THE THIRD STAGE
"Your Excellency, within the box lying there was the Royal seal of Shilla." Haek Ga replied and Baekban who was reading the book in his hands he let it go and smacking the table he stood up.
"What?" He said.
"Yes Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied, "It was the Royal seal of Shilla that was inside that box." He confirmed as Baekban's eyes widened with surprise it had only given him a heavy blow and something that he least expected.
"Her Highness Princess Deokman." He said as he clenched his fists and his expression went wild with so much rage he looked at that time no different than the devil himself.
Baekban sat down.
"How is that even possible?" He asked.
"I don't know Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied.
"They must be mistaken, how did they know that what was in the box was the Royal Seal when I doubt that they could have seen it before?" Baekban asked.
"Your Excellency, anyone can tell how the Royal seal looks like." Haek Ga said.
"What was her Highness thinking to send it to Cheolwon Fortress?" Baekban asked.
"I don't know Your Excellency but haven't you noticed that recently all the Official announcements from the King's Office were without stamps.
It's the reason why the announcement that the Princess passed to register new people among the Hwarang also turned up without a stamp either." Haek Ga said.
"Very many people would do anything to get the Royal Seal in their hands, the Palace itself was not safe to begin with and she always had her doubts about the Queen.
She suspected our plans and new that if the King died then Queen Sungman would come into direct possession of the seal so if she couldn't keep it within Seoraebeol, her only choice was to send it away from it." Baekban said.
"How cunning?" Haek Ga said.
"I underestimated Princess Deokman." Baekban said as he smiled.
"Your Excellency, we should steal it." Haek Ga said.
"Don't be too hasty, aren't you worried that our actions could act like a warning to her?" Baekban said.
"Come to think of it Your Excellency." Haek Ga said.
"If we stole the Royal Seal and it ended up in our possession before the King's passing, Princess Deokman would use it as an excuse to apprehend us because that would be a sign of treason pertaining to us staging a coup.
It would also be the best opportunity for her to accuse us of factionalism as well so taking it this early would be digging our own grave." Baekban said.
"What are we going to do about this Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.
"We need to be patient and for us to succeed we should play along with Princess Deokman's game.
I want you to try and see to it that our moles come closer and closer to the Royal seal and when the time is right then we shall use them in the end to protect the Royal Seal from her." Baekban said.
"She wouldn't see it coming so she'll expect us to believe that the Royal Seal is still in the Palace." Haek Ga said.
"Yes." Baekban replied.
Princess Deokman was seated inside her chambers as she recalled what she had seen on the field earlier in the day.
Her thoughts drifted away as she recalled the words that Queen Sungman had mentioned to her.
There and then she stood up from where she was seated and she walked up to one of the windows in her room.
She stared up at the sky as she saw the moon shining brightly along with the stars.
There was something that she had always wondered and every time that she looked at Seungman, she could feel a sense of kinship.
The doors of her room were opened and her servant Boyeong walked in.
"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.
"What is it?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Seungman Rang is here to see you." Boyeong replied.
"Let her in." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Boyeong replied as she walked out of the room and left the Princess still looking at the moon.
A while later, Seungman walked in.
"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.
"Stand beside me." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Seungman replied as she approached her and she also looked out the window.
"The stars are very beautiful tonight." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes." Seungman replied.
"I wasn't expecting a visitor." Princess Deokman said.
"I felt that perhaps I should come and talk to you." Seungman said.
"About the Queen?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes." Seungman replied.
"Don't worry, I understand you." Princess Deokman said.
"For any alliance to stand then we must all trust each other, Your Highness, for me to trust you means that I can tell you anything." Seungman said.
"Can you?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes." Seungman replied.
"Haven't you ever wondered why your father resented Seoraebeol so much?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Because it's people killed my mother." Seungman replied.
"Why?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I don't know." Seungman replied.
"That's very sad." Princess Deokman said, "There must have been a reason." She added.
"I never thought about it." Seungman said.
"Because you believed that your father told you everything." Princess Deokman said.
"It feels that at this age I know not all of it." Seungman said.
"Because it isn't the entire truth." Princess Deokman said.
"Does Your Highness know anything else?" Seungman asked.
"Even I don't know but considering the fact that you are this skilled at martial arts then I am very curious and if you have said that since this is all trust, I hope you can be truthful to me and tell me who Your Master is." Princess Deokman said.
"I was trained by my father and all I know is that he must have been in the military." Seungman replied.
"Of course he was most likely a Hwarang but his name wasn't in the Hwarang records and most of the sayings that he taught you were derived from the ancient song of the Hwarang while they were additionally tampered with by someone." Princess Deokman said.
