Chapter 698
Chapter 698
Chapter 698. The Ice Palace Marriage (3)
I opened my eyes, sat up in bed, and looked to the side.
But Miss Seohyang was nowhere to be seen.
Huh?
When did she wake up? I did not sense her presence at all.
Then the door opened, and Miss Seohyang came in.
“You are awake.” (Miss Seohyang)
“When did you wake up?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“About a meal’s time ago. You were sleeping very soundly.” (Miss Seohyang)
“I was?” (Eun Seo-ho)
In truth, I do not sleep very deeply.
That became even more so after I reached the transcendent realm. I am always sensitive to the surrounding energy and sounds.
But here in the Northern Sea Ice Palace, I would sleep deeply without any of that.
Does that mean I feel that comfortable with this place’s energy?
“You need to circulate your qi and regulate your breathing, do you not? I will stand guard for you.” (Miss Seohyang)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seo-ho)
Like that, Miss Seohyang and I took turns standing guard while we circulated our qi and regulated our breathing.
And when we washed up and came out, breakfast had already been set in the room.
“Thank you.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my words of thanks, the disciple expressed humility.
“It is nothing. Please enjoy your meal.” (Disciple)
She continued speaking.
“It seems it will take about two days to prepare the Ice Palace marriage. Therefore, we would like to ask for your understanding regarding this.” (Disciple)
Our schedule would be delayed that much, but it could not be helped.
“Understood.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“When the two of you finish your meal, the disciples will come to take your body measurements.” (Disciple)
“Pardon? Our body measurements?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“We must make the wedding clothes, after all.” (Disciple)
They are even making separate wedding clothes.
Everyone is more serious about the Ice Palace marriage than I expected.
“But is it possible to make wedding clothes within two days?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Of course. You need not worry.” (Disciple)
After we finished eating.
A group of disciples visited my quarters.
As though they had properly prepared, they set up a screen and took the measurements of Miss Seohyang and me.
Beside them, a disciple who seemed to be a painter drew our portraits.
“You are even drawing pictures?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yes. Since the Ice Palace marriage is an important event for our palace, yet does not occur often, records are important. Therefore, we leave records in this way.” (Disciple)
She continued speaking.
“That way, those of later generations will not suffer difficulties.” (Disciple)
“I suppose so. Then the library of the Northern Sea Ice Palace must have many such materials.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“That is correct.” (Disciple)
She spoke with a proud expression.
“There is probably no library in this murim with materials as vast as those in our palace. And the weather here is also optimized for preserving records.” (Disciple)
Well, that would be true.
When preserving books, moisture and insects are the greatest trouble.
After our measurements were taken, we were given free time.
I wanted to take a walk inside the Ice Palace, but since the disciples were moving about busily preparing the Ice Palace marriage, a walk seemed a bit difficult.
Because it felt like I would get in their way for no reason.
Then Miss Seohyang spoke.
“I heard before that there is a memorial space for the Snowstorm Palace here.” (Miss Seohyang)
“Yes. That is right.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“May we go there for a moment? Since I am marrying the Young Palace Head of the Snowstorm Palace, I feel I should at least pay my respects there.” (Miss Seohyang)
Ah…….
I had forgotten that.
It is proper etiquette to inform them there, but it had not occurred to me.
She also already knows that I am the Young Palace Head of the Snowstorm Palace. I thought it would not be proper to keep from her the dangers I carry.
“Let us go there right away.” (Eun Seo-ho)
We informed a disciple of our destination and left our quarters.
The memorial space where the remains of the Snowstorm Palace warriors who died in battle are enshrined lies to the west of the Ice Palace.
I had already been there two or three times, so we were able to find it without much difficulty.
Soon, the sculpture modeled after the Snowstorm Palace came into view.
After I became the Young Palace Head of the Snowstorm Palace before, I had come here to formally pay my respects.
I remembered expressing my own resolve back then.
“This is the place.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I approached it first, clasped my hands, and bowed my head, and Miss Seohyang also stood beside me and bowed her head with clasped hands.
“I have come again. You must be wondering who this beautiful young lady beside me is, are you not? She is the person who will become my wife.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“I am Gwak Seohyang…… no, Dong Ja-ryeong.” (Miss Seohyang)
She spoke her real name.
“I am lacking in many ways, but please look kindly on me and watch over me from now on.” (Miss Seohyang)
At that, I smiled faintly.
“She is not lacking in anything, and she is a young lady far too good for me. If you do not permit this marriage, I will never marry for the rest of my life, so please think carefully on your own.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my half-threatening words, Miss Seohyang’s eyes widened.
“Um, if you say such things…….” (Miss Seohyang)
“It is all right. And this is my true feeling as well.” (Eun Seo-ho)
After finishing our greetings like that, we turned around to head back to our quarters.
