For Chuyahng, every day and night crawled by with agonizing slowness. Soh had promised that once he conquered all of the Hundred Isles, from Buksoo in the east to Seomy in the west, he would establish a formal kingdom and bestow upon her five children titles befitting royalty. On that day, Chuya would become the Crown Princess, and Chuyahng, the Princess, solidifying their hierarchy. Chuyahng dreaded the day she would have to bow to Chuya, the sister she often used to bully. She believed her father clung to the old ways of Cheon-Wi and Dae-Sung, convinced that only by passing the throne from firstborn to firstborn could a true nation be established.
This was why Chuyahng admired King Yeongshin Won of Dahn more than her own father. Ever since she first heard his tale, Jeong'wu had repeatedly scolded and reprimanded her for obsessing over Yeongshin Won, but the fire in her heart refused to be extinguished. He was a hero who had clawed his way to the throne, stepping over countless siblings. To Chuyahng, Yeongshin Won wasn't the enemy king, but a legend. She admired him far more than her own father, a fisherman's son turned orphan who, despite becoming the strongest man in the Hundred Isles, still paled in comparison to the royal-born Yeongshin Won, who had defied the laws of primogeniture and seized the precarious throne with his ambition.
Rumors swirled about a deal struck between her father and Hwan after their meeting, but Hwan remained secluded in his chambers. Two days later, Soh finally gathered her five children and announced that come autumn, they would invade Birahng with Hwan at the helm, establish a stronghold, and claim Sunyahng and Dong'gyeong for Jongwon. Chuya, the eldest, bowed her head, still unaccustomed to the weight of her ornate helmet, and accepted her father's decree. She immediately left to assess their supplies and the upcoming harvest with her advisors.
That night, long after midnight, Chuyahng crept towards Hwan's chambers, her footsteps silent. When she opened the door, both Hwan and Yirahng were awake, their eyes sharp and alert. Hwan, seeing Chuyahng's tense shoulders and gleaming eyes, immediately understood.
"You want something," he observed.
Chuyahng stepped inside, a sly smile curving her lips. "We want the same thing."
Hwan rose from his bed and moved to the tea table where they could sit facing each other.
The information Hui had gathered during his stay in Soyeol had been invaluable. They had successfully mobilized Ju's forces, but Soh remained an obstacle. As he had keenly perceived, Hwan couldn't be a mere piece in his game, and neither could he tolerate his ambition. They couldn't both survive. The young girl before him, her eyes brimming with ambition, looked at Hwan expectantly, as if he held the answer to her desires.
Chuyahng sat down, her youthful features barely hinting at adolescence, her cheeks dotted with red blemishes. Her eyes, fixed on Hwan with an intensity that mirrored her father's, held a calculating glint.
"You still want a duel, don't you?" she asked. "You're not the type to settle for a hollow alliance."
Hwan was annoyed by her presumptuous tone and casual use of informal speech, but he listened patiently.
"No matter how cautious my father is," Chuyahng continued, "he'll draw his sword if his child is killed. We're his only children born of Mother, but he has others, you know? An older brother we didn't even know existed was once taken hostage and killed. Father was on the battlefield, but he rushed to his side, even though a battle was imminent."
"And the battle?" Hwan asked.
"We lost, of course. But we recovered quickly."
Hwan scoffed. "So you want me to kill his own flesh and blood while trapped in his palace?"
Chuyahng's small, plump lips stretched into a wide smile. "You can kill her in a duel. That's not a crime. I can provoke Chuya. You saw her at the harbor, right? She's simple-minded, easy to manipulate. Father may be merciful, but Chuya isn't. She won't tolerate anyone who insults Father. Chuya takes care of all the nuisances for Father. I bet she's killed more people than Father has in duels. I've heard stories about you. You can easily defeat someone like her, can't you?"
Hwan, though intrigued by her proposal, looked at her with pity. "So you want me to make you the heir to Jongwon, whether I die in the duel or not? And if I succeed in killing your father, have you considered what will happen to you and your family?"
Chuyahng was brimming with confidence. "You're not here to seize Ju, are you? Once you reclaim Sunyahng, someone has to rule Ju. The people of Ju are loyal to our family. They'll continue to serve House Jongwon even after Father's death."
"You would betray your family just to rule Ju?"
"My life is at stake. Ju is worth the betrayal."
Hwan let out a long sigh and studied Chuyahng. He found her ambition amusing, her eagerness to sacrifice her siblings and father for a mere island. Yet, he understood the desperation of a life spent with no opportunities, no chance to pursue her desires.
"How old are you?" he asked.
"Fifteen," Chuyahng replied. "Why do you ask? Does it matter?"
"Little one," Hwan said, his voice softening, "do you understand what you're trying to do?"
