The King's gaze flickered towards Kyeongshin, who stood silently by the door. Kyeongyul, hearing his father's words, worried for his brother, but he couldn't bring himself to turn around.
"If something happens to your brother," the King continued, "the throne will fall to you."
His words, spoken in a moment of uncertainty about Kyeong'ui's fate, held a weight that couldn't be dismissed as mere reprimand. The Queen, who would normally have intervened at the mention of the throne to Kyeongyul, remained silent.
"A royal does not act rashly," the King continued. "Kyeong'ui didn't go to Birahng for frivolous reasons. The Councilors are working tirelessly to resolve this crisis that threatens to divide our nation. And you, a prince, dare barge in here, spouting nonsense about rescuing your sister? Have you no respect for your elders, for the court?"
"But..." Kyeongyul began, his voice trembling. He looked up at his father, tears welling up in his eyes and spilling down his cheeks.
The King's heart ached at the sight of his son's tears. "Neither your mother nor I intend to abandon Kyeong'ui," he said, his voice softening. "What kind of parents would we be if we did? Don't worry and go back to your chambers. We'll inform you as soon as we have news."
Kyeongyul's lips trembled. From the snippets of conversation he had overheard, he knew his father was prepared to sacrifice Kyeong'ui if necessary. But before his father, he was a dutiful son; before his King, he was a powerless subject. He bowed and left with Kyeongshin.
Kyeongyul stole glances at his brother as they walked. Once they were outside the Innermost Palace, he spoke hesitantly.
"Brother, I was just..."
Kyeongshin turned to him with a gentle smile. "I know you have no ill intentions," he reassured him. "Father was merely trying to teach you a lesson. There's no need to fret. Now dry your tears. A prince shouldn't be so easily moved to tears."
"I apologize," Kyeongyul mumbled, bowing his head.
Kyeongshin patted his shoulder and then walked briskly towards his quarters.
Ill intentions...
Back in his chambers, Kyeongyul pondered Kyeongshin's words. "Ill intentions" were words that could lead to bloodshed. Kyeongshin had used them, and Kyeongyul was afraid of what they might mean. That spring, on the night they had decided to send Kyeong'ui to Birahng, Kyeongshin had uttered those same chilling words. If he truly believes I harbor no ill intentions, does that mean he sees them in Kyeong'ui? Is Kyeongshin planning to treat Kyeong'ui, his younger sister, his father's trueborn daughter, now facing a perilous fate, as a traitor?
Kyeongyul relit the candle Kyeongshin had extinguished and knelt before its flickering flame, his hands clasped in prayer.
"Merciful Sahngjon," he whispered, "my beloved sister, Mihn, followed the crimson star you promised, venturing into the treacherous lands of Birahng. Please protect her with your light and spare her life. If that star is your punishment for our sins, let this unworthy body bear the burden alone and preserve our parents and our kingdom. Guide us towards unity, where all discord ends and we see only your light. Usher in the new world you promised. Please, save my sister, and save our nation..."
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Upon returning to the East Palace, Kyeongshin remained alone until sunset. As the sky turned crimson, a court lady entered to light the candles.
"Leave them uncovered," Kyeongshin instructed, stopping the lady from placing the lampshades.
The lady bowed, her face etched with confusion, and retreated. The candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls, and droplets of wax rolled down its sides. Kyeongshin thought of the tears streaming down Kyeongyul's face, his hands clasped together in prayer, his eyes closed with fervent devotion. Though he had scolded him, Kyeongshin knew that praying in secret was all Kyeongyul could do as a brother, and it was a more fitting role for him than a reckless attempt to join the fight. He briefly considered visiting Moonseong Yool, who had recently returned from his travels, to inquire about Kyeong'ui's well-being, but the thought was quickly dismissed. He reassured himself that Kyeong'ui's fate should have no bearing on his own ambitions.
As dusk deepened into night, his wife, Seojung Eun, entered. She was alone. Kyeongshin let out a sigh.
"Is our son asleep?" he asked.
"It's already late," Eun replied. "The nurse put him to bed a while ago."
"Ah, right. Time flies these days..."
"What news of Kyeong'ui?" Eun asked.
Kyeongshin buried his face in his hands. "It's still complicated. This won't be resolved quickly."
"I overheard Father mention that there won't be any troop deployments to Birahng before autumn," Eun said.
"That's what I heard as well," Kyeongshin confirmed. "With the trouble at the border..."
Eun glanced around the empty room. "Isn't this a good thing?" she remarked.
"What?" Kyeongshin frowned.
"The governor is dead," Eun explained, "and it's unlikely Kyeong'ui will return alive."
Kyeongshin glared at her. "Mother collapsed after the report arrived from Sahcheon. How can you say such a thing?"
Eun, suppressing her rising anger, retorted, "How can you be so callous?!"
"You're the one being callous!"
"Our safety is at stake!" Eun argued. "You're being naive. Even Mother's actions are baffling. My father had the governor killed for us. How can she suddenly turn against us after supporting us all this time?"
"Are you truly that dense?" Kyeongshin scoffed.
Eun's face flushed with indignation. "If you're a mother now, then try to understand a mother's heart," Kyeongshin chided.