Then Miss Seohyang spoke.
“You know the writing on the wall. What do you think it means?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Pardon? What writing are you talking about?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Over there.” (Miss Seohyang)
Saying that, Miss Seohyang headed somewhere, and I followed behind her.
The place we soon arrived at was one corner of the Ice Palace wall.
“Here. There is writing here.” (Miss Seohyang)
She pointed to the wall as she said that, but I could see no letters.
“I cannot see it. It seems it is visible only to you, Officer Gwak.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“It must only be visible to my Ice Crystal Eyes.” (Miss Seohyang)
“It seems so. But what does it say?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Mm, let me see…… It says, I hereby give this as a gift to you, who have decided to walk a difficult path together with the Black Dragon. And it is signed Snow Blossom Star Controller.” (Miss Seohyang)
Snow Blossom Star Controller?
Going by that title, they must have been an incredible existence who moved snow blossoms.
One who moves snow blossoms…….
Then could they be someone connected to the Snowstorm Palace?
“But the Black Dragon? What could that mean?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Ah, that likely refers to me. The truth is, I have a constitution called the Black Dragon Sacred Body. I almost died because of it.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I smiled awkwardly.
“I am sorry I did not tell you sooner. I told you about the Snowstorm Palace, but I did not think to tell you about my constitution, the Black Dragon Sacred Body.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“No. You said you almost died because of it, so are you all right now?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Yes. I am all right now.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I briefly explained the circumstances I had gone through because of the Black Dragon Sacred Body.
“In truth, even I do not know everything about it. And I would like you to keep this secret as well. Master told me to keep it secret.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Of course. But when you say Black Dragon, there is something I think of.” (Miss Seohyang)
She continued speaking.
“My mother said she saw a Black Dragon in a dream before giving birth to me. In other words, my conception dream was a Black Dragon. I do not know the details, since she did not tell me that much.” (Miss Seohyang)
“I see. But it says gift. Is there nothing there?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Ah, just a moment. There is something inside here.” (Miss Seohyang)
She thrust her hand straight into the wall, and soon took something out.
It was something long wrapped in white cloth.
Could it be?
I took it and removed the cloth.
Then a single sword revealed itself.
A white sword.
Sreureung.
I drew the sword.
Its blade shone transparently, as if made of ice.
And a name was engraved on the blade.
[Seolhong]
Like the meaning snow rainbow, whenever it moved and caught the light, the blade showed a variety of colors.
“It is a fine sword.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I could feel that it was a famous sword.
Then the Seolhong Sword suddenly trembled as if resonating.
And I could feel the Silver Mist Sword at my waist trembling as well.
The Silver Mist Sword was glad to have met Seolhong, and the Seolhong Sword was responding to it.
Then could it be?
“This…… I think my Silver Mist Sword and this Seolhong Sword are a pair. The two swords are resonating.” (Eun Seo-ho)
Considering that the Silver Mist Sword was the sword handed down to the Palace Head of the Snowstorm Palace, could the Seolhong Sword be the treasure handed down to the wife of the Snowstorm Palace’s Palace Head?
Then the person who put this here…… could only be the Founder.
Someone who could hide it in the wall of the Ice Palace.
Someone who could use something like formations in this way so it could not be seen by others.
Someone who could know in advance that Miss Seohyang had the Ice Crystal Eyes.
Putting all of that together, the answer emerged.
In that case, this is a wedding gift from the Founder.
In this way, he answered on behalf of those who had already passed away and could not answer.
Congratulations on this marriage.
Then we should accept it gratefully.
“Officer Gwak, this belongs to you. It is a wedding gift from the ancestors.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Is it all right for me to have it?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Of course.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I nodded.
“Was it not arranged so that only you could see it, Officer Gwak?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“That must be so.” (Miss Seohyang)
She took hold of the sword.
At that moment, the focus in her eyes blurred, and then she smiled and said.
“I have met a good friend.” (Miss Seohyang)
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.
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We returned to our quarters.
Then we sent word that we wished to meet the Palace Head.
A little later, the disciple guarding the Palace Head’s residence came to find us.
“The Palace Head told me to bring you.” (Disciple)
“Yes. Let us go.” (Eun Seo-ho)
We headed to the Palace Head’s residence.
It is proper etiquette to report such things right away.
The Seolhong Sword is a treasure of the Snowstorm Palace, but we found it in the Ice Palace.
“Come in.” (Palace Head)
The Palace Head welcomed us.
“What is it?” (Palace Head)
“Today, we went to the western space that memorializes the Snowstorm Palace. I thought we should inform them of our marriage.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Well done.” (Palace Head)
“But there, Officer Gwak discovered this.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I held out the Seolhong Sword before the Palace Head.
