AND THEN THEY WERE THREE
"Your devotion towards her Highness, it amazes me." Seungman said.
"I couldn't be the very person that could spend the rest of her life because I knew that from the day that she chose Shilla she'd never share her devotion towards it with another man.
You tell me Seungman if you were her would you?" Yushin Rang asked.
"Like the Princess even if I were in her position I would do the same thing, selfishness isn't for me but if I had to take it on then perhaps I would be selfish for Shilla." Seungman replied.
"That's the Princess Deokman that I love, that is the Princess Deokman that I cherish, where I couldn't be Shilla for her, I decided that if I could for the rest of my whole life then I had to even lay my life down so that she would realize her dream." Yushin Rang said.
"For a man you are too committed, for a woman on the other hand Her Highness is so lonely." Seungman said.
"She can not trust and at the same time she can not mistrust, be it to slumber her hours of sleeping are too short and also her eyes wear out slowly at the sight of records, memorials and papers." Yushin Rang said as he stood up on the very roof.
"Even at night Seoraebeol lies here so beautiful but her heart is never at ease even when the hour of peace is at its finest, if I were a god and if it was in my will, I would have made her a man and I would have made myself her Queen." Yushin Rang added.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Seungman asked.
"Being a woman you would understand Her Highness and anyone else even Alcheon Rang could be the very person that she should mistrust but certainly not you." Yushin Rang said.
"I see your concerns." Seungman said, "You don't have to worry about me for that." She added.
"I can only be the Princess' rock but in governing Shilla you can be her mirror, if there is a day that I have to repay you even if I was on my way to follow her to the grave then I'd halt and pay you back tenfold before it consumes me." Yushin Rang said.
"You should be telling this to Princess Deokman." Seungman said.
"I understand Her Highness and knowing that there is a place in her heart for me I am most convinced above everything else that I am living alright.
On the other hand however much she needs not a husband it doesn't mean that she can not foster her sister and trusting in you much more than she'd ever try at least if not for my sake or hers then let it be for Shilla that you devote your all to give her the key to revolution in our civilization." Yushin Rang said.
"You needn't have, I had met people with temporary devotion and greed, men that are jealous and only wished to live to their own good will and not that of the destitute people.
They branded themselves leaders and usurped power, they pupeteered the Crown and defiled the power of the throne behind it, they abused all grace and the Mandate of Heaven that fostered this Our Heavenly kingdom.
Do you think that as a commoner I would forgive these people? Even heaven itself shall never forgive them as well.
Mishil as far as I have learnt cherished this country and she was able, the very people that surrounded her However and aided her cause were selfish with I'll intentions that they defiled her image and in history she was defeated.
Princess Deokman on one hand I respect her because I may be a commoner but she feels like I feel and is not hasty but wise and just.
If I were in a word or two define her I could call her King not because she is someone I consider to be my friend or because she is from the Sacred Bone rank but because even when placed amongst men she is competent to steer the country.
If you are worried Yushin Rang that my devotion shall waver let today be the day that I correct you, should there come a day that I have turned against Shilla then devote your all to vanquish me." Seungman said as she looked at him.
He stared back at her and he smiled as well.
"Perhaps in the beginning we started at the wrong foot but now I just came to realise for myself that you are loveable and you are no different from Her Highness we could similarly walk the same path along a line of friendship." Yushin Rang said.
"In this age, when we are all defiled, like Her Highness, I can also show the world if there is a reason to not do things because it ends with them saying that 'I AM A WOMAN.' then there are others just like me and her that are capable of doing the job just as good as men and even better and amongst them when compared to us there are those that can do nothing and a whole lot worse than we both." Seungman said.
"I hope that somewhere in the pages of History when the future Generations look at me, it's not about how much I cared to be beautiful or how intelligent I was.
I only hope that in this Shilla I would be a god of war and perhaps even more than that and women as ambitious as Her Highness and me might also be realized." She added.
"I'll take your word." Yushin Rang said.
"Lean on it." Seungman added.
"This world is fatal." Yushin Rang said.
"Then for the people that you love devote your all to protecting them against it." Seungman said.
