2 The Dragon Seal

Chapter Two: The Dragon Seal (1)

Transmigration/Reincarnation Novels are popular among the youth these days and you always get to hear some random high schooler's imagination about how they transmigrate into the female lead's body and enjoy the line of their love interests in a random busy buss.

But now that it happened to Sena, she was far from being happy at all.

"Poor unfortunate soul." she sighed and murmured after a long time of silence. She was referring to herself. She doesn't know what food the author has been eating for them to make a Female Lead's route miserable.

Being bullied by some lowly concubines, having a weak and frail body. Was not originally loved by the Emperor; meaning.. wedlock out of political concern happened, not sweet wedding bells and floating hearts everywhere one. In short, her parents sold her off.

And on top of that, Haneul was struck by cupid's arrow that she fell in love at first sight with the Emperor's Male-Lead-worthy-face. She mentally groaned. 

'What a crap of one-sided love. You're as miserable as me! I want to skin alive that darn white old man! what my lady, my lady! you should be fired for not pressing the correct button!'

Despite everything, Haneul is still the Female Lead with a golden halo so she won't die. The thing is, Haneul only relies on her love interests and some cannon fodders who adore her. Heaven protects children, sailors, and drunken men and even though she's an Empress, she is clinging to that idiom until her deathbed.

She shifted her gaze at the lady in waiting that is looking at her with both adoration and concern. 'What was her name again? Ah, Kyung Mi.. the only cannon fodder that stayed by Haneul's side until her last breath... At least, I got some loyal dog with me.'

"Kyung Mi."

Kyung Mi immediately responded, "Yes, your majesty."

"Can you tell me what date is it today?" Haneul asked while getting off the bed. Kyung Mi helped her and fixed the bed while Haneul was busy strolling inside her room like she was on a tour at a museum.

Kyung Mi, "29th of January, Your Majesty..." 

".. but why is her majesty asking such unusual question?" She added. This girl is quite bold sticking to her employer's business. Perhaps she is taking advantage of the soft-hearted Empress who can't even kill a mosquito. Nevertheless, she was a loyal follower so Haneul didn't bother to scold her.

Haneul was silent for a moment. She was digging the insides of her brain to come up with an excuse when she suddenly remembered something unpleasant.

Haneul looked at Kyung Mi with arms crossed and scoffed, "I was wondering if I was bedridden for days but it seems like the day that impudent concubine pushed me at the lotus lake was just yesterday." There's a hint of irritation in her voice when she mentioned 'concubine'.

If she remembered it correctly in the novel, a concubine named Jieun confiscated— no.. more like stole the Dragon Seal from Haneul. That doesn't end at that, yesterday when Haneul was on the way to her palace, Jieun pushed her into the lotus lake and exited with a 'my hands slipped' excuse.

How did she know that it was yesterday? Because of the bracelet that she was currently wearing. In the novel, it was a gift from someone at the fiefdom where she used to live when they had a chance to pay a visit. And if she remembered it correctly, the day that someone paid a visit was also the day she was pushed at the lake. And if one were to currently look at it, the bracelet was still damp because of the thickness of the fabric. It just couldn't dry overnight.

'It was just a hunch, though. Who knows what happened with this bracelet. But I trust in you, Kyung Mi to tell me that I'm not insane!'

When Haneul heard no response, she turned around to see her loyal servant in a daze. She doesn't need an answer, her face says it all.

Meanwhile inside Kyung Mi's mind: I do not know what happened to her majesty for her to change demeanor overnight but the Empress today is so cool!

To distract Kyung Mi's fangirling, Haneul coughed dryly, "Prepare my bath, we will get back what is mine in the first place." 

Kyung Mi, in high spirits, beamed and said, "Right away, your majesty!"

***

"Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress has arrived!"

With a graceful walk and an aura of a ruler, Haneul crossed the room only with a few strides with a goal in her head.

The Concubine Jieun that was not swayed by the presence of the Empress, walked like a fox to greet her, "Your majesty! Fancy seeing you here in my humble—"

SLAP!

"Oh my, it looks like my hand slipped," Haneul said while suppressing a smirk. 

Jieun looked at Haneul angrily, "You—!"

The corner of her eyes was red and she burst into tears the moment she received another slap.

SLAP!

Twice. She was slapped twice, both left and right.

Haneul raised her hand and Kyung Mi handed her a handkerchief. She then used it to wipe off her hands as if she just touched something disgusting.

Haneul looked at Jieun and coldly said, "You dare, a mere concubine, raise a voice to me, the Empress of this Empire?"

Jieun was taken aback. She wasn't expecting the Empress to act like this.

 'Just what happened with this bitch to act like this? She was supposed to be weak!'

"You even had the audacity to steal what is not yours but is a possession of the Emperor? There's a limit to how brazen you can be."

When throwing those words, Haneul did not shout nor acted like a child throwing a tantrum. She was composed and cold as if telling everyone that her title 'The Empress' is not just a mere title.

While caressing her face, on one hand, Jieun squealed out and pointed at Haneul on the other hand, "Your majesty, you, you probably forgot which family I am from! I am also favored by the Emperor! Do you, do you think you can get away with that?!"

Mo Jieun, the youngest daughter of Governor Mo. She was able to join the harem because of her father and she was currently favored by the Emperor because of the crisis that Governor Mo recently solved.

Of course, she can get away with it, she already knows what happened that's why she got the courage to speak for herself before someone help her. 

'I don't want to rely on those love interests! I want to live my life as I like! That's why I'm going to solve all of my problems all by myself.'

Haneul's lips were slightly curved. She was about to deliver a killer speech which she practiced along the way when someone spoke first.

"Look how proud you are to have a criminal father who embezzles money. Worry not, you will be joining your father very soon."

Haneul was dumbfounded. By his aura and looks, she knew who it was. She snapped out of it and immediately bowed and announced,

"Blessings and Glory upon the Empire of Han, His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor."