Flower petals fluttered gently in the breeze, drifting past the stone path that led to the secluded pavilion where Princess Genie sat alone for lunch.
She wasn't eating with much appetite, though she quietly picked at the rice and vegetables in her bowl. Her usual spark had dimmed—not out of sadness, but deep contemplation.
A few paces away, Lady Han and Lady's Attendant Park stood watch with worried expressions.
"Your Highness," Lady Han finally said, her voice tender but steady, "please don't dwell on the noble women's rudeness earlier. Their words hold little weight when spoken from insecurity."
Park added quickly, "Exactly, Your Highness. If anything, I think they were flustered because you said what needed to be said—truths they didn't want to hear."
Genie looked up at them, her expression softening at the sight of the two women who had always stood faithfully by her side. They were more than attendants—they were family in every sense that mattered.
"Thank you," she said gently. "Really. I appreciate your words. But I'm not upset... just thinking."
She laid her spoon down and folded her hands.
"I can see now that the Noble Women's Society isn't just a social group. It's a political machine. I believe they're working to elevate Ju Tak—Lady Lee Jan's husband—to the throne. That's their true motive. Their grip on the court is already strong, and if left unchecked, it will only grow stronger."
Lady Han's eyes narrowed slightly, while Lady's attendant Park let out a soft gasp.
"But that can't be allowed to happen," Genie continued, her voice low but resolute. "This kingdom isn't meant to be a playground for the nobility. It exists for the people—for their welfare, their happiness. If power stays in the hands of a few who hunger only for more... then Hana will rot from within."
She shook her head, then scooped another spoonful of rice into her mouth. Her expression was calm again, but her eyes burned with quiet fire.
Just then, a royal servant approached the garden, walking cautiously between the flowered hedges.
Lady Han turned. "Yes? What brings you here?"
The servant bowed and gestured toward someone behind him. "The official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs... Moonsen. He requests a moment with Her Highness."
Genie blinked in surprise. Moonsen had only introduced himself the day before, with a courteous bow and a charming smile that had struck her as sincere. She hadn't expected to see him again so soon.
"Let him come," she said.
The servant bowed once more and stepped aside.
Moonsen appeared from behind the hedge, wearing the same neatly pressed robes of his office and that same affable smile. He approached with light steps, but the air around him shimmered with grace and intent.
"Forgive me for intruding, Your Highness," he said, bowing deeply.
Genie smiled. "No intrusion at all. I was just about to finish."
She motioned toward the seat across from her. Moonsen sat down politely, placing a book wrapped in silk cloth on the table between them.
"I came to deliver something," he said. "The book you mentioned yesterday—the one about the sea that surrounds the earth."
Genie's eyes widened as she reached for it. "You found it?"
"I remembered I had a copy at home," Moonsen replied with a modest grin. "It's yours, if you'd like."
Her smile grew warm with gratitude. "That's very kind, but I'll return it to you once I've finished reading."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
The conversation between them had just begun to take on a quiet, intimate rhythm when footsteps approached across the gravel path. Genie didn't notice at first, but Lady Han did.
Jade.
The Captain of the Royal Guard for the Princess's Pavilion had just finished his administrative duties and was crossing through the garden. His expression, usually stoic, darkened slightly as his eyes fell upon the pair seated at the stone table—Genie leaning forward slightly, Moonsen smiling with effortless charm.
'He's here again…' Jade thought, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.
Genie looked up from her book just in time to see Jade approaching. With a bright wave of her hand, she called out, "Jade! Come here—I want you to see this!"
Jade hesitated for a brief moment, then made his way toward her, his steps measured and uncertain. He stopped beside her table, hands loosely clasped behind his back.
"It's a book about the oceans of the earth," Genie said, her face lighting up with childlike joy. "I've been searching for it for weeks, and Moonsen just brought it to me—he had it at home!"
Her eyes sparkled as she held the worn, leather-bound book to her chest. The sun caught her smile, making her look younger than her years. Jade gave a small nod, unsure how to respond. "Good for you, Your Highness," he said quietly.
Moonsen and Jade's eyes met for the briefest moment—then Moonsen's voice broke the silence.
"Your Highness, I understand you have your next engagement soon. I'll take my leave," he said politely, standing up from his seat and offering a bow.
Genie rose with him, smiling warmly. "Thank you again for this, Moonsen. I'll return it once I finish."
"There's no need," Moonsen replied with an easy smile. "Please enjoy it."
He cast a polite bow at Jade then turned and walked away from the Princess Pavilion, his footsteps casual, confident.
Jade remained beside Genie, silently watching her as she flipped through the pages, absorbed in the illustrations and descriptions of foreign seas. Her happiness was unmistakable.
'She really does love it,' Jade thought, a knot forming in his chest. He couldn't quite name the feeling—only that it left him uneasy.
Wanting to shift her attention, he asked, "Your Highness, isn't it time for your palace protocol training?"
