The rain rattled down like coarse sand being poured onto a tray; its relentless clatter set his nerves on edge. Such heavy rain should have soaked his long robe, yet it remained perfectly dry. Heo Juseung could only stare upwards, his head tilted back and his mouth hanging open in astonishment.

“This is your first visit to Geumseong. You must find it remarkable.”

Seok Uimyeong followed his gaze towards the high, sweeping eaves and smiled in understanding. They had only just entered the city, and the royal palace was still some distance away. Yet even the commoners’ homes had tiled roofs that stretched so far overhead that not a single drop of rain reached the ground. This alone spoke volumes about Geumseong’s wealth.

“Incredible.”

Heo Juseung finally tore his gaze away, clicking his tongue in wonder. Pajin was prosperous enough, but its tiled roofs hardly covered the sky. And then…

“Good heavens. What is that?”

Despite the gloomy weather, Heo Juseung spotted a house in the distance, his eyes widening at the sight of it. It gleamed so brightly that it was impossible to miss. It had pillars and walls covered in gold — he had never seen anything so extravagant. He pointed at it in astonishment and turned to Seok Uimyeong.

“That must be the royal palace.”

“They call it a geumdeuri house. The homes of nobles and wealthy families.”

When Seok Uimyeong explained that such houses were not uncommon in Geumseong, Heo Juseung groaned with amazement. Then he murmured in disbelief.

“Even so… Do they have so much gold here that they leave it to rot?”

Seok Uimyeong had been about to mention that dogs in Geumseong commonly wore gold collars, too, but he held his tongue. Heo Juseung was casting worried glances at the chest strapped behind his horse, and Seok Uimyeong didn’t want to discourage him further. Instead, he tried to bolster his old friend’s confidence.

“You’re a master craftsman, aren’t you? There’s no one under heaven who can match your workmanship.”

Encouraged by Seok Uimyeong, the downcast Heo Juseung immediately brightened. The unassuming man, now well past middle age, felt secretly proud, but could only blush in response. He didn’t know how to boast.

“No one can match me? I wouldn’t go that far.”

Heo Juseung waved his hand, saying that anyone who heard that would laugh. Then, suddenly, he lifted his chin.

“My Saeum is already wonderfully skilled with her hands.”

Heo Saeum was Heo Juseung’s daughter. Recalling her determination to become a master craftsman like her father, Seok Uimyeong smiled at his friend’s proud expression. Even the usually modest Heo Juseung, it seemed, could not resist boasting about his daughter.

“Actually……”

Mindful of the retainers following them, Heo Juseung lowered his voice.

“Saeum made the crown’s side ornaments and the sword’s hilt. Could you tell?”

“I had no idea.”

“There, you see? Her work is remarkable.”

Heo Juseung shrugged proudly. The sudden death of the previous king meant that the prince had to ascend the throne before a crown and sword could be prepared. The honor of crafting both had fallen to Master Craftsman Heo Juseung. Given the urgency and importance of the task, he had enlisted the help of Saeum.

“Saeum will become a master craftsman sooner than I did.”

“I’m sure she will.”

“What do you think? Wouldn’t our Saeum make a fine daughter-in-law?”

“She would be more than we deserve.”

“Hoho. Surely no more so than your son.”

The two riders were in high spirits as they urged their horses onwards. Soon, the royal palace came into view. This audience was of great importance to Seok Uimyeong, the lord of Pajin. He had to negotiate the types and quantities of their annual tribute. More urgently still, given that an increasing number of his people were being abducted by pirates and sold into slavery abroad, he needed to request additional troops.

Negotiating tribute was one thing. Asking for troops demanded far greater caution. The request could easily be seen as evidence of an ulterior motive or an intention to rebel.

‘Even so…’

He could not stand by while innocent people in Pajin were sold into slavery and left to suffer. He had already done everything in his power to prevent it. Now, the royal court owed the people of Pajin something in return for all the tribute they had paid.

Others might condemn that belief as presumptuous, but Seok Uimyeong held firmly to it. A ruler who offered no protection did not deserve allegiance — not even from heaven itself.

“Don’t worry too much. Everything will work out.”

This time, Heo Juseung offered reassurance. Hoping to cheer up his friend, who had suddenly become sombre, he casually changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, this rain is a blessing. The drought lasted quite a while, didn’t it? I heard that they struggled for a while after the Myeolang Flute disappeared. Still, thank goodness they found it. Now they can make it rain like this.”

“Mm.”

“I heard the princess had hidden the flute.”