She jumped off the roof and landed on the ground, there she left Yushin Rang staring at the sky and gazing up at the stars.
It was very early in the morning and Princess Deokman walked up to the doors of her father's Chambers.
"Your Highness." The King's Eunuch said as he bowed his head.
"Announce me, I am here to see His Majesty." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." the Eunuch replied as he walked into the room and then came before the King's table.
"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked him.
"Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess is here and she is requesting to have a word with you." He replied.
"Let her in." King Jinpyeong and.
"Yes Your Majesty." His Eunuch replied as he withdrew and Princess Deokman entered.
"Father?" She said as she bowed her head.
"Princess." King Jinpyeong said as he noticed the sudden positive change in his daughter's attitude.
"Sit down." He said and Princess Deokman complied.
"You must be feeling well." King Jinpyeong said.
"It's been a couple of days and I recalled that we weren't on the best terms but I was uneasy with myself for what I did I came to apologise." Princess Deokman said.
"I should be so sorry that I was reluctant to believing in you in the first place." King Jinpyeong said.
"But my mind remains unchanged father, I am still as determined to become this our Heavenly kingdom's first female King." Princess Deokman said.
"I won't argue with you about anything but I certainly hope that at least you can bear with me." King Jinpyeong said.
"I have to." Princess Deokman said.
"What was it that brought you here to see me so early in the morning?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"I have known you for long enough father, isn't it that perhaps I felt like you needed me after an awful encounter the last time?" Princess Deokman replied.
"You do know me perhaps it's the reason why amongst all my daughter's you were my favourite and you took after your great Grandfather." King Jinpyeong said.
"Speaking of him other than his blood in most families they tend to keep heirlooms, other than the Crown which one is there for us to call ours?" Princess Deokman asked.
"You are right." King Jinpyeong said but why would a King need and heirloom when everything that he owns is passed down to his children?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"I happened to overhear a story that was circulating about the Palace when I was still very young about the great family sword that once belonged to King Jinheung but I wonder why I have never seen it." Princess Deokman said.
"Those were some very old days." King Jinpyeong replied, "I recall it though as it feels like it was just yesterday there was that sword that was made by Shilla's greatest blacksmith Kyunghwa that your Great Grandfather made for your Grandfather the Crown Prince Dongryun when he was just eighteen years old and gifted it to him.
I recall that they say King Jinheung said, 'EVERY MAN BEFITTING OF THE CROWN IS WORTHY TO BE A KING BUT THE VERY BEST SWORD DESERVES THE VERY BEST WARRIOR." He added.
"How come I have never seen you wield that sword?" Princess Deokman asked.
"After father passed away then your Great Grandfather was heartbroken and grieved him so bitterly but the sword was never passed down to me because he turned to our youngest brother by then and he told him that 'WHILE OTHERS COULD TREAT THEMSELVES TO BE LIKE KINGS AMONGST THEM ONLY YOU STAND OUT AS A WARRIOR." King Jinpyeong said.
"It must have been one beautiful one." Princess Deokman said.
"Perhaps it was the most beautiful but I wonder why in a very long time ever since your Uncle deserted the battlefield he has. never wielded it." King Jinpyeong said.
"Uncle?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes." King Jinpyeong replied and the Princess was a bit surprised.
"Which Uncle are you saying father because as far as I know both Uncle Baekban and Uncle Gukban were deserters of battle?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Galmunwang Gukban." King Jinpyeong replied and Princess Deokman smiled as she nodded her head.
"I see." She said calmly.
"Gone are the days when we were energetic in our youth and we were powerful to do everything that we wanted, we ran around the Palaces and played with wooden swords, and now where we are standing it is no different except that now we are all scattered and we have grown very old." King Jinpyeong said.
"It is worthwhile to keep all those memories and if we live in them consequently we are reminded that at least we lived a pleasant life." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes." King Jinpyeong said.
"By the way father, since I came there must be something that you wished to talk to me about." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes." King Jinpyeong said as he slightly bent down and placed a box on the table which he pushed over to the Princess.
"What's this father?" Princess Deokman asked.
