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Royal Command 御命
The Majesty of the Son of Heaven (天子之尊).
Since ancient times, the king has been said to be heaven itself, the most absolute existence.
The same holds true for 21st century South Korea. Nearly a hundred years have passed since the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, but the dignity and legitimacy of the royal family remain as solid as ever.
What has changed is merely how the world operates. The cabinet is led by the prime minister and managed by various state ministers. Under the ideology of reigning but not ruling, the king maintains authority as a symbolic figure.
It would be nice if state affairs ran smoothly in accordance with this, but as is always the case with politics, there is much discord, and power struggles among bureaucrats are particularly rampant. Among them, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Culture would glare at each other whenever they met.
“You two are truly beyond salvation.”
King Lee Won tapped the armrest of his throne and spoke in a weary tone. The two ministers standing before him bowed their heads deeply, saying they were sorry. The sight was utterly ridiculous.
“I’m getting used to mediating your fights. It’s not like you’re young—haven’t you both long passed fifty?”
“We apologize, Your Majesty.”
“This isn’t the first or second time—it’s already the fifth. I warned you that if you display such disgraceful behavior again, I will punish you severely, but my words seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Should I really apply the torture rack like in the old days?”
Lee Won is a benevolent king. He rarely shows anger, and his gentle tone and soft smile are ever-present.
However, the fighting between the two officials had become tiresome even for this benevolent king. They had always been at odds, but this time they had grabbed each other by the collar during a live-broadcast state council meeting. Their ugly behavior had spread nationwide, and the cabinet’s prestige had fallen to rock bottom.
The power struggle between the Kim clan and the Park clan could be called a long-standing tradition. Even after dozens of generations, nothing has changed.
‘Bitter enemies.’ That’s the only way to describe their relationship.
Lee Won tapped the dragon scales carved into the armrest with his fingertips. As someone who had mediated between them for decades, he felt that admonishments would no longer work. After pondering with his chin resting on his hand, his eyes soon lit up.
“How about becoming in-laws?”
The moment he heard those words, Minister of Finance Kim Dae-geon burst out laughing. The absurdity made him forget he was before the king.
“You’re laughing?”
“N-no, I just had a cough come out without thinking… I apologize.”
Kim Dae-geon hastily shut his mouth. With his head bowed, he glanced sideways to see Minister of Culture Park Jae-guk standing with his back straight and an expressionless face.
That… that detestable Cheongseon Park.
He must be seething inside, but he’s pretending otherwise, playing the upright official all by himself. Minister Kim bowed his head even deeper to hide his flushed face.
“I’m not joking. We need some kind of solution. There’s nothing better than marriage for bringing families together.”
“……”
“……”
Neither one responded. It was a behavior far removed from protocol, but Lee Won didn’t point it out. Rather, he smiled with a relieved expression as if he had found a brilliant solution.
“Kim Dae-geon, you happen to have a daughter of marriageable age. I heard she’s thirty-two this year.”
“…Yes.”
“Park Jae-guk, you also have sons. One married early and has a family, and the other is still unmarried, correct? He’s also thirty-two, isn’t he?”
“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”
“Hehe. The same age—this must be fate.”
Lee Won chuckled heartily. However, the two ministers couldn’t bring themselves to laugh along. Minister of Finance Kim Dae-geon lifted his face, which looked like he had bitten into an unripe persimmon.
“…Your Majesty’s jest is always exquisite.”
“Does it seem like a joke?”
When the king’s smile vanished completely, Kim Dae-geon, already frightened, bowed his head again.
Something’s going wrong here. His large eyes rolled around, not knowing what to do.
“Your Majesty, while I am deeply honored by your consideration for my family, marriage is another matter entirely. Please have mercy and…”
“This is a royal command.”
A brief decree followed. Lee Won added without the slightest waver.
“Kim Dae-geon of the Hwaryeong Kim Clan and Park Jae-guk of the Cheongseon Park Clan shall become in-laws.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty! A royal command?!”
