Chapter 697
Chapter 697
Chapter 697. The Ice Palace Marriage (2)
I smiled and continued speaking.
“Do not say such things. How could I possibly fail to inform you of such an important matter, Palace Head?” (Eun Seo-ho)
* Kkui?
Geumryeong. Be quiet.
The Palace Head nodded with a pleased expression.
“In any case, I congratulate the two of you on your marriage.” (Palace Head)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seo-ho)
The two of us expressed our thanks to her.
“There has never been a Divine Maiden with Ice Crystal Eyes marrying before, but you are not a disciple of this Northern Sea Ice Palace, so it does not matter.” (Palace Head)
After saying that, the Palace Head continued.
“That aside, have you ever heard of an Ice Palace marriage?” (Palace Head)
“This is the first I have heard of it.” (Eun Seo-ho)
The Ice Palace and marriage? Those words do not suit each other at all.
After all, the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace do not officially acknowledge marriage.
“It is an event that signifies the long-standing friendship between the Ice Palace and the Snowstorm Palace, in which the marriage of the Snowstorm Palace’s Palace Head or Young Palace Head is held here in the Ice Palace.” (Palace Head)
“This is truly the first I have heard of it.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“I imagine so. If my memory is correct, the last Ice Palace marriage was the marriage of the late previous Palace Head of the Snowstorm Palace.” (Palace Head)
“…….” (Eun Seo-ho)
Ah…… Since misfortune befell the Snowstorm Palace before Master could get married, that must have been the last time.
“Now that the bond between the Ice Palace and the Snowstorm Palace has been connected once more, I think it would not be bad to hold an Ice Palace marriage. What do you think?” (Palace Head)
There is something I must ask before saying yes or no to that.
“I would like to know exactly what this Ice Palace marriage is.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“It is not something so grand. It is simply one of the few festivals in this Ice Palace. Using the marriage of the Snowstorm Palace’s Palace Head or Young Palace Head as the pretext, that is.” (Palace Head)
“…….” (Eun Seo-ho)
“As you know, Young Palace Head, the rules of this Ice Palace are quite tight and strict. So it is also meant to let them breathe for a moment, even if only in that manner.” (Palace Head)
“Then is it not only good for the Ice Palace?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my question, the Ice Palace Head spoke.
“If you look at it only that way, yes. But everyone in the Ice Palace gives the bride and groom gifts, whether large or small.” (Palace Head)
Gifts?
“Also, from the moment the marriage is held in the Ice Palace, this Ice Palace formally acknowledges the marriage relationship.” (Palace Head)
I looked at Miss Seohyang.
It was not something I could decide on my own.
“What do you think?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“I will follow your will, Young Captain.” (Miss Seohyang)
I thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Understood. We will do so.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“You have thought well.” (Palace Head)
The Ice Palace Head pulled the bell cord, and Young Palace Head Bing Hae-rin entered.
“Did you call for me?” (Bing Hae-rin)
“The Young Palace Head here and the Divine Maiden have informed me that they are to be married.” (Palace Head)
“Marriage, you say?” (Bing Hae-rin)
“Yes.” (Palace Head)
At her words, Young Palace Head Bing Hae-rin politely congratulated us.
“Congratulations.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seo-ho)
The Palace Head nodded and said.
“So, we must prepare an Ice Palace marriage. Discuss it with the other disciples and prepare it. You may ask the elders for cooperation.” (Palace Head)
“Yes. I will prepare it immediately.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“Good.” (Palace Head)
Young Palace Head Bing Hae-rin left the Palace Head’s residence.
“Then you should go and rest as well.” (Palace Head)
“There is something I need to tell you before that.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“What is it?” (Palace Head)
“In truth, on my way here, I encountered bandits in Liaoning.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I explained it to her.
“……And so I have now prepared land for them and had them farm there.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“So such a thing happened.” (Palace Head)
The Palace Head tilted her head and asked.
“I understand your thoughts, but from the standpoint of Gwangjun Trading Company and the escort agency to which the warriors who lost their lives to those bandits belonged, it must have been a decision they were not pleased with.” (Palace Head)
“That is correct. So I also sought their understanding, and they understood from a broader perspective.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I took revenge by killing the bandits who had attacked us, rescued those who had been taken hostage, and recovered the goods that had been stolen.
That had some effect as well.
The people I brought this time are mostly elderly people, women, and children.
If they were left as they were, it was obvious they would either be massacred or taken away as slaves.
“I spent a considerable amount of money to prepare farmland for them, but would it not be a problem if other bandits attacked that place?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“That is true. So what is it that you want?” (Palace Head)
She grinned.
“Seeing as you say this to me, it seems you want something from me?” (Palace Head)
“Yes. I think it would be good if the agricultural products grown on that land were used as food for the Ice Palace. Was not the reason a food shortage occurred in the Ice Palace before because there was no place from which you could directly receive food supplies?” (Eun Seo-ho)
And so, because a buyer who had been bribed switched out the spiritual medicine prepared by the Ice Palace to buy food with fake goods, they had almost starved to death.
