About Two Years and Ten Months Later
At the main gate of Sohyun Castle, Kar Jin had wanted to accompany her. But Princess Gami had refused.
"A governor cannot abandon his post," she reminded him firmly.
He had nodded, albeit with visible reluctance. As the Governor of Baekje's trade bases across the Nine Gayas, Kar Jin knew the truth of her words. And yet, as he rode away from Sohyun, something tugged at the back of his mind—a scrap of information he had once dismissed.
He turned his horse around.
Reaching Gami before her departure, he shared the long-ignored rumor: nearly three years ago, Princess Somi had been gravely ill—believed to be on the brink of death. But then, in the sacred grounds of Sona Vein, she had recovered. Witnesses spoke of a young mountain spirit who appeared at the shrine, banishing the malevolent ghosts that plagued her. They said he had fought the spirits for three nights without rest, wielding both a golden sword and a blade of black obsidian. Some swore he looked exactly like the founding Gahn of Samul Gaya in life.
Gami froze at the mention of the golden sword, while Kar's inference was continued.
Princess Somi had left the palace shortly after, weary of its cruel politics. Had she escaped a quiet assassination attempt? Perhaps the Queen or one of her brothers had tried to poison her, and the shrine had given her refuge.
At the time, Kar had buried the story. He had no wish to meddle in Samul Gaya's internal affairs.
But now…
Hearing Somi was back at court, alive and well, Gami made her decision. She gathered her family and set out quietly for the capital of Samul Gaya. She told no one—least of all Gahn Shingui, whom she loathed for his cruelty and incompetence.
Kar had offered to join her, but Gami once again refused. He was needed at his post, and she had no intention of drawing attention to her movements.
With a final glance, Kar turned his horse and departed for his office in Bon Gaya.
The moment news reached Princess Somi that Gami had arrived, she burst from her quarters barefoot, dashing down the corridors with childlike joy. From the moment they first met—during Somi's years of study in Baekje, when she had stayed with Sir Pieng's family—Gami had been a source of warmth in an otherwise cold world. To the lonely young princess, Gami had become more than a friend. More than a sister.
After all, her real siblings had spent their lives trying to kill her.
Now, seeing Gami again after so long, Somi waved and ran toward her. Gami opened her arms, and the two embraced tightly.
"I can't believe it," Gami whispered, gently patting Somi's back. "I heard you were well again, but to see you like this…"
Somi laughed through her tears. "I'm all better now! Come, I'll tell you everything."
She led Gami and her family into her private quarters, speaking breathlessly all the while—of how sick she had been, how miraculously she had recovered, and how one must never, ever accept gifts from strangers again.
Humu, her captain, stood quietly at the edge of the room. His gaze flicked briefly to the boys—Sui and Dui—who bore an uncanny resemblance to Goi. But it was Zeali, Gami's ever-watchful guard, who held his attention.
When everyone was seated, Yuri entered with a tea tray. The moment she spotted Dui, she stopped mid-step, her eyes wide. She leaned close to Somi and whispered, "He looks just like the young immortal."
Somi blinked, then turned her full attention to the group seated beside Gami. Her eyes widened.
Gami, smiling, said softly, "My husband's name is Goi."
Somi froze. For a long moment, she said nothing—just stared. Then, she turned to Yuri.
"No one within thirty paces," she said quietly. Yuri nodded and stepped out. Moments later, the room fell utterly silent.
Still, Somi glanced at the windows, drew the shutters closed, and returned to her seat. Only Yuri and Humu remained nearby, both standing quietly.
After a pause, Somi began to speak.
Softly, slowly, she recounted the events of that night.
Occasionally, she turned to Yuri or Humu to confirm what they had seen. Gami and her family listened, breath held. But when the tale reached the part about the dragon, even they gasped aloud.
Dui sprang to his feet.
Yuri smiled gently and guided him back down, patting his head. At sixteen, she carried herself with a quiet dignity far beyond her years. Dui, flustered, lowered his eyes and fell silent, holding her hand like a younger brother clinging to an older sister.
When the tale came to an end, Somi looked down, cheeks flushed.
"If I had known he was your husband," she murmured to Gami, "I wouldn't have acted so shamelessly."
Gami laughed. "You didn't know. But what did you do, exactly?"
Somi sighed, her eyes distant. "I thought I was going to die unmarried. It felt so unfair. So… the moment I woke up, I asked him to marry me."
The room erupted in laughter.
