Jade felt a shadow of ominous unease lingering in his chest, though he tried to brush it away.
That was when a steady voice called from behind.
"Minister."
Jade turned, his gaze meeting Danjin's.
"Danjin," he said, his tone softening. "Well done with the newly prepared training sets. The report you submitted showed a thorough check on the warriors' health and the consistency of their martial movements. Thank you."
Danjin bowed with crisp precision.
"Of course, Minister. It is only my duty."
Jade's lips curved into a faint smile before his eyes returned to the soldiers in the yard, their synchronized blades flashing in the autumn light.
Danjin hesitated, then spoke in a careful voice.
"Minister Jade… is there perhaps something weighing on your mind?"
Jade glanced at him, a faint shadow passing through his eyes, before he slowly shook his head.
"I'm fine."
"Well, Minister," Danjin said gently, choosing his words with care. "I am always on your side. If you ever have any concerns—" he paused, his eyes shifting briefly as if searching for the right expression, "—even if they are not about the court or palace duties… even if they are personal matters…"
A small, reassuring smile touched his lips.
"Please feel free to share them with me, Minister. I will always stand by your side."
At Danjin's careful yet genuine words, something in Jade softened. A faint smile crossed his face, though it held the weight of thoughts unspoken.
"Thank you, Danjin," Jade said quietly.
The sun had set, and the yard lay quiet while the others gathered for dinner. Jade remained alone, his body moving with precision. He leapt high into the air, his figure cutting against the twilight sky, and with one powerful swing of his sword, he sliced through five wooden sticks lined neatly in the center of the yard.
Far behind the grounds, Hanan stood watching, his eyes fixed and unblinking.
'His skills are truly amazing,' Hanan thought. No wonder his name is still spoken among the warriors of my home, the Ash Kingdom.'
Without turning back, Jade's voice rang out, steady and certain.
"You can come and join me in practice instead of watching from back there."
Hanan's eyes widened in surprise. He had not expected Jade to notice.
Then Jade slowly turned, his expression calm, and gestured for him to approach.
Hesitantly, Hanan walked forward and gave a small bow.
"You quite like to watch people from afar, I see," Jade said, a faint smile brushing across his lips, so subtle it was almost invisible.
'He's caught me watching him already…' Hanan thought, unease stirring in his chest.
But outwardly, he kept his composure.
"Minister Jade," Hanan said firmly, "I have so much to learn from you, so I watch closely—your every movement, every skill."
Jade met Hanan's eyes for a brief moment, as if quietly measuring him.
"There will be a military presentation in May," Jade said evenly, "where only ten warriors from the court palace will display their martial arts before the Queen and the royal officials. I've watched your training—your progress has been remarkable. Your skill has grown sharp. Continue practicing with precision, and you may stand among that ten."
A faint, gentle smile crossed his lips as he gave Hanan a light pat on the shoulder, then moved on without another word.
Hanan froze, a little stunned, then turned back to watch him. Jade's tall frame, his broad shoulders, receded with unhurried steps, each stride steady and unbending.
"Did he just say… that I'm skilled?" Hanan murmured, baffled, though a strange flutter stirred in his chest.
He had come to the Hana Kingdom under orders—to watch Jade, to find weakness, to uncover secrets and report them back to his master in the Ash Kingdom. His mission was clear: bring Jade down, and with him, bring down Kim Jin.
Yet the longer he remained here, the more the edges of that purpose blurred. His heart, once set on duty alone, was moved by what he saw—a warrior of legend, yes, but more than that, a leader of unshakable character. A man who carried strength with quiet grace, and humanity with dignity.
"And how is he managing to be both a spy from Ash… and yet such a noble leader of the Hana Kingdom's military at the same time…" Hanan murmured under his breath, his gaze fixed on Jade's retreating figure as it vanished beyond the gate of the yard.
The evening wind swept softly through the palace grounds, carrying with it the cool breath of night. Moonlight spilled down from the clear sky, tracing silver across the stone path as Jade's steps moved firmly toward the rear of the Queen's pavilion.
He stopped at the hidden gate behind the palace. The place was empty, shrouded in quiet.
Just as he turned, his heartbeat quickened—fast, then faster.
