The malice in Hongyoo's smile was unmistakable. Yoon, though his heart pounded in his chest, maintained his composure. Hongyoo's smile widened, then he burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking. He clapped Yoon on the shoulder.

"There's no need for such a serious face," he chuckled. "I was merely jesting."

Yoon, relieved, swallowed the curse that rose in his throat. Hongyoo leaned back in his chair, the tension in the room easing slightly.

"I'm not a fan of bloodshed," he said, his voice regaining its usual playful lilt. "Get up. You're not a criminal. Why do you always insist on groveling?"

Yoon, still wary, slowly sat up, facing Hongyoo. The bandages that had been tightly wound around his face had loosened during the night, revealing glimpses of the raw, red flesh beneath.

"Do you have a family?" Hongyoo asked casually.

"My father passed away many years ago," Yoon replied. "And I haven't seen my mother since... this happened."

"It couldn't have been that long ago, then. Were you born on Birahng?"

"Yes, I've lived here all my life." Despite Yoon's prompt response, Hongyoo's brow furrowed.

"Then why do you speak like someone from Sunyahng?" he asked, his smile still in place.

He raised an eyebrow, urging Yoon to explain. Yoon, wary of his practiced smile, hesitated. Such smiles were often a mask, hiding deceit and treachery.

"My parents were from Sunyahng," he finally replied.

"And you had no contact with the islanders?" Hongyoo pressed.

"I worked for House Myeonghyeon," Yoon explained.

Hongyoo's smile faltered. He shifted in his seat. "What are your parents' names?" he asked.

Yoon took a deep breath, steeling himself. Hongyoo had promised him safe passage if he told the truth. But his words had been a test, a trap designed to expose any inconsistencies in his story. Yoon knew that secrets had a way of leaking out, even without his knowledge. He decided to gamble, offering the names of his deceased father and his mother, who still resided in Wicheong Palace.

"My father's name was Son (遜)," he said. "And my mother's name is Yu (裕)."

"Your mother is alive?"

"I believe so."

"And she's still with the Myeonghyeons?"

Yoon's heart pounded in his chest. He quickly fabricated a lie. "They're the ones who did this to me," he said. "They wouldn't have spared my mother."

Hongyoo chuckled, a cruel glint in his eyes. "The Myeonghyeon garden is quite different from the rest of the inn," he remarked, changing the subject. "I was there yesterday. Only Myeonghyeon Ryang was present. Her Highness and he had quite a long conversation. Which is his true face - the refined scholar in the garden, or the brothel keeper?"

His smile didn't disguise the sharpness of his gaze. Yoon thought of Ryang, of his true nature. It was a question Yoon himself couldn't answer. He had only seen Ryang's cold and calculating facade, the one he presented to strangers. He didn't know how he behaved around Seong or his sister, Seon. But Yoon knew one thing for sure: Ryang harbored a deep-seated hatred for Cheon Hwan.

"He's not a hedonist," Yoon replied, his voice carefully neutral. "But neither is he virtuous. You've seen the inn. He's arrogant, always putting on airs. A sissy pimp, nothing more."

Hongyoo burst into laughter again. He looked at Yoon, his amusement fading.

"That was the most honest I've ever heard you," he remarked.

Yoon grimaced, the pain from his burns flaring. "We weren't close," he admitted. "But he's arrogant and hypocritical. That much I know."

"The princess seems to like him," Hongyoo mused, his gaze drifting towards the distance.

Yoon's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

"You'll find out eventually."

Hongyoo's casual dismissal did little to ease Yoon's anxiety. While open hostility towards the princess wouldn't serve him well, neither would blind trust.

"What did the princess discuss with him?" Yoon pressed.

"I told you, you'll find out eventually," Hongyoo retorted sharply. "And why should you care?"

The smile vanished from Hongyoo's face. Yoon quickly lowered his gaze, his eyes falling upon Hongyoo's hand, the thick ring on his finger catching the light. The gemstone was an unusual color, shifting and shimmering like the iridescent fabric of Kyeong'ui's robe. Hongyoo crossed his arms, his hand disappearing into his sleeve, and Yoon's gaze followed.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"What happened on the night the star fell?" Hongyoo asked.

Yoon, unaware of the true purpose of the princess's expedition, was surprised by the question. But he couldn't ignore the intensity in Hongyoo's eyes, the hidden depths he couldn't quite fathom.

"Are you referring to the prophecy?" Yoon asked cautiously.

"Forget about that nonsense," Hongyoo snapped. "Just tell me what you saw that night."

Yoon's eyes narrowed as he searched his memory. "Nothing out of the ordinary," he replied. "It was a wondrous sight, and people gathered to watch it."

"Where were you?"

"I was... on the coast. Near Nahmgyo."

"The astronomers claimed the star was heading towards Birahng. Is that true?"

Yoon met Hongyoo's gaze, his silence confirming his suspicions.

"Where on Birahng?" Hongyoo pressed.

It was time to tell the truth. "The southeastern coast," Yoon admitted.

