UNEASY IS THE HEAD THAT BEARS THE CROWN

There Courtyard beamed with so much celebration and dancers all over the place entertained the guests as Kim Yongchun stepped forward on a nearby platform with a scroll in his hand.

The Dancers concluded and the attention shifted to him.

"BY THE WILL OF HEAVEN, THE ROYAL DYNASTY SHALL RESUME, WITH ALL CREATION ON ITS KNEES WE GIVE THANKS AND TODAY A NEW LIGHT SHALL SHINE THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM, WE LOOK TO A FUTURE WHOSE AUGUST SHALL FOREVER REMAIN UNCHALLENGED AND BEFORE US ALL TODAY, OUR HEAVENLY KINGDOM OF SHILLA BE GRACED WITH THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN SEONDEOK NOW AND FOREVER." Kim Yongchun read.

Immediately the gates of the Courtyard were opened and Queen Seondeok appeared in her scarlet robes with black and gold, they were adorned with intricate Phoenix designs and she had a very long train that stretched up to ten feet long.

She marched down the red carpet as she reached the foot of the stairs where she looked at the throne soaring above.

Slowly she mounted them one by one and the moment that she arrived she moved around it and eventually halted in front of it and raised her hands.

"Long Live Your Majesty." Everyone said in unison as they went down onto their knees and they bowed their heads.

Staring at the Kingdom honouring her she was content that was the very beginning of a golden age for her Shilla to then fluorish she smiled.

Yushin Rang looked up at her and he smiled.

"At last before my eyes I have come to see, you have achieved for yourself the most vexatious and unfeasible dream." He said inwardly.

"At last Your Majesty, before us there is revolution, against all men you have prevailed." Seungman thought inwardly as she stared at Princess Deokman from the corner of her eyes.

"Like every game with a winner and a loser, you have exhibited your great prowess." Kim Chunchu thought.

"There is my goal, there is my dream, as everything has come into your hands one day it shall fall into my own." Bidam thought to himself as well as he smiled ghastly.

"This is Shilla, Mishil, Galmunwang Baekban, my enemies alive and fallen, those against me Paekche and Gorguryeo, I have gained possession of this country, today I am Victorious." Queen Seondeok said to herself.

"All Rise." Kim Yongchun announced and as they stood up and looked at Queen Seondeok, with her arms at ease she slowly sat down upon the golden throne feeling all the power and might surging through her she had entirely been transformed and felt anew.

The Courtiers gathered in the throne room and there Queen Seondeok walked up to the throne and she sat down upon it.

"Your Majesty." All the Courtiers saud as they bowed their heads to her.

"Today by the grace of Heaven I have become our Heavenly Kingdom's ruler and among my very first reforms I shall have the offices strategically identified and all the following ministers shall assume responsibilities based on their allocation." Queen Seondeok said as she opened a scroll.

"For the position of Sangdaedeung Honourable Eulje shall assume this position, General Kim Yushin shall remain the Commander in Chief of the Royal troops, Galmunwang Gukban shall assume the position of Minister of Finance and the state, Bidam Rang shall be Wonsanghwa and Royal Advisor and head of the Royal Investigation Bureau.

Alcheon Rang shall be the minister of Defense and Gopheung Rang shall be the head of the Royal guards." Queen Seondeok announced.

"The rest shall maintain your position and I wish to embark on the my reign by first and foremost informing everyone that let it be known to all, the purpose of my court is to establish a very stable society and a harmonious one in which the people themselves shall enjoy freedom and a sense of belonging." Queen Seondeok added.

"Thank you Your Majesty." All the Courtiers said.

"The Court is dismissed." Queen Seondeok said and ending at that she returned to her Chambers with Yushin Rang, Alcheon Rang, Gopheung Rang and Seungman.

"Congratulations Your Majesty." Seungman said as she bowed her head.

"Thank you." Queen Seondeok said.

"I seem to notice today that from this very moment our work is going to be hectic." Seungman said.

"Nothing good comes without hard work." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, as expected the news of the Female Sovereign has sent shockwaves throughout the land." Kim Yushin said.

