The Myeonghyeon merchant company was located near the south gate of Nahmgyo, a prime location for transporting goods to and from the harbor. The Myeonghyeon siblings departed before dawn, but the sky was still dark when they arrived at the main gate of the government office. Several other merchants were already gathered, their faces barely visible in the dim light. Just as the sun began to peek over the horizon, Fortress Master Seolyo Jin(雪曜珍) emerged, her pipe clenched between her teeth, her son, Seolyo Yeong(寧), trailing behind her. Ryang and Seon, along with the other merchants, bowed their heads in greeting.

"My Lady."

Seolyo Jin's wrinkled face broke into a wide smile as she spotted the siblings among the crowd. She approached them, exhaling a long plume of smoke.

"Ryang, my boy, it's been a while," she greeted him warmly. "Seon, of course, I see more often."

"So often that you've grown tired of me?" Seon teased.

"Never," Seol Yojin chuckled.

Ryang glared at Seolyo Yeong, who was leering at Seon from behind his mother. Jin, though undeniably cunning, was a shrewd and experienced leader. Her son, however, was a different story. He lacked his mother's sharp mind and political savvy. Ryang often thought that Jin's two elder daughters, who had since left Birahng, would have been better suited to lead Nahmgyo. But then he would remember Jin's terrifying insistence on marrying off one of her daughters to him, and he would quickly reconsider. Though he had no desire to marry either of them, they were certainly preferable to Seolyo Yeong, who possessed none of the qualities of a leader. For the sake of Housr Myeonghyeon, who relied on the stability of Nahmgyo, Ryang could only hope that Jin remained in power for many years to come. The fact that Yeong was even looking at Seon with such blatant desire filled him with disgust. Yeong, however, seemed oblivious to Ryang's animosity, as he usually steered clear of him.

Ryang masked his annoyance with a polite smile, a rare sight within the confines of Wicheong Palace. He bowed his head respectfully.

"My Lady, I trust you've been well."

"It's good to see you again, Ryang," Jin replied. "You've been busy, I see."

"Indeed."

"Don't be a stranger," Jin said. "I might forget what you look like."

She took a long drag from her pipe and exhaled a plume of smoke. Ryang simply smiled in response. Jin studied his face, her gaze lingering on his features.

"You resemble your father more and more as you get older," she remarked.

Ryang remained silent. Jin turned to address the assembled merchants.

"Let's depart," she announced. "We must reach our destination before nightfall."

She mounted her horse, and the others followed suit, their procession heading towards the harbor adjacent to Nahmgyo. They boarded a ship bearing the white banner of House Seolyo, and the vessel set sail, following the coastline towards Hyangdo in the northwest.

Inside the ship's cabin, Jin dismissed her son and settled down for tea with the Myeonghyeon siblings. Though the air was already thick with smoke from her pipe, she continued to puff away, filling the small space with a thick haze.

"How is your Guardian?" she asked.

Ryang, who normally despised the smell of smoke, whether from tobacco or crystal haze, masked his distaste. "The former Guardian passed away recently," he replied.

Jin feigned surprise. "My condolences. When did he pass?"

"On the night the star fell."

A smile spread across Jin's wrinkled face. "That's quite a coincidence."

"Indeed," Ryang agreed.

Jin tilted her head back, her eyes tracing the path of the Crimson Star as it blazed across her memory. "I've seen many things in my life," she mused, "but I never thought I'd witness such a spectacle. A falling star on the night of the Guardian's death... quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say? But then, everything's been eerily quiet since. Perhaps it was just a strange spectacle after all."

Neither Ryang nor Seon replied.

"Sahngjon has set the time," Jin continued, "but it seems the Scions lack the courage to act."

Ryang lowered his gaze respectfully. Jin didn't press further, simply nodding her head.

"Let me know when the time comes," she said. "Don't surprise me."

Seon, eager to change the subject, asked, "Do you know anything about Princess Kyeong'ui?"

"What would a simple islander like me know about a princess?" Jin replied.

Neither Ryang nor Seon believed her. "My Lady," Ryang pressed.

The situation was far from amusing, yet when those two pairs of identical eyes, stared back at her, Jin couldn't help but burst into laughter. With a hearty laugh, she threw back her head, her throat bobbing with amusement, delighted by the siblings' mirroring confusion. Once her laughter subsided, she shook her head.

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"I honestly don't know," she said. "I've tried to find out about her, but there's little information available. They've kept her hidden away in the palace like some precious treasure. I suspect you already know everything I do. The pleasure cruise is just a cover story. She's here because of the Crimson Star."

Jin tapped her finger on the table, her brow furrowed in thought. "But why the youngest daughter?" she mused. "Why send a sheltered princess with a fleet of five warships? It's one of two things: either the king has lost his mind, or there's something amiss with the succession."

"I don't understand it either," Ryang admitted.

Seolyo Jin waved her hand dismissively. "It's not something I need to understand, nor do I particularly care. I just hope they finish their little game and return to the capital quickly."

"My Lady," Ryang began, "if the princess happens to visit Nahmgyo, I ask that you refrain from mentioning anything about the Crimson Star."

Jin chuckled. "That's rather foolish of you, Ryang. It's not something I can control. There are thousands of people in Nahmgyo. Unless you intend to silence them all, there's no stopping the rumors."

"Surely," Seon said, "the words of the Fortress Master carry more weight than those of the common folk?"