Somi scratched her head sheepishly. "It's your fault, you know. You chose love over politics. When you married Goi without even asking Sir Pieng's blessing, your influence in court waned. I tried to do the opposite—for the sake of Samul Gaya. I told myself I'd marry only when my work was done."
Gami reached over and took her hand. "It's been ten years since we met. Nothing was your fault."
Somi looked at her gratefully. Then, as if by accident, she reached down and let her fingers graze Humu's. The captain remained still, his expression unreadable, but his hand twitched.
Somi glanced sideways at Gami—who, for her part, just smiled and sipped her tea as if she'd seen nothing at all.
It was Sui who finally broke the momentary silence.
"So… you're saying our brother Goi fought off all those demons—and even a dragon—on his own?"
Somi, still smarting from Gami's skillful pretense of ignorance, seized the chance to recover her composure.
"Yes. He fought the dragon as if it were nothing. Honestly, I think he might be younger than me…"
Gami laughed. "Well, he is five years younger than I am. That makes you three years his senior, doesn't it?"
Somi gasped, playfully clutching her chest.
"Yes, yes, I'm an old spinster, I know. No need to say it so plainly!"
Laughter warmed the room again, gentle and genuine.
When it quieted, Somi continued in a softer tone.
"He said he simply followed the mirror's light and the bell's whispers—though no one ever truly understood what that meant."
"He fought a dragon?" Dui said, eyes wide with awe.
"A demi-dragon," Yuri corrected gently. "Your brother said it himself."
Dui nodded slowly. "Then I guess Brother Goi really is becoming a true immortal…"
But Gami's expression suddenly darkened. Somi noticed and quickly reached out to flick Dui's forehead, her fingers pinching his lips in mock scolding.
"Enough of that, little cracker. Now tell me—how is your big sister doing? Still happily married to Chogo the Great of Baekje?"
Gami smiled in gratitude for the subject change.
"They're well… or so I assume. People at that height don't appear often. I'm lucky to see them once a year."
Somi shifted slightly, her hand brushing once more against Humu's fingers.
"At first, I pitied your big sister. I mean, no matter how great a king he is… they're over forty years apart."
Her eyes flicked toward Humu, lingering briefly.
Then, suddenly, Dui spoke up again.
"Sir Pieng said our brother could never measure up to his eldest son-in-law. He scolded him a lot!"
"Dui!" Sui hissed, trying to quiet him.
But Gami only laughed. "It's alright, Sui. Children often see things more clearly than adults."
After a full afternoon of warm conversation, Gami and her family quietly took their leave. Once Goi's departure for Golpo Gaya was confirmed, they boarded the Baekje fleet bound in the same direction.
As the ship gently rocked beneath them, Sui turned to Gami.
"You're so close with Princess Somi—why didn't you stay at the palace even one night, sister-in-law?"
Gami's eyes drifted toward the horizon, where the sun had slipped beneath the sea, painting the clouds in gold and crimson.
"Every action has meaning, my dear Sui," she said calmly.
Dui clutched her hand, sensing her voice had shifted into one of quiet teaching.
"If I had stayed in the palace," Gami continued, "Gahn Shingui would've declared it a diplomatic victory. He would've used it to justify asking Baekje for greater trade concessions—fueling his reign of terror. Those in high positions must be the most careful of all not to let emotion guide their steps."
Dui frowned. "But… if the Jin household of Baekje overthrew someone like that—wouldn't that help?"
"No," Sui answered firmly. "Even if we're brother nations, we're still two sovereign lands. That would be interference."
Dui's voice rose. "Then what about the people? We're just going to let them suffer under him?"
Gami smiled gently and placed a hand on his head.
"Never underestimate the people, my little Dui. They are like water—soft, yielding. You think you can sail atop them as you please. But one day, their anger can capsize any ship."
"Then what do we do?" Dui asked. "Just wait until they rise up?"
"I've already raised Somi's political standing simply by visiting her," Gami said calmly. "Even Gahn Shingui wouldn't dare touch her now—not with all eyes watching."
Sui clapped once. "So that's why Princess Somi let us go without protest!"
Gami nodded. "She's a politician, after all."
Dui sighed. "Being a politician sounds hard. Poor Princess Somi… she can't even love who she wants."
Gami chuckled, her eyes glinting. "Love in secret is often the sweetest kind, my dear Dui. And I think… Somi has already found her way."
They all laughed, save for young Dui, who sat in puzzled silence, glancing from one person to another. He tugged at sleeves, hoping someone would explain.
But no one answered. Instead, they turned to the horizon, where the last streaks of sunset shimmered on the sea, and sighed at its beauty.