FATAL DESIRES

Seungman sat down at her usual table with her food, she was lost in her thoughts and recalled the incident that had happened earlier on with the lion in the woods.

She'd already cleaned herself up but she knew that the fruits that she had smeared on her clothes had played the best trick.

As she was eating up some of her boiled rice, someone else walked up to the very place where she was seated.

"Alcheon Rang?" She said as she raised her head only to notice that the person that was standing right in front of her was someone else.

"Rowun Rang." She called his name.

"Can I sit here?" Rowun Rang asked.

Seungman nodded her head and taking that as as yes he sat down.

"I have had not so many people sitting with me ever since I became a part of the Hwarang." She said.

"Slowly we'll get used to having you as a part of us." Rowun Rang replied.

"Why have you decided to sit with me today?" Seungman Asked.

"I have questions." Rowun Rang replied.

"Why I saved you the other day?" Seungman Asked.

"Why did you even bother?" Rowun Rang asked.

"Perhaps I am concerned, I might not know anyone else here but I would do pretty much anything in my power to protect them." Seungman replied.

"Why would you protect strangers?" Rowun Rang asked.

"Strangers or not we are all people of this Heavenly Kingdom of Shilla, it's a duty of every member of the Hwarang to care for the lives of those in danger because the biggest and greatest cause for which we fight is to protect Shilla's people." Seungman Rang replied.

Rowun Rang looked at her startled.

"I must have misjudged you." He said.

"We all make mistakes." Seungman said.

"I would have leaned on anyone else to save me but I never thought that it would be you." Rowun Rang said.

"I am glad that at least you lived beyond that day and I am happy that you notice that I am not as incompetent as everyone else thinks." Seungman replied as she smiled and she continued eating her food.

Ichan Seulbu was seated inside his quarters when Byeong Ho walked in.

"Your Excellency." He said as he bowed his head.

"Tell me, what is it?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

"I did try to do everything that you had asked of me." Byeong Ho replied.

"Tell me what you found out." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Galmunwang Gukban's lead is right, before Queen Sungman came into the palace, on more than three occasions she had met with his brother Galmunwang Baekban." Byeong Hi replied.

"How is it possible that he knew what I was planning?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

"Your Excellency, I don't think it was what you were planning." Byeong Ho replied.

"Then what do you think it was?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

"Perhaps it was what the King was planning." Byeong Ho replied.

"I see." Ichan Seulbu replied.

"What about the King?" he asked.

"His Majesty hasn't been doing well the past couple of days, Her Royal Highness the Princess has been tending to most of the official matters and as it is right now, I believe that Queen Sungman us trying to interfere with her as she has currently maintained a public appearance with her especially during the Hwarang games." Byeong Ho replied.

"She's eating off more than she can chew." Ichan Seulbu said.

"If She is in contact with Galmunwang Baekban then I believe that she is more ambitious and she isn't just here to give the Crown an heir alone." Byeong Ho said.

"As it is that the King is old, even if he had a son and that infant son ascended the throne, the right to a regency would pass on to the mother yet I do not see that much experience of governance in her.

If someone were to be the more plausible threat to the Crown it would be Galmunwang Baekban who could rule as a co regent and that would put Princess Deokman in a tough position." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Wouldn't it be better if Her Highness married as soon as possible to secure her claim?" Byeong Ho asked.

"That would be possible but there aren't that many Seonggol men left and I don't know why but I believe that her Highness is at the same time reluctant to also get married." Ichan Seulbu replied.

"What should we do Your Excellency, Galmunwang Baekban has proven his true initiative and as it is the new Queen can not be trusted either.

Secondly if it were to depose her then we probably wouldn't without any proof of her guilt, as it is we could underestimate her but when she is much more than that." Byeong Ho replied.

"There is something that is on your mind." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Rumours have been spreading about the entire capital the past couple of days about someone like Mishil returning to us in Shilla." Byeong Ho replied.

"They wouldn't be groundless and it's very possible that someone intentionally started them for a reason." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Most of the Courtiers believe that it should be her Highness Princess Deokman and a number of them fear her growing might day by day while others think that it could perhaps be someone else and additionally a contender for Princess Deokman." Byeong Ho said.