“I do not think we can guarantee that such a thing will not happen again in the future. So if you prepare a place to procure agricultural products directly like this, would it not be a little safer?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“That is true. However.” (Palace Head)
The Palace Head continued speaking.
“It is not as though we never thought about preparing tenant farmland for the Ice Palace in Liaoning. But as you know, if the Martial Alliance were to use that as an excuse to pick a quarrel, it would become troublesome, so we had no choice but to use that method.” (Palace Head)
At her words, I shook my head.
“Palace Head. I never said that I would hand over ownership of that land to the Ice Palace. I am merely proposing a regular food trade with the Ice Palace.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“If we do that, then officially it is your land, but to the bandits, it will look like farmland belonging to the Ice Palace.” (Palace Head)
“That is correct. And I am not asking you to station troops there at all times, either. It will be enough for you to occasionally go there, look around, and return.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“In other words, you mean to borrow the Ice Palace’s prestige.” (Palace Head)
She struck exactly at the heart of it.
I smiled and continued speaking.
“To borrow your prestige, how saddening. You will be securing a reliable food supplier with a small amount of effort. In return, I will provide the agricultural products at seventy percent of the price at which the Ice Palace previously bought them.” (Eun Seo-ho)
The Palace Head took the long bamboo pipe from her lips and said.
“So it is not free.” (Palace Head)
“Where in the world is anything free? I, too, spent a considerable amount buying that farmland.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my words, the Palace Head thought for a moment, then nodded.
“It is not a bad proposal.” (Palace Head)
It is good for me because I can protect my land and the people farming there, and it is good for the Northern Sea Ice Palace because they can receive a stable food supply at a low price.
If the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace come down often like that, the public order in the surrounding area will improve as well.
The existence that the bandits of Liaoning absolutely do not touch is none other than the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
As far as I know, the Northern Sea Ice Palace tracks down anyone who touches them to the very end and butchers them.
And because they do not simply kill them comfortably, they become an even greater object of fear.
Seeing this, I too learned a lesson.
Namely, when you crush someone, you must crush them thoroughly.
“I accept that proposal.” (Palace Head)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seo-ho)
Like that, the plan I had thought of proceeded safely.
Miss Seohyang and I were guided to our quarters.
But the quarters given to us were one room.
“The quarters are…… one room?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my question, the disciple who had guided us answered.
“Yes. Since you are to be married, there was an order to specially prepare one room for you.” (Disciple)
“…….” (Eun Seo-ho)
“The Palace Head said that if the Young Palace Head asks about this, I should ask whether there is perhaps some problem between the two of you.” (Disciple)
“A problem? There is no such thing.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Then that is good. If you need anything, please pull the bell cord.” (Disciple)
After the disciple left like that, I let out a sigh.
I do not know whether she is teasing us or being considerate, but somehow, this seems closer to the former.
I said to Miss Seohyang.
“Please use the bed, Miss.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“What do you mean by that?” (Miss Seohyang)
She opened her eyes round and asked back.
“Are you saying you will sleep on this cold stone floor?” (Miss Seohyang)
The floor of this Ice Palace is smooth, but as it is the Ice Palace, it is extremely cold.
“I cannot allow that. And we have already slept in one bed before, so there is no need for you to go that far.” (Miss Seohyang)
Well, that is true.
“If you refuse what I say, I may tell Palgap Soi.” (Miss Seohyang)
That would be a bit troublesome.
Palgap is firm when something is right. He will nag me tremendously.
“Understood. Then let us sleep together.” (Eun Seo-ho)
After washing and eating dinner, we separately visited a few people.
Because Brother Jin Ho’s mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law are here in this Northern Sea Ice Palace.
And while I was reading a book, Miss Seohyang called me.
“Are you not sleeping?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Ah! It has already gotten this late.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yes. You should go to sleep now. Hurry and lie down.” (Miss Seohyang)
I nodded and headed to the bed.
“Today, you did not make a boundary in the middle with an extra blanket.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“You will not come over even if I do not make a boundary, so I wondered whether there was any need to make one. Shall I make it?” (Miss Seohyang)
“N, no.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I shook my head and lay down on the bed.
Fortunately, the bed was wider than I expected.
Miss Seohyang also lay down to my left, and after confirming that, I said.
“I will put out the light.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yes.” (Miss Seohyang)
I waved my hand and put out the candle with my inner power.
Whoosh-!
Everything around us grew dark.
The bed was wide, but when I lay under the same blanket, my face reddened without my realizing it.
Not wanting Miss Seohyang to notice, I quietly pulled the blanket up and covered my face.
Then Geumryeong’s telepathy sounded.
* Kkui? Kku?
What are you doing when it is too dark to even see?
Ah…….
---
At that time.
A meeting room in the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
There were Bing Hae-rin and the elders of the Northern Sea Ice Palace there.
The desk was full of materials regarding the Ice Palace marriage.
“I remember the Ice Palace marriage back then being extremely splendid.” (Elder)
“It was.” (Elder)
As the elders were people who had spent a long time in this Northern Sea Ice Palace, they remembered the events of that time vividly.
