WHERE ALL EYES LINGER
Seungman looked at the seal that Princess Deokman had handed over to her as a lot of things went through her mind at that moment.
She recalled the words that Princess Deokman had said to her.
"This is the first task?" She asked herself, "How unbelievable." She added as she studied the seal.
It was in deed carefully designed that she'd tell the complexity that was within each and everyone of the strokes that defined it.
Its silver colour was so real and on it the sacred bird, a phoenix was drawn.
"I am but a stranger in Seoraebeol, why would she trust me with something this valuable unless?" She thought it through.
"She wants me to protect it." Seungman said, "but from whom?" She asked herself when she recalled Haesul's words.
"Shilla." She said, "Are you so awful?" She added.
"There could be internal powers that are struggling for Dominion over the realm and with this seal I can command any army, the most logical reason would be because no one in the world would suspect me to possess it.
They could send people into the palace to retrieve it but they will never find it because it is outside and there is no way that Princess Deokman would ever be willing to trust it with a stranger the likely suspects would be Yushin and Alcheon Rang.
She's using them as bait when I am the real execution." Seungman realized and at that moment, she stood up from where she was seated.
"But even I must find a way to hide it but here in Seoraebeol where is the last place that anyone would look?" Seungman asked herself as she paced around the room herself lost in wonder.
Eventually, an idea came to her mind and at that very moment she strode out of her room.
Baekban walked into the courtyard of the Palace as he approached the the King's chamber.
At that point, Princess Deokman was descending the stairs that led to it and coming at a halt the two noticed the presence of one another.
"Your Highness." Baekban said as he bowed his head.
"Your Excellency." Princess Deokman said as she did the same.
"We haven't seen each other in a while and you have already grown fairer with each and every day." Baekban said.
"It's with all due respect Your Excellency, perhaps growing up I have mastered the true art of looking beautiful." Princess Deokman said.
"How Your Highness, I am curious." Baekban said.
"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, if you wish to be more beautiful then you must make the beholder love you more and more everyday that he grows to miss you equally the same." Princess Deokman replied.
"Looking at you I can in deed concur with the world in saying that Shilla is in deed graced with the beauty of Samhan's most intelligent women." Baekban said.
"In deed, if heaven gives we must be thankful, should all the strong Kings it gives us and at the same time it takes go away, then it is for the best cause that it gives us beautiful rulers that are quick witted and wise." Princess Deokman replied in a very strange manner while maintaining on her face a very innocent and brilliant smile.
"Yes Your Highness." Baekban said as he bowed his head.
"I didn't mean to occupy you as you must be here to see my father." Princess Deokman said softly.
"It's alright Your Highness, it is my good fortune to have come across you on my way out." Baekban said.
"Thank you then, when you are free please take some time and visit my Palace and when I am free on my side, I shall also deign your household with my presence." Princess Deokman was.
"I am very grateful your Highness " Baekban said as he bowed his head.
Princess Deokman smiled and did the same before she walked past him and continued her way followed by her Palace maids.
Baekban remained standing there for a while as he remembered the words that Princess Deokman had told him.
"if heaven gives we must be thankful, should all the strong Kings it gives us and at the same time it takes go away, then it is for the best cause that it gives us beautiful rulers that are quick witted and wise." Princess Deokman had spoken and with her stern appearance and firm belief he was certain that she was indirectly hinting on something that he was finding it so hard to interpret.
"Your Excellency." Haek Ga called and Baekban seemed to return to his senses.
"What is it?" Baekban asked.
"Shouldn't we be heading inside?" Haek Ga asked and upon realizing what had initially brought him, he ascended the stairs into the King's Chambers.
When his presence was announced, he stepped into the room where he found King Jinpyeong seated in his bed.
"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.
"Yes Brother." King Jinpyeong said.
"I see that you haven't been doing quite fine lately." Baekban said.