"Seju Mishil became the example of what would happen when colossal talents are corrupted by the overwhelming desire for power.

She ruled Shilla from behind the curtain along with Queen Sado but was never content she consequently desired to become it's Queen in name.

When she failed she was deprived of her place in history and she would either become a tale of a villainess or one that is forgotten, Princess Deokman on the other hand already being born a Princess gave her a place in History." Ichan Seulbu said.

"But like Mishil she could wield just as much power and she could in the end never be Queen." Byeong Ho said, "Or perhaps she'd additionally go as far as rebelling to become Shilla's Queen." He added.

"Her Highness is capable of doing so but I think that this rumour was started with the purpose of unpopularising her." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Why?" Byeong Ho asked.

"First find out who it was that started the rumour and also have your men keep watch of those that enter and leave the Queen's Chambers throughout the whole day." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Yes Your Excellency." Byeong Ho replied.

"It's possible that if she came into the Palace and she is working with Galmunwang Baekban , she brought along with herself spies that we must learn and she could be maintaining communications with him outside the Palace." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Yes Your Excellency." Byeong Ho replied as he bowed his head and then he walked out.

King Jinpyeong was seated in his room when all of a sudden, his Eunuch walked in.

"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.

"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Her Royal Highness the Princess is here to see you." He replied.

"Let her in." King Jinpyeong said.

"Yes Your Majesty." His Eunuch replied as he slowly withdrew from the room and a while later Princess Deokman walked in.

"Your Majesty." Princess Deokman said as she bowed her head.

"Princess." King Jinpyeong said as she sat down in a chair that was right next to him.

"How have you been?" Princess Deokman asked.

"I am fine at least not incapacitated." King Jinpyeong replied.

"That's good." Princess Deokman said.

"How's everything in the court?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Everything is alright." Princess Deokman replied, "There hasn't been anything but happening though there is still tension amongst the people." Princess Deokman added.

"I have heard it all." King Jinpyeong said.

"Someone has been spreading a rumour the past couple of weeks about the return of another Mishil that shall plunder the country into chaos." Princess Deokman said.

"How have you handled it?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Most people are under the impression that this new Mishil is me and whoever is spreading the rumour had the intention of defaming me.

I forced a relaxation in political matters and I was in the end able to arrange the Hwarang games which being the primary concern of the people in Seoraebeol succeeded in shadowing all those rumours." Princess Deokman replied.

"I am impressed." King Jinpyeong said, "If only Cheonmyeong would take an equal interest like you." He added.

"She has always been a carefree girl since young, I chose to be your best execution father so that she could enjoy life as a Princess and also a woman.

My devotion to Shilla is something that she can only give to a man." Princess Deokman said.

"I have you to entrust the protection of your sister." King Jinpyeong said.

"How has the new Queen been to you Father?" Princess Deokman asked.

"I can not say that she is as caring as your mother and I am fine with that." King Jinpyeong said.

"She has been recently turning up for the Hwarang games." Princess Deokman said.

"It had never occurred to me that she could be interested in such." King Jinpyeong said.

"Me either, I thought you were the one that put her up to it." Princess Deokman said.

"No." King Jinpyeong denied.

"Then could she be feeling obliged to show the people that you are alright?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Most probably, if she could turn up in my stead, to the Hwarang she'd be the very representation of their King." King Jinpyeong said.

"Yes." Princess Deokman replied.

"How has her behavior been?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"She is modest, wise, diligent, punctual, kind and surpassingly graceful." Princess Deokman replied.

"I am glad that you are getting along very well." King Jinpyeong said.

"Because I do not have to fear her and also because I am leaning on the very promise that you made to my mother and also to me." Princess Deokman replied.

"I understand that you could be blaming me for your mother's departure and I do hope you understand as well that it was the only way that I could protect you." King Jinpyeong said.

"I hope that protection further was worth it because even I don't want you, mother and myself to live in any regrets." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes." King Jinpyeong replied.

Galmunwang Baekban walked around his Courtyard along with Haek Ga.

"What happened at the Hwarang games?" Baekban asked.

