That night, the moon hung low in the sky, casting its pale glow over the quiet streets of the capital. At the gate of a modest house, Kim Jin paced back and forth, his heart alight with excitement.
He had heard the news—Jade, his closest confidant, his ally in so many endeavors, had been appointed Minister of Military Affairs. A position of great power and influence. The thought of Jade now holding the reins of Hana's military forces filled Kim Jin with pride. His plans for Ash Kingdom, their ambitions, would only be easier to achieve with someone of Jade's strength in such a critical role.
Kim Jin couldn't contain his glee. He spun around, his feet light with anticipation, eager to see Jade and share in the triumph. He would be the first to congratulate him, of course—Jade's rise was as much a victory for Ash as it was for Hana.
The night was still, the only sounds the rustling of leaves in the warm summer air. But Jade did not appear.
Kim Jin paused, standing at the gate, looking down the path. No silhouette, no figure in the distance.
A slight confusion began to stir in his chest. He had expected Jade to come straight to him after the ceremony, to share in the moment, to discuss their future plans for Hana's military. After all, this appointment was exactly what they had been working toward. Jade's rise had always been a part of the plan. Surely he would come.
But as the hours stretched on, the silence continued.
"Perhaps he's just busy," Kim Jin murmured to himself, trying to dismiss the growing knot of doubt in his gut. "He'll come soon enough. We'll talk about everything—how we can bring over the entire Hana military to the Ash Kingdom. There's no need to rush."
He laughed softly to himself, shaking his head at the thought of his own impatience. It was, after all, a monumental occasion for Jade. He had just been named Minister of Military Affairs, a title that would shape the future of Hana. Kim Jin could only imagine how much work Jade must be caught up in. He would surely come soon, once the excitement had settled.
But deep inside, a quiet voice nagged at him. Something was different.
Kim Jin dismissed the feeling, his thoughts drifting back to his plans. The Ash Kingdom was close, so close to greatness. With Jade now at the helm of Hana's military forces, the walls that had once divided the kingdoms would crumble. Nothing could stand in their way.
But what Kim Jin did not know, what he couldn't have known, was the subtle, yet profound shift that had taken place within Jade's heart.
Jade was no longer the spy, the man who had once walked in the shadows for the Ash Kingdom. The loyalty that had once been so firm, so unquestioning, had started to unravel. What Kim Jin had failed to see, or perhaps refused to see, was that Jade had found a new path—one that no longer led toward Ash, but instead toward the throne of Queen Genie.
For Jade, the pledge he had made today before the warriors, his oath of loyalty to Queen Genie, had carved a new purpose into his soul. The promise to protect Hana and serve its new queen had become the foundation of his being. His allegiance had shifted, irrevocably, from the Ash Kingdom to the people of Hana.
But none of that had reached Kim Jin yet. The truth, buried beneath layers of ambition and deceit, would soon make itself known—but not tonight. Tonight, as Kim Jin waited for Jade's return, he remained blissfully unaware of the storm that was brewing in the distance.
The path he had envisioned for them both was beginning to diverge, but neither of them could see it yet.
The following day, the Ministry of Personnel was abuzz with quiet but determined activity. Inside Minister Han Son's office, the royal officials, along with the former eunuchs, gathered to discuss the matter of selecting a royal consort for Queen Genie.
Their voices reverberated off the high walls as they debated, each man offering his perspective, some cautious and traditional, others eager for reform. It was a complex matter—one that balanced centuries of tradition with the unique circumstances of Hana's first female monarch. The future of the kingdom, as well as the stability of the royal lineage, rested heavily on this decision.
The discussions stretched on for hours, the air thick with the weight of history. The officials weighed everything carefully: the traits of a suitable consort, the need for political alliances, and the careful art of balancing royal power. Yet, despite the meticulous planning, there was an underlying sense of urgency—a recognition that the queen could not afford to wait forever for the right choice.
Later that afternoon, Minister Han Son made his way to the Queen's office, the proposal in hand. He arrived quietly, his demeanor respectful, as always, but his thoughts weighed heavily with the knowledge of what he was about to present. Queen Genie had been carrying the burden of Hana's future since her coronation, and now, the responsibility of choosing a consort to rule alongside her would fall on her shoulders.
The room was a quiet one, soft sunlight filtering in through the windows and casting a warm glow across the polished wooden floors. Queen Genie sat at her desk, her back straight and her expression serene, but her eyes betrayed a hint of the exhaustion that had settled in her bones since the coronation.
As Han Son approached her, she gestured for him to speak.
"Your Majesty," Han Son began, his voice steady but laced with respect, "the council has come together, and we have finalized the selection process for the royal consort. We've ensured that it takes into account both Hana's traditional practices and the unique circumstances of your reign. This process will ensure that the candidate is not only a suitable match for the queen, but someone who will aid you in governing and securing the future of this kingdom."
Queen Genie listened intently, her gaze focused on him as he spoke, nodding thoughtfully as he outlined the plans. It was a thorough process, one that seemed fair, even in its complexity. Yet, despite the structure and the assurances that the plan was sound, Genie couldn't shake the feeling that the entire matter was being rushed. There was something about it—the weight of the decision, the pressure of being forced into it so soon after her coronation—that unsettled her. She had just begun her reign, and now, she was expected to select a partner to rule by her side?
But even as that hesitation stirred within her, she knew the reality. The kingdom needed stability. The people needed to see a clear path forward. A consort, a companion in power, was not just a symbol—it was a necessity.
"All right. I understand," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken thoughts. "It seems like a fair and meticulous process. The people need to see stability, and so does the court. I'll summon the grand meeting tomorrow and announce this to the entire court."
But inside her heart, she couldn't forget this person… Jade. He kept lingering in her heart as she thought of the consort selection.
The next morning, on the final day of August, with the oppressive summer heat still hanging in the air, royal officials began to gather in the grand assembly hall.
Jade, having completed his morning duties as the new Minister of Military Affairs, organizing and reviewing military documents related to the structure of the royal forces, headed to the grand assembly hall. His body was tense, and a strange feeling gnawed at him.
It was the day Queen Genie would announce the process for selecting her consort.
He couldn't quite explain why, but something stirred within him—a mix of anxiety and anticipation, a deep, unsettling flutter he couldn't fully grasp.
As he entered the grand hall, his gaze was drawn to Genie. She sat at the front, perched on the king's chair, her regal posture commanding attention. Her gaze swept over the assembly with a quiet but undeniable authority.
"First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for your valuable input on the consort selection process," she began, her voice clear and steady, resonating with the authority she had earned. "I have considered your suggestions carefully, and I agree with most of your views on the matter. Therefore, I will begin by receiving ten men recommended by all of you."
She paused, her eyes scanning the room. "The qualifications for the consort are integrity, a strong and noble appearance, and—most importantly—coming from a family without immense wealth or power. I ask that you keep these criteria in mind when submitting your recommendations."
Genie's eyes narrowed slightly as she continued. "From these ten, three will be selected as candidates. They will then share three meals with me over the course of one month. During this time, I will observe them closely and, at the end of the month, choose the man who will not only become my husband but also the future father of this nation."
As Queen Genie finished speaking, the entire assembly hall buzzed with murmurs.
The ministers exchanged surprised glances, clearly impressed by the queen's decisiveness and clarity of purpose.
Jade, however, deliberately avoided looking at Genie, as he tried to hide his feelings.