"You were the one who wrote that letter, ordering him not to help Kyeong'ui!" Eun accused.
"Watch your tongue!" Kyeongshin's voice shook with barely suppressed fury, silencing her. He fixed her with a threatening glare.
"Whether Kyeong'ui returns alive or not," he warned, "Juyeong Hyo, who failed to defend the city without a fight, will not be honored, and his family will not be spared. The consequences could be far-reaching, so choose your words carefully, both before me and before your father. If you're so concerned about our safety."
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The meeting in the main hall concluded as night fell, but the five Presidents continued their discussion late into the night at Seojeong Kyun's residence. Kyun, along with his younger brother and Vice-president of the Board of War, Seojeong Mu, had gathered Left Supreme Councilor Jahng'wi Yin, Right Supreme Councilor Ma'yeong Cheol, and the President of the Board of Revenue, Kyeonjeong Hye. Yin, a close friend since their days at the Sanctuary of Intellect, had been a frequent guest even before his appointment as Left Supreme Councilor. Cheol, however, had only started visiting House Seojeong's residence in Sunyahng after the Crown Prince's wedding. And it was only after Kyeong'ui's departure for Birahng with the fleet that Kyun had begun to include Kyeonjeong Hye in their gatherings.
Despite the drinks prepared, the bottle remained mostly untouched after the first shared toast. Their conversation was filled with anxieties rather than merriment.
"Is the Chief Supreme Councilor not joining us again today?" Cheol asked.
"I didn't extend an invitation, considering the circumstances," Kyun replied.
"He needs to stop tiptoeing around the issue," Cheol grumbled. "It's absurd that the Chief Supreme Councilor of our nation has been so indecisive for two years."
Kyun steered the conversation back to the matter at hand. "Thanks to the President of the Board of War taking the initiative, the decision was reached more smoothly than expected. Now, we only need the envoy to return with favorable results."
Kyeonjeong Hye, who had been listening quietly, smiled enigmatically. She was the youngest among the seven Presidents, second only to Saha Ryun, the President of the Board of Construction. She was known for her sharp wit and energetic demeanor, but she had remained unusually silent during the meeting in the main hall. Kyun suspected she disagreed with their decision, but she had been the most cooperative after the meeting, enabling the Board of Diplomacy to finalize preparations for the envoy's departure.
"What exactly would constitute 'favorable results'?" Hye asked.
"That depends on what the envoy brings back," Kyun replied vaguely.
"At the very least, a favorable outcome in Birahng would be the successful suppression of the rebellion after Princess Kyeong'ui's death," Cheol remarked. "Thanks to the situation at the border, we have more time to deal with Kyeong'ui. Perhaps we should be thanking Dong'gyeong. They're not actually planning to attack us, after all."
Yin reprimanded him. "Please be mindful of your words, even in private."
Cheol, undeterred, continued to grumble as he tapped his tobacco ash into a brass ashtray. "She brought this upon herself."
The conversation grew tense, and Hye quickly changed the subject. "On a more optimistic note," she said, "the successful suppression of the rebellion would benefit the Board of Revenue greatly. We've all had our eyes on Nahmgyo for a while now."
Yin chuckled. "That's assuming Nahmgyo remains intact. Did you not hear His Majesty earlier today? He said he might burn all of Birahng to the ground. I don't believe that was a metaphor."
He turned to Kyun. While Cheol seemed relieved at the prospect of Kyeong'ui being eliminated, Kyun, the Crown Prince's father-in-law, remained somber.
"Do you truly believe Dong'gyeong is hostile?" Yin asked.
"It's difficult to say," Kyun admitted.
"If you don't know, then no one does."
"It's certainly not the right time for a war," Kyun said. "They have demands that cannot be met through diplomacy. That much I'm certain of."
"What do you think of Guseo Joon's assessment?" Yin asked.
Kyun, who had only briefly mentioned the possibility of Sung's dissatisfaction during the meeting in the main hall, grew serious. "If that's not the reason," he said, "then the timing of their simultaneous movements in Yahngbuk and Birahng makes no sense. But if we assume Dong'gyeong is promoting the rebels' actions, the pieces fall into place."
"Couldn't both sides be taking advantage of the monsoon season?" Yin suggested.
"The rebels could be," Kyun conceded. "They need to prevent us from crossing the sea while they consolidate their power. But Sung is different. Their land routes become just as treacherous as the sea during the monsoon. There's no reason for them to mobilize now, especially not in such a provocative manner. The only ones who benefit from Sung's actions are the rebels."
"What about Soyeol?" Cheol asked. "Wouldn't they benefit from our forces being tied up in Yahngbuk?"
"We've been over this countless times," Kyun said, his frustration evident. "The monsoon is upon us. How could this possibly benefit Soyeol?"
Yin chuckled awkwardly at his outburst. "We should have insisted on Guseo Joon's presence," he remarked. "I'm suddenly curious about his opinion."
Hye interjected, "But there's one thing that doesn't fit this theory."
"What's that?" Seojeong Kyun asked.
"The incident with the star last spring," Hye explained. "Celestial events are beyond human control."