"The burden of ruling has greatly aged me and at this very moment, I am just all alone with the weight of the Crown breaking my neck, sadly, Queen Maya is no longer here to look after me." King Jinpyeong replied.
"Congratulations Your Majesty." Baekban said as he went down on his knees.
"What for?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Everything has already been prepared in advance for your new Queen to be announced." Baekban replied.
"Do you think that an announcement is good enough to determine the good fate of Shilla?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"Your Majesty is in deed wise but of course with this you can be at ease before facing our ancestors for there is hope that you shall give the throne a male heir." Baekban replied.
"I see." King Jinpyeong said, "The glory, pride and the prestige that comes with having a very strong and wise son." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Baekban replied as he bowed his head.
"I must say that you are in deed too concerned about my welfare there is not a single person that I can trust in the whole of Seoraebeol when Maya is away like you." King Jinpyeong said.
"Thank you so much Your Majesty." Baekban said.
"Since you have taken keen interest then I shall put you in charge of all the necessary preparations that are needed.
As it is that Seoraebeol is at peace, Shilla can herald the advent of another that shall become my Queen." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Baekban replied with a smile on his face that he eventually walked out of the building and there he halted as he stared over the palace walls at the vast expanse of the Capital.
"What is it Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.
"This is such a good day for us today." Baekban replied.
"Your Excellency is excited." Haek Ga said.
"My contenders have not shown any of their skins lately so there's a possibility that they are running out of ploys against me." Baekban replied.
"Your Excellency, there is some bit of news that we received from our spies." Haek Ga leaned into a whisper.
"What is it?" Baekban asked.
"It's Galmunwang Gukban." Haek Ga report.
"What has my little brother been up to?" Baekban asked.
"Two days ago, he left for CHEOLWON MOUNTAIN FORTRESS." Haek Ga replied.
"Cheolwon Fortress?" Baekban asked.
"Yes." Haek Ga affirmed.
"Why go that far all of a sudden?" Baekban asked.
"The reason we are not yet certain but four days ago during the Hwarang Inspection ceremony, after she returned to her Chambers she came into contact with him and they talked for a while." Haek Ga replied.
"There must have been something unusual that happened between us he both of them " Baekban said.
"Come to think of it there was something that our people noticed." Haek Ga replied.
"What was it?" Baekban asked.
"Galmunwang Gukban had walked into the room empty handed but then the moment that he stepped out later he had in his possession a very large box." Haek Ga replied.
"So you are saying that most likely the reason that he was in the Princess' quarters is in the box?" Baekban asked.
"Yes." Haek Ga replied.
"Princess Deokman is someone who is quick witted so don't you dare be hasty while acting.
As soon as you find out what is in the box, before you can possess it tell me what it is." Baekban murmured.
"Yes Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied as the two descended the stairs and they walked away from the room.
Princess Deokman walked into her Chambers and at that moment, Yushin Rang and Alcheon followed her inside and the three of them sat down.
"Your Highness." The two Hwarang greeted her while she smiled at them.
"Yushin Rang, Alcheon Rang, I want you both to do something for me." Princess Deokman said.
"What is it?" Yushin asked.
"Alcheon, you are going to monitor the situation of Galmunwang Gukban, once you see him look out for Baekban or any other person that could be after him and then we can trace our way back to the real person behind them." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon Rang said.
"Go and see to it right away." Princess Deokman added and at once, Alcheon Rang rising up from his seat he marched out of the room leaving Yushin Rang and the Princess alone.
"Yushin?" Princess Deokman turned to him and called.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin replied.
"I want you to watch someone else closely for me." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin replied, "But who exactly shall I watch?" He asked.
"Kim Seungman." Princess Deokman replied.
Yushin Rang was shocked.
"Is this why you sent Alcheon Rang out first before talking to me?" Yushin asked.
"Alcheon Rang is quick to trust people and had he been around he would have opposed this.
I knew after the very first time that we met that Seungman was no ordinary girl and her intelligence as well attracts my attention.
