The sun dipped below the horizon as they sailed back towards Hyangdo. Though the setting sun painted the sky in a breathtaking display of colors, Kyeong'ui remained in the dimly lit cabin, her eyes closed, lost in thought. Hongyoo stood beside her, his arms crossed. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the gentle rocking of the ship. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She had faced more challenges in one day than she had in her entire life within the palace walls. The memories of Nahmgyo, so vivid just moments ago, now seemed distant and surreal, yet the weight of them pressed heavily on her heart.

Hongyoo, sensing her turmoil, finally spoke. "You were reckless, Your Highness," he said. "Anyone could have harmed you."

Kyeong'ui opened her eyes. "No one would dare harm a royal," she scoffed.

"I'm not so sure about that," Hongyoo replied. "Seolyo Jin and Myeonghyeon Ryang didn't strike me as ordinary people."

"Then, how did it seem to you?"

"Who are you referring to?"

"The young Myeonghyeon heir, yes." A playful smile touched Kyeong'ui's lips.

"You spent some time alone with him, didn't you?"

"You were eavesdropping on us, weren't you?" Kyeong'ui raised an eyebrow, and Hongyoo, with a reluctant sigh, admitted, "Perhaps I was."

Kyeong'ui rested her chin on her hand, her gaze drifting towards the window. "The moment I heard about House Myeonghyeon, I knew it was them," she mused. "They caught my attention at the tea party."

Hongyoo, noticing the smug look on her face, couldn't resist teasing her. "Perhaps it was their striking appearance that caught your attention," he said. "Their clothes were quite elegant... even more so than many in Sunyahng. And now I understand why. If they run such a successful business, they must be quite wealthy. If you can persuade them to join your cause, Your Highness, you won't have to worry about funding."

Hongyoo's playful demeanor vanished. "You made that offer without even consulting me."

"You were the one who suggested I secure funding on Birahng," Kyeong'ui said nonchalantly.

"That was the extent of my advice."

"So, are you upset?"

Hongyoo met her gaze, a smile playing on his lips. "Not at all. To be honest, I'm relieved. You seem quite capable of handling things on your own."

Kyeong'ui frowned. "You think I'm a fool?" she scoffed. "It wasn't a difficult decision. Without my father's support, they're useless to me anyway."

"Don't misunderstand, Your Highness," Hongyoo replied smoothly. "I was merely jesting."

Kyeong'ui playfully swatted Hongyoo's arm. "Do you think he'll accept my offer?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

"He doesn't have much choice in his current situation," Hongyoo replied. "The question is whether he'll be truly loyal. And whether he's even worthy of our trust."

Kyeong'ui recalled the tea room where she had met with Ryang. It was a space reserved for the siblings, its elegant decor hinting at their refined tastes. She had often observed officials in Sunyahng, their public lives a facade of propriety while their private lives were filled with debauchery. She wondered what motivated the Myeonghyeons to maintain such a facade while engaging in such a morally questionable business.

"He's not someone who will waste his life on this island," she mused. "He has ambitions."

"That's what worries me, Your Highness," Hongyoo said. "If he has the means to amass such wealth, his ambitions must be considerable. And as you said, he has no reason to be loyal to Dahn. He could easily use you for his own gain."

"Do you think I'm that naive?" Kyeong'ui scoffed.

"Not at all, Your Highness. But..."

"I don't care about his motives," Kyeong'ui interrupted. "As long as he's useful in the end."

"We should still be cautious," Hongyoo insisted.

"We can assess him further once he arrives at our camp," Kyeong'ui said. "He hasn't even accepted my offer yet."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"That's true."

Kyeong'ui took a sip of her tea. "I can't believe they would resort to such a business," she muttered. "Everyone was drunk in the middle of the day, the place was crawling with foreigners, and I couldn't understand a word they were saying. The men and women alike... their eyes were practically burning holes through me. And the stench... it was revolting."

She was clearly disgusted by the inn's atmosphere, but she didn't seem to understand the reason for the patrons' inebriated state. Her knowledge of the world outside the palace walls was limited to what Hongyoo had told her, and he had conveniently omitted such details. Hongyoo sighed.

"I wonder if his private life is any more respectable," he remarked.

"Did he seem debauched?" Kyeong'ui asked.

"Not particularly. But appearances can be deceiving. Take that Moonseong fellow, for example. He's supposedly here on a sightseeing tour, but his reputation precedes him. Yet, he seems perfectly respectable. It could be the same with Myeonghyeon Ryang. Who knows what he does in that secluded tea room of his? Perhaps he entertains men and women alike every night."