From the shadows emerged Genie. A faint smile curved on her lips, her sapphire-blue top and flowing pants catching the moonlight. Her long, dark waves of hair cascaded over her shoulders, swaying gently with her steps. Her round, luminous eyes found him, soft yet piercing in the glow of night.
"Jade," she said, her voice low, carrying the weight of intimacy.
"Your Majesty."
Jade's gaze faltered, caught between reverence and something unspoken. Beneath the fabric of his chest, he felt the outline of the bracelet he had hidden close to his heart.
'I don't know if I can give this to Her Majesty tonight…' he thought, the weight of it pressing deeper than the silver it was made of.
Seeing her not in the Queen's long silk hanbok but instead in a simple blue top and loose-fitting pants—neither tight nor flowing—struck Jade with an unexpected force. In an instant, memories surged back: the days of field research together at the battle grounds, the trials of the King's Selection, and all the fleeting moments that had bound them.
His heart thundered in his chest at the sight of her like this, stripped of regal grandeur yet no less radiant—perhaps even more so. A quiet ache of affection pressed against his ribs.
"Shall we go?" Genie asked, her voice soft as nightfall.
"Yes…" Jade said, his eyes darting forward as though to anchor himself. "Yes, Your Majesty."
A faint smile touched Genie's lips as she looked at him, then the two slipped out the back gate together, stepping onto the open field beyond the palace walls.
Silence stretched between them, filled only by the rhythm of their footsteps brushing through the meadow grass, the sound echoing faintly under the moonlit sky.
At last, Genie's voice broke the hush. "I'm quite curious to see what kind of person Private Detective Bong is."
"He's a very skilled and professional private detective, Your Majesty," Jade said, his voice steady yet carrying a quiet weight. "I hope he can be a help in this search for Your Majesty's elder brother."
"Hope so," Genie replied softly. She turned her gaze toward him, her eyes lingering. "You look a little nervous, Jade."
A faint smile touched Jade's lips as he glanced back at her. Their eyes met—just for a heartbeat, yet it felt longer than time would allow. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, betraying the warmth he could not fully contain.
Genie turned her eyes forward again, the cool night breeze stirring strands of her dark hair. Jade, too, shifted his gaze back to the path ahead.
'It's so good to be out of the palace on this peaceful night with Jade,' Genie thought, her heart settling into a rare, quiet joy.
And Jade, walking by her side, cherished the silence just as deeply.
'Thank you, Lord, for giving us this time together outside the palace. Thank you so much…'
The two walked on, step after step, speaking little, yet the unspoken joy between them filled the night more richly than words ever could.
"Your Majesty, I am so honored to finally meet you," Bong said, bowing deeply in the center of his yard, his voice carrying reverence toward the Queen.
Genie regarded him with serene eyes and offered a gentle smile.
"Good to meet you," she replied. Her gaze swept across the courtyard, lingering on the elegant buildings and well-kept grounds. "Your place looks very nice. I certainly didn't expect to find something like this hidden outside on the street."
Bong chuckled, a touch of embarrassment rising in his expression, as though he suddenly felt he might have shown off his wealth too boldly.
"Please, come into the special room I've prepared," he said, his tone polite as he gestured toward a wooden building on the left.
Genie and Jade followed as Bong led the way. The door closed softly behind them, shutting out the quiet night.
Inside, a brightly lit room opened before them. Lamps glowed warmly against polished wood, casting a golden sheen across a silk-covered table at the center. Shelves lined with books stood neatly in rows, and here and there, rare ornaments and artifacts added touches of quiet opulence.
The three of them sat down in a triangular arrangement around the table. Genie's eyes, steady and calm, fixed on Bong.
"So, you wish to ask me questions regarding the search for my brother," Genie said, her voice calm yet carrying a subtle weight of curiosity.
Bong inclined his head politely.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please answer as much as you can—it will greatly aid my search."
Jade's gaze shifted between Bong and Genie, his eyes attentive and steady, taking in every nuance of the moment.
Genie nodded slowly, her serene composure unwavering.
"Very well. What is your first question?"
Bong spoke carefully, his tone measured and respectful.
"May I ask why the palace spread the false news of your brother's death? I mean… the prince. Everyone in the kingdom believes he is gone. Why? Why would the palace announce such a thing?"