"How are our spies?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"We have received news that the King of Gorguryeo has called for an immediate Assembly at Pyongyang and The King of Paekche has done the same." Kim Yushin replied.

"At this point if what I am thinking is right then they are considering forming an elite force that can Capture the country." Alcheon Rang said.

"A tumultuous age has dawned upon us and we can rest assured that from this point onwards the best that we can do is to prepare for war." Queen Seondeok said.

"We shall have to reinforce the troops and more people should he recruited among the Hwarang." Yushin Rang said.

"I agree with him Your Majesty." Seungman Seconded the thought.

"We shall talk with Wonsanghwa Bidam." Queen Sungman said.

"Are you sure that you want to trust him with the recruits?" Yushin Rang asked.

"He is going to be quite busy with the Royal Investigations Bureau and we have a Wonhwa in our midst to help cultivate them as well, as far as I recall Lady Seungman here boasts some remarkable skills." Alcheon Rang said.

"I notice that." Queen Seondeok said, "I too believe that Your Highness' prowess is much more distinguished but regardless right now everyone must multitask." She added.

"Yes Your Majesty." They all replied in Unison.

"Did you carry out a survey on the farmers?" Queen Seondeok asked as she turned to Seungman.

"Yes Your Majesty." Seungman replied.

"How is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"The land throughout the Kingdom is fertile and most of this is owned by the aristocratic families, however ever since the confiscation of some of the properties of Galmunwang Baekban's followers it lies idle and I believe it can be put to good use.

When I also recall Your Highness, the people don't know when to plant and when to harvest, they being ignorant of the seasons makes it hard to accumulate the food we need and sustain the population especially the army." Seungman replied.

"I had taken that into consideration." Queen Seondeok said as she looked at Boyeong who brought a piece of paper and she placed it on the table in front of them.

"What's this Your Majesty?" Yushin asked.

Princess Deokman smiled as the paper was opened and there was a drawing on it.

"I want to give you all Cheomseongdae." Queen Seondeok said.

"Cheomseongdae?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"An Astronomical observatory." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Why so Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.

"With the presence of an Astronomical observatory, all the farmers shall be in the position to know the season to plant and the season to harvest, with such knowledge when the time is right we could yield just as much and use iron to make garden tools and implements and during the season of harvesting it can be put to the use of making weaponry and stocking most of it." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Yes Your Majesty." Yushin Rang replied in contentment.

"Seungman here shall with her further supervised the construction of new state Granaries and the renovation of older ones throughout the Kingdom." Queen Seondeok Said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Seungman replied.

"Alcheon Rang shall supervise the activities of all Fortresses and if we must fortify any I want the best and those that are nearest to Seoraebeol bring made much stronger than the others because Shilla is not Shilla without its capital." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Alcheon Rang replied.

"Gopheung Rang can manage the Palace guards, the reason why Galmunwang Baekban's coup was almost successful was because information was bsing leaked out of the Palace and I don't want a situation like that happening once again.

If we must whatever is discussed within these walls shall remain in them." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Gopheung Rang replied.

"Yushin Rang, master a firm grip on the military and especially most of the Generals that would have revolted and those that were neutral at the time of the rebellion, additionally I want you to keep an eye on Kim Chunchu." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Yushin Rang replied.

"Remember as I have told you once before, all your duties are vital and should even one of you jeopardize them then all our efforts shall be in vain." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." They all replied as they bowed their heads.

"Gaining possesion of this country is one thing, to rule it is another that we must now ensure." Queen Seondeok remarked.

They all walked out of Queen Seondeok's Chambers and Alcheon accompanied Seungman while she met up with Haesul and Damhyeong.

"Your Highness." He said as they walked slowly, "What do you think is on Her Majesty's mind?" He asked.

"What makes you think that I can read her thoughts?" Seungman asked.

"I'm not too foolish to notice how close the both of you are." Alcheon Rang said.

"Then you must know she is only cautious." Seungman said.

"Perhaps." Alcheon Rang replied, "But I am concerned." he added.

"About what more?" Seungman asked.