Jin smiled at Seon. "If I were the princess," she said, "I'd be more inclined to believe the rumors than the official pronouncements. Speaking of which, how is Dara? I heard she was quite ill. I even sent her back in a palanquin."

"She seems to have recovered," Ryang replied, his voice tight.

The mention of Dara brought a blush to his cheeks, and he quickly took a sip of tea to hide his embarrassment. Seon, noticing his discomfort, couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him.

"I'm sure she has," she said. "I saw you leaving her room this morning."

Ryang's heart skipped a beat. He wondered when she had seen him, and why she would bring it up in front of Jin. He glared at Seon, but he couldn't bring himself to reprimand her in front of Jin. Jin, however, burst into laughter.

"My, my, Ryang," she chuckled, "you're quite the vigorous young man. Though your taste is a bit surprising."

────────

As they neared Birahng, the sea shimmered, its waters clearer than the sky above. The salt-laced breeze carried a warmth and fragrance that invigorated the senses. Kyeong'ui leaned against the railing, her body bent precariously over the water, her gaze fixed on the depths below. She marveled at the mesmerizing blue hues, a beauty beyond words. Birahng(翡朗) truly lived up to its name. Though she had read the Azure Scripture in secret, she had always considered it a mere story, a legend. But now, witnessing the island's beauty with her own eyes, she wondered if the mystical events described in the scripture might be more than just tales. The fleet continued its approach, the island growing larger with every passing moment.

A black sail emerged on the horizon, and a murmur arose from the crowd gathered at the harbor. Juyeong Hyo, the governor of Hyangdo, stood at the forefront, maintaining order. The deep, resonant sound of a conch shell echoed through the air, signaling the arrival of the princess. The fleet drew closer, the sunlight glinting off the sleek black sails. Black banners, embroidered with gold thread, fluttered from the masts. The lead ship dropped anchor, and a gangplank was lowered. Princess Kyeong'ui, flanked by her guards, stepped onto the shore. The crowd fell silent, their heads bowed in respect.

Ryang cautiously raised his eyes, taking in the princess's appearance. She was petite, but her posture exuded strength and confidence. Her face, though said to resemble the king's, wasn't as stern as he had imagined. Her features were delicate, her expression intelligent and alert. A golden crown, shaped like a crescent moon, adorned her neatly tied hair, and golden earrings dangled from her ears. Though young, she carried herself with a regal air. Aside from her golden jewelry, the most striking aspect of her appearance was her elegant iridescent-black robe. Black was the color of royalty. Only the king was permitted to wear all iridescent-black, while members of the royal family were allowed to incorporate iridescent-black into their attire. Officials serving under the king could wear iridescent-black accents on their sleeves and collars. Kyeong'ui's robe had a high, stiff collar embroidered with gold thread, a design reserved for the royal family. Seong also wore black within Wicheong Palace, but his simple, unadorned robe reflected his diminished status as the leader of a fallen dynasty. Kyeong'ui's robe shimmered with an iridescent sheen, a testament to the rare and expensive dye made from iridescent-black stones, a luxury reserved for the royal family. Even without legal restrictions, commoners wouldn't dare wear such a garment. Ryang had only read about such exquisite fabrics; he had never seen one with his own eyes.

The welcoming ceremony was a grand affair. Juyeong Hyo stepped forward and performed three deep bows before Kyeong'ui, followed by the three fortress masters and the local dignitaries. The elaborate decorations and the seemingly endless ceremony suggested that Juyeong Hyo had spared no effort to impress the princess. Kyeong'ui hadn't had a chance to set foot on Birahng's soil since disembarking. Though not the iridescent-black silk she was accustomed to, a path of dark fabric had been laid out for her to walk on. Ryang knew the limited resources of Hyangdo, and it was clear that they had gone to great lengths to arrange this extravagant welcome.

Juyeong Hyo rose from his bow and addressed the princess. "Your Highness," he began, "welcome to Birahng. We are honored by your presence."

"You are the governor of Hyangdo." Kyeong'ui said.

"Juyeong Hyo, at your service, Your Highness."

"I heard your name," Kyeong'ui replied.

Her gaze swept past him, settling on the figures standing behind him. Jin stood at the forefront. Their eyes met, and she stepped forward, bowing deeply.

"Seolyo Jin, Lady of Nahmgyo," she introduced herself. "And these are the Lady of Dongrahng and the Lord of Seorahng. We welcome you, Your Highness."

Kyeong'ui gestured towards the rest of the crowd. "And who are they?" she asked.

"They are the most influential figures on Birahng," Hyo explained. "I invited them to greet you, Your Highness."

Kyeong'ui wrinkled her nose at the strong scent of tobacco emanating from Jin, but she maintained a gracious smile. "I am honored by your warm welcome," she replied.

Hyo gestured towards the fortress. "Please follow me, Your Highness. Allow me to show you around Hyangdo."

"Perhaps later," Kyeong'ui said, dismissing his offer. "They must have had a long journey. Let them enjoy some refreshments first."

"Of course, Your Highness. A wise decision."

Kyeong'ui, ignoring Hyo's flustered expression, led the way, the crowd parting before her like the sea before a ship. Seon, who had been unusually quiet during the ceremony, finally spoke.

"She seems capable enough," she remarked. "Though a bit charming. I don't think she'll be much trouble."

Ryang, still irritated by their earlier conversation, retorted coldly, "Cheon Hwan was also considered charming. And look where that got us."

Seon fell silent, her lips forming a thin line. She and Ryang followed the princess through the streets of Hyangdo.