The Survival Story Of A Fallen Lady - Chapter 6

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Fall of a Noble House, Chapter 6
“Good. You should have done this from the start.”
General Maeng Taek surveyed the warehouse brimming with coal and smiled with satisfaction.
‘Spring has loosened everyone’s vigilance anyway. As for the soldiers, I’ll simply dock their coal rations by claiming they slacked during drills.’
His lips curled upward at the thought of selling the diverted coal for a handsome profit.
“General, but if His Highness were to learn of this……”
“What can a mute king do? He can’t even conduct an interrogation.”
General Maeng Taek let out a derisive laugh at the warehouse keeper’s concern.
‘Well then, I’ll finish the ledgers properly and head to the Wine House this evening to unwind.’
He had just arrived at Muk Wang Palace, lost in pleasant thoughts as he touched the reassuring weight of his purse, when—
Thump.
“Oh my!”
A woman burst around the corner and collided with him.
“Where are your eyes?”
Irritation flared in him for an instant.
‘Wait?’
Skin gleaming like white jade.
Eyebrows drawn with the precision of a brush.
Eyes clear as crystal.
‘This isn’t mere quarreling, is it?’
After a moment’s calculation, he understood.
‘Ah, so this is the Talented Person His Highness brought from the Imperial Capital?’
Despite her plain clothing, an air of refinement clung to her bearing.
‘I thought he’d bring back some common wretch, but this is quite impressive.’
General Maeng Taek smoothed the scowl from his face into something gentler.
“To encounter such a beauty at Muk Wang Palace. I am General Maeng Taek, Commander of the Western Guard.”
He extended his hand in greeting, but the Talented Person folded her hands and bowed instead.
“I am Jin So-ah, a Talented Person.”
General Maeng Taek awkwardly rubbed his suspended hand against his thigh.
“But why does a Talented Person wander the palace alone?”
“I’m afraid I lost my way while exploring.”
“Where were you trying to reach? Allow me to guide you.”
General Maeng Taek spoke as though bestowing a favor.
Heroes favor beauty, as they say.
To have a beautiful woman at one’s side is the mark of a hero’s virtue.
“Then would you be kind enough to guide me to where His Highness is?”
So a Talented Person wants to wear an official’s robes, does she?
Even a cursed mute looks human in a crown, and women come crawling.
General Maeng Taek suppressed his true thoughts and readily agreed to her request.
“His Highness keeps few people close by nature. You must find it lonely.”
He lowered his voice and adjusted his garments with dignified care as he led the way.
“Is that so.”
“If ever you find yourself troubled, seek me out anytime. There is nothing in Muk Wang-bu that escapes my knowledge.”
“How reassuring, that General Maeng knows all that occurs in Muk Wang-bu.”
So-ah offered a faint smile.
* * *
Since returning from the Imperial Capital,
Seo Heon had thrown himself into the accumulated affairs of state without time to recover.
As No followed him from the Government Hall, he stole a glance at his master’s face.
Beneath the Metal Mask,
his mouth remained as rigidly sealed as always.
‘I heard there was an attack by demons on the road here.’
Yet he showed no sign of strain.
It was at that moment No swallowed a sigh,
when Seo Heon’s pace suddenly halted.
In the distance, Jin So-ah was walking alongside General Maeng Taek.
“How have those two come to walk together……?”
No’s brow furrowed deeper.
Everyone in Muk Wang-bu knew of General Maeng Taek’s weakness for women.
No suppressed his unease and ventured a careful glance sideways.
Seo Heon watched them for a moment, then turned and walked on in silence.
Just then, two figures approached and offered their greetings.
“Jin So-ah and General Maeng—what brings you both here together?”
“Ha, the Talented Person was lost in the halls of Muk Wang Palace, so I lent a hand. She said she wished to see the Prince.”
Maeng Taek laughed with easy charm, while So-ah bowed respectfully, her head lowered.
“I’ve come to make a request of the Prince.”
Seo Heon regarded her quietly.
“I come from the south and feel the cold keenly. I wondered if it might be possible to obtain a small amount of additional coal?”
As So-ah drew her cloak tighter and posed the question, No chuckled warmly.
“Such minor matters need only be reported to the quartermaster. Why trouble yourself to come in person?”
“Well, the quartermaster said the warehouse stores were insufficient.”
When So-ah lowered her eyes in discomfort, General Maeng’s expression hardened.
No adjusted his spectacles, his face betraying confusion.
“Surely not. Though the Muk Wang-bu is barren in many respects, our coal supply is the finest in the Empire.”
“And yet, when I passed the Military Camp today, I saw soldiers shivering for lack of coal.”
“What…?”
No’s face went pale. He adjusted his spectacles again.
Coal distribution was tied directly to the soldiers’ health and morale.
