The soldier rushed towards the main office, frantic and flustered as he reported the unfolding situation to Seong. Seong, who was in a meeting with Ryang discussing the allocation of resources to the lords, let out a deep sigh.
"I've offered kindness, and she repays it with chaos," he muttered.
Ryang, ashamed, lowered his head.
"Very well," Seong said. "It's time I met with her."
"But Guardian," Ryang protested, "a sudden meeting without any preparation could be dangerous."
"What danger could there be?" Seong countered, rising from his seat. "Come, let's go."
Ryang followed anxiously as Seong strode towards the guesthouse.
Inside, Kyeong'ui waited, her grip on the Emissary's arm unwavering. The young Emissary, tears streaming down her face, whimpered and sobbed. Soon, they heard footsteps approaching, and the door slid open.
The man standing in the doorway was young, with kind eyes that belied the title of "the rogue lord," Kyeong'ui had given him.
"I hear you were looking for me," Seong said.
The tension that had been holding Kyeong'ui taut seemed to snap. The man's gentle demeanor made her fury feel misplaced. Can this unassuming person truly be my enemy? Seong's gaze was direct, filled with vigilance, but devoid of malice. Kyeong'ui met his eyes, then glanced at Ryang, who stood behind Seong, his expression a mixture of anxiety and pleading. She thought of Ryang's loyalty, the loyalty she had naively craved. Now, she saw it directed towards this seemingly unremarkable man. And yet, there was something about this man's appearance, something that reminded her of Ryang, that sparked a strange jealousy within her.
"Now that I'm here," Seong said, "release her."
"Send the guards away," Kyeong'ui demanded. "And get rid of that pimp too."
Seong nodded, and the guards obeyed. Ryang, however, remained rooted to the spot.
"Don't worry," Seong reassured him. "Just wait outside."
Kyeong'ui watched Ryang's anxiety with amusement, her eyes filled with a knowing glint. Seong, unaware of the secret between Kyeong'ui and House Myeonghyeon, simply nodded at Ryang, who reluctantly bowed and left the room.
As soon as Seong entered and closed the door behind him, Kyeong'ui released the Emissary, who fled the room in a panic. Seong smoothed his black robes and sat down opposite Kyeong'ui.
"If you wanted to see me, you could have simply asked," he said. "There was no need to threaten the Emissary."
Kyeong'ui scoffed at his boldness. "There are plenty who would have interrupted us."
"If you're referring to the High Councilor," Seong countered, "he's not one to do such a thing. He's the one who advised me to treat you with respect. I told him I couldn't, that I had to consider those who resent you, but he insisted. I don't believe he's doing this simply because you're useful. He's human, after all. Surely he's developed some affection for you after all your interactions. He's already facing considerable disapproval because of you. If you continue these outbursts, you'll only make things more difficult for him. He won't be able to protect you any longer."
"He's the reason I've lost everything," Kyeong'ui spat. "And you expect me to consider his position after a few kind words?"
"You're maintaining your dignity as a princess thanks to him," Seong argued. "Why do you claim to have lost everything?"
Kyeong'ui laughed bitterly.
"What did you want to ask me?" Seong asked.
"First, tell me who you are," Kyeong'ui demanded.
Seong straightened his posture. "I am Seong, the sixty-second descendant of the Founder of Wi, of the Cheon royal lineage."
Seong. Kyeong'ui etched the name into her memory. "They call you the Guardian of the Azure Scripture," she said. "Are you truly a descendant of that doomed bloodline? Do you wield Yeom'myeol?"
Seong summoned a small flame in his hand. Kyeong'ui, despite her efforts to maintain her composure, couldn't hide her surprise. Seong felt a twinge of guilt at the childish display, but seeing her reaction, he knew she wouldn't be taking any more Emissaries hostage.
"Do you believe me now?" he asked.
Kyeong'ui felt a wave of despair. If what I saw wasn't an illusion, if their Sahngjon truly existed, how can Dahn, the nation of Reason and Intellect, ever hope to win? If the outcome is predetermined by Sahngjon's will, a new world ordained, are we destined to fight only to be defeated? She struggled to conceal her turmoil, but her apprehension betrayed her, evident in her flickering eyes and quickened breath.
Seong extinguished the flame and spoke. "I've heard much about you from the High Councilor."
"What did he say?" Kyeong'ui asked.
"Nothing negative," Seong replied. "From what I gathered, you seemed quite fond of him. Am I correct?"
"Shut up," Kyeong'ui snapped, her hostility growing as Seong mentioned Ryang.
"He's the person I trust most in this world," Seong continued. "People's judgment isn't that different. There's nothing wrong or strange about you trusting him so easily."
"You trust him that much?"
"You don't know what we've been through together," Seong countered. "He's my subject and my cousin. Our bond isn't something you can break with your petty schemes."
"I didn't summon you for petty schemes."
"Then what is your purpose?"
"Tell me Sahngjon's will," Kyeong'ui demanded.
Seong frowned, taken aback by her sudden question. Kyeong'ui rephrased her inquiry. "Why do you instigate war in a peaceful nation?"
When Seong remained silent, she pressed further. "Why do you desire the throne?"
Seong still didn't answer. Kyeong'ui let out a dry chuckle. "Your loyal subject asked me the same thing the other day. If he's asked you that question, you must have an answer."
Seong shook his head. "You're mistaken. I have no desire for the throne. The High Councilor knows this, so he's never asked me that question."
"If you have no desire for the throne, then what is all this for?"
"The Celestial Scions and the people have long been bound by the prophecy," Seong explained. "There was a time when that obsession plunged the land into suffering. I acknowledge the contributions of your great-grandfather in ending that suffering."
