Episode 13
Looking at Gaeun, Yerin spoke with a cold smile.
“After that, Sajo established six capital cities and their accompanying villages around the North Sea Castle, which had settled in the North Sea Ice Palace.”
Yerin’s attitude, which laid out her knowledge of the North Sea Castle, overflowed with ease.
“At that time, half of the total population lived in the North Sea Castle, 30% in the capital cities, and the remaining 20% in the villages.”
“……”
“The taxes were collected by the current officials of each capital city and sent to the North Sea Ice Palace, and the budget was designed by the financial department. However, to finally execute the budget, they had to get permission from the prince.”
“……”
“However, the limitation of the North Sea Castle was that it was not suitable for farming because it was cold and snowy. The common people mainly lived by hunting and fishing, but there was a severe shortage of grains.”
“……”
“So, Sajo’s plan was to trade with Sacheondangmun, which has been going on until recently.”
However, those damn merchants stabbed them in the back.
Yerin gritted her teeth inwardly.
When I was a princess, I begged them to allow me to trade with Seoruch’o.
How dare they turn their backs on the North Sea Ice Palace?
“When I stayed at the Tangmun, I saw rare herbs, minerals, and furs that only grow in the North Sea Castle. Especially the furs were of excellent quality, probably because of the cold weather. I know they are quite popular among the women in the Central Plains.”
“……”
Meanwhile, Gaeun couldn’t even pout her lips while Yerin explained everything.
She just stared at Yerin with confused eyes.
Yerin raised her eyebrows slightly and met her gaze.
“Why are you staring like that?”
“Oh, no. I mean…”
“Did I say something wrong?”
No, not at all.
Yerin’s explanation perfectly matched what was written in the book.
… As if she had lived in that era herself.
‘How, how is that possible?’
Gaeun, who has lived in the North Sea Ice Palace all her life, isn’t as knowledgeable as she thinks she is.
The fact was so infuriating that Gaeun unknowingly clenched her fists.
She never doubted that she could easily handle a mere merchant’s daughter like Yerin, who was sold as a concubine. But now…
“Is this even possible? I didn’t memorize history books word for word!”
The price for underestimating Yerin was quite severe, and Gaeun couldn’t hide her embarrassment.
But then, Yerin, with a mischievous smile, changed the subject.
“By the way, since we’re talking about Sajo, let me ask you something. I heard that Sajo accepted anyone who wanted to be part of the Ice Palace, regardless of gender or family background.”
“Huh?”
Gaeun looked puzzled for a moment.
Yerin sighed as if she had expected this.
“Also, Sajo left a motto: ‘Do not discriminate against anyone,’ and ‘Everyone is equal in front of the sword.'”
As she said this, Yerin subtly clenched the edge of her skirt.
“Oh, I feel like I’m tarnishing my own face… It’s really embarrassing…”
To be honest, Yerin, or the previous Seol-ryeon, had never said such things.
I mean, was the North Sea Ice Palace always so powerful from the beginning?
To establish a noble family, they needed many talented individuals, so they just accepted disciples as they came.
In such a situation, people around Seol-ryeon praised her as they pleased…
“Who would have thought they would use those words like this?”
Yerin clicked her tongue inwardly.
But that was just her inner thoughts.
Yerin’s expression as she faced Gaeun was very firm.
“And many people were impressed by Sajo’s embodiment of those principles and joined the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“Ga… Gamo-nim.”
“For example, the current head of the North Sea Ice Palace has a different surname from Sajo and holds a title.”
Yerin leisurely observed Gaeun’s flustered reaction.
“The successor was chosen based solely on talent, without discrimination based on family name or status.”
“T-That’s…”
However, Gaeun Sajeo is trying to put me down just because I’m the “woman from Sacheondang.”
Gaeun bit her lip until it bled.
Her face was now so red that it looked like blood would ooze out if she touched it.
“Seriously, she acted like she was going to educate me first.”