Chuyahng frowned. "Don't call me 'little one'. I have nothing if I don't take a chance."
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I am."
Hwan chuckled. "I admire your boldness. But even if I kill your sister and father, without strength, you won't be able to hold onto Jongwon's legacy. You'll lose Ju. Your father's barely unified forces will scatter. I don't know you well enough to be certain, but there are plenty in Soyeol who could easily overpower a fifteen-year-old."
Chuyahng remained unfazed by his grim predictions. "You can protect me," she said confidently. "If you're strong enough to defeat my father, you're strong enough to protect me."
"Why would I protect you after killing Jongwon?"
"I told you, you'll have to leave Ju eventually. I'll obey you. At least until I come of age, I promise."
Hwan laughed, his shoulders shaking.
"I'll provoke Chuya and send her to you," Chuyahng continued. "Then it's simple. You just have to win. Tell me, what do I need to do?"
Hwan looked at her. "You don't need to do anything. A spark will soon ignite in Ju."
"What?" Chuyahng's confusion was evident.
"Even if you hadn't come to me, things would have unfolded as you wished," Hwan said cryptically. "But your words have clarified a few things, so I appreciate that. If you're right, your sister won't stand idly by after this spark ignites. You can just sit back and wait. Now go, before someone sees you."
Chuyahng, bewildered by his cryptic words, hesitated for a moment, then rose and left. Her faint footsteps disappeared into the darkness.
Four peaceful days passed. Then, at dawn, the palace of Ju was thrown into chaos by the arrival of an envoy from Seomy. Amidst the commotion, Soh stormed into Hwan's chambers, a scroll clutched in his hand. He threw it at Hwan's feet, his chest heaving with anger.
"You learned your dirty tricks well," he spat. "But you miscalculated. Baekan Yujeong isn't that important to me. There will be no duel."
Hwan sneered. "The lords and your advisors will be in turmoil. The people too."
"I don't care," Soh retorted, turning to leave.
Yirahng, who had been frozen in place a few steps away, rushed to Hwan's side. "What was that about?" she asked. "What scheme?"
"Hui did his job well," Hwan replied.
"What does it say? Why are they causing trouble for us?"
Hwan's gaze slowly scanned the crumpled letter on the floor.
"'I, Baekan Yujeong, King of Seomy, hereby pledge my allegiance to the victor of the duel between Hwan, the rightful heir of Cheon-Wi and wielder of Sahngjon's power, and Jongwon Soh, King of Ju. Seomy and my loyalty shall be offered to the one who triumphs and upholds the light of Sahngjon.'"
Baekan Yujeong's handwriting was rough, but his message was clear.
"Is Soh accepting the duel?" Yirahng asked.
"Not yet," Hwan replied. "But this letter alone will be enough to rattle him."
"Won't he try to suppress it?"
"I'm sure our Hui will take care of that."
As Hwan predicted, the news of Baekan Yujeong's challenge and offer of Seomy spread like wildfire. Although Hui's claim of Hwan wielding Sahngjon's power was a fabrication, the people, having witnessed the crimson star, were more inclined to believe the rumors than the official denials. Seomy was a small island, but it was the most formidable among those not yet under Jongwon's control. Murmurs of discontent grew louder as Soh remained unresponsive to the provocative letter. Yet, Soh remained unmoved, and no word of his regarding the letter reached beyond the palace walls. Only the palace remained calm and peaceful.
Hwan and Yirahng had been enjoying a tense calm since Soh's furious visit, but it was shattered by the sudden arrival of Chuya. Like Soh before her, Chuya was seething with rage, her shoulders shaking. Her burning gaze, shadowed by her helmet, bore down on Hwan.
"You dare mock us after accepting our hospitality?" she spat.
Hwan chuckled. "Mock you? If your father defeats me, as Baekan Yujeong proposed, that's the end of it. Unification achieved. Simple, isn't it? It's strange that your father refuses to fight. Against a mere hostage, no less."
Chuya retorted with a twisted sneer, "Indeed, defeating you is all it takes. Draw your sword. I'll deliver your head to Baekan Yujeong and tell him that Hwan couldn't even defeat me, let alone Jongwon Soh."
She turned and left without a trace of fear. Hwan slowly took his sword and rose from his seat.
News of the duel between Chuya and Hwan spread throughout the palace before their swords even clashed. Soh's heart sank as he heard the news from Chuyahng and Yahng'ha, who had rushed to his side.
"What did Chuya do?" he demanded.
Yahng'ha closed her eyes with a sigh, and Chuyahng kept her head bowed.
"It's too late, Father," Chuyahng mumbled.
"Too late for what?!" Soh roared. "Where are they?!"
"At the main gate..."
Before Chuyahng could finish, Soh grabbed his sword and charged towards the confrontation.