There were troublemakers everywhere. Seok Uimyeong remained silent, recalling the princess he had encountered on several occasions during his visits to the palace while the former king was still alive. She greeted him in a clear, bright voice, but struggled to meet his gaze. He had thought her a timid girl.

‘She hadn’t seemed ambitious.’

Then again, that had been several years ago. Perhaps the death of the cold, domineering king had given her room to breathe and stirred desires she had once kept buried. While Seok Uimyeong was pondering this, Heo Juseung spoke again.

He changed the subject.

“The siblings can hardly be on good terms. My children care for each other more than anything.”

Everyone in Pajin knew how close the Heo siblings were. The younger brother, Heo Seonui, was especially devoted to his sister. Nevertheless, Seok Uimyeong hadn’t expected the reserved Heo Juseung to bring up the subject of the princess. He burst into hearty laughter.

“Now, Juseung. You certainly know how to bait the hook.”

“Was I that obvious?”

“Hoho, honestly.”

Even that light-hearted exchange eased his tension slightly. Just then, the rain clouds cleared, giving him a vague sense that things would turn out all right.

***

Gyo Geung had inherited his mother’s beauty. His refined features were striking enough to catch even another man’s eye, yet something about him was unsettling. Perhaps it was the wariness in his gaze. His sudden ascent to the throne must have left him anxious. With a son about the young king’s age, Seok Uimyeong tried to regard him with understanding.

“Your subject, Seok Uimyeong, greets Your Majesty.”

“I saw you several times while my father was alive.”

“I remember as well, Your Majesty.”

Fortunately, the meeting got off to a good start. The young king listened patiently to Seok Uimyeong’s proposals, occasionally asking a pertinent question. However, it was only when Seok Uimyeong requested military support that the king sensed a troubling change.

“Many of our people are being captured by pirates and sold into slavery abroad. If Your Majesty grants us permission to establish a garrison in Pajin, I, Seok Uimyeong, will dedicate myself to that duty, even if it costs me my life.”

Why was there no answer? As the silence became increasingly uncomfortable, Seok Uimyeong glanced at the king. The king was staring back at him, his face as expressionless as a mask.

“I hear you enjoy the wholehearted trust of the people of Pajin.”

Seok Uimyeong could not identify it precisely, but he sensed hostility. He chose his words carefully.

“I have merely been fortunate in the people around me.”

“There’s no need for false modesty.”

Gyo Geung smiled coldly.

“How amusing. You may not have established a garrison, but I hear you’ve already raised troops and defeated the pirates several times. Yet now you ask for more soldiers. What are you really planning? To use your reputation to rally support and plot against me?”

The accusation was far harsher than Seok Uimyeong had expected, though he had anticipated such suspicion. He immediately bowed his head, desperate to make his sincerity understood.

“I swear by heaven, I harbor no such intention. I feel only sorrow for the innocent people being dragged away to suffer.”

“You’ve kept the pirates at bay well enough until now. Continue as you have.”

The veins stood out on the backs of Seok Uimyeong’s hands. If the king had offered a valid reason, he would have yielded. However, he could not accept this suspicion, which was based solely on the king’s fear that his influence might grow.

“Circumstances have changed. The pirates’ numbers have risen sharply, and the men in our merchant company have never received formal military training. There are limits to what they can do.”

“Haven’t you made a fortune from the maritime trade that my father permitted? Your profits must be considerable. Use them to train soldiers.”

“Surely the king knew that a substantial portion of those profits had already been paid in tribute. This demand was unreasonable, too. Raise a private army? Does he think of Pajin as a foreign land?”

“Are the people of Pajin not also Your Majesty’s subjects? I beg you to look after them.”

Perhaps the words “Your Majesty’s subjects” pleased him. The young king’s manner softened a little.

“We will discuss this again later. Bring me an accurate assessment of the pirates’ strength, and I will reconsider.”

“With Your Majesty’s pardon, that assessment is already complete.”

Eager not to miss this opportunity, Seok Uimyeong presented the documents he had prepared. Gyo Geung took them without a word and began reading. They detailed the number of pirate ships and crew members, when they had appeared, how many people they had abducted, and what goods they had plundered.

“Thorough, aren’t you?”

A hint of bitterness crept into the king’s smile, making Seok Uimyeong tense up again. The new king was so different from his father. The late king would have acknowledged his efforts and rewarded him. Seok Uimyeong wanted no reward, only recognition of how serious the situation had become. Instead, he was met with mockery.