Eps 11 : Deadly Gaze

The sun was not yet fully at the top of the sky when today's election began. Queen Dowager Park was seen smiling as she arrived at the Gyeonghaeru pavilion and looked at the remaining girls.

For today's selection, only selected girls may proceed to the selection stage. The lucky girls will be picked up directly by a stretcher from the palace. Only three girls were selected who were present at the palace, one of whom was a candidate for recommendation by Queen Dowager Park.

Today's agenda is to see the girls' embroidery and flower arranging skills, followed by a talent show. Currently, Queen Dowager Park is paying attention to the embroidery and flower arrangements made by the girls. Until something unexpected caught her off guard and she jumped out of her seat.

It looks like Royal Queen Dowager Shin stepped into the Gyeonghaeru pavilion hall, followed by a group of servants. The presence of Royal Queen Dowager Shin clearly made Queen Dowager Park's forehead frown. His mind asked what the hot-tempered woman would do at the queen's selection site.

Not wanting to be considered presumptuous, Queen Dowager Park immediately approached Royal Queen Dowager Shin, who was now looking around at the faces of the final stage candidates.

"Royal Queen Dowager, I didn't expect to see your presence. Is something bothering you?" Asked Queen Dowager Park as politely as possible.

Queen Dowager Shin did not respond to questions from Queen Dowager Park. The woman began to direct her steps towards the table of the candidates embroidery and flower arrangements. A crooked smile appeared when he noticed the embroidery and flower arrangements that were kept on the table.

"What exactly do you expect from candidates with this ability, Queen Dowager?" She quipped.

"I don't understand what you're saying, Your Highness. Today's candidates have made it through the first day of selection. So, I believe the three people present today are the best," Concluded Queen Dowager Park confidently.

A chuckle erupted from the Royal Queen Dowager Shin. The woman turned with a mocking expression to Queen Dowager Park. "This is why senior family members need to be present on such a crucial agenda. How could the King leave this election to you?"

The rumbling of emotion could be felt by Queen Dowager Park, creeping to the surface after hearing Royal Queen Dowager Shin's satire. She wanted to throw something in the face of the annoying old woman. Still maintaining a faint smile in her face, Queen Dowager Park will now not stand still if humiliated like this. She didn't want her credibility as a main judge in the selection of this queen to be destroyed by Royal Queen Dowager Shin.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry if I sound presumptuous to you. I'm just doing my duty as the mother of the King to choose a suitable companion to be with him. After all, a mother wants the best for her son."

"Besides, I don't know why the King can give special orders to you. You don't need to worry; I'll make sure to choose the best girl to occupy the Queen's throne someday," She added.

Another chuckle came from the Royal Queen Dowager Shin. To be honest, he didn't expect Queen Dowager Park to reply to him with such subtle sarcasm. Royal Dowager Park's patience level was tested when Royal Queen Dowager Shin chose to drop the bomb he had brought with him earlier.

The Royal Queen Dowager Shin turned and walked towards Queen Dowager Park's seat. The woman laughed inwardly at the look of surprise and annoyance implied on Queen Dowager Park's face.

"Court Lady Nam, call the girl I brought with me earlier," she ordered firmly.

Court Lady Nam bowed and immediately ushered a girl into the Gyeonghaeru pavilion hall. The girl strode gracefully while hiding her triumphant grin splendidly.

Queen Dowager Park could no longer control the emotions on her face. Her pupils dilated as she looked at the girl brought by the Royal Queen Dowager Shin. That girl was the girl she had crossed out for the Queen candidate. Immediately, she turned her head and made her hair ornament sway slightly. Hazel shone with anger and surprise.

"Royal Queen Dowager, you can't do this!" She said in a trembling voice.

Royal Queen Dowager Shin turned her head with a surprised expression and pretended not to understand Queen Dowager Park's annoyed attitude. "What's the matter with you, Queen Dowager? Did I do something wrong? "

Queen Dowager Park struggled to control her emotions after seeing Queen Dowager Shin's response. The woman took a deep breath and regained her composure. And the next thing again tested the emotions of Queen Dowager Park.

"I will repeat today's selection from the beginning. "I don't want someone unworthy to sit on the queen's throne," said Royal Queen Dowager Shin.

...

Throughout the remainder of today's selection, anger reigned over Queen Dowager Park. In fact, Royal Queen Dowager Shin continues to search for candidates for recommendations belonging to King Yeongan's stepmother.

For the umpteenth time, Queen Dowager Park firmly gripped the daran chima she was wearing. Her emotions had risen to the top of his head, seeing the behavior of Royal Queen Dowager Shin, who was tearing apart the selection he had planned. Until now, the activity has been limited to the talent show event.

Feelings of hopelessness had engulfed Queen Dowager Park's heart when she saw her recommendation candidates continue to be hounded throughout the embroidery and flower arrangement sessions. The disappointed look on King Yeongan's face continued to haunt his mind. But this is an opportunity to seek support from his stepson.

At a time when despair was overshadowing her, an announcement of his arrival made her hopes resurface. Subconsciously, her head turned excitedly. She immediately got up from her seat to greet her son.

Dressed in his military attire, King Yeongan stepped closer and closer to the Gyeonghaeru pavilion building. The wind from the palace's artificial lake occasionally greeted his handsome face, which looked flat.

"Your Majesty! I didn't think that today you would come to visit here. Incidentally, at this time the candidates will show their talents," Said Queen Dowager Park in a cheerful tone.

Yi Baek smiled faintly in response to his stepmother's greeting, until the smile disappeared after finding another figure who appeared to welcome her presence.

"Your Majesty, it's a pleasure to see you here," said Royal Queen Dowager Shin in a sweet tone to the ear.

Yi Baek's jaw tightened at the presence of the figure of Royal Queen Dowager Shin, who was at the queen's selection site today. A dark aura immediately overtook Yi Baek. The black bead looks darker than before.

"What are you doing here, Royal Queen Dowager?" Yi Baek hissed with a sharp glare.

"Didn't I give you a clear prohibition yesterday?"

Loud laughter from Royal Queen Dowager Shin heard King Yeongan's rebuke. Even though in his heart, there was a feeling of trembling because of the tone of voice and the aura that was spread by his step-grandson.

"Ah, Your Majesty, you have a very good sense of humor. I don't..."

"Yesterday's ban wasn't a joke, Your Highness," Yi Baek cut in, his jaw hardening. The horrifying glare he directed at the Royal Queen Dowager Shin playedfully.

"Don't you know that the ban is the same as showing that you're a king who doesn't respect the elders of the palace like me?"

King Yeongan clenched his teeth in response to the difficult question.

Realizing the increasingly tense atmosphere, Queen Dowager Park immediately tried to neutralize it. The woman dropped the topic of diversion. Moreover, he had time to glance at the frightened looks of the candidates, but only one remained calm.

"Your Majesty, your presence here must not have been an accident. So, what brought you here? After all, you seem to have just finished training."

King Yeongan smiled fully at Queen Dowager Park. "I'm sure Mother already knows the purpose of my coming here," he said, then turned slightly to Eunuch Jang.

"Jang Eunuch, bring the equipment in immediately."

Eunuch Jang nodded and immediately carried out King Yeongan's orders.