"Did you see it yourself? Or did you hear about it?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. I was there."

Hongyoo's brow furrowed. "And?"

It was time to lie. Yoon composed himself. "That's all I saw," he said, his voice steady. "It flared brightly, then disappeared into the sea."

"And nothing happened afterwards?"

"People gathered on the beach later," Yoon explained. "But nothing happened. The star was gone."

Hongyoo rose from his seat, his gaze fixed on Yoon. "You'd better be telling the truth," he warned.

"How long will I be kept here?" Yoon asked.

Hongyoo's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Until you reach Sunyahng," he replied.

He turned and left the tent, leaving Yoon in a state of despair. How can I inform Cheon Hwan of the situation if I am trapped here? As Hongyoo's footsteps faded, Yoon's face twisted in frustration. He clenched his fists, the pain from his burns flaring.

Kyeong'ui sat with Hyeok at a table beneath a canopy in the center of the encampment, reviewing the progress of the island survey. Hongyoo, on his way to see Kyeong'ui, paused to observe them from a distance. Hyeok had a habit of making careless remarks, which often earned him Kyeong'ui's scorn, but they seemed to be working well together, their heads bent over the map spread out before them. Kyeong'ui's expression was bright, her satisfaction with their progress evident. A pang of jealousy, unexpected and unwelcome, flared within Hongyoo. He took a step closer, and Kyeong'ui's voice, clear and sharp, reached his ears.

"This is excellent," she remarked. "Not just the content, but..." She narrowed her eyes, then opened them wide, examining the map. "This wasn't drawn by the soldiers, was it?"

"I compiled the information they gathered and redrew the maps," Hyeok explained.

"You drew these yourself?"

"I used to copy the maps my father used for his work," Hyeok replied with a shrug. "It seems that pointless hobby has finally proven useful."

Kyeong'ui smiled. The map was far more detailed and artistic than necessary. The mountains and rivers were rendered with a delicate precision, and the sea was painted in a vibrant shade of jade, mirroring the waters surrounding Birahng.

"You have quite the talent," she remarked. "Don't you get bored spending your days drawing maps in such a beautiful place?"

"A little," Hyeok admitted.

"Perhaps we should go out and paint sometime," Kyeong'ui suggested.

Hyeok's face lit up. "That would be lovely. If you have the time, of course."

Hongyoo, who had been silently observing, finally approached. "Your Highness."

Kyeong'ui looked up from the map. Hongyoo bowed respectfully, then proceeded to report on his interrogation of Mahnry. Kyeong'ui listened intently, her fingers tapping on the table.

"The southeastern coast... Nahmgyo..." she mused.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?" Hongyoo asked.

"He said the star disappeared over the sea?"

"That's what he claimed."

"The Azure Scripture says the Guardian Crimson descends with the Star. But he claims it simply vanished?" Kyeong'ui frowned, her confusion evident.

Hongyoo hesitated, then spoke. "Your Highness."

"Speak."

"It's just a story. Don't read too much into it."

Kyeong'ui, embarrassed, averted her gaze. "Of course. It's just a story."

The memory of those mesmerizing blue depths, the secrets hidden beneath the pristine waters, flashed through Kyeong'ui's mind. She was curious about the events of that night, the night the star fell. But she also yearned to assert her dominance over Nahmgyo. The memory of Ryang's mocking words about Dahn's national principles stung, but to secure his cooperation, she needed more leverage, even if it was just rumors and hearsay.

"We'll move our camp closer to Nahmgyo and search the coast," she declared.

Hyeok frowned. "Search the sea?" he asked.

"It's not impossible," Kyeong'ui countered. "And we don't need to search the entire ocean. We just need to gather enough testimonies to pinpoint where the star disappeared. Mahnry claims to have seen it, so he should know."

"It's not impossible," Hyeok conceded, "but it seems a bit... pointless. What do you hope to find?"

Kyeong'ui's expression hardened. "I expect to find nothing," she stated. "And the people should expect the same. I want to dispel any lingering hopes or illusions."

"Moving the camp will provoke Seolyo Jin," Hyeok warned.

"We are here on my father's orders to investigate the Crimson Star," Kyeong'ui retorted. "It's time she understood the true purpose of our expedition. She can't object to us relocating based on eyewitness accounts. And we're not even staying within the fortress walls."

She turned to Hongyoo. "Go to Nahmgyo and inform Seolyo Jin," she commanded. "And while you're there, gather some intel on the Myeonghyeons. We'll move the camp as soon as you return with her response."

Hongyoo, with a resigned sigh, bowed his head. "Yes, Your Highness."

Kyeong'ui turned to one of the soldiers. "Provide the Royal Attendant with a warship."

"A medium-sized vessel will suffice, Your Highness," Hongyoo said.

"We need you back as soon as possible," Kyeong'ui insisted. "And I've heard the waters around Birahng are teeming with Soyeolish pirates." She smiled sweetly.

Hongyoo bowed deeply and hurried away.