Whether he understood Dae Inseon's thoughts or not, Dae Inseon approached the slave trader—a grotesquely obese man whose body glistened with grease.
"Hey. Let me ask you something."
"What the—who are you supposed to be…? Hm? Y-young master, who might you be?"
The slave trader had initially snapped in irritation at being addressed, but the moment he took in Dae Inseon's attire, his tone changed instantly.
Naturally so—Dae Inseon was now wearing the nobleman's clothing that Eulbu had brought out.
From the slave trader's perspective, he had found a customer.
No—because the buyer was young, the trader's mind was already full of schemes to overcharge him.
"I am a noble of Balhae. Are you a slave trader?"
"I am a merchant of the Tang Dynasty. I also deal in slaves. But what business brings you here? A Balhae noble traveling this far must have a reason."
Long ago, relations between Tang and Balhae had soured briefly due to King Mu of Balhae launching a preemptive strike. However, Balhae later acknowledged the Sinocentric order, and Tang in turn recognized Balhae's international standing, leading to active exchanges between the two states.
Unlike the bitter hostility that had existed between Goguryeo and Tang, the two nations now maintained relatively stable relations. Civilian trade was naturally common.
Transactions between Balhae nobles and Tang merchants were nothing unusual.
"I want to buy that Uyghur girl. Will that be possible? I'll pay you handsomely."
From the outset, the negotiation was reckless, forcing Eulbu to swallow his tears as he emptied every last coin he carried.
Fortunately, the slave trader did not demand an outrageous price. He even introduced himself as a fairly well-known merchant in Tang before leaving.
A man who beat women inspired little trust, but since there would be no further dealings, Dae Inseon turned his attention to the girl who had become a slave.
The Khitan girl glared at him fiercely, furious that her fate had been decided by others without her consent.
"What are you planning to do with me?!"
"You insolent brat! Do you know who you're speaking to?!"
"…Enough. Are you a Khitan woman?"
Eulbu was livid at the Uyghur girl's rude behavior and looked ready to draw his sword, but Dae Inseon stopped him and stepped forward.
Judging by appearances, there was not much difference in age between Dae Inseon and the girl.
"I'm Uyghur. A Khitan noble. Why did you buy me? To make me your slave?"
"More importantly, why were you caught by that pig in the first place?"
Even without her words, it was obvious she was a noble just from her clothing. While different from Balhae attire, its elegance was unmistakably aristocratic.
With that in mind, Dae Inseon studied her carefully. If she belonged to a dangerous faction, he would need to respond accordingly.
For example… if she were from the Yelü clan.
He had not yet learned her name, but concern lingered in his mind.
"That's because… I was hu—hunting outside."
"Pfft—bahahaha! Hunting? A little girl like you goes hunting?"
Though nomadic customs made the idea less absurd, the thought of someone this young hunting still surprised him.
Dae Inseon suddenly became curious about her skills.
"Hmph! Unlike some Balhae noble, hunting is nothing to me!"
"Fine. Then if you beat me in a hunting contest, I'll escort you safely to wherever you wish."
He was not joking.
He had spent a fortune to buy her, but he never intended to kill her. More than that, she resembled the woman he had loved in his previous life as Choi Inseon, making him want to set her free if she wished.
Still, simply releasing her would leave Eulbu—who had watched money flow out like water—shedding tears of blood. Some justification was needed.
…Though in truth, this was largely for Dae Inseon's own satisfaction.
"You won't forget what you just said, right?"
Borrowing horses, Dae Inseon and the girl left the Khitan village to hunt. Eulbu followed behind them, his youthful face growing increasingly lined as the Crown Prince's eccentric behavior continued.
As the Crown Prince of Balhae, Dae Inseon had trained in martial arts from a young age.
He also possessed archery skills that amazed all who witnessed them. Each time he loosed an arrow, an animal fell.
Yet the girl refused to be outdone, drawing her bow with her small frame and felling beasts despite her age.
She's no ordinary girl. Perhaps His Highness truly has an eye for people?
Watching from behind, Eulbu was stunned. He had never imagined a Khitan noble girl could be this capable.
His opinion of Dae Inseon rose further, and he began to wonder whether his lord might even be able to quell the growing conflicts between the Malgal and Balhae peoples.
