34. Struggle.

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The world paid attention to the newly emerging woman.

 

She was already famous in Korea (only in political and business circles), but this incident made her face known almost worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

“That’s all. I’ll take questions.”

 

 

Her second official press conference, revealing herself as belonging to the Harem Palace.

 

 

As soon as Sonya finished speaking, the hundred or so reporters in the room raised their hands simultaneously.

There were so many things they needed to ask about the series of events that had occurred.

 

 

“Jeon Sua, reporter for Korea Daily.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Both your announcement just now, the bill you announced last time, and the recent actions of the maids belonging to the Palace’s Tokyo branch, all seem to be antagonizing Japan. Not only the Japanese authorities but also people domestically and internationally are expressing considerable concern. Could you provide a detailed explanation on this?”

 

Sonya paused for a moment to consider the young female reporter’s question before opening her mouth.

Camera shutters flashed from all directions, making her whole body sparkle.

 

 

“I am well aware that many subjects in Japan are feeling bewildered and even angry due to the orders issued by the Ministry of Justice, including myself. However, this measure is an important pillar of the Imperial Constitution, which is the foundation of this Empire, and there is no room for reconsideration. Japan has declared itself a colony of this Empire under the Palace-Japan Treaty of last September, and as evidence of this, the complete cession of Tokyo City, the transfer of dungeon rights in a total of six regions, and the relocation of the Princess’s residence to Gangnam are clearly written in the treaty.”

“Is the content about entering the Palace also included in the treaty?”

“It is not in the Palace-Japan Treaty clauses, but the ‘Entering the Palace’ is being addressed in the Colonial Law currently being drafted by the Ministry of Justice.”

“There’s a lot of talk about that ‘Entering the Palace’ as well. Some point out that singling out the Princess instead of the Emperor or the Prime Minister suggests there might be another purpose.”

“As I said, the Palace-Japan Treaty already includes content about the Princess. Originally, Japan should have sent the Princess to Gangnam immediately after the Palace-Japan Treaty was signed, but they are still not complying, taking advantage of the Emperor suffering an unfortunate incident. This is simply a measure in response to that.”

 

Even after her question, the reporters’ barrage did not end.

 

 

“Jo Gwang-seop, reporter for Gwangmyeong News. You’ve been continuously talking about the basis for making Japan a colony, but I’d like to ask about the process of achieving that.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Recently, maids belonging to the Tokyo branch trespassed into the Kokyo where the Emperor resides and conducted investigations without the permission of the authorities. As a result, they also transferred a gardener who worked at the Kokyo to Gangnam without the consent of the authorities. There are rumors circulating that this was instigated by you, Minister-nim. I would like to know if this is true.”

 

Sonya fiddled with the microphone for a moment.

 

 

“I did not instigate it.”

 

The room briefly became noisy.

The reporter stammered.

 

 

“T-Then, are you saying it was the Tokyo maids’ independent action?”

“No. I requested and requisitioned cooperation from related departments using the legitimate authority of the Minister of Justice.”

“…Legitimate…authority?”

 

Someone muttered a proper question, but no one paid attention.

Everyone was busy talking to their fellow reporters next to them.

 

“So, are you saying that you directly ordered the unauthorized intrusion into another country’s sacred site to pressure the Japanese government?!”

 

A reporter raised his hand high and shouted from afar.

It was a setting where reporters took turns asking questions, so there was no need to answer, but Sonya replied with a smile.

 

 

“I have no intention of pressuring the Japanese government. I simply took legal measures to catch a criminal.”

“Japan is a foreign country where Korean law does not apply! Moreover, even if Korean law did apply, I understand that there is no legal basis to forcibly deport someone just for disgracing the Palace!”

“The laws of Korea and the laws of the Empire are different. And because Japan is a colony, the laws of this Empire take precedence over the Japanese constitution.”

“Excuse me?”

 

Crazy talk was starting to come out.

 

“T-Then, even though you’ve already caught the criminal, what is the reason for not withdrawing the maids from the Kokyo?”

“Because Japan is incompetent.”

“…Excuse me?”

 

At this point, the press conference was a huge hit.

Even a festival of nonsense wouldn’t go this far.

 

 

Sonya looked at the dumbfounded reporters with a satisfied expression and smiled subtly.

 

 

“Okay, let’s stop answering this question here. Please follow the order from now on. Reporter Jo Gwang-seop-nim? Please continue.”

“Ah? Yes… yes.”

 

The reporter flipped through several pages of the notebook he had brought and then opened his mouth hesitantly.

