Homecoming
“As soon as the imperial household is put back in order, you should hold an enthronement ceremony.”
Deoksugung had been blown to pieces, and for now everyone was combing through the ruins, recovering bodies and, if possible, digging out survivors.
That left me walking through Gyeongbokgung, the Republic of Korea’s main imperial palace.
“An enthronement ceremony?”
I tilted my head at Seo Yu-jin’s words.
“Your Majesty did declare the succession through a broadcast, but that was only an emergency proclamation. To prove the stability of the nation, both at home and abroad, an official enthronement ceremony is absolutely necessary.”
“So you want me to put on a show.”
“Sometimes a nation is held together by a show.”
I stopped walking and looked slowly around the empty halls. With the entire imperial family gone and even the staff moving with exaggerated caution, the silence felt suffocating.
“Let’s hold off.”
This wasn’t the time for some lavish ceremony, not when the stink of blood still hadn’t faded from the air.
That didn’t mean I was refusing outright. Just that it wasn’t the priority right now.
“The first order of business is rebuilding a government that can clean up this disaster. Isn’t that right?”
Seo Yu-jin fell silent for a moment at my words, then lowered her head.
“Indeed. Then the most urgent matter is the formation of a cabinet.”
At present, the cabinet was completely hollowed out.
The prime minister and the ministers who had been at the wedding hall had all vanished in the bombing.
“The various ministries are currently operating under acting vice-ministers in emergency mode, but the country cannot continue like this.”
Seo Yu-jin continued.
“We need a focal point to command the executive branch immediately. Therefore, you must appoint a new prime minister as soon as possible.”
“I do, huh.”
Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. The Emperor appoints and dismisses the prime minister and, upon the prime minister’s recommendation, the ministers.
Article 54. The prime minister and ministers require the National Assembly’s confidence in order to perform their duties.
Which meant that if the prime minister I nominated failed to win confirmation in the Assembly, the newly launched imperial regime would take a serious blow to its authority.
“Do you have anyone in mind?”
“I’ve narrowed it down to a few.”
Seo Yu-jin flipped through the screen, bringing up the profiles of political figures.
But there were few people who impressed me. Every single one of them had some fatal flaw, or they were too small to steady a storm this big.
“There really aren’t any capable people in this country, are there.”
“In the case of Assemblyman Lee Hyeon-ryong here, he has served as Minister of Finance and Economy, so he offers a measure of stability.”
“And he’s also from a distinguished house.”
“...Yes.”
“But he only has stability going for him. He doesn’t look like the kind of man who can punch through a political storm drenched in blood. He’s the textbook bureaucrat, isn’t he?”
When the screen changed again, Seo Yu-jin’s finger paused.
A photograph appeared of a white-haired gentleman with a kindly smile.
“Kim Yang-han.”
I looked down at the name on the profile.
“Former chairman of the Daehan Party and current standing adviser. Eleven terms in office, and unusually for politics, he’s known for being incorruptible.”
“And?”
“He’s founded three charitable foundations out of his own pocket, and his public recognition is overwhelming.”
“Continue.”
“Despite repeated requests, he has never personally taken the office of prime minister, and... he often spoke bluntly even to the late Emperor. Among the public, the prevailing opinion is that Kim Yang-han is different.”
“Currently, he’s being mentioned over and over again in Yeouido and in the press—perhaps even across the entire country—as the man to call in as a relief pitcher.”
Seo Yu-jin paused briefly before continuing.
“...That is how he is known publicly, yes.”
“Meaning the reality is different.”
I knew it too.
The head of the prestigious Gyeonghwa Noble Families, a veteran of politics. And a behind-the-scenes power broker who had constantly tried to manipulate the villainess, Kim A-ra, and rule the country from the shadows.
The enemy I had to bring down had revealed himself.
“Bring Chairman Kim to the palace.”
“...Should I hint that this is about nominating him as prime minister?”
“No.”
At my answer, Seo Yu-jin looked concerned.
“Then you must be even more cautious. Simply inviting retired Chairman Kim into the palace will make the nomination seem like a foregone conclusion.”
“I know.”
I said it calmly.
If a battle couldn’t be avoided, then wasn’t the only option to shake the board first?
* * *
Only two days later, the imperial summons came, and Kim Yang-han let the corners of his mouth curl ever so slightly upward.
Thanks to the media affiliates under JD Group moving in unison, it seemed the girl was still useful after all.
Of course, the Emperor likely had no other choice.
The young sovereign had moved boldly with the army and survived on a single burst of courage.
But commanding troops and governing a nation were entirely different domains.
If he had to rely on someone, it could only be him.
Kim Yang-han entered the palace and bowed with utmost deference.
His hands were folded, his waist bent deeply—a flawless, exquisite prostration.
“Your Majesty. This subject, Kim Yang-han, pays audience to the imperial throne. May you live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and yet another ten thousand years.”
