Seoh finally looked up, his expression unfazed by Wu's bluntness. "I appreciate your directness," he said. "Idle chatter is tedious between those who lack familiarity."
His tone was calm, his demeanor unchanged from their days at the Sanctuary. But despite his seemingly indifferent facade, Seoh possessed a keen memory, never forgetting anyone who crossed his path, including Wu, who stood before him, shifting nervously. Sensing his scrutiny, Wu offered an awkward smile.
"You haven't changed a bit."
Still, Seoh's face remained impassive. Wu, misinterpreting his silence, quickly added, "Just flattery. Don't take it as a compliment."
Seoh let out a short, humorless chuckle. "Neither have you," he remarked.
"Don't take that as a compliment," he added.
Wu's smile vanished. Seoh, in a rare display of emotion, blinked slowly, his gaze unwavering. The atmosphere grew tense. Wu tried a different approach.
"You remember me?" she asked.
"You misunderstand yourself," Seoh replied. "You seem to think you're an inconspicuous, quiet person, but you're not. You were never quiet, never ordinary. No one could forget you after meeting you. And you're the only one who doesn't realize it. Do you know why?"
"Not particularly," Wu admitted. "Why?"
"Because you don't observe your surroundings. That's why you're the only one suspended while your peers are on the verge of promotion."
Wu chuckled. "It's my own nature. Everyone lives their own way."
Seoh didn't smile back. An awkward silence settled between them again. He disliked the uncomfortable atmosphere and quickly moved on.
"Your suspension has been lifted," he declared.
"What am I supposed to do?" Wu asked.
"Aren't you going to ask why?"
"I haven't bribed anyone," she countered, "so there must be something you need from me. No one favors me that much."
"You're self-aware, at least on that point," Seoh conceded. He paused, then continued, "You're going to Birahng. You leave the day after tomorrow."
Wu's eyes lit up. "Is it because of the star?" she asked excitedly.
"Princess Kyeong'ui requested a scholar. A report arrived last night."
"It's because of the star, isn't it?" Wu pressed, cutting him off.
Seoh frowned. "Do not interrupt. Let me finish."
He handed her a scroll. "This is the report. Read it."
Wu eagerly took the scroll and unfolded it. She held it close to her face, the end of the scroll nearly touching her forehead. Seoh frowned at her lack of decorum, but Wu was completely engrossed in the report. The sacred island of the Azure Scripture, Birahng. The crimson star. The prophecy. The mysterious sphere. Her heart pounded with excitement. It didn't matter that the request came from a royal. The contents of the report alone were enough to thrill her.
But a wave of hesitation washed over her. She set the scroll down and fell silent, her heart pounding in her chest. She was three months pregnant. She'd already lost three children, their tiny bodies expelled along with her blood, within the Sanctuary walls. She was past forty now. This might be her last chance. She wasn't sure if the child could withstand the long sea voyage and the unfamiliar environment of the island.
Seoh, misinterpreting her silence, pressed her. "Can't you go?"
Wu shook her head vigorously. "No, I'll go. I will."
"Then that's settled," Seoh said. "Your decision wasn't irrelevant anyway. It's an order from the throne. Do you need anything?"
Wu hesitated, then spoke. "There's someone I'd like to take with me..."
"A scholar?"
"Not exactly. His name is Seo'oh. He's still a student, but he's quite bright. We work well together. He'd be a great help."
"Make the necessary arrangements," Seoh instructed.
Wu remained rooted to the spot, her fingers fidgeting nervously. Seoh, sensing her hesitation, raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"Just one more thing..." she began cautiously.
"What is it?"
"I need to take many books with me."
"Take what you need."
"The ones in the basement of the Court Library. Allow me to examine them and select those that might be useful."
Seoh refused outright. "That's not possible. Your rank doesn't grant you access to those texts."
"But I'm going to assist Princess Kyeong'ui. In that case, you have to consider her rank, don't you?"
Seoh's voice lowered in reprimand. "Royals have no rank."
Wu quickly corrected herself. "I meant... The Princess needs the books, not me. Isn't that right?"
"You intend to transport original texts with no existing copies to Birahng?"
"If that's not possible, then allow me to copy them."
"And when do you suppose you'll set sail if you're busy copying documents?"
Seoh's refusal was firm, so Wu resorted to a thinly veiled threat. "With Seo'oh's help, I can at least gather the essential materials. Whether I waste time there or here, it amounts to the same thing. Without those resources, I won't be of any use on Birahng. You might as well keep me suspended."
Seoh scoffed. "As I said, your decision is irrelevant."
