The Queen and the Dragon Warrior

Her heart skipped a beat. She turned back to face him, her expression filled with curiosity.

"Yes?"

Jade's smile was faint but warm, and his eyes held something deeper, something unspoken.

"It's dangerous for you to go alone. I'll escort you back to your chambers."

Princess Genie's face lit up, and without thinking, she responded with a smile that could not be hidden. "Yes, sure..."

Together, they walked slowly under the moonlight. The night was quiet, save for the soft rustle of the wind and the gentle sound of their footsteps on the ground. 

Neither of them spoke, but the silence between them felt comfortable, a shared understanding that transcended words.

In the stillness of the night, they walked through the palace grounds, side by side, as the world around them seemed to fade away.

Meanwhile, outside of the palace, a heavy, almost suffocating tension clung to the walls of Ju Tak's private office.

Seated around Ju Tak were several key officials, their faces grim. Among them, Oh Gun, a sharp-eyed advisor, broke the silence first.

"Sir," he said cautiously, "it seems the Princess is far more formidable than we had anticipated. What are your commands?"

The others nodded in agreement, their expressions troubled.

Ju Tak, however, remained unbothered. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against the armrest.

"She's won a single battle," he said dismissively. "No cause for alarm. Two competitions still remain."

He turned his gaze toward Hwan, the Supreme Judge, whose stoic face betrayed no emotion.

"I trust you will ensure our victory in the second competition, Sir."

Hwan bowed his head slightly, his voice firm. "Rest assured. We will prevail."

Ju Tak's lips curled into a cold smile.

"And as for the third and final contest," he continued, "it is determined by the court officials' votes. We have already secured the loyalty of many... bought with promises they cannot resist. There will be no surprises."

The officials exchanged satisfied glances and nodded in unison, their loyalty bound by ambition—and fear.

While the husbands of the Ju Tak faction were engaged in conversation, a different scene unfolded in the opposite room, where the Noble Women Society had gathered.

"This is absurd!" one of the ladies shouted, her voice laced with frustration.

In the center of the room, Lee Jan stood, her eyes sharp and aggressive as she clenched her fist in a silent show of anger.

One of the other ladies, her voice cautious, spoke up. "Lady Lee, what if Princess Genie wins this...?"

At that, Lee Jan's expression turned cold, and she scolded the lady with a cutting remark. "Watch your words, Lady," she said in a voice that sent a chill through the room.

The lady immediately fell silent, her lips pressed tightly together.

Though there were older women in the room—many of them far senior to Lee Jan, who was in her mid-thirties—it hardly mattered. Lee Jan stood at the very center of the power structure, for her husband was poised to be the next King.

The oldest lady present, Lee Jan's mother-in-law, spoke next, her tone measured. "I've heard that Princess Genie is somewhat clever when it comes to strategies."

Lee Jan bit her lip as she glanced at her mother-in-law. She couldn't afford to be impolite to her, no matter her frustration.

"But Mother," Lee Jan said, her voice softening as she tried to maintain composure, "this is only the first round. There's no way she could win the other two rounds, as you all know…"

Lee Jan cast a sly smile around the room. The other women's faces lit up with understanding as they recognized the certainty of the upcoming rounds, all of which seemed perfectly set up to favor Ju Tak.

"The next two rounds," Lee Jan continued, her voice regaining its usual composure, "the winner will be my husband, Ju Tak, for sure. It's all been arranged." She smiled again, a sly, confident expression that exuded control.

The chilly autumn wind swept fallen leaves across the village square, carrying them in wild spirals through the air. The scent of earth and crisp air mingled, marking the passage of the season as the villagers of Canin gathered in a wide circle around the open space.

It was the day of the second competition between Princess Genie and Ju Tak, and all eyes were focused on the square where the event would unfold. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, the quiet murmurs of the crowd blending with the rustling of the wind.

A single drum beat, deep and resonant, echoed through the air, signaling the start of the competition.

In the center of the square stood Princess Genie, her presence as regal as the crown she had yet to wear. Opposite her, Ju Tak stood with an air of quiet confidence, his eyes gleaming with calculation. Between them, the Supreme Judge, Hwan, stood like a sentinel, ready to preside over the contest.

Standing at the edge of the crowd were Jade and Moonsen, who had come with Princess Genie to Canin village. They watched from a distance, their gazes fixed on Genie. 

Jade's thoughts were silent, but his heart prayed with quiet hope. His eyes were soft as he admired the way Genie stood, calm and resolute in the face of the competition.

Moonsen, standing beside him, smiled softly, his eyes glowing with admiration for the Princess. He felt that her poise and grace were enough to reassure him that whatever the outcome, she was not to be underestimated.

Supreme Judge Hwan cleared his throat and spoke with solemn authority, his voice carrying over the hushed crowd.

"From this moment, the second competition will begin. This round will test the participants' wisdom in delivering judgments for the people. The one who receives more votes from the Canin villagers will be declared the winner."

The crowd held its breath in anticipation as Hwan continued, his gaze moving to the magistrate.

"Now then, magistrate," Hwan called, his voice ringing clear, "Please present the case of these two women."

At a subtle gesture from Supreme Judge Hwan, the village magistrate and two women stepped forward, making their way to the center of the square. The villagers watched closely, the tension palpable in the air.

"This case concerns a dispute between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law living in Canin Village," he began, his voice steady but carrying the weight of the situation. "The woman in blue is the widow of Gwak, and the woman in red is the wife of Gwak's son. Though Gwak squandered all his wealth through gambling, his son lived a diligent life and, through hard work, managed to accumulate his own fortune."

The magistrate paused, allowing the crowd to absorb the details. He continued, "A year ago, Gwak and his son were caught in a landslide while traveling the mountain path to the palace, and both lost their lives."

A murmur rippled through the crowd as the villagers exchanged glances, the weight of the tragedy settling over the square.

"The issue," the magistrate said, lowering his voice slightly, "lies in a letter left behind by the son."

The villagers fell silent, their attention fixed on him.

"Due to a hereditary heart condition, Gwak's son, aware that his time might be short, had written a will concerning his assets," magistrate explained. "However, the latter part of the will was torn off. The first part clearly states that all his wealth is to be inherited by one person, but with the rest missing, it is unclear who the intended heir was."

He glanced at the two women standing opposite each other, their faces a mixture of frustration and sorrow. "Thus, Gwak's widow and his son's wife are now in conflict over the inheritance."

As the magistrate finished, a hush fell over the crowd. The air seemed to thicken with uncertainty.

Princess Genie stood still, her gaze fixed ahead. 

'Please grant me wisdom,' she silently prayed, her thoughts a quiet plea to the heavens as she steeled herself for the task at hand. 

"Now, you will each be given ten minutes to reflect," he announced, his voice carrying clearly through the tense air. "Ju Tak will deliver his judgment first."

Princess Genie and Ju Tak stood side by side in the center of the square, both enveloped in the quiet that followed. The crowd grew still, awaiting the outcome, as the two competitors took their time to consider the case before them.

Jade, standing among the villagers, felt an odd sense of calm. He already knew the answer—after all, this was something he had discussed with Princess Genie on their way to Canin village. He had faith in her, in her judgment, and he was confident that she would find a solution, no matter how complex the issue appeared.

As he watched her, he allowed himself a smile—gentle, confident, and assured.

Moonsen, standing next to him, muttered softly, his voice laced with concern, "I hope Her Highness comes up with a clever judgment."

Jade, his eyes fixed on Genie, smiled more warmly. His confidence in her was unshakable.

"She will."