Hanseong, Joseon
Early Summer 1837
The royal court did not gather in full very often. When it did, it was never for small matters.
The hall was prepared before sunrise. The floors were cleaned, the screens adjusted, and each position marked clearly. Officials arrived one by one, taking their places according to rank. No one spoke more than necessary. Movements were controlled, and everything followed the same structure that had been maintained for years.
From the outside, it looked the same as it always had.
Inside, it felt different.
At the center of the hall sat King Heonjong.
He was still young, and everyone knew it, even if no one said it out loud. It showed in how he watched more than he spoke. His eyes moved across the room carefully, taking in each voice, each reaction, as if he was still learning how to weigh them properly. But there was nothing careless in his attention. He listened closely, and he did not rush to speak without reason.