"You're saying that there is someone that never wanted my father's existence to be known?" Seungman asked.
"What else should I say to you." Princess Deokman asked.
"Then why would they have to bother with him?" Seungman asked.
"Your father wasn't the very best but he certainly was an elite, he wasn't a General in any records so it's possible that even the name you know isn't his real name." Princess Deokman said.
"Why would my father lie to me?" Seungman asked.
"To protect you." Princess Deokman replied.
"Why and from whom?" Seungman asked.
"I don't know but if your mother died protecting you then according to your father there was something that could have endangered you." Princess Deokman said.
"But when you say that Your Highness, I can't think of a reason, my father is humble and kind so I can't think of anyone who can resent him." Seungman said.
"Don't lie to yourself because you know it just as much as I do that no matter how many good things you do, some people won't appreciate you but shall only hate you and envy you." Princess Deokman said.
"Was my father a Courtier?" Seungman asked.
"No." Princess Deokman replied.
"A Prince?" Seungman asked.
"There's not a single one we have heard of that went missing seventeen years ago." Princess Deokman said.
"A magistrate or prefect or an official?" Seungman asked.
"No." Princess Deokman replied.
"Of all the privileged positions that I have mentioned if he owned none then what was there for other people to envy him?" Seungman asked.
"There's two plausible things that we can't overlook." Princess Deokman said as she looked at Seungman.
"The two instances in which someone along with their family could be killed either openly or in secret is first if they are witnesses to something which can only mean that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time when someone was doing something very bad." She added and she kept quiet.
"And the second?" Seungman asked.
"It might hurt you but the second is that he might have been linked to rebel activities." Princess Deokman said.
"My father wouldn't." Seungman confidently said.
"Looking at you I presume that as well which only draws me back to the first point." Princess Deokman said.
"I had so much to tell you but it seems that there is something else that is under your concern." Seungman said.
"Seungman, you do things exceptionally and I for one shall be honest that there is nothing that I hold against you.
On the other hand I know that you are attracting too much attention and considering everything else that happened before while you were very young I fear that harm while in my service may come upon you." Princess Deokman said.
"I understand that Your Highness has good intentions, I wasn't ready but now that you've brought all this up my mind is unsettled." Seungman said.
"It must be hard on you but above all things I need your own cooperation to help you because as it seems before my eyes perhaps Seoraebeol was not only your calling but heaven sent you to me." Princess Deokman said.
"What do you want from me Your Highness?" Seungman asked.
"If your father really changed your name then there must be something valuable that he could have given you.
It could have belonged to your clan or your mother or it's his own, an heirloom that could at least give us a lead on who you are." Princess Deokman replied.
Seungman held around her neck and she removed the Jade pendant that she was wearing and she showed it to the Princess.
"This is it." Seungman said, "My father told me that this was my birthday gift when I was born." She added.
"Sure?" Princess Deokman asked as she studied the patterns and the designs on it
"What are You looking for Your Highness?" Seungman asked.
"Normally, on things like this there are always names and characters that are engraved on it." Princess Deokman replied as she walked over into her things and she got a magnifying glass and read what was written on it.
"Is there anything Your Highness?" Seungman asked.
"No." Princess Deokman replied as she returned it.
"This can't possibly help us, there are people that possess this at least I think and without a clan name this object was skillfully made and it's like a religious relic.
It's a charm that is supposed to ward off evil so it's possible that it was given to your for your own protection while not so much value would have been attached to it." She added.
Seungman thought about until she recalled her sword.
At that moment she unsheathed it while Princess Deokman looked at it.
"Your Highness." Seungman said as she brought her Sword closer into her sight
"What's wrong with it?" She asked.
"My father told me that this sword was a family sword and that it's like a heirloom in our family it even has my Sur name." Seungman replied as she showed her the words that were engraved on it.
"PROTECT YOUR HONOUR, FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR LIFE, KIM." Princess Deokman read.
"Yes." Seungman replied as Princess Deokman examined the sword.
"It really is old much as it possess a touch that makes it appear very new to one's eye." Princess Deokman said.
"My father had remade it before we parted." Seungman said.
"This could be a clue." Princess Deokman said.
"But how do you plan to use that Your Highness?" Seungman asked.
"I must say that it is quite rare but for weapons like this, the people who hold them to be very valuable make them differently from the way that average swords are made and this sword is no different from the sword that my father once possessed so if I am right then perhaps I know who could have made this sword." Princess Deokman said.
"Who Your Highness?" Seungman asked.