"As expected, Bidam was excellent, however, Seungman was declared the winner of the round because she ably redeemed what was considered most precious than the gold, a chicken egg " Haek Ga replied.

"Quite logical enough she is a mastermind." Baekban replied.

"Why Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.

"The Hwarang games alongside fighting techniques also test one's wit and wisdom." Baekban replied. "For the Princess to set those eggs about she wasn't foolish but only searching for another like her that is to say one who despite being cold like a warrior is still warm-hearted like a human." Baekban replied.

"Wouldn't this be a way of trying to win her favour?" Haek Ga asked.

"All the more I am confident that with the persistence of such the Princess could on the other hand grow more and more wary of Seungman and where suspicion is master, then retaliation is the best counsel." Baekban replied.

"I am also certain Your Excellency that by now, she must have found out about the Queen and you." Haek Ga said.

"It's good enough anyway." Baekban replied.

"Pardon me your Excellency but every step the Princess makes if she keeps on knowing everything that we are consequently up to, she might in the end guard against us." Haek Ga replied.

"The Queen is but another pone in the game, actually she is the rook that I am Nurturing and in the end I shall definitely use to save my King.

If I wish to defeat Princess Deokman then I must take her down along with those that support her and make them my own, that is only possible if I can make a move when she least expects me to." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Alright Your Excellency." Haek Ga said.

"I have planned for many decades for this very day, I can't let anyone even the Princess herself destroy it for me." Baekban replied.

Seungman Rang was practicing with a wooden dummy when Alcheon Rang walked up to her.

"Seungman." He called and halting her practice she faced him.

"I wasn't expecting you." Seungman said.

"Congratulations." Alcheon Rang said as he walked up closer to her but Seungman turned around.

"Thank you, being here to say that to me in person, I am grateful." She said.

"Yet you do not sound excited like I thought you would." Alcheon Rang said.

"What is there for me to be excited about?" Seungman asked.

"You are getting closer to achieving your dream." Alcheon Rang replied.

"No." Seungman refused.

"Why?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"If only feels like I am drifting farther and farther away." Seungman replied.

"It's a price." Alcheon Rang said.

"We are warriors, I have the world to face and the reality of who I really am." Seungman replied.

"It doesn't matter." Alcheon Rang said.

"I can't stop wondering why my mother died, I don't understand what she was protecting, I am perhaps a descendant of a rebel, why does the sword I possess for my family heirloom look like one given to someone noble?" Seungman asked.

"Where did your father get it?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"He said it belonged to me, if my father was a noble what happened, or perhaps it was my mother that was noble and he wasn't." Seungman said as she sat down and Alcheon sat down right next to him.

"It doesn't matter to me." He said.

"Why?" Seungman asked.

"Whether your mother was a rebel or a traitor, whether you are the daughter of a concubine or a maid from a privileged family, none of that shall ever change the way that I feel towards you because deep down inside my heart you'll always remain the woman that I love." Alcheon Rang said.

"What if my social status can never allow the both of us to be together?" Seungman asked.

"For you I would lay down anything that I possesed, be it this very life of mine and never in my life could I give this heart of mine to another because from the very beginning, it belonged to you and you alone." Alcheon Rang said.

Seungman turned around and looked at him.

"My whole life aside from my father and Damhyeong, you are the only man that I ever felt most comfortable next to." Seungman said.

"If I could one day give you everything that you needed to keep you happy, I'd mist gladly be willing to keep doing it for the rest of my life." Alcheon Rang replied.

"Perhaps we are like the moon and stars, like earth and water, like mountains and valleys, of we are together I love and find my delight in you as my man and also my bossom friend." Seungman said as she leaned her head on Alcheon Rang's shoulder while he placed his hand around her.

"Even if the whole world deserted you, even if the truth one day became to great for you to bear, even if it were in the face of death or in this life you felt betrayed, many could forsake you but even towards your grave you would always have me by your side." Alcheon Rang whispered.

Bidam Rang who was hiding behind a nearby wall looked at the two of them cuddling one another.

He smiled behind their back and he turned around.

Kim Chunchu was walking around the palace while being escorted by Geumyang.

As they walked past the Queen's Chambers they halted when they saw a couple of palace maids roaming about the place.