"Some of the Officials are rather manipulable and on top of that it does seem to me that she herself knows that as well." Alcheon Rang said.

"Do you know the one mistake that King Jinji made?" Seungman asked.

"No Your Highness?" Alcheon Rang replied.

"King Jinji wasn't a Warlord who had the hearts of the people and he was neither a monarch who had the hearts of his Courtiers, in the end those men whether with Queen Sado or with Mishil ended his regime because without any form of intimacy between both his Court and his people, it became rather impossible for him to govern the Country and consolidate it as his any longer." Seungman replied.

"I don't understand." Alcheon Rang said.

"Most of the Courtiers that served under him were men with past loyalties that they were unwilling to forsake and others were men who were privileged to at least have a taste of the things the others could give them that he didn't." Seungman replied, "If you must catch a fish with ease you must put a bait on a hook that will lure it out of it's hiding." She added.

"So this is Her Majesty's scheme?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"To trust someone and to mistrust someone are all likely conditions at the moment, for someone Her Majesty must give up something and in so doing she can determine the threats and those that are harmless." Seungman replied.

"In your opinion upon this she'll be able to know who is trustworthy and who isn't?" Alcheon Rang said.

"Yes but don't overthink it because even with this information what matters is not the cause but the result." Seungman replied as she walked away and left Alcheon rather confused.

"What matters is not the cause but the result?" He asked himself as he thought about it before he continued his own way.

Lady Seungman was still walking when Eun Hye rushed over to her.

"Your Highness." She said and at once she halted.

"What is it?" Seungman asked.

"It is a message from Her Majesty." Eun Hye replied as she handed over the piece of paper to her.

Seungman took it into her hands and she opened it to read what was inside and as her eyes perused through the letters contents she closed it once she was done.

"Tell her that I have received it." Seungman ordered.

"Yes Your Highness." Eun Hye replied as Damhyeong and Haesul only walked up to their master.

"Your Highness, is there anything wrong?" They asked.

"No." Seungman replied, "Let's go to the Royal library." She added.

"Yes Your Highness." They replied while Seungman led the way.

Bidam walked into his new office and there he stared at it up and downed while he examined the place.

"So much dust has piled up in ages, don't you think?" Bidam asked Yeomjong.

"The Late King was bedridden most of the time it had been a while since he last had a Royal Advisor." Yeomjong replied.

"And the Royal Investigations Bureau?" Bidam asked.

"Close to a year since the previous apprehension of the rebels, when Galmunwang Baekban's coup failed to overthrow Her Majesty while she was still a Princess, it scared enough people they wouldn't dare to rise up in revolt once again." Yeomjong replied.

"It has been a while since someone was persecuted." Bidam remarked.

"Do you think that Her Majesty trusts you?" Yeomjong asked.

"She must." Bidam replied.

"How sure are you?" Yeomjong replied.

"There is no one more important right now like me especially when I can tell her the dustinction between who are her friends and who are her enemies?" Bidam replied.

"Why does she always meet the others in your absentia?" Yeomjong asked.

"She must have her own reasons." Bidam replied.

"Perhaps she is sidelining you because she doesn't trust you?" Yeomjong said.

"Only I can understand how lonely she is and when the time is right we shall come to a common understanding." Bidam said.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Bidam said and at that moment the doors were opened and a Royal guard walked in.

"What is it?" Bidam asked the man.

"Your Excellency, a letter from Her Majesty." The guard replied as he handed over the letter to him.

Bidam took it into his hands and he opened the envelope.

"You can wait outside." Bidam said.

"Yes Your Excellency." The guard replied as he withdrew from their presence leaving there the both of them.

Bidam unfolded the letter and he looked through it with curiosity.

After a while, Yeomjong noticed that there was a smile that suddenly illuminated his face he drew nearer to him.

"What is it Your Excellency, any good news?" Yeomjong asked.

"Yes." Bidam replied as he stretched out his hand into the envelope and there he pulled out an iron token.

"What is it Your Excellency?" Yeomjong asked.

