“I regret that I have lived to see this day,” declared Chief State Councilor Kim.

  He sat opposite Great Prince Seojin in the prince’s quarters and seemed, by all appearances, intent on driving him mad.

  “Do not speak so, Grandfather,” Yi Yun replied, pressing his lips together. “Are you not pleased that Mother has been elevated to the rank of queen?”

  The conversation was like a rehearsed dance: measured, cautious, and meaningless. The evening sun filtered through the paper shutters, scattering bright patches of light across the floor.

  “It is the correction of a long-standing injustice,” Councilor Kim clicked his tongue. “But I want to see my grandson as crown prince. A mere change of title to ‘Great Prince’ is not enough. And instead, what do I see? He allows that upstart to climb above him! Do you not notice how he circles around the envoy? Yesterday he held a reception for him, inviting palace performers! And what were you doing?”

  “I was at the Inspectorate,” Yi Yun shrugged. “Father entrusted me with a matter.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  More accurately, Father had graciously allowed him to take part in an investigation — the one concerning the intoxicating Hwangu pills. But that was hardly of interest to his grandfather.

  “You must choose your timing better, Great Prince,” Councilor Kim ground his teeth. The arrogant, forceful official bore an uncanny resemblance to the former Chief State Councilor Choi. The very memory of his former master made Yi Yun feel sick. “You must please the envoy and persuade him to hand you the letter of appointment. Bribe the barbarian, if need be. We have more than enough silver to drown him in it.”

  “I do not want that letter,” Yi Yun dared to break the predestined course of the exchange.

  “Who cares what you want?!” the councilor flared, striking the floor with his fist and finally shedding his ceremonial half-smile. “This concerns the interests of the entire state, not your petty fears, whelp!”

  “You forget yourself, Councilor Kim,” Yi Yun fixed him with an icy stare. “Leave my quarters.”

  “You know that I am right, Yun,” the old man hissed as he rose. “You must obtain that edict and that throne.”

  The words were dangerous. To discuss succession while the king still lived bordered on treason. Yi Yun frowned, his eyes narrowing. His grandfather snorted, shoved past the eunuch, and strode out. The prince followed him with a long look, then extended his long-empty cup to the side, waiting for it to be filled.

  His grandfather refused to accept defeat and continued his desperate attempts to push Yi Yun higher, while Yi Yun resisted him just as stubbornly. Perhaps it would have been easier to explain to Councilor Kim that he would become neither heir nor king, if he could name the reasons — but those secrets did not belong to him alone.