In the end, the hunt concluded with Dae Inseon's victory.
No matter how skilled a nomadic hunter might be, Dae Inseon had been trained by elite Malgal and Balhae generals. The girl could not overcome the education he had received.
Defeated, she puffed out her cheeks and glared at him.
"Just who are you? How do you hit every shot like that?"
"Who knows?"
"Are you planning to drag me off to Balhae like this?"
She was appealing bold enough that he could even imagine making her his queen. But affection could not be won by force.
Besides, they had only met by chance while traveling. There was no deep bond.
"Haha! Of course not. It was a joke. Do I look like the kind of man who would toy with a girl like you as a slave? If that were the case, I'd have gone straight to Chang'an instead of coming here."
"…So you'll let me go?"
"You were wrongfully captured to begin with. Just think of this as a whim on my part."
Unable to admit that he had saved her because she resembled his former lover, Dae Inseon simply laughed heartily.
However, as the conversation continued, Eulbu's expression grew darker.
A warrior of the Heuksu Tribe, loyal to the core, he disliked seeing a Khitan woman speak so casually to his lord the Crown Prince of Balhae.
"You're a strange man. Are all Balhae men like you? Or… are they?"
"Our country does place a relatively high value on women, but there are still plenty of rough men."
Balhae, in its own way, granted women considerable authority. Women monitored their husbands, and while neighboring states kept courtesans and concubines, Balhae did not.
This alone did not make it a paradise for women, but compared to the status women would later have in Joseon, it was undeniably better.
That said, Balhae itself was a harsh land, and its people were often rough by nature. The Malgal, in particular, were known for their fierce temperament.
As they rested and chatted after the hunt, the sound of movement and hurried footsteps came from nearby.
"My lady! Where are you?!"
"Oh? I knew it. You're no ordinary girl. Given your attire, you'd stand out anywhere."
In truth, Dae Inseon had been wondering how to escort her safely.
This was Khitan land, unfamiliar terrain, and he had only Eulbu as an escort. Protecting her would have been difficult.
For Dae Inseon, a savior had appeared at the perfect moment.
"Your Highness, what shall we do?"
"…Are those your retainers?"
At Eulbu's question, Dae Inseon turned to the girl.
If they truly belonged to her, handing her over would be fine. But Khitan politics were unstable, and as a noble, she could have been targeted in a power struggle.
"Ah yes. I recognize their voices."
"That's a relief. Then we should be on our way. We had planned to stay longer, but we spent money unexpectedly."
In truth, the situation was dire enough that returning was necessary. He had intended to head back anyway, but he now had to worry about even feeding himself on the way.
As they prepared to leave, the girl's face lingered vividly in Dae Inseon's mind.
Because of her, he had to return sooner than planned, and a mix of regret and guilt filled his heart.
"…S-sorry."
"I didn't ask you to apologize. Come to think of it, I never introduced myself. Who do you think I am?"
"…A Balhae noble?"
Recalling what he had said earlier to the slave trader, she answered hesitantly. But Dae Inseon only smiled wider, clearly amused.
Feeling mocked, she almost struck him but his next words stopped her.
"No. Someone higher. My name is Dae Inseon. Crown Prince of Great Balhae, and the man who will one day conquer the world."
"The world…? W-wait. The Crown Prince of Balhae? Then why are you here?"
Her eyes widened, mouth agape in shock.
Anyone could see how absurd it was for the Crown Prince of Balhae to be here.
Balhae and the Khitans were not on friendly terms. They opposed one another.
The girl knew this, yet she could not grasp Dae Inseon's true intentions.
Though Uyghur by origin, she was still a Khitan noble. If the Crown Prince had come with ulterior motives, she needed to understand them.
"What's wrong with viewing the world that will one day be mine? I like you. When I ascend the throne, I want you as my queen."
"W-what are you saying?!"
She stared at him blankly, like a goldfish, unable to process his words.
But Dae Inseon was not finished.
Because inside this so-called great man lived Choi Inseon—a reckless, all-or-nothing soul.
"When I return to Balhae, I'll inherit the throne within a few years. Come to the capital then. I'll make you my lawful queen."