"The double edge but blunt tip was a unique way of identifying swords and blades that went to the aristocratic families of Shilla.
These all relied on one particular iron smith and with him making all the weapons it was Queen Sado's way of seeing to it that she controlled the amount of weaponry the nobles possessed to safeguard her position as regent and additionally prevent the outbreak of a rebellion." Princess Deokman said.
"And what happened if the aristocrats possesed ordinary swords?" Seungman asked.
"It was a very clear sign to the Queen that of they were acquiring weapons from elsewhere which meant that in trying to raise a personal army, one would have also had intentions to rebel so it was punishable by heavy confiscation of lands or paying huge fines.
After she had died it was quite favourable Because when Mishil tried to become the Queen of our Heavenly kingdom of Shilla by force, she hadn't the necessary weapons to sustain her armies most of them deserted her." Princess Deokman replied.
"But there are very many aristocratic families in Shilla and I am very sure that very man of them possess the Kim Family name." Seungman said.
"There has to be a linkage between yourself and them even if it's something that is very small." Princess Deokman said.
"Your Highness, please do not be too persistent if things fail to work out accordingly." Seungman said.
"I won't be disheartened because at least I shall try, we can contact the blacksmith and look at the lists of people that purchased swords from him and we'll know whom to follow up on." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Seungman said.
"About her Highness the Queen." Princess Deokman said, "You wanted to talk about it when you came here." She said.
"I was right to suspect her for being ambitious, she isn't as innocent as she looks like and I must say that beneath that mask that she is wearing there is another smart and deadly contender for you." Seungman replied.
"Does she also desire to inherit the Crown?" Princess Deokman asked.
"No." Seungman replied, "But I could tell by looking at her that she is ready to give this country an heir and rule Shilla with all the de facto power as a Dowager Queen." Seungman said.
"I was very tight all along, you never know when a cat's claws come out and also when a porcupine sharpens it's spikes." Princess Deokman said.
"What are you going to do about her Your Highness?" Seungman asked.
"She'd be hopeless to come into the Palace and compete for power if she didn't have any support rallied up behind her." Princess Deokman said.
"You are saying that it's possible that she is also dependent on Galmunwang Baekban?" Seungman asked.
"If Baekban were to officially rule Shilla then it would be under a legitimate cause, that cause would be Impossible if he had his brother Galmunwang Gukban against him and the Sangdaedeung Ichan Seulbu for an enemy as well." Princess Deokman said.
"Gukban has you and Ichan Seulbu has his Majesty, for him to match up to the three of you he would establish his own power on the throne through influencing the Queen." Seungman said.
"She'd give in to me because if she were to hold her son against me she'd be powerless to survive the political arena and since the King can't survive for so long then on their side it is a give and take to protect the King's young child and then Baekban could rule Shilla without anyone opposing him and as it is that he has no living children there is none that would threaten Queen Sungman's son so it is her guarantee for trusting Galmunwang Baekban." Princess Deokman said.
"We could have figured that out but shouldn't our effort be the King not having a child with the new Queen?" Seungman asked.
"We can not be too sure if we act irrationally then we might end up in very big trouble." Princess Deokman said.
"What should we do?" Seungman asked.
"For the time being let's find out the truth behind your mother's death and I'll get people to try and see to it that we find a way of informing the King that his wife is colluding with a Courtier and that Courtier happens to be my uncle." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Seungman said.
"Go and prepare because remember that for you you must win the Hwarang games." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Seungman replied.
"After the next tournament, we'll have come up with a way of meeting the Iron Smith." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Seungman replied as she bowed her head while the Princess waved her out of her room and she complied.
Reaching outside, she looked up at the sky and recalled the Princess' words.
"Your father wasn't the very best but he certainly was an elite, he wasn't a General in any records so it's possible that even the name you know isn't his real name." She recalled Princess Deokman say.
"Why would my father lie to me?" Seungman had asked.
"To protect you." Princess Deokman had replied.
"Why and from whom?" Seungman had asked.
"I don't know but if your mother died protecting you then according to your father there was something that could have endangered you." Princess Deokman had said.
"Who could have wanted me and my family dead?" She asked herself, "Who am I?" She thought as she descended the stairs slowly and left the Palace amidst great worry.
Alcheon Rang happened to be standing nearby as he had followed her to the Princess' Chambers secretly she looked quite lifeless as she walked out.
The day of the third stage had finally arrived and the Hwarang had gathered at there usual arena while horns were blown and Princess Deokman along with Queen Sungman were present under a nearby she'd.
"It's another colorful morning." Queen Sungman said as she turned to Deokman.