Kyeong'ui frowned, and Hongyoo's lips tightened into a thin line. Kyeong'ui sensed his apprehension, his distrust of Myeonghyeon Ryang. Hongyoo, in turn, felt that Kyeong'ui was being naive, placing too much trust in the young merchant.

"Once we return to camp," Kyeong'ui instructed, "interrogate Mahnry. Find out everything you can, especially about the Crimson Star."

"Why the sudden interest in the star, Your Highness?" Hongyoo asked.

"I expect them to accept my offer," Kyeong'ui explained, "but we can't be sure. They might try to defy me. And if they do, I'll have to make good on my threats. Whether the star brings them opportunity or ruin, we need a convincing narrative. Gahngyun Hyeok has nearly finished his survey of the island. Now it's time to gather testimonies from those who witnessed the star. And if we can't find any, we'll have to fabricate them. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Kyeong'ui, satisfied with his response, fell silent. She glanced at the closed cabin door, then rested her head on Hongyoo's shoulder, closing her eyes. Hongyoo gently stroked her hair as she drifted off to sleep.

They arrived back at the encampment after nightfall. Kyeong'ui, exhausted from the day's events, went straight to her tent and prepared for bed. But sleep eluded her. The rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore filled the silence, a constant reminder of the vast, unpredictable sea that surrounded them. She tried to clear her mind, counting the waves, but the faces she had encountered that day kept intruding on her thoughts. The blue flags hanging on the gatehouse of Nahmgyo. Seolyo Jin's sly smile and knowing eyes. The pungent smells of the inn and Myeonghyeon Ryang's unwavering gaze. And the calluses on his hands.

Archers often aimed their arrows at their enemies. Who are Myeonghyeon Ryang's enemies? The founder of Dahn, who has burned down his family's home? Or perhaps his own grandfather, who has brought them to this island? Kyeong'ui wondered if Ryang's resentment was intertwined with her own. Has he, like her, spent countless nights drawing his bow, releasing his frustrations with each pull of the string? If their frustrations were aligned, then perhaps he could be persuaded to aim his arrows at her enemies as well.

She crumpled the bedsheets in her hands, their crispness a stark contrast to the turmoil within her.

──────────

Jang'gyeong Yoon waited anxiously for Kyeong'ui's return. His life, confined within the Dahnian camp, rested entirely in her hands. He sensed their return late in the evening by the commotion that rippled through the camp, but neither Kyeong'ui, Gahngyun Hyeok, nor Hongyoo summoned him. He eventually drifted off to sleep, only to be awakened by the pale light of dawn. As he waited for the day to begin, Hongyoo entered his tent. Yoon scrambled to his feet and bowed deeply. Hongyoo, his expression stern, offered no greeting.

"Did you confirm my report?" Yoon asked.

"Your information was accurate," Hongyoo replied, his voice cold and sharp. "House Myeonghyeon runs a rather... unsavory establishment. Yeonyahng, they call it. You must be familiar with it, having worked under their roof."

Hongyoo pulled up a chair and sat facing Yoon. The silence in the tent was heavy, and Yoon cautiously raised his head. Hongyoo's eyes were narrowed, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"But I suspect you haven't told us everything," Hongyoo said.

"I don't understand..." Yoon stammered.

Hongyoo leaned closer, his gaze piercing. Yoon held his breath.

"You wouldn't understand the humiliation of bringing a royal to such a disreputable place," Hongyoo said. "Why didn't you mention the nature of their business?"

Yoon flinched. "I didn't intentionally omit that information," he insisted. "You would have seen it for yourself eventually. Why would I hide it?"

"So you admit you knew," Hongyoo pressed. "Did you know there's a hidden garden within that inn?"

"I did."

"You had access to it? It didn't seem like a place that welcomed just anyone."

"I've been there a few times."

"Is that where the sword is hidden?"

"I... I don't..." Yoon hesitated.

Hongyoo's smile widened. "What else are you hiding?" he asked.

"Sir," Yoon pleaded. Hongyoo kept twisting the heavy ring on his finger. The silence stretched, the tension growing with every passing moment.

"I cannot answer your questions if you don't tell me what you want to know," Yoon finally said. "I cannot know what the princess needs, what she doesn't need. Ask me what you want to know, and I will tell you everything I know."

Hongyoo's gaze hardened. "You're aware of the commotion caused by the star, I presume?"

"I've seen it."

"Tell me everything you know about the star, House Myeonghyeon, and Nahmgyo," Hongyoo commanded. "Don't make me ask."

"If you tell the truth," he continued, "you might just walk out of here on your own two feet."