They were entirely panic stricken and he couldn't help but wonder what had happened so he halted one of the maids.

"What happened?" He asked her.

"Your Highness." The maid replied.

"Tell me what's going on?" Chunchu asked.

"Her Royal Highness the Queen passed out while she was going to attend the Hwarang games this morning." The maid replied.

"At that moment, Chunchu was joined by his mother Princess Cheonmyeong and his Grandfather King Jinpyeong.

"Your Majesty." He said, "Mother." He added as he along with Geumyang bowed their heads.

The Royal Doctor joined them all as well as they hurriedly rushed into the Queen's Chambers.

They all stationed themselves besides her bed and there they looked on as the doctor examined her.

First he rested his left hand on her forehead and then he took her pulse.

"Tell us doctor." King Jinpyeong said, "What's wrong with her Highness?" He asked.

The physician stood up and he bowed his head to the King.

"Congratulations Your Majesty." He said.

"What's wrong?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Her Royal Highness the Queen is with child." He replied.

Everyone hearing that was terror stricken and Chunchu who was within the room suddenly turned worried.

Princess Cheonmyeong stared at her father who was just as shocked.

"I'll prescribe some medicine for her and I would kindly ask all the palace staff to take care of her.

She should rest adequately and not exhaust herself so much of else it would weaken her and the foetus and this might have a toll on her health." The Doctor said.

"Yes." Princess Cheonmyeong said hesitantly as her father shook his head.

"I'll take my leave." The doctor said as he bowed his head and he walked out of the room leaving them all inside.

King Jinpyeong walked over to the bedside and there as he stared at the young woman he wondered.

He was already past his prime, he might have even forgotten when it happened, perhaps he was unsure what he had done that night, or he had never hoped that things would turn up like this.

Kim Chunchu stared at the sleeping woman and consequently his face became more and more weary.

The Presence of a child would certify that he was nothing but another pone in Galmunwang Baekban's name as he had long passed their blind eye to do what he wanted.

Worse it felt like he was drifting away from him dream that it would be impossible for him to rule Shilla and be it's King as he had hoped.

The Hwarang gathered at the Arena again and at that time they awaited the orders of Princess Deokman who walked up to them.

For the fourth Challenge to the contestants you shall be tasked to find out which which is the significance of the three stanzas of the song of the Hwarang.

As tradition has if it's our anthem, as it follows it is the rule of our hearts, as it ends it's our warrior's command and as it renews in us our duty it becomes Shilla's spirit.

Devotion is to the country and it's lives and not one man, things that we must do or don't along with those that we must protect with our lives.

Each of you shall illustrate for us which deepest meaning it is that this song has in their own hearts and in as many words or a few, you shall be tasked to find out which of the stanzas speaks about what." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." The Hwarang replied in unison.

"The song goes like this." She said.

I BRANDISH MY SWORD, SO SHARP IT IS THE BOSSOM FRIEND OF MINE

WITH GRIEF I MOURN, WITH COURAGE MY HEART IS BUT MY SERVANT

FOR THE SUN THAT SHINES THROUGHOUT THIS OUR COUNTRY

IT MAKES FOR US THIS SHILLA A HEAVENLY KINGDOM

IT IS BUT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STAR THAT GRACES THE DAY SKY AND GIVES ITS LIGHT TO OUR PEOPLE.

WANDERING I GO, THERE IS NO SIGHT FOR NE TO CALL ETERNAL IF YOU CAN NOT PROTECT IT

AND FOR A RULER THERE NEVER IS A DOMAIN IF YOU CAN NOT RULE IT

FOR JUST AS THE LION FIGHTS TI DEFEND ITS PRIDE,

SO DOES THE LAND FIGHT TO CONFINE THE RIVERS FROM EXCEEDING THEIR BANKS

A FLOOD BREAKS THE BARRIER A HUNTER BREAKS THE PRIDE, A USURPER BREAKS THE HALLOWED BONE.

LIKE FLOWERS BLOOM AND WITHER THROUGHOUT ALL FOUR SEASONS

LIKE RIVERS KEEP FLOWING FOREVER WITHOUT AN END

THERE IS NOTHING MORE DEAR THAN THE TIME WE ALWAYS HAVE LEFT."

