Kyeong'ui swiftly pulled back on the reins, halting her advance. The archers on the wall remained motionless, their arrows trained on her heart. Hyeok quickly maneuvered his horse, positioning himself between Kyeong'ui and the archers.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he shouted towards the gatehouse. "Withdraw your arrows!"

Seolyo Jin stood in the shadows. Despite the distance, Kyeong'ui could almost see the glint of defiance in her eyes.

"Lower the shields," Kyeong'ui commanded.

"What?" Hyeok exclaimed.

"Lower our shields," she repeated, her voice firm.

Hyeok hesitated. If even one of those archers misfired, Kyeong'ui would be killed. He looked pleadingly at Hongyoo, who seemed strangely unconcerned. With a resigned sigh, Hyeok signaled for the soldiers to lower their shields and step aside. Kyeong'ui urged her horse forward, approaching the gate. The archers followed her movements, their arrows still trained on her. Jin's voice rang out from the gatehouse.

"Withdraw your troops, Your Highness. I don't know why you've come, but you will not enter Nahmgyo with an army at your back."

"This is a fortress of Dahn," Kyeong'ui replied. "I will not be denied entry. Open the gates."

She nudged her horse forward, but Jin's voice stopped her.

"One more step, and I will order my archers to fire."

Kyeong'ui stood her ground. "If you kill me," she warned, "The city will burn before summer's end. Why are you being so reckless? I've only brought five hundred soldiers."

"It is you who is being reckless, Your Highness," Jin countered. "The founder of Dahn granted Nahmgyo autonomy. We have honored our agreement with the Royal House Yeongshin. I expect the same courtesy from you. Do you intend to break your ancestor's promise?"

"How does my entering a Dahnian fortress with Dahnian troops threaten the autonomy of Nahmgyo?" Kyeong'ui asked.

"Withdraw your troops," Jin demanded. "Then, and only then, will I open the gates. My soldiers will protect you within the fortress. As you said, they are soldiers of Dahn. Surely they are capable of protecting their princess."

"While aiming their arrows at me?" Kyeong'ui scoffed.

Jin waved her hand dismissively, and the archers lowered their bows. Hyeok breathed a sigh of relief, but Kyeong'ui's reckless behavior still filled him with anxiety. Hongyoo, however, remained unusually calm, which only fueled Hyeok's frustration.

"Why aren't you doing anything?" he hissed, glaring at Hongyoo. "Say something!"

"And what about you, Young Master?" Hongyoo said. "Aren't you the one most concerned about her safety?"

Hyeok sputtered, then turned to Kyeong'ui. "Your Highness, please don't go in! We can't trust that old woman!"

Kyeong'ui hesitated. Should I retreat with her troops, or enter the fortress alone, as Seolyo Jin demanded? She had assumed that bringing her soldiers would guarantee her entry, but she had been wrong. However, a confrontation would only escalate the situation. Neither option was ideal, but returning empty-handed was unacceptable.

"How many will you allow?" she called out to the gatehouse.

"Three, including yourself, Your Highness," Jin replied without hesitation.

Hongyoo, seeing that Kyeong'ui was determined to proceed, finally intervened. He leaned closer, his voice a low whisper.

"Your Highness," Hongyoo urged, "don't go in. It's a power play. She means to control you, isolate you. We need to leave now."

"I'm not here to fight," Kyeong'ui insisted.

"Your intentions are irrelevant if they don't align with theirs," Hongyoo argued. "If they..."

"If they wanted me dead," Kyeong'ui interrupted, "they would have killed me already."

"A dead princess is of no use to them," Hongyoo countered.

Kyeong'ui had never seen him so agitated, but she refused to yield. "I've made my decision. Stop arguing and follow me. And you too, Young Master."

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She spurred her horse forward, riding towards the gate alone. Hyeok, watching her retreating figure, turned to Hongyoo.

"We're in this together now," he muttered.

"What do you mean?" Hongyoo asked.

"If the princess doesn't return to Sunyahng safely, we're both dead," Hyeok said. "This cursed island. Do you even know how to fight?"

"I am a Royal Attendant, Young Master," Hongyoo replied. "We are chosen for our martial skills, not poetry."

"That's somewhat reassuring."

Hyeok kicked his horse into a gallop, catching up to Kyeong'ui. Hongyoo followed close behind. The gates opened just wide enough for the three riders to pass. Once they were inside, the gates slammed shut.

Upon entering the fortress, they found Seolyo Jin waiting for them. She had descended from the gatehouse and now sat astride her horse. She nodded curtly to Kyeong'ui, then turned and led the way, her horse's hooves echoing against the cobblestones. They followed her deeper into the fortress, passing through streets lined with unfamiliar faces and strange attire. Kyeong'ui felt a growing sense of unease as she met the hostile gazes of the islanders. She began to understand why Jin had insisted on leaving the troops behind. The cold stares followed them all the way to the government office.

Jin left Hyeok and Hongyoo outside and led Kyeong'ui to her office. "Please, have a seat," she gestured towards a chair.

Once Kyeong'ui was seated, Jin began. "A bold move, Your Highness. To arrive unannounced at Nahmgyo before even familiarizing yourself with Birahng."

"Were you spying on me?" Kyeong'ui countered sharply.

"It's only natural that you would survey the island before venturing further," Jin replied smoothly. "Especially since those from the mainland know so little about Birahng."

Though her reasoning was sound, Kyeong'ui couldn't be sure if Jin was merely speculating. She smiled faintly.

"If you had business in Nahmgyo," Jin continued, "it would have been prudent to inform me beforehand and request permission to bring your troops. That is the proper procedure. Procedure establishes authority. It would have made this encounter much smoother."

"Such procedures are necessary when entering a foreign land," Kyeong'ui said. "But this is Dahn."

"Which is precisely why you should be more mindful of protocol," Jin countered. "Without procedure and law, Dahn is nothing but an empty shell."

"I suggest you watch your tongue," Kyeong'ui warned.

Jin raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps my words are a bit harsh, but am I wrong? Don't take offense, Your Highness. Sung is also a kingdom built on law and order. And look at them. A kingdom founded by those who rebelled against Wi, yet they have endured, grown stronger than Dahn, even stronger than Wi ever was."

"And those who built that kingdom didn't cling to procedures," Kyeong'ui argued. "If the founder of Dahn had followed every rule and regulation, he wouldn't have a kingdom to rule."

"The founder was a hero of a turbulent era," Jin remarked. "In times of chaos, laws and even morals become irrelevant. Is your father’s reign such an era, Your Highness?"

Kyeong'ui was momentarily speechless.

"A peaceful and prosperous kingdom is one that adheres to laws and procedures," Jin said.

"The royal family dictates the laws and procedures," Kyeong'ui said. "We can change them, or abolish them, as we see fit."

Jin's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Such spirit, Your Highness," she remarked. "But spirit often leads to ruin."

"What separates royalty from commoners if not their spirit?" Kyeong'ui countered.

Seolyo Jin let out a hearty laugh. "Perhaps you're right," she conceded. "Royals and fortress masters alike cling to empty titles. But tell me, Your Highness, what do you hope to gain by risking your life to enter my fortress?"

Kyeong'ui bristled at the thinly veiled insult. "There's no danger for me on Dahnian soil," she declared.

Jin chuckled, her shoulders shaking. "Danger lurks everywhere, Your Highness," she said. "From the madmen roaming the streets to your own father sitting on the throne. To say you face no danger is naive. Even that pale-faced attendant of yours would agree. Every moment he spends by your side is a dance with death. Or perhaps," she added, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "the greatest danger lies closest to home."

Kyeong'ui scoffed. "If that's your definition of danger, then you are the greatest threat I face right now."

"Perhaps I am," Seolyo Jin agreed, a sly smile playing on her lips.

She picked up her pipe and lit it, taking a long drag. "Such bravado, Your Highness," she said, exhaling a plume of smoke. "But don't take your life so lightly. Your life is valuable, but the more you gamble with it, the less it will be worth. You may achieve some grand feat here, but when you return to Sunyahng, you'll be surrounded by those who have fallen out of favor with the Crown Prince. Some might be useful, but the more you risk your neck, the quicker they'll abandon you. They have no desire to share your fate."

Kyeong'ui's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?" she asked. "That my father is a danger to me?"

Jin took another puff from her pipe, her gaze fixed on Kyeong'ui. "He may be a loving father to you," she said, "but he's also responsible for the deaths of countless officials and nobles. They, too, pursued their ambitions, only to meet a tragic end. Your father ascended the throne by killing his own siblings. Do you honestly believe he wouldn't harm his own child or grandchild?"

Kyeong'ui remained silent, her bravado momentarily faltering. Jin pressed on, sensing her vulnerability.

"I understand your ambitions, Your Highness," she said. "But today, you've lost more than you've gained. Still, I admire your spirit. It's a rare quality, even among the young."

Kyeong'ui's lips curled into a faint smile. "And it's not exclusive to the young either," she said. "If I had pressed further, would you have truly ordered your archers to fire? Risking a civil war?"

"I wouldn't underestimate you, Your Highness," Jin replied. "I saw a spark in you during our tea party. That's why I took the gamble."

"And I wouldn't underestimate you either."

Jin let out a hearty laugh. "Well, here we are, enjoying a pleasant chat. All's well that ends well, wouldn't you agree? But we've strayed from the topic at hand. I'll repeat my earlier question: what brings you to Nahmgyo?"

Kyeong'ui didn't hesitate. "I'm here for House Myeonghyeon."