Eps 5 : Special Requirement

A puff of white steam seemed to waft through the air between King Yeongan and Queen Dowager Park. The two of them were currently sitting opposite each other in King Yeongan's private room. Since the tea and snacks were served, there had not been a single topic of conversation between the two of them.

The Queen Dowager Park finally set down his teacup and prepared to engage King Yeongan in conversation.

"Your Majesty, I have come to see you to remind you of something important," said Queen Dowager Park, noticing the change in expression on her son's face.

King Yeongan took a slow sip of his tea before finally placing the empty cup on the table. The man slowly raised his face and looked straight at the figure of the palace woman sitting in front of him.

"Please, I will listen to it, Your Highness."

"Your Majesty, I know that the leaves haven't completely fallen and the seasons haven't even changed since your reign. Even so, I feel like something I'm talking about needs to be followed up quickly, and I can't wait for the seasons to change."

King Yeongan smiled faintly at the worry in Queen Dowager Park's voice. Without knowing any further, it seemed that King Yeongan knew where this afternoon's conversation with his stepmother was headed.

"So what is it that makes you sound so concerned, Queen Dowager?" Yeongan replied, with a slight smirk appearing on his handsome face.

The Queen Dowager Park felt that King Yeongan already knew the direction of the conversation, and she didn't need to make small talk anymore. Immediately, the bright-looking woman with a soft yellow dangui dropped the main topic of her conversation this time.

"Your Majesty, the sun needs the moon to give light when it is dark. No matter how bright you shine, the sun still can't shine in the dark. Therefore, you need a queen for your reign to be balanced.

A sarcastic laugh erupted from King Yeongan upon hearing the bomb his stepmother had just dropped. In accordance with her intuition, her stepmother also urged her to organize a wedding. It was only a matter of time before the old lady in the southern palace—Royal Queen Dowager Shin—spoke her mind and led the ministers to further corner Yeongan.

"Ah, Your Majesty has the same concerns as the ministers," said King Yeongan while rubbing his chin. Unbeknownst to Queen Dowager Park, King Yeongan's obsidian looked darker than usual. King Yeongan's brain thought about all the rotten possibilities Queen Dowager Park might have prepared for him.

"I hope you don't have bad thoughts towards me for bringing up this topic. All this I did purely because I was worried about the balance in the country. If you don't want to remarry because you're still grieving the loss of Crown Princess Souin, you can at least make one of your concubines become a queen. "

"Queen Dowager, I need to explain that I have not remarried until now, not because I am still grieving the loss of Crown Princess Souin. Until this moment, I have not once mourned his passing; on the contrary, I feel calm."

Queen Dowager Park couldn't hide her surprise at King Yeongan's unexpected reply. Although surprised, Queen Dowager Park managed to control herself and did not want to ask further about the late Crown Princess Souin. As far as she knew, his stepson, King Yeongan, had never liked or even loved Crown Princess Souin as long as she lived. Therefore, Queen Dowager Park chose not to discuss it further.

"If you don't want to take a concubine as your queen, then let me do the duty of a mother to you. At the very least, let me pick the best girl you can get to be your companion, "continued Queen Dowager Park.

King Yeongan nodded his head at his stepmother's suggestion. His fingers tapped on the table in front of him. His brain was quickly devising the strategy he needed to use in dealing with this problem, until Yeongan got the bright spot.

"If that's what you want, then you can do it. "I allow you to do the queen selection, Your Highness," Yeongan said quickly.

Again, Queen Dowager Park was taken aback by the swift decision that King Yeongan had made on his persuasion. Really, the woman did not expect that her stepson could be persuaded so easily by her.

"Really? You're actually allowing me to hold a queen election?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I'll make sure to pick the best queen I can get my hands on. "I assure you that I will not disappoint you, Your Majesty," said Queen Dowager Park cheerfully.

"But I have special conditions for the queen that I want. Can you do it for me, Mother? "

Queen Dowager Park was again shocked by King Yeongan's different attitude than usual. Not only in attitude, Queen Dowager Park could hardly believe what she had just heard. The palace woman did not think that her son would finally call her mother. The clear liquid that couldn't be contained began to envelop her eyes.

"Your Majesty..."

"I allow Mother to hold the selection of the queen. But on the condition that I want a queen who can do the archery. How? Will you accept this special condition? "

For a moment, Queen Dowager Park was stunned by the special conditions that King Yeongan proposed to her. For whatever reason, finding a noblewoman who could shoot archery was the most impossible thing to find in Joseon.

However, because the joy was too overwhelming, Queen Dowager Park did not bother. The palace woman wanted to prove that she could be a mother that King Yeongan could rely on. Whatever Queen Dowager Park does, she will do so that King Yeongan will consider her a mother.

Queen Dowager Park nodded enthusiastically, agreeing to the special and unreasonable conditions that King Yeongan had put before her.

"I will accept any conditions for you, Your Majesty. I promise to get a queen who is good at archery. You don't have to worry. "

The grin again graced King Yeongan's handsome face when he saw his stepmother, who was so complacent with the obedience he displayed. In his heart, King Yeongan laughed at the naivety of the stepmother, who simply agreed to her unreasonable wish.

"I am waiting for the best woman of your choice, Mother," said King Yeongan in a honey-sweet tone that contained danger in it.