"I want you to get me some very elite scholars, those who are survivors of the purged families during the Chilsuk and Seokpum Rang's rebellion." Bidam replied.

"Why Your Highness?" Yeomjong asked.

"Are you fit to ask me why?" Bidam asked.

"Your Excellency, if yoy wish to reach greater things then I am very glad to assist you before you can trust anyone other than yourself wouldn't you at least begin by trusting me?" Yeomjong asked.

"Why should I do that?" Bidam asked.

"Think about it Your Excellency, I believe tjat within my possession there is something that you would hold very valuable?" Yeomjong replied.

"What is that?" Bidam Rang asked.

"At the time that Galmunwang Baekban was in power within the walls of his manor he kept a Grandmaster Boryun who perhaps you must have once heard of as Sal Su?" Yeomjong replied.

"The man of Gaya descent and a man who understood the language of the stars much better than anyone else?" Bidam asked.

"I can take you to him because I have him for if he was the one that proclaimed the end of the Seonggol caste and also the advent of the Female Ruler Jin can't he possess a series of much more remarkable talents to which we could use to our advantage?" Yeomjong replied.

"Why did you approach me because considering the fact that you knew that much then perhaps to serve me was an intention and no accident." Bidam remarked.

"Perhaps I too have ambitions of my own." Yeomjong replied, "Because when I think about it you are a Royal blood so why should some sort of caste prevent you from inheriting the throne and gaining possesion of the country?" Yeomjong asked.

"Don't you think that you have overestimated me?" Bidam asked.

"By the time you abandoned the service of Galmunwang Baekban you must have seen it for yourself that one way or another in a fight against Princess Deokman and Seungman he was bound to lose.

Also you should have known that alongside saving your neck you would have been in the position of securing for yourself some power and prominence as a guarantee other than listening to the words of that dead old man." Yeomjong said.

"I hate subordinates who are smarter than and besides I don't think that I like you to begin with and ambition is your only driving force?" Bidam said.

"You are right and you can also hate me but I have monitored you for a while." Yeomjong replied.

"Just so that we can be clear I don't play second fiddle to anyone." Bidam said.

"That's the real you." Yeomjong said.

"Alright, you are persistent and I'll let you in on some of my secrets in exchange for the custody of master Sal Su.

Since I can not trust you you can take this as a give and take Situation and until I can know who you really are in the background then I can perhaps decide if you are fit to walk with me." Bidam said.

"So what has Her Majesty got to say to you?" Yeomjong asked.

"Her Majesty has just ascended the Throne and she needs to discover talents of which I know that she might have someone verify their backgrounds for her in secret so I needed to give those rebel descendants an identity knowing that they would bear a very high degree of resentment towards Her Majesty." Bidam replied.

"To foster her allies so that they would be loyal to you and not to herself?" Yeomjong asked, "Is that why you wanted me to track down all those that survived of the purged lineages?" He asked.

"You are smart enough I see." Bidam said.

"You have excceeded my expectations." Yeomjong said.

"I told you that I hate to have subordinates who are smarter than me." Bidam remarked.

"Very well then." Yeomjong replied.

"Have I not satisfied your curiosity?" Bidam asked.

"Yes Your have Your Excellency." Yeomjong replied.

"Then please go and do what you have been told to do, I'll be here waiting for some good news so do me another the favour and along with them tell me everything there is to know about yourself." Bidam Rang said.

"I won't let you down." Yeomjong replied.

"Where is my prize?" Bidam asked.

"Should I bring him here in broad daylight?" Yeomjong Asked.

"No, you know where my residence is." Bidam replied.

"Don't worry, he has already served his good use to me." Yeomjong remarked as he walked out leaving Bidam alone.

"Rule this country?" Bidam said, "If he saw it that quick then perhaps I am not yet too good at hiding it." He said as he sighed and he shifted his gaze to all the other corners within the room before he looked at the paper in his hands and he opened it once again to read what was written inside.

"FIND ME HEARTS THAT ARE LOYAL, WITH THEM YOU CAN GET ME MORE PEOPLE." it said.

He looked at the iron token and he studied it keenly.

