38. Generational change(?)

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“Huaaam~~.”

 

 

Seorae, having finished the piled-up work over several days, yawned widely.

Perhaps because she had been doing boring work for the first time in a while, every day was a series of sighs.

 

“I should abdicate the throne quickly.”

“What outrageous words are those! You’re not even 50 yet!”

 

 

Soyi, who was beside her, suddenly shouted.

 

“Why are you like this? Others kill even their own mothers to ascend the throne, but why are you refusing? I’m not saying you should go that far, but take some example.”

“Are those words for a mother to say? Hurry up and work.”

“I’m done.”

“More has piled up while you were doing that, so take care of that too.”

“…Ah…annoying. Do you have to torment a pregnant woman like this?”

 

Seorae whined and stroked her belly.

It was now so noticeably protruding that anyone could tell she was pregnant.

 

 

“Really…I was half-doubting it, but it’s real…”

 

 

Soyi was outraged at the sight.

Because Seorae usually acted so lightheartedly, she had been holding onto a glimmer of hope, but it was mercilessly shattered.

 

“Aaaah~ I want to rest comfortably like the other women~ Right? You think so too, don’t you?”

 

 

Seorae stroked her belly, making a provocation that wasn’t really a provocation.

From Soyi’s perspective, a half-sibling with a different father was truly hard to accept.

If she had at least conceived with a somewhat normal(?) man, she might have been able to accept it, but it had to be Aran, who was known as the greatest lecher of all time.

 

“Hehe. He says so too.”

“Shut up.”

“How about Soyi becoming the 101st Emperor this time? What do you think?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why don’t you want to? Others are dying to do it.”

“Don’t compare me to others. Who would want to become Emperor like this?”

“Countless people.”

“Ugh…really!”

 

 

Soyi trembled and raged.

She couldn’t understand Seorae at all.

She used to be ‘somewhat’ normal, but lately, she felt like she was becoming increasingly strange.

 

 

 

Seorae put on a seemingly serious expression.

 

 

“You, can you handle me?”

“…What are you talking about out of the blue?”

“I’ve become that child’s woman now. Can you handle someone like me?”

“Don’t say things like that seriously. It’s really scary.”

 

What bizarre thing is she trying to do again!

 

“Anyway, this mother’s wish is for you to become a great Emperor.”

“If you want your child to become a great Emperor, why don’t you become great first?”

“You’re just like my daughter, not giving up a single word.”

“Hmph.”

 

Soyi listed off various nagging complaints with a sulky face.

If someone saw them, they might even think Soyi was the mother.

 

However, she soon became exhausted on her own and left the room, leaving only Seorae inside.

 

 

 

“Euum…”

 

 

She unfolded a letter she had received a while ago.

The letter, which she couldn’t show to anyone, contained content that was absurd yet impossible to ignore, and it even gave her goosebumps.

 

 

It was a plan to form a new allied nation centered around Aran, and to unify the entire continent by utilizing his overwhelming abilities and that part of him.

 

 

The author was, of course, Ayla.

As she had told Aran in advance, she had sent a letter directly to Seorae, the Emperor of the Eastern Empire.

 

“It’s not impossible, but…”

 

 

It wasn’t a very specific plan, but it had quite detailed content written in it.

The countries to be included were the Mei Empire and its 3 vassal states, and the Persian Empire and its subordinate states.

In terms of sentences, it was very concise, but the area it encompassed was no exaggeration to say it was the entire Eastern Continent.

After all, the Mei Empire alone accounted for 80% of the Eastern Continent.

 

The concept was that after creating such an allied nation, Aran would stand at the head as a ‘God’, with the two Emperors positioned below him. Of course, the vacant Great King would be selected separately.

 

 

“So, they’re taking the Eastern and Central Continents. A clash with the Western Continent is bound to happen.”

 

Through the Holy War, the Central Continent was divided between the territories of the Mei Empire and the Great Kingdom. The Great Kingdom’s territory was much closer to Bergamo, the gateway to the Western Continent, but since they would become one country anyway, it didn’t mean much.

It would become a situation where they could wage a great war at any time if they wanted to.

 

 

“First…I need to talk to that brat properly.”

 

 

 

 

 

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The contents of the investigation, which lasted about a month, were written in a report and sent to Goryeo.

It was delivered quickly using a fast ship called a transmission ship, and soon reached Wang Hye in the Goryeo Imperial Palace.

 

 

“Heeum.”

 

 

As the Great Kingdom had announced before, Wang Yi had coveted Aran’s wife, and Wang So had put an aphrodisiac in his food.

All of that had been revealed to be true.

 

Wang Hye sighed deeply.

 

Even though it was part of the plan, it was still a painful matter.

After all, they would have to officially apologize and compensate.

 

“Huh?”

 

 

Then, one sentence stood out greatly.

 

 

Wang Hee had obtained the Potion Rain Scroll through negotiations.

 

 

 

“Your Majesty, what…is the content?”

“Hmm…”

 

She made a conflicted face.

It was Potion Rain, of all things.

And as a scroll.

 

 

According to the original plan, Wang Hee would enter Aran’s harem as a concubine along with the compensation.

Of course, Wang So was a criminal, so his status would be demoted and his person handed over.