"T-that's a lie. How can I believe that? No—how can one believe such words? Are all Balhae men liars?!"
Though she protested, her flushed cheeks betrayed her interest.
Her reaction was reasonable. They had met only hours ago, and she was still young. Such an outrageous proposal was hard to accept.
Moreover, they were from different nations and tribes. His kindness felt alien rather than comforting.
Seeing her doubt, Dae Inseon drew the sword at his waist.
Even its scabbard revealed master craftsmanship, wrapped in gold thread—a weapon clearly reserved for royalty.
"This is a treasured sword my father gave me. If you come to the capital and show this, the soldiers will guide you to me."
"Y-Your Highness! You would give that sword away?! If you must give it to a Khitan woman, you might as well give it to me!"
Hearing Eulbu's true feelings, Dae Inseon smiled wryly and resolved to have a sword forged for him upon returning.
He resembled a loyal dog longing for his master's affection.
In any case, Dae Inseon could not retreat.
She was the first woman he had taken interest in since opening his eyes in this world. Even if she rejected him, he wanted to see this through.
"It's for my future wife. What of it? Until we meet again—next time as my beloved."
"I never agreed to accept your confession!"
"Then keep it anyway. Farewell."
Momentarily flustered by her sharp retort, Dae Inseon nonetheless turned his horse and rode off. The sword had already changed hands—there was no turning back.
But what if she really doesn't come? I made such a grand display… wait. I never even asked her name.
Realizing this far too late, he continued riding toward the capital, unable to turn back now.
By the time Dae Inseon vanished from sight, the girl stood frozen.
Soon, she sensed someone approaching.
"Sulyulpyeong! Where are you?!"
It was her father, Sulyulpago.
A member of the Sulyul clan, he was a Khitan noble who had lived under Uyghur dominance before Yelü Abaoji's rise.
Upon hearing that his daughter had been dragged away, he had quickly gathered soldiers and pursued her, learning that she had left on horseback with two men.
"F-father? I—I'm here!"
"Where have you been?! And who were those men?!"
As her father gripped her shoulders anxiously, she showed him the sword Dae Inseon had given her and explained everything that had happened.
Frowning deeply, Sulyulpago studied the blade.
"If this is true… then this is troubling. This sword is undeniably Balhae's. So—how do you feel? Have you fallen for the Crown Prince you met today?"
"…."
She could not answer.
I don't know yet.
He was impressive. He spoke of making her queen, of conquering the world.
But was it arrogance? Would he forget her in the future?
Even if she held his sword, another could always be forged.
Yet one thing was certain she would never forget today's meeting, and deep down, she hoped his words were true.
From her expression alone, Sulyulpago understood her feelings.
He bit his lip in irritation, then forced himself to assess the situation calmly.
He saved my daughter and claims to cherish her. Crossing the Liao with only one retainer proves he's no ordinary man. And giving away a royal sword means sincerity. But can Balhae truly seize the initiative in the future?
An uneasy feeling settled in his chest.
The world was slowly drifting toward chaos.
Merchants whispered that Silla had already fallen into a Warring States era. The Khitans were unstable, and south of the Great Wall, Tang's mandate was nearing its end.
Only Balhae stood firm in the northeast.
If so, perhaps it was worth gambling on the Crown Prince of Balhae—especially since he had feelings for his daughter.
Sulyulpago turned his gaze toward the direction Dae Inseon had ridden.
Heroes are born in times of chaos. They need not always rise from the Central Plains. I haven't seen him properly yet, but perhaps he's worth judging as a future son-in-law.
Having settled his thoughts, he gently patted his daughter's head.
"I don't need words to know. This is a matter for the future. We'll see whether he was merely reckless… or truly a man chosen by heaven."
"Yes, Father."
Sulyulpyeong smiled faintly, gazing toward Liaodong where Balhae lay, gripping her father's hand tightly.
Sulyulpyeong according to the original history, she would become Yelü Abaoji's wife, conquering nations alongside him and eventually rising as empress.
Her meeting with Dae Inseon should never have happened.
But now, because of a man who knew the future, Sulyulpyeong would go on to write a new history.
Ironically, Dae Inseon himself had no idea who she truly was—making the situation all the more exasperating.