Yerin tilted her head mockingly.
“I never expected you to not even follow the words of Sajo properly.”
Her calm voice felt like being whipped.
And finally.
“I’m really disappointed.”
Yerin spoke with a deep sneer.
“Hey, really!”
Gaeun raised her head, unable to control her emotions.
“People around me treat me like a lady, so I really felt like I became the owner of the North Sea Ice Palace!”
…The problem was that Yerin was not affected by her outburst at all.
Yerin casually replied, “Right now, it sounds like Gaeun Sajeo doesn’t recognize the mistress of the North Sea Ice Palace as the owner.”
“What are you talking about? When did I say such a thing…!”
“Well, I’m the one who had a proper wedding with the mistress.”
Yerin shrugged her shoulders mockingly.
“If I claim I’m not the lady, it also implies that the mistress who accepted me as her wife isn’t the lady, right?”
“Stop playing games! You’re just trying to belittle me…!”
“Honestly, I don’t think the mistress would be too happy to hear Gaeun Sajeo’s words, don’t you think?”
It was frankly a far-fetched argument.
But Gaeun’s head was already white with rage.
It meant that there was no rationality left to judge the right and wrong of Yerin’s words.
And the point where her anger boiled over even more was when she said,
“Stop acting like you know everything about the mistress!”
That was it.
Yerin acting like she knows more about propriety than me.
The fact that Yerin is the lawful wife of propriety had long disappeared from Gaeun’s mind.
“I’ve known the mistress for years!”
“Well, just because you’ve known her for a long time doesn’t mean you know her heart.”
“Don’t speak so lightly, I understand the mistress’s heart much better than Sajo!”
At that moment, as Gaeun was breathing heavily.
“…What’s all this commotion about?”
A cold voice echoed.
Yerin widened her eyes.
The frozen Gaeun turned around.
Suddenly, Doyul, who had entered the room, was looking at this side with a chilly expression.
“I asked you to take care of the mistress, didn’t I?”
Step.
Doyul took a step forward.
Frowning, he asked Gaeun.
“Why are you raising your voice at the mistress?”
“I, I…!”
At the same time, tears welled up in Gaeun’s eyes.
It was truly a pitiful sight that could move anyone’s heart.
‘Wow, she was just about to eat me alive a moment ago?’
Yerin inwardly marveled at how quickly she could change her expression. It seemed like Gaeun would do well in entertainment.
And Gaeun.
“Mistress, mistress…!”
She immediately clung to Doyul.
“No matter how much you’re the lady, it’s not right to treat me so rudely!”
“…What on earth are you talking about?”
“Well, you treated me like a fool, mistress!”
“Treated you like a fool?”
“Yes!”
Gaeun nodded vigorously, her voice trembling.
“Since you’ve always been in the inner circle, you probably don’t know much about the North Sea Ice Palace, right?”
At the right moment, tears rolled down Gaeun’s eyes.
“So I just wanted to help you adapt to the palace with all my heart…!”
As Gaeun was complaining, she hesitated and stiffened her shoulders.
She had spoken in an attempt to somehow win Doyul over to her side.
‘What, what should I say?!’
There was nothing to criticize about Yerin’s behavior.
Objectively, all Yerin did was accept Gaeun’s offer to educate her.
The only problem was that Yerin was much more knowledgeable than Gaeun.
In fact, the fact that Gaeun talked about Yerin as not a lady but a commoner was…
‘…I could get caught up in this if I’m not careful.’
My head, which was very excited, cooled down like putting cold water on it.
Gaeun subtly sensed Yerin’s mood.
At that moment, Gaeun saw it.
‘She’s smiling!’
A victorious smile was on Yerin’s lips.
But that smile was fleeting.
Yerin’s expression seemed to darken, and she spoke in a gloomy voice.
“…I’m sorry, Gaeun Sojo.”
What?
🤭 reverse scheming. But she’s too naively annoying 🙂 teach her a lesson✊