"He walked as if the sky had promised him a throne." - Empress Sosoneo
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The tension along the path to Damul Mountain persisted. The silence was heavier than the swamp fog, punctuated only by the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves. Daeso and Youngpo avoided my eyes, their forced composure a thin shield over their humiliation. The subtle charisma I emanated ensured the guards remained respectfully distant, their loyalty to Daeso now laced with doubt.
'Well, it now clearly obvious that the winds of change has blown. And it's in my favor', I thought.
At the ritual site, the air was thick with incense and formality. King Geumwa, an aging lion of a man, stood before the ancient altar. He was flanked by the chief councilors and the powerful merchant-lord, Yeon Ta-bal.
In the series, this meeting never happened as Jumong, was trapped in the bog and couldn't attend. But I ensured that never happened.
And there standing beside her father, was Soseono.
It was one thing seeing her on screen but there was a different feeling attached to seeing her in person. She was beautiful in a way that didn't need decoration. Her features carried the same refined strength while bearing a resemblance to the actress Han Hye-jin, that sharp, elegant bone structure, the graceful lines of her jaw, and the calm confidence that makes her face stay in your mind long after you've looked away.
Her eyes were clear and expressive, intelligent in a way that made her beauty feel deeper, not just surface-level. Her skin held that smooth, warm tone that seemed to glow naturally in the sun. Even dressed in practical riding clothes, she looked composed and effortlessly striking, the kind of woman whose beauty comes from both her appearance and the undeniable presence she carried.
[A.N: She's beautiful bro, we know…. stop simping. You're a monarch…..a monarch!]
As we arrived, Daeso, eager to impress, immediately seized the moment to control the narrative.
"Your Majesty, we are late," Daeso announced, bowing stiffly. "We encountered difficulty in the marsh. Prince Jumong, regrettably, was overwhelmed by the terrain and required the aid of my men. He lacks the discipline for rigorous travel."
Youngpo nodded emphatically. "It was quite a spectacle, Father. He was completely bogged down."
I offered a shallow bow, letting the mud on my inner garment confirm their story. "My sincere apologies, Your Majesty. My eagerness to reach the altar eclipsed my judgment. I am thankful for my brother's swift assistance."
King Geumwa's eyes, however, seemed to look past the dirt. He noted Daeso's barely contained fury and my own unnerving calm. He gave a weary sigh and waved us toward the altar.
"Enough. The ancestors wait for no man. The ritual will proceed."
The ancestor worship concluded, and the atmosphere shifted from spiritual reverence to political evaluation. We were led to a nearby pavilion for the test of statecraft. Yeon Ta-bal sat as the chief inquisitor with Soseono stood behind him, holding the official trade ledgers.
"Princes," Yeon Ta-bal began, his tone severe. "The heart of Buyeo's wealth is the trade route with the Han Empire. Recently, a Han magistrate has levied a new, impossible tax on all bulk goods, specifically the salt shipment vital for our people and your profit. Prince Daeso, how do you handle this economic siege?"
Daeso slammed his hand onto the table, his blood still hot from the bog incident.
"Tax? This is an insult! I would immediately assemble a company of cavalry, arrest the magistrate, and burn the tax treaty! We must defend Buyeo's dignity with force, or they will think us weak!"
The councilors murmured their approval, it was a bold, warrior's response, albeit a reckless one.
"And you, Prince Youngpo?" Yeon Ta-bal prompted.
"I would dispatch a royal emissary with a substantial bribe, of course," Youngpo said, shrugging. "Money solves all problems. We pay the toll, and make the Biryu Tribe cover the loss."
Yeon Ta-bal grimaced at the sheer incompetence. His gaze finally settled on me, a mixture of duty and low expectation in his eyes.
"Prince Jumong."
I took a moment, letting my dissolved tactical brilliance gained from the Essence of the King (mastery of economics, logistics, and politics) articulate the solution. I had already calculated the military and economic fallout of Daeso's plan, since it was the only one not stupid enough to consider.
"To engage in violence is to surrender to the Han's agenda," I began, my voice clear and authoritative, silencing the room. "War is the most expensive solution, and payment is submission. The goal is to secure the trade and deny the enemy revenue, without spilling Buyeo blood. That is imperative"
I met the merchant-chief's eyes.
"The Han tax is levied on the volume of bulk, essential goods like salt. We must make the goods non-essential and non-bulky. We will use the superior forging and heating capabilities of the Iron Chamber, which are unparalleled in the region, to refine the salt and other local minerals into a concentrated, high-value pigment or luxury chemical dye."
I continued, "This concentrated dye is easily concealed, moves quickly, and sells for exponentially more than raw salt. We are substituting a low-value, high-risk commodity for a high-value, low-risk commodity. The Han official's volumetric tax becomes irrelevant. The profit flows to Biryu, and Buyeo's economy strengthens without risking war."
A stunned silence followed. The councilors, men steeped in tradition, looked utterly bewildered by the mention of terminologies like 'value density' and 'chemical refinement.'
Soseono, however, moved forward. She carefully unrolled the scroll, her eyes now gleaming with focused intensity.
"Prince Jumong's proposal is flawless," Soseono stated, her voice cutting through the silence. "It is the only response that respects both Buyeo's sovereignty and the economic reality of the trade. It uses the very foundation of Buyeo's strength, its iron technology, to bypass the Han's weakest point that is their inefficient bureaucracy."
Yeon Ta-bal's stern face cracked into a small, respectful smile.
"Unparalleled insight. This is not the answer of a prince; this is the wisdom of a one who understands markets, not just men."
King Geumwa stood abruptly. He stared at Daeso, whose face was a study in poisonous defeat, and then at me, the quiet victor.
"The test is concluded," the King announced, his confusion evident in his voice. "Daeso, Youngpo. You will remain here. Jumong, you are dismissed. You have proven you have intellect. Now we must discover if you possess discipline."
I mounted my horse, the day's events replaying in my perfect memory. I had earned an ally, terrified my enemies, and confused the King. A good day's work.
I hadn't ridden fifty paces when Soseono appeared, walking swiftly to catch up to my horse.
"Prince Jumong," she said, her voice dropping to a confidential murmur. "I must know. Where did you truly learn this? This knowledge is not taught in Buyeo, nor is it practiced by any of our merchants."
I looked down at the future Queen. I could see the curiosity and the calculating assessment in her eyes. I gave her a small, knowing smile.
"Lady Soseono," I replied, "When one has nearly drowned in the bog, one finds that all the irrelevant clutter of life washes away. What remains is pure necessity. I learned what Buyeo needs to survive. But then, nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world, so I would on behalf of BuYeo be judicious in my thoughts and actions"
"I am a merchant, Prince," she pressed. "I only invest in sure things. Are you a sure thing, or just a temporary anomaly?"
"I am the man who saved your trade route today," I stated simply.
"And I am the man who will require a partner with your vision to secure Buyeo's future. Watch me. Judge my worth not by my past, but by my trajectory."
Soseono didn't reply immediately. She simply watched me, her sharp mind processing my claim. Finally, she gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"I will," she promised. "And I will be waiting to see where this trajectory takes us."
With that, she turned and walked back toward the pavilion, leaving me to ride back to the palace with a powerful, unspoken alliance secured.
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