"After you talked to me last time there were a series of things that came into my mind that eventually I decided that before the worst comes to it's worst you are my most crucial step that I must take which will define nearly a thousand years of Shilla's rich History." King Jinpyeong replied.
"Father?" Princess Deokman said.
"Call me Your Majesty and become more and more distant with me." King Jinpyeong said.
"What are you trying to say?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Every human being has to go through retribution at some point in their lives and pushing myself into this one for my last years it's because I only wish to protect you Your Highness from all the enemies that my blood has made for you." King Jinpyeong said.
"Alright Your Majesty." Princess Deokman said as she picked up the box.
"Guard this box with the lives of your people and ensure that no matter what happens, there is no one to set their eyes on it including both Yushin Rang and Alcheon Rang including you yourself until my demise has swept across Shilla and the wind in the Palace is stilled." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Princess Deokman said.
"I am forced to hate you but in the end when all is past from my resentment I wish that you would see the bigger picture of that because what happens afterwards shall be not just the end my will but the advent of Your true calling." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Princess Deokman replied as she took the box in her possession and standing up she bowed her head and walked out.
Reaching outside she looked at the box that was in her hands and there she turned around and looked back at the doors of her father's Chambers.
"Father?" She thought inwardly, "It's aching to part with you like this but I won't lose my faith in you either way or another." She added.
She stared back at the box.
"They have tainted your name and because I am a woman they have used that as an excuse to threaten your kingdom even I won't rest against them.
I shall take this vast Empire if ours and I shall slowly transition it and make it my own, I shall posses Shilla and in name I shall reign over it so that History shall attribute my legacy to your cause and devotion." Princess Deokman whispered to herself as she walked away.
Queen Sungman was seated in Her Chambers when Bora suddenly walked in.
"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.
"What is it Bora?" Queen Sungman asked.
"His Majesty is on his way to see you." Bora replied.
"What are you waiting for?" Queen Sungman said, "When he comes at once let him in and let him know that I need him by my side." She added.
"Yes Your Highness." Bora replied.
"If it takes a lot of devotion for one to love the country it must take a lot of beauty and the expectation of a child to win the heart of a man." Queen Sungman replied.
King Jinpyeong walked into the room and he hurriedly moved over to the expecting Queen's side.
"Your Highness." He said as he sat down at her bed.
"Your Majesty." Queen Sungman replied.
"There is no need." King Jinpyeong said.
"If you say so Your Majesty." Queen Sungman replied.
"Forgive me, you were pregnant and it has been a while since I last met you." King Jinpyeong said.
"I understand that Your Majesty is not doing well and on top of that you must be very busy with state affairs as it is.
Given the fact that at least you made time today and you decided to come here and visit me I am more than grateful Your Majesty." Queen Sungman said.
"I have been distant for long but I noticed that in this entirely cold palace that is vast and beautiful I am nothing but lonely." King Jinpyeong said.
"You still have me Your Majesty and there is our child that is on the way." Queen Sungman said.
"I ought to spend more time with you because where my daughters and my sons in law can not understand me, without my brothers and also without my Courtiers there is not much that I can do as well." King Jinpyeong said.
"I promised myself Your Highness that even in the grave we would be together because you became the man that I cherish and the one that I love for." Queen Sungman replied.
"I am now at ease." King Jinpyeong said, "I only wish that the Child that you are carrying is a son." He added.
Queen Sungman noticed the Expression on the King's face that she decided to take advantage of it.
"Is Your Majesty not confident in Princess Deokman?" Queen Sungman asked.
"I am worried about her." King Jinpyeong replied.
"Why Your Majesty?" Queen Sungman asked.
"I am not content with her choice of a Royal son in law and I do not wish to impose on her a very heavy weight that shall become a burden to great for herself to carry.
Recently many Courtiers have written and submitted to me memorials concerned with the advent of another Mishil and it seems to be that it is Her Highness that they are pointing fingers at and as a father when such a thing happens to my daughter I am hurt." King Jinpyeong said.
"You must be because everyone else in your place would feel the same." Queen Sungman said.
"My Greatest hopes for this country still lie within you Your Highness and within this child that Heaven itself has given us.