 

 

“Um… this isn’t a question about this incident, but a question about you, Minister-nim.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard that your daughter, Lee Yuna-ssi, is known to be a prospective bride of the Palace’s owner… the… Imperial Emperor. If that’s the case, then you, Minister, would become the Emperor’s prospective mother-in-law, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…However, some rumors are circulating that you, Minister-nim, are also a prospective bride of the Emperor. Which one is true?”

 

 

The reporters perked up their ears at this question and focused on Sonya’s mouth.

 

 

It was actually a fact that was secretly known.

The fact that Sonya and her daughter Yuna were both Yu-eun’s women was already known to those who needed to know.

 

 

But revealing this publicly was another matter.

Korea was still a monogamous society, no matter what, and polygamy and concubinage were illegal.

 

 

Even if Yu-eun was famous for his womanizing, having multiple official wives was a controversy of another dimension.

 

 

 

Sonya answered simply in the serious atmosphere.

 

 

“Both are true.”

 

Of course, the content was not simple at all.

 

 

“Excuse me??”

 

 

The reporters who didn’t understand… or rather, were working hard not to understand, simultaneously questioned her. With a glimmer of hope.

But Sonya’s answer was the same.

 

 

“Both are true.”

“….”

 

 

 

 

Both the prospective mother-in-law and the prospective bride were true.

That meant she would have the same husband as her daughter, which was not something that was forgiven in Korean sentiment.

 

 

“Is that… possible?”

“It is possible.”

“No… well, physically it might be possible… but socially… no, before that, is it acceptable for your lover to take another woman as his wife??!”

 

 

A female reporter, truly unable to understand, stood up and asked almost shouting, but Sonya answered simply again.

 

 

“Love overcomes everything.”

“…An individual impossible to love, though.”

 

 

Someone muttered a fact, but everyone tried hard to ignore it.

 

“Any other questions?”

“N-No…”

“Then let’s take the next person’s question.”

“….”

 

 

As the turn moved on, the female reporter who had just stood up and asked shouted, took the microphone.

 

 

“…Yoon Se-ri, reporter for Ehwa Broadcasting. I’d also like to ask a question about you personally, Minister-nim.”

“Yes.”

“You recently had a sudden debut as the Minister of Justice of the Ha..rem Palace. Before that, you were already making a name for yourself as one of the top lawyers in Korea, right?”

“Well, I was quite famous.”

“As a private lawyer who wasn’t from a high-ranking prosecution office receiving preferential treatment for former officials, and who wasn’t affiliated with a large law firm, you achieved very rare accomplishments. I’m curious about what you plan to do with your lawyer activities in the future.”

“Unless it’s a special case, I probably won’t be working as a lawyer in the future.”

“Judging from the fact that your activities have been dwindling for several months, it seems like you joined the Palace in its early stages. Why did you only reveal your appearance as a Palace member now?”

“In the beginning, the maids, including Seo-hyun-ssi, were in charge of the Palace’s image. Of course, even now, the first people who come to mind when you think of the main Palace are the Emperor and the Chief of Staff. But as this Empire, which is gradually increasing in size, I thought that its symbol should also increase in size.”

“Are you saying that the increased size is you, Minister-nim?”

“Hehe. I’ll have to decline to comment on that.”

 

 

 

Countless questions poured out even after the female reporter’s question ended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You look quite young. Did you use an item?”

“Yu So-ra-ssi, who is famous as a Saintess, is also known to be a prospective bride of the Emperor. Do you have any personal acquaintance with her?”

“You are the only one of the three prospective brides who has not had an engagement ceremony. Is it because of your divorce history?”

“Even if you are okay with it, I’m curious if your daughter, Lee Yuna-ssi, is also being generous and accepting of this.”

 

An enormous amount of questions.

There were some contents that stimulated Sonya’s displeasure in the middle, but she managed to get through them smoothly.

 

 

 

 

 

And the long-awaited final question.

 

 

“Hong Seon-hee, reporter for Women’s News. I would like to ask a question about this incident again.”

“Yes.”

“You said that leaving the maids in the Kokyo was not to pressure the Japanese government, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, if the Japanese government continues to ignore your words, Minister-nim, and refuses to send the Princess to enter the Palace, I would like to ask what your plans are then.”

“Hmm.”

 

 

Sonya, who had been answering almost non-stop, was silent for nearly a minute for the first time.

At that sight, the movements of the reporters, who were feeling unnecessarily nervous, stopped, and the sound of swallowing saliva could be heard from here and there.

 

“Well, that could happen.”

 

 

And the answer that came out.

It was unexpected.

Was it too mild for the Harem Palace?

 

 

That could happen?

 

 

 

But after all, the Harem Palace is the Harem Palace.

 

“Like China did.”

“….”