Genie shook her head without looking up. "Not today. I canceled it. I have an important meeting with my father."
Her voice was calm but resolute. Something in her expression had shifted—subtle, yet unmistakable. Jade couldn't guess what the meeting was about, but he could sense the weight of it hanging in the air.
He gave a respectful nod. "Understood, Your Highness."
But inside, the unease remained.
A hush hung in the royal chamber as Princess Genie and King Gen sat across from one another at the small table by the king's bedside. Afternoon light filtered gently through the sheer curtains, casting a warm, flickering glow across the old monarch's tired face.
King Gen, draped in soft royal robes, leaned forward slightly, his hands folded atop the polished surface of the table. His eyes—once commanding—now bore the weight of years and illness, yet they still held the same sharp glint of wisdom Genie had always known.
"So, Father," Genie began, her voice calm yet tinged with concern, "this isn't something we can afford to overlook anymore. The Noble Women Society… they're holding far too much influence. Their husbands—the ministers, the officials—they've already formed an alliance. A powerful one."
King Gen gave a solemn nod. "I know," he said, his tone grave. "I've known for some time. But I held my silence, thinking it best not to burden you just yet. You had only just returned to the palace after so many years. I wanted to give you time."
He paused, the breath he took deeper than the last.
"But you're right, Genie. Things have grown more unstable than even I anticipated. That is why," he continued, lifting his gaze to hers, "I wish to speak to you about the succession of the throne."
Genie didn't flinch. She had expected this conversation for days now—perhaps even longer. Ever since her return, it had lingered in the air, unspoken but always present. She met her father's eyes and gave a slow, respectful nod.
King Gen continued, "You've seen how my health has declined. I no longer have the strength to rule for much longer. I wanted to speak with you sooner, but I feared overwhelming you. You've been gone for eleven years, and I thought… perhaps you needed time to adjust. But now I must ask—what are your thoughts, my daughter? Can you accept the throne?"
Genie took a long breath. Her hands folded in her lap, knuckles gently pressed together. She had been praying about this—long before she had even set foot inside the palace walls again. The weight of responsibility didn't surprise her. It had simply waited, like an unopened letter, for the right moment to be read.
"Father," she said slowly, her voice unwavering, "as much as the thought of taking the throne is daunting—especially after so many years away—what I've seen since my return leaves me no choice. I believe I must accept it. Not for the sake of lineage, or power. But for the people."
She paused, eyes narrowing slightly with conviction.
"I cannot stand by and let the nobles—those who seek only to protect their own power—control the future of Hana. If we allow them to continue unchecked, our kingdom will not serve its citizens. It will serve the privileged. And that's not what this nation was built on."
King Gen exhaled slowly, a soft smile rising to his lips. It wasn't just relief that crossed his face—it was pride.
"You understand well," he said gently. "And you speak with the voice of a true ruler. But Genie… are you ready to gather your supporters? You know the succession won't come easily. Ju Tak's backers are numerous. They're pushing for him to take the throne."
Genie didn't hesitate. Her eyes met his with calm strength.
"I've thought of that too," she said. "For the military side, I'm grateful to have Jade. He's not just loyal—he's someone I can trust with my life."
King Gen chuckled softly. "Jade is a rare one, that's true. Unshakably loyal, and quietly fierce."
Then, after a brief silence, he added, "And what of diplomacy? Of foreign affairs? Do you have anyone in mind to support you in that arena?"
Genie's mind stirred, and an image rose instantly—Moonsen. His gentle voice, his precise words, his ability to speak with respect but not fear. The book he had brought her that afternoon now lay carefully beside her on a velvet cushion.
'Moonsen…' she thought.
"There may be someone," she said at last. "Someone who could be a bridge between us and the world beyond Hana."
'He is the official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,' Genie thought, her gaze momentarily drifting to the window beside her father's bed. 'And through our talks yesterday and today, it seems he shares the same vision I do—placing the welfare and happiness of our people above all else, under the guidance of Heaven. That can't be a coincidence.'
She turned back to her father, her voice steady but warm. "Father, do you know Moonsen? He was this year's top scholar in the civil service exam."
King Gen's brows lifted with faint recognition.
"I've only known him for a short time," Genie continued, "but he's proven thoughtful, intelligent, and well-versed in his field. Most importantly, he seems to value the same things I do. Of course, I need to continue observing him… but he feels like the right fit."
A thoughtful smile spread across the King's lips. "Moonsen," he repeated softly. "Yes, I know him. His father once served this kingdom with great integrity—he was a minister at the Foreign Affairs office as well. A sharp mind, and a loyal heart. If the son is anything like the father… then yes, I believe you may be right."
Genie smiled, her heart swelling with conviction and newfound hope. "Then I have both the military and diplomatic support I need—for now."
King Gen's hand reached across the table, gently resting over hers. "Yes, my daughter. Then it began. Your journey to the throne."
She nodded, her expression shining with a quiet brilliance. "It has."