Ch.313Side Story (Part 1 Complete)

“Ah.”

A familiar ceiling.

But the surroundings weren’t familiar.

A bed in complete disarray.

On it lay myself and three women.

“…This fate never changes.”

During Yesugei’s time, I had daily defensive battles with three married women.

And now I’ve possessed a descendant’s body, and history repeats itself.

Is this what they call DNA engraved in blood?

I muttered this while slowly sitting up.

“Mmm…”

Isia, who was lying in front of me, stirred.

I immediately held my breath and watched her.

Please don’t wake up.

Please don’t wake up.

Please…!

As if my desperate plea reached her, she drifted back to dreamland.

With a long sigh, I carefully managed to slip out of bed…

“You’re awake, husband.”

“…”

I stared blankly toward the kitchen.

There stood Wang So-yeon, cooking while wearing only an apron.

To be clear, she was wearing only an apron.

So I immediately covered my eyes with both hands.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your… clothes…”

“We consummated yesterday. You became my husband. Correct?”

Her speech was so choppy it made me wonder if she was really from Goryeo.

This manner of speaking really made it feel like Abd Chechek had returned.

“That’s… that’s right. But are you really from Goryeo?”

“Is it my speech pattern?”

“If I offended you…”

“No. My mother is Georgian. That’s why it sounds awkward.”

“Ah…”

Royalty typically married other royalty.

The reason for such marriages was obviously to maintain noble bloodlines.

Of course, this was just the surface reason; a bigger factor was to prevent issues with succession rights from becoming too prominent.

Anyway, Georgia was led by the Georgian royal family.

The Georgian royal family was of Mongol-Georgian lineage, formed by the marriage of Queen Tamar and the imperial son-in-law Muqali.

Muqali was the only one of the Four Dogs who received my permission to establish a dynasty.

Because of this, he was essentially equivalent to a member of the Golden Clan.

This made them a perfect match for the Goryeo royal family, who held a similar position.

I’d heard that the two countries had been intermarrying despite the great distance between them.

Therefore, the Wang So-yeon before me could be considered a descendant of Muqali.

“Do you dislike my speech? I will change it.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m speaking casually too, somehow.”

I nodded as I said this.

Seeing me, Abd Chechek… no, Wang So-yeon smiled and offered me a seat.

“Sit down. Husband.”

“Uh… okay.”

As soon as I sat down, Wang So-yeon handed me some soup.

It was a red soup that looked spicy to anyone, but it tasted like bone broth—it was goulash.

“Goulash?”

“You know it?”

“Of course. I had this during the Crusade… no, never mind.”

There was no need to mention that I had briefly tasted it during the Crusades.

So I waved my hand dismissively and tasted the goulash.

The savory taste of meat lingering in my mouth.

Followed by the fragrance of paprika powder.

Eating this made me feel like I was back on the battlefield…

“It’s really delicious.”

It was so delicious that my spoon wouldn’t stop.

It was even enough to make me forget that Wang So-yeon in front of me was completely naked except for an apron.

Moreover, thanks to the discovery of the New World, there were well-cooked potatoes in the goulash that gave a pleasant feeling of fullness.

It was truly a perfect balance of carbs, protein, and fat.

“Ah… really delicious.”

As I ate with genuine enjoyment, Wang So-yeon clenched her fist and smiled.

“I have fulfilled my qualification as a wife.”

Despite her stiff, translation-like speech pattern, I could understand what she meant.

“Thank you so much. This is the best food I’ve eaten since coming here.”

After possessing my descendant’s body, I went through tremendous ups and downs.

Because of that, I couldn’t even remember what foods I had eaten while moving around.

Unlike those meals, Wang So-yeon’s food was truly impressive.

It felt like the soup dishes my wives used to make for me, like bantan.

Bantan is a Mongolian dish usually made by boiling beef or lamb with water and various vegetables.

Spices and flour were added to make it thick and provide the missing carbohydrates.

In fact, like soups from all countries, carbohydrates were typically added to make it a complete meal.

This meant the preparation methods were bound to be similar.

In that sense, goulash and bantan were quite similar.

That’s why it reminded me of my wives.

Anyway, as I was feeling moved, my awareness gradually returned.

And then my head filled with embarrassment.

“Could you… put some clothes on?”

“Isn’t this more erotic?”

Wang So-yeon turned around demonstratively.

And her elegant curves…

“It’s standing.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“This is how married couples talk.”

As I said this, I sensed movement behind me.

It seemed someone had woken up because of my shouting.

“Are you awake?”

Kim Seol-a approached me, rubbing her eyes.

As she approached, two large masses bounced, and I didn’t know where to look.

Seeing me acting strange, she tilted her head before suddenly turning red.

“Ah… aah!”

