Kim Hak-seo first heard the name Killian when news spread that Qing had been defeated by some strange Western nation.
At first, he did not think much of it.
Qing's defeat was surprising, but it felt unrelated to him.
What unsettled him came later, when rumors began to circulate that a key figure in Britain was of Joseon origin.
Britain, Joseon, nobility, and an absurdly young age.
When all these were considered together, only one conclusion could be drawn, and his heart began to pound.
Then matters became complicated when the court, upon learning of Killian's connection to Joseon, attempted to use him to secure the country's safety.
In truth, the court's pro-British stance had been inevitable.
If the same guns that had crushed Qing were ever turned toward Joseon, how could the country possibly endure?
The real problem lay elsewhere.
If things continued this way, Kim Hak-seo, who had once treated Killian as a slave, could be singled out as the cause of everything.
Rumors were already spreading that someone in Joseon had mistreated Killian in the past, and he could no longer sleep at night.
Having only just returned to a path of success, it would make no sense to fall again because of this.
So at the time, he gathered all the servants and strictly ordered them to keep silent.
The slave Yu-seok had died of disease, and every trace had been thoroughly erased.
When Kim Jwa-geun and Heungseon Daewongun came with suspicions, they found no evidence and left, allowing Kim Hak-seo to finally breathe again.
It should have ended there.
Yet somehow, Killian continued to rise even further, becoming not merely a noble of Britain, but its royal consort.
On top of that, the court began spreading the unbelievable claim that Killian was a royal relative of Joseon.
A royal relative?
Then did that mean he had kept a royal kinsman as a slave?
They spoke of tangled genealogy due to treason, but even so, this was excessive.
Kim Hak-seo clung to the hope that Killian and Yu-seok were different people.
Surely the court would not fabricate genealogies.
From the beginning, it had been strange that he was said to be fluent not only in Joseon's language, but also in those of Qing and Japan.
Yu-seok had been unnervingly intelligent for a child, but language was not something one could master alone.
There had not even been books in the household to learn such languages.
No matter how gifted he was, could a ten-year-old child, and a slave at that, really have learned them by himself?
And another thing.
Even if Britain was a Western nation, it was said to possess proper etiquette and formality.
Would such a nation's Queen take as her husband someone of slave origin and mixed blood?
It made no sense.
So he forced himself to believe they were different people.
There were similarities, but also differences.
With that, he steadied his mind and continued rising in the court, eventually becoming Left State Councillor.
The talk of abdication caused some noise, but he did not care.
Having already reached his position, he would retire in a few years anyway, so it mattered little who became king.
Unlike others, he had little interest in family power.
But he had never imagined that an order would come for him to personally attend the welcoming ceremony and receive Killian.
Even if Killian was a royal relative and consort of another nation, was it truly appropriate for a State Councillor, even the Chief State Councillor, to go in person?
They said he would be treated at the level of a Qing imperial prince, which made it somewhat understandable, but the real issue remained.
What if Killian truly was Yu-seok?
No, even so, if he were not, there would be no harm in gaining his favor.
It was widely known that Kim Jwa-geun had been bowing and scraping to win Killian's favor.
Even after his retirement, his sons and grandsons would continue to serve the court, so building ties with such a powerful figure was not a bad thing.
He could only pray that Killian was not Yu-seok.
On that fateful day, after praying to his ancestors and the heavens, Kim Hak-seo saw Killian for the first time as he disembarked from a magnificent ship amid great ceremony.
He had thought he would immediately recognize whether he was Yu-seok or not, but after twenty years, it was impossible to tell.
At first, the familiarity made his heart drop.
Then confusion followed.
All Westerners seemed to look alike, and he could not be certain.
Even so, what if Killian truly was Yu-seok?
As such thoughts swirled in his mind, Killian spoke in a friendly voice.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. You are the Left State Councillor of Joseon?"
"Yes, I am Kim Hak-seo."
Even hearing his voice did not help.
How could he recognize a voice from before it had even changed, after twenty years?
He glanced up and saw a smiling face.
