of the time so what we need left to protect you is his own public declaration as soon as possible Your Highness because you are running out of time.
If you were to ask me, there are a number of eyes and ears for him in the palace and the position of the King's successor still being uncertain, the battle for the throne has just started." Gukban said.
"I knew that I certainly needed you." Princess Deokman said.
"There is no relief because at this point since it is known very well whose side I am on, should you fall then I shall be there to fall along with you." Gukban said.
"With the look of things I don't think I can rely on father's promise either so this is what we're going to do." Princess Deokman said as she stood up and then she walked over to one of her cupboards and then she opened it.
She pulled out a small box and with it in her possession she placed it in front of Gukban and opened it.
The moment that Gukban saw it he froze and he looked so frightened.
"Your Highness." He said.
"I trust no one but you." Princess Deokman said.
"What do you want me to do with the Royal seal?" Gukban asked under his breath.
"Make arrangements that are necessary and I know that very many people have their eyes on me especially Galmunwang Baekban.
Take this seal and see to it that it is secretly preserved in CHEOLWON MOUNTAIN FORTRESS." Princess Deokman replied.
"Why Your Highness?" Gukban asked.
"If you have it you are Seonggol blood it would be much easier for you to use and the Palace itself is no longer a safe heaven quite soon spies might be sent into it to try and find it thus I must send it away." Princess Deokman replied.
"But Your Highness, what if I lose it, you have no idea but if such a tool is found within my possession when the King is still alive then I shall be charged with treason which is a good enough reason for me to lose my head." Gukban whispered in opposition.
"Don't you worry, I already drafted a document and it's stamped to have you known as the Official keeper of the seal of Our Heavenly kingdom secretly." Princess Deokman replied.
Gukban being reluctant stood up and then Princess Deokman closing the box she handed it over to him.
He took it in his possession.
"You don't have to be with it in Cheolwon Fortress, if you linger around it there then it might arouse some suspicion.
Should anything happen here within the Capital, you can rest assured that should I be sent out it shall get back into my possession." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Gukban replied as he bowed his head and then decided to walk out of the room.
He went looking down that as the doors were opened, he bypassed Yushin Rang and Seungman without seeing the Jade pendant.
"It's you turn." Alcheon said and at that moment, She was led into the room which she started by admiring first.
She found the Princess seated at a table and at that moment, quite reluctant to take a seat, she looked at her who understandingly she nodded and at once she was certain that it was alright.
Seungman sat down in the chair face to face with Princess Deokman.
"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.
"I believe that we are well acquainted and you are a stranger here in Seoraebeol, if you are not used to the formalities then you can drop them, I won't punish you." Princess Deokman said.
"I dare not." Seungman replied as she bowed her head slowly.
"I see." Princess Deokman said. "You must be wondering what it is that I want from you?" Princess Deokman said.
"Perhaps her Highness is quite curious of the type of girl that I am." Seungman replied.
"You seem to know that very well." Princess Deokman said.
"I'm the daughter of an ordinary farmer." Seungman said.
"With such Excellent martial arts?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Knowing my father well he retired from the military." Seungman replied.
"I see." Princess Deokman said.
"I wasn't raised in the respect of a King or a Queen, a Prince or a Princess, I only understand who an elder is and who he isn't." Seungman said.
"As I had expected you are in deed very smart." Princess Deokman said.
"I am not the smartest in the land." Seungman said.
"But your degree is good enough and indeed very favourable for me to pay for you an offer." Princess Deokman said.
Seungman laughed.
"Was I funny?" Princess Deokman asked.
"If you wish to make an offer then why wouldn't you reconsider knowing what it is that I want?" Seungman asked.
"Is there anything that you are asking from me?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I might seem impudent Your Highness but you said that you shall pardon me." Seungman replied.
"I understand that you are from the North which is quite mountainous, considering the fact that you left your abode and came all the way down here it means that you had no one to run to." Princess Deokman said.
"Without a home you know that it is quite difficult for you to survive here in Seoraebeol." She added.
"Considering that you need my talents for your service as well as my remarkable nature then there are things that I can not fail to get." Seungman said.