"And yet you seek to revive those ghosts?"
"Your Founder ended the tyranny of my ancestors and the Celestial Scions, but he didn't address the root cause," Seong argued. "As long as the prophecy remains, the people will remain bound to it. My desire is to free them. I've realized that the only way to do that is to fulfill the prophecy. I'm merely following the destiny I was born with. My desire is to end all this suffering and longing. Perhaps, in that sense, my desire is the same as your Founder."
"His will was to break the prophecy, not fulfill it," Kyeong'ui retorted. "Quite a beautiful speech, though."
"I didn't expect you to understand," Seong said. "But one day, you'll realize that there's nothing we can do."
Seong's words were even more perplexing than Ryang's interpretation of the Azure Scripture. Is the leader of the rebellion merely a religious fanatic? But the incidents with the crimson star, the flames she had witnessed today—these couldn't be explained away as the delusions of a lone survivor clinging to a prophecy. Seong's conviction, though detached, was unshakeable. His eyes, devoid of malice, also lacked any burning ambition. He was like a frozen winter lake, still and impenetrable. Kyeong'ui felt a sense of defeat. She hadn't expected to manipulate Ryang or Seong in a single meeting, but she had hoped to find some crack in their facade, some weakness to exploit. Ryang's vulnerability was his family. But what can I use against Seong? What can sway a man without desires?
Amidst her swirling thoughts, Kyeong'ui clung to reason.
"Everything in this world is the work of men," she declared. "Breaking prophecies, creating new worlds, illuminating the light of Reason and Intellect—these are all things only humans can achieve."
"Then use that human strength to deny the proof I've shown you," Seong challenged. "Isn't the pursuit of Reason and Intellect about accepting what you see?"
Kyeong'ui was speechless.
"So what answer did you give him?" Seong asked.
"I couldn't give him a proper answer," Kyeong'ui admitted.
"Two royals without a cause, sitting face to face," Seong mused.
Kyeong'ui scowled. "Myeonghyeon Ryang asked me another question. He asked what I would do if the truth led me somewhere I did not wish to go."
"And your answer?"
"I said my arrow will find its heart without hesitation."
"Sahngjon lives," Seong countered. "No human can defy him. You would offer futile resistance?"
"It's a battle I must fight," Kyeong'ui declared. "Didn't you say it yourself? This is the only way. I was born a princess of Dahn. This is my only way. There's nothing else I can do."
Seong looked at her, this princess who, despite witnessing the impossible while held captive, burned with unwavering resolve. He thought of the void Yeong had mentioned, the void left by Sahngjon. Are people like her meant to fill it? He was beginning to understand why the King of Dahn had chosen to send Princess Kyeong'ui. According to their plan, she was meant to delay the Dahnian forces in Birahng and die at an opportune moment. But such a meaningless death didn't seem fitting for her.
"We'll be moving to Hyangdo in a few days," Seong announced. "You'll be moved as well."
Kyeong'ui scoffed, unfazed. "So Hyangdo has fallen already? Even for an impenetrable fortress, that's quite a feat. Hyangdo is the city built by the Founder. Don't you have any self-respect?"
"Sunyahng, the city your father defends, is the capital established by the Founder of Wi," Seong retorted. "You're in no position to criticize."
Kyeong'ui glared at him, a twisted smile on her lips.
"Is that all you wanted?" Seong asked. "To inquire about my cause?"
"For today, it is," Kyeong'ui replied.
Seong took a deep breath and rose from his seat. "I'll say it again. If you have any requests, don't resort to violence. Just ask. Make yourself comfortable during your stay."
Ryang followed Seong out of the guesthouse. Once they were a safe distance away, he asked, "What did you discuss?"
Seong turned to see Ryang's anxious expression. "Nothing much. Any news from Sahpung?"
"We're sending out scouts within a reasonable range," Ryang reported. "It's still quiet."
Seong, picturing Kyeong'ui's face, said, "Keep a closer eye on the Princess from now on."
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The ships that had returned to Sahpung with the Sahcheon support fleet and the rear guard were forced to turn back when they saw the flag of Wi hanging over Nahmgyo's southern gate. They couldn't even approach the harbor. Upon their return to Sahpung, the situation grew urgent. Under the cover of night, scouts from Sahcheon stealthily landed near Nahmgyo in small boats. Within two days, they had gathered crucial information: Kyeong'ui was alive, held captive within Nahmgyo; Governor Juyeong Hyo was dead under mysterious circumstances; and Hyangdo had surrendered without a fight. The most unbelievable piece of intelligence was the fate of the three warships left behind in Birahng – they had all sunk. Gahngyun Yeol, knowing that battlefield tales were often exaggerated, initially doubted the stories the scouts had gathered from the locals. He was focused on two objectives: ensuring Kyeong'ui's safe return and crushing the rebellion. For Hyeok, however, only Kyeong'ui mattered.
When the last scout returned, Hyeok urgently confronted Yeol.
"When are we setting sail?" he demanded.
"Wait," Yeol commanded.
"We've confirmed her survival and her location," Hyeok argued. "What more information do we need? What are we waiting for?!"
"With all four cities of Birahng under enemy control, the Sahcheon forces alone are insufficient for a landing," Yeol explained. "We need to request reinforcements from Sunyahng."
"We'll be too late!" Hyeok shouted.
Yeol glared at him. "Don't be reckless. Our family's fate hangs in the balance."
"Family?" Hyeok scoffed. "While you're busy with your calculations, what if something happens to Her Highness? Do you think our family will remain unscathed?!"
At that moment, Yeol's fist connected with Hyeok's face.