Ryang finally looked at Seon.
"Are they alright?" he asked.
"They say fifty Wicheong soldiers and nearly thirty former Black Wings sailors went," Seon replied, "but few returned. And except for Joon, they're all in bad shape. The Lady suspects a plague and has forbidden them from disembarking. They're all still on the ship."
"What about the Black Wings?"
"You think they retrieved the Black Wings in this situation?" Seon retorted, rolling her eyes.
Ryang, reluctant to utter the name, asked, "And Cheon Hwan?"
Seon shook her head. "Haven't heard a thing."
Ryang clenched his fist. At least, is it fortunate that the island's location Yoon provided was accurate? He walked past Seon.
"I'll go to Lady Seolyo," he said. "You go to the Princess."
Seon blocked his path. "She'll want to see you, now that you've recovered. Why are you sending me to the Princess? It's strange she hasn't visited yet. You should've gone to greet her earlier. I'll go to Lady Seolyo. You go and show your face to the Princess."
Ryang started to argue, then stopped, not wanting to prolong the conversation. He was annoyed by her nonchalant reproach, but she wasn't wrong. He sent her to Seolyo Jin and headed towards Kyeong'ui's camp.
His hand trembled as he held the reins. Should I have taken Jeong'ahn pill Ryucheon offered? The harbor and camp of Nahmgyo came into view. He saw many new tents and another warship anchored at the port. According to Seolyo Jin, reinforcements of three ships had arrived, which meant two were missing. Ryang urged his horse forward, wondering where the two ships had gone.
Hongyoo greeted him at the entrance to the camp. "It's been a while, Lord Myeonghyeon," he said. "I'm glad to see you in good health."
His greeting was loud enough for the guards to hear. Ryang recalled the yellow bruises on Seon's wrist. Do I no longer have a reason to be angry with Hongyoo since I shouted that I'm not her brother? But seeing Hongyoo's ingratiating smile, anger surged within him. Not wanting to prolong the unpleasant encounter, he asked, "Why did Her Highness summon me?"
"You'll hear it from her yourself," Hongyoo replied with a smile, then walked ahead.
Kyeong'ui's tent, bearing the tiger-bird flag, came into view, and behind it, the towering dome-shaped tent. Hongyoo announced Ryang's arrival. Kyeong'ui's voice emerged from within.
"Enter."
Ryang lifted the flap and stepped inside. Kyeong'ui, who had been waiting anxiously, froze at the sight of him, forgetting to even breathe. She was more nervous than when she first visited him in Nahmgyo. Although his cheeks were thinner, he carried himself with his usual grace. His sleeves draped elegantly as he bowed, his hands clasped together. His wrists, peeking out from beneath the sleeves, seemed thinner than before. A warmth spread through her, and she spoke awkwardly.
"You've lost weight," she remarked. "Have you recovered fully?"
Ryang bowed again. "I apologize for causing concern," he said. "I heard about everything from my sister. I don't know how to repay your kindness. I should've prepared a gift, but I was in a hurry. Please forgive me."
"You don't need to give me any gifts," Kyeong'ui said. "You've already repaid me."
Seeing no reaction from Ryang, she asked, "You're not still unaware of what I'm talking about, are you?"
"I know," Ryang replied.
His expressionless response seemed to disapprove of the matter of the funds, and Kyeong'ui felt a pang of unease. She gestured for Hongyoo to leave, then offered Ryang a seat across from her.
"You won't regret it," she assured him. "Neither will House Myeonghyeon, nor I."
Ryang adjusted his clothes and said, "My sister couldn't come due to an urgent matter."
"That's alright," Kyeong'ui replied. "I heard you don't remember what happened while you were missing. Is it because of Crystal Haze?"
"Lady Seolyo is investigating the case; I'm sure we'll find the culprit soon," Ryang assured her.
"What exactly were you doing that led to such a thing?" Kyeong'ui asked.
Ryang's mind blanked. It was an obvious question, but he had been so preoccupied with managing his emotions that he hadn't prepared for it. He quickly fabricated a plausible excuse.
"I was on my way to Shinsuk Mountain," he said. "I promised to find something to report to you, but there were no clues..."
"What does Shinsuk Mountain have to do with clues?" Kyeong'ui asked, confused.
"It's a sacred mountain, isn't it?"
"Ah, that's right. Shinsuk, Seong'go, the lake that touches the sky..."
Seeing no suspicion in Kyeong'ui's smile, Ryang was relieved. Kyeong'ui teased him with a playful frown.
"But it doesn't suit you at all," she said. "Were you planning to become an Emissary yourself or something?"
"Who knows?" Ryang replied with a lukewarm joke. "Perhaps House Myeonghyeon has a hidden talent..."
Kyeong'ui laughed, shaking her head. When her laughter subsided, she said, "I feel even worse that you ended up like that because of me. Hongyoo frightened me. He said no one who was poisoned that severely had ever survived... I'm so relieved that we're sitting here, talking like this."