WHEN WE PART AND BOD EACH OTHER FAREWELL

WHILE YOU STILL CAN FIGHT IT, FIGHTING IS ALL YOU MUST DO

AND WHEN YOU NO LONGER CAN, THEN PROTECTING IT YOU MUST

WHEN YOU NO LONGER CAN PROTECT IT RETREAT IS ALL IT TAKES

WHEN RETREAT IS NOT AN OPTION, SURRENDER IS YOUR NEXT BEST DECISION

SHOULD SURRENDER PROVE IMPOSSIBLE, ON THAT DAY DEMISE SHALL BE YOUR BEST COMPEER.

After Princess Deokman had passed the order the Hwarang were dismissed and she was on her way to her Palace when she was eventually halted by Gopheung who came running towards her.

"Your Highness." He said as he bowed his head and judging from his reaction, it wasn't so long enough for them to notice that something wrong had happened.

"What is it Gopheung Rang?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Her Royal Highness the Queen." Gopheung replied.

"What's wrong with the Queen?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Her Highness passed out early in the morning when she was on her way to the Hwarang games, they called the Royal Doctor and after examining her he said that she is with child." Gopheung replied.

Yushin instantly looked worried as he turned to Princess Deokman who still stood and maintained her calm her face only looking more and more staunch.

Before she'd even gathered the strength to move away, Kim Chunchu walked up to her along with Geumyang.

"Your Highness." They said as they bowed their heads and Princess Deokman closed her eyes as she spread her hands and raised them to the sky and took a deep breath.

Everyone that was present bowed their heads.

"Has the will of heaven forsaken me?" She asked, "No." She rebuked, "Not yet." She added.

"The Child of my father is another for my own, should any harm come upon that child then my heart shall be broken I'll grieve so bitterly as though it were my own.

We should be thankful when heaven gives us it's blessing, only when the time is right can that blessing be taken away." Princess Deokman said.

Gopheung, Chunchu and Geumyang who were blocking her path stepped aside and they paved the way.

Princess Deokman walked past them slowly and she mounted the stairs to her quarters and shut the doors.

Seungman was walking back to her Chambers as she thought about the Challenge that Princess Deokman had given them.

"It's quite that simple." She heard one Nangdo say.

"It's not as easy as you think it is." Another replied.

"Why?" she heard someone ask.

"It's not about which answer is right but which one is more impressive." One said.

"We are all warriors not scholars, what good does it do for us to interpret the song of the Hwarang when we all take it differently?" She heard one ask.

"Because it's our devotion, our understanding to our calling, others fight to protect Shilla without knowing what she really is, others fight to protect their families and the people that they love, other's fight to protect their wealth and the abundance of nature we possess whereas some fight to unify all three Kingdoms of Samhan." She heard a familiar voice reply and she halted in her footsteps and turned around slightly only to realise that the person who had spoken was Rowun Rang.

She walked away and he noticed how she'd reacted and smiled to himself.

Genuinely he touched his left chest and he could feel that there was something unique about him at that moment.

"Rowun?" One of his friends called.

"Yes?" He replied.

"What are you smiling at?" He asked.

"Nothing." Rowun Rang replied calmly as they continued walking towards their team residences.

Princess Deokman was seated inside her room and there she was holding the very painting that she always looked at.

"Seju." She said as she stared at Mishil's dark eyes, they were scary enough to haunt her and her face alone looked just as deadly as she was.

"I was once envious of you and the power that you possesed that I took more power for myself and I became twice as strong as you would have been." She added as she ran her fingers down the piece of paper.

She smiled as she recalled the words that Gopheung Rang had told her.

"Her Highness passed out early in the morning when she was on her way to the Hwarang games, they called the Royal Doctor and after examining her he said that she is with child." She recalled and then she smiled.

"I have staked just as much, I had the Hallowed bone to lean on at first and now more than ever I see why you never discouraged your followers just like I never discouraged mine.

You dreamed of a future on the throne as Shilla's Queen eventually it became your obsession as mine has become something much more than your own envisage.