I am confident that in him perhaps Shilla shall realise a brand new age that has never been seen before." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Highness." Queen Sungman said as the King smiled at him and then pulled him into a hug.
"Hold on to me." King Jinpyeong said, "You are the last person left." He added.
"Your Daughters, sons in law and your Grandchildren could forfeit you Your Highness but even when all of them do I will remain here to love you." Queen Sungman whispered as she smiled ghastly at herself.
A small carriage arrived at the MOONLIGHT INN and out of it, two suspicious people stepped out and they entered the building.
At that time, most of the Courtiers had gathered in an upper room and each and everyone of them was dressed in ordinary cheap cotton clothes like those of the peasants.
The two men walked into the room and at that moment one stepping in front of all the Courtiers they looked up to him as his face had been veiled.
"Who are you?" Some of the Courtiers asked.
The man removed the veil that was hanging on his face and everyone was just surprised by the face that appeared.
"Your Excellency." They said as they bowed their heads to Galmunwang Gukban.
"Rise." Gukban said and all the Courtiers stood upright as they looked up at him.
"I called you here today to discuss with you something that is very important." Gukban said.
"Your Excellency, what is it that is very important that you wish to talk to all of us here about?" One of the Courtiers asked.
"This is concerning the stability of the state and the whole of our Heavenly Kingdom at large." Gukban said, "I called you all here so that we can talk about fostering Shilla's successor." He added.
"Your Excellency, our allegiance is with you." Most of the Courtiers said in unison.
"If you choose to follow me today, you shall see for yourself the new age with which Shilla shall flourish and all there is that you desire for glory and power and wealth shall be retained.
Your sons and daughters shall be of a very noble heritage and forever Shilla in it's history shall remember that you played a very big part in the Unification of all three Kingdoms of the Samhan." Gukban said.
"We shall do as you wish your Excellency." One of the Courtiers said.
"All these seventeen years you have worked for me and I have given you prominence and fame that no lower Courtiers would think of, upon this day I promise you that to realise our profit and our more grandiose achievements I have seen no greater way than if we put our hopes in none other than the Princess Deokman because only she with our support can oust the opposing faction from court." Galmunwang Gukban said.
The Courtiers started to murmur amongst themselves.
"Your Excellency, how sure are we that when we side with the Princess we shall be able to counter them?" One of the Courtiers.
"It's not like we have a choice because if we don't then there is a possibility that the others will abd should they accomplish that then it is a dead end for us.
If we can give the Princess our allegiance then in her eyes the others shall be rebels and they wouldn't be in the position to contend with us.
When the others are defeated and we that are left fill the vacuum then we can have this our Heavenly kingdom of Shilla and with all our wealth, we would have entirely guarded it." Gukban replied.
The Courtiers murmured amongst themselves.
"Tell me all of you that are gathered here, are you all willing to pledge your allegiance to me?" Gukban asked.
"Yes Your Excellency." The Courtiers replied in unison.
"Then go out and gather your people along with all your merchandise, gather all your households and your servants and you must secure as much wealth as you can.
There you patiently lie in wait and you'll see for yourself, the very day that I shall give you command we shall take charge." Gukban said.
"Yes Your Excellency." The Courtiers replied in unison as they bowed their heads to him while he smiled at them.
"Did Galmunwang Gukban do as we had asked?" Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang replied.
"Very good then." Princess Deokman said as she stood up from where she was seated and she smiled.
"What are you going to do now Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.
"I don't trust any of those men." Princess Deokman said.
"What should we do about them Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.
"Find people to watch all those that he met up with and see to it that you monitor them closely because not everyone that pledges their allegiance certainly means it and I am also confident that my uncle isn't stupid he could have sent spies there. " Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang replied as he bowed his head.
"We still have another round of the Hwarang Games that by now I am certain they must be rounded up in the Arena." Princess Deokman said.
"Your Highness, you announced that the next games would be in fourteen days and now it has only been seven." Yushin Rang said.
"You are my people that are called by my name, others may be faulted with unpreparedness but mine is to teach you to be prepared anytime that duty calls.
