Chapter 15. The Most Lowly and Noble One (5)
Cheongyeon, Seongha, and even Manu, who had hurried over wondering what had happened, followed Bam's guidance to the top floor of the inn.
Bam and Hoyeon possessed appearances and an atmosphere unlike anything they had ever seen anywhere in Hui Kingdom.
Beneath her wide silk trousers, Bam wore dazzling multicolored shoes with curled-up tips. Every time she took a lively step, her long platinum-blond hair, tied high behind her head, swayed gently.
Hoyeon was dressed in light, flexible-looking leather armor, with a long piece of cloth wrapped around his shoulders. A curved dagger hung from his belt.
Cheongyeon stared blankly at their exotic appearances.
For the first time, she realized that there were countless countries in this world besides Hui Kingdom.
The goods Bam showed them were incomparably more splendid than anything they had seen earlier at the stalls of Buwan Port.
Cheongyeon's eyes widened as she looked at the incense burners, fabrics, antique furniture, and other items.
"If you're preparing for a special occasion where you'll be receiving honored guests from various countries, our goods will shine even more brightly."
Speaking Hui Kingdom's language fluently, Bam continuously presented one new item after another, never giving them a chance to become bored.
"You could hang silk curtains from the pillars and cover the floor with carpets. What do you think of an elephant-shaped fountain?"
Once the moment of decision passed, the customer would leave, and the opportunity would never return.
Never giving a customer enough time to hesitate over whether to buy something or not was one of Bam's long-standing sales strategies.
"We can also provide refreshments, liquor, and medicinal herbs of the highest quality. You need to display the dignity of Hui Kingdom's royal family before all those people, don't you?"
After finishing her explanation, Bam had one of her attendants offer Cheongyeon a plate of fruit.
It was a bright yellow fruit that gave off a strong sweetness along with a peculiar fragrance.
"It's perfect for serving with refreshments. Please try some yourself."
Cheongyeon had already been won over by Bam's persuasion long ago.
She picked up a piece of fruit and was about to put it into her mouth without the slightest suspicion.
Seongha abruptly grabbed Cheongyeon's hand.
"Food from outside Beopsindang must be inspected before you eat it. Haven't I told you to always be cautious when strangers offer you something out of kindness?"
After scolding Cheongyeon, Seongha placed the fruit back onto the plate with a cold expression.
Watching Seongha being so overprotective of Cheongyeon, Bam seemed to realize something and raised the corner of her lips in amusement.
From the looks of things, the woman held the highest status, while the men were people serving her.
Now it was clear who the Rang Merchant Guild needed to impress.
Bam spoke to Cheongyeon in an even friendlier tone.
"Meeting like this must be fate. I'd like to know your name, my lady. What should I call you?"
"My name is Cheongyeon. I've been staying at Beopsindang ever since I came down from the heavens."
Came down from the heavens? What does that mean?
Puzzled, Bam blinked.
She carefully looked Cheongyeon over once again.
For someone who claimed to have descended from the heavens, she looked surprisingly ordinary at first glance.
She wasn't wearing a robe made of feathers, nor was she riding around on clouds.
And yet, for some reason, Bam couldn't take her eyes off her.
It was almost as if an invisible radiance surrounded Cheongyeon.
Cheongyeon and Bam.
Two women who had crossed the sky and sea from unfamiliar worlds stood looking at each other.
"Ah, so you're the Heavenly Maiden I've heard rumors about. How interesting. I never imagined Cheonhui Kingdom was a place that actually existed."
Truthfully, Bam had never been particularly interested in the legends of the neighboring country that she'd only heard through rumors.
She had a practical personality and believed only in what she had seen with her own eyes.
She simply assumed Cheongyeon was some sort of religious leader or shaman.
But as the young mistress of the Rang Merchant Guild, Bam's thoughts quickly drifted toward something far bolder and more audacious.
There had probably been countless merchants who had crossed the sea.
But no merchant had ever crossed the heavens.
Even her father and older brothers had never once told her of anything like that.
What if I seize this opportunity and open a new trade route to this place called Cheonhui Kingdom?
Perhaps ancient treasures were buried there.
Or perhaps it contained deposits of rare minerals no one else knew about.
If that happened, even the Rang family would have no choice but to acknowledge Bam's abilities as a merchant.
Just imagining it filled Bam with satisfaction.
"Lady Rang, your eyes look just like the sea. They're such a beautiful shade of blue."
At that moment, Cheongyeon took Bam's hands in hers and smiled brightly.
The pure, radiant feeling unique to Cheongyeon washed over her, making Bam flinch and instinctively take a step back.
She had dealt with all sorts of people from countless countries throughout her life, but this was her first time meeting someone like Cheongyeon.
Someone who openly showed every emotion she felt and was so innocent that she didn't seem capable of scheming at all.
Feeling as though she was somehow being swept along by Cheongyeon's pace, Bam quickly returned to the matter she had nearly forgotten.
"Then, what will everyone from Beopsindang decide? About doing business with our merchant guild..."
"...I'm sorry, but I don't think that will be possible. The Rang Merchant Guild's goods are far too expensive, and the budget available to us is limited."
The one who interrupted Bam was Manu.
Although he was expressing his refusal, his face was clearly filled with awkwardness and embarrassment.
"Besides, Priest Jin would probably never allow it anyway."
As though deliberately showing the people of the Rang Merchant Guild who was responsible, Manu subtly pointed a finger toward Seongha.
They had claimed they were preparing for a major national event, yet the members of Beopsindang looked as poor as beggars.
Bam was dumbfounded.
The people she hated most in the world were those who didn't have enough money to buy things.
"..."
Until then, Seongha had remained silent, standing back and watching how the situation unfolded.
The invitations they had sent to the various countries shouldn't have even arrived yet.
So how had the Rang Merchant Guild learned about the event and come here beforehand?
Seongha had naturally heard of the reputation of the Rang family, who controlled the waters along the Tuima coast.