The Palace Head tilted her head and tried to touch the sword, but she could not grasp it.
As though she were trying to grasp mist.
At that, the Palace Head spoke in surprise.
“Could this be Seolhong?” (Palace Head)
“Do you know of this sword?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“I have never seen it in person, but I have seen it in our palace’s library. It is said to be a sword that cannot be grasped unless one is a suitable master.” (Palace Head)
She continued speaking.
“And it is also the sword of the lady of the Snowstorm Palace.” (Palace Head)
So it was as expected.
“I heard it disappeared quite a long time ago, yet it was in our palace! Could you explain the details?” (Palace Head)
At that, Miss Seohyang explained the whole story.
But…….
The Seolhong Sword cannot be grasped unless one is its master, scattering like mist, and the Silver Mist Sword drives anyone who is not its master mad when they grasp it.
Somehow, it feels as though their names have been switched.
After all, a rainbow can also mean bewitching and driving one mad.
Perhaps noticing what I was thinking, the Palace Head spoke.
“The Silver Mist Sword and the Seolhong Sword each contain the opposite meaning in their names. It is said they were named that way to signify that husband and wife share their fate together.” (Palace Head)
“I see.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“However, the master of the Silver Mist Sword can grasp the Seolhong Sword, and the master of the Seolhong Sword will not go mad even if they grasp the Silver Mist Sword.” (Palace Head)
So that was why I had been able to grasp the Seolhong Sword.
Miss Seohyang spoke.
“In any case, it is truly a wondrous sword. To think it scatters like mist unless one is its master. But that master means the wife of the Young Palace Head, and yet I still…….” (Miss Seohyang)
At that, the Palace Head grinned.
“Formalities like wedding ceremonies are not what matter. Since your hearts already love one another, it must already regard you as husband and wife.” (Palace Head)
“Ah…….” (Miss Seohyang)
“Ahem.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At those words, Miss Seohyang’s and my faces reddened.
The Palace Head looked at us as if finding us adorable, then continued speaking.
“Those two swords were made long ago by the blacksmith Cheongtae, who belonged to the Snowstorm Palace.” (Palace Head)
“There was a blacksmith in the Snowstorm Palace?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Of course. That is why the Snowstorm Palace supplied weapons to our palace at the time as well.” (Palace Head)
“I see.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“In any case, that blacksmith’s skill was evaluated as having reached the heavens, and I understand that the essence of it was the Silver Mist Sword and the Seolhong Sword.” (Palace Head)
“To think such techniques were lost because of the calamity that befell the Snowstorm Palace…… it is a shame.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my words, the Palace Head tilted her head.
“Lost?” (Palace Head)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“No. Only some of the descendants of the blacksmith Cheontae remained in the Snowstorm Palace, and the rest left the Snowstorm Palace and settled in the Empire.” (Palace Head)
“……Pardon?” (Eun Seo-ho)
Then that means those descendants are in the Empire now?
“By any chance, do you know where they are?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“That, I do not know either.” (Palace Head)
Then it cannot be helped.
There is one more thing I must ask the Palace Head.
“By any chance, do you know who Snow Blossom Star Controller is?” (Eun Seo-ho)
The Palace Head asked back as if puzzled.
“Are you asking me that because you truly do not know?” (Palace Head)
“Yes.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I am asking because I truly do not know. Would I ask if I knew?
It is not as though I would dare to test you, Palace Head.
I know my life is precious, too.
“Ah, well. I suppose you may not know.” (Palace Head)
As if understanding something, the Palace Head nodded.
“Snow Blossom Star Controller is the title of the one whom the Snowstorm Palace serves as its Founder.” (Palace Head)
I had wondered who could possess such an impressive title, and as expected, my guess was right.
“Then this really is a wedding gift given to Officer Gwak.” (Eun Seo-ho)
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.
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We returned to our quarters again.
After hearing the explanation from the Palace Head, Miss Seohyang’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the Seolhong Sword.
“I want to properly hold this sword once.” (Miss Seohyang)
“My body has been itching to move as well, so shall we spar once?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Good!” (Miss Seohyang)
We headed to the training ground.
The Ice Palace had a fairly wide training ground, so we could move about to our hearts’ content.
And the best thing was that even if the floor happened to be gouged or the wall collapsed, I would feel less sorry.
Because construction materials were scattered everywhere in all directions.
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.
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The promised two-day preparation period ended.
Miss Seohyang and I changed into ceremonial robes.
I had no idea what the red ceremonial robes were made of, but they were extremely light and soft.
It was my first time seeing this kind of silk that sparkled when it caught the light.
“What kind of silk is this?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Would you like to guess?” (Disciple)
Then shall I think about it?
At that moment, my eyes widened when I saw the people entering as the door to my quarters opened.