Although Kyeong'ui said Hongyoo had frightened her, his words must have been a prayer. Ryang's anger flared as he imagined Hongyoo, aware of the cure, doing nothing, waiting for him to die, and filling Kyeong'ui's ears with ominous predictions. But he couldn't afford to harbor or nurture anger today. He was wary of even the smallest seed of emotion. He bowed respectfully to Kyeong'ui.
"It's thanks to your concern, Your Highness," he said.
Kyeong'ui abruptly rose from her seat. "I have something for you," she said with a smile, leading him to a chest.
She gestured for him to open it, and Ryang lifted the lid. The chest was filled with books, the pleasant scent of fresh paper filling his nostrils.
"What are all these?" he asked.
"Consider it a gift for your recovery," Kyeong'ui replied. "The scholar I requested from the King has arrived from Sunyahng. I asked her to bring these. Most of them can't be found outside the Sanctuary of Intellect. I saw the books piled up in your tea room, and you didn't seem like someone who only reads the Azure Scripture, so I chose some that I enjoyed."
Kyeong'ui had been waiting to give Ryang this gift after he recovered, but contrary to her expectations, he was speechless.
I thought you were a scholar who only cared about books.
Dara's voice, smiling faintly, settled over the pile of stacked books. Memories ambushed him from every corner. He barely held on.
"Don't you like them?" Kyeong'ui asked.
Ryang forced a smile. "No, Your Highness," he said. "I was just surprised by your thoughtfulness. Thank you. I like them very much. I'll read them diligently."
Kyeong'ui finally smiled in relief. Ryang couldn't bear to face her delighted expression and quickly lowered his gaze. He wasn't entirely insincere. At a glance, he could tell that these were books carefully chosen by someone who understood him and his preferences. The effort she had put in, personally selecting the titles and having them brought all the way from Sunyahng to Birahng, was overwhelming. But his repayment was destined to end in betrayal. The more kindness Kyeong'ui showed, the less confident he felt about facing the inevitable consequences.
Kyeong'ui led him to the table and poured him a cup of tea. "It's cooled down a bit, but please have some."
Ryang took a sip, the faint warmth barely lingering. "It tastes good today," he remarked. "Your skills must have improved."
Kyeong'ui laughed sheepishly. "My skills are far from perfect. Hongyoo brewed it today."
Ryang froze mid-sip, the tea lingering in his mouth. He couldn't spit it out in front of Kyeong'ui, so he forced himself to swallow. A strange discomfort settled in his throat and stomach. An unsettling premonition crept up on him.
"Has he always served you tea?" he asked.
"Mostly," Kyeong'ui replied.
Ryang's suspicions fell on Hongyoo. What has he been feeding Kyeong'ui for the past ten years? But there was no point in blaming him. What is the difference between what Hongyoo might have done and what I am doing? He glanced at the stack of books visible over Kyeong'ui's shoulder. Nothing could change, but he wanted to protect her, at least for now. It wasn't entirely for her sake, but a deception to alleviate his own guilt.
"Why don't you take up tea while you're here?" he suggested. "It's as good as reading or practicing swordsmanship for clearing the mind and cultivating the spirit. I can teach you if you'd like."
"I'll make time," Kyeong'ui replied. "The camp has been busy since the scholar arrived. I felt it improper to leave after summoning such valuable people from across the land, so I haven't been able to visit you even though I heard you had recovered. I hope you understand."
"Not at all," Ryang said. "I should have visited you first."
Kyeong'ui was silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on Ryang. Her cheerful smile was gone, replaced by a subtle intensity reminiscent of their first meeting. Ryang braced himself for her true motive.
"I mentioned evidence when I first visited you," she began.
"I remember."
"You must have guessed what I was referring to."
"Yes," Ryang confirmed.
"Can I see the sword today?" Kyeong'ui asked.
Ryang couldn't fathom why she suddenly brought up the sword and hesitated.
"The rumor that the king's sword and the swords of the Twelve Houses are buried beneath the main hall of Yeonghwi Palace is false," Kyeong'ui explained. "The swords are safely stored in the Court Library. Only eleven of them. House Myeonghyeon's sword and the king's sword are not in our possession."
She leaned forward, her gaze piercing. "Surely loyalty isn't the only thing House Myeonghyeon has protected."
Ryang masked his anxiety and countered her assumption. "I apologize for disappointing you, Your Highness, but we don't know the whereabouts of the King's sword either."
"Then what about House Myeonghyeon's sword?"
Kyeong'ui took his brief silence as confirmation and pressed him. "I want to see it, at least. I can go to Nahmgyo myself."
"Today?" Ryang asked.
"Right now."
It wasn't difficult to show her the sword. It had remained pristine for a thousand years, occasionally polished and untouched by blood. He was more worried about any incidents at the inn or the rear garden. More than anything, he was unsettled by her sudden interest in the sword. He suspected it was related to the sphere, but he couldn't grasp her motive. Further hesitation or refusal would only raise suspicion, so he didn't resist.
"There's no reason why not," he agreed.