Wu stood her ground. "Drag me there in chains or carry me in a sack, it makes no difference. I can't do anything without those resources."
Seoh considered this, his lips pursed in thought. Wu's stubbornness was almost endearing. To him, Princess Kyeong'ui's actions on Birahng, her involvement with the alleged Myeonghyeon descendants, seemed like a child playing at politics. Neither the Princess nor Wu grasped the gravity of the situation. But if they truly needed to conduct a thorough investigation on Birahng, Wu's request wasn't entirely unreasonable.
"I'll give you three days," Seoh finally conceded.
Wu's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
──────────
The queen's visits had become unwelcome intrusions. The king recalled the moment their relationship soured. Was it when I exiled her father to die in a remote land? Or when I executed her brothers and her two younger siblings? Sometimes, the order of events blurred in his memory, but the image of the queen's bloodshot eyes and her heart-wrenching sobs remained vivid. Since then, her visits had become cold and distant, her silence as heavy as a stone in the winter stream.
The King remembered the Queen's labors, witnessing each birth, each struggle. As the physician held up the blood-soaked newborns, a triumphant smile would spread across her sweat-drenched face, tears mingling with her joyful exhaustion. She would look at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of laughter and tears, her body weak and trembling. He couldn't forget those moments, the raw power of her love and resilience. Despite the toll those births had taken on her youthful beauty, she remained captivating. But her beauty was now cold and distant, a reflection of their fractured bond.
"What did Kyeong'ui write in her letter?" the queen asked sharply.
The king took a sip of the cold water on the table before answering. "I heard you harassed the Chief Royal Secretary last night. Couldn't you extract the information from him?"
"It seems that bright young man has become nothing more than a loyal dog," the queen remarked.
The king didn't reply, taking another sip of water.
"Tell me," the queen demanded.
"Why do you need to know?"
"It's about our child."
A bitter smile touched the king's lips. "Our child. It's been a while since I've heard those words."
"Won."
"She's doing well," he said dismissively.
But the queen pressed on. "If she's doing so well, why send reinforcements and a scholar? Wasn't she there on a pleasure trip?"
"Are you so well-informed that you haven't heard the news that reached the court?" the king countered. "she retrieved treasures from the sea. They require a substantial escort, and the sea still belongs to those Soyeolish seals."
"The reinforcements consist of three hundred combat troops! You're doubling the forces at that foolish girl's disposal. Do you call that an escort? What kind of treasure requires a force of nearly two thousand?"
"We'll know when it arrives in Sunyahng."
"Won!" The queen's voice rose in anger.
The king glared at her. "What are you truly worried about?"
"I need to know what's happening on Birahng, if Kyeong'ui is safe."
"Are you worried about her safety, or are you worried about the Crown Prince?"
"What are you implying?"
"Look me in the eye and tell me you're hounding me because you're truly worried about her safety."
The queen's lips trembled, but she met his gaze without flinching. The king scoffed.
"Mihn is your child."
"Hyang is your child as well. Haven't you seen how anxious I've been since you sent Mihn away? Don't you feel any pity?"
"If he can't even handle his younger sister, who isn't even married yet, then he doesn't deserve the throne."
"And does a father who destroys his children deserve it?"
"What?"
"How can you say such a thing, knowing full well what it means to be removed from the position of Crown Prince? That's your son, not some bastard! What kind of family is this?!"
"Don't confuse family matters with matters of the dynasty."
The queen's voice grew louder, her anger rising. "Are you determined to see one of your children killed?"
"That won't happen."
"Your children learn from your example."
The king slammed his fist on the table, his eyes burning with fury. The queen, refusing to be provoked further, merely offered a sad, cold smile.
"So you do have guilt."
"The irony is that you think guilt is someone else's burden," the king retorted. "Protecting that incompetent fool and crushing the other won't absolve you of your responsibility."
"Crushing?"
"Is that not what you're doing?"
The queen glared at him, her eyes red with fury. "Yes, it is," she spat. "And do you know why? Mihn, that girl, she reminds me so much of you that I feel sick every time I see her. My own daughter smiles at me, and I see your face, and it makes my skin crawl. I'm terrified that she'll end up like you, killing her brothers, destroying me."
"Is that truly something a mother should say?"
"No matter what I say, I am her mother. So tell me. What is she doing? What are you planning with that foolish girl?"
The king's face hardened, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "We both know our alliance ended long ago. You're not my ally, but my enemy. Only a fool discusses the future with his enemy. But I'll promise you this, as the mother of my children: if Mihn's life is truly in danger, I won't hide it from you. That's not the case now. So stop this commotion and return to your quarters."
The queen let out a hollow laugh. "You're a beast."