In order to be adopted by the king, the most important factor was, above all else, the power of one's family.
Of course, the king's will carried the greatest weight, especially since royal authority had not collapsed, but even so, influence from powerful clans could still push candidates forward.
Families like the Andong Kim clan and the Pungyang Jo clan could easily gain access to the king and create opportunities to promote their chosen candidates.
However, there was now a major variable.
The sudden rise of Killian.
Because of the debate, Joseon's foreign policy and future direction were now entirely tied to Britain, and by extension, to Killian. Officials and scholars alike were discussing nothing else.
Those who had carefully prepared for the succession now found themselves shaken.
"They say His Highness Killian may directly involve himself in the selection."
"There is no official word yet, but that is the rumor spreading in court."
"That makes no sense."
Only a few days ago, such a statement could have been dismissed outright, but now even those who said it could not be certain.
Ignoring earlier advice to remain cautious, Kim Eung-geun had already chosen to support Yi Won-beom.
Yi Won-beom had been restored as a royal relative under the title Deokwan-gun and was now learning the basic etiquette required of a king.
His knowledge of Neo-Confucianism could not compare to other candidates, so the strategy was to focus only on essential fundamentals.
Still, his bloodline was strong.
In Joseon, lineage carried immense weight.
Even if Killian was present as an observer, it was assumed he would not openly intervene.
If he did, public opinion might not accept it.
The king likely intended only to establish a formal relationship, allowing the new ruler to benefit from Britain's prestige.
Thus, Kim Eung-geun believed the king would remain the decisive figure.
But everything began to change.
"Are any candidates attempting to meet His Highness?"
"Only Heungseon Daewongun met him earlier. Others have not been able to."
"That alone is telling. If anyone meets him now, the entire situation could shift."
Even if Killian had no intention of interfering, politics was not determined by intention, but by perception.
"What else is happening?"
"Kim Hak-seo is gathering records from the Office of Royal Genealogy."
"The genealogy office?"
That made the purpose obvious.
He was collecting detailed information on all potential candidates.
"Why would he do that?"
"He is currently assisting His Highness. It is likely that the materials are for him."
"…Then that means he intends to intervene."
If Killian were merely observing, there would be no reason to gather such information so openly.
This was clearly meant to be seen.
"…Is he testing us, or warning us?"
"What should we do?"
"We must make contact. Prepare Deokwan-gun. He will formally pay respects as a younger member of the royal family."
"That would give him a legitimate reason."
If Killian intended to influence Joseon, he would not reject the approach of its most powerful family.
Kim Eung-geun remained confident.
But he was not the only one thinking this way.
"Gyeongwon-gun should also prepare to meet His Highness."
"But I have never met him…"
"That is precisely why you must prepare. Others are already moving."
"I understand."
The quiet rivalry among factions now surfaced openly.
Who would meet Killian first.
Who would gain his favor.
Every detail carried meaning.
As the selection approached, the struggle intensified.
"The evaluation will not be decided in a single stage. We will test the candidates in multiple ways."
"That is only appropriate for choosing the future of the nation."
Then the king asked,
"What do you believe is the most important quality of a ruler?"
I answered without hesitation.
"Broad vision. A ruler must be able to see the larger picture. Without that, even the best plans will fail."
The king nodded.
"That is well said."
The officials' eyes sharpened.
They understood immediately that such qualities would be tested.
I then asked,
"How will the evaluation proceed?"
"The candidates will present their views, and then debate one another."
"Will the topic be assigned?"
"No. They will choose their own."
"That is a good method."
Choosing the topic itself would reveal their judgment.
A weak topic could be as damaging as a poor answer.
Soon, the submitted topics were revealed.
Yi Won-beom proposed:
"How important is it for a ruler to understand the lives of the people?"
A safe but effective topic, highlighting his background.
Gyeongwon-gun proposed:
"How important is it to preserve Neo-Confucian order in a rapidly changing world, and what policies are required?"
A sensitive and meaningful issue.
Then came the final topic.
"…Did he truly submit this?"
"What is it?"
"Whether Joseon holds legitimate claim to the territories of ancient Joseon."
It was essentially a question about whether Joseon could justify reclaiming Manchuria.
The room fell silent.
Even for a royal selection, this was dangerously provocative.
Yet at the same time, it guaranteed one thing.
The debate would be anything but ordinary.
I could not help but smile.
This would be far more interesting than expected.