The princess's eyes, a blend of intelligence and ambition, were a familiar sight. Cheon Hwan, the man who had murdered his father, possessed a similar gaze, a fiery intensity that masked a deep-seated ruthlessness. Does this fearless princess harbor the same darkness within her? Perhaps even she was unaware of it. Ryang, still too young and inexperienced to fully grasp her true nature, could only probe and observe, hoping to uncover her intentions, her true character. Each word he uttered was a gamble, a dance on the edge of a precipice.

"What path do you seek, Your Highness?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"There are a few paths open to a royal," Kyeong'ui replied. "To rule as a king, or to live like a ghost."

"Or to become a ghost trying to become a king," Ryang said.

"Do I look like I came all this way to find my deathbed?" Kyeong'ui retorted with a playful smile.

"Your journey doesn't seem to be one of leisure," Ryang remarked.

Kyeong'ui leaned closer, her arm resting on the table. "My father is concerned about the unrest caused by the recent celestial event."

"By the celestial event, you mean..."

"Don't play coy with me," Kyeong'ui interrupted.

Ryang smiled. "I merely wondered if a princess would travel so far because of a shooting star."

"No one in the court, not even my father, sees it as anything more than a spectacle," Kyeong'ui said. "But the common folk are different. Their unrest, and the rumors spread by those who seek to exploit their fear, cannot be ignored. The astronomers claim the star is heading towards Birahng. I'm here to investigate. And if I can find a way to quell the unrest, all the better. This will be my first step."

"Your first step towards the throne?" Ryang asked.

"It's the only path I have," Kyeong'ui replied.

Ryang met her eyes. Why is she revealing her ambitions so easily to a stranger, a potential enemy? Is it confidence, or is it recklessness? If it was the former, then perhaps she already had the king's support. If it was the latter, then he couldn't risk aligning himself with her. But his path had always been one of navigating treacherous waters, balancing between opposing forces.

"Quelling unrest," Ryang mused. "That hardly seems like a worthy accomplishment for a princess who has traveled so far. What else do you seek?"

"Something more personal," Kyeong'ui replied, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

Ryang's brow furrowed, pressing for further explanation.

"I need your help," Kyeong’ui demanded.

"Money, then," Ryang said, his deduction swift.

Kyeong'ui smiled. "You're quick," she said. "But there's something else."

"We have nothing left to offer but money," Ryang said.

"Don't underestimate the value of your name," Kyeong'ui said. "I need your name as well. I need to take you back to Sunyahng."

"I won't ask for your reasons, Your Highness," Ryang said. "We have no intention of leaving Birahng."

"You misunderstand," Kyeong'ui said. "You will know my reasons, and you will leave this island."

"By what means?" Ryang challenged.

"By all means," Kyeong'ui declared, her determination unwavering.

A hint of a smile played on Ryang's lips. "Such boldness, in the deep garden of an unfamiliar inn, true royal," he remarked.

"Are you threatening me?" Kyeong'ui asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Please, consider it advice."

Kyeong'ui drained her teacup in a single gulp and set it aside. "I'm not threatening you either," she said. "I'm offering you a mutually beneficial proposition. I need your help, and in return, I will restore your family name."

"I understand your need for funds," Ryang conceded, "but I fail to see why you need our name. We are practically ghosts. Restoring our name would require considerable effort on your part."

"I'm not asking for your help without offering something in return," Kyeong'ui assured him. "That is my first reason. And you need a compelling reason to help me."

Ryang blinked slowly. "And the second?"

"To remove the officials clinging to the Crown Prince, I need new allies," Kyeong'ui explained. "And I suspect my father feels the same. He has been trying to reclaim the power they usurped since the moment he ascended the throne. They are stagnant and incompetent, incapable of challenging him. Now they flock to the Crown Prince, which has earned him my father's disapproval. The king needs new faces, new allies to replace them. And what better allies than the descendants of the house the founder himself tried to win over?"

"If your assessment is wrong," Ryang countered, "we'll be dead the moment we set foot in Sunyahng."

"No one knows my father's intentions better than I do," Kyeong'ui said confidently.

"Are you asking us to gamble our lives on your confidence?"

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"Every great endeavor requires sacrifice," Kyeong'ui said. "I am risking my own life in this endeavor. With your help, our chances of success will be much greater."

"It seems you lack allies," Ryang remarked.

Kyeong'ui didn't flinch. "That is a painful truth," she admitted.

"Once you achieve your goal and return to the capital," Ryang said, "you'll have no shortage of allies, with or without our help. This expedition, regardless of its outcome, will signal that you have the king's favor."

"The old fogies in Sunyahng will flock to anyone who shows a hint of ambition," Kyeong'ui said. "But I need something more, something to solidify my position, to turn this expedition into a legend. The Myeonghyeon name is perfect for that. You are living legends."

Ryang fell silent, his expression unreadable.

"My grandfather chose to live a quiet life on this island," he finally said. "I intend to honor his wishes."

"You don't desire to reclaim your former glory?" Kyeong'ui asked.

"Glory?" Ryang echoed.

"Yes."

"Have you seen our family estate?"

"I have not."

"Nor have I," Ryang admitted. "But I've heard the stories from my father. It was a modest dwelling, not even a third the size of this establishment. That was the extent of our 'glory' at the end of the Wi Dynasty. Our true glory lies here, in this moment."

Kyeong'ui's voice rose. "So you intend to remain on this island," she retorted, "clinging to your petty authority and your unsavory business?"

Ryang, unfazed by her insult, replied calmly, "If that is the best way to protect my house, then yes."

Kyeong'ui's brow furrowed. "How disappointing," she remarked.