"Yes Your Highness." Princess Deokman said, "However to he honest I wasn't really expecting you to turn up here." She said.
"The last time was quite interesting much as there was an accident so I thought about coming back here this time around." Queen Sungman replied.
"I thought that the Primary reason you turned up was to keep an eye on somebody." Princess Deokman said.
Queen Sungman laughed.
"We are all very old and responsible people, I am new to being the Queen of Shilla so it's good that at least I show the people my presence lest they take me for granted and call me an Immoral Queen." Queen Sungman said.
"I never thought that you would concern yourself with being a mother of the nation Your Highness." Princess Deokman said.
"I learnt from you my daughter." Queen Sungman replied as the two looked at one another and smiled while the sound of the welcoming music started.
The Nangdos put on a small celebration and they summersaulted while the drums were sounded.
They displayed a few tricks that Princess Deokman along with the Queen smiled at them as a group of others moved about the whole stage with the banners and flags of the Hwarang teams.
Seungman was in the middle of the act as well with hers and after the six contestants wrapped up with a simple war like dance, they halted with all their hands and banners in the sky while a group of flowers were showered on them.
Everyone that was present applauded them and as the other Nangdos withdrew from the stage, all that were left behind were the six contestants with their flags.
Seungman's was still a plain white banner as she hadn't yet found a symbol to identify herself.
Princess Deokman stood up and walked up to the front.
"Brave warriors and men of Shilla." Princess Deokman said and everyone quietened down as all the Hwarang stood at attention.
"Today we are advancing to the third stage of the Hwarang Games and of all six representatives that are right here with us, only five that are going to beat this level best shall advance to the fourth stage." Princess Deokman said and the Hwarang applauded her while some of the Royal guards that were standing by struck the ground with their Spears to cheer her.
Queen Sungman looked around at the flood of nearly six thousand people surrounding her and she noticed how influential Princess Deokman was.
"She would have certainly become a King had she been born a boy." She said.
"The Purpose of Today's training is to test out each and every individual's improvising skills so each and everyone of you shall be given nothing more than a dagger." Princess Deokman said and immediately the Royal guards walked over each possessing a small dagger that was similar to the other and they handed them over to all the six of them.
"You can each check if your daggers are faulty so that we can quickly replace them before your challenge begins." Princess Deokman said and the candidates all started to shake theirs and inspect them and all were perfect.
"Are they fine?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes Your Highness." The six contenders replied in unison.
"Each one of you here shall set out into the forest that is right outside Seoraebeol on horses and within that forest there are three tigers." Princess Deokman said.
The Nangdos immediately started to murmur amongst themselves as Seungman looked at all the other candidates and realised that only Haesul and herself were a little bit frightened.
"These three tigers are each guarding something that is most precious and it is only the first five people who can return back to Seoraebeol with it that shall advance to the next stage and the last shall be eliminated.
However should the last person bring the right object back here with themselves then the last in the chain of those that brought the wrong one shall be eliminated." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." They all said in unison.
"Bring in the horses." Ichan Chilsuk announced and six valets walked into the arena with a pair of red, black and brown steads which they stationed right in front of the contenders.
"The streets are flooded with the people so not a single one of you is allowed to ride their horse anywhere except beyond the walls of the capital." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." The contenders replied in unison.
Princess Deokman got the Union banner and she waved it and the contenders each ceasing their steads by their reins, a path was paved for them and they walked out of arena while dragging them out.
The other Nangdos watched as Achan Seokpum and Ichan Chilsuk along with Yushin Rang and Gopheung followed the small entourage with the valets and a pair of the Royal guards out.
Marching onto the streets of Seoraebeol the common people gazed at them all with surprise as they proudly marched out.
Seungman was already outstanding in her white uniform as her anti fan clubs gathered most of which comprised a series of old women that gossiped badly about her.
"Poor thing is too little I doubt that she will win this one." She heard some say.
"How do you even live as a young girl with all those humongous men?" Others sympathized with her.
"It's a pity that she looks nothing like a warrior's material." She heard them say.
"Had she been my daughter, I would have taught her a very good lesson." She heard one of the old men saying.
As they marched barely caring about everything, Seungman tried so hard to close her ears to their words but in her mind it felt like they were all shouting right near her ears.
Haesul noticed that she seemed quite frustrated about it so he slowed down a little and exchanged places with the Lion Corps' representative while he positioned himself right by her side.
"You don't have to listen to them." Haesul said.
"Their tongues are quite venomous and it's undeniable." Seungman replied.
"But they are mistaken because they do not know you like I do." Haesul said.