Only those that are diligent enough shall surpass the expectations of the world in this tournament." Princess Deokman replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang replied as Princess Deokman walked towards the door.
Seungman was in her Chambers when Haesul Rang suddenly barged in.
"Seungman?" He called.
"What is it?" Seungman replied as she stood up from where she was seated.
"Her Royal Highness the Princess has summoned us to the Arena right now, this is for the sixth stage of the Hwarang games." Haesul replied.
"Really?" Seungman asked.
"Yes." Haesul replied.
"Let's go." Seungman said as the two of them rushed outside towards the direction of the arena.
The other Nangdos and Hwarang teams had gathered in the arena when Gopheung Rang suddenly announced Princess Deokman's presence.
Everyone went into silence and the other Nangdos fell into their formations and their teams while The last three Contenders that had emerged victorious from the fifth level emerged.
Princess Deokman stood in front of the stage while everyone saluted her and bowing their heads she looked at them.
"I understand that you are all taken by surprise and not all of you were ready for this at the moment, as I speak the semi final round of the Hwarang games was supposed to take place after seven more days but I intentionally changed it to this one." Princess Deokman said.
"As brave warriors of Shilla just like we must be prepared in case times of trouble erupt in the land, we must react and adjust immediately depending on the situation and this year I wished to nurture amongst you a heart of flexibility.
If you can bend well to withstand the realities of the battlefield then you would very well understand that it is the best mode of survival compared to rigidity.
I hope our candidates that are all gathered here today are ready?" She added.
"Yes Your Highness." The Nangdos replied in unison as they all bowed their heads.
"For our challenge this time I am going to ask you all to do one thing." Princess Deokman said as she walked down from the stage and started inspecting the Three contenders.
"Considering that you have come very far we tested your skills, your abilities, your reasoning, your agility, intellect and devotion the purpose of this next test is one." Princess Deokman said.
"We are going to test your martial arts skills." She added.
Everyone was puzzled and a large number of them started to murmur amongst themselves.
Seungman looked at Haesul who looked back at her while Chilsuk Rang and Seokpum also gazed with utmost interest as they were themselves puzzled as well.
Each one of you is going to compete with one of the Pungwoljis and only those that shall prevail shall move to the next level, should two lose out in the games then automatically you shall br required to face one another and only in doing so shall you all be able to showcase what it is that makes you special.
The winner shall by default contend with the other." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." The three contenders said in unison.
"First Group shall be Haesul Rang and Gopheung Rang." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Haesul replied as he bowed his head while Seungman and Junghwan moved backwards where they joined the audience.
Haesul walked onto the ring at the centre while Gopheung also walked in as well.
He was practically the same size as Junghwan Rang and his physique wasn't that different from his.
He had a smirk on his face along with a fierce looking glance which made him more and more serious than Swing herself had ever seen before.
The two were ready and they faced each other.
Ichan Chilsuk was there to give the final signal.
Princess Deokman waving the Union banner a gong was sounded and the two fighters started revolving around the centre in circles for a while.
Haesul gathered the courage and he leaped towards Gopheung Rang who moved to the side as his attackers fist halted in the place that he had first been.
Gopheung Rang bowed his head slightly as he threw a punch towards Haesul's abdomen which he saw coming that he pushed himself outwards and Gopheung missed.
Still determined to strike him he moved the blow upwards and just as Haesul was about to gain some momentum and move out of the way, a fatal blow was what eventually stopped him and sent him flying a couple of feet backwards.
He landed on his feet without even falling down as he regathered his equilibrium while Gopheung Rang sprang at him with another blow.
Haesul moved out of the way and his attacker missed while he turned around and faced him but quickly approaching Haesul ceased Gopheung Rang's left hand and then he positioned himself right behind him.
Gopheung threw his head backwards and knocked Haesul's face breaking his nose a little while he ceased his left hand and intending to break it he pulled it over his shoulder.
Haesul summersaulted and landing in front of Gopheung Rang his face was struck with another mighty one of his blows which was enough for him to get a little bit dizzy.
Haesul started to stagger and Seungman felt a little bit too concerned about him.