"Who has given you a roof above your head?" Princess Deokman asked.
"General Sokham and additionally he has given me a job that is not in my best interest but good enough to my liking." Seungman replied.
"I can give you more than that." Princess Deokman said.
"A bigger house and servants to look after me?" Seungman asked.
"It isn't that difficult." Princess Deokman said.
"Except that I don't need any of that?" Seungman replied that Princess Deokman herself was surprised.
"What is it that you want?" Princess Deokman asked.
"SHILLA." Seungman replied and Princess Deokman looked at her curiously as she was moved and at that very moment she remembered the words that Alcheon and Yushin had once told her.
"Many believe since there was a rumour going around that you could be very much like Mishil." She recalled and at that moment she beheld for herself an extraordinary courage that was burning within the young woman's eyes.
"What do you mean by Shilla?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Did Your Highness not say that to you the Hwarang are Shilla?" Seungman asked.
"And you are saying....?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I wish to become a Hwarang as well." Seungman replied that Princess Deokman herself was quite surprised by the statement that she had made.
"Why?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I was talking with Alcheon Rang outside while you had a visitor who had come in before me, he told me that as a woman you are the most powerful in the whole of Shilla and you are quite ambitious.
He told me that you are very smart, intelligent, modest, brave and true and that there isn't a single man or woman that exists under the sun and the moon that can ever love Shilla more than you." Seungman replied.
"Considering the fact that you are an ambitious woman I am as well, where knowledge and wisdom is your strength for me love and war is.
You are an intellectual that has been brought up to govern whereas I am a warrior that has been raised to fight, we all have a similar cause I believe despite our distinct personalities and that is to bring glory and greatness to Shilla." She added.
"You know my mind very well." Princess Deokman said.
"I read people's actions fluently." Seungman replied.
"So tell me what it is that you see in me, a very smart and beautiful young Princess?" Princess Deokman asked.
"No." Seungman replied.
"Then satisfy my curiosity and give me your opinion." Princess Deokman asked.
"I don't know about the opinions of others but I am most confident in mine, considering everything that you do and the power you wield, your desperate passion for this our heavenly kingdom of Shilla and your embrace to all talents irrespective of who they are.
Tell me Your Highness, am I wrong if I told you that it is a ruler that I see in your visage?" Seungman replied.
"But others can only see a woman, the same type of woman that Mishil herself was." Princess Deokman said trying to read her companion's mind.
"But you can prove them otherwise Your Highness just like I can on the battlefield." Seungman replied.
"I love it." Princess Deokman said. "I shall do that for you." She added.
"Thank you Your Highness." Seungman said immediately.
"Don't thank me yet because not everyone can become the person you wish to be, I could give you my promise as an individual but as the keeper of the Hwarang for me to bestow that noble name on you I need to first and foremost take you through a series of tests and none of them are easy.
The others might have been born into that privilege but I can assure you only the very best can live up to it, this life shall never be fair for a woman like you that is trying to live and survive among men." Princess Deokman said. "Tell me then are you ready to embrace it?" She asked.
"I wouldn't have asked you if I wasn't." Seungman replied with a smile on her face and Princess Deokman equally smiling she stood up and as she had done with Gukban she went to her cupboard and picked out a very small trunk which she brought with her and placed it right in front of her.
She opened the trunk and showed Seungman what was inside.
"What is this Your Highness?" Seungman asked.
"This is what is going to define my relationship along with you in the future." Princess Deokman said as she pulled out a small golden badge.
"Is it a token?" Seungman asked.
"This is the King's badge and once you hold it up to the world anywhere at anytime, it means that the King has given you command over all the armies of Shilla any General that sees you has to follow every order that you give them." Princess Deokman replied.
"Why are you giving me this Your Highness when I am but a rural girl?" Seungman asked.
"The answer to that is quite simple no one could ever know that it is with you unless you let them know." Princess Deokman replied.
"This is a burden that is too great for me." Seungman said.
"And this is your first test from me if you wish to become a Hwarang." Princess Deokman said. "Protect it with everything that you can and then you can prove to me that you are trustworthy or not." She added as Seungman looked at her very much surprised hearing that.