We are all women and like me the people feared you, I looked up to you in every way and it seems that even in the depths of hell you might be laughing at me but it is fine like you I am not weak." Princess Deokman said.

"I told myself ever since I was young that I'd keep your portrait as a memento and even when your eyes haunt the others to me I can only see bravery, and when your grin is just as fatal as that of the grim reaper to me it was perhaps the most hearty smile that you ever possesed because it was the real you." Princess Deokman said as she stood up and she displayed the portrait on a wall.

"Seju." She called. "It was to remind me that if I never did my part much better than you did then the annals of History would consign me the same fate that they consigned to you.

It was to remind me that only I could be in charge of establishing my own luminous legacy where in Shilla I would be loved and across the world I would be worshipped.

It was to remind me that I wasn't supposed to relax, no, I neither couldn't try to slumber because if I dared then like you I would be a colossal talent that became a joke and Shilla's jewel that became a failure.

I never had to follow in your footsteps but only to walk my own path." Princess Deokman said as she stepped farther and farther away from the portrait.

"Look at me Seju, watch me from wherever you are." She said.

"I won't return to keeping you in my drawer, no, I wish to grant you a daily sight of myself and a front seat to give you the best view of what I intend to do.

I shall crush all those men, I shall take power for myself and should I become a rebel I shall certainly truimph on my part even if I had to shed so much blood to secure the good future that I dream for this Shilla.

I won't back down like you did only this time I shall become much stronger than you ever did because you shall see for yourself whether in hell below or heaven above as I become the efficient and dignified ruler of this our Heavenly kingdom of Shilla." Princess Deokman vowed.

Ichan Seulbu was seated inside his quarters when Byeong Ho walked in hurriedly.

"Your Excellency." He said as he bowed his head.

"What is it?" Ichan Seulbu who was still looking through a couple of documents asked.

"Bad news." Byeong Ho replied.

"Go ahead and tell me." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Her Royal Highness the Queen is with child." Byeong Ho replied and at once Ichan Seulbu stood up and he recalled the last words that Galmunwang Gukban had told him.

"I was too blind to trust that such a young woman would like the Princess become someone so ambitious." Ichan Seulbu said.

"What are we going to do Your Excellency?" Byeong Ho asked.

"I should have been careful with her as Galmunwang Gukban warned me, and now that everything has come to this it is certain that disaster has befallen Shilla." Ichan Seulbu said as his chest suddenly pained and he eventually fell into his seat.

"Your Excellency." Byeong Ho said as he tried to hold up his master who looked up at the ceiling.

"Rally all the people that I support, from poor officials to those few aristocrats that Baekban can never win over and whose passion and devotion for this Shilla is unwavered." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Your Excellency." Byeong Ho said.

"I might not be strong enough to entirely live for long but if there is someone that I trust can hold off Galmunwang Baekban for the time being then it is Ulje who'll know what to do." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Yes Your Excellency." Byeong Ho replied.

"Do it now." Ichan Seulbu shouted.

"Yes." Byeong Ho replied as he bowed his head and then he walked out of the room quickly while an enraged Sangdaedeung was left seated alone inside.

"You won't win." He said, "I'll drag you down Galmunwang Baekban even if it is the last thing that I'll ever do." He added as he clenched his fists.

Galmunwang Baekban stood in His gardens and there as he inhaled the wonderful scents of the flowers be gazed at the bright blue sky and he admired how clear and calm it looked like.

Haek Ga walked to him so calmly.

"Your Excellency." He said.

"I noticed another peaceful sky today." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"It is your good fortune Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied.

"Tell me, if you say it is good then it shall suit my delight." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Her Royal Highness the Queen is with child." Haek Ga replied.

"Wonderful." Galmunwang Baekban said as he smiled.

"It is time that we acted." Haek Ga said.

"Don't be too certain." Galmunwang Baekban said, "As wonderful as the news is to us it is awful to someone else." He added.

"What should I do Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.

"Tell Bora to be cautious and guard even if with her own life because from today onwards, it is that baby she must protect until it is born." Galmunwang Baekban replied as he smiled ghastly.

"Shilla will all be mine." He whispered to himself, "Today the path of a ruler has been opened up to me." He added.