"Thank you for understanding but don't worry I won't let what they are saying get to me because even if my swear turns to blood I won't stop fighting until my last breath and I'll never abandon my dream." Seungman said.
"I wouldn't blame you because every man in this world is ambitious and dreams can only be realized for those who dedicate a very great effort to achieve them." Haesul said.
"But no matter what effort most of us out in, it's very difficult for the world to acknowledge us.
Hadn't it not been for Shilla I wouldn't have been here today." Seungman replied.
"It doesn't matter, for me hadn't it been for you I wouldn't have also been here." Haesul said.
"I'm still unyielding to give you what you asked." Seungman suddenly spoke up.
"It doesn't matter because for me I won't give up on you until my last breath." Haesul said as they Continued.
Gukban was walking towards the Arena at that moment coming from the very direction where Seungman and the others were headed.
Seungman was at the other end exposed to the people and he looked to be absent minded as Damju led the way so they all continued their way.
The two happened to knock each other and Seungman's hands came into contact with Gukban's that at that very moment, the fairly old man felt something which was like a familiar aura.
He halted in his footsteps and at once he turned around to see who it was that he had knocked.
He could only see long hair falling on Seungman's back and the white uniform that she was wearing that he wanted to rush over and look her in the eye but he ceased as Damju called him.
"Your Excellency." Damju said and at that time Seungman was already far ahead without him ready to shout after her.
"What is it?" Gukban Asked.
"We're here." Damju said as he pointed ahead at the entrance of the Arena where the both of them continued and walked in.
Princess Deokman who happened to be returning to the Palace with the Queen halted when she saw him.
"Your Excellency." Princess Deokman said and the Queen's attention was drawn to the both of them.
"Your Highnesses." Gukban said as he bowed his head.
"I wasn't expecting you this Early." Princess Deokman said.
"I happened to be nearby so I decided to stop by and pay you a visit.
"You can go ahead without me Your Highness." Princess Deokman said as she turned to Queen Sungman.
"Yes Princess." Queen Sungman replied as she bowed her head and she walked away with Bora and her ladies in waiting.
"Come with me to the pavilion." Princess Deokman said and the two walked up to the Pavilion of Moral Law which was overlooking Seoraebeol.
"Tell me Your Excellency how far with the construction of Ganglyeoghan Palace?" Princess Deokman asked.
"We have progresed much further." Gukban replied.
"How is Aunt Wolmyeong?" Princess Deokman asked.
"The usual, she is still sewing dresses and today she went to the Temple." Gukban replied.
"Such devotion." Princess Deokman said.
"She's never found peace in her heart ever since our daughter perished at a very tender age." Gukban said, "What's even worse is that she never got the chance to see her grow into a beautiful woman." He added.
"It must have been so sad." Princess Deokman said.
"For her as a woman it came as the biggest blow that can never be consoled for the rest of her life and she herself can never recover." Gukban said.
"Send her my greetings." Princess Deokman said.
"Don't worry, I certainly will Your Highness." Gukban said as he bowed his head.
"Seoraebeol looks so peaceful today." Princess Deokman said.
"I couldn't agree more Your Highness." Gukban said.
"It's surprising how other people complain about it's loud bustle yet to me it's like music to my ears." Princess Deokman said.
"This bustle is much better than the silence and the sound of weeping and raging flames at a time of war." Gukban said.
"Even the sound of the drums itself comes so awful to my ears it makes me worry that the enemy is attacking." Princess Deokman said.
"I have a question for You Your Highness and I hope that you don't take it to heart." Gukban said.
"Don't worry, I'm listening." Princess Deokman replied.
"Why is it that of all things in life you chose to aspire to become King?" Gukban asked.
"Because I am a woman?" Princess Deokman said.
"I don't mean to offend you Your Highness." Gukban said.
"Don't worry, it's the only excuse that everyone gives most people even find me quite pitiful in the end they sympathize with me for not being born a man." Princess Deokman said.
"But you don't let them all get to you." Gukban said.
"Because I have every right just as a Seonggol man and my whole life I prepared myself for the throne believing it to be my calling." Princess Deokman said.
"I don't wish to get entangled within this fight of yours but I worry for you fearing that as you are devoted to this Shilla she might forsake you." Gukban said.
"Should Shilla forsake me then I'll fight to my last breath until I possess her.
"We have all staked out lives to fight for your Highness, I only hope that Heaven's will coincides with yours and that unlike Mishil you realise your goal." He added.
"Don't worry, unlike Mishil, she never realized her dream to rule because she felt the urge of needing a man to fulfill it, on the other hand if the heart is determined, so is my mind." Princess Deokman said.