"Deokman?" Bidam asked himself, "Is this what you really want?" He added as he turned around and walked out as well.

The door of the Royal library was opened and Seungman walking inside she caught sight of Kim Chunchu who was already inside.

"Aunt?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Save the formalities Your Highness, I am much younger than you are." Seungman replied.

"Were you expecting someone else?" Kim Chunchu Asked.

"Honestly, no, it takes ten minutes to travel from the Queen's Chambers to the Royal library, I got here in five so I am not as surprised." Seungman replied.

"Really?" Kim Chunchu Asked.

"Should I lie to you?" Seungman said.

"Not at all, we could be open to one another." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Very well." Seungman replied as he walked over to the chair that was opposite where Chunchu was seated.

She sat down and looked at the chess board that was nestled between the both of them.

"Whatever it is that you wished to see me for it must be a very urgent matter." Seungman said.

"How could you have known that it was myself that wished to see you?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"In particular I won't lie to you that I was aware that the person that wanted to see me was my nephew but to be certain I know how Her Majesty writes so I know that whoever it was that wanted to see me was someone else but her." Seungman replied.

"Then why did you come?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"I wished to see for myself who it was that has the audacity to write in her Majesty's name." Seungman replied.

"So are you going to report me?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"We both know that I won't do that." Seungman replied as she smiled while she stared at the chess board.

She picked up a white piece and then she placed it on the board.

"Who told you to play?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"You aren't being direct with me concerning the questions that you yourself are dying to ask so I supposed that a good match between us is something that could help us both get to know each other very well and I wouldn't waste such a rate opportunity." Seungman replied.

Kim Chunchu took a black piece and he placed it on the board as well and it was Seungman's turn to play.

"You don't seem to be a woman of very many words these days as I heard you used to be." Kim Chunchu said.

"Perhaps I cultivated my mind over the past couple of months of loss, there is nothing much better than universal salvation." Seungman replied.

"What is Universal Salvation?" Kim Chunchu asked as he played his part.

"It depends on an individual." Seungman replied.

"I am more inquisitive when it comes to your own understanding." Kim Chunchu said.

"It is not so complicated perhaps it's just another vexatious and unfeasible dream that perhaps could become real one day." Seungman replied.

"Awfully, vexatious?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"The both of us I can be certain we represent antagonistic parties one way or another, but if it must be allegiance that we should pledge the bigger question is what are the best terms?" Seungman asked.

"I see, you are quite straightforward." Kim Chunchu remarked.

"It's a weakness of yours and as I told you this game shall help the both of us understand ourselves much better." Seungman said.

"I was used to the fact that I was the smartest since young, growing up I realised that I am neither first nor second." Kim Chunchu said.

"Is it all you are After?" Seungman asked.

"Only if I am smart enough can I get what I want." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Who said?" Seungman asked.

"I think." Kim Chunchu replied.

"When you are very smart you have very many enemies, when you are very smart you have no friends or family, when you are very smart there are no permanent allies or devotees, only foes and others traitors that are very good at acting.

What I am trying to say is that regardless of the conditions you'll always be awarded with very many perspectives in the very end you'll notice that it is quite hard to decide those that you'll walk with." Seungman replied.

"No one ever told me that." Kim Chunchu said.

"These are things that no one really cares about that much." Seungman replied.

"But you do." Kim Chunchu said.

"Why shouldn't I?" Seungman asked.

"Aren't you afraid to make enemies?" Kim Chunchu Asked.

"On the other hand rather than being afraid I am most comfortable having enemies." Seungman replied.

Kim Chunchu smiled as he played his move.

"Do you know the one person that you remind me of when you say those words?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Are you going to tell me Mishil?" Seungman asked.

"So you understand much faster than I expected." Kim Chunchu said.

"The more that everyone keeps talking about her the more that I am envious to know the type of person that she really was." Seungman said.

"You might have not noticed but it so happened that the very year that she perished was the very year that Shilla was graced with your presence." Kim Chunchu said.

"Let's get straight to the point." Seungman said.

