Before It Begins

“Wait! Stop the carriage!”

Hwayeong quickly ordered the driver.

As the carriage came to a halt, she opened the window and gestured for Sohwa, who was riding beside the carriage, to come closer.

Sohwa, her face hidden behind a thin veil draped over her round hat, lifted the fabric and leaned in when Hwayeong beckoned.

“Is everything ready as we discussed last night?”

Hwayeong whispered into Sohwa’s ear.

Sohwa hesitated before answering.

“Yes, Muhyeon has made the preparations... But....”

Having grown up together, Sohwa had always been loyal to Hwayeong and would follow her orders, but she couldn’t hide the nervousness in her eyes, as if questioning whether they were really doing the right thing.

“Good, that’s all I needed to know.”

Hwayeong responded quickly.

“But, Miss....”

“It’s fine. This is for OUR survival, yours and mine. Now, let’s go.”

With the preparations in place, there was no need to worry any longer. Hwayeong leaned back from the window as Sohwa sighed and stepped away, allowing the carriage to start moving again.

‘Muhyeon is clever when it comes to things like this.’

Hwayeong thought, turning her attention back to the book in her hands. She began to carefully review its contents.

The book Hwayeong was holding was a guidebook detailing the selection process for Crown Princess candidates, as well as the tests and etiquette they would need to master.

According to the book, the first test the candidates would face was the “Test of Faithfulness,” which involved passing through the palace gates before sunset on the day decreed by the royal family....

“So, as long as I don’t arrive before sunset, I won’t have to go through with this....”

In other words, this ridiculous situation could be over before it even began, and Hwayeong couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

Before she left, her father had insisted she read the book on the way, and though she had been tempted to tear it to pieces, she had kept it with her just in case, which now turned out to be a wise decision.

Her father had emphasized that the selection process would last for six months, and all she had to do was endure that time.

He had assured her that there was no chance she would be chosen as the Crown Princess, so she just needed to stay in the palace for those six months, and everything would be resolved.

But six months was a long time. The thought of being cooped up in the palace for half a year was unbearable. It wasn’t just Hwajin who lacked patience.

So, Hwayeong had decided to end this situation before it even started, by any means necessary.

* * *

“There isn’t a matching wheel. What should we do?”

It was late afternoon, and the carriage had been speeding along, trying to make up for lost time when one of the wheels suddenly came off.

They had just entered the capital’s central district when the planned mishap occurred, leaving the carriage stranded just a short distance from the palace gates.

‘Indeed, using your head makes things much easier.’

Hwayeong stifled a laugh as she pretended to be surprised by the incident.

“Oh no, what a disaster. The sun is about to set any moment.”

She remarked with mock concern.

[Instructions for candidates, rule number one: Time is trust. If you fail to arrive at the palace gate by the appointed time, you forfeit your candidacy.]

Hwayeong, who had practically memorized the guidebook, leaned back in the carriage, waiting for time to pass as she reflected on the tumultuous past month.

When the royal messenger had arrived with the summons, carrying a nameplate with her name instead of Hwajin’s, she had nearly fainted from shock.

After uncovering the truth, she had been furious, determined to get rid of Hwajin once and for all.

The entire household had been turned upside down, but in the end, she had been forced to pack her bags and leave her beloved hometown, thanks to her mother’s and brothers’ persuasion.

Clutching nothing but the guidebook, she had boarded the carriage, shivering with dread, but eventually, she realized that where there was a will, there was a way.

By studying her enemy and assessing the situation, she had found a solution.

‘This is why knowledge is power.’

Hwayeong thought to herself as she hummed contentedly.

If she could stall until after sunset and arrive at the palace gate after the appointed time, she would simply turn the carriage around and spend some time at her maternal grandparents’ home in the capital.

After all, since she was already in the capital, she might as well explore the markets, then leisurely travel along the coast before returning to Hwacheon by winter. And after that, life would return to its peaceful normalcy.

Of course, Hwajin wouldn’t be part of that peaceful life.

‘How should I torment her until she begs for mercy?’

She thought, happily plotting her sister’s downfall, when a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

“It seems the carriage won’t move any further. If you wish to reach the palace before dark, you’ll need to ride a horse.”

The voice belonged to the messenger who had brought that cursed nameplate and the royal decree. Hwayeong replied nonchalantly.

“That won’t be possible. I’ve heard horses are difficult to manage, and I’ve never ridden one before.”