Ch.312Side Story (11)

“My name is Ishia, Your Majesty’s fiancée.”

“K-Kim Seol-a… at your service…”

“Wang So-yeon.”

“…”

Three women were introducing themselves before me.

Ishia had black hair and eyes that anyone could see were intelligent.

Kim Seol-a had light brown hair and a cute appearance.

Wang So-yeon was clearly a foreigner with blonde hair… with a cool big-sister vibe.

They seemed familiar somehow.

In that moment, memories from my past suddenly surfaced.

Ho’elun, Sochigel, and Abd Chechek.

Anyone could see they resembled my wives.

“Ho’elun… Sochigel… Abd Chechek…”

“Pardon?”

“What did you say…?”

“Ah… it’s nothing. More importantly, what brings you here at this late hour…”

I looked at them with an awkward expression.

Then the woman called Ishia addressed me.

“As I mentioned earlier, I’ve come to fulfill my duty as your fiancée.”

“…Duty as my fiancée…?”

I wondered what this was about.

I couldn’t help but think that perhaps my descendant—the original owner of this body—had gotten himself into trouble before I arrived.

And… it seemed my prediction was correct.

“*sob sob*… It hurts that you don’t remember me…”

“Um…”

“How could you forget that the Empress favored us and marked us as your future spouses?”

Her manner of speaking was exactly like Ho’elun’s.

So it was difficult to properly refute her.

“The Empress… you say?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Ishia’s firm tone—like a stubborn squash—I could only nod.

Then I turned to look at Sochigel and Abd Chechek… no, Kim Seol-a and Wang So-yeon.

“Is it the same for you two as well…?”

“Y-yes! That’s right.”

“Correct.”

The other two also said this while looking at me.

I had no choice but to invite the three late-night visitors inside.

After all, they claimed to be my fiancées.

In normal circumstances, I would have naturally refused.

But these people had come to where I was staying now—specifically, to the safe house the Empress had used.

That meant they had penetrated the strict surveillance of the Kheshig.

In other words, their claims had some truth to them.

“Since it’s so late, please come in and we can discuss the details.”

At my words, Ishia suddenly clenched her fist.

I tilted my head at her behavior, but she soon smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

“Th-thank you!”

“Thanks.”

And so, three women invaded the room where a man was staying alone.

Once they entered, I headed toward the kitchen, thinking I should offer them something.

“Let’s see… where might the tea be?”

I muttered to myself as I examined the kitchen.

I looked here and there, but since this wasn’t my own place, it was difficult to know where things were kept.

“There’s hibiscus tea in the upper cabinet in the right corner, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I wasn’t sure when she had arrived, but Ishia said this to me.

Following her instructions, I opened the upper cabinet in the corner, and just as she said, various teas were arranged there.

Wait… how does she know this?

As if reading my mind, Ishia smiled and answered.

“I often saw the Empress taking tea from here.”

“Ah…”

I see.

With that thought, I took out a tea bag.

As I was about to boil water, Ishia approached me.

A sweet scent tickled my nose.

I couldn’t help but look at her.

“When you look at me like that… it’s embarrassing.”

“A-ahem. S-sorry.”

After clearing my throat, silence followed.

I felt I needed to say something to break this deep awkwardness.

So I asked her a question.

“Did you meet my mother… I mean, the Empress often?”

“Until she met with misfortune… I saw her every day.”

Ishia’s face clouded with worry.

As mentioned earlier, my mother, the Empress, had been attacked by supporters of the previous regime and died.

Given this, my own safety couldn’t be guaranteed either.

Of course, with the Kheshig providing such strict protection, nothing major would likely happen.

But considering what happened to the Empress, it was true that such danger always lurked for me as well.

“What kind of person was the Empress?”

“Strong and upright.”

“She sounds like a wonderful person.”

“Yes, she was.”

“…”

“…”

“Um…”

“Ask me anything, Your Majesty.”

“I’m truly sorry, but I haven’t heard anything about fiancées.”

I really hadn’t heard anything from the Empress.

To begin with, having possessed my descendant’s body, it was impossible for me to remember such things.

Additionally, the original owner of this body was unlikely to know either.

According to the Kheshig, he had been born and raised as an American, and had only returned to his homeland a few days ago.

And given that his mother, who had gone to America, hadn’t revealed the secret of his birth, it was highly unlikely she had mentioned anything about fiancées.

Anyway, when I spoke sincerely like this, Ishia looked considerably flustered.

Then she seemed to fall into thought, trying to deduce an answer on her own.

