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Min Jiwon had her sights set.
It was difficult being a woman in the North. Due to the harsh terrain and weather, the Northern territory was mainly occupied by men and soldiers.
The territory, was a stronghold for the Empire, stopping beasts and monsters from encroaching the borders, and in return, the Empire allowed the North to rule mostly sovereignly with their Archduke.
Women who could afford it, liked to move further south where it was warmer and would only visit their families in the North occasionally throughout the years.
And the women who stayed, most became soldiers – fighting on the frontlines against the creatures that crept on the empire’s boundaries.
So most of the hardened people left in the territory who saw Min Jiwon’s alluring face and affinity for beauty quickly assumed her to be another weak-willed woman who would flee to the South as soon as she got the chance.
But no, Min Jiwon had her sights becoming a ruler in the North, like her father before her. In preparation, she even led her a legion of own from her territory and participated in battle alongside her comrades.
But securing a ruler position was still difficult.
As soon as he came to the throne, the current Archduke, Yoo Joonghyuk abolished the typical noble class system – claiming he had no use for noblemen with fancy titles who just sit around doing nothing.
So he established a new system, of rulers who were required to be actively defend and fight on the frontlines for their land in the North.
However, that led Min Jiwon to her current predicament….
There were no good men to marry in the North!
Min Jiwon was the daughter of one of these rulers and she had been unofficially running her family’s territory, Silla, for the past several years by herself ever since her father went to go to the much calmer and warmer South with her mother.
But Min Jiwon paid no mind. She loved the power that came with being a ruler. Even though admittedly, Min Jiwon was not as strong as many other woman fighters, she held a different strength in her charisma and strategy. She planned, motivated, and gave empowering speeches to her soldiers, ones that had her men willing to literally die for her.
Her beautiful face which once seemed too soft for the North’s harsh ways became one of her most useful assets.
Min Jiwon enjoyed being able to rule over Silla alone, having hundreds of soldiers at her beck and call to do whatever she desired.
But as much as Min Jiwon loved her soldiers, the constantly attentive, kind, golden retriever-type significant other wasn’t exactly to her taste.
Min Jiwon liked a man with a little bite in him, something different from how she was normally treated in everyday life. She needed someone powerful in their own way to keep her excited and elevated in society, but also someone wouldn’t challenge her position as ruler.
Min Jiwon was the only woman in the North who was a ruler. Most other rulers having sons who would take their places or daughters who chose to marry into the South, whom’s titles changed once they were betrothed.
But Min Jiwon was the last of her bloodline.
Ruling titles were sparse in the North and most women in the North didn’t hold any unless they married into it, many preferring to become captains or generals instead of rulers.
So the precedent to have a sole woman ruler was not set for Min Jiwon, meaning the situation of both her territory and marriage were unstable.
So Min Jiwon requested an audience with Archduke Yoo Joonghyuk to help set up her plans.
Min Jiwon was going to marry the Archduke’s Grand Advisor, Kim Dokja.
•••
'This is going to be perfect,' Min Jiwon thought as she exited her carriage and walked to the front doors of the Northern Palace.
Kim Dokja was possibly the most insignificantly significant figure in the North.
Coming from a common household and having no title, Kim Dokja was no threat to Min Jiwon’s status.
But despite his origins, there wasn’t a soul in the empire that hadn’t heard of the Archduke’s most trusted Grand Advisor.
No one knew where he had come from, but the moment Kim Dokja came into position everyone could see how the North was affected. The structure of the economy stabilized, citizens sold more and bought more, battles began to be more strategized and shorter, and the North flourished.
Kim Dokja was the perfect candidate, insignificant enough that marrying him would mean Min Jiwon would not have to give up her position and assets; but still significant enough in society where a marriage to him would not lower her standing after the fact.
Kim Dokja had no reason to refuse. Min Jiwon could offer Kim Dokja everything he didn’t have, soldiers, assets, and land (from what she heard Kim Dokja lived in the palace with the Archduke due to the lack of his own territory).
All Min Jiwon had to do now was convince Kim Dokja to marry her, and who better to ask than the Archduke himself to arrange it?
“Announcing, Lady Min of the Silla territory.”
“I am honored to be in the presence of the Empire’s star, your Grace.”
Min Jiwon bowed as she walked into the throne room, stopping before the pedestal placed in front of the Archduke.
“Rise.”
“I think for this matter of business, I would like to stay in this position.”
Min Jiwon heard a huff above her.
“State your business.”
“I would like to request a formal marriage proposal to Grand Advisor Kim.”
The temperature of the throne room fell and the hair on the back of Min Jiwon's neck rose as she began to feel an overwhelming pressure on her back.
“What?”
Min Jiwon cleared her throat and rose, standing her ground.
“I would like to request a formal marriage proposal to Grand Advisor Kim Dokja.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes narrowed and Min Jiwon suddenly understood where the sudden pressure on her back came from.