I want you to dig up whatever information you can on the people that she comes into contact and before you are quick to judge the situation, get closer to her and listen to everything that she has to say and who she is saying it too.
If she didn't know that many people in Seoraebeol I am curious about the reason as to why General Sokham let her reside in his residence and how a lowly girl like her and him could be connected so have people dig into that as well.
I'll talk to General Sokham after everything that you shall have gathered and considering the circumstances that shall follow from your secret investigation I'll see what both you and I can do about it
This time I gave her a task and that is to show me if she is trustworthy and faithful, when I can take her not to be a threat, the next consideration would be admitting her into the Hwarang." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang said.
"Remember that this is your top secret Mission." Princess Deokman said, "Should any of the spies be caught then let them claim that they were sent by Galmunwang Gukban alone.
I'll talk him into it." She added.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang said.
"Call for me Gopheung to come inside." Princess Deokman ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang replied as he stood up from where he was seated and he walked out, Princess Deokman who was left inside appeared to be thinking about something at that moment when the doors were opened and Gopheung walked in.
"Your Highness." Gopheung said as he bowed his head.
"Whatever I tell you inside here shall go not beyond these walls and see to it that I don't hear it from the lips of someone I least expect.
I want you to get men that are not a part of the Hwarang and take them as guards to keep watch of Chunchu.
Tell him that I am worried about his welfare and see to it that you plant another mole for us in secret there." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Gopheung replied.
"Even if it is Yushin Rang or Alcheon Rang don't let them know because should anyone else apart from the two of us know what I have told you then I can only promise you this that you won't survive the blade as you shall have become an Enemy of Shilla." Princess Deokman warned.
"Yes Your Highness." Gopheung replied and at once he walked out of the room leaving Princess Deokman inside.
There, she remembered something that Alcheon Rang had said to her about Seungman.
"Who are you?" Princess Deokman asked as she stood up when she recalled something.
She marched out of her room that very instant and she was escorted by a couple of guards outside towards the Eastern Palace.
Seungman was in the backyard of the Kim Manor and there she was planting a plum blossom in a very huge pot when she was suddenly joined by Haesul.
She had been absent minded as she seemed to focus on the plant so much that Haesul sneaked right to her side and there he squatted down.
"It is so lovely what you are doing." Haesul whispered into her ear and Startled, Seungman looked to her left and there her face was so close and their noses were only about three centimetres apart.
Her heart was racing as she looked into his eyes and similarly, the dark eyes of Seungman seemed to be Captivating Haesul's soul.
Haesul had never felt anything like it before and he was about to lean over when Seungman looked back at the plant.
He felt slightly ashamed about what he was going to do.
"When did you come here?" Seungman asked.
"I just sneaked here a short while ago, you seemed to be so focused on the plum blossom and I didn't want to break that concentration of yours." Haesul replied.
Seungman sighed.
"It's a relief." She muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Haesul asked having not been in the position to hear what Seungman had said.
"Nothing." she replied as she tried to hide her face.
"On top of being a very good warrior you are also focused and in deed very good at planting flowers." Haesul remarked.
"I am the daughter of a farmer after all." Seungman replied. "why wouldn't I know how to do this?" She asked.
"Planting flowers I am sure us different from any other plants.
"Perhaps you are right." Seungman said, "Sowing is easy for all other plants and it doesn't really require that much care, flowers on the other hand are delicate that only the arm that is skilled in planting them and is careful enough can give them life, the other that is the opposite can only bring their destruction." She added.
"But why of all things there are in this mansion to grow did you choose the plum blossom?" Haesul asked.
"You are really curious?" Seungman asked.
"As far as I know, the plum blossom is a symbol of love, commitment and promise." Haesul replied.
"That's true." Seungman agreed. "My father told me that the plum blossom is very special, and just as it blooms in every season of it's maturity, it is more beautiful." She added.
