Seon left the guesthouse and went to see Ryang. His eyelids were heavy with sleep, his breath shallow and flickering like the candle flame on the table. Her only sibling, born from the same womb, sharing the same blood. His features, so similar to her own, brought tears to her eyes. She reached out and gently traced the scar on the back of his left hand. Just as Ryang had crumbled before Hongyoo's threats, Seon couldn't bear to give up on her brother's faint breaths. She smoothed his hair, kissed his forehead, and quietly left the room.
She summoned U'nso and headed towards Princess Kyeong'ui's encampment. After riding for some time, the horse began to tire, and they slowed to a walk. The spring sea stretched before them, the clear blue water shimmering under the morning sun. The horse, eager to reach the coast, picked up its pace despite the loosened reins.
"How's Dara doing?" Seon asked casually.
"She mostly stays in her room," U'nso replied.
"And with my brother?"
"She hasn't gone near his chamber. Perhaps it's too painful for her."
Seon frowned but didn't press further. U'nso, sensing her displeasure, kept his gaze lowered. After a moment of silence, Seon spoke again.
"U'nso, no matter what I ask you to do, it'll be for our house. Understand? You might not get it right now, but can you trust me?"
"I always have," U'nso replied without hesitation. "Even with that Sunyahng business."
"Enough," Seon cut him off. "Don't mention that. Not even to me. What's done is done."
"Understood."
The horse's breathing steadied, and they urged it into a gallop, heading towards the Dahnian encampment.
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Kyeong'ui was on edge. Seon's unexpected arrival at the encampment filled her with a sense of foreboding. The brief wait for her, from the moment the order for entry was given to the soldier's return with Seon in tow, felt like an eternity. As the tent flap opened, Kyeong'ui instinctively rose. Seon entered, followed by U'nso, and bowed respectfully. Kyeong'ui, unable to even offer a customary greeting, simply stared at Seon's face, etched with exhaustion from a sleepless night.
"Your Highness, my brother hasn't regained consciousness," Seon began. "I'm not here about him."
Kyeong'ui finally exhaled and sat back down. "That's a relief. I was alarmed when I heard you'd come so urgently this early in the morning. So, what brings you to the encampment, leaving your brother behind?"
"I have a request."
"Speak freely."
"First, would you please dismiss the Royal Attendant?"
Kyeong'ui nodded and gestured to Hongyoo, who looked pleadingly at her, as if begging her to reconsider. But Kyeong'ui's expression was firm, and Hongyoo reluctantly withdrew.
"Now that my brother has returned," Seon continued, "please withdraw your troops from Nahmgyo."
Kyeong'ui's face hardened. "Can you guarantee the safety of Yeonyahng and your home from those who harmed your brother?"
"Regardless of the circumstances, we are within Nahmgyo. Lady Seolyo will protect us."
"She hasn't been very successful so far, has she?"
Seon pressed, "Do you still not trust us?"
Kyeong'ui paused, considering her words. "Personally, I have a favorable opinion of you both," she admitted. "But there are still many unanswered questions surrounding House Myeonghyeon."
"Your soldiers already know the layout of the inn, the merchant house, and even the secret passage in the rear garden. The Royal Attendant himself searched through the documents in the library. There's nothing left to hide."
"And you have no suspicions about this incident?" Kyeong'ui asked sharply.
"If I did, I would've already set out to find my brother. What truth could possibly be worth hiding when my only brother's life is at stake?"
"There's no reason for such an attack without a motive. They didn't kill him; they didn't demand a ransom. Isn't it strange that they returned him barely alive, as if to torment him?"
"I haven't had a chance to speak with my brother yet. Perhaps he escaped on his own."
"That bookworm?" Kyeong'ui scoffed.
Seon remained silent.
"If you truly consider me your lord," Kyeong'ui pressed, "reveal everything. Those who target you now also target me."
"We have nothing more to hide," Seon insisted, praying her lie would convince Kyeong'ui.
Kyeong'ui studied her for a long moment, her gaze searching for any flicker of deceit. "Is there another reason why I should withdraw my troops now?" she finally asked.
"Your forces were deployed in Nahmgyo because of House Myeonghyeon," Seon explained. "Lady Seolyo is deeply displeased by this."
"I don't care about her displeasure."
"But you should care about our assets. House Myeonghyeon's wealth stems from her support. We can't afford further conflict. Even if my brother recovers, this situation won't benefit your relationship with our house."
"Your brother once told me that trust is mutual."
"Then I offer you a guarantee worthy of your trust. Will that suffice?"
Kyeong'ui's brow twitched slightly. "Guarantees don't equate to trust, but I'm listening."
"First, promise me this matter will remain between us."
"I promise."
"I'll give you one-fifth of our assets instantly," Seon declared.
Kyeong'ui tried to maintain her composure, but her surprise was evident. "Won't this cause trouble for you when your brother awakens?" she asked.
