Hanseong, Joseon
Early Summer 1837
The rain did not return the next morning.
The sky cleared slowly, and the palace grounds, though still damp, settled back into their usual order under the light. Water clung to the edges of the stone paths, and the scent of wet earth lingered in the air. Servants moved early, wiping surfaces and adjusting screens, restoring the quiet balance that the rain had disturbed.
From the outside, nothing seemed different.
Inside the palace, work had already begun.
There was no announcement, no gathering large enough to draw attention. The shift happened quietly, in smaller rooms, through conversations that did not carry beyond the walls.
Kim Jwa-geun did not call another full council.
There was no need for it.
The last meeting had settled the question of doubt. What remained now was action, and action required fewer voices.