"It is a symbol of rebirth of love and good fortune, lovers that are true and eternal have their feelings for one another evolve over time and become stronger without remaining the same.
Just as we grow, only with care if those that we love, does the plum blossom flourish on the land that is rich in the care of a person that is true." Haesul said.
"For someone like you I did not expect you to know this much about the plum blossom." Seungman said and Haesul recalled a couple of things that had happened before.
He had asked around where Seungman was and one of the maids in the manor had told him that she had gone to the backyard to plant plum blossoms.
"The plum blossom is a plant that is best planted by two people." Haesul said.
"Why?" Seungman asked.
"One takes care of the plant and the other takes care of them." Haesul replied as he took his hands and helped Seungman bury it.
"How do I tell you that I feel hopeless inside when I keep trying but you don't seem to be seeing the true intents in my heart?" Haesul thought inwardly.
"How can I tell you that I am not a fool to not see how much you really love and care about me?" Seungman thought to herself as well.
"All my life you are the first person other than my friends that ever made me feel so special, you are the first person that I have ever loved at least more than a relative and more than a best friend." Haesul thought as he looked at Seungman.
She pretended to ignore her stare even when she felt it while looking at the soil.
"I am so sorry but I am reluctant to breaking your heart, if I can ignore you forever then perhaps you would give up because in my heart there is someone else." Seungman thought to herself as well.
"We are done." She said as she stood up and Haesul did the same.
"Where are we going when I just got here a while ago?" Haesul asked.
"I'm sorry but you came late when I had done most of the planting." Seungman replied as she turned around and looked the other side.
"Should I come with you?" Haesul asked.
"No." Seungman replied.
"It's alright, I shall go where you go, where you stay I'll stay, where you move I'll move, I shall surely follow you." Haesul said as though trying to confess his feelings and at that very moment, Seungman seemed to recall the familiar incident with Damhyeong the day that she left him tied inside their cottage before coming to Seoraebeol alone.
"It's fine, I just need some time alone." Seungman said as she ran away.
General Sokham was standing at a distance and he watched as his son who had stayed behind raised his left arm and looked so desperate.
There was something that had happened that made him unhappy and clenching his fist he struck the pillar next to where he was standing before turning around to walk back into his house.
Princess Deokman was inside the Imperial library and she looked through a series of scrolls and book texts until she landed on one big book.
Pulling it from the shelf, she read what was written on it.
"THE HWARANG OF SHILLA." She read before she blew the book and then she walked with it up to a nearby table where she sat down and looked through.
" The years 600 to 620." she read and starting with the first years, she went through the names of all the Hwarang that had been written in the book looking for those that were called Kim.
The list was very long and she continued but all the names that she was reading were other Kims some of which had even complicated combinations.
She stopped on one page and the Kim's were flowing.
"Kim Baekban, Kim Boyang, Kim Byeongho, Kim Cheolmin, Kim Chulwoo " she read and then moving over to the next page she read Moon Byeomseok." She halted.
She had noticed that there was a page missing and there was part of it that was still there which indicated that someone had ripped it out.
Princess Deokman was startled and she placed the book on the table.
"The year 600." She said, "My uncle Kim Gukban is missing.' She noticed at that very moment.
She was surprised and she seemed to think everything through as she remembered everything that Alcheon Rang had told her about Seungman's father.
"Her father denounced being a Hwarang even in her face, her father holds such a very strong resentment towards the people of Seoraebeol.
Her father disapproved to her trying to get connections and establish them with people from the capital, why?" Princess Deokman asked herself.
"Only those of the Royal blood that is on the throne are granted access to the records of the Hwarang and other than Princess Cheonmyeong who rarely came to this place, Seonhwa hasn't been in Shilla for a very long time either, Kim Chunchu has always kept a distance, Father I can't seem to see a reason as to why he would be linked and mother herself who is less interested in these things, only Mishil and I frequented this room." Princess Deokman said to herself.