After some time passed, she nodded and addressed me.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. Given the Empress’s personality, she wouldn’t have told you… I’m sorry for suddenly barging in.”

“No, no. It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine at all.

But with Ishia’s doe-like eyes welling up with tears, I felt I had to say this.

“Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty.”

“More importantly… could you explain how this came about? I was born abroad and only recently learned about my imperial bloodline.”

“Ah…”

Hearing my sincere words, Ishia nodded.

“Then I’ll explain.”

The Paekjegilteuk Byeorigotae family had traditionally married into the Goryeo imperial family or noble houses for generations.

Just as my son Belgutei married the daughter of Yi Uibang to gain the support of Goryeo military officials.

The grandson who took power after Belgutei married the granddaughter of Kim Bo-dang, gaining the support of civil officials as well.

The Paekjegilteuk Byeorigotae family, rulers of foreign origin, could obtain the cooperation of local power holders in this way.

As these political marriages continued, they naturally became a custom, evolving into a tradition of the Goryeo-Liaodong Federation.

In other words, Ishia was a distant descendant of Yi Uibang.

“Kim Seol-a is from the Yeongkwang Kim clan, and Wang So-yeon is from the Gaeseong Wang clan.”

Kim Seol-a was a distant descendant of Kim Bo-dang.

Wang So-yeon was a distant descendant of the Goryeo imperial family.

One might wonder how there could be descendants when the Goryeo imperial line was essentially cut off.

In truth, the Goryeo imperial family wasn’t completely extinct.

During the time when the coalition government led by Kim Bo-dang and Yi Uibang ruled Goryeo, the head of Goryeo was King Gangjong.

When Gangjong died without an heir, Yi Uibang, the real power in Goryeo, brought in his son-in-law, but collateral branches still existed.

That is, the true collateral line of Princess Hwasun, who was originally supposed to marry Belgutei.

One might wonder how the Wang surname was maintained for a daughter, but at that time, consanguineous marriages existed in Goryeo.

Princess Hwasun’s husband was Wang Myeon, the Prince of Gongneung, who was the son of Princess Seunggyeong, daughter of King Injong.

Through continued marriages between collateral branches, the Wang surname could be preserved.

Of course, when the Goryeo imperial family changed to Paekjegilteuk Byeorigotae, the Wang clan distanced from the imperial family, essentially becoming a noble house.

After that, consanguineous marriages ceased, and they adopted a system of matrilineal marriages to continue the surname, barely preserving the original imperial bloodline, making them essentially a very distant collateral branch.

“I see there was such a background.”

“Of course, this tradition disappeared when the socialist regime came to power…”

The previous regime wanted to erase all traces of the imperial family.

Naturally, they also sought to erase traces of the traditional empress families.

As a result, the three families, like the Byeorigotae imperial family, had to either go into hiding or change their surnames.

Fortunately, as oppression intensified, a democratic regime came to power, the imperial family was restored, and they could reclaim their original surnames.

“Fortunately, after the Empress returned, everything worked out well, and each family could reclaim their traditions.”

“That’s fortunate.”

As things were about to end on a warm note… something felt strange.

It was because Ishia suddenly blushed and approached me.

I began to mentally review what she had just said.

They reclaimed their family traditions.

Does that mean continuing marriages with the imperial family…?

So the Empress met with the heads of the three families and designated their daughters as my fiancées—that was the conclusion I could reach.

“You must continue the tradition, Your Majesty…♡”

“W-wait, what… tradition?”

I never knew the word “tradition” could sound so suggestive.

Moreover, my current body wasn’t that of the married Yesugei, but of a young man in his prime.

In this situation, it was nearly impossible to resist the physical charge of a woman like Ishia, who was perfectly proportioned and embodied the very definition of beauty.

“The imperial line must continue♡ Your Majesty♡”

“I-I think we should talk first, establish a mental connection before discussing this further…”

Saying this, I stepped backward.

But I bumped into something soft yet firm, causing me to turn around.

“Preparations complete.”

Wang So-yeon said this with a smile.

What preparations, I wondered.

My mind was overheating like an overloaded computer.

Just as my head was about to explode from the heat, someone appeared before me.

Kim Seol-a stood before me, dressed in an outfit clearly meant for the occasion.

“Th-this outfit is too… e-embarrassing… ah! Y-Your Majesty!”

And so, I found myself surrounded by three women.

It was a familiar scene.

Yes, a familiar scene indeed.

I experienced it often during Yesugei’s time.

I could only resign myself to my fate.