"I value your talents so much and of course given that you are one of the two brilliant people that I know in Shilla and you are the most approachable I am very interested in having you as a mentor." Kim Chunchu replied.

"You overestimate me." Seungman remarked.

"For someone like yourself are such a young age to pisses immense knowledge I must say that you inspire me and considering that you cultivated your mind these past few months the knew you that I have beheld with my own eyes is someone that is quite intriguing." Kim Chunchu said.

"There is nothing so special about me, a quick lesson, before you can master the art of ruling you should begin by drawing a clear dustinction between what you want and what you hate, what you need and what you don't need, those who should stand with you and those that you are against, the trustworthy and untrustworthy all the same." Seungman replied.

"Upon which grounds exactly?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Resentment and capabilities." Seungman replied.

"I see, I hope you won't get too busy." Kim Chunchu said.

"You have spoken too much that you haven't noticed how quick the game is done." Seungman said.

Kim Chunchu staring at it was amazed by the result.

"I won." He said.

"I let you win." Seungman replied.

"Why?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Here is my condition, I have given so I must take back, you and I want the same thing, let us play it fair and decide here and now that you'll let me have my way and I'll let you have yours." Seungman said.

"You've kept a distance in politics." Kim Chunchu said.

"But I have my ways I wish you would cherish because I know you wouldn't wish to have me for an enemy either." Seungman replied.

"I know what you want and I'll think about it." Kim Chunchu said.

"As you think about it please consider this that my enemies are yours as well and if there is someone who is a hamper that you can't get rid of that easily then it is me.

Truthfully even I have grandiose aspirations and dreams for this country, however how I intend to reach them matters as I am as determined to crush those that shall oppose me and I must embrace those that shall wholeheartedly embrace me first." Seungman replied as she stood up from where she was seated.

"It was nice talking to you." Kim Chunchu said.

"Thank you for the game, you gave me a lot more to learn." Seungman replied as she turned around and sge slowly walked out of the doors.

"Your Highness, what do you think about her?" Geumyang asked.

"Much smarter than I had expected." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Do you trust her words?" Geumyang asked.

"She was right about each and everything that she said, especially about myself." Kim Chunchu replied.

"I never thought you to be too obvious." Geumyang said.

"My first aunt favours me, like it or not the second one is the one that I need." Kim Chunchu said.

"With her then you must be willing to take a number of risks." Geumyang said.

"I Don't object to that but she is also very valuable if I can't stand with her then I can't have her for an enemy." Kim Chunchu said.

"Must everything of yours be complicated Your Highness?" Geumyang said, "With Galmunwang Baekban you had a chance to rebel." He added.

"Sadly he would have disposed me off like all his other minions, before I can have the Crown I'd prefer to rather be alive in this moment." Kim Chunchu said.

"Your Highness, the tide isn't always favourable." Geumyang said.

"I know that and I understand it much more than anyone else but before I can build my own rock on which I can cling I must be first willing to survive on one that is already existent on land and not in the sea." Kim Chunchu said.

Seungman walked into her Chambers and there she found a small lunchbox having been placed on her table.

"You may leave." She ordered everyone else and she was left alone inside the room as she walked around to her seat behind the table and she sat down and opened the box.

In the upper compartment there were snacks and in the lower one there were a pile of books which she picked out and she read the titles on them.

"The state Finances." She read as she opened the book and she looked through all the records.

She put it down and picked out another which had a red cover.

"The tax records." She filled the pages quickly and put it down as well until eventually she picked out the very last which was a rather dismal masterpiece.

"Yang Huang?" she read as she opened the book and her eyes perused through what was written inside while she smiled.

Satisfied she placed it on the table.

"Haesul Rang?" She called and there the doors opening he walked right inside and bowed his head in front of her.

"How may I help you Your Highness?" Haesul asked.

"Does your father have any books on the Military?" Seungman asked.

"He keeps quite a collection." Haesul Rang replied.

"Procure for me as many as you can." Seungman said.

"Your Highness, I thought you said you'd never wield a sword again." Haesul Rang said.

"War is coming to the country, the very least that we can do is be prepared anytime." Seungman replied.