At that moment, she started to pace around the area.
"There must be something at least in the National records." Princess Deokman said, "Seventeen years ago." She added as she went and picked out another book of the Royal records which she put on the table in front of her.
"As she scrolled through, she eventually halted at one point in the book and it talked about something that she was seeing for the the first time.
"THE FATE OF THE HALLOWED BONE." Princess Deokman read and at that point she was surprised as she read what was further written down.
"AND THERE THE SERVANT OF HEAVEN A MAN OF GREAT WISDOM FROM GOKHYEONWANGSA STUDIED THE STARS WHERE HE NOTICED THAT AMONGST THEM ALL THE ROYAL STAR WAS SHINING BRIGHT." She read.
"What's all this?" Princess Deokman asked herself as she looked below at another dialogue that was boldly written in very thick ink and brush.
"THE PROPHECY." she read as she continued further down.
"In the signs of aquarius." Princess Deokman read as her eyes moved on until she finally halted at something which she was looking for.
"THE SON OF MY FATHER AND THE BLOOD OF MY OWN, HEAVEN'S CALLING IS TO MOULD ON HIS SIDE FOR ME THE LAST CARRIER OF THE HALLOWED BONE, TO ATONE FOR A SIN SO VILE LIKE THIS, THE REBEL AND HIS HOUSE MUST CERTAINLY BE EXTINGUISHED." Princess Deokman read out loud before she covered the book.
"Her father resents people from Seoraebeol so much." She recalled Alcheon's words.
"Who are you Seungman, could it be that?" Princess Deokman asked herself when she remembered Seungman's words.
"I am but a child of an ordinary farmer." She had said.
"Impossible." Princess Deokman said, "If Kim Moo Mak was really that important then there would have at least been records Trying to hunt him down." Princess Deokman said.
She shuffled through the books on all the rebel clans and families that had been recorded down in the last seventeen years until she landed on the book she believed contained all of the information.
She looked through it but there wasn't any major sighting and lost refugees and criminals as well as the Royal fugitives over the decades that had never been seen again, the name did not surface anywhere.
Princess Deokman rested the book on the table before she sat back exhausted.
"What would I do if I was in Moo Mak's shoes, what did Seoraebeol do to me for me to resent it the most, who in the Hwarang would remember me?" Princess Deokman asked herself.
"No." She eventually thought, "If it is true and there was someone who could have wanted him dead back in the day I can not risk them resurfacing once again, I can only keep this a secret between Alcheon Rang and myself." She added.
Something else came to her mind.
"Or perhaps Moo Mak wasn't his original name." She said as she tried to think a series of things through.
"It's a possibility." Princess Deokman eventually said and at that moment she stood up a part of her wondering whether she should or she shouldn't confront Seungman about it.
Princess Deokman walked out of the Royal Library but she was unable to stop thinking about everything that had happened earlier.
Something came to mind.
"Perhaps I could use the prophecy as a lead and I try to investigate on it secretly but how can I start if even I can not ask my father?" Princess Deokman asked herself when she suddenly recalled something that she had read.
"AND THERE THE SERVANT OF HEAVEN A MAN OF GREAT WISDOM FROM GOKHYEONWANGSA STUDIED THE STARS WHERE HE NOTICED THAT AMONGST THEM ALL THE ROYAL STAR WAS SHINING BRIGHT." She recalled.
"GOKHYEONWANGSA TEMPLE." she said as she quickly strode away.
Seungman was walked out of the Kim Manor and she was loitering the streets as she looked around the market.
She had been walking around for a while that she'd barely noticed but a couple of four men closed in on her from all directions she was caught in between.
She was continuing normally when a fifth man intercepted them and positioned himself right by her side.
"KIM SEUNGMAN." The man called her name which compelled her to turn around and see who her caller was.
There was a strange gaze that the man had delivered to her and he was unfamiliar to any other person that she had seen before.
"I don't know you." Seungman said as she continued to walk.