“No need to worry your Grace, my marriage proposal does not require Kim Dokja to leave his position as your most trusted Grand Advisor.”
The pressure dropped a bit, but the room still felt cold and the hairs on Min Jiwon’s nape stayed stiff.
“Why do you wish to marry Kim Dokja?”
“He’s smart.” Min Jiwon immediately answered.
The Archduke looked down at her for second a second not saying anything before finally opening his mouth,
“No, he’s actually quite stupid.”
Min Jiwon blinked…huh?
“Doesn’t he handle most of your affairs, your Grace?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Yoo Joonghyuk replied immediately.
“…”
Yoo Joonghyuk as a leader was known for many things, vigor, strength, leadership, but he was also notoriously known for hating to do paperwork – part of the reason why he dispelled the noble system in the first place and used the active ruler system instead.
“Not only is he daft but he’s also quite negligent about his surroundings.” Yoo Joonghyuk continued,
“In fact, just the other day, he claimed someone poison my food and when the court didn’t believe him - he ate it himself to prove a point. That doesn’t sound like a very good husband candidate to me.”
“Your Grace-”
“Or a fortnight ago, when we were monster hunting he tripped, knocking me from our path and had a beast prance on him whilst still falling," Yoo Joonghyuk snorted.
“Um, your Grace, both those instances sound like Grand Advisor Kim was trying to save you” Min Jiwon pointed out.
Yoo Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes and grunted,
“Hmph, no. Kim Dokja is just that much of a fool, trust me.”
Min Jiwon blinked,
“Of course your Grace…
...but may you still arrange a meeting with him for me?”
Now it was Yoo Joonghyuk’s turn to blink,
“No I may not." Yoo Joonghyuk coughed,
"As my official grand advisor, Kim Dokja is a very busy man-”
Suddenly a door to the side of the throne opened. And Kim Dokja entered, smiling.
“You’re grace, I have just finished the drafts for the letters to the East. Since I finished all my work early I decided to come and see if I could assist you with any civilian inquiries-”
“Grand Advisor Kim Dokja, please write all of the main northern laws that citizens have to abide by and major annual events and send one to each ruler of the North.”
“Joonghyuk-” Kim Dokja interjected, his mouth slightly agape in shock.
“And include all major historical events that have happened in the North, it’s important for all the rulers to have this information easily accessible to them.” Yoo Joonghyuk continued ordering.
Min Jiwon could see the whites of Kim Dokja’s knuckles from where she stood as the Grand Advisor grasped his fists in anger.
“Yes. Of course. Your Grace.” Kim Dokja responded through clenched teeth and Min Jiwon suddenly felt guilty for some reason.
As Kim Dokja walked down the steps to leave through the main gates of the Northern Palace he glanced at Min Jiwon and their eyes locked.
“Lady Min of Silla,” Kim Dokja bowed and opened his mouth to say more,
“I would like the new resources for rulers to be sent by dawn tomorrow.”
And Kim Dokja’s gaze on Min Jiwon was broken as he looked back at Yoo Joonghyuk and glared at the Archduke.
Min Jiwon watched in horror, waiting for Kim Dokja to be cut down where he stood for such blatant audacity, but as she looked at the Archduke, his face remained passive.
“Also, I would like each ruler to have two copies of these papers. It would be a shame if something happened to the first one and a ruler wouldn’t have it for some reason.” Yoo Joonghyuk said and Min Jiwon could have sworn she saw a smirk on his face as he did.
“All of this is public knowledge. But of course. Your Grace.” Kim Dokja closed his eyes and gave an obviously fake smiled through gritted teeth.
Kim Dokja turned again, this time sparing no glance to Min Jiwon and he grumbled something about bastards and killing sunfishes as he began to walk faster out of the castle.
The door closed behind him and the throne room became quiet once more.
“...So may I have your blessing?” Min Jiwon asked breaking the silence in an attempt to get back to the original subject at hand.
“No.”
“What about my territory?” Min Jiwon exclaimed,
“There is no precedent set for women rulers in the North and my position as ruler is at risk if I don’t marry-”
“Women can be rulers.”
Min Jiwon stopped in the middle of her argument.
“But the law-”
“When I created the ruler system I did not claim that rulers had to be a specific gender.”
“True, but with the previous noble system and the country’s current law no one in the North would take a single, woman ruler seriously unless it’s explicitly stated that a person is allowed to rule regardless of gender.” Min Jiwon argued, desperate for the Archduke to reconsider.
“Women can rule by themselves.” Yoo Joonghyuk repeated,
“You’ve been doing a fine job for the past several years without your father, have you not? Silla has the most motivated and largest army in the North, you have done your territory proud. Marry for yourself, not for your position, and leave Grand Advisor Kim Dokja alone in your efforts.”