Both ministers jumped in shock. They immediately fell to their knees.
In modern times, the king’s political authority has weakened, but royal commands still hold absolute power.
The king could issue one Royal Special Edict per year. It was the only governing authority left to the king after the constitutional monarchy was established. Of course, it couldn’t take effect without the prime minister’s consent.
For nearly three years, Lee Won had not issued a royal command. Of all times, this precious measure was now being used to bind these two families together.
“Court attendant, listen. Summon the prime minister to the palace at once.”
He’s serious. The two men’s faces turned deathly pale with shock.
Watching the two stubborn officials unable to move an inch, Lee Won wore his characteristic gentle smile.
“You two may leave. After all, there must be much to prepare for such an important life event.”
The two men bowed deeply before slowly backing away. After the sliding doors closed four times, they were finally able to exit the great hall.
Minister of Finance Kim Dae-geon held his forehead and let out a deep sigh. His mind went blank, and words wouldn’t come easily.
“Listen here, Park Jae-guk. What on earth should we do?”
Kim Dae-geon stammered. His face, which was always plump and glossy from good living, was now filled only with dismay.
“Well… it’s awkward for me to say this myself, but my daughter still has no sense. She’s gotten older but is still a wild child. Nothing good will come from becoming in-laws.”
Park Jae-guk was equally pale. He tugged at his gray hair.
“My son, well… he’s impossibly particular. Oh my… he’ll be devastated when he hears this….”
The middle-aged men sighed deeply enough to make the ground cave in. Even bitter enemies had no choice before such a dire situation. No matter how uncomfortable their relationship, for now, they needed to compromise and overcome this crisis together.
“…What if we just get along well from now on?”
“Let’s never fight again. I have no grudges anymore.”
“Let’s speak well to His Majesty tomorrow. If we promise not to fight anymore, he’ll withdraw the royal command.”
They belatedly clasped each other’s hands. After all, forcing themselves to harmonize was far more beneficial than becoming in-laws.
If we show His Majesty that we’re getting along well, he’ll withdraw the command. Let’s do our best! Ah, since it’s come to this, let’s have a drink in broad daylight! The two men formed their own oath of brotherhood.
Up until this point, they thought it would be easily resolved.
The prime minister agreed to the royal command. Just thirty minutes after a private meeting with Lee Won.
Things are getting bigger. The two ministers raised their glasses again, sinking into worry. A few hours later, Minister Kim, who had already heard this thunderbolt of news, received yet another devastating report.
His eldest daughter, Kim Sara, had somehow heard this news and caused a disaster. Despite having no proper lover, she declared she would rather die than accept a political marriage, and without her parents’ permission, she had registered her marriage with a longtime close friend.
“…She did what?”
Minister Kim was momentarily dumbfounded by what his aide told him. Has she lost her mind? What did she do? Marriage registration?
Park, the minister beside him, thought carefully before opening his heavy mouth.
“Wait a minute. Then, doesn’t that mean Minister Kim’s daughter is now a married woman?”
“Are you rubbing salt in my wounds right now?”
“Are you too drunk to think straight? This is actually good news. The marriage has fallen through!”
Minister Kim’s large eyes widened. He finally understood.
“Huh? Oh! That’s right! Of course!”
So this is how it works out! Minister Kim stood up and cheered with delight. The marriage was off. Setting aside Kim Sara’s matter, he wouldn’t have to become in-laws with that frustrating Minister Park. His ancestors must have helped.
However, upon hearing the news of Kim Sara’s rushed marriage registration, the king summoned the two men to the palace the next day.
“You dare take me for a fool.”
Kim Dae-geon and Park Jae-guk banged their heads on the floor. This was the first time they had seen the benevolent king so enraged. They needed to prostrate themselves in apology.
“How dare you!”
“Y-Your Majesty. My foolish daughter committed this act. She said she wanted to marry someone she loves…”