 

 

That way, her beloved 3rd Princess, Wang Yul, would naturally inherit the throne.

There was also the 4th Princess, but she was relatively weak.

 

But now that she had secured Potion Rain, her decision wavered.

Wang Yul may have outstanding talent, but Wang Hee might also have something she hadn’t seen.

 

‘Hmm…I’m troubled.’

 

 

“Your Majesty…”

“Hee’s report says that the Great Kingdom’s claims are true. Wang Yi, that bastard, coveted the Great King’s wife, and So-a put an aphrodisiac in the Great King’s sura.”

“T, that’s…”

 

 

The nobles stirred.

In particular, the nobles who had been supporting Wang So and Wang Hee stood up as if they were going crazy.

 

 

“Your Majesty! Something is wrong! How could the Princess and Prince Jeonha commit such a thing!”

“Are you saying that Hee-a’s investigation is wrong?”

“That’s not what I mean, that place is the Great King’s territory. He can do whatever he wants, so there must have been a cunning scheme.”

“That’s right. Perhaps, the Great King himself is threatening Jeonha with force.”

 

 

Then, the nobles who supported Wang Yul stepped forward in opposition.

 

 

“Threatening? Even if it’s another country, a King is a King. Would he do such undignified things?”

“Even if he is a King now, he comes from humble commoner origins. Moreover, he is a man. He wouldn’t have the dignity of a monarch that we know well, and if he did, where did the countless nicknames that represent him now come from?”

“Even if that’s the case, Wang Hee Jeonha is an intelligent person. Would she fall for such petty tricks?”

“When they push with force and military power, what would be impossible?”

“Are you doubting Wang Hee Jeonha’s abilities now?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Your Majesty, this is a very important matter. The country has been devastated due to the deployment of large forces, and the people are starving. If military tensions arise again in this situation, we can no longer endure it. Please consider the lives of the common people and find an amicable solution.”

“That cannot be, Your Majesty! Even if conflict arises, if it is a just cause, we must confront it. Even if we concede a million times that the Great Kingdom’s claims are true, we cannot allow them to punish the Princess Jeonha and Prince Jeonha of our country as they please! You must take decisive action and rescue the Princess Jeonha.”

 

The nobles fought fiercely, ostensibly for the benefit of the country and the people, but in reality, they fought hard only for their own interests.

It was only because they were in front of the Emperor that a brawl didn’t break out; if she wasn’t there, they looked like they would draw their swords at any moment.

 

 

“I haven’t said everything yet.”

“…Then?”

“That matter will be investigated as it is, and on the other hand, she is said to have obtained the Potion Rain Scroll through negotiations.”

“Ye, yes?”

“Potion Rain…Scroll?”

 

The hall stirred again.

This time, even Wang Yul was quite surprised, and her mouth was slightly open.

 

 

“Potion Rain,이라니….”

“That too, as a scroll?”

“No, is that even possible? To make Potion Rain into a scroll…”

 

 

Amidst the divided opinions, a noble who supported Wang Hee stepped forward slightly.

 

 

“Your Majesty, since Wang Hee Jeonha has made a great contribution, I think it would be best to bring her back to the country first and find out the exact situation.”

“Is that really true?”

“What?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty, but scrolls are not such easy things to come by. Even to make a Tier 3 scroll, it is impossible without the full assistance of the Magic Tower, but Potion Rain is a transcendent magic that surpasses Tier 7. Is it possible to make such magic into a scroll?”

“Are you saying that Wang Hee Jeonha is lying now!”

“Surely not. I know better than anyone that she is an intelligent and honest person.”

“Then…”

“But she may not know. Jeonha is, after all, proficient in various academic subjects and martial arts. Her knowledge of magic is relatively low. This means that she could be easily deceived even if only plausible formulas are drawn.”

“So, you’re saying that the Great King made a fake scroll?”

“That is so, Your Majesty. It is impossible to make a scroll, and even if it were possible, there would be no reason to make one. Perhaps he is still not satisfied and has drawn impure magic into it.”

“…I think the same way, Mother.”

“Wang Yul.”

“It’s heartbreaking, but Wang Yi and Wang So Unni have caused great harm. They coveted the King’s wife and even tried to put an aphrodisiac in his food, so his anger must surely reach the heavens. In this situation, it is unbelievable that he would create the precious Potion Rain, especially as a scroll.”

“That’s true.”

“H, but Jeonha! It is not yet certain whether Wang Yi Jeonha and Wang So Jeonha really did such things!”

“As you and I know, Wang Hee Unni is a capable person. She is not someone who would fall for petty tricks or sweet talk. Even less so to the pressure of power. And from the Great Kingdom’s point of view, punishing the Prince and Princess of Goryeo is a considerable burden. The fact that they did so despite this means that there was a motive. If he and his wife experienced unpleasant things, wouldn’t that be enough motive?”

“That…”

 

 

The noble realized.

The truth doesn’t matter at all.

Logical loopholes are not a problem. What matters is only justification and practicality.

Wang Hye and Wang Yul are full of thoughts of abandoning the remaining members of the royal family.

 

“Oh my…no, Your Majesty. It seems that appeasing the Great King is the priority here. Regardless of national power, he himself possesses a force that cannot be ignored, so I fear it may cause harm.”