He had certainly ensured there was sufficient coal to supply the troops generously……
“The soldiers themselves economize on coal to strengthen the Muk Wang-bu’s finances. How could I thoughtlessly take more for myself?”
So-ah bowed deeply.
Maeng Taek, listening from beside her, bit his lips tightly, then stepped forward.
“Ha, that’s merely because we’ve reduced the rations these past few days to maintain discipline. The Talented Person need not worry—simply follow No’s counsel……”
“The Prince is here.”
So-ah cut him off sharply, her gaze lifted to meet his with cold clarity.
“I shall follow the Prince’s wishes, not the General’s.”
General Maeng’s face flushed crimson.
At that moment, Seo Heon, who had been observing the exchange in silence, turned and began walking.
Toward the warehouse by the Military Camp.
“Your Highness!”
No and So-ah followed at once.
‘Damn it—surely he’s not going to inspect the coal himself!’
Maeng Taek, his anxiety mounting, rushed after them.
“Your Highness, why go to such a humble warehouse in person? If there truly is a shortage, we can simply transfer stock from another storehouse. There’s no need——”
Maeng Taek hurried along beside Seo Heon, his words tumbling out urgently.
At that, the gaze beneath the Metal Mask flicked toward him.
“You’ve only just returned—surely you’re fatigued. Leave such trifling matters to me, if you would.”
Maeng Taek forced a hearty laugh.
But Seo Heon did not answer.
The silence grew stark and chilling.
Sweat beaded on Maeng Taek’s brow.
Seo Heon walked on without a word.
“My goodness—Your Highness, here of all places!”
The coal warehouse at the Military Camp.
The startled warehouse keeper hastily bowed his head.
The officials and soldiers who happened to be inside quickly lowered theirs as well.
The warehouse keeper, spotting Maeng Taek who had followed behind them, rolled his eyes uneasily.
When Seo Heon gave a small nod, No transmitted the wordless command.
“Open the warehouse.”
Creak—
The stone door swung open, and Seo Heon’s heavy footsteps echoed within.
No, following behind him, froze in shock.
“But—where is the coal?!”
At a glance, the warehouse stood empty.
The warehouse keeper, flustered and at a loss, began stammering excuses.
“Well, you see, this winter was so cold that we distributed coal generously to the soldiers……”
At his flimsy excuse, Seo Heon’s gaze shifted to the back.
“We never once asked for more coal, Your Highness!”
The soldiers bowed deeply, insisting on their innocence.
Then Maeng Taek raised his voice and stepped forward.
“You soldiers have been carelessly burning through coal without restraint until yesterday, so I reduced the coal rations as punishment, didn’t I?”
At the General’s stern rebuke, the soldiers bowed their heads without a word of protest.
Seo Heon’s eyes narrowed as he watched.
Then.
“Considering how much coal has been burned recently, the air is remarkably clear, isn’t it?”
Someone had spoken as if reading Seo Heon’s very thoughts.
It was Jin So-ah, the Talented Person.
If so much coal had been burned until yesterday, the air should have been thick with haze.
Yet the air of Muk Wang-bu remained cool and crystalline.
“So you’re saying I’m lying now?! What could some outsider Talented Person possibly know!”
General Maeng raised his voice all the louder, jabbing a rough finger toward So-ah.
In the midst of the chaos, Seo Heon quietly unfolded the warehouse ledger.
‘The numbers don’t match.’
Someone must have been skimming supplies on the side.
And not just once or twice, either.
Then So-ah tilted her head and pointed to one corner.
“……What is that?”
A small metal object lay discarded in the corner of the warehouse.
At Seo Heon’s glance, No quickly retrieved it and presented it.
A small bronze insignia shaped like half a tiger.
A Tiger Tally—the kind granted to generals.
Engraved upon it was the character for “West.”
Seo Heon’s gaze turned slowly toward General Maeng.
“Why it’s here, I……. Ah, a few days ago I had soldiers tidy my quarters…….”
The air grew steadily colder at the General’s words.
Even the officials behind him could not bring themselves to speak in his defense.
Then So-ah spoke carefully, opening her mouth.
“How very strange, isn’t it.”
As though concerned for the General, her brow drew tight with worry.
“If you lost your Tiger Tally, then the military command of Muk Wang-bu was left vacant for several days, was it not?”
“Ah, no, that’s not……!”
“Had someone taken the Tally and moved in and out of the Military Camp during that time, it could have been a grave matter indeed.”
So-ah covered her lips with the tip of her finger, her expression clouded with concern.
General Maeng shook his head.
“Wait, that’s not what I meant!”
“And yet.”
So-ah gazed at the Tiger Tally quietly.
“You truly did not notice for several days that your Tiger Tally had gone missing?”
Beads of cold sweat gathered on General Maeng’s face.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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