"But we do know you." The man replied.
"You know that with all four of your men I bet that I am quick enough to kill you all here." Seungman said.
"Go ahead." The man said, "we are the guards of a very powerful Courtier and if you did that you would be charged with murder without reason while for us it's natural that we possess weapons with us because to protect our master is our livelihood." Haek Ga said.
"What do you want from me?" Seungman asked.
"My Master is a very kind man and he only wished to see you, walk into the restaurant ahead and at least before Killing us all you and him could sit down to a proper conversation." Haek Ga replied.
"Who goes to invite guests with men that are armed with weapons?" Seungman asked.
"If a young girl could make a fool of a large number of the Nangdos and beat them all up when they are supposed to be Shilla's most elite person, who wouldn't watch out for such a person for the case of their safety?" Haek replied.
"Alright, I understand." Seungman said as she was led to the restaurant and there she walked in while the men followed her.
She halted in the center as she looked at the magnificent building inside.
A wide range of aromas filled the place and compared to the simple meals that she had had throughout most of her life, Seungman couldn't help herself but feel her mouth becoming watery.
"This way." Haek Ga said as he led her to one corner of the building where Galmunwang Baekban was seated.
Seungman stopped in front of the man and she looked at him while he stared back at her.
She had a sword sheathed and tightly held in her hand as the man studying her expression only pointed to the seat that was right opposite where he was seated.
"Have a seat." Baekban said.
"Thank you." Seungman replied as she say down humbly like a woman.
Baekban laughed.
"You are the famous warrior that I am hearing about." He said.
"Yes." Seungman replied softly.
"One would expect that with such a prominent warrior like personality walking around with a sword you would act manly, I am just as surprised that you remember your virtues as a woman." Baekban said.
"Where I grew up I didn't have a mother to make me dresses like all the other girls and yet I might have been taught how to fight like a man but I was raised to exhibit my best conduct as a woman." Seungman replied.
"Such a very confident personality, I like it " Baekban said.
"I was well informed by your people that you are quite generous and you might have heard about me so it's natural that you know me, I on the other hand don't know you and I think it is impolite of me to drag a conversation with you without even knowing your name at least." Seungman said.
"If you are curious then I shall tell you." Gukban said right when a waiter walked up to them with a group of many others and they laid a series of dishes on the table.
"For a Courtier you are in deed hospitable." Seungman said.
"Having you as a guest it's natural that I prepared something and since it was coming to lunch time I had to see to it that at least to make up for your time a meal would do.
It is a pity though that I know not any of your Interests so I decided to order nearly anything I could find." Baekban said.
"Thank you, It's all good." Seungman said as she looked around the whole table and notice that there was a dish with lobsters.
"If you are alright then they can take the lobsters away because I am allergic to crustaceans." Seungman said.
"We are so much alike in deed young woman, even I myself I am allergic to crustaceans as well." Baekban said with a smile on his face as he was pretty much alarmed.
"That's good then." Seungman said as the waiters took away the lobsters and left the two alone.
"I haven't still gotten your name." Seungman persistently asked as they dug into their food.
"Kim Baekban, Galmunwang Baekban." Baekban replied.
"You know mine already so let us get to the point." Seungman said. "Why did you earnestly wish to see me?" She asked.
"I heard so much about you these recent days that I was curious to know which girl was it that challenged the Hwarang?" Baekban asked.
"Rumour is a great Traveller, listen to it oftenly but don't obsses over it." Seungman said.
"You sound like the scholars of Seoraebeol." Baekban said.
"Sadly I grew up from a very remote area in the North with my father who happened to be a farmer." Seungman replied.
"That brain is too big for someone less privileged, having a very good eye for talent surviving the cruelty of life at such a young age I can conclude that you might be quite intelligent." Baekban said.
"And you are trying to tell me that you are charmed?" Seungman asked.
"I am trying to propose that you enter into my service." Baekban replied.