“To be honest, I thought there would be no more Ice Palace marriages, but for an Ice Palace marriage to be held again like this!” (Elder)
“It is truly moving.” (Elder)
“Moreover, is the groom not Young Palace Head Eun Seo-ho?” (Elder)
“He is the benefactor of this Northern Sea Ice Palace. If not for him, we would all have starved to death.” (Elder)
They had not forgotten how he solved the past spiritual medicine switch incident and saved the Ice Palace by sending large quantities of food.
“That is why I think we cannot prepare this Ice Palace marriage carelessly.” (Elder)
At their words, Bing Hae-rin also nodded.
“I think so as well. Not only that matter, but Young Palace Head Eun Seo-ho has bestowed large and small acts of kindness upon our palace.” (Bing Hae-rin)
She looked around at the elders in the meeting room and spoke.
“Therefore, this Ice Palace marriage must be prepared even more grandly and splendidly.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“We will do our best.” (Elder)
“Then let us discuss how we should prepare this Ice Palace marriage.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“Yes.” (Elder)
Like that, they engaged in a heated discussion.
They assessed the available budget and discussed the most effective methods.
And at the end, they compiled all of it and made a plan for carrying out the Ice Palace marriage.
“I will submit this to the Palace Head and return.” (Bing Hae-rin)
Bing Hae-rin took it and headed for the Palace Head’s residence.
It was already late at night, but she knew well that the Palace Head would be awake.
Because a kind of side effect experienced by disciples of the Ice Palace the stronger the martial arts they practiced became was insomnia.
“Palace Head, it is I, Bing Hae-rin.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“Come in.” (Palace Head)
The door opened, and she entered.
“This is the plan for carrying out this Ice Palace marriage. Please review it.” (Bing Hae-rin)
The Palace Head took the plan and read it.
“There seem to be too many lamps to be lit in the bridal chamber here. There may not be enough air, and the atmosphere may become excessive as well, so reduce them by half.” (Palace Head)
“Yes.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“There is nothing else to say, so proceed with it as it is.” (Palace Head)
“Yes. Understood.” (Bing Hae-rin)
The Palace Head returned the plan and asked.
“Are you not envious?” (Palace Head)
“Pardon?” (Bing Hae-rin)
“I mean the marriage of Young Captain Eun Seo-ho and the Divine Maiden. I am asking whether you do not feel envious when you see it.” (Palace Head)
“I am not envious.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“The disciples of this Ice Palace cannot marry. So sometimes, I feel sorry for bringing you here.” (Palace Head)
“Please do not think that.” (Bing Hae-rin)
Bing Hae-rin continued speaking.
“I am grateful that you brought me to this Ice Palace. If not for this Ice Palace, I could not even have dreamed of avenging the families of the Snowstorm Palace.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“…….” (Palace Head)
The Palace Head looked at her silently for a moment, then brought up another topic.
“You have not been going outside the North Sea these days.” (Palace Head)
“I was thinking of going out soon. Then I will take my leave now.” (Bing Hae-rin)
Bing Hae-rin left the Palace Head’s residence, and the Palace Head watched her back with the long bamboo pipe in her mouth.
The Palace Head still remembered.
The child she had found among the remains of the Snowstorm Palace had been gagged.
It seemed they had deliberately done that so she could not make a sound, and thanks to that, her life had been saved.
When they brought her to the Ice Palace inn, she cried terribly sorrowfully.
They worried because she did nothing but cry for three whole days, but making such worries seem meaningless, from the fourth day on, she no longer cried.
And after becoming a disciple of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, she drove herself so hard that people said she was ruthless.
The only thing sustaining her now was vengeance.
“Hoo, I wish she would realize that there are many reasons to live in this world besides revenge.” (Palace Head)
.
.
.
Bing Hae-rin came out of the Palace Head’s residence.
Her eyes had sunk low.
To be honest, she was envious of the two people getting married.
If she too had been born into an ordinary family, no, even if the Snowstorm Palace had not suffered misfortune, she would not have made the choice to go to the Ice Palace and would have married someone.
But it was a useless thought.
Because right now, vengeance alone was the driving force of her life.
Like that, she returned to the meeting room.
“What happened?” (Elder)
At the elders’ question, she answered.
“She says to proceed as is, except for one revision.” (Bing Hae-rin)
After explaining this, Bing Hae-rin distributed the work among the elders.
“Then, I will be counting on you for an unforgettable Ice Palace marriage.” (Bing Hae-rin)
“Do not worry.” (Elder)
“I will not spare this old body for the finest Ice Palace marriage.” (Elder)
Hearing those words, Bing Hae-rin grinned.
When they met at the Ice Palace inn, she had been rather flustered, but now Eun Seo-ho was someone to whom the word friend suited best.
Somehow, she found herself looking forward to seeing him startled.
‘I never knew I had this side to me.’ (Bing Hae-rin)
It was a feeling she was not used to, but it was not such a bad feeling.