Yu-seok had also been difficult to read, even as a child.
Once suspicion took hold, everything seemed similar, yet at the same time he wondered if he was overthinking it.
"Do you have children?"
"Yes, both a son and a daughter."
His thoughts raced.
If Killian truly were Yu-seok, he would already know.
The children had been very young at the time, with little interaction.
Could this be revenge directed at them?
Countless possibilities ran through his mind, while Killian walked calmly toward the prepared palanquin.
"I have recently taken an interest in education as my children grow older. Joseon is known for its emphasis on education, so I was curious how its officials educate their children."
"Ah, of course. There is no noble family in Joseon that does not value education."
Perhaps it was nothing.
Perhaps he was overthinking.
"Your complexion does not look well. Are you unwell? You seem to be sweating."
"No, I simply did not sleep well."
Was this deliberate, or coincidence?
If he was Yu-seok, why not say so clearly instead of leaving things ambiguous?
The uncertainty was unbearable.
"Then I should inform His Majesty to take special care of you, as you seem somewhat weakened."
That word, "special," felt emphasized.
"…I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's consideration."
Please, just let me breathe.
Answering Killian's continued conversation, Kim Hak-seo finally understood what it meant to feel one's lifespan being drained.
This is amusing.
After getting off the ship and heading to the palace, speaking with Kim Hak-seo the entire time made me feel that coming to Joseon was the right choice.
I had considered what to do when meeting him.
Whether to reveal everything immediately or pretend not to know.
But ending it so quickly would be boring.
After all, it had been twenty years.
A reunion that ends in a few seconds would have no meaning.
It was better to let it linger.
To be honest, I did not harbor deep resentment.
Thinking back to my time as a slave still brought anger, but my life in Britain had turned out far too well.
Still, the memories had not disappeared.
Like the trauma of childhood mistreatment that lingers for life.
Seeing Kim Hak-seo again made that clear.
What I thought I had forgotten returned vividly.
Being treated as a slave, looked down upon, occasionally beaten, all of it resurfaced.
"So, how much do you know about the British Empire?"
"Not deeply, but I believe I know more than most."
"I thought you, of all people, would be especially interested."
"…Why would you think that?"
His reaction made it clear that he still was not certain.
He wanted confirmation, but I had no intention of giving it.
"From what I understand, the Left State Councillor oversees the Ministry of Personnel, Taxation, and Rites. Matters involving our country would naturally require your attention."
"Of course. I have been studying diligently."
Sweat poured down his face.
At this rate, he might come to kneel and beg soon.
If he truly humbled himself, I might even consider forgiving him, but whether his pride would allow it was another matter.
"What is the reaction to His Majesty's decision? I imagine the scholars in the provinces are not very favorable."
"There are some who speak nonsense without understanding reality, but their words are not worth hearing. His Majesty need not concern himself with such trivial matters."
"And if some attempt to take action?"
"If that happens, I will personally ensure they are all imprisoned."
His intentions were obvious, trying to please me.
Not a bad approach.
But he underestimated something.
The stubbornness of the Confucian scholars.
As expected, just before reaching the palace, we saw them.
Dozens of scholars kneeling in the middle of the road, axes and coffins placed before them.
"Who are they? A welcoming ceremony?"
"…Wait…"
Having already declared that I would be treated on par with the King of Joseon, blocking this procession was no different from treason.
And there were not just one or two, but dozens lined up.
The officials responsible for the ceremony turned pale.
Kim Hak-seo trembled with rage and moved to call the soldiers.
But before he could act, one of the scholars spoke loudly.
"I, Choe Ik-hyeon, disciple of Yi Gwang-ro, risk my life to petition here. Uphold righteousness and reject heresy. Do not abandon the foundations of Joseon."
"Do not abandon them."
Their voices rang out loudly.
I glanced at Kim Hak-seo and smiled.
"What should we do?"
"You wretches, how dare you…"
His voice shook with fury.
How ironic.
On one side, a man desperate to win my favor.
On the other, men who despised me.
And now, they stood in direct opposition.
Now then, let us see how this unfolds.