"I'm not sure what you expected," Ryang countered. "You've seen how we conduct our business. The Myeonghyeon name holds no prestige here. We are merely merchants, concerned with profit. Perhaps our methods are distasteful to you."

"If that were true," Kyeong'ui challenged, "then why do you have all these books? What use are they to an innkeeper, a merchant?"

Ryang, masking his surprise, quickly offered an explanation. "Books are valuable commodities here," he said. "We keep them as investments."

"And who reads their investments to be tattered?" Kyeong'ui pressed.

Ryang hesitated, caught off guard by her perceptiveness. These books, published at the Sanctuary of Intellect or imported from Sung, were implicitly forbidden within Wicheong Palace. But his father, Myeonghyeon Seung, despite his devotion to the Azure Scripture, had always encouraged Ryang and Seon to read widely, to study the philosophies and histories of Dahn. He had believed that knowledge of their enemy was crucial. But as Ryang grew older, he had distanced himself from the Azure Scripture, immersing himself in the texts of Dahn. He had been scolded for his defiance, but he couldn't bring himself to embrace the teachings of the scripture. Is it my resentment towards the Ministry? Or perhaps a longing for Sunyahng, a city I have never seen? Or maybe... a yearning for Dahn itself? He couldn't deny a certain admiration for their culture.

In many ways, Dahn was a better nation than Wi had ever been. The dream of overthrowing Dahn and restoring Wi often seemed like a fool's errand. But if reviving Wi was his destiny, then he would build a nation that surpassed even Dahn, a nation guided by reason and intellect, not the corruption and decadence that had led to Wi's downfall. He doubted Kyeong'ui could discern such ambitions from a few books, but her question had struck a nerve. Still, he held his ground.

"I will not sacrifice my family's safety for your ambitions, Your Highness," he stated firmly. "We were dragged into this conflict, forced to flee to this island and rebuild our lives. If you have any compassion for the descendants of those who suffered because of your ancestors, you will leave us in peace."

Kyeong'ui, seeing his resolve, raised an eyebrow. "I need to find a way to quell the unrest caused by the Crimson Star," she said, her voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Weaving a narrative that connects you to the star would be difficult, but it wouldn't be hard to fabricate a crime. Nahmgyo is sacred ground for the people of Wi. Why would House Myeonghyeon, who remained loyal even when their home was burned to the ground, choose to hide here? Why amass such wealth in secret? And why did the Crimson Star fall on Birahng? It's a compelling story, wouldn't you agree?"

Kyeong'ui's threat, coupled with her unsettlingly accurate suspicions, sent a shiver down Ryang's spine. He wasn't the only one who felt the tension. Hidden beneath the floorboards of the tea room, Seon, accompanied by Sobi, swallowed hard. Does the princess know something? A cold dread washed over her. She reached into her robe and drew a dagger, her grip tightening around the hilt. Her eyes, fixed on the floorboards above, darted towards the warmth she felt against her hand. Sobi was watching her. The air in their cramped hiding space grew thick with tension. Sobi gently placed her hand over Seon's, her touch a silent plea for calm. Seon's grip loosened, and the murderous glint in her eyes faded. They focused on the conversation unfolding above them.

"Do you believe in the Azure Scripture?" Ryang asked.

A cold smile touched Kyeong'ui's lips. "The founder burned the Azure Scripture," she reminded him. "He destroyed the temples and the monuments."

"Those were the actions of the founder, not yours, Your Highness," Ryang countered. "If the star that appeared recently is indeed the Crimson Star of the prophecy, then your suspicions are understandable. But if the Azure Scripture is nothing more than a collection of fables, then what significance does a strange star hold?"

Kyeong'ui fell silent.

Ryang pressed again. "Do you believe in the Azure Scripture?"

"Royals uphold the principle of the dynasty," Kyeong'ui replied curtly.

"The founding principle of Dahn is reason and intellect," Ryang argued. "To accuse us of treason based on a celestial event and a connection to a fallen kingdom is to deny the very foundation of your dynasty. If you threaten us with such baseless accusations, then Dahn is nothing more than a nation built on defiance of Sahngjon's will."

Kyeong'ui's hand, resting on the table, clenched into a fist. “You would do well to choose your next words carefully'," she warned.

"As should you, Your Highness," Ryang challenged. "You've endured such humiliation to come here, to earn our cooperation."

"Did you just call my actions a humiliation?" Kyeong'ui seethed.

Ryang, however, maintained his composure, a calm smile playing on his lips. "Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness,” he said, “but, your entourage seems ill-prepared. It seems unusual to me that an army is denied entry into its own fortress, wouldn't you agree?"

Kyeong'ui abruptly rose from her seat, her gaze fixed on Ryang, her anger simmering. His defiance was infuriating, but she couldn't deny her need for his cooperation. Unable to contain her frustration, she resorted to insults.

"I was curious to see what the famed Myeonghyeon heir was like," she spat. "But you're nothing more than a silver-tongued merchant. I had hoped for a valuable ally, but it seems all you have to offer is wealth and a name."

Ryang's expression remained unchanged, his composure unwavering. Kyeong'ui's anger flared, her frustration growing with his indifference. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

"My offer stands," she said, her voice regaining its composure. "Bring me proof of your lineage, something worthy of the Myeonghyeon name. Do not think you can simply ignore my request now that I know of your existence."

"And what proof do you have that we are who we claim to be?" Ryang challenged.

"The proof lies in your hands," Kyeong'ui replied, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Ryang's brow twitched. Kyeong'ui's smile widened. Ryang rose from his seat.

"Please see yourself out, Your Highness," he said. "I will make my servant escort you. I won't bother."

"It seems you've forgotten your manners along with your family's honor," Kyeong'ui retorted coldly.

Ryang didn't reply. Kyeong'ui turned and strode out of the tea room.