Chapter 10
Yeonguk has long been famous for its graceful and beautiful women.
The fertile land and high-quality water were said to be the reason for the abundance of fine food and drink, making it a symbol of a prosperous country.
However, today, Soa’s appearance stood out more than usual.
Her face, which had been a little pale for the past few days, now carried a delicate, ethereal quality, evoking a poetic and quiet atmosphere.
Her jacket, made of fine, soft pink fabric, was embroidered with a bird pattern that resembled her, adding a touch of charm.
Even among the crowd of young women, her dignified posture set her apart.
“…You’ve finally arrived.”
Minister Yoon looked at Soa.
Even though she had entered the palace countless times, he seemed anxious since she was participating in the competition today.
Soa had insisted several times that she could go alone, but after her private audience with the Queen, something about her had changed, and Minister Yoon seemed worried.
“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. We can still turn back…”
“Father.”
“Alright, Soa.”
“I have something I haven’t been able to say to you.”
“What is it?”
Soa lifted her head, which had been lowered.
She was the daughter of the Prime Minister of Yeonguk, a proud family. The fact that she had brought her own delicate flower shoes for him should have been enough to make her feel stronger.
Soa knew well that she was the precious only daughter of a prestigious family, the child of a wise and loving mother.
“I know that you’ve cherished me all this time, Father. I know that even if I live my life, I can never repay you for all your kindness.”
“…Soa.”
“You once said that love for someone is a desire to protect them. You wanted to protect Mother for your whole life, and it pained you not to be able to.”
“…”
“I may not fully understand what it means to love someone, but I want to protect the Crown Prince.”
“…”
The wind blew softly, and delicate flower petals hanging from the branches fluttered and fell.
Even in the midst of the flower rain, Soa remained still, her posture firm.
It was the stance of someone who had made up her mind.
“I’m sure there are many things I don’t know about the world. I’ve been raised carefully in your care. Now, I want to see the world for myself. I want to know who I am and what I can do.”
“…”
Minister Yoon saw the unwavering determination in Soa’s eyes as she spoke clearly and firmly.
This was the first time he had seen her like this.
When a child has a purpose, it cannot be easily swayed.
Minister Yoon merely grasped Soa’s hand tightly for a moment before releasing it.
Before long, the two of them had arrived at the pavilion in front of the rear garden.
This was where the competition would begin.
“All young ladies who are participating in the competition, please gather here.”
An stern-eyed court lady stood before them.
Soa, after a brief nod to Minister Yoon, moved to approach the court lady.
She could feel the eyes on her from all around.
There were whispers behind her.
These were the kinds of looks Soa had grown accustomed to.
One of the women stood next to Soa.
It was Yeojeong, the daughter of the wealthiest family in the capital, the Jang family.
“You’ve arrived just in time. How have you been?”
“…Thank you. I’ve been well. Have you been well over the winter?”
Yeojeong smiled gently as she spoke to Soa, then her eyes went to Soa’s jacket.
“A bird has flown in. It’s lovely.”
Yeojeong’s jacket was a jade-colored one, embroidered with red flower patterns in intricate detail.
It was a stunning garment, eye-catching even from a distance.
“Ah… it’s rather simple.”
“It suits you very well.”
“Do you think so? Your jacket is also…”
“The Queen of Yeonguk has inherited a swallow-patterned fabric for generations. The swallow in the fabric is quite large and heavy. Compared to that, a sparrow is quite cute and lovely, don’t you think?”
“…”
“They say that everyone has their own fitting attire.”
Yeojeong met Soa’s eyes.
Her red lips curved into a pleasant smile, but her eyes were sharp.
As Soa opened her mouth to respond, a group of maids entered.
They were holding black cloths in their hands.
“Her Majesty the Queen has arrived.”
At the loud voice, everyone lowered their heads in unison.
Soa, too, bowed her head quietly and listened to the soft footsteps of the Queen approaching.
The steps were slow and gentle, and when they reached the center, they finally stopped.
“You’ve worked hard to arrive.”
The Queen’s voice greeted them, and as everyone raised their heads, a murmur of astonishment spread.
The Queen was wearing a golden swallow-patterned fabric, something she had never worn before.
As Yeojeong had mentioned, two swallows rested on her shoulders, and the gold leaf shimmered in the sunlight, mesmerizing everyone who looked at it.
“This is the place where we will choose the future Crown Princess, who will inherit this swallow-patterned fabric.”
“…”
“First, one must be dignified; second, one must be healthy; and above all, one must be wise. Over the course of this competition, I will carefully observe each of you, and the one most suited will be crowned. I will pass on everything I have to her.”
The Queen’s gaze slowly swept over the women before it landed on Soa.
‘Are you planning to ruin everything over just a woman? How did you come by your position? How did you keep it? Do you really want to give it up so easily?’
The cold and sharp words of the Queen echoed in Soa’s ears.
But Soa remained calm, her hands respectfully folded in front of her, standing with grace.
The Queen’s gaze lingered for only a moment before she looked away into the air.
“Well, then, let us begin this competition with a joyful heart.”
With those words, the Queen moved forward.
The court lady who had been bowing silently beside her spoke again.
“First round.”
The maids, who had been waiting, stepped forward, each standing in front of one of the women.
A young girl, still quite childlike, came up to Soa and bowed her head.
“Please follow me.”
Soa listened to the maid’s instructions and moved with her.
They entered a large room with at least ten modest chambers, and the maid led Soa to one of them.
Then, the maid carefully reached out and placed her hands on the strings of Soa’s robe.
“I will undress you in turn.”
This was the beginning of the first trial.
They began by checking for any scars or injuries on her body. Then, they soaked her in a mixture of tough herbs and examined her skin to see if any areas changed color. They even applied the blood of a deer to her arm to confirm her virginity.
Next, they tested her tolerance by making her dip her feet in cold water and seeing how long she could stand it. They also tested the health of her thighs and pelvis by hanging heavy objects from them and seeing how fast she could walk.
Throughout all of this, Soa showed no sign of discomfort.
She had learned about these trials through rumors and books, but experiencing them in person was completely different.
“Ah, I can’t do this. Stop!”
A woman sitting in the same posture as Soa, trying to balance several books on her thighs, screamed out as she couldn’t bear the weight.
As the sun began to set, the number of women left had dwindled to half of the original group.
“Change into this dress.”
They were then all given the same clothing.
The rough, yellowish white fabric of the garments was plain and lacked any elegance.
“Thank you.”
Soa thanked the maid who had been helping her through the trials.
She also handed her a rice cake, which she had kept hidden in her clothes just in case she would need it.
“I wasn’t sure if I’d meet someone, so I kept this. I’m glad I can give it to you.”
The maid hesitated for a moment but then, after Soa nodded, took the rice cake and ate it.
Soa thought of Jungi as she watched the maid chewing.
Jungi, who had given her a rice cake with such a happy expression…
When would she see Jungi again?
She could almost picture Jungi, tears streaming down her face as she was sent away, now with swollen eyes, playfully chatting with Gil.
“Please follow me.”
The maid placed Soa’s clothes into the container she had brought with her, then began packing up Soa’s belongings as well.
After tightly wrapping the container with a cloth, they stepped outside.
As they did, Soa saw Yeojeong, who had finished her trial and was adjusting her clothes, frowning slightly.
As the women who had finished gathered in the yard, the Queen appeared once again.
“Now, we will officially enter the palace. I have personally prepared a celebration for those who have passed the first round.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