Min Jiwon felt touched that the Archduke had noticed her work throughout the years. She had never talked much with the Archduke, no ruler had much contact with him outside of official business, so to know that he did care meant a lot.
But the societal and political pressure would remain, even if she did have the private approval of the Archduke.
“Thank you, your Grace. But-”
“I will decree it law.”
“What?”
“I will amend the ruler statement address and have it be added that rulers are regardless of gender. Would that fix your issue?”
Min Jiwon opened her mouth to argue further, but no sound came out.
That would fix the whole issue Min Jiwon had…wouldn’t it?
Sure, Kim Dokja also happened to be Min Jiwon’s type, but now without the constant pressure of having to find a partner, there could always be other men in the North that knew how to slap Min Jiwon around as she wished (and would stop immediately the moment she wanted them to).
Min Jiwon stood there and contemplated, if she were to continue to argue for Kim Dokja’s hand her problem could be fixed and she would also have an ideal partner, but it wasn’t guaranteed if Min Jiwon would receive Kim Dokja’s hand and she had a feeling if she continued to pursue him the Archduke would not be happy.
However, if she were to give up, she would have no partner but a more stable standing amongst rulers that she would have to work hard to build further – but she would at the very least have a fighting chance for equality.
Fight the glass ceiling of the patriarchy or against Yoo Joonghyuk, Archduke of the North,?
.
.
.
Fight the glass ceiling of the patriarchy it was.
Coming to terms with her decision, Min Jiwon looked Archduke Yoo Joonghyuk in the eye.
Despite the minutes-long silence his expression hadn’t change from the hard steely look he always had on his face.
“That would fix my issue, your Grace. If you would be so kind to do so,” Min Jiwon bowed again.
“It shall be amended and decreed then, leave and do not mention this issue to me again and not a word of this to Grand Advisor Kim Dokja, either – that bumbling fool has enough work to focus on without having to worry about a useless marriage.”
Min Jiwon head ticked in anger,
‘Useless marriage???’ She screamed internally.
‘Didn’t you just say that Kim Dokja doesn’t handle most of your affairs? How could a man be constantly so incredibly busy doing his work whilst simultaneously having no work at all???’
Min Jiwon put on a polite smile on her face as she continued to inwardly curse the Archduke while rising,
“Of course, your Grace.”
•••
Afterwards, Min Jiwon went about the palace finishing the other work she had to do while she was in the capital.
As the sun was setting, Min Jiwon walked toward the palace gates, passing the palace library, when she saw the Archduke banging at the door.
The whole palace was under the Archduke's rule, there was no place he could not enter so why was he stuck outside the one building that was open to everyone?
Min Jiwon back-stepped a bit, hid behind a tree near the library doors, and strained her ears to hear what was going on.
“Oh I’m sorryyyy, I thought that EVERY ruler had to have two copies of the main northern laws, annual events, and the history of the North,” a muffled voice came from the library doors.
“I changed my mind, come out and let’s have dinner together. I finished all of my work early today.”
“Did you finish all your work early or did you push it all off to Lee Hyunsung because I wasn't there to bully?”
“...I'll made murim dum-”
Min Jiwon suddenly heard the doors whoosh open.
"So dinner?" Kim Dokja's voice rang out clearly, no longer muffled by the wooden oak doors.
"And I was thinking that maybe after-"
"After dinner you're going to do all the work you were assigned to, right? And when you're done with that start preparing for all your work tomorrow?"
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed as Min Jiwon nodded, this was the grand advisor that she had heard of. The only one that could stand up to the Archduke and get him to put down the sword and pick up a pen, the responsible soul that was the reason why the territory was still running.
But if he was as how rumors told, why wouldn't the Archduke allow Min Jiwon to marry him???
The conversation suddenly quieted and became muffled.
Trying to listen in more, Min Jiwon peeked her head from the tree to spy on the reason of her singledom herself and,
"Mmnhg"
Watched as the Grand Advisor and Archduke of the North separated their lips from a kiss.
"As long as you'll be by my side?"
Kim Dokja's face flushed a bright red as he turned his head angrily,
"Of course, I'll be by your side bastard. How else could I make sure you actually do your work?"
He punched Yoo Joonghyuk in the chest but the Archduke didn't react at all.
"And what did I say about kissing in public?"
Yoo Joonghyuk smirked and turned Kim Dokja around in the direction of the palace.
"Don't worry there's no one around,"
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes suddenly caught Min Jiwon's and she was prepared to immediately throw herself to the ground and beg for forgiveness.
"Besides if there were, I'm sure no one would dare say anything to the Great Archduke of the North."
Kim Dokja continued arguing with the Archduke and Yoo Joonghyuk smirked at Min Jiwon before turning his head and the two walked back to the palace.
And Min Jiwon was left standing behind the palace tree.
Oh. That's why.