“Oh my goodness! Chairman, why are you doing this?”
Lee Jin sprang up in alarm. He hurried over and tried to grab Kim Yang-han by the arm, lifting him back to his feet.
“Please, get up. If you, the great elder of the nation, do this, I won’t know where to put myself.”
But Kim Yang-han gently pushed away Lee Jin’s hands and pressed his forehead to the floor once more.
“That would be entirely inappropriate, Your Majesty. The Emperor is Heaven itself, and the father and mother of the realm. When a subject meets his sovereign, it is only proper to show the utmost respect; how could Your Majesty say such a distressing thing? I beg you to understand.”
“Ah... I don’t know palace etiquette very well, so I nearly committed a grave discourtesy. I’m truly ashamed.”
Lee Jin scratched the back of his head awkwardly and stepped back, and only then did Kim Yang-han slowly rise.
“Even while I was bedridden, I heard of Your Majesty’s heroic bearing. A triumph truly befitting an emperor of great stature.”
“You flatter me. I was just lucky. But even though the rebellion has been put down, the country is still a mess. We need Chairman Kim’s wisdom desperately.”
At Lee Jin’s words, a faint glint flashed in Kim Yang-han’s eyes.
“Your Majesty. What is most urgent now is soothing the shaken public and restoring the trust of the international community. I will gladly offer whatever meager ties and fortune I possess for the sake of the nation.”
As his relentless eloquence continued, Lee Jin kept nodding, admiration plainly written across his face.
“As expected of Chairman Kim! Hearing you speak makes the fog in front of my eyes clear. With someone like you in this country, how can there not still be hope?”
By then the atmosphere had ripened, and Lee Jin’s attitude was more favorable than ever.
That was when Kim Yang-han turned to the main point.
“However, Your Majesty, if we are to strengthen the nation, there is first a matter that must be carried out. For the sake of the people, I humbly request permission to offer my counsel.”
“Speak. I’ll listen to anything.”
“Please lift the state of national emergency at once.”
The young Emperor would surely enjoy the flower path laid out in his hands.
It wouldn’t be easy to put it down. And yet politics ultimately ran on legitimacy.
“It was a necessary measure to crush the remnants of the rebellion, but if the political situation remains this tense for too long, the people will suffer. The ringleader Song Hak-su has already been captured, and hasn’t the mastermind behind him, the Min Do-yeong family, been thoroughly detained as well? Every rotten wound has already been cut away.”
Kim Yang-han said it with a grief-stricken expression.
“Now that the matter is all but settled, it is time to withdraw the army’s muzzle and bring stability back to the market. It would be proper to leave this emergency state as soon as possible and return to normal governance.”
“Hmm...”
“If my foolish words have clouded the ears of a wise sovereign, I beg forgiveness.”
“How could you say something so hurtful? With the country in this shape, I need an excellent elder like Chairman Kim to help me. Your words are entirely correct.”
“I am undeserving, Your Majesty.”
“I really am blessed. In a crisis like this, to have an elder like Chairman Kim by my side.”
Lee Jin said that.
“Indeed... just as I heard. I can’t help but admire Chairman Kim’s insight. You’ve pointed out things I hadn’t even considered, and that puts my mind at ease.”
“Not at all. It’s merely the caution of an old man.”
“We can’t bury such exceptional judgment deep in the palace and leave it there. I think I’ll have to place a great burden on Chairman Kim before long.”
It was practically a hint that he would nominate him as prime minister.
Kim Yang-han bowed for a long time, looking down at the floor.
He had won.
It was this easy to wrap up a greenhorn.
* * *
Right after the so-called “conversation with a national elder” ended.
Kim Yang-han was given a respectful send-off by Seo Yu-jin, who accompanied him all the way outside the palace, and then he climbed into his car.
He had effectively been told that the prime ministerial nomination was coming, so his mind was more than relaxed.
But then—
“Chairman. It’s JD Broadcasting. They’ve been ordered to air an emergency address to the nation from Gyeongbokgung.”
Kim Yang-han frowned.
They had parted less than an hour ago. What on earth was he planning to say?
The first thing that flashed through his mind was an announcement of the prime ministerial nomination, but...
No matter how unfamiliar the Emperor was with state affairs, was he really going to announce it this abruptly without even properly coordinating the schedule?
“Turn it up.”
“Yes, yes!”
The secretary hurriedly increased the volume.
Lee Jin’s voice came through the speaker.
The atmosphere over the radio was anything but normal.
An apology? Why on earth was the Emperor apologizing? And not even long after being enthroned, at that.
“...Hah.”
The voice drifting from the radio cut the air in the car cold as a blade.
Click.
The broadcast ended.
The limousine rolling down the road fell silent as a grave.
Kim Yang-han’s fists shook uncontrollably, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
He had excluded the prime minister and the Gyeonghwa Noble Families alike.
So he’s basically going to rule directly from here on out?
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