Kim Seol-a immediately covered herself with the blanket.

Unlike Wang So-yeon, she seemed to have some self-awareness in this regard.

Right.

At least one of them should be normal.

Thinking this, I tried to look at Kim Seol-a again…

“That won’t do.”

Wang So-yeon suddenly approached Kim Seol-a.

And she tried to remove her blanket.

“Wh-what are you d-doing?”

“Show your breasts.”

“N-no. I’m… I’m embarrassed…”

“Married couples hide nothing.”

“N-no, this should… should still be hidden…”

Kim Seol-a’s face was about to explode.

My warm and friendly fiancées.

Looking at them, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could really get along well with them.

* * *

“You seem to have lost weight recently, Your Majesty.”

“Ha… haha. Is that so?”

As I mentioned before, I was having my energy completely drained by the advances of my three wives… no, three fiancées.

Because of this, every day was a series of hardships.

Of course, it was much better than the attacks of the passionate married women in the past.

However, even considering that, it was clearly overwhelming.

It could be because I had obtained a new body.

Or it could be because my fiancées were very vigorous(?).

Anyway, the reason I was with the Kheshig now was because of an event.

“We will arrive at the venue soon.”

I arrived at the venue with the Kheshig’s escort.

There was a platform and many chairs placed there.

“Is the imperial enthronement ceremony taking place here?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The Empress doesn’t like extravagance…”

“I am the same, so don’t worry.”

I honestly preferred simplicity too.

Too much extravagance draws too much attention and makes me uncomfortable.

“Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty.”

The Kheshig said this and guided me inside.

Then Kheshig members in black suits approached and began to thoroughly inspect the room.

They seemed to be checking if there was anything dangerous inside or preparing for any problems that might occur to my body.

But I wondered if this would help.

Usually, problems occur from outside.

There was also the possibility of someone shooting at me from outside.

I had these thoughts but didn’t voice them.

The Kheshig must have thought of that already.

“We apologize, Your Majesty. Since the Empress suffered an unfortunate incident, we are being meticulous about security.”

I nodded and followed the Kheshig’s guidance to my seat.

As time passed after I sat down, various people came and went.

From the ruling and opposition party leaders in parliament to regional representatives, local dignitaries, businesspeople…

People with some fame approached me, greeted me, and left.

After receiving these greetings, wardrobe and makeup staff arrived.

They dressed me in elaborate Goryeo-Liaodong Federation ceremonial attire and applied basic makeup.

Makeup wasn’t essential, but it seemed necessary since I would be on broadcast.

With all preparations complete, I ascended the platform with the Kheshig’s escort.

As I stepped onto the platform, I saw many people looking at me.

Such scenes were familiar to me from my time as Yesugei.

I could see faces full of expectation.

It was time to fulfill their expectations.

So I looked down at the paper placed in front of the microphone.

It was the script for the imperial enthronement ceremony.

There were elegant sentences written on it.

For some reason, I didn’t want to read these sentences.

So I flipped the paper over.

Then, after taking a deep breath, I looked at everyone and began to speak.

“I am Park Ijegiltuk Byeolrigotae.

I am of the imperial family of the Goryeo-Liaodong Federation and the guardian of this land.

But this honor is not mine.

It belongs to the citizens.

I am a foreigner.

I was born in America and raised as an American.

All I know is how much my mother cherished this country.

And how my grandfather led this nation.

This is not my role.

I am here only because of the glory of my ancestors.

Can I dedicate myself to you all?

This is a question I ask you and myself.

Therefore, I cannot take this position.

The stars of the steppe no longer flow in my soul.

My soul brothers no longer call me.

The songs of warriors who roamed the steppes and the stories of wise rulers who cared for their people must end here.

This country is yours.

Therefore, the imperial family is no longer necessary.”

After saying this, I looked at everyone.

I could see the shocked faces of the Prime Minister and many others.

As if time had stopped, I could see people’s lips moving one by one.

While observing the people, my eyes met with something.

The man’s face was a mix of shock, regret, and despair.

It’s hard to describe in one word, but if I had to explain, it was as if he thought such words should never have come out of my mouth.

But it was too late.

Because the gunpowder smoke that erupted from under his sleeve was already making a loud noise.

I knew where it was aimed and coming from.

No, my body sensed it.

I could feel my body collapsing.

* * *

“Huk… huk…”

I opened my eyes with a start at the pain piercing my heart.

As I opened my eyes, something came into view.

“His… His Majesty has awakened!”

“Tolui Khan has awakened!”

I heard the voices of people making a fuss.

So I turned my head to look at them.

People wearing traditional court attire that could appear in a historical drama were wailing.

It was a strange situation.

So I looked up at the ceiling.

A wooden ceiling.

An unfamiliar ceiling.