"It was always meant to be yours," Seon replied. "I'm merely offering it in advance, since you still seem to harbor doubts about us."
"How can I be sure this amounts to one-fifth of your assets?"
"Your Royal Attendant has already examined our ledgers. Once you see the amount with your own eyes, whether it's a fifth or a tenth won't much matter."
"And how do you intend to deliver it?"
"We can't use our merchant ships; there are eyes everywhere. Gold and jewels would easily fit into a few chests. Send them to Sunyahng yourself. It'd be safer than using merchant ships, considering the Soyeolish pirates roaming the southern coast."
Kyeong'ui finally smiled, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Hiding it beneath the ruin of House Myeonghyeon in Sunyahng would be ideal."
She handed Seon a document bearing her seal and sent her back to the city. As they rode away from the encampment, U'nso, unable to contain his worry any longer, voiced his concerns.
"My Lady, one-fifth of our assets? That'll leave a significant hole in our finances. Do you think Wicheong will let us be if they find out?"
"We'll drive the Princess's forces out before the monsoon season," Seon assured him. "We can recover our losses. Saving my brother is our priority now."
She spurred her horse into a gallop, heading towards the south gate, now visible beyond the hills.
Upon Seon's command, the Dahnian forces withdrew from Nahmgyo with remarkable efficiency. Their departure left the rear garden eerily quiet, the remaining family members scattered amongst the empty spaces. Seon dismissed the physician with a polite excuse, then secretly summoned Ryucheon.
"You've certainly made a grand gesture," Ryucheon remarked, his gaze sweeping over the deserted garden. His attempt at humor fell flat.
"My brother's life is at stake," Seon replied, her voice devoid of any amusement. She presented Ryucheon with a chest filled with herbs and tools gathered by the servants. "Please."
With a wink and a confident smirk, Ryucheon accepted the chest and entered Ryang's chambers. Seon followed closely behind. Ryucheon approached the bedside, his gaze falling upon Ryang's unconscious form. He looked ashen, lifeless. Ryucheon had only ever seen him from afar, exchanging curt nods across the bustling inn. Up close, he noted the resemblance to Seon, the same refined features and noble bearing. The memory of the night with Seon flickered through his mind, casting a strange hue over the scene. A smile played on his lips.
"Well, hello there, beautiful. Let's see if we can pull you back from the brink."
Ryucheon settled into a chair, brushing off his robes. He rolled up his sleeves, his playful demeanor replaced by a focused intensity as he began tending to Ryang. Seon watched from behind, the treatment appearing unremarkable to her untrained eye. Her anxiety grew with each passing moment. Finally, Ryucheon produced a small pill from his pocket and placed it between Ryang's lips.
"What is that?" Seon asked.
"A remedy, of sorts," Ryucheon replied. "I'm uncertain of its exact composition."
"If that's all you needed, you could've simply given me the pill."
"If the pill alone were sufficient, I wouldn't have asked you to clear the area," Ryucheon countered, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Ryang remained unresponsive, the pill resting untouched on his lips. With a sigh, Ryucheon pried open Ryang's mouth and pushed the pill down his throat with his finger. Ryang gagged reflexively, then swallowed. Ryucheon washed his hands in a nearby basin.
"I've done all I can," he said. "The rest is up to your brother."
"Thank you," Seon said, her voice thick with emotion.
"There's something you should know," Ryucheon cautioned. "Even if he survives, he..."
"He won't be the same," Seon finished. "I know."
"Frankly, I'm surprised he's still alive. Perhaps the blood of the Celestial Scion truly is different."
After a brief pause, Seon replied, "We are different."
Ryucheon's polite smile faltered. "Don't say you truly believe that."
"It may sound absurd," Seon admitted, "but we do heal faster than others, even from similar injuries. Not just us, but all Scions. During plagues, we were more resilient, less susceptible. I've never taken pride in my lineage, but now... now I'm clinging to any hope I can find. Perhaps... perhaps my brother will awaken, whole and unharmed."
Despite Seon's earnest explanation, Ryucheon couldn't shake the feeling of absurdity, the same sensation he experienced when listening to outlandish tales. He chose not to press further, offering instead a simple wish for Ryang's recovery.
"I sincerely hope your words prove true."
Ryucheon rose from his seat, placing a reassuring hand on Seon's shoulder. She remained by Ryang's side, her gaze fixed on his unconscious form. Ryucheon exited the chambers, his footsteps echoing softly. As he rounded the corridor's corner, smoothing down his sleeves, a familiar voice reached him.
"Welcome back, Sir Baek," Hongyoo greeted.
"Hongyoo," Ryucheon acknowledged with a casual smile. "I should've known. No way the Princess would withdraw her troops so easily."
Ignoring Ryucheon's muttered remark, Hongyoo's eyes narrowed, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Sir," he inquired, "don't tell me you've interfered with Myeonghyeon Ryang's treatment."